Some of the freed Nigerian slaves in Libya have opened up about their fellow countrymen being part of the slave trade cartel. They described the Nigerians involved in the slave business as more wicked than the Libyans and other participants. Recounting their ordeal, some of the returnees said they also sold by Nigerians. “Nigerians and Libyans are doing the business like they are one big happy family,” Harrison Okotie, 32, said. Another returnee, Sunday Anyaegbunam, who hails from Edo state, said they were sold twice by Nigerians during their nine-day journey through the desert. He said their Nigerian “burger” (trafficker)…
Author: David Folami
Fedral Government has denied the claims by former vice president Atiku Abubakar that President Muhammadu Buhari was at a time denied entry into the United States for 15 years. Atiku recently said Buhari was not allowed to enter the US for 15 years because of “religious considerations.” Femi Adesina though has described Atiku’s claims as a “fictive concoction being passed off as truth”. “At no time was President Buhari, as a private person, ever forbidden from entering any country in the world. Rather, the rest of the world has always held Muhammadu Buhari as a man of sterling qualities, strong…
Chief James Ibori recently described Chief Raymond Dokpesi as a passionate loyalist of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he has suffered for the party. He said that the aspirant is enjoying huge confidence of party members because of his record and commitment. He pledged to give necessary support to the aspiration and prayed that God will guide him. Similarly, a chieftain of PDP in the state, Mr Ben Edo-Osagie, described Dokpesi as a “brave man with credibility”,adding that in spite of all intimidations, he remained in the party and “gave it his all.” “Credibility and total alliance is what is…
Atiku Abubakar has announced his decison to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party. Atiku disclosed his defection in a live Facebook message recently. He said he decided to “return home” now that issues which made him leave the PDP have been settled. Atiku had resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week, saying the ruling party has failed Nigerians and no longer stands for true democracy.
Kashim Shettima of Borno state has listed reasons the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan cannot be compared to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. “Comparing (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo and the people he worked with and those Jonathan worked with, you will understand why. “If you look at Obasanjo, hate him or love him, you have to respect Obasanjo for not only believing in the Nigerian project but for surrounding himself with men of quality. “If you mention Obasanjo, the names that readily come to mind are those of Oby Ezekwesili, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Nasiru el-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu,…
The Nigeria Police Force have stepped forward to the defence of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) officials, who were accused of torturing and brutalising innocent citizens. They dismissed the allegations, saying that the unit is carrying out its duty fantastically well. Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar also supported the agitation for the scrapping of SARS. But the police urged Nigerians to disregard the protest and those behind it, saying SARS has lived up to its duty of curbing violent crimes. “As we speak, SARS is doing fantastically well across the country in reducing incidents of robbery to the barest minimum……
Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his deep sympathy to the families of the victims of the bomb attacks in Biu, Borno State on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Buhari assured that the Intelligence Fusion Center which is being set up in Maiduguri would help prevent future attacks by Boko Haram on soft targets. “My condolences to the families of the victims of the bomb attacks in Biu yesterday. I’m confident that the Intelligence Fusion Center we’re setting up in Maiduguri will help us stay ahead of Boko Haram’s desperate attacks on soft targets. May the souls of the dead rest in peace,”…
Atiku Abubakar has also voiced his opinion concerning the trending topic on social media, #EndSARS, which seeks the abolishment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known by the acronym SARS. Nigerians recently took to the microblogging platform, Twitter, protesting excesses of the SARS policemen. In a couple of tweets, Atiku said the protest shows that Nigerian youths are angry, urging the Federal Government to urgently address the matter. In October, a lady, Kachi Anifela Zion, accused officers of SARS in Ilorin of sexual molestation. She said a male SARS official under the pretense of searching her, dipped his hand in…
Atiku Abubakar has said he would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 should he decide to seek re-election. “I will definitely beat him this time. He has wasted a lot of his massive goodwill. A lot of people are disgruntled but they are keeping quiet and lying low. Our youths are suffering terribly. They are even now being sold into slavery. “Everyone knows my track record of inviting and attracting a good team and giving them the opportunity to work professionally. Nigerians are tired of leaders who cannot think big and work big.” He said the only way the PDP…
Bukola Saraki has said that he would make his intentions clear about 2019 in two months. Saraki said this is not the time to talk about 2019 as the development of the country is the most crucial for now. He said, “You are like the tenth person who has asked me, so there is a queue. I promised the first person that when it is time to talk about 2019, I would answer the questions. “Anytime next year from February, you can ask us about what are my intentions in 2019 or whether I want to come back to the…
Jupp Heynckes praised “a magnificent performance” from Kingsley Coman as Bayern Munich beat Hannover 3-1 at the Allianz Arena to go six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. “Honestly, Kingsley could have taken things easy today as he’s had a swollen foot for two weeks. “However, this week he was able to train normally and today he put in a magnificent performance, scoring the vital goal to make it 2-1. “His long runs cost so much energy so he has marvellous fitness, too, at the moment. I’m very pleased with how he is developing with us.” Bayern captain…
Paul Pogba has said Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli is worth “more than £100 million.” Pogba become the most expensive footballer in the world when he switched to Old Trafford from Juventus for £89.3m in 2016 but says 21-year-old Alli, who has been linked with United, is worth more than that. “I think he is worth even more than £100m because you see how he plays — he is very talented but still very young,” the France international told the London Evening Standard after joining Alli at an adidas event this week. “But he is mature as well — you can…
Zinedine Zidane has talked about his disappointment with the result but not the performance after his team missed a chance to cut the eight point gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona by drawing 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday evening. With his side not ceasing the advantage of Barcelona’s 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo earlier in the day, the Los Blancos coach claimed at the postgame news conference that his team had deserved more and he was disappointed for his players who had made a huge effort. “I am very disappointed given the game we played,” Zidane said.…
Unai Emery came out to say he was happy with his players’ efforts despite a 2-1 defeat away at Strasbourg on Saturday. Speaking after the final whistle, Emery tried to show faith in his players after a first defeat of the season across all competitions. “The team took 23 shots and managed to win 13 corners,” said the Basque tactician. “We had chances to score. We were perhaps not that settled in attack and when it came to the final touches in the opposing penalty area. However, it is normal to be disappointed. “Our objective and our motivation is always…
Jurgen Klopp laughed at suggestions that Barcelona had been quoted a price to buy Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window. An amused Klopp said to papers in the UK: “Named a price? Interesting. “There is absolutely nothing to say about this. Of course Phil is still essential for us. “Should we stop thinking about him in the moment just because there are more stories about him in the newspapers in Spain?” When asked about transfer comings and goings for other players with the club when the window opens in January. “I cannot give an answer for that now. A…
Paul Pogba has said he hopes injuries to “important players” could dampen Manchester City’s title fight this season. Speaking before United’s win, Pogba was asked on “Football Focus” whether he believed City might slip up before the end of the season. “I do,” he replied. “Someday I hope they’re going to slip. “I hope … it’s bad to say things like that but fortunately for us I hope they will get some very important players injured, like what’s happening with us, because people don’t see this, don’t speak about this, but every time we have, like, players injured, important players,…
Mauricio Pochettino has said Tottenham will come out stronger from their slump after they failed to win for the fourth consecutive league game at Watford on Saturday. “It’s a good experience for us — a team that in the last two seasons was also being praised by [the media] in the way we played and defended,” the Spurs manager said afterwards. “To live that experience is important, to learn for the future. I think we’ll be a stronger team for it. Sometimes it’s important in football to feel that frustration and disappointment that it’s not all easy and you can’t…
Cesc Fabregas has said Chelsea and the other Premier League title challengers are waiting for Manchester City to slip as Pep Guardiola’s side continue to dominate. Despite Chelsea claiming six wins from their last seven games, Fabregas knows they need City to start dropping points to give them any chance of retaining their crown. “It is important to get the win,” he told Chelsea’s official website. “It was an important three points. “It is still a long way to go and that is why we have to hope Manchester City will slip up and we will manage to put some…
Diego Simeone has hailed his team’s persistence after they came back to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday. The crucial win moved Atleti to within six points of leaders Barcelona. “Both teams had some big chances, but we did not stop insisting. The players came out on top after being up against it in the first half. “They showed pride, intensity, bravery and insistence and got a classic last-minute winner.” “We did not start the game well and made mistakes that we could improve upon in the second half. “The most important today was to keep…
Sam Allardyce has said he wants to retain England midfielder Ross Barkley at Goodison Park. Allardyce said: “I’d like to think we can keep Barkley, unless somebody’s already done a deal for him. “I am not daft enough to know in this game that those words and phone calls might not have already gone on. “If we could get Ross Barkley to stay then nobody would be more delighted than me. Whether that is a possibility I do not know.” Barkley has not featured for Everton since the end of last season, having suffered a hamstring injury in preseason. Allardyce…