The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has welcomed Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki’s step to stop receiving pensions from Kwara state. The group also begged him to join in the campaign to end the unjust, unfair and discriminatory practice of providing life pensions to former governors and to cancel laws that make this possible. According to SERAP, the Senate President said, “No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.” A statement issued by the group’s executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni reads:“It’s good news that Dr Saraki has publicly…
Author: David Folami
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday in Abuja urged Nigerians, especially the youths, to do everything wihin their power to promote unity of the country. Osinbajo made the call at a National Security Seminar with “Unity in Diversity: Security and National Development” as theme, organised by the Department of State Service (DSS). He said that the future of the country lies with the youth and that they must be involved in making it a better place. He said that he had been able to discover some “false narratives” about the country in the course of his engagement with…
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) headed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday approved N20.6 billion for the reconstruction of two road projects in Plateau and Kwara. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said this when he briefed State House correspondents on the result of the Council’s meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said that N10.4 billion of the amount would be expended on the reconstruction of Pankshin-Balank-Yalen-Salak-Gindiri road in Plateau, while the remaining N10.2billion would be spent on Sharre-Patigi road in Kwara. “The ministry presented two memoranda to the council. The first was,…
President Buhari was host to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in London on Saturday, July 29, 2017. According to reports, the former President was accompanied by the former Osun state Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Reports also said Buhari and OBJ discussed about recent happenings in Nigeria. “After the exchange of courtesies, Buhari and Obasanjo left for another room in the house where they held a 40-minute meeting.” “The leaders were said to have come out of the meeting a few minutes before 10.00 p.m., following which the former president and Oyinlola were seen off by President Buhari.” There were reports that…
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has blasted Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for saying the Biafra agitation lacked constitutional rights. Kanu described the Acting President’s comments as misconceived, despite his rank as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. According to reports, the IPOB leader said this in a statement issued by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in Abuja. The statement reads: “We are presently drifting into the narrative that had hitherto kept our client in unlawful incarceration for 18 months, in clear breach of positive orders of court that directed for his unconditional release. Unhealthy interference by…
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday talked about poor implementation of development policies by African governments as a big obstacle to the prosperity of the continent. The former president spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of the book `Making Africa Work`. Obasanjo said some ambitious policies were never implemented because African countries lacked the resources to execute them. He also said leaders did not bring up the right political will to implement some policies designed to address specific development challenges. The ex-president said the general attitude of African leaders to reverse the working policies of their predecessors was…
Liverpool were beaten on penalties by Atletico Madrid in the final of the Audi Cup to end what was essentially a successful week in Germany. Liverpool had won five and drawn one in their summer warm-up fixtures before the midweek encounter at the Allianz Arena, but suffered defeat when Jordan Henderson was the only player to miss in the shootout. The match ended 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes as Atletico Madrid were ahead for a large part of the game after Keidi Bare’s 33rd-minute opener, but Liverpool equalised late on thanks to Roberto Firmino’s penalty. Jurgen Klopp’s team…
Barcelona star Neymar is to land in Paris on Thursday after undergoing a Paris Saint-Germain medical in Portugal, a source has said. Barcelona confirmed on Wednesday that Neymar had made his intention known that he wants to leave the club and that they would ask that his €222 million buyout clause be paid in full. Sources also mentioned that the Brazil forward then travelled to Porto to undergo his medical examination, alongside the former Barcelona and PSG defender Maxwell, who now works as the French club’s assistant sporting director. A deal now appears really close, with Wagner Ribeiro — who…
Manchester City’s summer has seen the club splash out over £200 million on new recruits. It’s also showing no signs of slowing down, with Pep Guardiola still interested in bringing in Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal and with the news they may also be ready to splash out for Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe. Even if neither of those transfers go ahead, City will be viewed as the brash big-spenders — alongside Paris Saint-Germain, if their move for Barcelona forward Neymar goes ahead and smashes the world transfer record. However, the sniping at transfer fees is dull. With a record television deal in…
Real Madrid ended their tour of the U.S. with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Major League Soccer in the All-Star Game, but manager Zinedine Zidane was not happy with his team’s three weeks in North America. After clinching La Liga and Champions League titles last season, Los Blancos lost their first three preseason contests prior to Wednesday’s victory vs. the MLS’ best at Soldier Field in Chicago. “The sensation overall is not good,” he said in a news conference following the All-Star Game. “It’s good that we got the result, but the sensation is not positive overall. We only…
Jose Mourinho hailed new signing Nemanja Matic “a genius” who “thinks football” as the holding midfielder made his Manchester United debut in convincing fashion. Matic starred for the Red Devils in their 2-1 friendly win over Sampdoria in Dublin following his £35 million switch from Premier League champions Chelsea. He played just 45 minutes, with Mourinho admitting the Serbian still lacked full match fitness. “He needs time but [his] experience, intelligence, a genius in the way he thinks — he thinks football,” Mourinho said. “We will help him to be ready sooner rather than later.” On Phil Jones’ ban by…
Nemanja Matic made his Manchester United debut as Jose Mourinho’s side warmed up for the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria in Dublin. The latest addition to the team played the first 45 minutes at the Aviva Stadium, his first action of the summer after training alone at Chelsea before his move to Old Trafford. The Serbian impressed enough to suggest he will start against European champions Real Madrid in Macedonia on Aug. 8. Henrikh Mkhitaryan as well, too, after he scored another sensational preseason goal to put United ahead against Sampdoria. The Serie A side equalised…
Jurgen Klopp hopes the transfer fee in Neymar’s impending world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain is an “exception” and questioned whether UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) has any effect on any club’s spending power. Barcelona, who confirmed Neymar intention to leave the club, are demanding PSG pay the Brazilian’s €222 million buyout clause, which would break and bury the previous transfer record of Paul Pogba moving to Manchester United from Juventus for £89.3 million last summer. La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he is prepared to file a complaint about PSG to UEFA and the European Union for what he…
Jose Mourinho has said Neymar’s inevitable world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain is “not expensive,” but added the consequences of the fee could be. Neymar is on the verge of a €222 million move to Paris after Barcelona stated on Wednesday the Brazilian wants to leave the Camp Nou. He said: “When we paid that amount for Paul I [said] that he was not expensive. Expensive are the ones that get into a certain level with a certain quality, I think Neymar is going to happen the same, I don’t think he’s expensive. “I think he’s expensive now because you are…
Neymar’s imminent move to Paris Saint-Germain has surprised European football, and the insanity of the transfer market is likely to worsen things in the next few weeks as reports have it that Monaco starboy Kylian Mbappe is ready to push for an exit. Barcelona, who appear very weak after losing a third of the “MSN”, will be in crazy mode to acquire another superstar to appease their disgruntled fans and lead the race, according to the report. As straight replacements go, the Blaugrana could strike it lucky, though the 18-year-old may have his heart set on Real Madrid, given neither…
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that Buhari will fulfil his campaign promises to Nigerians. The Acting President said this while attending the Progressives Governors’ Forum in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state. Osinbajo also said “The people have not lost faith in us, they understand that the task of clearing decades of debris will take time but we must also jointly keep faith with them. “The people expect us to deliver on all of what we have promised. They expect a better life, we have assured them of a better life, and I can say for all of us who…
Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses will be available to play in August 6 Community Shield against Arsenal despite serving a one-match domestic ban. Moses’ one-match ban is as a result of the red card he received in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup final in May. The Nigeria international was shown the second yellow card and a red card for diving in the FA Cup final. The FA consider the Community Shield as a friendly game and allow suspended players to participate. Moses and Koscielny will however not be available for Arsenal and Chelsea’s opening day fixtures respectively.…
Joseph van Vicker, better known as Van Vicker, is a Ghanaian actor. Vicker started out in the entertainment world on radio as a presenter at Groove 106.3 fm and Vibe 91.9fm (2001–04) and was a television personality for TV3 Ghana (1997–99) and Metro TV (2000–04). He appeared in his first series ”Suncity”, the series ran for a total of 10 episodes. Vicker was then cast in his first film “Divine Love” as a supporting character. Vicker has appeared in numerous Nollywood films alongside prominent Nollywood actors, including Tonto Dikeh, Mercy Johnson, Stephanie Okereke, Chika Ike and Jim Iyke. His Nollywood…
Lionel Messi has said his goodbyes to Neymar on Instagram after the Brazilian striker told him and other Barcelona teammates he was leaving, saying it was a “huge pleasure” to have played with him. The Catalan club confirmed Wednesday that Neymar wanted to leave after weeks of frantic speculation, taking the 25-year-old closer to a potential world record move to Paris Saint-Germain. “It was a huge pleasure having shared all those years with you, my friend @neymarjr,” Messi wrote on Instagram next to a montage of pictures of both football stars high-fiving, embracing or laughing. “I wish you lots of…
Some understood, others were pissed, but most supporters of Barcelona reacted with anger and frusration on Wednesday to news that star striker Neymar was leaving, in all likelihood to PSG in the French league. The Catalan club announced that the 25-year-old wanted the exit, insisting however that the Brazilian’s 222 million euro ($260 million) buyout clause must be met in full. “It’s a blow,” said Javier Barranco, a 19-year-old psychology student in Barcelona. “It hurts because I thought he was going to grow here like (Lionel) Messi, that he was going to spend his entire career here and that he…