Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has described the 2019 presidential election as a contest between light and darkness that he expects the president to win. While speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, November 4, 2018, the president’s spokesperson said Nigerians will decide on the right candidate who’ll move the nation forward. He said, “What we know is that a contest is ahead and it is going to be a contest between light and darkness, between integrity and people who have question marks; between a man whose life is plain and…
Author: David Folami
Emmanuel Udom of Akwa-Ibom has said he has performed better than other governors who were elected for the first time in 2015. Addressing Akwa-Ibom indigenes in Abuja and the northern states on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Udom said his administration has ensured even development across all local governments in the state. The governor noted that unlike his predecessors, he has carried out people-oriented projects like the establishment of industries to address the unemployment challenge among youths in the state. “Since I assumed office, you can see that Akwa-Ibom state has progressed at all levels,” Udom announced amidst cheers from the…
Atiku Abubakar has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to attend to the needs of Nigerians instead of donating money to other countries. Atiku stressed that the resources of the country should be used for the benefit of its citizens not for others. In a statement released by his media team on Sunday, November 4, 2018, Atiku urged president Buhari and his cabinet to be more prudent witg the nation’s resources. His reaction follows a recent promise made by the president to donate $500,000 to Guinea Bissau, along with other materials. “Our response is to ask why a nation that has…
Twitter users can’t seem to wrap their head around a certain meeting between Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili, and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) who ruled Nigeria between 1985 to 1993. Reports have it that the meeting took place on Sunday, November 4, 2018 and that it was a “secret meeting” held behind closed doors. Photos from that meeting have dominated social media chatter, not least because Ezekwesili has often vowed to dislodge and dismantle the old political order that has held Nigeria hostage for ages. IBB, a self-confessed evil genius, is a member of that…
Yakubu Dogara has condemned the alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Ekweremadu escaped an assassination attempt on his life when gunmen reportedly invaded his home in Apo Quarters. According to the Deputy Senate President’s spokesman, Uche Anichukwu, the lawmaker’s wife and son were also in the house when the assassins evaded security agents and gained entry around 4 am. Speaking in a statement issued by his media aide, Turaki Hassan in Abuja on Tuesday, Dogara called on security agencies to be alert, NAN reports. “As the 2019 elections draws closer, the…
Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that numerous ethno-religious killings in the country depresses him and has appealed to Nigerians to learn to live together in peace and harmony. According to a statement signed by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, he said this while addressing the leaders of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. He called on religious, community and traditional leaders to do more in promoting peaceful co-existence among Nigerians at different walks of life. He said, ”As an organised institution (COCIN), I have no reason…
Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm Mrs Abike Dabiri, as Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Diaspora Commission. The request was contained in a letter dated Oct. 24 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki. Saraki read the letter at plenary on Tuesday. In the letter, Buhari said the request was in compliance with Section 2(1) of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act, 2017. In a similar development, Buhari urged the Senate to substitute Chief Olabode Mustapha with Mrs Ronke Sokefun as Chairman, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). In a letter dated Oct. 28…
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commended the Federal Government for agreeing to pay N30,000 minimum wage negotiated with labour leaders in the country. The PDP presidential candidate made the commendation in a statement issued by his campaign organisation on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in Abuja. He described Nigerian workers as the “goose that lays the golden egg” and was worthy of the best pay that Nigeria could afford. He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to keep promise and abide by the new minimum wage agreement. “No sacrifice is too great to make for us to get Nigeria working again and that is…
The Blues forward acknowledges that Maurizio Sarri’s side lean heavily on their Belgian playmaker, but has also talked up the qualities of others. Pedro acknowledges that Eden Hazard is “the most important player” at Chelsea and the club’s undisputed “star”, but he also considers Alvaro Morata to be a “very good” option. The Blues have often relied on their Belgium international forward for attacking inspiration, with his consistency helping to counter the unreliable form of others. Hazard has stepped up into the role of talisman again this season, contributing seven goals and four assists across 10 Premier League appearances, with…
The only player as good as Anthony Martial with the ball at his feet is Lionel Messi, claims Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Martial, 22, recently turned down a new contract offer from the Premier League giants which has coincided with a recent upturn in form under manager Jose Mourinho. Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all reportedly keeping a close eye on the France international who’s scored five league goals in his last four Premier League games. And while Mourinho has publicly expressed his desire of keeping hold of the former AS Monaco forward, his teammate…
Fabio Capello has backed Jose Mourinho’s treatment of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. The two men have endured a frosty relationship at Old Trafford recently, but former Juventus boss Capello insists Mourinho has ‘helped’ Pogba readjust to the Premier League. Pogba returned to United in 2016, having left the club for Juventus in the summer of 2012 with just seven appearances in English football to his name. He might have come back to the club as one of the world’s best midfielders, but Capello believes he still needed guidance on how to cope in the Premier League. That is where…
The 21-year-old came on to snatch a winner for the Red Devils against Bournemouth but the former United captain feels he needs more game time to grow Manchester United star Marcus Rashford must start for the club on a more regular basis if he is to find his best position, says former Red Devils captain Rio Ferdinand. Rashford came off the bench to snatch an injury-time winner against Bournemouth for Jose Mourinho’s side, giving them a 2-1 victory and helping them keep pace with the top four. But the England international spurned golden chances elsewhere in the game, failing to…
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League. Mesut Ozil started his third successive league game as Arsenal captain after returning to the side following being rested mid-week against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup. The playmaker of Turkish origin has been accused of not performing at his best in big games this season and this was a huge match. Liverpool headed into the game level with league leaders Manchester City on 26 points. Arsenal meanwhile, were just four points behind the leaders. We took a look at how Arsenal…
Barcelona will leave it late before deciding on Lionel Messi’s availability for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan but coach Ernesto Valverde said he won’t take any risks with the forward’s fitness. Messi, 31, has not played since breaking a bone in his arm in the win over Sevilla on Oct. 20. He was initially ruled out for three weeks but returned to training after 10 days and is in contention to play against Inter. He was among the travelling party that flew to Milan on Monday and trained at the San Siro with his teammates later in the…
AC Milan are planning a January move for Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, sources have said, with the defender becoming increasingly unsettled by his lack of opportunities under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. Bailly, a £30 million signing from Villarreal in June 2016, is expected to be named in United’s squad for the Champions League group-stage game against Juventus in Turin on Wednesday. But the Ivory Coast centre-half, 24, has not appeared in Mourinho’s team since being substituted after just 19 minutes of the 3-2 victory at home to Newcastle United last month. Discussions over an extension to Bailly’s contract, which…
Jose Mourinho is alone. His players are collecting their toiletry kits. A floor below him, the bar has a decent pre-dinner crowd with a festive energy. (Happy Birthday, Maureen!) Outside, the Manchester United bus idles beside a few dozen fans hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous. Mourinho waits. He always appears tiny next to his players (he prefers the tallest he can find), but even on his own, left leg crossed over right and hands at the back of an ever-graying head of close-cropped hair, Mourinho’s 5-foot-9 frame is wiry — a popsicle stick in track-suit bottoms. A…
Xherdan Shaqiri has not made the trip to Serbia for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade as Jurgen Klopp is keen to avoid off-the-pitch distractions. Shaqiri would have been given an extremely hostile reception in Belgrade after the Kosovo-born player celebrated a goal scored for Switzerland against Serbia at the World Cup with a gesture imitating a double-headed eagle, the Albanian national symbol. Shaqiri also wore the image of a Kosovo flag on his boot. Kosovo is a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, although Serbia does not recognise this. “It’s a situation where we will…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said the quality of the Premier League is “overrated” but that very few can handle the pace required to succeed in English football’s top flight. The Swede, now at LA Galaxy, spent 19 months at Manchester United between 2016 and 2018 — scoring 29 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions with much of his time blighted by a serious knee injury. Previous to that, he had played in his native Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France. Ibrahimovic, 37, said a lot of people tried to persuade him not to join United as he could produce…
Adams Oshiomhole has said that the ruling party is not in support of the misunderstanding between Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha and top leaders of the Christian community in the state. Oshiomhole said this on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at a meeting with Archbishop Anthony Obinna and representatives of the Christian community in Imo state. The APC chairman also condemned what he described as the Governor’s lack of respect for the Church. Reports have it that he said “Governor Rochas Okorocha’s personal battle with the Christian community in Imo State is a matter between him and the Catholic Church. We in…
The defence headquarters of the Nigerian Army has cautioned the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) to be ready to face the consequences if they insist on taking on the military. This follows the clashes that happened in Abuja last week where some members of the movement were killed by soldiers during protests. Many people, including four soldiers, also sustained injuries. During an Interview on the Osasu Show with Osasu Igbinedion, Army spokesperson, Brigadier General John Agim, denied allegations that the military was sent to disrupt the procession of the movement, saying those accusing the military wanted to…