Muhammadu Buhari has finally accepted to negotiate with deadly terrorists, Boko Haram in exchange for the release of 110 schoolgirls abducted in Dapchi, Yobe State, Nigeria. The presidency said the president made this known to US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson during his brief visit and meeting with the Nigerian President on Monday, March 12, 2018. “Nigeria prefers to have schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok and Dapchi back alive, and that is why it has chosen negotiation, rather than a military option,” a statement issued by the president’s spokesman stated. Buhari explained to Tillerson, how his government plans…
Author: David Folami
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Saturday said that the exit of Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Prof. Jerry Gana from PDP would not diminish the party’s strength. Babatope said that although the two politicians contributed greatly to the PDP, the party should respect their decision to leave and move on. He said there was no need calling for their return to the PDP as they were competent adults. “Both Prof. Adeniran and Prof, Gana were strong members of the PDP; unfortunately, they have left; there is nothing anybody can do about that. “I am…
Sen. Babafemi Ojudu has said his choice as the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the Ekiti governorship election, will fast-track the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Ojudu, who is the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, disclosed this on Friday at Ado-Ekiti at his declaration ceremony for the July 14 governorship poll. “By the grace of God, my candidature will not only drive PDP away, we will ensure that we defeat the incumbent and his nominee,’’ he said. He said it was his plan to use the position of a…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to their owners will begin by middle of May. The Ebonyi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma disclosed at a strategic security interactive meeting on Wednesday in Abakaliki. Obioma said that the commission would commence the distribution of the PVCs to eligible electorate, who registered between 2017 and 2018. “We have concluded arrangements for the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards to their owners and the exercise begins by mid May and will involve those who registered between 2017 and 2018. “We have begun…
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said on Monday that the South West was strategic to the party’s “inevitable victory” in the upcoming general elections. According to him, the party holds leaders and party members in the zone in high esteem, stressing that the value of the zone to the PDP cannot be dismissed. He said that efforts being made for the stability and growth of the party were commendable and that the party was re-positioning to re-take power. “The difference in votes won by the APC and our great party in the South West was…
The Benue State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Akpen Leva, has claimed that attacks by herdsmen in the state have led to the destruction of over 500 churches. He said, “The destruction cuts across Catholic, Pentecostal, NKST, Anglican and several other churches located in areas affected by the crisis. “The level of destruction is actually worrisome and that is the more reason why there is every need for the Federal Government to consider availing these churches some form of compensation, so that we can rebuild the effected structures and also effect repairs on others. “Majority of…
Sen. Shehu Sani, (APC- Kaduna Central) has asked the Federal Government to fulfil the third quarter promise for the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage for workers in the country. Sani said that the implementation of the National Minimum Wage was long overdue as workers in the country are faced with various challenges and hardships. He added, “I do not think Nigerian workers are doing well, if you look at the reality of life today, the economic situation and compare it to the minimum wage. “It means what they are earning, there is nothing to write home about as…
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has disclosed that the president is not completely aware of everything going on in the country because he’s not “omniscient”. Adesina said the president did not know about the absence of the IGP in Benue because he doesn’t get every information. He said, “It just tells you that the president is not omniscient. As president and commander-in-chief, he has other channels, but it doesn’t mean that he gets every information under the sun.” He also noted that it was incorrect to assume the president is expected to know every…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blasted President Buhari for rejecting the electoral act amendment recently passed by the National Assembly. According to Buhari, the amendment may infringe on the constitutionally guaranteed right of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize, undertake and supervise elections. The PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan told newsmen that the party is not afraid of the 2019 elections. He also said that Nigerians have already reject Buhari and his dysfunctional party – All Progressives Congress (APC). Ologbodiyan said “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari withheld his assent to the…
Muhammadu Buhari dropped a new hint on his reelection bid for the presidency in the 2019 election while he was addressing stakeholders in Benue State over the state’s herdsmen crisis on Monday, March 12, 2018. During the meeting, the president noted that he was not going to make any promises about the economy until he returns to the state on campaign. “When coming back on campaign, if coming back on campaign, I may promise,” he said. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, as he appealed for calm in…
Ernesto Valverde has hailed Andre Gomes’ bravery for speaking out about his struggles at Barcelona and has insisted the midfielder is ready to face Chelsea on Wednesday if called upon. “It was very brave for Andre to admit how he was feeling, especially in such a public manner,” Valverde said at a news conference on Tuesday. “As people in the football world, we are often careful not to reveal our insecurities or weaknesses, so it was a very brave act. “But it’s nothing new and he is not the only one. It’s something which has happened to most of us.…
Jurgen Klopp has said his side must show an immediate response after a weekend defeat at Manchester United that felt “massively rubbish.” Liverpool take on Watford at Anfield on Saturday before there is a short break for international fixtures. “We have to respond, 100 percent,” Klopp told the club’s official website. “But in the moment I cannot, and I don’t want to, think about anything else. I still have to work to swallow this one and it’s quite difficult.” Klopp lamented the errors that led to Marcus Rashford’s double inside 24 minutes at Old Trafford, but felt his side’s second-half…
Shakhtar Donetsk fully expect star midfielder Fred to sign for either Manchester City or Manchester United next summer, the Ukrainian club’s chief executive has said. City have long been linked to a move for the Brazil international, perhaps as a replacement for the aging Fernandinho. Reports in January valued Fred at about €50 million (£45m), and Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin told Corriere dello Sport that he believes United are willing to make a rival bid. “Fred will leave in July,” he told the Italian newspaper. “If he does not go to Manchester City, he will go to Manchester United. “Fred…
Romelu Lukaku has said some of his Manchester United teammate “were hiding” during the Champions League round-of-16 second leg defeat to Sevilla. “Something was wrong with some players, some players were hiding,” Lukaku told BT Sport. “I think we started the game well, but then we let them get a bit of control in the game. We had a few half-chances but we didn’t score. “Then they scored the first goal and from that moment on we tried to chase the game. Then they scored the second one which was a big blow. At the end we kept pushing, but…
Ronald De Boer has said his brother Frank “respects Jose Mourinho a lot” after the two became embroiled in a war of words over Marcus Rashford. Manchester United manager Mourinho called former Crystal Palace boss Frank De Boer “the worst manager in the history of the Premier League” after he said it was “a pity” Rashford is managed by Mourinho. But Ronald De Boer said his brother had been attempting to point out that Rashford’s situation would be different at a different kind of club. “Managers have different philosophies when developing young talents — not right or wrong, simply different,…
A second-half strike from Edin Dzeko sent Roma into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 1-0 home victory against 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk. Dzeko, who had his first chance in the opening minute, broke Shakhtar’s stout back four in the 52nd. Kevin Strootman beat the offside trap with a through ball that Dzeko collected just inside the penalty area on the left, and with Andriy Pyatov out to play it, Dzeko calmly finished between the goalkeeper’s legs from 16 yards. The Bosnia international nearly doubled the lead seven minutes later on a feed from Radja Nainggolan, but his attempt…
Jose Mourinho has insisted Manchester United’s elimination from the Champions League to Sevilla in the round of 16 is “not the end of the world,” nor is it “something new” for a club whom he personally has knocked out in the past. “I said that it would be disappointment if we would lose the match I don’t want to make a drama of it,” Mourinho said in his news conference. “We have a match on Saturday, we have no time to be sad for more than 24 hours and that’s football, is not the end of the world. “I sit…
Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand delivered a cruel verdict after seeing Jose Mourinho’s men dumped out of the Champions League by Sevilla. Scholes accused United of lacking desire and Mourinho of not even trying to win the first leg to set up the second. He said: “It was very difficult watching that, it was difficult watching the first game. There was no desire, no energy, no speed about the team. I can’t explain it, it’s inexplicable. “You go back to the first game — in the modern game now, teams go to places and they try to score goals. United…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is “really frustrated” that he can’t play in the Europa League, and says the lack of regular games has made it more difficult to settle in at the club. “I am really frustrated because the rules are a bit… I don’t know how to say in English, but I am disappointed because I can’t help my team,” Aubameyang told reporters. “That’s life. I have to deal with it.” Aubameyang has three goals in five Premier League games so far — including two in his last two. But he said the longer breaks between games have made it more…
Diego Costa and Kevin Gameiro are to miss Thursday’s Europa League round-of-16 second leg at Lokomotiv Moscow through injury, but goalkeeper Jan Oblak has travelled to Russia despite being troubled by an ongoing glute issue. Atletico have confirmed that both forwards had undergone tests which confirmed a muscle strain for the France international, and just bruising for the Spain attacker. “Medical tests on Gameiro have diagnosed a myofascial injury in the right adductor muscle, with the time out dependent on the recovery,” a club statement said. “Diego Costa also underwent tests on the ankle injury suffered during the game, and…