Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Sunday, commiserated with the Delta State Government and the Catholic Church in Nigeria over the collapse of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Okpe Local Government Area. “My prayers are with the worshippers, affected families, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the people of Delta State on this morning’s collapse of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Okpe LGA. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to see that survivors are rescued and treated. “Right now, we must all come together as Muslims, Christians, people of faith and most importantly, Nigerians to provide all necessary relief for…
Author: David Folami
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is committed to mitigating the migration crisis Nigerians are facing, particularly in Libya and in the Mediterranean Sea. The party stated this in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Sunday when he reacted to comments made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the issue. “The PDP in its typical insensitive and unguarded stance on matters affecting the country is exploiting an issue that borders to on the lives of Nigerians, mostly youths. “It is a known fact that…
The All Progressives Congress(APC) says the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is already conceding defeat ahead of the 2019 elections by taking undue interest in the mode of primaries the APC adopts to elect its candidates for the elections. The party stated this in a statement issued by Mr Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja. “The APC is amused by the interest the PDP has in the mode of primary election we adopted to elect our party candidates for the 2019 elections. “With over 13 million registered APC members, coupled with a large section of non-partisan Nigerian…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said as a beneficiary of free and fair elections, he is not afraid of a credible process in 2019. To this effect, the president reaffirmed his commitment to making sure that the 2019 polls would be free, fair and credible. Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday that Buhari gave the assurance at an interactive session the Nigerian community in China. Buhari pledged that Nigerians eligible to vote in the general elections would be allowed to freely elect candidates of their choice. He said: ‘‘I have no fear about free and fair…
The Federal Government has set aside 1.3 billion dollars (about N468 billion) from the National Sovereign Investment Fund to finance five critical infrastructure projects. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Sunday when he appeared as guest on a Nigeria Television Authority programme, “Stepping Up”. The minister said the five ongoing projects to benefit from the fund included the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway construction, the second Niger bridge and the East-West road construction. The other two are the Abuja – Kano expressway construction and the Mambilla power project. He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to…
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has declared his intention to run for a second term in office during the 2019 elections. According to reports, the Governor also vowed to resist any attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the affairs of the state. “I want to tell you that I am prepared for that election (2019). Since the youths are the ones saying that I should come out to contest, I am ready to come out. “Let the security agencies know that we are prepared. When they are thinking of shooting, they will fall asleep, until…
Maurizio Sarri admitted he is worried that the September international break could disrupt Chelsea’s momentum and risk leaving his key players fatigued later in the season. As a consequence, Sarri expects to spend more of the next fortnight walking his dog, named Ciro, than he does working with his players at Cobham. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing because it will be very difficult to work,” Sarri said of the international break. “We have 18 or 19 players going away with the national teams so at Cobham there will only be left eight or nine players. So it…
Manchester United put the brakes on their dismal start to the season with a 2-0 win at Burnley, but a second-half red card for Marcus Rashford put a bit of a damper on a crucial victory for Jose Mourinho’s team at Turf Moor. Rashford, a second-half replacement for Alexis Sanchez, was sent off by referee Jon Moss after 10 minutes on the pitch following a head-butt on former United defender Phil Bardsley. The England forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct, forcing him out of the forthcoming games against Watford, Wolves and the EFL Cup clash against…
Barcelona thrashed La Liga debutants Huesca 8-2 on Sunday to move top of the table with a sensational display of attacking football that left the Camp Nou purring. Lionel Messi scored two and set two more in a huge win, although Huesca made a valiant attempt in an exciting first half by exposing chinks in Barcelona’s defence. 7 — Ernesto Valverde picked his strongest side and was rewarded with a spectacular victory. The coach also made his substitutions earlier than usual, taking the chance to rest Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Samuel Umtiti when the game was obviously over thanks…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal against Cardiff City in Arsenal’s 3-2 victory on Sunday ended the hitman’s 76-goal run of scoring inside the box, and was his first long-range goal for 30 months. Before slamming past Neil Etheridge after being picked out by Alexandre Lacazette in the 62nd minute of the Gunners’ Premier League victory, the forward’s last 76 goals had been from inside the box. Ahead of Sunday’s clash, Auba’s last goal from outside the box came in action for Borussia Dortmund, when he netted against Tottenham Hotspur in a Europa League clash in March 2016. The supreme poacher ended that…
Kylian Mbappe has apologised to the French champions’ supporters via social media for his straight red card at the end of Saturday’s 4-2 win away at Nimes in Ligue 1 on Saturday. The France international, who was booked earlier in the game, was directly dismissed after clashing with Teji Savanier. Although Mbappe was unrepentant in his post-match comments, he did publish an apology to the PSG fans via Twitter on Sunday and praised Les Parisiens’ ultras for their support at Stade des Costieres. “My dear Parisien supporters,” wrote the 19-year-old. “I wish to apologise to you for my actions on…
Brazil and Real Madrid legend Ronaldo will become the primary owner of Real Valladolid. Ronaldo, who will purchase a 51 percent stake in the club for €30 million, joined current majority owner and president Carlos Suarez and city mayor Oscar Puente at a ceremony at the city hall on Monday. “I have gone through many experiences in my career that have prepared me for this,” Ronaldo said. “Football is always a passion.” Suarez, who owns 66 percent of the shares in the club, believes selling a stake to Ronaldo will only help it succeed. “Ronaldo’s arrival puts Real Valladolid on…
Serie A title hopefuls Napoli were thumped 3-0 at Sampdoria on Sunday after coach Carlo Ancelotti tinkered with the team, dropping captain Marek Hamsik and forward Jose Callejon. Gregoire Defrel scored two first-half goals to put Sampdoria in command and, although Napoli improved after the break, Fabio Quagliarella added a third with an outrageous flick in the 75th minute. A low cross was sent into the area and the 35-year-old forward, at the near post, diverted it into the net with the back of his heel. Last season’s runners-up Napoli, who came from behind to win both their first two…
Wayne Rooney scored the tiebreaking goal on a penalty kick and also had two assists to help D.C. United record a 3-1 victory over visiting Atlanta United on Sunday night at Audi Field in Washington. Midfielder Luciano Acosta scored the other two goals as D.C. United posted a crucial victory. D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid made six saves. The win elevated D.C. United (8-11-6, 30 points) into a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with the New England Revolution. D.C. stands six points behind the sixth-place Montreal, which currently holds the final playoff spot, but D.C. has three games…
Manchester City have matched their start from last season’s title-winning campaign but manager Pep Guardiola insisted they will get better. City are behind Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford in the Premier League table, and Guardiola expects a tougher challenge for the title, but is delighted to take 10 points from a possible 12 — the same total as last year. “We beat Chelsea in the Community Shield and in general, in the four games, we were better than the four teams,” Guardiola said at a news conference after the 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday. “That’s what we are looking…
Yaya Toure claims he rejected offers from other clubs in Europe, Asia and the United States to return to Greek Super League side Olympiakos. The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure made his name at the Piraeus club in the 2005-2006 season before embarking on his glittering career in Spain and England. The 35-year-old said in a post on his official website: “It is an honour to be back at Olympiacos! When I left in 2006 I said I would come back and I am delighted to keep my word. I had offers from lots of clubs across…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that all presidential aspirants in the party must sign an undertaking. This is coming ahead of the PDP’s national convention slated to hold on October 5 – October 6, 2018. Ologbondiyan said the aspirants will also be given code of conduct guidelines to known what is expected of them. According to Daily Post, he said “It is an undertaking and it will be signed by all our presidential aspirants. The undertaking will tell the aspirants what the party expects from them before, during and after the primary. “The undertaking will make it clear…
The Niger Government said it had spent N930 million on the construction of the new Baigaie – Daracida road in Bida Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, made this disclosure on Saturday in Minna in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). According to him, the new road is expected to enhance the socio-economic activities of the people of the council area. He expressed the hope that the road would enable farmers the opportunity to transport farm produce to the nearby markets without much stress. Balarabe said that…
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has said that world leaders are queueing to meet President Buhari. Shehu said this while speaking to newsmen after Buhari landed in China for the 7th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. According to reports, the summit is slated to hold from September 3 to September 4, 2018. The presidential spokesman said the development shows that leaders all around the world like Buhari. “You know that as a policy, we said that we are not going to answer the American President, however, the fact that the…
Prof. Isaac Adewole on Saturday pledged to furnish the newly built clinic of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Ede, Osun. “When I received a call from an NYSC official that the scheme needed drugs in Osun, I told her not to worry that I know someone I can call. “To me the scheme is an instrument of national unity and I will continue to support it. “I want to thank Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola who did not think twice before agreeing to support you with the needed drugs. “I must augment what he has done, I haven’t…