Yakubu Dogara has shared how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu begged him in his bedroom in 2015 to step down for Femi Gbajabiamila. He has detailed how Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who wanted Femi Gbajabiamila on the seat, begged him to quit his ambition. Dogara recounted: “As a matter of fact, Asiwaju (Tinubu) is someone that we respect very much and no one can doubt the sterling role he played in the emergence of APC as a government. Asiwaju had through emissaries sought audience with me and in deference to him I went to see…
Author: David Folami
Olisa Metuh, has described the party’s newly-elected National Working Committee (NWC) as “one of the best set of national leaders the party has ever produced’’. “The National Chairman, Secondus, has been in party administration. He was a state chairman, chairman of G-84, national organising secretary, deputy national chairman, acting national chairman of the party and he has now become the elected one. “Also, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan, was a former editor of a newspaper. For the first time we are having a practising journalist as our spokesman. “We expect that he will excel. He is going to…
Atiku Abubakar has been revealed as one of the major force that supported Dr Bukola Saraki’s candidacy to emerge the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly. Yakubu Dogara reportedly shared this in his yet to be released biography. Dogara disclosed that Atiku “solidly” backed Bukola Saraki’s bid to be senate president in 2015 — despite strong opposition from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including President Muhammadu Buhari. “If I don’t say this to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s credit I will not be fair to him. It will amount to travesty. At the time when most leaders in…
Yakubu Dogara has shared how Budget padding advocate, Abdulmumin Jibrin assisted him win the No 4 seat in Nigeria. Dogara said: “I have to say that to his credit. He was there. He really did a great job. “I will say that although Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin wasn’t with our team initially, he later supported me 100%, whole-heartedly. Luckily his secretariat wasn’t far from ours and he was handy.” Dogara also talked about the circumstances that led to the clash with Jibrin, who was subsequently removed as chairman of the appropriation committee and suspended from the house. Dogara said: “My kind…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on his 50th birthday. “The PDP is very proud of Wike for his exceptional leadership qualities and outstanding performance which have spanned over the years. “He is an excellent manager of men and resources with a track record of performance as a former Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff of Rivers, Minister; and now as governor of Rivers,’’ he said. The party begged him to remain firm in his determination to bring the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers and good governance to Nigerians. “The PDP…
Seriake Dickson has pleaded with PDP leaders and members to focus on wrestling back power in 2019. “Now the convention has come and gone the way it did. “As party leaders, we know that even though it was a family contest, there was need to reach out to leaders who have played key roles in the party, and whose contributions moving forward would continue to be significant. “We thought we should interact with you, to share ideas with you, to discuss some of the concerns and issues that have arisen after the convention. “Primarily, it is not with a view…
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said the appointment of Chief Gani Adams as the 15th Aare-Ona Kakanfo is a source of pride to the Yoruba race. Adams was appointed as the Aare-Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Oct. 15. “You are very deserving of that position because you have turned and improved the image of our socio-security group. You have brought respectability to our people through your conduct and carriage. “You are a pride to the Yoruba race, Nigeria and Africa,’’ he said. “Yoruba land has existed for several centuries. Infact, Ibadan…
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue chapter, has praised the Benue Government for successfully implementing the Anti-Open Grazing Law. Rev. Akpen Leva, the chairman of the association in the state made the commendation in an interview with NAN on Wednesday in Makurdi,. Leva said, “so far, the state government has demonstrated the political will to implement the law”. Leva recollected that the Anti-Open Grazing Bill was originally initiated by CAN but later developed by the government. He said it was impossible to have one grazing in the state without having acrimonious relationship with herders, adding that the best way…
Dr Dakuku Peterside, has alleged that Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, is the brain behind the ongoing campaign to scrap the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force. The governor has blasted the unit on several occassions and thrown his support behind the ongoing #EndSARS campaign against the unit. Dakuku said said, “Rivers State is number one in high profile crimes of murder, kidnapping and robbery and the state government may have become uncomfortable because of its inability to influence and control the police. “Some people are obviously benefiting from the criminal activities that SARS officers stand…
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rebuked claims that he might take up Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s job in 2019. He has come out to warn politicians behind the news to stop distracting the leadership of the country with false reports. Tinubu mentioned how he publicly refused the running mate ticket when offered by President Buhari and he felt it won’t be in the interest of the party,he threw his entire support behind Vice President Osinbajo. “When at some point in the build up to the 2015 election, President Buhari offered him the Vice –Presidential ticket, Tinubu gratefully and publicly thanked…
Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with his family already having ties to the Premier League club. Few would be aware that his younger brother joined United more than three years ago. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s spell at Old Trafford never really got off the ground, though — he was loaned back to his home club, Vojvodina, immediately after completing the transfer in May 2014, then was released in November 2015 after failing to get a work permit. Unlike his younger brother, Sergej has already played at full international level for Serbia and in the Europa League with Lazio. He…
Alexandre Lacazette has said Arsenal need a “miracle” if they are to win the Premier League this season, but added a return to the Champions League was always the club’s pivotal aim this season. “It would be really complicated to win it at this point,” he said. “We would really need a miracle. City would need to lose a lot of their games and we know their record. But the goal in coming here was always to qualify for the Champions League and if we could get the title, fantastic.” He says the urge of working with Wenger was a…
Willian has told Chelsea fans he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge amid reports of a possible reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. “I’m happy here and the fans can be calm,” he said after Chelsea turned in a much-improved display at the John Smith’s Stadium. “I’m always happy here at Chelsea. I really like this club a lot with my heart. Yeah, I’m very happy.” The Brazil international has started only 12 games this season, but responded to his recall by heading home Chelsea’s second and laying on the other goals for Tiemoue Bakayoko and Pedro.…
Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham Hotspur’s lenient festive schedule will give him the chance to introduce “new concepts” to his summer signings and spark a successful second half of the season. “For the new players that arrived, [it’s important] to be more comfortable here, to know everything, to adapt their quality to the team,” he told a news conference. “The first six months is always difficult for the new players because we don’t have much time to work — sometimes we work only through the video because we can’t do anything on the pitch. And it’s not the same. “Just today…
Jurgen Klopp says he substituted Mohamed Salah early in the Merseyside derby to prevent further injury, as he defends his decision to rotate over the busy festive period. “I took Mo Salah off because he had a hamstring a little bit,” Klopp told reporters. “Then everyone said: ‘How can you take him off?’ and stuff like this. I don’t go out and say: ‘Yeah, but he is close to being injured.’ He is not at the moment, thank God. Hopefully we took him off early enough.” “The future of football will be much more rotation because no-one will take away…
David Silva has said it was a special victory after Manchester City’s 4-0 win at Swansea set a new record of 15 consecutive league victories. “Of course, it is special when you win so many games. It’s important for confidence and our confidence is high at the moment,” he said. “We are very happy. After the derby, to play in that way three days later was so difficult. We did well. “We didn’t talk about the record before the game to be honest. We go game by game to win and you saw that today.” City boss Pep Guardiola now…
Jurgen Klopp believes Dominic Solanke’s disallowed goal in Liverpool’s goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night was another instance of his team not being on the receiving end of good fortune from refereeing decisions. “For me it’s twice deflected and I’m still not sure if the hand was at the ball or not. For me, it looks like chest,” Klopp told his postmatch news conference. “In the game it looked 100 percent like chest. Afterwards when I had a few replays, yeah there’s an arm, but I’m not sure if it touches the ball. “Is it a penalty…
David Moyes enjoyed another impressive defensive display from his West Ham side in a goalless draw with Arsenal and is now ready to take the next step to full safety. Moyes said: “I saw the fixture when I took the job and I thought, ‘Oh no, here we go.’ “But we’ve tightened up, we’ve not conceded any goals in the last couple of games, and we were a bit unfortunate against Man City. “I want our football to be better, I want us to create better chances, but it’s one step at a time. “Against the better teams we’ve tried…
Eddie Howe has said Romelu Lukaku should have been dismissed during Manchester United’s 1-0 victory. Howe said: “I thought the first tackle was a yellow card. He was very late on Nathan. Then he picked up a clear yellow. He should have been off the pitch.” United were not at their best, and were thankful to David De Gea for repelling the Bournemouth with several good saves. Howe said: “The players delivered the gameplan really well and we looked like we had a real cutting edge. We created chances right up until the end.” He added: “They have an outstanding…
Manchester United have confirmed that the injury that has already ruled Eric Bailly out of their last eight games may require surgery, with Jose Mourinho calling the Ivory Coast international’s setback “serious” after a 1-0 win against Bournemouth. Bailly, 23, has not played since the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on Nov. 5 after returning from the October international break with a groin injury. Mourinho said the club’s medical staff are considering surgery to correct the problem but will wait to see how the centre-back responds to “conservative treatment.” Mourinho said: “I think it’s serious. It’s an injury that comes from…