Alexis Sanchez’s injury gamble paid off here Tuesday as the Arsenal striker scored twice to help Chile defeat bitter rivals Uruguay 3-1 in their World Cup qualifier. Sanchez had risked the wrath of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after playing in the Santiago showdown despite injuring a hamstring during training last week. Wenger had expressed fear Chile had made a “suicidal” decision by playing Sanchez against the Uruguayans after the injury. But the in-form striker showed no sign of ill-health with two second-half goals to seal Chile’s comeback victory after Edinson Cavani had given Uruguay an early lead at the Estadio…
Author: David Folami
Brazil made it six wins out of six as goals from Gabriel Jesus and Renato Augusto handed them a 2-0 win over Peru to edge them ever closer to World Cup qualification here Tuesday. Manchester City-bound teenager Gabriel fired Brazil into the lead with an assured 57th-minute finish. The 19-year-old then set up Brazil’s second for Augusto in the 78th minute with a superb pass to pick out the 28-year-old China-based midfielder. The victory leaves Brazil four points clear at the top of South America’s World Cup qualification standings. The Brazilians now have 27 points from 12 games. With six…
Lionel Messi announced a press boycott on Tuesday to protest against a journalist who alleged team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi had used marijuana at Argentina’s training base. Standing in front of the entire Argentina squad at a post-match news conference following his team’s 3-0 win over Colombia, Messi said the players would no longer speak to press following the controversy. “We have made the decision not to talk to the press anymore, obviously you know why,” the Argentina captain said. “There were a lot of accusations, a lot of disrespect, and the accusations they made against ‘Pocho’ (Lavezzi) are very serious,” the…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a deceptive party. The Delta PDP also said that the APC has brought a negative change to the country. The comments were made by state chairman, Chief Kingsley Esiso during a visit to the Isoko North Local Government Area. “They (APC) love deceiving Nigerians. We suffered it in 2015 and we are still suffering it today. They came and sold change to us,” Esiso said according to Vanguard. “Nigerians bought change without knowing the type of change they were selling. The change Nigerians…
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has said that he will spend his birthday fasting and praying for Nigeria. Fayose also dedicated his birthday to poor Nigerians who are suffering and lacking the basic necessities of life. The governor made the comments via a statement released in commemoration of his 56th birthday on Tuesday, November 15. The statement reads: I dedicate this birthday to the desperately poor, the poor, and the once vibrant middle class Nigerians that have now been reduced to an unprecedented level of marginalization, untold suffering and virtual nothingness. I use this occasion to solidarise with our people…
The Senate has made a move to probe Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and other governors over how the bailout given to them by the Federal Government was spent. According to Punch, President Muhammadu Buhari may have asked the Senate to investigate how the bailout was spent by the Governors. It was gathered the Senate President, Bukola Saraki ordered the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration to probe how Aregbesola applied the N34.988,900 given to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria as bailout to pay workers’ salaries. Consequently, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on States…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is on the trail of Ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole over allegations of fraud levelled against him. According to Leadership, the former Governor has been accused of inflating contracts and diverting billions of Naira while in office. According to reports, Oshiomhole allegedly used N10b to build mansion which was designed and constructed by Verissimo – a South African architect in Iyamho, Edo State. These allegations were contained in a petition written by two concerned citizens of Edo, Dr. Osadolor Ochei and Comrade Kola Edokpayi. A source in the EFCC said “The petition will be properly…
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has revealed why he was at loggerheads with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku said his troubles started when he refused to support the tenure elongation plan of former President Obasanjo. According to him, what OBJ wanted was to become the life President of Nigeria, and not just a third term in office. He said “My offence was that I disagreed with him on the amendment of the constitution to remove tenure/term limits or what was popularly called the ‘third term agenda’. “In fact, he sent the then Attorney-General and Prof. Jerry Gana to my office to…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have slammed the House of Representatives for ordering 360 cars worth N3.6b. The labour unions said the legislators’ decision to purchase the cars at this time, shows how insensitive they are to the plight of Nigerians. This is coming on the heels of a report that the House of Representatives has received the first batch of the vehicles. The General Secretary of the NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson also called on the leadership of the House to cancel the deal. Ozo-Eson said it is not right for the lawmakers to spend…
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Marrakech, Morocco, to participate in the ongoing 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), tagged, COP-22. This information is contained in the President’s twitter handle. President Buhari, who left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday, arrived the Marrakesh Menara Airport in Morocco, some hours later. While in Marrakech, the President would participate in the official opening of the plenary of the conference on Nov. 15 where he would deliver his national statement during the High Level Segment of COP 22. A statement earlier issued…
Mr Alade-Oluseye Sunday, a prosecution witness in the on-going trial of Mr Abiodun Agbele, an ally of Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, said he acted on the instructions of the defendant to pay money into various accounts. The witness, who is the branch Manager of Zenith Bank, Akure, told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court Abuja while given his testimony on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) arraigned Agbele along with three companies in an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering. The companies are Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer…
Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki is unlikely to attend his father’s burial, incoming reports say. The elder Dasuki, a former Sultan of Sokoto, died on Monday, November 14, in Abuja. He is due to be buried on Tuesday, November 15, in accordance with Islamic rites, but his son, who’s being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of corruption might not be released to pay his last respects. Sambo Dasuki is alleged to have spearheaded the $2 billion arms deal fraud through which funds for the purchase of weapons to fight Boko Haram were squandered…
Former Senator, Iyabo Obasanjo has said that Nigeria is in a big mess. Obasanjo, daughter of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo also condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued focus on oil revenue despite the global decline in the sector. So, what is your assessment of developments in Nigeria? Sad! How a country with so many talented people could be in such mess is saddening. It is the future that actually is frightening. How are children and grandchildren going to do in the future when no one is planning for the future? Do you see the “Change” Nigerians made at the federal level…
President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the loss of former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki. Alhaji Dasuki died at the age of 93 on Monday, November 14, in Abuja. Buhari made the comments via a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. The statement reads: Apart from modernizing the traditional institution to bring it in tune with changing times, President Buhari believes that the late Ibrahim Dasuki, who died on Monday at the age of 93, will be long remembered for his role in the creation of the present local government system in the…
Alhaji Idris Mai-Unguwa, the Chairman, All farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Jigawa has described the late former Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, as a visionary and purposeful leader. Mai-Unguwa said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Hadejia. He said that the death of the elder statesman was a great loss to Nigeria in view of his contributions to the social and economic development of the country. “The late Dasuki was a visionary leader who contributed to building a better Nigeria. “He served in various capacities and enjoined peace and unity in…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Sen. Ahmed Makarfi has congratulated the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose,on his 56th birthday anniversary. The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, said every organ of PDP celebrated Fayose’s achievements as governor of Ekiti. He stated that “it is noteworthy that Gov. Ayodele Fayose demonstrated uncommon leadership qualities in service delivery to his home state, Ekiti and Nigeria in general during his first tenure as governor from 2003 to 2006. “Your second term in office from 2014 to date has equally epitomized…
The Senate, on Tuesday, November 15, rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of non-career ambassadors. The legislators also resolved to return the list to the president to enable him amend and resubmit it. This was based on the recommendation of Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. “I suggest we return the list of non-career ambassadors to the executive so that they can re-present it,” Sunmonu said. “There about 200 petitions against the nominees, and we don’t even know where to start,” she added. Buhari had sent the list of names to the Senate for confirmation and…
The Presidency has warned that Nigeria is at risk of a food shortage. Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said that the country would suffer a famine if the “mindless export of Nigerian grains” did not stop. “Huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the mindless export of Nigerian grains,” Shehu said while speaking during a radio interview in Kano. “Unless this is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of food by January next year. Over the past year, providence has blessed Nigeria with bountiful harvest of grains, more than enough to feed the…
Who knew that popular comedian, AY Makun, used to be a footballer. The jester in a recent interview said he played football on a professional level before comedy came calling. “I used to play for a club side known as DFCFC. I once represented the state in the youth football side. If you watch me play you can testify,” he said. AY in a recent interview ran through his major achievements, which he believes were a big hit due to the grace of God. AY said, “I am just a product of God’s grace. When I shot ‘30 days in…
No one knows her name, or in fact anything else about her. But a stunning lady in red appeared to captivate Nigerian music star Timaya over the weekend. It was in Onitsha, Anambra state in the thick of the night, when the controversial dancehall act spotted the lady in a crowd of fans, during a scheduled performance at the Legend Real Deal Experience show. ‘He walked up to her, pulled her out of the crowd, and danced with her on stage’, one eyewitness told Netng. ‘He danced so personally with her, almost frolicking, sliding his hand through her back side,…