After the forced resignation of Jacob Zuma as the President of South Africa, owing to corruption allegations, the Imo State government says the statue it erected in honour of the embattled ex-President will not be pulled down. But, reacting to calls by some persons for the statue to be removed after his resignation, a statement on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeudo, said Zuma, who he said did not receive any formal education, rose to play a major role in the freedom of the people of South Africa. The statement partly read, “He resigned honourably, and…
Author: David Folami
Muhammadu Buhari is set to meet Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress at his country home in Daura, Katsina state today, a day after he received the party’s governors. We have reliably gathered that the APC leadership and top chieftains of the party would be converging in Daura to commiserate with the President who recently lost two members of his extended family. Reports have it that the second meeting of Tinubu with the president in Daura on Saturday might go beyond mere condolence visit. “Look, in the next few weeks and months the president…
In keeping with its avowed commitment to promoting the common good and rewarding excellence in the society, the Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Daily Independent, Saturday Independent and Sunday Independent titles, has nominated Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the Independent 2017 Man of the Year. The governor will receive the award at an event on Saturday at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is Governor of the Year and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike Political Icon of the year. For his sterling role in weathering the storm of the killer-herdsmen in his…
Mohamed Salah’s start to life at Anfield have been so splendid that fans are singing about converting to Islam in honour of their new idol. Salah became the second fastest Liverpool player to reach 30 goals in a season with a balletic finish in just his 36th appearance for the club in Wednesday’s 5-0 Champions League rout of Porto. And in the streets of the Portuguese city in midweek the travelling Liverpool fans struck up a new chant to the tune of 90s hit ‘Good Enough’ by Dodgy with the line: “If he scores another few, then I?ll be Muslim…
Antonio Conte wants his selection headache ahead of a vital few weeks for the English champions after a much-changed side thrashed Hull City 4-0 to reach the FA Cup quarter finals on Friday. “Before an important game, against Barcelona, tonight I go to my house with many doubts in my mind, which is the best starting XI to start the game against Barcelona,” said Conte. “But it’s right to be so. We must take the right time to make the best decision to pick the best XI to start that game.” “We are talking about a massive game. But now,…
Massimiliano Allegri warned against an obsession with the Champions League as be unveiled a revamped side for Sunday’s Turin derby against city rivals Torino. “The Champions League must not be experienced as an obsession, because when you have an obsession, you will not win anything,” said Allegri. “I say everyone around Juventus should be very proud, because we have become stable in the top 10 European clubs. “Our chances of progress are just the same as they were before the first leg,” he insisted. “We got a lot wrong in that game. Having said that, Tottenham have for years been…
Arjen Robben says he plans to extend his career by moving to a new club should Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich fail to offer him a contract extension. “At the moment, I feel very fit, really good and I believe that I can still play at the top level for one or two more years — that’s my goal,” Robben told website sportbuzzer.de. “I have such an open and honest communication with all those responsible here (at Bayern) that I am not worried at all. “The club will have a plan. And then the club and I will have to decide…
Cesc Fabregas has warned Chelsea to be careful with his old friend Andres Iniesta’s timeless “intelligence” ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Barcelona. “He’s still good; for this type of player age doesn’t really matter,” said Fabregas, of the 123-cap, 33-year-old Iniesta. “Once you have a talent, once you have the class that he and so many other ‘big’ players have, they can play until their late 30s. “Physically, it’s important, obviously because the game nowadays depends a lot on that. But when you have the quality, when you have the intelligence, it can sometimes compensate.” Asked if Iniesta…
Jose Mourinho faces an anxious wait to discover whether Paul Pogba can take part in Manchester United’s midweek Champions League last 16 trip to Sevilla after he missed their FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town. Mourinho, whose relationship with club-record signing Pogba has been under close scrutiny in recent weeks, insisted he did not even know what the illness was or how long the France midfielder may be unable to play, having planned to play him in a 4-3-3 system that the player considers his favourite. “I don’t know,” said Mourinho when asked about the nature of Pogba’s illness after…
Jose Mourinho believes Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology must be more reliable before being rolled out across English football after his Manchester United side saw a goal ruled out in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup 5th round win at Huddersfield. United, weren’t made to rue that decision, though, as Romelu Lukaku struck early in both halves to ease their passage into a quarter-final at home to Brighton. “I think our game is so beautiful that to change we have to change for the better,” said Mourinho, who had previously backed the use of VAR. “If they find a way in the…
Edinson Cavani netted twice as Paris Saint-Germain beat Strasbourg 5-2 on Saturday to relieve some of the pressure on the runaway Ligue 1 leaders following their Champions League defeat at Real Madrid. “The victory was important after the match on Wednesday. We win all our home matches,” said Emery, whose side last dropped points at the Parc des Princes in May. “We have to show we can maintain this level of play against bigger teams, without meaning any disrespect to Strasbourg.” He added: “We spoke about (the Madrid defeat) in the dressing room. Of course they remember the match from…
Michy Batshuayi has revealed his frustrating time at Chelsea, claiming he “did not have a good time” at the Premier League giants. “I did not have a good time at Chelsea, but I’m doing well here and I?ve been well received by my colleagues and supporters,” Batshuayi told Belgian network Sporza. “Sitting on the bench, scoring a goal and then being back on the bench is quite difficult to deal with for an attacker. “As a young player, you need a lot of playing time to evolve. It’s perfect here, and I’m trusted by everyone.” He is unconcerned about his…
Four of the top Premier League’s top five were kept apart in Saturday’s draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals as Manchester United host Brighton, whilst Chelsea visit Leicester. Tottenham Hotspur face a trip to Sheffield Wednesday or Swansea, who need a replay after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Hillsborough, should Mauricio Pochettino’s men overcome third-tier Rochdale on Sunday. Manchester City continue their quest for a historic quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup with a fifth round trip to Wigan on Monday. The ties will be played between March 16 and 19. Draw in full: Sheffield Wednesday…
Goodluck Jonathan has said the All Progressives Congress (APC), has failed to fulfill its campaign promises as well as restoring hope to the people. He said: “I believe that PDP will return to power in 2019 if we continue to build confidence especially as the ruling party has failed to meet up their promises and give hope to the people. “Propaganda may help you win elections but can’t help you govern and that is what APC has seen in the last 32 months.” “Holding presidential election first will affect the quality of persons that will emerge in other polls because…
Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has asked for the promotion of Nigerian culture to attain the SDGs. She expressed the government’s readiness to do whatever it could to achieve sustainable development in the country, without compromising the future generation. “Nigeria has a rich culture that is one of the best in the world, and it should be properly harnessed to create wealth and bring about sustainable development. “Nigeria has all it takes to be great since we are blessed with abundant human and natural resources. “These resources should be a…
Members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have been called to obtain their permanent voter’s card. The call was made by the leadership of the movement as stated by National Secretary, Ibem Ugwuoke, in a statement issued on Friday, February 16, 2018. “MASSOB orders all Biafrans that are constitutionally eligible to vote to immediately go for voter registration card in the nearest INEC office. That possession of the Nigeria’s voter card is not merely for Nigeria’s elections only but for Biafra Referendum as the only identification card for eligibility of the people that…
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives from Lagos State on Saturday endorsed Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office. “We are members of the House of Representatives APC caucus from Lagos State. “We all came into Lagos today to perform a very unique and sacred duty; something we did not take very lightly at all; something we deliberated over a couple of days ago and we spoke with one voice. “Because of the giant strides of our amiable governor in the last two and a half years in governing the state, we…
A part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a query to the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and suspended some of his aides. Those suspended by the new faction include: Political Adviser, Mallam Uba Sani; Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Abdu Kwari and the acting state secretary of the party, Yahaya Pate. Governor El-Rufai, in his response, dismissed the query, describing the new group as political traders. He also said that he will remain committed to providing good governance to people of Kaduna. El-Rufai said that he will not “pay heed to the attention-seeking gambits of desperate politicians, who…
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu recently visited Sokoto, where he met with Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko. Speaking briefly to reporters after the meeting, Tinubu said he was in Sokoto for a family meeting. “Family members meet regularly to talk to each other and I’m here for that purpose. “We had a family talk, in talk of today, tomorrow and the future of our country and our ruling APC,” he said. Tina but was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile the various warring parties within the APC.
Olusegun Obasanjo has said he would commit suicide if he finds out Nigeria has no single ray of hope. “If I believe that Nigeria has no hope, I will find a way of committing suicide immediately. Then what am I living for? I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria. Nigeria has hope. “If you are a person without hope, you are a person without life. How can I therefore say Nigeria has no hope?” he said. He said: “There are many things that we should have done that we have not done as we should have done them. There is…