The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast led by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said it will only support a candidate of northern roots for the presidency in the 2019 general elections. The Zonal Chairman of the party, Austin Umahi made this known recently. David Umahi also said that the zone was in favour of the emergence of the party national chairman from the south of Nigeria. “We are committed to the PDP zoning arrangement of president to the North and national party chairman to the South of Nigeria. “We mandate our governors, zonal chairman and national assembly…
Author: David Folami
Dr Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Monday said poverty and lack of enlightenment were major problems facing Nigeria, not restructuring. Banire made the statement on the sidelines of an Independence Day Anniversary programme organised by the Lagos State chapters of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lagos. “People agitate only when they feel offended and deprived, but the solution for deprivation does not lie in restructuring. It will never end. “If you split today, some people in the split group will still rise up later to agitate…
Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has asked Muslim communities to hold onto the legacies of late Chief Imam in the state, Sheikh Garba Akinola, especially on inter-religious and ethnic harmony. According to him, the late cleric also believed in mutual and peaceful co-existence among people, irrespective of their religions or tribes. ”We should continue to live together in peace, irrespective of religion or tribe; we should emulate all those virtues of the late Chief Imam and his strict adherence to the doctrines of Islam. ”The state government will continue to miss him for the noble role he played to promote…
Alhaji Maimala Buni, National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to Nigerians to show support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance good governance and development. “Nigeria under previous regimes lost several opportunities, this government is determined to give the country a new lease of life through good governance, effective and efficient infrastructural development. “It is most unfortunate that at 57 we are still battling to stabilize, this government has come with a new sense of commitment to fight corruption which has been largely responsible to Nigeria’s problems. “President Buhari has taken the bold step to diversify…
Patience Jonathan, has said she is the most ridiculed of all the first ladies in Nigeria’s history. She made this known in a statement credited to her Chief Press Secretary, Belema Meshack-Hart recently. “We wish to place it on record that in the history of this country, no wife of any President had been so far investigated in such flagrantly vindictive and disgraceful manner, as has been the fate of Mrs. Jonathan, in the hands of Magu’s EFCC,” the statement read. “We believe that she is being systematically persecuted and punished because of her unflinching support for her husband during…
Muhammadu Buhari has described late retired Air Vice Marshal Mukhtari Mohammed as “one of the finest, most principled, patriotic and loyal military officers’’ he had ever seen and respected. “AVM Mohammed was so passionately committed to his principles and beliefs that he had to leave his military career earlier than expected on account of those principles. “Very few Nigerians are ready to lose their jobs or offices on account of their beliefs, but the late Mohammed was an exception to this ugly reality of Nigeria, a society where public office holders respect power more than principles,’’ he said. The President…
Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration should not be blamed for the infrastructural deficiencies in the country. “We do not get to the situation where we get into overnight and we should not expect to get out of it overnight. “If you look at what the government inherited and where we are today it is clear that the government has remained focused and the solutions proferred to our challenges are working. “When we came in, the economy was over dependent on oil and today the recovery is being driven by agriculture, mining creative industry and manufacturing which…
Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, has begged the Igbo leaders to view themselves as partners with the federal government in promoting peace and stability in the country. According to him, Buhari’s message to all community leaders including the Ohanaeze is that they have a big role to play in what happens in their communities and in how their youths behave. “President Buhari was not abdicating his responsibilities. He didn’t request any political leader to do anything seminal or out of the box. “All he says is, talk to your out-of-the-line-youth so that we have some peace. “Igbo leaders need…
Jose Mourinho is trying to get Luke Shaw to fight for his place at Manchester United and is “testing” him, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has said. Shaw was left out of the squad for the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday. Mourinho has told left-back Shaw he wants him to “improve,” and Ferdinand said: “It looks like he is testing them mentally. “Hit them with something — are you going to stay down or are you going to get up and fight? If you get up then he says yes, that’s the type of man…
Zinedine Zidane said he was “a bit disappointed” for Ronaldo after his wait for a league goal this season extended. Ronaldo suffered another personally frustrating game in Real’s 2-0 home win over Espanyol, hitting the target only once from four shots. He now has 22 unsuccessful attempts at goal, three of them on target, in three La Liga games after he missed the first four fixtures through suspension. Since joining Madrid, the longest Ronaldo had previously gone without scoring at the start of a La Liga season was 255 minutes in 2010-11. Zidane said “It is not that [Ronaldo] is…
Ryan Bertrand has tipped Harry Kane to succeed Wayne Rooney as the next permanent England captain. “[The captiancy] is completely down to the manager. ‘H’ [Harry Kane] gets my vote,” Bertrand said. “He is in great form. Him coming to the England camp in such fine form is a massive boost for the whole squad. “What we are blessed with is we have a lot of leaders in the camp now and whoever is tasked with that duty on the night is deserving of that.” England look to seal qualification for the World Cup in Russia this month as they…
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford wants to be like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but says building a unique identity is key for success — both for himself and England. Rashford is already an important figure for club and country, but he admits he is still learning after a rapid rise since his United debut 19 months ago. “Ronaldo in the Super Cup — he was only on for 20 minutes or so but if you look at his movement and how he’s changed to what he is now, it’s amazing how he still continues like he does,” Rashford said,…
Joe Hart doesn’t think he has been given a “fair chance” by Pep Guardiola as his Manchester City career looks to be over since the Spaniard’s arrival last summer. “That’s life and that’s football. We all want a fair chance at everything but that’s not how it works,” Hart said. “Me waiting for that to happen and waiting for a fair shot at things, that’s not the industry. “I’m up for a fight, a fair fight, it’s good for me and if I lose I’ll shake hands with my opposition. But I realised this wasn’t going to be my opportunity…
Carlo Ancelotti is chilling in Jerusalem coaching children for a coexistence group just days after being dismissed at Bayern Munich. Asked about his sack by the German giants, Ancelotti said on Monday he “feels good.” Ancelotti is training Muslim, Christian, and Jewish youth as part of Assist for Peace, a group trying to open a sports center in the Old City for kids of all religions and ethnicities. Bayern sent Ancelotti packing on Thursday, a day after losing to Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, their heaviest defeat in the Champions League group stage. But Ancelotti was already on the edgefrom April when…
Marcus Rashford believes his competition with Anthony Martial is good for everyone at Manchester United — although the teenager still sees himself as a striker rather than a wide man. Jose Mourinho’s side have enjoyed an easy start to the campaign, entering the international break second to Manchester City in the Premier League on goal difference. Rashford arrives on England duty in fine form having justified his return to the United starting lineup by providing two assists in Saturday’s 4-0 win in the last game. Martial provided an assist of his own after replacing the 19-year-old against Crystal Palace, with…
Cesc Fabregas has taken steps to downplay the magnitude of Chelsea’s Premier League loss to Manchester City, saying Pep’s boys were simply “better rested.” Antonio Conte’s side are six points behind the Manchester clubs after seven games following last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat. Chelsea midfielder Fabregas talked about the rigour of the win at Atletico Madrid — compared to City’s home win over Shakhtar Donetsk a day earlier — before reminding their Premier League rivals that the Blues were worse at this stage this time last season when they went on to claim the title. “This was without a doubt the…
Romelu Lukaku did not train with the rest of the Belgium squad on Monday because of an ankle injury, sources have said. Lukaku showed up at the Belgian Football Centre in Brussels as normal on Monday afternoon ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Cyprus, despite being involved in ongoing court proceedings in Los Angeles. However, the 24-year-old could not train with his teammates on Monday evening as was instead checked over by doctors. Lukaku picked an injury in training with United on Friday, sources said, and he was a doubt to face Palace. But after passing a late…
Ian Wright believes Burnley manager Sean Dyche has everything it takes to take over from Arsene Wenger at the Emirates. Dyche’s men moved up to sixth place in the Premier League on Sunday with 1-0 defeat of Everton at Goodison Park. Wright has firm faith in the former Watford boss and thinks he is ready to take another step in his career. “I believe he is somebody that needs to go, at some stage, to the next level,” Wright said on Monday. Asked directly if he would choose Dyche as Wenger’s successor at Arsenal, Wright said yes, but had doubts…
Hip-hop’s reply to Donald Trump’s tantrums has been several but unified. Just recently, Jay-Z wore a Colin Kaepernick jersey during his performance on Saturday Night Live and before that, his Roc Nation artist, J. Cole, decided to take a lesser dig toward the president and white supremacy. During a Friday show in Copenhagen, Denmark, Cole joined his crowd in chanting “F**K Donald Trump.” “Damn, we overseas and y’all feel like this. That’s crazy as f**k,” he responded to the audience’s mutual dislike of The Donald. J. Cole’s already made it known he’s no fan of Donald Trump. Just last week…
As JAY Z prepares to travel in support of his latest album 4:44, Mr. Carter stopped by 30 Rockefeller center Saturday night to act as the musical guest for the 43rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live. With Ryan Gosling as host, Jay called out Damien Marley to perform the evening’s first song BAM. Wearing a custom Colin Kaepernick jersey, with an Army fatigue backdrop accented by red stage lighting , the two along with Jay’s longtime DJ Young Guru brought the crowd to its feet. For his final song, JAY- Z performed the title track from his 13th studio.…