The Presidency has frowned at the orchestrated campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari whenever a Very Important Person (VIP) was invited by the law enforcement agencies, in the discharge of their legitimate duties. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said “the law of the land is intended for all, not for the poor or those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder.’’ The presidential aide was reacting to various comments by VIPs and other Nigerians over the invitation of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki by the police over the Offa…
Author: David Folami
Members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Caucus in the Senate, has said that the party remains in control of the National Assembly. The Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, while briefing newsmen in Abuja after about three hours closed session, said there was no cause for concern. He said, “out of the 109 senate seats, the APC has 52, the PDP has 50, the ADC has three and APGA has two. “Recall that we lost two of our colleagues, one from Katsina, one from Bauchi. So, we have two vacancies. If you put…
Senator Chris Ngige has responded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman’s comment threatening to fire him. Oshiomhole accused Ngige of refusing to inaugurate boards of parastatals under his ministry as directed by the president several months ago. Ngige said that his reason for not inaugurating the NSITF board is because of reports of diversion of funds to the tune of N48b. A statement issued by the ministry’s spokesman, Samuel Olowookere said “The attention of the Hon. Minister of labour and Employment, Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige has been drawn to media reports that his office appropriated the powers of the…
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has ordered an investigation into the reported siege on the home of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. According to reports, the police authorities denied knowledge of any deployment of its personnel to the homes of the top Senate leaders. According to the police spokesman, the policemen seen in the video circulated on social media were those attached to the Senate President. Moshood issued a statement saying”Further to the press release from this office early this morning on the above subject, where I mentioned that the Nigeria Police Force’s…
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that there’s enough evidence to charge Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to court over his alleged links to the criminal gang that killed at least 33 people during a robbery operation in April. In a letter, dated July 23, 2018, signed by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, he directed Saraki to report himself to the Intelligence Response Team office in Abuja on Tuesday, July 24. However, the senate president failed to show up, opting instead to preside over the day’s session at the National Assembly complex. Later on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP…
In 2015, Kwara born Senator Bukola Saraki drove his car into the national assembly complex parking lot and killed the engine. No one noticed him. They didn’t have to. He wasn’t supposed to be in there. But there he was, calculating, plotting and scheming. He was also there a little too early for anyone’s liking. When the senate doors eventually flung open for the day’s business, Saraki jumped out of his car and hurtled in, one mission on his mind. A few kilometers away, senators elected on the platform of the APC were putting finishing touches to their plot to…
Adams Oshiomhole has declared that he won’t lose sleep over the 51 national assembly members who left the party on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. While 32 of them defected to the PDP, four lawmakers moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political party adopted by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) launched by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; but the last one, Emmanuel Orker-Jev (Benue), remained unclear on his destination. Oshiomhole said the lawmakers that decamped are masquerades with little or no electoral value to the party. He further said the defections will not affect President Buhari’s chances in the…
Toyin Saraki, the wife of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has attacked the Nigeria Police Force for making false claims about the blockade of her husband’s convoy by police officers. While speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, July 25, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, reiterated the position of the police force and suggested that Saraki ‘stage-managed’ the blockade to curry public favour. He said, “I want to make it abundantly clear that the force has no hand in the blockade. In the first instance, these are what were stage-managed for the purpose of waving public sentiment in his favour.”…
Bukola Saraki has dropped the biggest hint that his departure from the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC) is imminent as speculations continue to grow about his political future. With the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, summoning Saraki for the second time to answer questions on his alleged links to the Offa robbery incident that led to the death of 33 people, the Senate President has dropped the biggest hint that he’s close to leaving the ruling party. In response to the new summon, Saraki accused the IGP of being a tool in a political game orchestrated by the “party in…
The ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC) has been hit by another wave of defections as 37 members of the House of Representatives have officially dumped the party. The letters of defection of the affected lawmakers were read by Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, as 32 of them defected to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Four lawmakers moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political party adopted by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) launched by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. The 32 lawmakers that dumped the APC for the PDP are Garba Umar (Kano), Olayonu Tope (Kwara), Ahmed…
Gennaro Gattuso has said he hopes Leonardo Bonucci will stay amid reports the defender is keen on a return to Juventus after just one year with the club. Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with a move for Milan’s captain, who could be reunited with his former teammate Gianluigi Buffon in the French capital. Gattuso said he has spoken with Bonucci and hopes to be able to pick him this season, although his words to reporters in Los Angeles hinted a transfer is possible. “We’ve got to be honest and I have spoken with him — Leo has had a…
In many ways, it is difficult to argue with Jose Mourinho’s blunt assessment of the steps Paul Pogba must take to be the player for Manchester United that he was so impressively for France during the World Cup. At Old Trafford, the 25-year-old remains a player who under-performs, one capable of moments of brilliance but also a hugely expensive acquisition who too often fails to justify his price tag or reputation. Yet while playing for his country in Russia, Pogba was the driving force from midfield for Didier Deschamps’ team, scoring stunning goals, playing game-changing passes, covering acres of the…
Lothar Matthaus has said that Mesut Ozil will not be missed following his international retirement, adding “his time to play in the national team is over” based on his recent performances. Ozil, 29, stepped away from the Germany squad on Sunday, citing racism and lashing out at the president of the German football federation. The Arsenal midfielder will not add to his 92 caps, 23 goals and 40 assists for his country following political tensions regarding his Turkish roots and his omission from the starting XI during this summer’s World Cup as the defending champions embarrassingly crashed out in the…
Andreas Pereira wants to stay at Manchester United this season rather than head out on loan. And despite speculation he could again agree a temporary move, the Brazil youth international insists he wants to stay at Old Trafford. “It’s my intention to stay here and help the club and help the team,” Pereira told a news conference at UCLA on Tuesday ahead of United’s clash with AC Milan at the StubHub Center in Carson. “That’s my first intention, so I want to do everything that I can to stay at the club and help United this season.” He made 23…
James Rodriguez has said he is happy and feels loved on loan at Bayern Munich, but said that the best years of his career so far have been at parent club Real Madrid. Asked on Colombian YouTube programme “The Suso’s Show” whether he would stay at Bayern, the 27-year-old said his first year in Germany had been “spectacular” and he felt a close bond with the club and its fans. “At the moment, yes,” James said. “I had a spectacular first season there. They love me a lot, the club, the fans.” Asked during the show to name the best…
Pep Guardiola believes it is “almost impossible” for Manchester City to break any of the records set in last season’s Premier League title triumph. But the Catalan said he is expecting a much tougher challenge in the defence of their title as he prepares for Wednesday’s International Champions Cup clash with Liverpool, who could emerge as City’s biggest rival this season. “We are not going to break any more records in the Premier League, it is impossible… it is almost impossible,” he told a news conference. “I have to see the faces of my players in the next two weeks…
Manchester United were joined by a familiar face as they continued their preseason preparations in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. Indeed, ex-United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in attendance at the open training session at UCLA, watching on intently as his former colleagues limbered up — and it would appear that the Swede was impressed by what he saw. “I’ve been watching United train and I see a lot of quality — not quality like me, but it’s okay,” Ibra said with a wry smile as part of his Instagram story. “Great to see the guys again, and to see them…
Gareth Southgate is among the nominees for FIFA’s The Best Men’s Coach award alongside Pep Guardiola, Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane. Southgate guided England to their first World Cup semifinal in 28 years in Russia this year with a young squad before eventually finishing fourth behind Belgium, whose coach Roberto Martinez also makes the 10-strong shortlist. Deschamps, Guardiola and Zidane will be considered front-runners for the award after respectively claiming title triumphs for France at the World Cup, Manchester City in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Deschamps became only the third person to lift win…
Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric are among the contenders to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s hold on FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player award after the shortlist was announced on Tuesday, but Neymar was not among the nominees. Ronaldo, who has won this honour in both years of its existence, is once again nominated, but faces arguably his toughest challenge yet, following so many impressive performances in Russia. The award, created in 2016 following FIFA’s split with the Ballon d’Or, will this year honour the standout player from July 3, 2017 to July 15, 2018 — and in that period, Modric won the…
Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “unacceptable” treatment of Mesut Ozil by the Germany football federation on Tuesday. Ozil, 29, withdrew from international football on Sunday, saying that “racism and disrespect” over his Turkish heritage directed towards himself and his family were major factors behind his decision. “Such racist treatment towards a young man who has given his all to the German national team for his religious beliefs is unacceptable,” Erdogan told reporters in parliament. “Furthermore, how do you explain being unable to tolerate Mesut, Ilkay [Gundogan] and Cenk Tosun taking a photograph in London out of respect of…