Nyesom Wike has prayed to God for a peaceful election in 2019 while also wishing the people of the state a prosperous new year. In his New Year message, Wike warned Rivers State indigens to work towards ensuring that their votes count during the 2019 general elections. He urged the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to not tamper with the will of the people. The governor also mentioned that no part of the state would be forgotten in the ongoing development process.
Author: David Folami
Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said authoritatively that the 2019 general election would not be a do-or-die affair. The president, in his New Year message to Nigerians said those spreading lies and negativity against the successes of his government have already lost. Buhari revealed that a lot of Nigerians agree with the giant strides by his administration to improve on infrastructure and the general welfare of the citizens. In the message released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said: “Those who continue to trumpet falsehood and negativity are on their own, fighting a lost battle. “Elections…
Mr. Jimi Agbaje has urged INEC to ensure it delivers free, fair and credible elections. In his New Year message yesterday, Agbaje said Nigerians would be honoured to have the 2019 polls as the most credible reults of their will. According to him: “We pray for peaceful polls in 2019, but peaceful elections can only happen when the majority people believe that the conduct and results of the electoral process accurately reflect their collective will as expressed through the ballots. “The whole world has its focus on Nigeria’s 2019 elections as they would determine whether 2015’s smooth and seamless transition…
Mr Godwin Obaseki has warned the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) to improve its activities and ensure major towns in the state are free from traffic. He noted that “with the influx of holiday-makers into major towns in the state, EDSTMA must deploy more personnel and equipment to arears notorious for traffic congestion.” “Many Edo people are home for the festive season and some of them came with their cars, increasing the number of vehicles on our roads.” He added: “We have also received reports of the growing number of rough driving, by people who are drunk, this we…
Six months ago, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were heralded by many as the greatest team of the Premier League era having smashed a series of records on the way to winning the 2017-18 title. They became the first team to amass 100 points in the Premier League and also won the title with a 19-point margin — the biggest-ever. In the end, City set 11 new records last season including most wins, most goals, most away wins and longest winning run. But as 2018 is consigned to history and with Guardiola’s champions sitting seven points adrift of unbeaten league leaders…
Paul Pogba’s goal celebrations are disrespectful to his opponents, according to former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele. Pogba has made a sensational return to form for Manchester United following the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager. The 25-year-old scored twice against Huddersfield on Boxing Day before again notching twice in the Red Devils’ 4-1 win against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday – more goals than he had managed in his previous 17 appearances under Solskjaer’s predecessor Jose Mourinho. Pogba endured a tempestuous relationship with the Portuguese with several public fallouts over the past two-and-a-half seasons. The former Juventus…
Willian has said he hopes David Luiz signs a new contract to remain at Chelsea beyond this season, but added that he is in no rush to talk about extending his own deal at Stamford Bridge. Luiz, who has appeared in 19 of Chelsea’s 20 Premier League games this season under Maurizio Sarri, is set to be a free agent next summer and has already signalled his desire to stay at Chelsea if a suitable agreement can be found over an extension. Chelsea’s policy of only offering one-year deals to players over the age of 30 is proving a sticking…
Bernardo Silva is not concerned by Manchester City’s recent run of bad form against Liverpool ahead of their crucial top-of-the-table clash on Thursday, and said they must take the game to Jurgen Klopp’s side. City have not beaten Liverpool in their last four attempts — with three defeats last season, including losing home and away in the Champions League. The two sides drew 0-0 at Anfield earlier this season with Riyad Mahrez missing a late penalty, while the last time they met in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium, City thrashed Liverpool 5-0. “It’s a very good team,” Silva…
There are many reasons for Liverpool supporters to feel optimistic about their team’s chances of ending a 29-year wait for a league title this season, but the goals conceded column is probably the most important of them all. Having completed a 5-1 destruction of Arsenal at Anfield to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, three days after hitting four goals past Newcastle, the strength of Jurgen Klopp’s team is clearly its ability to score at will against almost any opponent. The same, though, could be said of Brendan Rodgers’ side back in 2013-14, with Luis…
A second half Jamie Vardy strike was enough for Leicester to see off Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park in the first Premier League match of 2019. A drab encounter produced few chances and moments of quality, with the visitors profiting from a mistake at the back to climb to seventh in the table. Marco Silva’s side miss the chance to move up to seventh themselves, and could drop to 13th by Wednesday night after a poor run of results. Everton had the game’s first oppurtunity after 12 minutes, with Gylfi Sigurdsson intercepting a pass from the back by Harry Maguire…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he can get the best out of misfiring Alexis Sanchez. The Chile international has scored just four goals since his move to United from Arsenal almost a year ago, but Solskjaer said the attacking philosophy of his re-energised team should suit the 30-year-old. “I think he’s player that would benefit from the interchanging, the rotation, the movement,” Solskjaer said. “The more chances you create, the more times you get the ball into the final third, he’ll be an asset for us. “I think he’s looking forward to it. He scored quite a few nice goals [in…
Mauricio Pochettino has hailed his Tottenham players for dealing with a difficult schedule after a third victory in 10 days. While Spurs lost 3-1 to Wolves on Saturday, they have won their other three contests over the festive period, most recently beating Cardiff 3-0 with three early goals on Tuesday. “I’m so happy, very pleased with the performance,” said Pochettino. “I think we started the game well, we were so clinical from the beginning. After 26 minutes to be 3-0 was fantastic for us and then we dominated the game. “Us and Everton, we were the two teams who suffered…
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have again made the shortlist for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) player of the year award, the second year running the trio have battled it out for the prestigious prize. Salah claimed the honour last year and will be favourite again following another successful first half of the season for Liverpool. The Egyptian will be hoping to become the fourth player to win back-to-back titles after Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure. Salah’s teammate Mane from Senegal has been getting closer to the…
Jurgen Klopp has said that he has been taken aback by the football-playing skills of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Alisson, who joined from Roma for £65 million in the summer, found Roberto Firmino with a long-range pass to help set up the fourth goal in Liverpool’s 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal on Saturday. Asked whether he had been surprised by either of his Brazilian summer signings, midfielder Fabinho being the other, Klopp said: “Well, maybe that Ali is such a good football player. “It was always very clear that he was a very influential player with the ball, but that he’s this…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hinted Romelu Lukaku will not play in a “target man” role as long as he is in charge. Lukaku endured a difficult first half of the season, struggling for form and fitness after claiming he had been negatively impacted by building up too much muscle during the World Cup. The 25-year-old striker was granted compassionate leave over Christmas and, as such, is further behind than the majority of his team-mates with respect to match sharpness. But, in Sunday’s 4-1 hammering of Bournemouth, Lukaku came on as a second-half substitute for the impressive Marcus Rashford and scored United’s…
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been fined by The Football Association after kicking a bottle at a Brighton fan during the Premier League draw on Boxing Day. The Spaniard accepted the charge of improper conduct, triggering the standard penalty. Emery apologised to the fan who was struck immediate after the incident and again at the end of the 1-1 stalemate at The Amex Stadium. “I said to them I’m sorry,” the Gunners boss confirmed after the game. “It wasn’t hard but it touched one supporter.” The former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss added: “I kicked the bottle in frustration but…
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have to “accept” that title rivals Liverpool could be the “best team in the world right now”. Defending champions City, who beat Southampton 3-1 on Sunday, go into Thursday’s home game against Liverpool seven points adrift of the Reds. “The problem is the other team is fantastic,” Guardiola told BBC Sport. “[Liverpool are] maybe the best team in Europe or the world right now and in top form.” While City have suffered defeats against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester in December, Liverpool have won all seven league games they have played. They ended 2018 in…
Ole Gunnar has told David De Gea and Anthony Martial that they should ‘grasp the opportunity’ to sign new contracts to stay at Manchester United. United have recently triggered one-year extension clauses for both goalkeeper De Gea and forward Martial until June 2020, though neither player has yet to commit their long-term futures to the club. Standard Sport understands that De Gea has told the club that he wants to stay, though the likes of Juventus and PSG are interested in signing the keeper if talks continue to stall. Meanwhile, former United manager Jose Mourinho had been open to selling…
Mesut Ozil has categorically ruled out a January loan move and is fully intent on winning back his starting position in the Arsenal team, sources close to the player have said. The midfielder, who missed Saturday’s 5-1 away defeat at Liverpool with a knee injury, has been repeatedly dropped by manager Unai Emery for “tactical reasons” this season but remains confident that he can regain his coach’s trust. The midfielder’s inconsistent season, in terms of both form and appearances, had led to speculation that he could leave Arsenal during the January transfer window — despite signing a lucrative new contract…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s honeymoon as Manchester United manager is still in full flow after a 4-1 win over Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Paul Pogba got two, Marcus Rashford added a third and Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score a fourth as United won their third successive game under the Norwegian, despite playing the final 10 minutes with 10 men after Eric Bailly’s red card. The gloom has lifted and the goals are back — Solskjaer’s tally stands at 12 in his first three games. Pogba got his fourth in the last two games, while Rashford put in a…