Author: David Folami

Orji Kalu has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has no moral right to decide who becomes President in Nigeria. According to Premium Times, Kalu said Obasanjo was travelling around the world for three years when he became President in 1999. The former Governor said this on Saturday, June 16, 2018, in Jigawa state while rallying support for President Buhari’s re-election. He said, “Hello, I’m Donald Duke and I’m urging each and everyone of you watching me right now to go out there, get registered, pick up your voter’s card, and, on the day of elections, go there, cast your…

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Muhammadu Buhari has wished the Super Eagles luck ahead of their opening match at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia. Buhari also spoke to the Nigerian team today, Saturday, June 16, 2018. The President said “180 million Nigerians have looked forward to today with great excitement. On behalf of all, I wish the Super Eagles the best of luck, as they display the gallant Nigerian spirit that sets us apart.” “People seem to have forgotten when former President Obasanjo was literally absent for about three years traveling all over the world‎ when he was president and then nobody told…

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Donald Duke has urged Nigerians to decide their own future in the 2019 general elections by registering to vote, collecting their permanent voter’s cards (PVC), and protecting their votes. He said, “Hello, I’m Donald Duke and I’m urging each and everyone of you watching me right now to go out there, get registered, pick up your voter’s card, and, on the day of elections, go there, cast your vote. “Ensure that your votes are counted before you leave the booth. This is important, it determines your future and how well you’ll live in this country.” When the 56-year-old made his…

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Herbert Wigwe on Friday had a sit down with renowned entertainer, D’Banj to take questions from friends and fans on every and anything. The no holds barred engagement which was broadcast via the bank’s Instagram live feed had D’Banj moderating and taking the questions off the social media platform. Herbert ran D’Banj through his life’s journey saying he always knew he wanted to “do something interesting, something different”, hence his fascination with accounting, and by extension, banking. When asked by D’banj: “With so much success, what makes you happy?”, Herbert said his joy is hinged on the success of his…

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Nyesom Wike of Rivers has commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the successful conduct of Saturday’s council elections in the state, saying it was credible. He claimed that the non-participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections turned out to be one of the reasons why the process was peaceful. He said: “Sixty-six out of 68 political parties participated, but no violence. That means that if APC had participated, probably we would have seen violence. “Sixty-six political parties, no violence, no shooting, nobody has died. “But, if the APC had participated, they would want to coerce…

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Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has denied reports that he is planning to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The Governor, in a statement signed by Olayinka, said “The statement was part of the many lies being circulated by the Ekiti APC and its unsellable governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, obviously to suppress reports of his rejection by Ekiti people. “Even when APC was still basking in the euphoria of its electoral success of 2015, Governor Fayose made it abundantly clear then that he will never have anything to do with the party, not to talk about now…

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Fela Durotoye, has warned Nigerians that transforming the country will take more than just electing a competent president in the 2019 elections. The management consultant stressed this during an interview with Starr Radio UK on Saturday, June 16, 2018, noting that it is important to have a government where the entire political structure has the same set of values that’ll develop the country. He said Nigeria’s different arms of government need to have ideologies and roadmaps that are aligned for the country to be able to work for its citizens in the way they demand.

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Gov Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State says that he will not sponsor any candidate as his successor in 2019. Al-Makura stated this on Saturday when Permanent Secretaries and Chairmen of the 13 Local Government Areas (LGA) paid him a Sallah homage in Lafia. “But in supporting anyone, I will be very very careful in doing so and I will do so without any sentiment. “So, all those contesting would be scrutinised to make sure we have the best that would continue to work towards maintaining peace and progress in the state,” he added. The governor challenged the council chairmen to…

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Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said he is ready to give detailed financial accounts of his stewardship in the state. Masari said this when the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, paid him a traditional ‘Sallah’ homage at the old Government House in Katsina on Saturday. The governor said that his administration had so far accomplished 78 per cent of the programmes and policies he promised the people of the state. According to him, those who are in doubt of his performance can come for the necessary documents to crosscheck the facts and figures. He said that his administration…

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Lionel Messi said he was responsible for Argentina failing to beat Iceland after he could not convert a penalty in the 1-1 draw which “would have changed everything.” After Sergio Aguero put Argentina ahead and Alfred Finnbogason equalised, Messi had a chance to restore Argentina’s lead in the 64th minute, but his penalty to Hannes Halldorsson’s right was at a good height for the goalkeeper to save without too much difficulty. And the 30-year-old, who said this week that Argentina’s results in this tournament would decide if he he comes back to play in 2022, took the blame after Argentina…

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Gerard Pique says club president Josep Maria Bartomeu was left “pissed off” by Antoine Griezmann’s decision to reject a move to the Camp Nou. Pique has also defended his involvement in the documentary which saw Griezmann confirm he was staying at Atletico Madrid on Thursday. Pique’s company Kosmos Studios produced the documentary — titled “The Decision” in a nod to Lebron James’ 2010 ESPN television special of the same name — which charted the past few months of Griezmann’s life as he decided what to do next season. Diario SPORT reported that the documentary had caused an “earthquake” at Barcelona…

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Mohamed Salah might have had a forgettable 26th birthday as his team lost to Uruguay in their World Cup opener on Friday, but a group of fans from Chechnya brought a smile to his face with a 100-kilogram (220.4-pound) cake decorated with a golden boot. Salah, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool last season, injured shoulder ligaments in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on May 26 and was not risked in Egypt’s 1-0 Group A loss to Uruguay in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Egypt’s talisman, who is expected to play in their remaining group games with Russia and Saudi…

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Fernando Hierro says he wouldn’t trade any of his players for Cristiano Ronaldo even after the Portugal superstar’s dramatic hat trick denied his side three points in a thrilling 3-3 draw in both teams’ Group B opener on Friday. “I am very proud of my players,” Hierro told reporters after the match. “When you have a player in front of you like Cristiano, things like this can happen. I would not trade even one of them for Cristiano. “When one has players like these, who collaborate and work hard, life is so much easier. One is grateful when one has…

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Madrid-based outlet Marca says Neymar’s representatives have contacted Barcelona to ascertain the likelihood of him returning to the Camp Nou. The Brazil superstar jilted Barca to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record €222 million transfer last summer, but his entourage have apparently been in contact to see whether they would be willing to bite on the off-chance he should leave the Parc des Princes. The report mentions that, while there is only a “very remote possibility” that Neymar will head back to the Camp Nou, he’s keen to find out what Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s stance would be.…

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Didier Deschamps has told France they “must do better” after escaping a humiliating draw with Australia in a 2-1 World Cup opener decided by VAR and goalline technology. The tournament’s second-youngest team arrived in Russia with lofty ambitions 20 years after Deschamps captained Les Bleus to the 1998 World Cup title at the Stade de France. “It’s the World Cup, it’s the first match. But, yes, we must do better, and we can do better,” said Deschamps. But after highlighting opening match jitters, Deschamps refused to hit out at his misfiring front line of Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and 19-year-old Paris…

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Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson revealed Saturday how he worked on psyching out Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to make a penalty save that sealed a 1-1 draw with the footballing superpower. Halldorsson was the hero when he palmed away Messi’s spot kick in the 63rd minute, correctly gambling that the Barcelona talisman would shoot to his right. The man-of-the-match described the moment, which kept the score level at 1-1, as “a dream come true” but also said it was the result of painstaking research into the five-time world player of the year. “I did some homework because I knew this was…

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Belgium will be without defensive stalwarts Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Panama on Monday. Coach Roberto Martinez admitted that neither player is in a position to feature in the Group G encounter in Sochi, and could both sit out their second game too. Yet both are likely to remain part of the squad in Russia. “Thomas Vermaelen has improved very well, a little bit like we expected,” Martinez said of the Barcelona man, who has been out since the middle of last month with a hamstring problem. “He won’t be involved…

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Tite says Neymar is not fully fit but will play some role when the five-time champions open their 2018 World Cup account against Switzerland on Sunday. The world’s most expensive player had surgery after breaking a foot bone in February and only began playing again in two warmup games for Brazil in the weeks before the World Cup began in Russia. “He is not 100 percent at the moment but he has exceptional physical qualities, his speed in particular,” Tite said. “He is always quick and he hasn’t lost that speed, but he is not at 100 percent. I hope…

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Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan has hit back after it was wrongly reported Cristiano Ronaldo had become the first man to score at eight successive major tournaments. Ronaldo scored a stunning hat trick in Portugal’s 3-3 draw with Spain on Friday night, as he netted in an eighth major tournament in a row. While it was reported that Ronaldo was the first to achieve that feat, it was in fact Asamoah Gyan, who has gone one better and scored in nine major tournaments in a row. Gyan wrote on Twitter: “People disregard my achievements in the World Cup history but I want…

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US filmmaker and comedian Kevin Smith has shared a glowing tribute to Drake after he appeared in the rapper’s new video for the song I’m Upset. The promotional clip sees the musician and actor reunite with his former co-stars from Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. Smith and regular collaborator Jason Mewes make a cameo appearance in the video as their comic characters Jay and Silent Bob. Smith wrote on social media: “The world celebrates Drake as special – but I got to watch him pay that forward, as he made all of his childhood class-and-cast mates feel…

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