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Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has expressed optimism that the team would deliver in Sunday's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola.
Rohr said during the team's interactive session with newsmen on Friday in Abuja that Nigeria would get an outright victory over the Chipolopolo in the encounter.
He said that Nigeria was blessed with abundant talents and assured that the players presently in camp were capable of defeating any team.
The German tactician revealed that Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi, would lead the attack against the Zambians on Sunday.
He assured that as professionals, the players would adapt to the bad playing pitch in Ndola. "We have six new players and three will perhaps start the game.
"You know that a player like Iwobi was injured last time but we all know that he is a good player and I hope his integration in the team will produce result in Ndola. "The training has been good and we try to help and bring him into the team; he knows how we played in Uyo and we cannot change tactically because the time is short.
"We have other strategies but similar with what we did in Uyo, and I count on Iwobi to help us win the game in Ndola. "We must avoid the mistake in Uyo where we had 27 shots on goal but converted only one and this means that we must have a good attack and players who can score," Rohr said.
He also said that the technical crew had watched the latest video of the Zambian national team. According to him, we have secured the video clips of their last five games and have gone through them.
"We are also aware that they have changed coach and should expect a different thing but the good thing is that they are the same players. "We know that they are very strong in attack and we have worked on the best tactics to win them but what is undisputable is that they are also a strong side.
"Having missed the Nations Cup, Zambia will want to make a statement with the World Cup qualifiers because they also want to win. "They are motivated like Nigeria but I think that we are hungrier than them," he added.
Rohr, who admitted that the Eagles started camping late, noted that the international experience of most of the players would be an advantage to the team on Sunday. He said that there were no cases of injury in the team ahead of the encounter.
"A player like Musa Mohammed played more than the others during the friendly game and we have to work on him because we don't have lots of right backs though we have started searching. "All the players are fit, including the ones that reported to camp with minor injuries. We are ready for the game," he said.
The Eagles will depart Abuja for Ndola, Zambia, on Saturday for the encounter.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the proposed State Technical University, Ibadan, will soon take off based on public private partnership arrangement.
He said this on Friday while inspecting the facilities at the university site in company with Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo.
The university is located at Ajayi community on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the university was conceived in 2012 by the Ajimobi administration and was to partner with University of Texas, US.
The university, which has Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, a former Head of Service of the Federation as Chairman of the Governing Council, could not take off as scheduled.
The governor had hinged the delay on the withdrawal of the foreign partners due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
Gov Ajimobi
Ajimobi said that the state government would release 90 percent of the university's shares to private investors while it would only retain 10 percent.
He stressed that special courses not readily available in the regular universities would be provided by the institution.
The university, he added, would provide succour for parents who often send their wards to neighbouring countries for higher education.
Okorocha, in his remarks, expressed readiness to partner with the Oyo State Government on the successful take off of the university.
He said the university would readily be available for students of the Okorocha Foundation-owned secondary school in Ibadan.
NAN reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria has already donated a school library, a block of classroom and administrative block to the institution.
Professor John Paden, President Muhammadu Buhari’s official biographer, is a man that is very comfortable with distorting the truth and telling lies. He is also a man that has been doing so for virtually all his adult life.
Fani- Kayode and General Muhammadu Buhari
Anyone that doubts that should read his biography on the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, which was written in 1986 and titled “Ahmadu Bello, Saurdana of Sokoto: Values and Leadership In Nigeria”, and which is essentially a self-serving and comprehensive compilation of Bello’s numerous virtues with little or no mention of his many vices.
I read that book twenty years ago and I placed it in the “light entertainment” shelf in my library because it lacked gravitas or any real intellectual stamina.
It was, at best, a beautiful public relations job for Bello and, at worse, a compilation of disjointed verbiage fit only for the dustbin.
Paden’s book on Buhari falls into the same category. It is nothing but an illusion: an extraordinary and fantastic fairy-tale built on a shady foundation of pseudo-intellectual clap-trap and garbage.
To him, President Buhari is infallible. He is, at best, an angel of light and, at worst, a perfect mortal with no warts.
Paden’s latest contribution is the greatest exercise in dishonesty and historical revisionism that has ever been undertaken by any foreign or Nigerian historian since independence.
The only one that comes close to it in this respect is the book that he wrote on the Sardauna and a number of other books that he authored over the years which were primarily about core northern Nigeria. Writing rubbish seems to be Paden’s stock in trade.
In his latest book, amongst many other glaring and shameless mendacities, he indulged in two particular lies that are an eloquent testimony to his perfidy.
The first was that three names were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for the position of Vice President, namely Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osibanjo and Babatunde Raji Fashola in 2014 for the 2015 presidential election.
This is false and it is simply an attempt to demean and belittle Tinubu and the role that he played in the whole exercise.
The truth is that it was Tinubu and Tinubu alone that forwarded the only name that was given serious consideration for the Vice Presidential slot by President Buhari. That name was Professor Yemi Osibanjo.
Senator Olorunimbe Mamora was also considered by Buhari but he did not have the backing of Tinubu and neither did Tinubu forward his name.
The idea that Tinubu’s name was forwarded to be Vice President alongside that of his two protegees in the persons of Osinbajo and Fashola is nothing but fantasy and it was a beautiful and tasteful dish and tale that was spiced cooked up and prepared in the kitchens of Aso Rock.
Again Tinubu never pressured Buhari to make him his Vice President as Paden has asserted because he had decided to drop that ambition long before then simply because the idea of a Muslim/Muslim ticket, which was originally on the cards, had eventually been jettisoned and rejected by the party due to public presssure and the division and outrage it attracted.
If the Muslim/Muslim ticket had not been rejected Tinubu would have been the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and no-one else, including his erstwhile protegee Babatunde Fashola, would have had a hope in hell of getting it.
This is especially so given the fact that Buhari had originally promised him that position at the time that their parties merged and the APC was established but he later reneged. That is the bitter truth.
Paden was either misinformed by those who commissioned him to write the book or he was being propelled by an ulterior and malevolent motive for writing the rubbish that he did on the Vice Presidential issue.
Whichever way he was completly wrong and for the sake of history and posterity we must set the record straight.
The second lie that he told, which was infinately more dangerous and repugnant than the first, was that President Buhari has documents which are signed by President Jonathan which prove that the latter sought for what he described as “extra-budgetary funds”.
This is a pernicious lie. It has no basis in rationality, reason or truth. There is absolutely no evidence to substantiate it and I challenge Paten or President Buhari himself to make those letters and signed applications for “extra budgetry funds” public.
The whole thing is simply an attempt to further tarnish and demonise Jonathan and all those that served under him before the world and I believe that that is a crying shame.
I can understand such lies coming from a Presidency or a Federal Government that is scared of its own shadows and that feeds off its own propaganda but I cannot accept them coming from a supposedly reputable historian, albeit a foreigner, who has become the official writer and cheerleader of all things caliphate over the last 30 years.
Amongst many other things he also suggested that other senior figures in the political and military configuration in our country committed serious crimes and indulged in damning acts of corruption without being specific or even providing details of those acts.
Instead of doing so he suggested that the individuals concerned, which included President Olusegun Obasanjo, would have been prosecuted, brought to justice and called to account for their allegedly dastardly acts whilst in government if not for the fact that this could have had implications for the stability of the nation and national security.
Obasanjo, who is always quick off the mark and who was actually present at the launching of the book in Abuja as was Tinubu, responded in a measured manner by saying that there were “some insinuations” in it which he disagreed with.
Frankly that was a cop out. Obasanjo was being far too polite and this was probably due to the fact that he had not read the whole book as ay that time and he did not want to dampen the enthusiasm of the biographer, upset the President or ruin the occasion.
The adage is that you do not go to someone’s dinner party and spoil it by confronting his lies, challenging his allegations and speaking the bitter truth.
Yet I believe that though Obasanjo touched on the matter he did not go far enough. I believe that it is incumbent upon all those that were maligned and alleged to have indulged in acts of corruption by Paden to set the record straight and state their case.
It would be very dangerous for all those that have been misrepresented in this so-called book, including President Goodluck Jonathan, President Olusegun Obasanjo and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to keep quiet and not clarify the issues about what was written or insinuated about them because many years from now that book will be used as a major source and reference point for our history.
I urge all those affected to write their own books quickly otherwise they will become victims of historical revisionism.
If I had been invited by President Muhamnadu Buhari or Professor Paden to the book launch I would have mounted the podium and said as much. Sadly I was not.
Permit me to end this contribution by making a suggestion to Paden. Since he wrote about Jonathan’s campaign funds and alleged all manner of corruption concerning their source and application, in his next book on President Buhari I would suggest that he sheds more light on how his subjects own 2015 presidential campaign funds were sourced.
For a start he should tell us who provided the 10 million USD that was paid as consultancy fees to the company of Mr. David Axelrod, President Barack Obama’s erstwhile campaign manager.
He should also tell us the source of funds and how Buhari and his team managed the 19 billion naira that was given to him in cash by the then sitting Governor of the leading and largest state in the south west and the 24.6 billion naira that was given to him in cash and in one day (which was recorded on video before being handed over) by another leading south western politician.
In addition to that he should tell us precisely how much the then Governors of Rivers and Kano states and the present Governors of Ogun and Kwara states amongst many others contributed to Buhari’s campaign and where they got the money from.
Since everyone is claiming to be holy and righteous in this matter let us all get there and publicly exchange notes. After all the Nigerian public, and indeed the entire world, has a right to know.
If Paden fails to ask those questions and declines to provide the answers then he, his accursed books and his questionable and dubious “white-washing” mission of President Muhammadu Buhari shall undoubtedly remain damned forever.
Whether he does so or not other governments that will come to power in the future in this country will not only get the necessary answers but they will also do the appropriate thing and bring them to justice. It is only a matter of time.
Super Eagles Captain, John Obi Mikel, said he had matured to shoulder the responsibility of the team as Nigeria sought qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Mikel said this at the team's interactive session with the media on Friday in Abuja.
"Sometimes when you are young, you make mistakes but the more you grow up, the more you know the things that are more important.
"I think that I am beginning to know where I come from and that is more important than anything.
"I have more responsibility now to lead the country and the team; I think that is what I am doing right now because I enjoy every bit of it," he said.
The Chelsea midfielder said that the Eagles would use the opportunity of the World Cup qualifying matches to make up for not qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) two consecutive times.
He acknowledged that the weather would be hot in Zambia, going by the time of the match with the Chipolopolo, but assured that Eagles would be careful to avoid a defeat.
"We want to use this World Cup qualifiers to put things right; I don't think we are under any pressure but we must put in our best to win.
"I think we have to go out there and play well to win; we want to qualify for the World Cup and there is no doubt about that.
"Just like the coach said, we will not only be thinking about scoring but to also defend to ensure we win.
"So, we have to attack together and defend together; in doing this, we are sure of winning Zambia in Ndola on Sunday.
"I am always ready to lead the team since I took over the Eagles captaincy because I know the responsibility on my shoulder and I will never shy away from it,'' he said.
Mikel said that he was eager to lead the team to the World Cup, the way he led the Dream Team VI to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
On his part, Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi, said that the team was going to Zambia for the maximum three points.
Iwobi said that the quality of players the team possessed was capable of defeating any team in the group.
William Troost-Ekong and Chisom Egbuchulam who were among the four players that interacted with the media said the match against Zambia was very important to the team.
Egbuchulam, who won the Nigeria Professional Football League title with Rangers International FC of Enugu, said the team was working to pick the three points in the game.
Nigeria has won six of 16 previous matches with Zambia, drawing five and losing five.
Nigeria defeated Zambia 5-4 on penalties to win a memorable Africa Cup of Nations final in Tunis in 1994.
The Eagles are expected to depart Abuja for Ndola on Saturday for the crunchy tie against Chipolopolo on Sunday.
The team will host Algeria on Nov. 12 before four more games next year in the qualifying matches.
*as Boroh meets, salutes 4 ex-agitators for graduating with distinctions in transformer repairs, maintanance
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA-The Presidency has urged Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups in the coastal region to leave the creeks and enlist in the amnesty programme for a better future.
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-General, Paul Boroh (rtd), made the appeal in Abuja on Friday while welcoming 4 ex-agitators from the region who had successfully trained in electrical transformer repairs, maintenance and establishment by Brainbox Matrix Services Limited, a vendor to the amnesty office.
The special adviser who was greatly excited to see the former freedom fighters become qualified electrical engineers stated that the intention of president Muhammadu Buhari was to stabilize the Niger Delta region through human capacity development as well as infrastructural development.
He said: “First, I appreciate the President for sustaining this Programme because if not for his giving us go ahead to continue training the capacity of the ex-agitators, it would have been difficult for us to achieve this great feat today.
“You can imagine a group of persons who have transformed from militancy to be electrical engineers, obviously I’m very proud of it because it has been a success story. And my appreciation goes to Mr. President who in his determination and commitment in stabilizing the Niger Delta region through human capacity development as well as infrastructural development.
“In this case is two in one, the ex-agitators, 23 of them have developed their human capacity in terms of skills acquisition in transformer maintenance and establishment. This has transformed these persons from who they were to the present as well as the refurbishment of transformer which will now supply power to the environment where it is deployed.
“For those still in the creeks, this is a challenge. It is an opening, a wider platform for them to emulate and embrace so that their capacity will also be developed, instead of wasting the human resource elements in them. This means opportunities are open to them whether they are agitators or not.”
Asked if the Programme would end by next year, Boroh said that the exit strategy of the Programme had the trappings of continuity to ensure that he government achieved its objectives.
“The exit strategy of the presidential amnesty Programme, has the connotation of adequate requirements to ensure continuity. I’m happy Mr. President has bought into the development of region through sustaining the Programme.
“This is linked to his promises during the campaigns when he said he was committed to ensuring the Niger Delta is stable during his administration and this came to manifestation here during the flag off on the Ogoni clean up on June 2, 2016. He also ensured that in this year’s budget, the rail line running from Lagos to Calabar was included in all budget.
All these will give room for job creation and infrastructural development of the region. Only two days ago (Wednesday), he set up an executive committee on stoppage of gas flaring in the Niger Delta. This will translate to high level of job creation and infrastructural development of the region.
“The president also ensured that the pilot trainees in Jordan completed their Programme and ensured the development of human capacity development of the ex-agitators in agriculture which will ensure job, wealth creation as well as food security. The amnesty office has been mandated to use the bio-resource center in Odi, Oyo, Cross River. All these are to demonstration Mr. President’s interest to revamp the region”, he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Vendor, Brainbox Matrix Services Limited, Eferebo Silvanus stated that the boys were taken through various stages of transformer repairs in the course of their training.
He said that the four of them graduated with distinction and had bend given automatic employments by the company.
“The training is transformer repairs and maintenance but they also acquired other skills. They started in December and ended in September. We took them through the process of technical drafting and design, conceptual idea on how these transfers can be assembled. After which they did basic computer skills and entrepreneurship, how they can be on their own before the core practical session of the transformer aspect was now focused on.
“These four students were the ones that came out with distinction and gained automatic employment by the company.”
One of the graduates, Otuyevwohwo Oghwuru could not hold his joy back as he expressed his gratitude to God and President Buhari.
He also appealed to his colleagues in the creeks to join them.
“I’m very happy. First I give thanks to God for making this day come to pass. I also also appreciate the President Muhammdu Buhari for giving us this opportunity to come out in flying colours.
“I’m also appealing to my colleagues in the struggle to come out and join us, so that they will also come out in bright colours”, he said.
The highlight of the event was the practical demonstration of their skills with a transformer.
Veteran comedian, I Go Dye received a United Nations World Habitat Ambassador Award and dedicated it to US Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton
He posted on his Instagram @igodye_ Thanks for this @unitednations World Habitat #ambassador Award giving to me, I dedicate this award to a fundamental advocate of peace, A mother in thoughts and in actions.
When her husband was passing through difficulty ,she was standing there like a true friend. Today she is a mentor to women all over the world, bridging the gap of gender inequality; inspiring women to self believe and greatness.
Her continuous advocacy for peace, is a reminder to us, to sacrifice all within our reach to achieve peace; affirming the fact that without peace, humanity will be in bondage.
Indeed, women are the greatest victims of all conflicts, the become widows, lose their sons to wars and there are raped and traumatised for the rest of their lives. Peace is priceless and the World’s habitat can only be sustained when there is peace. I dedicate this award to @Hillary Clinton. Congratulations
Ahead of what has been described as the biggest UK invasion by the YBNL crew, YBNL CEO, Olamide has dropped another smashing hit single titled Orobo. The amazing Fuji rendition was produced by Young Johnn and once again displays Olamide’s dexterity as a lyricist.
His ability to communicate to his audience through relatable lyrics is just about what keeps Olamide on top of his game. Interestingly, on this single, Olamide creatively recreates US top charting single Panda by Designer with his unique razz flavour. This is ultimately another perfect song from the rapper.
Olamide
The award-winning rapper and the entire YBNL crew- Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, Viktoh, DJ Enimoney, YBNL princess; Temmie are currently in London for the anticipated YBNL UK concert which will hold on Saturday, the 9th of October, 2016 at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo.
Ticket sales are said to be almost sold out as fans of YBNL crew in London are excited to have all of YBNL artistes on one stage. Although the crew had an amazing concert in the UK last year, this will be the first time the entire YBNL family will perform on one stage in the United Kingdom and there is no telling that it will be an amazing experience.
Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo, on Friday said God told him to recover his mandate.
Ize-Iyamu said this in Benin while addressing some protesters.
He alleged that INEC robbed him and his party the PDP when it announced Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the state governorship election.
He said that the alleged robbery of the Edo peoples mandate would not stand, adding that he had been seeking God's intervention in the past few days.
Ize-Iyamu said his supporters had refused to be violent despite the alleged fake result announced by INEC.
He said that it was lamentable that those who were given the victory by INEC were ashamed of celebrating the victory.
The state PDP Chairman, Mr Dan Orbih, said the party was going to put everything in place to defend democracy.
Orbih appealed to protesters to keep the peace while embarking on the street protests, adding that the will of the people must prevail.
Lagos – A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed an application by former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, seeking to reverse a guilty plea of four companies charged with him.
Dudafa is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside two others; Amajuoyi Briggs and Adedamola Bolodeoku, and four companies, over alleged $15.5 million fraud.Warimpamoowei Emmanuel Dudafa and ex President Goodluck Jonathan
The Presiding Judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, in his ruling, described Dudafa's application as an abuse of court process and therefore dismissed it.
The accused were arraigned by the EFCC on Sept. 15.
The four companies joined in the charge are Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd; Seagate Property Development Co. Ltd; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd.
Dudafa and the two other accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the four companies pleaded guilty to the charges.
The companies admitted that they conspired with Dudafa and others to launder the $15.5 million.
The guilty plea taken by the four companies was entered on their behalf by four individuals, who were registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission as directors in the companies.
One Friday Davies pleaded guilty on behalf of the fourth accused company, Agbo Baro, for the fifth accused company; Bioghowri Frederick, for the sixth accused company, and Taiwo Ebenezer for the seventh accused company.
Following their guilty plea, the court had adjourned for the EFCC to review the facts of the case after which the judge would determine the fate of the companies.
Meanwhile, Dudafa and Briggs, through their lawyers, Messrs Gboyega Oyewole and Tochukwu Onyiuke, respectively, had filed two separate applications.
The two lawyers urged the court to change the plea of the companies from guilty to not guilty.
Oyewole argued that there was no document before the court to prove that Davies, Baro, Fredrick and Ebenezer were authorised by the companies to take a plea on their behalf.
He told the court that the four persons, in their statements to the EFCC, stated that they were neither director of the companies nor had anything to do with the companies.
Oyewole also urged the court to note that there was a fundamental right suit filed by the wife to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
He said that in the suit, Patience claimed ownership of the $15.5 million over which his client was being prosecuted.
"Neither the Federal Government nor any of its agencies; or state nor its agencies claimed ownership of the fund, nor that it was stolen from them," Oyewole added.
He argued that allowing the guilty plea by the companies and convicting them of money laundering charges would amount to an attack on the principle of fairness and justice.
This, Oyewole further argued, became obvious in the face of Patience's claim.
He said his client was afraid that the guilty plea entered by the four companies would adversely affect him since the proceedings were joint proceedings and the first count bordered on conspiracy.
On his own part, Onyiuke challenged the jurisdiction and competence of Justice Kuewumi to entertain the arraignment of the four companies in the first place.
The lawyer said that accepting the guilty plea of the companies who admitted that they conspired with his client to launder the money would occasion a miscarriage of justice against his client.
In response, EFCC's counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to throw out the two applications, which he described as an abuse of court processes.
Oyedepo argued that it was too late for Briggs to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charges after the defendants had submitted themselves and had been arraigned.
He said that the accounts were opened pursuant to documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, where Davies, Baro, Fredrick and Ebenezer were registered as directors in the companies.
EFCC's counsel submitted that the applications by Dudafa and Briggs were intended to annoy the Federal Government, the complainant in the case and urged the judge to dismiss them.
In his ruling, Justice Kuewumi dismissed the applications by Dudafa and Briggs.
The court noted that Dudafa had already gone before the Court of Appeal to challenge the guilty plea entered by the four companies.
Kuewumi said that he could no longer take a decision on the issue, same having been taken before the Court of Appeal.
"Once an issue is pending in the Court of Appeal, it will be inappropriate for a lower court to pronounce anything on the same issue.
"The instant application constitutes an abuse of court process; same is hereby dismissed," the judge held.
The court adjourned the case to Nov. 2, for EFCC to open its case.
Europe’s leaders have vowed no compromise on the terms of their divorce with Britain as a free-falling pound on Friday dramatically underlined the dangers ahead for Prime Minister Theresa May’s government.
French President Francois Hollande sent one of the strongest warnings yet that Britain will have to pay a heavy price for leaving the European Union, while European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the bloc must be “unyielding” in the face of London’s demands.
Hollande called for “firmness” by the EU powers in Brexit negotiations to prevent other countries from following Britain’s lead and leave the bloc.
“There must be a threat, there must be a risk, there must be a price, otherwise we will be in negotiations that will not end well,” he said in a speech Thursday evening.
His message was hammered home Friday by Juncker, who said the 27 nations Britain was leaving behind must not give way easily in what are set to be tense negotiations.
– ‘Unyielding’ –
“You can’t have one foot in and one foot out,” Juncker told a conference in Paris, warning that Britain risked “trampling everything that has been built” over six decades of European integration.
“We must be unyielding on this point. I see the manoeuvring (by Britain),” he added.
Hollande’s comments added to pressure on the pound on financial markets, with the currency suffering its biggest drop since Britain voted in a June referendum to leave the EU.
In Asian trading the pound briefly plummeted by 6 percent to hit a 31-year low of $1.1841, recovering to $1.2385 in mid-afternoon European trading. A euro was 89.35 pence.
However experts said the pound’s “flash crash” was probably mainly caused by a computer-generated sell-off that followed Hollande’s comments.
Automated trading systems can be set up to monitor news headlines and react to potentially market-moving information.
The flurry of comment was sparked by May’s announcement that her government will trigger Brexit negotiations by the end of March, putting the country on course to leave the EU by early 2019.
– Anger –
May said Wednesday she wanted an exit deal that offered Britain “maximum freedom” to operate in Europe’s single market while also maintaining control over immigration.
The idea that Britain wants to leave the EU but keep some of its advantages is visibly angering fellow member states.
In his speech, Hollande noted that a previous British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, had in the 1980s obtained a rebate on Britain’s EU contributions worth billions of pounds every year.
Thatcher “wanted to remain in Europe, but receive a cheque in return,” he said.
“Today, Britain wants to leave, but does not want to pay anything. That is not possible,” he said.
Germany’s veteran Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble tried to calm the war of words, saying the ball was in Britain’s court.
“As soon as the government of her majesty has taken the decision, or has taken the initiative, the EU institutions… stand ready to negotiate,” he told a G20 news conference in Washington as Germany prepares to take over the presidency of the powerful club.
But he added that volatility in the markets was “always a concern for the G20”.
May’s government and her Conservative party are divided over whether to go for a “hard” or “soft” withdrawal from the EU.
– Hard or soft –
“Hard” Brexit would mean quickly severing all links with EU institutions and pulling out of the single market, relying instead on World Trade Organization rules to trade overseas.
Supporters of a “soft” Brexit, on the other hand, foresee a future where Britain would retain some form of membership of the EU single market in return for allowing a degree of free movement for workers from EU countries.
The Open Britain group, an offshoot of the “Remain” campaign which lost the referendum, said the pound’s fall showed the markets had been “spooked” by talk of a “hard” Brexit.
“The government should aim to negotiate for Britain to be a member of the (European) single market in order to protect jobs, create future growth, and hold up confidence in the pound,” its co-executive director Joe Carberry said.
But Professor Richard Rose of Strathclyde University in Scotland told AFP that as May entered negotiations with Brussels, she needed to bear in mind that economic considerations were not the motivating factor for most Brexit supporters.
“People who voted wanted to take back control, they wanted to repatriate powers to the UK parliament,” he said, adding that for them the economic aspect was “secondary”
Ex- President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he does not belong to any political party in Nigeria any longer.
Obasanjo made this know at a function of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, NACTOMORAS, in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Addressing members of the association, Obasanjo said, "As for me now, I don't belong to any political party and I will not belong to any political party. The only thing that is of concern to me is the greatness of Nigeria. But let me tell you that I am always available to you for pieces of advice just as I promise to talk to you the way I would talk to my own children."
"You should be rest assured that I will advise you honestly and sincerely. You know that I am not usually afraid to tell anyone off, you know I am not afraid to do so. Let me also advise you against drunkenness and drug. Don't get involved in them, because most of the accidents on our roads have been traced to abuse of drug and drunkenness among drivers."
He also said that the economic challenges that bedeviled the country during the military era led to the entry of tricycle in the country.
"Before the existence of your organisation, what we knew in Nigeria were taxi drivers. But because of hard economic situation in the military government days, Keke NAPEP came in. I even mandated and made provision for Keke NAPEP all over the country, because where ever we may be, we need a means of transportation."
"As our population increases, so much more efforts will be needed to move people from one place to the other as our urban areas multiply so much that we need to move people from urban and sub-urban areas," he said.
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has said that he was called by God to govern Cross River to provide needed dividends of democracy to the people.
Ayade made the statement on Friday while addressing thousands of supporters who came to receive him at Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar on arrival from Abuja.
The supporters besieged the airport in solidarity with Ayade ahead of the Dec. 9 Supreme Court judgement in a case of alleged falsification of his age.
The case was instituted by Mr Joe Agi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Agi, who contested the 2015 PDP governorship primary with Ayade, had challenged the eligibility of the governor to contest the primary.
Ayade told his supporters at the airport that since power comes from God, he was called by God to govern the state at this particular time.
He said: "I was preparing to run election for the senate when God called me and said I should come and be governor. I am a servant of God and I urge you all to put me in prayers.
"God shall not forsake us at this point; His miracle will prevail at the appointed time. When the righteous people are ruling, God will take control.
"God has the final say in this case. You can have the capacity to manipulate man, but you cannot manipulate God.
"I came into this office as governor under the inspiration of God.
"Today, we are before the court of man to decide the faith and destiny of Cross River people. God shall take control and establish himself.
"Truly, in the name of God, I am totally innocent. If I come before the court of man, I come with supplication for clemency from God.''
The governor said that his administration had not failed in paying salaries of civil servants in the state and urged the people to continue to support his administration.
"I dedicate today to God that if I truly came to serve the people, He will surely see us through. If the worst happens, then it is God's will.
"We have no capacity to appeal at this level. We are now appealing to God that knows our hearts in this case in question.''
Mr George Ekpungu, the state Commissioner for New Cities Development, told NAN in an interview at the airport that the people of the state would resist any attempt to remove Ayade from his seat.
Ekpungu said that the people of the state voted massively for him, hence they entrusted him with their mandate.
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has said that he was called by God to govern Cross River to provide needed dividends of democracy to the people.
Ayade made the statement on Friday while addressing thousands of supporters who came to receive him at Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar on arrival from Abuja.
The supporters besieged the airport in solidarity with Ayade ahead of the Dec. 9 Supreme Court judgement in a case of alleged falsification of his age.
The case was instituted by Mr Joe Agi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Agi, who contested the 2015 PDP governorship primary with Ayade, had challenged the eligibility of the governor to contest the primary.
Ayade told his supporters at the airport that since power comes from God, he was called by God to govern the state at this particular time.
He said: "I was preparing to run election for the senate when God called me and said I should come and be governor. I am a servant of God and I urge you all to put me in prayers.
"God shall not forsake us at this point; His miracle will prevail at the appointed time. When the righteous people are ruling, God will take control.
"God has the final say in this case. You can have the capacity to manipulate man, but you cannot manipulate God.
"I came into this office as governor under the inspiration of God.
"Today, we are before the court of man to decide the faith and destiny of Cross River people. God shall take control and establish himself.
"Truly, in the name of God, I am totally innocent. If I come before the court of man, I come with supplication for clemency from God.''
The governor said that his administration had not failed in paying salaries of civil servants in the state and urged the people to continue to support his administration.
"I dedicate today to God that if I truly came to serve the people, He will surely see us through. If the worst happens, then it is God's will.
"We have no capacity to appeal at this level. We are now appealing to God that knows our hearts in this case in question.''
Mr George Ekpungu, the state Commissioner for New Cities Development, told NAN in an interview at the airport that the people of the state would resist any attempt to remove Ayade from his seat.
Ekpungu said that the people of the state voted massively for him, hence they entrusted him with their mandate.
Travelex, a global foreign exchange dealer, on Friday resumed sale of dollars directly to travellers at N356 to a dollar.
The firm's office inside the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos terminal was besieged by hundreds of travellers.
Some Bureaux de change operators within the terminal were also selling from N470 to N472 to a dollar to travellers.
Travelex, which recently got the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sell dollar, however, gave stringent conditions for the transaction.
The requirements include presentation of valid international passport, visa to destination, Biometric Verification Number (BVN) card, airline boarding pass and signed copy of transaction.
Naira-Dollar
The firm also directed that cash would only be handed over to the traveller at the boarding gate after security and immigration checks.
According to the firm, these conditions are to ensure that dollar is sold to only genuine travellers, and discourage racketeering.
Consequently, some of the travellers were unable to buy dollars from Travelex because they could not produce their BVN cards.
One of them, Mr Uche Ikediashi, stated that he was hearing about the card for the first time.
"Yesterday I bought dollars from a BDC at N470. Today I was told that Travelex is selling at N356; that is why I came here, but they said I needed to bring my BVN card and I don't have it,'' he said.
Another traveller, Mr Samson Uduak, commended the CBN for the initiative which, he said, had created easy access to forex for travellers.
Uduak said: "Buying directly from Travelex is very good but the CBN needs to sensitise Nigerians to go and obtain their BVN cards from their banks.''
The New York Film Academy on Friday advised young Nigerians interested in film production to posses the required talent and professionalism to stay relevant globally.
The Academy's Director of Performing Arts Admissions, Mr Blake Babbitt, told pressmen in Lagos that he was in Nigeria to attract young Nigerians to the opportunities in his academy.
Babbitt said that the academy, which was founded by the producer of "The Hunt for the Red October'', Mr Jerry Sherlock, in 1922, was ready to train many young Nigerians in different stages of film production.
"The New York Film Academy is expanding its curriculum as well as its global presence with five established campuses and many destination programs worldwide.
"The founder of the Academy, Jerry Sherlock, designed the academy that was not only affordable, but more importantly, was founded on the principle of learning by doing.
"We are also in Nigeria to find and encourage more amazing young Nigerians interested in the different processes of film production.
"We strongly believe that these young Nigerians should be adequately equipped with storytelling, writing, producing, directing and editing skills,'' he said.
The director said that his organisation was prepared to admit young Nigerians into long and short term conservatory programmes and workshops that would professionally position them in film making.
Babbitt said that young Nigerians would have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of visual and performing arts programs that include film making, acting for film and 3D animation and visual effects.
He also said that the students would be exposed to broadcast journalism, cinematography, digital editing, documentary filmmaking, game design, graphic design, illustration, musical theatre, photography, producing and screenwriting.
South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu has said in a birthday message in the Washington Post that he wants the option of assisted death.
85-years-old Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
In the op-ed he says: "I have prepared for my death and have made it clear that I do not wish to be kept alive at all costs. I hope I am treated with compassion and allowed to pass on to the next phase of life's journey in the manner of my choice.
Dying people should have the right to choose how and when they leave Mother Earth. I believe that, alongside the wonderful palliative care that exists, their choices should include a dignified assisted death."
Quoting Washington Post, Africa Review said, he announced the reversal of his lifelong opposition to assisted dying in 2014.
The archibishop's announcement come as no surprise in South Africa.
The issue of euthanasia or assisted death has divided the nation for a period of time.
Last year the High Court in the capital Pretoria ruled in favour of terminally ill cancer patient Robin Strasham-Ford who had applied for assisted death.
He had only two weeks left and wanted the law to be amended so that he would have assisted death without the prospect of prosecution.
The law used to be very clear - any doctors who help patients die could face prison time of up to 14 years.
The country has no legislation for euthanasia, while the constitution protects the right to life. On 7th of Sept, 1986, Desmond Tutu becomes the first black leader of the Anglican church of South Africa He marks his 85th birthday on Friday, October 7.
South Africa Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said on Friday that investigation into South Africa's finance minister must take its course but needed to avoid rattling investors.
Ramaphosa made the appeal in Singapore amid speculation of a power struggle in the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
"Nothing must be done to cause problems or difficulties in state institutions such as the treasury and also cause an imbalance on our economic future," Ramaphosa told reporters at the end of a three-day official visit to Singapore.
"So, it is very important that whatever we do, we must be very, very careful . that we don't threaten investors because it will cause a lot of angst and concern among the people of South Africa," he said.
Ramaphosa said that while "nobody is above the law", the way the situation had been handled by state institutions was a cause of "concern".
An elite police unit is investigating Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over a so-called "rogue spy" unit at the tax agency, set up when he was at its helm.
Some analysts say President Jacob Zuma's allies are driving the probe in a bid to oust Gordhan, something the president denied.
The affair has rocked markets in South Africa.
The ANC suffered its worst-ever local election results last month, widening rifts in the ruling party that analysts blame on a conflict between Zuma and Gordhan.
Three weeks ago, Zuma and Gordhan sat side-by-side in a show of solidarity after weeks of speculation that the pair are locked in a bitter power struggle.
The speculation about a conflict between Zuma and Gordhan has weighed on the rand currency recently.
In comments unrelated to the investigation on Gordhan, Ramaphosa said the country needed a stronger rand to cut import costs.
"We want a more stabilised, stronger rand . stronger than it has been in recent weeks to make imports more affordable," Ramaphosa said.
"We import diesel, petrol, machinery and it costs the country quite a lot," he said.
On Friday, the rand was 0.3 per cent weaker against the dollar at 13.9325.
Ramaphosa saw his chances of becoming the country's next leader increase late last month when the powerful mining union he helped found backed him to succeed Zuma.
Ramaphosa said the ANC leadership was concerned about the loss of support, but did not comment on whether he will run.
Entertainment icon Kate Henshaw has enlisted in the battle to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of malaria and pledged to join advocacy efforts.
Henshaw made the commitment Thursday, October 6, 2016 at a gathering of health editors with the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Society for Family Health. The event held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
She spoke as the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Society for Family Health declared a war to raise awareness in the fight against malaria with a 2020 target date for eliminating up to 80% of current cases. The programme is under the Global Fund for Malaria New Funding Model.
Henshaw decried the continued harm malaria causes in Nigerian homes as well as the ignorance and misinformation about fevers. She lamented the fact that citizens underplay malaria or describe it in endearing terms. Growing up, she recalls, "In those days, people spoke about malaria as if it belonged to them with expressions like 'I have malaria,’ 'my malaria' and 'ordinary malaria.’ Surprisingly, after many years, these terms are still common place among family members, colleagues, and friends, irrespective of class or level of education."
Kate Henshaw
The actress and TV personality urged concerted action to create awareness. She affirmed, "The starting point for behaviour change is the right knowledge. Poor education should not be a barrier in this 21st century when we have access to television, radio, internet, etc. It is time for the media to take up the challenge of creating malaria-based programs to promote malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment for a malaria-free Nigeria by 2020.
These programs will help debunk several malaria-related myths such as 'malaria is caused by standing in the sun, eating oily meals, witchcraft, working for too long, bad water, bad air and much more. It is time for you -every media personnel and individual- seated here to take action against malaria."
Kate Henshaw declared, "I have committed myself to support the fight against malaria in Nigeria by letting people know the benefits of sleeping inside the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets, especially for children under 5 and pregnant women. It is also very important to have a Rapid Diagnostic Test done or microscopy done to be sure it is malaria before administering treatment with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy - (ACT)."
She charged the media to lead the fight against the disease. "I implore the media to let Nigerians know that not all fevers are malaria; let Nigerians know that people are dying from malaria when malaria is a preventable and treatable illness; let Nigerians know that testing using RDT to confirm malaria before treatment is the way to go. The best medicine for malaria treatment is Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies - what we know as (ACTs). It is very affordable and accessible."
Statistics gathered by public health NGO The Society for Family Health show that malaria inflicts high costs on Nigeria. Out of pocket treatment and prevention costs as much as US$3billion dollars annually. Malaria causes absenteeism in schools, offices and markets with effects on the economy. Malaria also accounts for 11% of maternal mortality and three in 10 deaths of children less than five years old.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday met with representatives of APM Terminals to advance the development of the Badagry Deep Sea Port project, restating his administration's key strategic imperative to creating a friendly environment to encourage private sector participation in driving economic development in the State.
Governor Ambode at the meeting which took place in London, United Kingdom, said the Badagry Deep Sea Port Project with an estimated investment of over $2.3billion would address the infrastructure enhancement and urban renewal agenda of the State.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right), with Country Manager, APM Terminals, Mr. David Skov; Chairman, APM Terminal, Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Head of Africa, APM Terminal, Mr. Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen during the Lagos State Government meeting with representatives of APM Terminals in London, on Thursday, October 6, 2016. (Back row) With them are Mr. Koye Edu; Chairman, Supreme Offshore Limited, Mr. Chidi Ofong; Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; Permanent Secretary, Office of Overseas Affairs & Investments (Lagos Global), Mr. Olajide Bashorun and Country Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata.
Governor Ambode, who expressed appreciation on the resolve of the investors to stay the course with the project, said the facility on completion would generate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He assured that the State Government would spare nothing to see the project to realization, while pledging that the interests of the host communities within the location of the project will be protected.
?He said the Badagry Deep Sea Port, on completion, will be the biggest in the African continent as it is expected to sit on a land space of over 1000 hectares.
Speaking on behalf of APM Terminals, Head of Africa, Mr. Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen said the Group was strongly committed to partnering the State Government on the project.
The meeting had in attendance Country Manager, APM Terminal, Mr. David Skov; Chairman APM Terminal Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Head of Africa, APM Terminal, Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen; Chairman, Supreme Offshore Limited, Mr. Chidi Ofong; Mr. Koye Edu; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; Permanent Secretary, Lagos Global, Mr. Olajide Bashorun and Country Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Uyi Akpata.
Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane has revealed he is not afraid of getting the sack.
This follows mounting pressure after a poor run of form in recent matches.
“I’m not afraid of being fired, anyway, it will happen”, Zidane told RMC
“I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I have an incredible opportunity, I am happy wth what I do. I enjoy my job, which is not always easy.
Zidane
“But I want to learn and advance. Working with these great players I learn every day. I am dedicated to what I do on the field. What is interesting to me is the week [of training], more than the matches.
“I have an exceptional group, whether we win or we lose they are good people.”
“What’s important it’s to find solutions and I’ll find the solution. There is nothing catastrophic, but it’s not trivial.
“I don’t think it’s a physical problem. It’s the first minutes of the games that are penalising us. The content of these games in LaLiga were very bad, especially against Villarreal.
“It’s psychological. We are trying to find the problem.”
Niamey – No fewer than 22 soldiers were killed in Niger on Thursday when unknown assailants attacked a camp for Malian refugees, the West African nation's Prime Minister, Brigi Rafini, said.
The attack targeted a camp in the village of Tassalit in Niger's Tahoua region, around 525 km Northeast of Niamey.
"We received information of an attack on the camp in Tassalit.
"For the moment we are told there are 22 dead, but that is not a total death toll.
"The death toll could increase," he said.
Rafini gave no further information concerning the suspected identities of the attackers or whether any civilians had been killed or wounded.
The camp's residents are Malians who fled to neighbouring Niger after Islamist militants, some with links to al Qaeda, seized Mali's desert north in 2012.
A French-led military intervention drove back the insurgents a year later but violence is on the rise across the region's arid Sahel band.
Niger's small army is currently battling Boko Haram militants who launch raids across its Southern border from Nigeria while seeking to prevent an overflow of attacks from Mali.
There are also concerns that Islamic State fighters could be pushed onto its territory by a government offensive in Libya.
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