Former Brazil centre-forward Ronaldo has said that Neymar took a step down “on a sporting level” when leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, while Spanish reports continue to claim that Real Madrid are interested in bringing the current Selecao star back to La Liga as soon as possible. Ronaldo made it clear that Barca were a bigger club than PSG, but then said each individual makes their own career choices. “On a sporting level, Neymar’s decision is a step back but these are challenges that each person takes,” Ronaldo said. “In my time I also played at Barcelona, and…
Author: David Folami
Dr Kayode Fayemi has challenged the 10-year ban slammed on him from holding political office by an Ekiti State Government White Paper. Fayemi, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode shed more light on the matter. He described the action as “a big joke’’. “While we believe it is part of the responsibilities of the state administration to look into the finances of the state at any point in time, we are also of the belief that such must be done in a very responsible manner devoid of prejudice, witch…
Babatunde Fashola has said the Federal Government had concluded plans to involve more Nigerians in meter manufacturing. “The core business of DISCOs is to transport energy; their business is not to supply meters. “The government will address metering more vigorously this year with regulations which will open up business in metering to more investors. “This will reduce the pressure on DISCOs so that they can concentrate more on their core business. “So, we will open up the business to other people who want to play in the sector once the meter regulations are completed this year,” he said. “We have…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered the Modern Democratic Party alongside new political parties. The Modern Democratic Party, which isled by Bukunyi Olateru-Olagbegi, a young Nigerian entrepreneur, joins the existing political parties ahead of the 2019 General Elections. In a report by SIGNAL, Olateru-Olagbegi said he was very delighted that the party has been registered after a long and rigorous process of registration. “Today, as we received our Certificate of Registration, we are convinced more than ever before that the new Nigeria of our dreams is indeed possible. MDP stands today as a political party founded on the…
Governor Nyesom Wike has said that the state’s 2017 Budget recorded 74 per cent performance, representing significant improvement on that of 2016. Wike said that aggregate revenue receipts as at December 31, 2017 stood at N278.2 billion, representing only 69 per cent of total projected revenue. “This left us with a shortfall of over N192 billion in spite of the sharp shortfalls in revenue receipts. “We resisted the temptations of funding the budget through borrowing. “This is because it will make no economic sense to spend more than what we earned and plunge the state into unnecessary debts,’’ he said.…
Goodluck Jonathan has blasted President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for dragging his name into the ongoing Fulani herdsmen crisis, saying his administration treated them as terrorists. The statement read, “Former President Jonathan wishes to express his condolences to the government and people of Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa and Nasarawa states, over the recent spate of killings occasioned by herdsmen/farmers clashes. “His heart bleeds for the sufferings of Nigerians and he calls on the authorities to do everything in their power to put an end to these needless killings. “Having said that, let it be known that we find the statement by…
Ayodele Fayose has called President Muhammadu Buhari an ethnic champion and a religious bigot following the appointment of Ahmed Abubakar as NIA’s DG. He said “Seeing what President Buhari has turned the country to, the forefathers of Nigeria, who laid the foundation of the country on equity, justice and fairness will be lamenting wherever they are now,” Fayose said. “President Buhari has consistently demonstrated that he is an ethnic champion, a religious bigot and the number one promoter of disunity in Nigeria. This he has done again with the appointment of yet another northerner as the NIA director-general. “Ambassador Ayo…
Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, has been discharged from Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja where he has been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a motorbike accident on December 26, 2017. Yusuf broke a limb and sustained an injury to the head on Boxing Day and has been hospitalised at Cedarcrest in the Federal Capital Territory since the accident. The statement read, “Mr. Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari, son of His Excellency President Buhari, was admitted into Cedarcrest Hospitals Abuja in the late hours of the 26th of December 2017, following injuries sustained as a rider of a motorcycle. Following initial stabilisation, he was taken…
Simon Lalong of Plateau has said his administration will not enact the controversial anti-grazing law in the state, as grazing areas for cattle ranching have yet to be developed. “When the governor of Benue was doing the law, I told him: `Just be careful, take other steps before you start implementation’. “But he said that states are different, that his own concept is different and for us in Plateau, it is different. I said I will not do the law before the implementation of certain things. “I have not seen rangers; I have not yet developed the ranching areas. So,…
Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Otunba Gani Adams, Leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), on his investiture as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land. He charged Adams to use his new position to pursue worthy goals of security, peace and national unity. The President also commended the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, on the appointment of a new Aare Ona Kakanfo, “who will assist him in the arduous task of leading the illustrious Yoruba people.’’ Buhari urged the new Kakanfo to bring quintessential courage, wisdom and astuteness to bear on his new office for a more…
Governor Samuel Ortom has insisted on his position on the anti open grazing law will not change. The governor said, “We will not modify the anti open grazing law as demanded by Miyetti Allah as condition for peace to reign. The law was popularly made by Benue people and it has come to stay.” The governor had said the same thing on Thursday, January 11, during the mass burial organised by the state government for the victims of recent attacks. The bodies of 73 men, women and children were buried at the ceremony that was attended by thousands of of…
Muhammadu Buhari has said the agricultural sector has seen steady and remarkable progress in the last two years, significantly reducing the food import bill of the country. “We are very busy in the agricultural sector, and more Nigerians are getting involved,’’ the president told Maj.-Gen. Kazi Sharif Kaikoband, the Ambassador of the Republic of Bangladesh to Nigeria. “We have had the terrorism problem in Bangladesh for more than 36 years,’’ he said. “Bangladesh denounces terrorism in all forms, irrespective of colour or country.’’ The president also received Letters of Credence from Ms. Maria Saranto, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of…
Speaker Yakubu Dogara has begged President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, sign into law the Petroleum Industry Governance Bills (PIGB) passed into law by the National Assembly. He said the new legislation will be transmitted to the President within the next few days explained that the parliament had to move on and pass its own version of the bill following failure of the executive to present a draft bill to the National Assembly. He also described the passage of the PIGB, as historic and landmark achievement by the 8th National Assembly. The speaker also argued that with…
Atiku Abubakar has shared his sympathy for traders who lost their properties to the separate fire incidents that happened in Yola Township Market and the Plank Market in Ibadan over the past week. He posted “My deepest sympathies to all those who lost property in the fires that destroyed the Yola Township Market and the Plank Market in Ibadan. “I’m deeply grateful for the heroic firemen whose prompt response arrested the spread the fire.” According to reports, the cost of damage to properties in the Yola fire has yet to be determined as shop owners are still assessing the destruction…
Rochas Okorocha has said that President Buhari has had a successful first term stint. He said “We were in Abuja for three days, holding meetings of the Progressive Governors with the APC leadership. We deliberated on so many issues. First among the very important issues that we discussed, was the issue of Mr. President’s second term bid and it has the endorsement of all the governors of the APC. “There is the need for him to complete his second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and he should go ahead to declare. “We also deliberated and a…
Muhammadu Buhari momentarily slipped into a coma when Goodluck Jonathan rang to concede defeat at exactly 5:15pm on March 31, 2015; after a closely contested vote. “The PVCs (Permanent Voters Cards) worked well in 2015. That was why when the former president rang me, I went temporarily into a coma,” Buhari confessed to a gathering of APC chieftains during a dinner at the presidential villa this week. “I will never forget the time. It was quarter past 5pm and he said he called to congratulate me and that he had conceded. “He asked if I heard him, and I said…
Samuel Ortom has said that residents of Benue state, now live in fear, due to the constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen. He also accused members of Kautal Hore of masterminding the recent attacks, and called on the police to arrest the group. Ortom said “We thank God that peace is gradually returning to the state, but there are still pockets of challenges here; we know the challenges will soon be over because our people are always alert to give useful information to security operatives around. “Let me tell you that our people are still living in fear and are under…
Aminu Tambuwal has announced the purchase of N104 million worth of locally made fertilizer for distribution to farmers across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. He mentioned that apart from the fertilizer company, other policies had been implemented in order to put the state’s economy in the right direction. “The micro and macro-economic policies of both the Federal and Sokoto State Governments had started to yield positive results. “As we can see, positive results have been churned out from sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, entrepreneurship development and other areas in the social investments chain. “It is worthy to note…
Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has said that arrangements have been concluded for the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state on Feb. 6. ‘‘I am happy to announce that Mr President has graciously accepted to visit Nasarawa State on February 6,” he said. He also said that during the visit, President Buhari would inaugurate various projects initiated and completed by the current administration for the benefit of the people. The governor begged the people of the various communities where the president would visit to cooperate with the committee constituted by the state government to ensure a successful outing.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said INEC has 74 million voters in its register by the second week of January. He said the figure was expected to reach between 80 and 85 million by 2019 because of the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). He assured Nigerians that only their votes would determine the 2019 general elections and beyond. Yakubu noted that there had been a lot of improvement in the electoral process since the current commission came on board. He said the commission was not unmindful of the enormous responsibility of conducting elections in a democracy. He also stressed the…