A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
JUNIOR athlete, Mercy Ntia-Obong has revealed her pain at the dismantling of the Cross River grassroots sports initiative, which produced world class athletes in a space of five years.
Ntia-Obong is a product of the programme a pet project of former Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke. She disclosed during a competition in Lagos that it was unthinkable that a programme, which school kids in Cross River looked up every year could be terminated leaving the talented young athletes in the lurch.
"It was very painful to me that the programme couldn't be continued. It was that programme that produced so many athletes for the State. We looked forward to the competitions every year, but now there is nothing for us in Cross River.
"Athletes like me were very lucky that we reached national and international limelight. But what about other junior athletes who had promising future in the sports? They have all been disappointed," said Ntia-Obong who was in the final of IAAF world junior 100m. Her compatriot Eddiong Offonime Odiong, won the 200m gold of that event in Poland running for Bahrain.
Citing financial constraints the present governor, Ben Ayade spiked the programme. But many have argued that it was a matter of interest; sports was not a priority project of the governor they contended.
Sport Guard By Patrick Omorodion MANY factors have contributed to why sports in Nigeria have continued to nose-dive but unfortunately most people have continued to put the blame on poor funding. Nobody talks about maladministration or even fraud, treachery and betrayals.
Former Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN president, Dan Ngerem once said that the Nigerian league was worth more than the money sponsors throw at it, stressing that if well organised and administered, the league could attract up to N2 billion. Many didn't understand him.
Last Sunday, the Nigeria Premier League came to an end and Rangers capped a fruitful season with a resounding 4-0 win over El-kanemi Football Club of Maiduguri in front of a mammoth crowd, unprecedented in recent history of the league. The league title was returning to the Coal City after 32 years. And it was being celebrated that the team would pocket N40million for their effort.
But the prize money could have been bigger than that if there was no betrayal and treachery the way the league sponsorship and broadcast rights have been handled by people put in charge to run the game.
Some of us know the scheming and back-stabbing of some administrators over the league administration since the return of democracy in Nigeria. The story of two communication firms scampering to sponsor the league and the scheming that ensured one was dumped for another is still fresh in the mind of those of us who were and are still admirers of Kano-born sports administrator, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima. Alhaji Galadima had concluded discussions with one firm and was waiting to put pen to paper to get the contract running when he was stopped by presidential fiat and the league has never recovered from that folly.
When the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, yes that is the body recognised by Nigerian laws to run football, thought it wise to run the league professionally, at least by Nigerian standard, it floated the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL. That body has now changed its colour like a chameleon severally from NPFL to Nigeria Premier League, NPL to League Management Committee and then to League Management Company. But a funny thing is that all these bodies are built on fraudulent foundation which the previous government failed to see or just turned blind eye to.
During the trying days of the league when the managers had no money to run it, one man took a risk to put his money when the Broadcast right owners, the NTA had problems with the organisers, when he was not sure he would make anything from the venture. While that was on, he was again approached by the mangers of the league to help out with his funds when the organisers felt the title sponsor was no longer meeting its obligation.
The League continued to suffer until Davidson Owumi stepped in as its Chairman and decided the League must have some fresh air of financial injection. Again they ran to this man. Niyi Alonge is his name and he runs Total Promotions. Owumi was removed unceremoniously and his place Chief Ramson Baribote took.
A bid was called for the title sponsorship and Alonge's Total promotion made a bid. So many things happened and because the organisers were not transparent with the bidding process, it ran into a hitch which remains a subject of litigation till date.
Chief Baribote himself ran into troubled waters with his fellow administrators who shoved him aside. He would not let go and proceeded to court. In order to free itself from legal complications, the NFF under Alhaji Maigari started what could be termed the biggest fraud in Nigeria's football history.
That was after Maigari's predecessor, Sani Lulu Abdullahi had changed the name of the football ruling body, from NFA which the law of the land recognises and the government funds, to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. The Maigari Board swore to an affidavit, claiming that they were a private organisation which only gets support in form of grants from the government, that NFA was non existent.
And during one of the court proceedings, an Abuja court ruled that the NFF was illegal and that only the NFA is known to the Nigerian law. That the government should not deal with the NFF excepts it just wants to give them grants. The Attorney General of the federation added teeth to this judgement when he advised that money should not be disbursed any longer to the NFF.
At that rate, Nigeria could have missed the 2010 World Cup but the Director General of the National Sports Commission at the time, Chief Patrick Ekeji, himself a former footballer, advised government to give them a window so that money would be released for the World Cup? That is why till today, government gives money to the recognised NFA but the NFF spends it to run football.
So to run away from the legal tussle it had with Total Promotions, Maigari said, NFA was not the same as NFF and created a League Management Committee, LMC which later transformed into a limited liability company, League Management Company, LMC.
From Chief Oyuki Obaseki to Davidson Owumi and Rumson Baribote and later Alhassan Yakmut as Executive Secretary, they have all written at one time to commend Total Promotions for supporting the league, yet the NFF claims that the body which signed a contract with Total Promotions has winded up and therefore the LMC which is a different company should not be troubled with the contract its forebears signed. That is why Maigari, why he lasted in the NFF signed at different times as NFA Chairman, NFF president and another time signed as NFA president on contract papers and on court affidavits.
Only last week, a faction of the footballers body came out to wrongfully claim that it, in conjunction with the EFCC, has helped to 'recover looted' funds from broadcast rights from Total Promotions. But I overheard an official of the LMC denouncing the footballers body. No money was looted but in fact the money has been domiciled in an account waiting for collection by the LMC which cleverly refused to collect it for obvious reasons.
So much dirty dealings in football management and Total Promotions is holding the administrators on the scrotum. However, if the Buhari government really means to fight corruption in the country, so many of these so-called football stakeholders will go to jail. But again will the judiciary play its role? The story is still unfolding.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Managing Partner, Consultants Collaborative Partnership (CCP), Mr. Tayo Babalakin; Special Adviser on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; C.E.O, Quattro Alchemy, Arch. Aderoju Ademoroti and Special Adviser on Transportation, Prince Anofi Elegushi during the inspection of Ultra Modern Bus Terminal at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Sunday, October 9, 2016.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); C.E.O, Quattro Alchemy, Arch. Aderoju Ademoroti (right); Special Adviser on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Special Adviser on Arts & Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola and others during the inspection of Ultra Modern Bus Terminal at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Sunday.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); pointing to a place of interest, Managing Partner, Consultants Collaborative Partnership (CCP), Mr. Tayo Babalakin (2nd right); C.E.O, Quattro Alchemy, Arch. Aderoju Ademoroti (right); Special Adviser on Transportation, Prince Anofi Elegushi (right behind); Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya (left), his Physical Planning & Urban Development, Tpl. Wasiu Anifowose (2nd left) and Special Adviser on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass (3rd left) during the inspection of Ultra Modern Bus Terminal at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Sunday.
Cross view of the Ultra Modern Bus Terminal at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) inspected by Governor Ambode, on Sunday.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; Special Adviser on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass and C.E.O, Quattro Alchemy, Arch. Aderoju Ademoroti during the inspection of the Ilubirin Lagos HOMS at Lagos Island on Sunday.
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas; Special Adviser on Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; Special Adviser, Public Works Corporation, Engr. Ayotunde Sodeinde; Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare and other State Officials during the inspection of the Ilubirin Lagos HOMS at Lagos Island on Sunday.
I got into a conversation (as I often do) with two Nigerians in the United States last month. As I have realized every time I travel abroad and interact with my compatriots in the diaspora, their keen interest and nostalgia over Nigeria never seem to wane despite their initial vituperations and sometimes imprecations hurled at our leaders, whether past or present. I always enjoy these sessions, and as I was soon to find out, I became a compelling cynosure of interactions and debates on national issues anytime I visited. My friends and relatives would often bounce opinions off me as soon as they got news that I was in town. I could go on sometimes for hours on multiway conference calls with folks from different states and time zones in America on issues of national interest with often controversial perspectives.
Last August, one of such discourses took place when my very close cousin, whom we fondly call by his childhood moniker, Jango, got me on the phone with his Nigerian friend, who I was meeting for the first time on the telephone. Interestingly, what was intended to be a business conversation soon suffered an expected distraction when it got into the now customary question: “kilo n sele ni Nigeria?””What is happening in Nigeria?””This government is clueless!””They don’t seem to know what they are doing;””We are so disappointed.””Where is the change?” The barrage of evocations was ceaseless. My quagmire was further worsened because I am one of those who believed that things needed to change last year. My lasting reprieve came when I responded to my ‘adversaries’ with this proprietary parable that aptly describes the situation of Nigeria – the parable of the termites.
In the forest of the Savannah, a beautiful and expansive castle had been built almost six decades ago and inhabited by many residents; most were born inside this castle and lived there all their lives; some not freeborn dwelled in it as well; there were yet others that often come in and out to buy and sell items to the denizens of this castle.This building, I tell my telephone audience was built exactly like their houses in the United States, of wood.
A few termites were brought into the house by the earliest dwellers and left unattended to over the decades, festering, untreated and unrestrained in their proliferation; even the bastions of the house got hugely infested by the pest. Anthills soon became part of the grotesque artistry of the castle, doting the corridors, balconies, rooms and living areas.This house had been leased out for specific tenures to different people over the years, and none attended to the pestiferous situation but rather paid lip service to it.They conducted their businesses, made profit into their private purses and left as soon as their tenure expired or sometimes were evicted by the inmates.
Recently, the occupants of the house decided to offer it to a new lessor at the expiration of the previous lease.They would not agree to renew the lease of the last letter. Their main grouse being that maintenance, necessary repair work or development had never been done on the building since it was built, rents and royalties received were neither remitted nor accounted for, and all promises had failed.They had been taken for granted for too long. It was time to bring in a new person who promised to change things, and they trusted him to. He would not allow the old order and assured of massive renovation and repair of the failing and dilapidated building.The structures would be strengthened; the termites would be treated, and the castle would be restored at least to its primordial glory.
Not too long after taking possession of the property, the latest lessor realizes there is scarcely any part of the structure that has not been overrun by the termites. Pillars, beams, stanchions, deck, ceiling, door posts, cabinets, roof, floor, are not spared. Little wonder the merchants that patronized the castle had lately withdrawn their wares and moved to other neighborhoods. This building was bound to collapse on its inmates if nothing is urgently done. They are faced with three possible options.
The first voices suggest demolition of the building, treatment of the entire foundation and surroundings and erecting a new and contemporary structure that would be fit for purpose. In this proposition, everyone would have his room, take his rent and they would share concourse and common areas.The challenge with this option is where would the residents move to while the demolition and reconstruction are going on? They have no other home, and the household is too large for their neighbors to accommodate them.
The second option is to begin an extensive fumigation and termite treatment so that new beams and other necessary materials can be brought in to replace the badly destroyed ones. These new pieces of wood and materials are proving difficult to purchase since the commercial activities of the merchants have dwindled, but we can perhaps still draw on some vestiges of goodwill to get some on credit or concession from friendly neighbors. As soon as this option is announced, many agree this is the way to go as these termites have caused immense damage and suffering over the years and the numerous termitaria have constituted impedance to decent living and become an embarrassing eyesore.”That is our major problem,” they noised. “If the termites can be dealt with, we will all have a better lease of life; that is what we have always told our past landlords,” they chorus in wild excitement.
Anon, the fumigation starts. No sooner has the war against the termites commenced, a hubbub envelops the household. So much unease because the fumigant though slowly exterminating the termites, begin to choke the dwellers.They begin a tumultuous agitation that the fumigation should stop immediately. “It will kill everybody; leave the termites alone”they soon retort. “After all, we have been living with them all the while.”
This leaves us with only one more possibility, which is to spare the house of any treatment and bid our time until its imminent collapse. We can fold our hands and do nothing; hope that things would sort themselves out as we have done over the last five decades or more. Perhaps the termites will fall down and die if we pray hard enough to God since we are a very religious household that prays every dawn, never fail to offer our evening sacrifices and areincessant intruders into the midnight hours. If God then does nothing, (I do not have any recollections of Him killing termites), then we can all take our hymnals and prepare for the grand requiem mass. Let us acquaint ourselves with the lyrics of our Nunc Dimittis.
My ‘assailants’ like many of my compatriots have not chosen from the available options neither have they offered any other.
Abuja is set to come alive on Monday as a "high powered delegation" led by President Muhammadu Buhari will converge on the National Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Nigerian Army Sports Festival holding at the main bowl of the Stadium.
Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee of the 16th edition of the games, Major-General John S. Malu confirmed this to newsmen at the weekend after the final rehearsal for the colorful event expected to start at 11am.
According to him, "The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces will be the Special Guest of Honor at the opening ceremony.
“We have invited the 36 state Governors and all the ministers. It is going to be a very high profile ceremony”.President Buhari in Kaduna on Saturday
He explained that the weeklong event which in the words of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai is ‘marking the beginning of victory celebration in the war against terror in Nigeria’ will have about 1,760 athletes across 6 Divisions of the Army competing in 19 sports.
"The war on terror is almost over. If soldiers that are engaged in the fight against terror can have time to come and do sports, then every other person is free to come to Nigeria to invest and go about their businesses peacefully.
” That is one of the main reasons for this event. To reassure the international community that Nigeria is very safe."
On the events for the sports festival, Malu said, "In total, there are 19 events cutting across football, table tennis, tennis, chess, scrabble, taekwondo, judo, wrestling, half marathon, Tug of War and boxing amongst others.
“Though athletics is grouped as one event, there are a lot of events in athletics.There are 3 events that are purely military i.e obstacle crossing and combat relay”.
He concluded that the sports festival is in line with the Federal Government's decision to take sports back to the grassroots and ensure early preparation for Team Nigeria contingents in future sporting events.
"After the event, we expect that the Nigerian Army would have produced athletes that will represent the nation at the next All Africa Games and the Olympics" Malu said.
Former Governor of Ogun State and Chairman, Kresta Laurel Limited, Otunba (Engr.) Gbenga Daniel has stated that the current economic situation in the country might be a blessing in disguise and an opportunity for Nigerians to look inwards by developing our local contents and effecting outright adjustment in our ways of life.
Members of ICAN and Otunba Gbenga Daniel
Receiving a delegation of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN) on a courtesy visit led by its president, Deacon Titus Soetan at his office in Lagos on Friday, Otunba Daniel reiterated the fact that government should place more emphasis on local manufacturing and production most especially in the agricultural sector.
“It is criminal to the economy if we spend so much foreign exchange on importation of food into the country to the detriment of our staple food that have more nutritional value. It is high time we banned food importation and curtailed smuggling of such into the Nigerian markets. The total mind-set of our people must change not only in food consumption but in every sphere of our lives”, he stressed.
He also charged ICAN as a body to network regularly with its members in government and brainstorm on the way forward towards reviving the economy. Professionals, he said must be given pride of place in policy formulation and it therefore becomes important that in moving the nation forward, the best of the brains must be employed.
“Here, the ICAN has a pivotal role to play by creating a forum to brainstorm and come forth with fool-proof agenda and solid recommendations on finding a lasting solution to our economic challenges”. Continuing, he said: “it becomes embarrassing and pathetic that our ecomic managers at the highest echelon speak in discordant tunes about the state of the nation’s economy. It is avoidable and should be avoided”, he quipped.
ICAN president, Deacon Titus Soetan, earlier in his address described Otunba Daniel as an accomplished engineer, a mentor and benefactor who has always supported the accounting body.
He also assured of ICAN’s readiness to intervene and support the government of the day in matters relating to economic policies.
He also took the opportunirty to notify the former governor of the 46th yearly Accountants’ Conference holding in Abuja with the theme: “Accountability Now Nigeria” where financial experts will discuss salient economic issues as part of the efforts of the Institute to ensure accountability and good governance in the country.
Andy Murray secured his fifth singles title of 2016 and the 40th of his career by beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in the China Open final on Sunday.
World number two Murray was seriously tested by his Bulgarian opponent but the Scot ended a near-faultless week in Beijing with the main prize.
The British number one seed did not drop a set during the tournament.
Earlier, British number one Johanna Konta was beaten 6-4 6-2 by Agnieszka Radwanska in the women's final.
"Andy is one of the toughest competitors out there and the credit goes to him," said Dimitrov after the match on Sunday.
Andy Murray of Britain (R) celebrates with the trophy as he wins against Grigor Dimitrov (L) of Bulgaria in their men’s singles final match of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2016.
World number 20 Dimitrov made it through to the final after his semi-final opponent, Milos Raonic, was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury.
It looked a formality for the Briton who broke his opponent's serve in the opening game before holding his own to double the advantage at the beginning of the first set.
Dimitrov rallied in the second set, forcing it to 5-5 before before the final headed into a tie-breaker.
Murray gained the mini-break with the first point and although Dimitrov hit back, the Scot won six of the next seven points to earn his maiden China Open title.
Murray has targeted overtaking Novak Djokovic as the world's top-ranked player and, with the Serb missing the China Open through injury, the Scot has narrowed the gap.
While Murray has triumphed at Wimbledon and the Olympics this year, Djokovic's form has dipped since beating his rival to the French Open title.
Djokovic was beaten in the early rounds at Wimbledon and Rio 2016, and although he reached the US Open final last month, he was beaten by Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday assured that the State Government in collaboration with security agencies would soon rescue victims kidnapped from Lagos Senior and Junior Model College, Igbonla-Epe, vowing that the government would also commence a review of its laws to curb and effectively punish perpetrators of such act.
The Governor, who spoke shortly after carrying out an extensive inspection of projects across the State, also issued a 7-day ultimatum for all illegal structures on the State's waterfront to be demolished.
Speaking to journalists at the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos Island, the Governor who was visibly worried about the erection of several shanties and structures within the premises and especially on the waterfront, said such would not be allowed in the State anymore.
He said kidnappers, suspected militants and criminally minded persons often seek refuge in such shanties close to the waterfront, from where they perpetrate their heinous crimes and then make use of the waterways to ferry their victims to another location, in most cases to another state.AMBODE
The Governor said, "I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to all those living in the shanties around these schemes especially on the waterfront illegally that they should vacate the areas forthwith.
"You will see that most of the issues that we have with kidnappings are actually being brought up by those who are illegal settlers by the waterfront. We will commence demolition of all the shanties around the creeks in Lagos State and also around our waterways in the next seven days. I have given directives to that effect to the appropriate agencies.
"The safety of our children and all Lagosians is paramount in this administration. We will not allow a few set of people who come into Lagos and stay on our waterfront illegally and then use it as opportunity to kidnap our people. I also want to assure our people that government is seriously on the issue of the children and the teachers that were kidnapped in the Igbonla Model College and very soon, we will get the victims back.
"I believe that the era of kidnapping has come to an end. We are going to review our laws and I can tell you sincerely that we will deal with kidnappers squarely in Lagos from this moment onwards. We will review our laws and make sure that there is no room for kidnappers in this State".
Governor Ambode, who also spoke on the plans to continue construction of the Illubirin Housing Scheme, said his administration has taken time to review its mortgage scheme vis-Ã -vis its financial flow, adding that the Illubirin axis would be designed as live, work and play environment under a private sector initiative.
"In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next few months, we will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out. We believe strongly that people should be able to pay one month rent and live in our housing schemes.
"We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and pay one year rent. We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger ones to just pay one month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme," Governor Ambode said.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been abandoned saying that the project has been remodeled to accommodate 500 housing units.
He said government, in collaboration with a private investor who is investing about $500 million into the scheme, has perfected plans to make the scheme a live, play and work environment.
He said about five hectares would be dedicated for leisure, while there would also be commercial activities, as well as flyover which would be constructed.
Governor Ambode also inspected the Federal Government Guest House in Marina which has been handed over to the State Government and the ongoing ultra modern Bus Terminal in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.
Joel Campbell’s injury-time spotkick lifted Costa Rica to a 4-3 win over Russia on Sunday to end the 2018 World Cup hosts’ unbeaten run under new coach Stanislav Cherchesov.
Goals by midfielders Randall Azofeifa, Bryan Ruiz and Sporting Lisbon’s Campbell and an own goal by Russia’s skipper Vasily Berezutsky set Costa Rica on their way to success in the friendly at the newly-built Krasnodar Arena.
Artem Dzyuba, who netted a double, and Alexander Samedov were on target for Russia.
“It’s an excellent result against an opponent like Russia,” Costa Rica manager Oscar Ramirez said.
“We played better in the first half while Russia performed really well in the first 15 minutes after the break.
“The draw would have been the fairest result but we were awarded a penalty and scored the fourth goal at the death.”
Spurred on by a capacity 33,700 crowd Russia started brightly, Costa Rica’s Real Madrid ‘keeper Keylor Navas forced into a diving save in the third minute by Samedov’s close-range shot.
In the 22nd minute Azofeifa beat Russian keeper Soslan Dzhanaev with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Skipper Ruiz made it 2-0 seven minutes later when he fired the ball into the far left post from 25 yards out.
Samedov pulled one back with a header from the edge of the six-yard area in the 31st minute but in first half stoppage time Berezutsky sent the ball into his own net trying to clear a cross by Johnny Acosta.
After the interval Dzyuba scored twice in the space of 13 minutes to pull Russia back level at 3-3.
But second-half substitute Campbell scored the decisive goal from the spot in injury time after Berezutsky felled him in the area.
“We still have plenty of work to do,” Cherchesov, who took over in August, said.
“I’m really pleased with the team’s comeback but today my players made too many costly individual errors.”
Nigeria opened their 2018 World Cup group-phase qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory in Zambia on Sunday thanks to goals from English Premier League duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho
The 20-year-old strikers scored in the opening half before a capacity 40,000 crowd at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in central city Ndola that included President Edgar Lungu.
Zambia dominated the second half and veteran striker Collins Mbesuma set up a tense finish by halving the deficit 19 minutes from time.
But an equaliser eluded the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets), who are seeking a first World Cup appearance while the Super Eagles have already been to the finals five times.Iwobi and Iheanacho
The teams are in Group B — labelled the ‘group of death’ as it contains three 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria.
Algeria host record seven-time African qualifiers Cameroon later on Sunday in Blida, a venue where the North African Desert Foxes are virtually invincible.
Iwobi of Arsenal pounced on a weak headed clearance to slam the ball past goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene from close range on 32 minutes.
Neat one-touch passing set Iheanacho of Manchester City free 10 minutes later and he rounded Mweene before calmly pushing the ball into the net.
A blunder from Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo allowed Mbesuma to score by firing past impressive goalkeeper Carl Ikeme from inside the penalty area.
Seven matches into the African group phase, Nigeria are the only country to win away after three home victories and three draws.
The Greek tragic dramatis and philosopher Aeschylus (525 BC – 456 BC) said “in war, truth is the first casualty”.
*Fani-Kayode
It is in this context that one has to view the absurd claims by the DSS that massive sums of cash ranging from 2 million USD to hundreds of thousands of euros and pounds sterling were found in the homes of all the judges that were arrested in the early hours of saturday morning.
If anyone honestly believes that such large sums of cash were found in the homes of ANY of those judges then that person needs to have his head examined.
The DSS has to say these outrageous things and tell these shameful lies in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions before the world. It is called disinformation and misinformation and that is their stock in trade.
That is what intelligence and securiry agencies all over the world are paid to do. They destroy their victims before the world with lies and baseless allegations knowing that most Nigerians will believe anything and everything that the government says.
It is sickening and pathetic. In any case nothing can possibly justify the gestapo tactics that the state has employed in this matter.
The storming of peoples homes in the middle of the night and the brutalisation and traumatisation of their families, loved ones and households is archaic and barbaric.
Clearly Nigeria is saddled with a President that is a cross between Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, King Leopold 11 of Belgium, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Papa Doc Duvalier, Augusto Pinochet, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Mobutu Sese Seko, Genghis Khan, Atilla the Hun, Count Vlad Dracula and Idi Amin all rolled into one. May God help us.
In what has become second nature to her, Nollywood diva and singer, Cossy Orjiakor doesn’t go anywhere without leaving her trademark, which is her blazing boobs. Commotion Cossy, as I like to call her, has as many admirers as haters but she doesn’t seem to care one way or another.
Last Saturday, the ‘Nutty Queen’ made another statement with her stock in trade and didn’t give a damn what anyone has to say of her ways. In fact, the sexy diva implored people not to preach to her as she would celebrate the Independence Day as she deems fit. At least, we all have equal rights under the law and Cossy was exercising nothing but her inalienable right to celebrate the Independence Day her own way
Eighteen people were killed Sunday when a van packed with five tonnes of explosives blew up in Turkey’s restive southeast in an attack blamed on Kurdish militants, the prime minister said.
The bombing, which killed 10 soldiers and eight civilians, was one of the most deadly attacks on Turkish security forces since the attempted coup of July 15 when a rogue military faction tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“The attack was perpetrated by a suicide bomber who detonated a van (packed) with five tonnes of explosives,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a news conference in Istanbul.
The attack targeted a security post in Hakkari province as security forces were searching vehicles in Semdinli district, the official news agency Anadolu said.
In a statement, the Hakkari governor said a vehicle refused to stop as it approached a checkpoint, resulting in soldiers responding with gunfire.
Militants then also started shooting, the governor’s office said, quoted by Dogan news agency.
Another 27 people were injured in the blast caused by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Erdogan said in a written statement. Anadolu reported at least 16 of those were civilians.
Soon after the attack, which Anadolu said left a seven-metre (22-foot) deep hole in the road, the military confirmed it had begun a large-scale air operation which the governor’s office said was launched to “neutralise” PKK militants.
The governor said commando units on the ground were continuing to search for PKK fighters.
– ‘Heinous terror attack’ –
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus described Sunday’s attack as an “atrocious” and “heinous terrorist attack”, vowing on Twitter that Turkey would never surrender to militant groups.
Over the past two months, the military says it has killed a total of 387 PKK militants in Hakkari province, CNN-Turk reported.
The PKK has waged a 32-year insurgency against the Turkish state, which has left nearly 40,000 dead since 1984. The group is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Since the collapse of a two-and-a-half-year ceasefire in July 2015, more than 600 security forces and 7,000 PKK militants have been killed, according to Anadolu.
Over the past 15 months, attacks on the Turkish security forces have continued on an almost daily basis as the government has pressed military operations against the PKK to rid urban areas of fighters.
Hakkari is a flashpoint in the renewed conflict. On Saturday the Turkish armed forces said it “neutralised” eight PKK militants in Cukurcu district after clashes with the group, Anadolu reported.
– Fight will go on –
Yildirim vowed that Turkey would continue with determination its “fight against the separatist terrorist organisation (PKK)… and all kinds of terrorist organisations” including jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) group.
Meanwhile, Erdogan promised: “The state with all its institutions, hand in hand with the people, is determined to stop the actions of the separatist terrorist organisation (PKK).”
The bombing comes a day after two suspects believed to have been preparing a car bomb attack blew themselves up on the outskirts of Ankara when police ordered them to surrender.
Turkish officials said they believed the pair were linked to the PKK.
The attack also took place a day before the year anniversary of the bloodiest attack in Turkey’s modern history when 103 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in twin suicide bombings targeting a pro-Kurdish peace rally in the capital, Ankara.
South Africa's musical big name and Soulful House Trio, Mi Casa who will be featuring in this year's one night-only concert, 'A Night At The Kazbah' took time out of their busy Africa Tour to let their Lagos fans know they will be in town – sending social media space into frenzy.
The stars who will be featuring in this show have all confirmed their appearances with unique social media announcements which started with The Voice Nigeria winner, A'rese followed by Mi Casa and Jonathan Butler.
Best known for their smash hit and radio favourite, Jika, the sensational Afro soul exponents will perform alongside The Voice Nigeria winner, A'rese and headliner, South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, Jonathan Butler in an electrifying truly authentic African sound.
The AfroSoul and AfroJazz jam happening on October 22 at Federal Palace Hotel, Victories Island, Lagos is more than just music, it is a cultural exploration designed to bring good Nigerian, African and World music to the forefront of our consciousness and promote indigenous artistry.
The concert is brought to you by Smooth 98.1FM the curators of contemporary African and Nigerian music. Last year, 'A Night At The Kazbah' was a huge success as it raised the bar and reshaped live music on the Lagos scene which featured Ruby Gyang, Bez, Kunle Ayo & Brymo.
A financial expert, Prof Uche Uwaleke, has advised the Federal Government against consenting to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) offer of an interest free loan for the purpose of tackling concession saying such loans hardly address balance of payment problems.
Uwaleke, the Head of Banking and Finance, Nassarawa State University, Keffi ,said this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
"I will not advise the government to go for an IMF facility as an option to exit the recession no matter how soft the loan is for obvious reasons.
"First, the Fund is not known for granting concessional loans and there are usually strings attached with strict conditionalities.
"Also, unlike loans from the World Bank described as concessional, given their low interest rates and long tenor, loans from IMF have very short tenor and hardly address Balance of Payment problems.
"The country is advised to consider all the terms of the loan which may include subsidy withdrawals and reforms in the forex market, the later a euphemism for devaluing the domestic currency.
"Clearly, such loans are not for capital projects.
"The truth is that there is more to it than interest free loan and I strongly feel that the country can do without this Greek offer from the IMF'' he said.
According to Uwaleke, what the country needs are project tied loans that can be applied to employment generating activities such as Infrastructure, power, agriculture among others.
The don explained that the country did not need short term loans geared towards facilitating import of items which could be produced locally.
He said that further addition to the stock of external debt should be from long term sources such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank(AfDB).
He said that other bilateral concessional sources that should be considered include the China EXIM Bank and the Japan International Development Agency.
He said,"during her last visit to Nigeria, the Managing Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, said the country does not require an IMF loan.
"So, one wonders why the change in stance only some months after. Nigeria is well advised not to fall for the bait by not accepting the offer.
"The country's experience with the Fund during the SAP era of the Babangida administration is sufficient reason not to touch any loan from the IMF even with a long pole.
Recall that the IMF Managing Director at the ongoing IMF/World Bank 2016 General Meeting, said it had introduced zero interest rates on all its concessional facilities until 2018.
The theme of the meeting is: "We can end poverty together, global problem and global solutions''.
Lagarde, said that after the duration (2018), IMF would maintain low interest rates around the world.
According to Lagarde, "If we want to address the inequality issues, we need to have a strong international safety net.
"In this context, I am pleased to note that our board has approved zero interest rates on all fund concessional facilities until 2018.
"This is really important for low-income countries to be able to actually absorb the shocks without necessarily going to the international markets or relying on bilateral lending that can be far expensive,'' she said.
The Anambra Government says Gov. Willie Obiano's loyalty to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is "unalloyed" and does not intend to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by Mr James Eze, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor in Awka on Sunday, the state government said that the media speculation on the governor's intention to leave APGA was "a figment of someone's imagination.
"Our attention has been drawn to a publication which alleged that Gov. Obiano may dump APGA for APC."
Eze urged the public to disregard the speculation, saying "it is totally false and does not have the slightest semblance of truth.''
He stated that Obiano's passion for the growth and development of APGA was beyond "equivocation.''
He noted that "it is strange how a clique of internally displaced politicians continue to circulate spurious and misleading information on a non-existent and sensational figment of their imagination in order to sow confusion among the populace.
"In spite of repeated dismissal of this false report in the past, these vendors of untruth have continued to plant misleading information in the media about a false defection of the governor to one party today and another party tomorrow.
"Nevertheless, we are not unaware that a major motive for the planting of these lies is to distract the governor from focusing on his job and consequently derail the steady and assured March of Anambra State to prosperity.
"So, we shall continue to rebute their malignant lies and save the populace from their corrosive influence.''
He emphasised that the governor was fully aware of the weight and significance of his responsibilities and would never waiver in his commitment to the party as the leader and Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of APGA.
"We therefore advise all mischief-makers and authoritative speculators to desist from further efforts to create the impression that Obiano has jumped political ship as it only creates doubts.
"We also advise APGA supporters, Anambra citizens and the general public to be mindful of any reports alleging that Obiano has either decamped or is planning to decamp.'' In a recent publication, Gov. Willie Obiano was reported to have concluded arrangements to contest for a second term in office on the platform of APC.
The governor's first tenure which began on March 17, 2014 will elapse in 2018.
The publication gave the leadership crisis in APGA as the major reason for the governor's decision to leave the party.
The University of Jos has postponed ongoing first semester examinations following Saturday night fire incident that destroyed the library complex and some faculties.
Among faculties destroyed were those of Social Sciences and Management Sciences.
The Registrar, Mr Monday Danjem, said in a statement in Jos on Sunday that the decision was taken "pending an emergency Senate meeting scheduled for Monday, Oct. 10."
The statement, however urged students and members of the university community to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, noting that the situation had been brought under control.
The university's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastine Maimako, said that the fire destroyed examination scripts, books and crucial materials.
China today demonstrated how it deals with corruption, just as Nigerians debate the crackdown on corrupt judges by the Department of State Service.
China sentenced a 70-year-old former senior legislator to death for taking 'a huge amount of bribes' and holding excessive assets with unidentified sources, a charge similar to the allegations of the DSS against the arrested judicial officers.
The legislator, identified as Bai Enpei becomes the latest official to be punished for graft under a campaign launched by President Xi Jingping.
Enpei was a former senior lawmaker with China's legislature, the National People's Congress.
He had also served as the head of the provincial committees of the ruling Communist Party of China in Qinghai and Yunnan province, respectively.
As part of his punishment, he has been deprived of political rights for life and had all his personal property confiscated.
Enpei has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Investigation of Enpei for graft began in August 2014.
By January 2015, he was expelled from the Communist Party of China by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).
The CCDI investigation found that Bai took advantage of his post to seek profits for others and accepted "a huge amount in bribes."
Thousands of officials at different levels have been punished in the three year long anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi.
