James Ibori has said that Nigeria is the biggest loser in ex-VP, Alex Ekwueme’s death. Ibroi said “Though His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, was a great leader, a national father-figure, a stabilizing factor in Nigerian politics, I Chief James Onanefe Ibori can never stop asking “what if!” Ibori said. “It is ironic that the nation that betrayed this man’s effort to rescue it from political and economic morass will, now that he is dead, begin to shed crocodile tears. “Even those who betrayed the very effort to make Ekwueme President, may begin to, hypocritically, of course, bewail the fact…
Author: David Folami
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described the death of the first civilian Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme as a shock. “The late Ekwueme was a selfless, disciplined and patriotic Nigerian, who lived a worthy and exemplary life. “His irrepressible thirst for knowledge and education, which propelled his foray into many fields of intellectual pursuit represents a shining example to the younger generation,’’ he said. “As the whole world pays tribute to Ekwueme, I join them in celebrating the life of a man who raised from the beacon of human struggle to lofty heights of nobility.’’ ‘’His life is an example…
Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday said that the late Dr Alex Ekwueme left his footprints on the sands of time. “Dr Ekwueme was a man of many parts. He was a scholar of repute who had so many academic awards to his name. “Not only did he bag degrees in Philosophy, History, Sociology, Law as well as Architecture and City Planning, he was a successful business man to the core and impacted on the lives of his people positively. “He was also a detribalised Nigerian who committed to the course of a united, indivisible and prosperous Nigeria. “He believed…
Sen. David Mark, has described the late Second Republic Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, as a quintessential leader and hero of democracy in Nigeria. “Interestingly, the six geo political zonal structure ( North West, North East, South East, South West, North Central and South South ) have remained the a road map for power sharing arrangement in Nigeria today.” “Nigeria and indeed Africa have lost a visionary leader, a forefront politician who brought intellectualism into governance.” “His quest for excellence, due process and rule of law in Nigeria will remain a reference point in politics and leadership in many years to…
Muhammadu Buhari has blasted the bloody terrorist attack that has claimed the lives of over 50 victims in Adamawa state. The president condoled with families of the several victims as well as the people and government of the state, while also telling them that everything required to secure the state from the deadly menace of terrorist group, Boko Haram, will be done. The statement read, “The President enjoined the people in the entire North-east to be more vigilant and report suspicious persons to security agencies in order to avert further attacks on soft targets by the terrorist group.” Shehu’s statement…
Dr Acho Orabuchi, founding National Chairman of Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF-USA) has congratulated Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State on his re-election, describing his amazing victory as a reflection of his people-oriented programmes. Orabuchi commended Obiano for his governance style, urging those seeking public office to be prudent and honest, to win the trust of the people. He urged them to be well-versed policies that would uplift the masses. Orabuchi advised political office holders to have policies in place to pay salaries and pensions regularly, and build infrastructure that would facilitate development. He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for not…
Yakubu Dogara, has asked the Nigerian and Italian governments to use drastic measures to fight human trafficking as the Mediterranean has become a death trap for many people in pursuit of greener pastures in foreign countries. He said, “Anyone forced into deep retrospection over these multiple regrettable tragedies cannot but ask these questions: What makes a young boy or girl leave their families and subject themselves to this terrible ordeal? What are the possible solutions to this inhuman trafficking in persons? Have the relevant authorities in Nigeria and Italy done enough to stop this crime against humanity? “The Mediterranean has…
Stella Oduah who served as Aviation Minister in the Goodluck Jonathan era, has blamed Diezani Alison-Madueke (a former petroleum resources minister) for her dismissal from the cabinet in 2014. Oduah was in trouble after it was revealed that she bought luxury bullet proof cars for herself–from coffers of aviation agencies she was supervising. The BMW armoured cars cost the Nigerian taxpayer $1.6M. In a new book written by Bolaji Abdullahi, a spokesperson of the governing APC who also served in the Jonathan cabinet as Sports Minister, Oduah said her ouster was the result of intense power play and jealousy from…
New Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat has talked about a training ground ban under Thomas Tuchel as the main reason he considered a move away from Borussia Dortmund. “I probably never would have considered thinking about other clubs,” Mislintat said. “But the training ground ban, initiated by the club’s former coach, as well as the instructions to keep away from the inner circle, from players, from the staff, from many friends with whom I worked so closely throughout the years, all of that influenced my thinking. “I already had offers in the past years, but I never really considered…
Antonio Conte has again told fixture schedulers to give top English clubs more “respect,” with Chelsea set to face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday less than 72 hours after completing a gruelling 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan to take on Qarabag in the Champions League. “On Saturday we are going to play another tough game against Liverpool,” Conte told a news conference. “This season it is the second time we have had this situation, firstly against Manchester City and now Liverpool is playing tonight and we play tomorrow, a long trip, and it will be very difficult to recover and…
Jurgen Klopp has said he is hopeful defender Joel Matip will return from injury in time for Saturday’s game against Chelsea. “The squad looks good,” Klopp told the club’s official website. “They are pretty much all here from the normal squad, apart from Joel. He is in Liverpool and full training, so all good. “He is good. I think there will be a big chance he will be ready for Saturday, but there was no chance for this game — it was a little bit too quick, but it’s all good.” Klopp also said: “We thought a lot about. How…
Mauricio Pochettino has said he will caution Dele Alli to be on his best behaviour during Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Borussia Dortmund. Pochettino’s warning is coming after the news that the match at the Westfalenstadion will be officiated by Clement Turpin, who was refereeing the World Cup qualifier when Alli was caught making a middle finger gesture. “I didn’t know,” Pochettino admitted after finding that Turpin was the referee involved in the incident. “It’s important to be aware.” “I will tell Dele to be careful if he is the referee,” he continued. “Always it’s important. “The referee moves on…
Jurgen Klopp is of the opinion that striker Daniel Sturridge needs to forget any concerns he may have about his place in the side for the good of the club’s season. “I can imagine a player with his quality is not happy that he is not starting all the time, but that’s all,” said Klopp. “The situation with the player is completely okay. At this moment we are in November and need all our players — even if he feels a little different. “There is around one-and-a-half months before the window opens and I don’t think about things like this.…
Pepe has said that he would love his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to join him at Besiktas. “If I could choose and if it were possible, of course I would like for Cristiano [Ronaldo] to come here,” he said. “He’s a person for whom I have maximum respect.” Since arriving in Turkey, Pepe has regularly praised his new club’s fans, drawing some protest from supporters back in Madrid. Although linked with a host of clubs including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain last summer, he said he had been drawn to Besiktas by the affection shown by their fans even before…
Antoine Griezmann has said there is no way he is quitting the club in January, and explained recent comments in which he appeared to show an interest in joining Paris Saint-Germain. Griezmann, 26, almost left for Manchester United last summer, before signing a new contract as a FIFA transfer ban meant Atletico could not sign an immediate replacement. But the France international rejected a suggestion put to him on TV show Telefoot that he already had an agreement with Atletico club chiefs to leave in the winter. “No,” Griezmann said. “I have not spoken about that with the president. Plus…
Granit Xhaka is certain it is possible that Manchester City can fumble, despite their near-perfect start to the Premier League season. “I think in football everything is possible,” Xhaka said. “Manchester City, at the moment, are on a very good run, they’re doing very well and others have dropped points — which they haven’t done — but it’s conceivable that they could drop points as well.” “They might not continue as they have been,” Xhaka said of City. “But our aim is just to focus on ourselves. We know we need to work and we’re convinced that we can compete…
Josep Bartomeu has said the club need to add a “finishing touch” to their squad in January if they are to win the Champions League for the sixth time in their history. Coutinho remains the club’s top priority going into the January window, while Mundo Deportivo report Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil is the backup plan if a move for the Brazili international fails again. “There are people more qualified than me, like [general manager] Pep Segura and [CEO] Oscar Grau,” Bartomeu said at the Catalan Sports Awards on Monday when asked if signings can be expected in January. “We’re satisfied with…
Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Eric Bailly were Manchester United’s only absentees as they trained at Carrington ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture at Basel. Jones remains absent after worsening a thigh problem while on international duty with England, while Bailly is still missing with what Jose Mourinho has only described as an “injury.” Their being out means the manager is still without his first-choice central-defensive pairing, with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof expected to continue to take their place, as they did in Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat of Newcastle. Club captain Carrick, 36, has appeared only once all season,…
Yomi Fabiyi will not sit and watch his reputation ridiculed over a recent sexual harassment allegation leveled against him by a female aspiring actress who accused him of wrongdoing via Instagram. Eniola Omoshalewa Eunice, had alleged in a post that the actor intended to have sexual intercourse with her in exchange for a role in a movie nine years ago. Her blunt rejection of the idea led her to abandoned on the highway from where she made her way home in tears. “Please anyone who know or has or had direct dealings with this woman and how she can be…
Kemi Adebita could be the most humble person around as she pens down a very deep message about how she found success not without heaping some praises on herself. “Saw a picture of a super hot lady this morning on Instagram, and it left me feeling a little, unusually insecure… A little “less than”. I then broke down what was making me belittle MYSELF, and they were all physical insecurities. “I’ve never been that overtly sexy girl. I’m the clumsy sweats and sneakers girl who loves basketball, listens to hip-hop music, and laughs like a drunk Irish man in a…