Osita Chidoka, has dismissed accusations that he supports leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to achieve popularity to fuel his political ambition. He said, “The law took its course on him. He got bailed from a court, I now participated in ensuring that the bridge of communication between the angry young people in the South East and the rest of the country is a burden I believe I bear as a young minister. “As a young former Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, I believe I serve as a beautiful bridge; I serve as…
Author: David Folami
A Nigerian civil society organization, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, has urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate and prosecute Senate President Bukola Saraki over false declaration of assets and other financial crimes. The organization made its call for the prosecution of Mr. Saraki after he was implicated in the Paradise Papers, a massive leak exposing the offshore tax havens owned by prominent world politicians and wealthy business people. In a press release signed by Mr. Suraju, HEDA said, “In the new findings by PREMIUM TIMES and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ),…
The Federal Government has said it is determined and focused in making Nigeria the most preferred investment destination on the continent of Africa. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, stated this during the 9th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment held in Sokoto state. He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is creating an enabling environment to attract Foreign Direct Investment as well as encourage local businesses to thrive in line with the diversification drive of the administration. On his part, Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the present efforts of his administration in agriculture…
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has mocked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for failing to equal naira to dollar as it promised during the 2015 electioneering campaign. Gbenga said leaders of the ruling APC were unable to give a good account of themselves. Daniel spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, when he visited the PDP secretariat to solicit for the state party’s support for the national chairmanship position. “The PDP has gone through a lot of problems and challenges in recent times, but despite all of that, we are holding our heads high because the APC which ousted the PDP and…
Yemi Osinbajo has requested for consensus among legal practitioners on the preservation of the legal practice in Nigeria to enhance the profession and national development. Osinbajo made the call while delivering the closing address at the maiden dinner of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, held in Lagos. Osinbajo said: “A professional elite such as ourselves, we owe a responsibility to ensure that we act professionally with honour and integrity; first, for the selfish reason that it confers on us natural respect and prestige. “Ultimately, the difference between the elite or professional, and those who destroy the patrimony, is…
Goodluck Jonathan has described ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo as the “boss of bosses.” According to him, any politician who ignores the elder statesman does so at his loss. Jonathan said: “He (Atiku) can’t get the APC ticket. If Atiku gets our party ticket, he would compete well. “He’s always a passionate politician. But he would have to reach out to our boss, Baba OBJ, the boss of all bosses. “We’ve all learnt at different times that you ignore OBJ at your peril. OBJ has the magic wand. He is respected at home and abroad.” Obasanjo played a major role in the…
Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared he is against the raising of a Special Panel of the Appeal Court on local government councils in Rivers State by the President of the Court of Appeal, alleging that it is an attempt to manipulate the judicial process in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor said he would raise petitions to all necessary quarters because the alleged moves by the President of the Court of Appeal with the Special Panel of the Appeal Court recently constituted to attend to a matter before the Supreme court, is a gross violation…
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stressed a stern warning to President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel his planned trip to Ebonyi and Anambra states this week. Their statement read, “The consequences of any fall out from the visit of the impostor Jubril to Ebonyi State will rest squarely on the head of Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Gov. Dave Umahi, Rochas Okorocha and the rest of South East governors. “Bringing this version of ‘Buhari’ to insult the memory of those killed at Enugu, Nkpor, Igweocha, Aba, Onitsha and lastly Umuahia will not be tolerated by IPOB and every right thinking Biafran…
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked for a change to the mess in the Nigerian education system that’s responsible for an estimated 13.2 million children currently out of school. His full statement read, “I am delighted to welcome you all to this important ministerial summit which I consider crucial to our quest to improving the lot of our people through the provision of quality and functional education for all, at all levels. “I want to begin by congratulating the Minister of Education and the entire education family for setting the stage for this national conversation that is aimed at refocusing the…
Jupp Heynckes has blasted Bayern Munich’s failure to sign top young German talents such as Timo Werner and urged the club to spend big on the very best players if the opportunity arises. “A club like Bayern should have signed a Timo Werner from Stuttgart years ago,” Heynckes said. He said Werner “could have learned a great deal here” and added: “The best players must play — it does not matter whether they are old or young. “Do you think that a Franck Ribery can always expect to play? No. When he is not on form, he will not play.…
Gabriel Batistuta has said that Lionel Messi surpassing his Argentina goal-scoring record pissed him off but he is at least “second to an extra-terrestrial.” On whether he was annoyed to lose his record, Batistuta told the Argentine TV station: “Honestly, not a little but a lot, yes. It was a title that I held. It’s not just any old thing. “You go around the world and you say, ‘I’m the top scorer for the Argentina national team.’ I liked that. “But the advantage I have is that I’m second to an extra-terrestrial.” “He’ll finish with double the goals that I’ve…
Karim Benzema has said his international career is on a long pause as long as Didier Deschamps remains France boss. He has since demanded answers from Deschamps that have not been forthcoming, and with the France coach having recently extended his contract to 2020 after clinching a place at next summer’s World Cup, Benzema, 29, is all but resigned to his international exile being extended. “It’s a vague story. There was that sex tape affair, it was also because of that. Personally, what goes beyond sport you have to put to one side, you need the best to win trophies,”…
Mousa Dembele has said he is ready to face Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium. “I played 45 minutes in the last game [against Crystal Palace], so it is good. Of course, I want to be playing and adding my value, but right now I am very optimistic and feel good. “For us every game is important but we know there is some extra vibe the for this kind of game — it’s very important for us. “Also, like the fans, we have the same goal, we want to achieve something as a club and any…
Andrew Robertson said he had talked to Jurgen Klopp about his lack of game time and been told he remains part of the manager’s first-team plans. “Of course it’s difficult. I don’t make any secret of it, I hate not playing,” Scotland international Robertson said. “It’s been a very frustrating three months for me, but I spoke to the manager as I felt as if the settling-in period was over and thought I was ready to play. “I felt I did myself justice in the games I did play, so I had a good chat with him. He gave me…
Karim Benzema has said he began to lose respect for Jose Mourinho after a 2011 news conference in which his then coach compared him to a cat. He has expressed revealed his irritation over the remark. Mourinho told reporters: “If I can’t hunt with a dog, I will hunt with a cat. With a dog you hunt more and you hunt better. “But if you have not got a dog and you have got a cat, you hunt with a cat.” Benzema has now replied that it had been the result of what had been “a good relationship” to begin…
Julian Draxler has done away with speculation linking him with a move to Bayern Munich. “I am not thinking about leaving the club in winter or even in the summer,” he said. “I am right in the middle of the season with PSG and solely concentrating on our big targets. Now is not the relevant time to think about my immediate or near future.” However, Draxler added: “Of course the Bundesliga is always interesting.” The Germany international signed for PSG from Wolfsburg for €40 million in January and is under contract until 2021. Despite saying “there’s no doubt that Julian…
Gareth Southgate has cautioned he who cares to listen that Brazil will be a tougher test for England than Germany because of the individual quality of players like Neymar, who he claimed is the only player in the world who can justify a £200 million price tag. “There’s been a good response to what happened on Friday but we’ll be judged again on the performance [against Brazil],” Southgate said. “We’re in for a much sterner test against this Brazilian team. They’re well down the road in terms of knowing what their best team is, they have a very clear way…
Sadio Mane’s fitness will be assessed when he returns to Liverpool after being released from international duty early, manager Jurgen Klopp has said. Klopp has said: “Specifically on him returning to Melwood early to be with us; obviously it is a concern that the hamstring injury is again on the agenda and it will be critical for us to monitor and manage that in the coming days. “At this stage we haven’t seen Sadio yet to properly assess the extent, but what is clear is that we will have to stay on top of this for the rest of the…
Mats Hummels has again refused to tip his former coach Thomas Tuchel as a potential successor to Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munich, and said he is “torn” over Julian Nagelsmann’s claims for the job. Bayern appointed the 72-year-old Heynckes as interim coach last month after Carlo Ancelotti’s sack in the aftermath of a 3-0 Champions League defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain. Hummels said he had “already spoken to the Bayern hierarchy a few weeks ago to discuss a successor to Ancelotti,” with CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge declining to rule former Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel out of the running last month. Hummels,…
Rihanna is one of our most multi-hypenate superstars: She’s a singer, a fashion designer, a make-up mogul, and now, she might be able to add beauty blogger to the list. While the bad gal has previously supported the efforts of a toddler-reviewer (!) for her Fenty Beauty highlighter, she now appears in front of the camera herself to promote her “Stunna” lip paint, resulting in a DIY-style tutorial on Instagram. With her own Watch ‘N Learn playing on the background (we do love a good Rihanna-themed meta-reference), the star continued to show us how she applies the scarlet-colored liquid into…