Albert Muchang has said Africa is doing the right thing in creating the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) even with the current retreat from multilateralism. According to him, the vision of the CFTA to achieve an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens represented a dynamic force in the international system. “With more than 1.2 billion people, a growing middle class, over 3.4 trillion dollars in aggregate GDP, and being one of the 10 largest economies in the world in aggregate GDP, the CFTA is a commercially viable undertaking. “It has the potential to be among the…
Author: David Folami
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has vowed to arrest and prosecute Nigerians for abusing naira notes with the possibility of jail time or an option of fine, if found guilty. This was disclosed on Friday by Samuel Shuaibu. He stated that Nigerians have been found to abuse the naira indiscriminately while respecting foreign currencies. He said, “The naira has suffered abuse from a majority of Nigerians. Today, we find some people spraying the naira in occasions, soiling it, writing on it, squeezing it while others are hawking it. “The CBN spent a lot of money in the printing of…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has annunced that no fewer than 3.63 million new voters have been registered in ongoing Continuous Voter Registration across the country. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this known recently. “For the first time in the history of INEC, citizens who have attained the voting age of 18 years and those who could not register during the previous CVR, now have the opportunity to do so. “So far, 3, 630, 529 new voters have been registered,’’ Yakubu said. Yakubu said that the commission had received over 120 applications from political associations seeking registration as political parties,…
Nyesom Wike has said only one of those who withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairmanship race did so out of annoyance. The governor said, “In politics when you read the handwriting, you understand that this does not favour you, you find all excuses. “I don’t know why they should be offended, they are not offended. Some people withdrew yesterday because you can tell what your chances are. “Gbenga Daniel has withdrawn; he did not withdraw because he was angry. He said look, he wants a peace process, and he wants everybody to work together. Jimi Agbaje did the…
Prince Uche Secondus has been elected new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a full convention which held at the Eagle Square in Abuja. The former acting chairman of the party beat three other contestants to emerge chairman. Secondus was heavily backed by Governors led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. Chairman of the electoral committee, Gabriel Suswam, declared that Secondus polled 2,000 votes out of a total vote tally of 2,296, to emerge chairman. Former minister of education, Tunde Adeniran, got 231 votes while former AIT Chairman Raymond Dokpesi ended up with 66 votes.
One of the National Chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Tunde Adeniran, disappeared from the convention ground holding at the Eagles Square, Abuja. Adeniran rejected the electoral process, describing it as fraudulent and unfair. Six other candidates from the South-West had pulled out of the race and reached a consensus to support only Adeniran, so that the zone would stand a better chance of emerging winner. Speaking to newsmen at the venue, Mr. Taiwo Akeju, the director of publicity to Adeniran, said his boss is against the use of a unity list, which he claims was used…
Dr Goodluck Jonathan has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become a reference point as Nigeria moves toward another election. He said, “Ours is a party with an indelible history and proven record on its tradition and we have been consistent in standing firm. “PDP is the only party that from the beginning, we have not changed our name or our identity in any form, we do not change based on election cycle. PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria.” “Today is a unique day because we are going to elect leaders that will steer the activities of…
Atiku Abubakar has berated the All Progressives Congress, saying the party is a total failure. Atiku, who recently dumped APC for the PDP, said the ruling party has divided Nigerian more than ever. “Under the APC Nigeria is not working, under the APC our people are not working. Let us consider what the APC has achieved versus what they promised in the last election. The APC promised us three million new jobs a year, in government the APC has lost three million jobs a year,” Atiku said. He further said that “The APC promised us unity, under APC Nigeria is…
Chief Raymond Dokpesi has faulted the electoral process. Dokpesi alleged that governors gave copies of ‘Unity List’ to delegates ahead of voting. “It’s not unlikely that the names on this list would be announced as winners of the so-called election,” he said. Uche Secondus emerged winner.
Zinedine Zidane has said he felt his team had played their way back into goal-scoring form after Saturday afternoon’s 5-0 La Liga stroll past Sevilla at the Bernabeu. “I hope things have changed now, and we can keep going like this, scoring goals,” Zidane said. “Two games, eight goals, we must keep going like this. We are improving in all ways, also in how we are playing, which is the most important for us.” “To score five goals today against Sevilla is not easy at all,” Zidane said. “I am happy for Cristiano’s goals, for the players who had not…
Raheem Sterling says he loves being targeted by the boo boys because it drives him on to play even better. “It’s football, it’s part of the game,” he said. “When they give you grief, hopefully you can stick the ball in the back of the net and go celebrate and that’s probably the best answer you can give them. “But no, I actually quite enjoy it when you hear abuse because you want to score and upset them even more.” “It doesn’t concern me,” he said. “It’s more like: “A dirty car, oh my God!’ “There’s more things going on…
Mauricio Pochettino is insisting he never doubted his Tottenham team as they ended their Premier League slump with a 5-1 win against Stoke at Wembley. “I was never nervous and there was never any doubt about the team,” Pochettino said. “I am confident, I was confident because trust in the team and our job. It’s only there are some not so good moments in every team. “After [Wednesday’s 3-0 win against] Apoel and today only we need to see the future and stay optimistic and try to keep this level for the next few games. “The first goal is always…
Jupp Heynckes paid tribute to a revitalised Arturo Vidal’s match-winning performance as Bayern Munich moved eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a slim 1-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. “It’s to Arturo’s credit,” Heynckes said at a postmatch news conference. “He has played many outstanding games for Bayern in the last few years, but has been a little out of sorts recently. The player has to make the change himself — naturally with my help.” The win in Frankfurt ensures Bayern will head into the winter break leading the Bundesliga for a seventh consecutive season, stretching their…
Manchester City are always committing a “tactical foul,” according to Jose Mourinho. “It is a strategy [City] have,” he told multiple English newspapers. “They attack with a lot of players. When they lose the ball, they are many times unbalanced in numbers, they have lots of people surrounding the ball area and have a very strong — and this is a great quality — transition in the next few seconds after they lose the ball, and many times they need what is called a tactical foul. “Then it is up to the referee to analyse and make a decision about…
Pep Guardiola has said he cannot remember Sir Alex Ferguson talking to him about the Manchester United manger’s job, but adds it would not have made a difference about taking over at Manchester City. “I know he has said that but I don’t remember,” Guardiola told a news conference. “We spoke about life, about football of course, about the Premier League, but he never sent me a message under the table to say, ‘you know, maybe United’ or something like that. “I remember, he spoke really fast, it was difficult to understand. It was nice because he chose an amazing…
Andres Iniesta has not fully recovered from a calf injury and will miss Barcelona’s trip to Villarreal on Sunday, the club have confirmed. Iniesta, 33, was taken off during last week’s draw with Celta Vigo and missed the midweek win against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. He returned to training on Friday and Barca hoped to have him available for the game at the Estadio de la Ceramica. However, the Catalan club confirmed on Saturday that the game will come too soon for the midfielder . Samuel Umtiti, who will be out for two months with a torn hamstring,…
Thibaut Courtois has said he wants to resolve the doubt surrounding his future at Chelsea before the end of the season, but reiterated that being apart from his children is making him consider a move to Spain. “It [my private situation] is not always easy, but I’d also seen this coming,” Courtois told VTM Stadion. “I knew that she [his former girlfriend] would return to Madrid, so that has its influence too. I love my children to death. When you miss them, you are sometimes wondering: shouldn’t I play in Spain in the next few years? That’s why I want…
Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti has begged his boys to have more belief in their abilities after a goalless draw with Juventus. He said: “In the first 20 minutes we held the ball well up to the edge of the area, but there were moments in the second half where we have lost a few too many balls for our quality. “When you come to this stage and you cannot score a goal and you take a point, that’s fine, but we have to hurry up and understand that we’ve earned this level of our potential. We must be aware…
Raheem Sterling doesn’t want to give Manchester United any assurance that they can overtake Manchester City’s lead when they meet for Sunday’s crucial Manchester derby. “It’s a massive game,” he said. “Two teams competing on all fronts, two teams that are local, two teams that will be pushing each other to the death in the Premier League. “It’s going to be a game that really shows who is really up for it. I’m not going to say it will decide the season but it will give the other one a bit of confidence and we’re going to try to be…
Off his “Playmaker” album, ace indigenous rapper – Phyno has premiered the video for ‘Obiagu’. The street-themed video was shot and directed by Unlimited L.A