Babatunde Fashola has approved the rehabilitation of failed portions of the federal roads across the state in Edo ahead of the festive season. Engineer Oke Owhe, the Federal Controller of Works in Edo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Benin that the effort was to make the roads safe and motorable during the festive season. “The minister has just approved ember months operations on roads across the state. What this means is that all roads leading into and out of the state would be rehabilitated. “As we speak, contractors are on site along the Benin –…
Author: David Folami
Gen. Yakubu Gowon said on Sunday that Nigeria’s problems would be resolved through unrelenting prayers by the church, rather than resorting to violence, retaliation and unforgiveness. Gowon, who is the President of the Nigeria Prays Movement, made the statement at a special prayers session at the Deeper Life Bible Church Headquarters in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual event brings together Christian faithful from various denominations as well as political office holders. Gowon, who took his reading from 2 Chronicles 7: 14, urged the congregation to pray for the nation, saying that God is interested…
Atiku Abubakar has been formally turbaned the 7th Waziri of Adamawa Emirate. Today, Sunday, November 25, 2018, the former Vice-President also turned 72 years. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the position of Waziri makes the former Vice President next to the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, in hierarchy in the emirate. Speaking at the occasion, the Lamido of Adamawa, said Atiku was honoured with the title of Waziri because of his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria, particularly Adamawa State, where his impact was felt in various sectors. “Atiku has also contributed greatly to unifying…
President Buhari has warned against the politicisation of the recent killing of over 100 soldiers in Borno state. Buhari made this known in a statement issued on Twitter on Sunday, November 25, 2018, via the handle: @MBuhari He said “We must resist the temptation to play politics with the tragedy of the deaths of our soldiers. They are heroes on the frontlines, fighting to make Nigeria a safer place for us all. Rest assured that the circumstances that have led to these deaths will be comprehensively addressed.” According to reports, 118 soldiers were killed when members of the Boko Haram…
The Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday said it was sure to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) to capture the state in the 2019 elections. The state Organising Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Agbaje, spoke in Epe during the campaign flag-off of Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, the Lagos East Senatorial candidate of the party. He said the party had been repositioned for greatness and the confidence of residents in the party was growing by the day. Agbaje said that residents were tired of what he called the failures of the APC administration in the…
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia, the Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has expressed concern over the call by IPOB on the South-East to boycott the 2019 general elections. Ugorji expressed his concern in his sermon on the occasion of the Corpus Christi (the celebration of Christ the King) at the Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia on Sunday. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) has repeatedly issued statements, calling on the people of the zone not to participate in the general elections. The group said the boycott would underscore the demand for…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Buhari to a debate with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The party said “President Buhari must face Atiku in person, as Nigerians are not ready to accept any representation, whosoever, from him. If, as a Commander-In-Chief, Mr President cannot face a political debate, how then can he vigorously engage international competitors?” According to reports, the PDP made this known in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan. It also accused the President of abandoning soldiers waging war against Boko Haram in the North-East. “Mr. President should explain why he has been…
The Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on his 72nd birthday celebration. The former Vice-President was born on November 25, 1946 at Jaba in Adamawa state. The PDP in a congratulatory message on Twitter, said “Hurray! The @OfficialPDPNig Presidential Candidate and former Vice President of Nigeria, H. E. Alhaji Atiku Abuakar, GCON, is 72 today. Happy Birthday Your Excellency @Atiku. We wish you more of Allah’s guidance and blessings as you prepare to pilot the affairs of our country.” According to reports, the House of Reps Speaker, Yakubu Dogara also wished the PDP presidential candidate well…
Stakeholders of All Progressive Congress(APC) in the North East, have endorsed President Mohammadu Buhari’s second term bid, saying he has performed well. They gave the endorsement at the end of a two -day APC North East Zonal meeting in Bauchi on Sunday. Malam Mustapha Salihu who is the APC National Vice Chairman for the North East said the president has done much for the sub-region in terms of providing infrastructural development as well as the fight against insurgency. “I want to say that this gathering is mainly an endorsement meeting and to show appreciation to Buhari’s administration for salvaging us…
Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace means they’ve now dropped seven points at Old Trafford this season. It was also the fourth time in all competitions they’ve drawn a blank at home: For comparison, the other five teams from the “big six” have only done that five times between them — and three of those were when Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool hosted Manchester City. But, naturally, this wasn’t Jose Mourinho’s fault. It was those cowardly players, you see? “[There was] not enough intensity, enough desire,” Mourinho said after the match. “We played a game like it is only one…
Maurizio Sarri said that even January signings will not turn Chelsea into a genuine threat to Manchester City in this season’s Premier League title race. Chelsea remain unbeaten after their first 12 matches of the league campaign and lie just four points behind leaders City, but Sarri has repeatedly insisted that last season’s 30-point gap is more reflective of the true gulf between his team and Pep Guardiola’s men. His scepticism has prompted reports that Chelsea could move to strengthen their squad in the January window, but Sarri — who has made no secret of his general disdain for the…
Sergio Busquets was surprised by the extent of Atletico Madrid’s defensive game plan on Saturday, labelling it “not that much fun” as the two title rivals played out a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano. Substitute Ousmane Dembele scored in the 90th minute to cancel out Diego Costa’s header and keep Barca ahead of Atletico at the top of the table by a solitary point. It was a game of few chances as Barca struggled to break down their typically organised hosts and Costa’s 77th-minute opener was the match’s first shot on target. “They sat back waiting to counter-attack,” Busquets…
Jose Mourinho doesn’t believe Alexis Sanchez wants to leave Manchester United in January, but suggested he will not stand in the way if the Chilean decides to quit Old Trafford. Sanchez has struggled since his move from Arsenal and was left on the bench for the 3-1 derby defeat to Manchester City before the international break. It has prompted speculation the 29-year-old, who has scored just once in 11 appearances this season, could seek to leave when the transfer window opens. “I don’t think so because he never told me that he wants to leave or isn’t happy to stay,”…
Manchester United’s hopes of securing a place in the Premier League top four were dealt another setback by a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho said before the game that he was confident his team would be in the Champions League places by the end of December but, after another frustrating afternoon, that is looking increasingly unlikely. His team stopped the flow of goals conceded, which is a minor victory after shipping 21 in just 12 games to start the season, but a day that should have seen United bounce back from derby disappointment at Man…
Unai Emery says he left Mesut Ozil out of Sunday’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth because of the “physicality and the intensity” of the game, after the German playmaker remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes. With Emery switching to a back-three formation, Ozil was surprisingly dropped to the bench despite being well rested after the international break, with Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan starting as the two attacking midfielders. Iwobi was involved in both of Arsenal’s goals but Mkhitaryan struggled at the Vitality Stadium, although Emery opted for other substitutions and didn’t even send Ozil out for a…
Xherdan Shaqiri has vowed that Liverpool will be challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title right until the end of the season. Liverpool secured their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign with a 3-0 victory at Watford on Saturday. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side still remain two adrift of reigning champions City, who beat West Ham United 4-0 on the weekend and remain unbeaten so far this term. “We’re going to be there until the end,” Shaqiri told reporters. “We don’t have to look to Man City, we just have to look to ourselves and try to give our…
Jordi Alba has said it is “strange” that the club have still not offered him a new deal but stressed it remains his intention to finish his career at Camp Nou. Alba, 29, is out of contract in 2020 and talks have not yet begun over new terms despite Barca’s former director of football Raul Sanllehi, now at Arsenal, promising him a new deal over two years ago. With the defender moving into the final 18 months of his current contract, he’s been linked with Manchester United and Juventus in recent weeks, but he says he has no plans to…
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona stopped Real Madrid winning the title when they recorded the club’s best-ever points tally, and he suggested his Manchester City side may have to repeat that feat again if they are to finish above Liverpool this season. Guardiola was in his second season at the Nou Camp in 2009-2010 when Barca collected 99 points to finish three above Madrid, at the time managed by Manuel Pellegrini, whose West Ham side were thrashed 4-0 by City on Saturday. This season, City, who last term collected a Premier League-record 100 points en route to a title, have taken 35…
Maurizio Sarri has said he still does not understand the character of his Chelsea team following their defeat to Tottenham. Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min scored in a 3-1 win as Spurs handed Sarri’s men their first defeat in 18 competitive games across all competitions. Mauricio Pochettino’s side also missed several other gilt-edged chances to heap further humiliation on their London rivals. In September, Sarri had said that he wanted to figure out the cause of their “strange” collapses following Premier League title triumphs under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte — but is no closer to finding the…
Michelle Obama’s newest memoir Becoming has officially hit shelves and sold 725,000 copies on its first day becoming the largest single-day total for any book published by Penguin Random House. The former First Lady is still doing press tours for her book, and during her recent one in Washington yesterday, her adoring husband Barack came by with a bouquet of flowers for his wife. The crowd obviously went wild when the 44th President of the United States made his surprise appearance and in the video below, you can see him comparing the event to when Jay Z pops up on…