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
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Americans for buying into the "change mantra'' by electing Republican candidate, Mr Donald Trump, who canvassed change in U.S. polity.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said in Abuja on Wednesday that Americans had spoken by voting Trump, adding that APC could do nothing than to congratulate him for the victory.
Odigie-Oyegun, however, declined to speak on the expected Foreign Policy of the Republican President-elect, but stated that he preached change and Americans bought into change.
"Like APC, Trump preached change and Americans bought into the change by electing him".
The APC National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu, while also congratulating Trump for his victory said it was about the people of America.
"l am however, a bit worried over the positions before and during the election, especially from the side of the President-elect with regards to his Foreign Policy".
Meanwhile, some politicians and political parties have expressed concerns over the victory of the Republican candidate against his Democratic opponent, Hilary Clinton.
While some believe that Nigeria and Africa should be weary of Trump`s victory, some believed that the Democratic policy in the last eight years was not beneficiary to Nigerians and Africa.
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Chief Patrick Okomiso, stated that the eight years of Democratic government of President Barack Obama was unprofitable to Nigeria and Africa.
Okomiso said there was nothing to regret that the Democratic candidate, Clinton, did not win as the policies of the party in the last eight years did not favour Africa.
He alleged that it was Obama that stopped the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Nigeria`s Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, from emerging as the President of World Bank.
Okomiso, however, expressed optimism that Trump would have the best foreign policies.
"Let me say this, Obama's foreign policy failed; he had nothing to contribute to foreign policy. The foreign policy of America dropped significantly because of Obama`s presidency.
"Trump will rebuild America and America will be strong again but this is an opportunity for Nigerians to get into it and get into Trump and change our belief and see how our oil can be sold back to America," he said.
Similarly, the presidential candidate of KOWA party in the 2015 general elections, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, said it was regrettable that Clinton lost the election.
According to her, the world was expecting that for the first time, a woman was going to rule America.
"Unfortunately she has not been able to make it; she was judged by all the emails scandal.
"It is disappointing but the American people have made their choice and the important fact here is that democracy is about the people.
"They have the right to elect whoever they want to elect not minding what is being said," she said.
Also, Dr Adebayo Ayeni, African Peoples` Alliance (APA) presidential candidate in the 2015 polls, stated that with the victory of Trump, the world democracy had taken a different pattern.
He America had given a precedent where an outsider from a well-established political association won an election in spite of the antagonism of the core leadership of such political association.
"That is a new trend entirely in advance democratic system,'' Ayeni said.
By Michael Eboh with Agency Report Abuja - Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Wednesday, stated that he will not destroy his United States' residency permit just yet; while he warned that the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race could jeopardize U.S. support in Nigeria's fight against Boko Haram.
In an interview with Newsweek, Soyinka stated that Trump's 'bunker mentality' could see the U.S. withdraw support for counter-terrorism operations in West Africa.
Following the announcement of Trump's victory, Nigerians took to social media to question Soyinka about whether he would honour his pledge.
In response, the report quoted Soyinka as saying that he is biding his time until Trump is inaugurated in January before deciding on his next steps.
"Why don't we wait until Trump actually takes office? I am just going about my normal commitments, but definitely not getting into any more commitments. Let's put it that way for now," he said.
According to the report, under the administration of Barack Obama, the U.S. has provided financial support and military training to West African countries fighting Boko Haram.
The U.S., it said, provided $71 million worth of equipment, logistics and training to five countries—Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin—that together formed a joint task force in 2015 to fight the militants, according to a February fact sheet from the U.S. State Department.
Obama also approved the deployment of up to 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon in October 2015 to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region.
"One should expect that level of collaboration to diminish. Trump's mentality is one of, 'What are we doing there? What business do we have over there?'" Soyinka stated.
"I foresee Trump dismissing that kind of expectation offhand and closing in, shrinking, becoming smaller in terms of the U.S.'s presence in other parts of the world," he added.
The report said Soyinka is based between Nigeria and the U.S., where he is affiliated to several universities.
Excerpt of the interview with Newsweek
The victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race could jeopardize U.S. support in Nigeria's fight against Boko Haram, according to Nigerian Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka.
In an exclusive interview, Soyinka tells Newsweek that Trump's "bunker mentality" could see the U.S. withdraw support for counter-terrorism operations in West Africa.
The Nigerian author and playwright also says that he will not destroy his U.S. residency permit just yet, despite a pre-election pledge to "cut" his green card, which is afforded to immigrants granted permanent residence in the country. Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka takes part in a debate in Berlin, Germany, July 3, 2012. Soyinka pledged to cut up his green card if Donald Trump was elected U.S. president.ANDREAS RENTZ/GETTY IMAGES FOR GREY GOOSE
Trump, the Republican party candidate, shocked pollsters by defeating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's vote. The businessman and former reality television star secured victories in key swing states, capitalizing on an anti-establishment feeling among voters to win out against his more experienced rival.
Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group, launched an armed insurgency against the Nigerian government in 2009, killing thousands and displacing more than 2 million since then.
The group also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in 2015, though it has recently split into factions following the appointment in August of an ISIS-approved leader.
Under the administration of Barack Obama, the U.S. has provided financial support and military training to West African countries fighting Boko Haram.
The U.S. provided $71 million worth of equipment, logistics and training to five countries—Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin—that together formed a joint task force in 2015 to fight the militants, according to a February fact sheet from the U.S. State Department.
Obama also approved the deployment of up to 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon in October 2015 to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region.
"One should expect that level of collaboration to diminish. Trump's mentality is one of, 'What are we doing there? What business do we have over there?'" says Soyinka, speaking to Newsweek from New York.
"I foresee Trump dismissing that kind of expectation offhand and closing in, shrinking, becoming smaller in terms of [the U.S.'s] presence in other parts of the world," he says.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari extended his congratulations to Trump on Wednesday, saying that he looked forward to working with the president-elect "to build on and strengthen relations between Nigeria and the U.S."
Trump had little to say about U.S. foreign policy towards Africa in general and Nigeria specifically during his presidential campaign.
While he has vowed to pursue ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the Republican has made no mention of whether he intends to persist with or discontinue the country's support for counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa. Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign for further comment but received no immediate reply.
An analysis by South Africa-based thinktank the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) suggested that Trump could become "the single most effective recruiting tool for terrorist organizations across the globe," including in Africa.
The ISS cited Trump's hardline rhetoric towards Muslims, his advocation of the use of torture and expressed desire to target the families of militants all as potential factors in Trump being used by militant groups in recruitment drives.
Trump's campaign pledge to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. has already been used in a propaganda video by Al-Shabab, a Somali militant group aligned with Al-Qaeda.
Soyinka is based between Nigeria and the U.S., where he is affiliated to several universities. In a recent discussion with students at the University of Oxford in the U.K., which was shared in a video on October 27, the author vowed to destroy his green card should Trump be declared the winner of the election.
Following the announcement of Trump's victory on Wednesday, Nigerians took to social media to question Soyinka about whether he would honor his pledge.
The Nigerian author—who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986—says he is biding his time until Trump is inaugurated in January before deciding on his next steps.
"Why don't we wait until Trump actually takes office?" says Soyinka. "I'm just going about my normal commitments, but definitely not getting into any more commitments. Let's put it that way for now."
Rising reggae star, Kingsley Eno Osagie is currently leading a campaign against the arrest and imprisonment of marijuana smokers in the country, arguing that there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana.
Osagie who is better known as Winning Jah, is using his new song titled, C Krit , to carry out the campaign. According to the Kano State-born singer, marijuana scientifically helps to cure depression, paralysis, Tumor, among other illnesses.
Winning Jah
He cited one of the songs of the late reggae Legend, Bob Marley to buttress his argument that marijuana is not harmful, but it gives inspiration to people.
However, aside his new single, Winning Jah has released an album titled Nouveau Business, which contains 11 live recorded tracks, produced by Play Snc Studio in Italy.
Also, Winning Jah has featured Jazz music legend "Baba Sissoko”, one of the most famous Malien musician, in another of his track titled “JahsApp" set to hit the music scene in December.
Madam Grace Egbon an elderly lady in Benin City, the Edo capital, has donated a goat to President Muhammadu Buhari to show her admiration for "his selfless lifestyle and passion to liberate the masses."
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo received the `unique gift' on behalf of the president.
Egbon, a supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), registered in Ward 7, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo.
She said she had longed to meet the President to show her admiration for his quality of leadership.
NAN reports that a window of opportunity opened to Egbon when the President was scheduled to commission the ultra-modern Samuel Ogbemudia College in Benin City, during his just concluded two-day working visit to Edo.
She braced the odds and came all the way with her surprise gift to the President which she had kept for the special occasion.
"She tore through the thick crowd, making her way straight to the President who at the time had finished the official engagement and was heading for his waiting car.
"Many in the crowd got emotional seeing the elderly lady pull through the crowd with the goat, determined to make a presentation to the President.
"Gov. Oshiomhole, who noticed the security cordon between the lady and the President, came to her rescue.
"He (Oshiomhole) alighted from the President's convoy to receive the goat on behalf of the President,'' a protocol official at the scene of the incident.
She thanked the President for accepting the gift which was handed over to protocol officials.
In his remarks on behalf of the President, Gov. Oshiomhole commended Lady Grace for her kind gesture.
Following the stunning victory of Republican candidate, Donald Trump over media-favourite, Hillary Clinton, early on Wednesday, in the just-concluded United States Presidential election, cross section of Nigerians have taken to the social media, calling on Nobel Laureate, Playwright and Poet, Professor Wole Soyinka to cut his green card and leave the US.
Soyinka, had last week, while speaking to students at a seminar, in Oxford University's Ertegun House, said that he would tear his green card and leave the US, if Republican standard-bearer, Donald Trump is elected President of the United States.
Soyinka, who is scholar-in-residence at New York University's Institute of African American Affairs this autumn said: "If in the unlikely event he (Trump) does win, the first thing he'll do is to say [that] all green-card holders must reapply to come back into the US. Well, I'm not waiting for that. The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up.”
With the emergence of Trump, Nigerian social media users are now calling on Soyinka to fulfill his words. See reactions below:
Snoop Dogg is thrilled with the news that marijuana has been legalised in California and he plans on celebrating by smoking the drug “every day”
Snoop Dogg is planning on smoking marijuana “every day” now that the drug is legalised in California.
The ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ rapper has led the celebrations after Proposition 64 was approved by voters, legalising the substance in the US state, as well as Massachusetts, North Dakota, Arkansas and Nevada.Snoop Dogg
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “We just legalized marijuana in Cali. #smokeweedeveryday. (sic)”
Seth MacFarlane also joined in and said in light of the news that Donald Trump was elected as the president of America, at least marijuana has been made legal for recreational use.
The ‘Family Guy’ creator wrote: “At least pot’s legal. (sic)”
Snoop, 43, has been open about his personal drug use in the past and is a keen advocate of cannabis, which he is legally allowed to use to treat migraines in California.
He said: “It’s not that I would ever push weed on our kids. But if they wanted to, I would love to show them how, the right way, so that way they won’t get nothing put in their shit or overdose or trying some shit that ain’t clean.”
Last year, Snoop – whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr – launched his own line of Cannabis-related products called Leafs.
Snoop insists he carefully selected the collection, which includes cannabis-infused foods, hand-weighed marijuana flowers and hash oils.
At the time, he said: “It’s a true blessing that I can share the products I love so much with y’all today. From the flower, to the concentrates, and edibles – it’s all hand-picked by yours truly so you know it’s the hottest product out there. It’s the real deal and you gotta get out to Colorado to try it first!”
Ondo state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko will, Thursday, flag-off the dualisation project of the 4.7 km Ikare-Akoko township road.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, in a statement in Akure on Wednesday, said the flag-off ceremony has been fixed for 10.00am adding that, works would commence at the Alabojuto hill area of the road where improvement of its vertical alignment would be done to put an end to incessant road accidents occasioned by the hilly and slippery nature of the road section.
Akinmade explained that Oke Alabojuto through the central mosque at the city centre spanning about 400 metres would be focused and completed within three months being the first phase of the project.
He noted that the contractor handling the project, RCF Nigeria Limited, has already moved all needed equipment to site as the company has been fully mobilized to ensure the completion of the project as scheduled. According to him, the state government decided to carry out the improvement of the vertical alignment of the road section with a view to reducing the hilly and sloppy section to plain and safe state for motoring. While enumerating government's strides in road infrastructure in the area, the commissioner stated that 27.5 km Ikare-Ajowa to Kogi boundary road under construction has reached 75 percent completion while failed portions of Owo-Ikare federal road have been rehabilitated.
Nothing great has ever been accomplished without the force of faith. Behind every success story there lies a potent force that demolishes the obstructions that lie on the pathway to destiny.
The medical experts gave the verdict that the boy that was afflicted with infantile paralysis might never walk again. The boy who grew up to become a man overturned the verdict of the experts and became an expert in high jump. In fact, he became the world champion high jumper. Wow! What a thrilling story. Faith is a life generating power and a creative force. Walter Davis incubated his faith to dream of the "impossible" when he saw a boy high-jumping and said to himself "this is a sport he will like to try".
Consequently, he dared to believe that he would become the best high-jumper in the world. However, reality is hard on vision; his legs were still weak. His wife observing his persistent effort to strengthen his legs in order to accomplish his dream said to him, "Walter, you must have power in your mind too" she further stated, "The strength of belief; with that you will have the strength you need in your legs". In a championship field he failed in two attempts and knocked the bar down. He lay on ground and thought to himself "The strength of belief"
Consequently, he mentally pictured himself successfully clearing the bar energized by the strength of belief. Suddenly, the world record was broken, history was made; an extraordinary athletic feat was accomplished by an "ordinary" individual that had defied the condition of life moving forward to make a mark in the world powered by faith.
When you expect great things from yourself you won't stoop low to the gutters of commonness and cheapness. Faith upgrades the mental capacity to do the impossible. Fear downgrades the mental capacity. Faith quickens creative ability. Only through faith can you tap into the unending flow of wisdom from Infinite Intelligence or the Divine Mind. Faith links you to the source of life. Faith quickens creative ability. Faith is a creative force that fashions a life into a masterpiece. Mental concentration is made possible by faith-concentration.
When we reach life cross road; will we take the high road of faith or will we tread the path of doubt and fear? In the moment of emergency, will we respond to faith or will we react in fear?
Faith is a highly prized virtue that is simple but not easy to receive and maintain. And therefore, it cannot be found in every mind. Faith can only be found in a prepared mind because it takes a prepared mind to receive faith. Faith can only be received and sustained by the mind that exercises full and absolute control of its thought processes. Love is the soil by which faith thrives and grows to maturity. Before faith can be received and sustained, you must rid your mind from a negative mental attitude. It is impossible for faith to co-habit with thoughts of fear, doubt, worry, hatred, envy, greed, vanity and the like. The mind left on its own cannot breed faith. Faith is the deliberate state of the mind acquired by an individual.
Faith is an inner conviction of the reality of your purpose triggered into manifestation by deliberate action which is dictated from within. Faith is the transformational dynamite that turns impossibilities into possibilities. Faith never gives up but always persists until the prize is won. Faith is a singular force that has defied the rule of science. With faith space has been conquered; the mysteries of science and technology have been explored; the puzzle of medicine has been unraveled. Faith does not wander but rather faith is a wonder. Every invention and discovery came to being by the force of faith. At the core of civilization lies the creative force of faith. Without faith human advancement becomes paralyzed. Faith is a forward motion to your ideal. Faith is the assurance from the Divine that gives us surety to live a life of possibilities and positivity.
Faith is what turns adversity into advantages. You can never outperform the level of your faith. Your life is as great as your faith capacity or as small as your dominating fear. Faith is the connecting link between the finite mind of man and the infinite mind of God. Faith is a spiritual foresight that takes you through the wilderness of adversity which furnishes you with insight to leave a mark in the world.
Orison Marden reveals, "Faith in one's mission-in the conviction that the creator has given us power to realize our life call, as it is written in our blood and stamped on our brain cells- is the secret of all power". Faith is acting on your convictions that flow from the Divine Mind. Our understanding of our divinity launches us into the domain of faith and consequently into the world of possibilities. What you expect determines what you obtain. When you get into faith realm you get into harmony with God. Norman Peale unravels, "There is no limit to what God will give to those who practice His laws". Frank Wright observes, "The thing always happens that you really believe in. And the belief in a thing makes it happen. And I think nothing will happen until you thoroughly and deeply believe in it". Faith is the foresight that sees the light in the darkest hour of life. Faith fashions the mental picture that transforms into the actual picture of your life. When you build-up faith you break-out of the limitations of life. Right thinking and radiant living is a by-product of faith.
For faith to become your ally, the mind must be dominated by positive emotions. The entrance of negative emotions into the mind is the exit of faith. Faith thrives in a mind dominated by love. Gratitude nourishes the seed of faith. To be faith-full you must empty your mind of hate-full thoughts. Practice daily emptying your mind of all negative thoughts by affirming, "I empty my mind of all doubts, resentment and all negativity. I flood my mind with thoughts of faith and possibilities". You go ahead to feed your mind with good, clean, powerful possibility thoughts.
There must be a purpose that you want to achieve or accomplish. Faith cannot exist without a desire, goals or purpose. For faith to be effective your goals or purpose must harmonize with God's will or laws. Only then can you take God as your guide and Infinite partner in life. A lifestyle of faith necessitates taking God into partnership. We must realize our oneness with God and that we are also co-creators with God. You must focus your thoughts on that purpose, until it becomes your dominating thought and a burning desire. You must guard your mind with all intensity of belief and act as if you are already in possession of that which you have desired. Mentally picture yourself accomplishing your goals worthily and unselfishly. Expect that events will work out for your good. Let your faith be rooted in love; emit love into the universe. Forget yourself long enough to release love towards all people; live generously. Norman Peale exposes, "Think, believe and visualize success; keep on believing as long as you live". You must give sound to your aspirations. Affirm aloud daily what you want to be, do and have with great belief and expectancy.
Faith should be rooted in the omnipotence of God and in our connection with Him. Such faith is orchestrated when we are in communion with God through prayers and becoming a partner with Him in the journey of life.
Faith in God, Faith in yourself and Faith in your life's purpose is what will make your life powerful and invincible. In life you either travail in fear or you triumph in faith. If we must move forward we need to think upward; faith arouses the upward thinking power.
We cannot become more than we believe we are; we cannot do more than we believe we can do; we cannot have more than we can mentally receive. Your life rises according to the level of your faith and faith is the anchor that holds your life in the success domain.
Cross section of Nigerian social media users, Wednesday, flooded the micro-blogging site, Twitter, reacting to the deleting of Prophet TB Joshua’s last Sunday’s prophesy that Democrat candidate, Hillary Clinton, will win the 2016 United State’s Presidential polls.
Recall that Joshua, who is the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua, had predicted that the Democrat candidate, Hillary Clinton, will emerge victorious ahead of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
But as Trump beat Clinton, making the prophesy hit the bar, the post and video which was on the TB Joshua Ministries Facebook page was pulled down, as at the time of this report.
Nigerian social media users are therefore reacting to this ugly episode. See reactions below:
Clinton says election shows US ‘more deeply divided than we thought’Trump and Clinton in handshake
Hillary Clinton vowed Wednesday to work with American President-elect Donald Trump, and urged fellow Democrats to allow him the chance to lead the deeply divided country.
“Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country,” the defeated candidate told supporters, holding back tears in her first public remarks since the Republican’s upset victory.
“I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans.”
“We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought,” she said. “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”
Clinton’s bid to become America’s first female president was crushed Wednesday after one of the bitterest presidential campaigns in memory.
Her unexpected defeat brought to power a candidate who disparaged her as “crooked Hillary” and whom she repeatedly denounced as unfit to lead the United States.
“This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for and I’m sorry that we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country,” she said.
“This is painful, and it will be for a long time, but I want you to remember this: our campaign was never about one person or even one election.”
She said that the constitutional democracy “enshrines the peaceful transfer of power, and we don’t just respect that, we cherish it.”
“It enshrines other things too,” she said.
“The rule of law, the principle that we are all equal in rights and dignity, freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.”
It appeared to be a gentle jab at Trump, who called for a ban on Muslims during the campaign, and during one presidential debate appeared to threaten Clinton herself with jail if he was president.
In what seemed to be an end to silence to request the revocation of the suspension of the Onojie of Uromi, His Majesty, Anslem Aidenojie II, over alleged assault and other accusations levied against him by the outgoing Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, the people of Uromi and other communities in solidarity, took to town in protest and demanding an immediate reversal of the suspension placed on His royalty.
Aggrieved protesters demanding the revocation of the suspension of the Onojie of Uromi, His Majesty, Anslem Aidenojie II, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole
They, however, challenged the Governor to pipe down his wipe, adding that decision to suspend His Highness is a pure act of vendetta and politically influenced.
The protest had in numbers of youths, aged men and women, children, from Esan South East, bearing various placards with inscriptions such as “Royalty is not appointed, but birth;” “You cannot suspend what you didn’t appoint;” “The throne should not be sacrilege;” “Our Onojie does not go on Vacation or resigns by virtue of politics;” among others.
In a statement made at the close of the protest, the community expressed dissatisfaction over the frivolous charges levied against His Majesty, however, calling for due process to ascertain claims laid by Gov. Oshiomhole.
A statement the protesters read, “We are worried over the recent development ongoing in Edo State. Just last week, a suspension was placed on the Onojie of Uromi, which due process is not taking into consideration here.
“If we recall very well, the government had alleged that the traditional ruler allegedly attacked and inflicted grievous bodily harm on one Mrs. Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016, in public to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office. Later on, the said lady alleged to have been assaulted had pleaded for the Onojie’s forgiveness, washing her hands off the politics she had earlier created.
“Also, another accusation of unauthorized trip was lashed at the Onojie, which really holds no ground for such cruel act of suspension.
“We believe that there is more to this allegations than meet the eyes, otherwise you would find out that the whole process is seeming to be handled by one man without following the rule of law to justify his allegation against the Onojie.”
Meanwhile, the statement, also noted that series of protest would be engaged by the communities pending the redress and reversal of the suspension.
“This is not a military rule where one man dictates everything, otherwise we would be savages. But what we are insisting is for the case to be duly treated by law and be taking to court for observations of facts and prosecution,” it added.
The protesters called on the governor to bring back sanity to its community by reversing earlier suspension on the Onojie of Uromi, saying the present development could be tagged as sacrilege to traditional leadership in the State.
They said: “We are ready to continue this protest for as long as explanations are given to recent development.”
Nigerian songster, rapper and songwriter, Onome Onokohwomo, better known as Yung6ix, will be storming his home town, Warri, the commercial capital of Delta State with The Return of the Kings concert.
Scheduled for December 17 at Ugborikoko Secondary School, Airport Road, Effurun, Warri, The Return of the Kings is a music concert centred around Niger-Delta's finest, most influential rapper and music star Yung6ix.
The artiste revealed that the concert is designed to inspire the growing youths of the need to make valuable and creative use of their talents and ignore social vices.
Yung6ix
"I have been doing music for quite a while now and I think it is time for me to give back. There is no better time than now to let the youths of the Niger Delta know that they have potentials in them. So with this concert, we intend to urge them to shun social vices and embrace their talents," the artiste said.
According to him, the concert will feature performances from other notable music and comedy superstars.
Yung6ix AKA Sawagar Lomor leads the team of superstars who will be storming the city of Warri. Other acts on the bill include Oriste Femi, Orezi, Solidstar, Harrysong, Stonebwoy, Viktoh YBNL, Dremo, Mayorkun and a host of others.
Recall that Yung6ix ambition and quest to rule the rap game moved him to Lagos, where he conquered the streets and now he has been rated as the king of the South South.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, in Abuja, met separately behind closed doors with the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and South East Caucus in the Senate.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who led the South East Senate Caucus to the meeting with President Buhari, told State House correspondents that they presented some of the concerns of the South East region to the president.
According to him, the meeting also discussed issues bordering on security, Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), roads and general infrastructure.
"For us from the South East, we believe that dialogue is better than any other form of engagement.
"So, we decided to visit the President and present to him some of the concerns of the South East including the issues of roads, general infrastructure: the rail, airports.
"We also discussed the issue of security with him and of course the issue of IPOB. We had a good conversation and he promised to look into the issues,'' he said.
Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the Chairman of South East Senate Caucus, Sen Eyinnaya Abaribe, said they had a fruitful discussion with the President.
According to him, there is a concerted effort from the people of the South East to be sure that they engage with the President Buhari-led administration, meaningfully.
Abaribe revealed that the President had promised that he was going to look into the problems facing the South East region.
"We know that there are problems everywhere but we also believe that the South East is the zone that is far much shortchanged at this time than other zones.
"We also talked about the issue of appointments from the South East, especially with respect to the National Security Council.
"The President also told us that governors of the South East have also engaged him on the same problems we engaged him on.
"We are reassured with the response we got from the President and we look forward to further interaction with him in this manner,'' he said.
Gov. Yari of Zamfara was in the Presidential Villa to further brief the President on the security situation in his state following the murder of 36 miners in Maru Local Government Area on MOnday.
By Osasu Obayiuwana There is just no other way to put this, other than, yes, point blank – we are saddled with a cabinet minister, Solomon Dalung, who clearly lacks the knowledge and skills required to tackle the intractable problems bedevilling Nigerian sport and chart a new course that will take us out of very troubled waters.
It is about time that Dalung gives up or gets the sack from Mr President – who, ironically, likes him, I am reliably told – because the sports community has waited, long enough, for him to prove that he is worthy of the position.
As it was for Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian King, who saw the oft-quoted 'handwriting on the wall', the Aramaic word 'Tekel' (You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting), certainly applies to Dalung.
Readers might recall that the Saturday Vanguard Poll, published on page 5 of the October 22nd edition, said the "majority wanted the sports minister removed."
Dalung has failed, unequivocally, over the one year he has been in his position, as Minister for Sport, to show us that he is capable of altering the perilous course on which we have been sailing, for years – long before he was made a minister, to be fair to him – which is gradually taking us to a point of no return.
When it has come to a point that Nigerian Olympians, like Regina George, are so desperate, that they resort to crowd funding, on the Internet, to raise money to purchase an air ticket, to fly to the Rio Olympics, one cannot but face the unvarnished truth – we are in a terrible state.
I do not come to my conclusion about the Sports Minister lightly. It is made after a careful study of his pronouncements and behaviour, over the last one year.
My first – and only – personal interaction with Dalung was in February this year, in Abuja, at the request of an influential friend in government, who insisted that I meet him.
My friend went as far as asking Dalung to pay a visit to his office, so that he could have a chat with me, which the minister kindly obliged.
We had a chat about various issues concerning sport and I told him, very clearly, about the need to ensure that the Nigerian Court of Arbitration for Sport is set up, without delay, to ensure that there is a proper way to resolve governance problems amongst the various sports codes.
I told him that Enitan Oshodi – the incumbent president of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) – and Adokiye Amiesimaka, the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations champion, all qualified lawyers, like myself, had been part of a group that had, since March 2012, painstakingly completed the legal framework and roadmap for the setting-up of this body, at the request of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
Dalung asked for the submission to the NOC, which I subsequently emailed to him. But beyond a one-line acknowledgement of receipt, in an email onMarch 5th, there has been no further word from him.
The stupid battle between Chris Giwa and the current Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president and board, which has done immense damage to football, serves as a telling reminder that a proper system of sports justice must be set up for the country. But Dalung does not seem to care.
But what really shocked me about the minister was the manner in which he described Samson Siasia, the coach of the bronze-medal winning 2016 Olympic football team, as a "human trafficker," because he took the Under-23 to the US, to prepare for Rio. Being a lawyer himself, he should know that slanderous remark was bang out of order.
Dalung's subsequent statement, that the team could have prepared for Rio, without travelling out of Nigeria, left me gobsmacked.
Is the minister so badly advised by his aides that he is completely unaware of the shambolic state of our facilities?
Is he also ignorant of the fact that the practice pitches – not to talk about the main bowl turf – at the $500m Abuja stadium are far from being in tip-top shape?
Let's not talk about the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, the real home of Nigerian sport and football, which has been criminally neglected, by successive governments, for years.
But it is Dalung's October 30th statement, about his wish for a "rival football league" to be set up in Nigeria, that has brought me to the conclusion that he has completely lost the plot.
“If you want to come and set up another league, you’re welcome. Since we, as government, are interested in it, WE WILL BUY SHARES AND BECOME SHAREHOLDERS (emphasis mine)," Dalung told Otunba Femmy Carrena, the CEO/President of Arabella 21st Century, who purportedly made a proposal to invest $1.5b in the Nigerian league.
And yet, in the very same statement, Dalung said the government will no longer invest in elite sports development. What does he think the league is? ‘Score and Keep’ football? My word!
Dalung should be educated to know that the Nigeria Football Federation has the exclusive right, under FIFA statutes, to organize a league.
What on earth is he going to come up with next?
Dalung's comedy of errors has gone on long enough. I am – or we are – completely fed up with him.
Following a stakeholders meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday unanimously passed a vote of confidence on National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi after a review of the state of the party and the leadership the committee is demonstrating.
The national publicity secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, in a signed statement obtained via the official twitter handle of the party, called on all party members, friends and well wishers to continue in their support of the National Caretaker Committee.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather with night time temperatures of 29 to 35 degrees Celsius over the central states of the country on Thursday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office obtained on Wednesday.
It also predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy to partly cloudy conditions in the morning with night time temperatures of 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.
The agency also predicted isolated thunderstorms over some areas in the coastal cities of Port Harcourt, Calabar and Eket in the evening and night hours.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions with night time temperatures of 33 to 37 degrees Celsius.
" Northern part will experience hazy condition in good visibility.
"Cloudy to partly cloudy conditions are expected over the inland and isolated thunderstorms in few places around the coastal cities,'' NiMet stated.
Hillary Clinton vowed Wednesday to work with American President-elect Donald Trump, and urged fellow Democrats to allow him the chance to lead the deeply divided country.
“Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country,” the defeated candidate told supporters, holding back tears in her first public remarks since the Republican’s upset victory.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concedes the presidential election as (L-R) Bill Clinton and Tim Kaine listen at the New Yorker Hotel on November 9, 2016 in New York City. Republican candidate Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election in the early hours of the morning in a widely unforeseen upset. AFP
“I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans.”
“We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought,” she said. “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”
Washington D.C. – Donald Trump was yesterday moving to unify the United States after shocking the polls and pundits to emerge the 45th president of the country in the election held on Tuesday.
Mr. Trump's handsome victory was consolidated by the victory of his Republican Party in the Congress, with the party retaining a razor-thin majority of 51 in the 100 member Senate and a 237 to 191 advantage over the Democrats in the House. It is the first time in ten years that one party would hold the advantage in the two chambers and the executive branch of government.Republician presidential nominee Donald Trump waves as he arrives at a polling station in New York where Trump was to cast his ballot, November 8, 2016. / AFP PHOTO
Mr. Trump in a practical demonstration of his message of political healing, paid glowing tribute to his Democratic Party rival, Mrs. Hilary Clinton lauding her for her 30 years of public service in his victory speech. For the first time, he dropped the affix Crooked Hilary that he had over the election used to taunt his rival, describing her yesterday as Secretary Clinton.
Mr. Trump is expected to meet the outgoing president, Mr. Barack Obama tomorrow, Thursday, a meeting that is also expected to heal the bad blood between both men that got to nauseating levels in the days leading to the election when both men used very negative terms on one another.
Mr. Trump's ascension from candidate to president-elect came after he attained 274 Electoral College votes, above the 270 threshold with five states still yet to be called.
His victory was cemented after he won in the battleground states of Pennsylvania (20 Electoral College Votes), Ohio (18) and North Carolina (15) and Florida (29). Trump's sweeping victories in most of Middle America where the rural people indifferent to the social values espoused by Mrs. Clinton live augmented the Republican businessman's claim to the presidency.
Trump won in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The Republican also got slices of the divided Electoral College votes of Nebraska and Maine.
Clinton was heavily lifted by the 55 Electoral College votes she easily won in California and the 29 votes from her New York base which incidentally is Trump's native state.
Shortly before 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, (8.a.m) Nigerian Time, with Trump having garnered 274 Electoral College votes after the result of the contest in Pennsylvania was announced, Mrs. Clinton's aide Human Abedin, put a call through to Trump following which Mrs. Clinton conceded to the Republican. Minutes before that, with results still undecided in Pennsylvania, Michigan and a number of other states, the Clinton campaign had decided to put off a concession as campaign chairman, John Podesta told thousands of supporters massed at the Javits Center in New York City to go home. The venue with its glass ceiling had earlier been chosen as a symbolic venue to showcase the breaking of the ceiling against women in presidential contests.
Trump was helped by the vote of Evangelical Christians who by more than 85% voted for him with an expectation that his administration would stave off policies especially promoting homosexual rights and privileges over the rest of the population as were promoted by the outgoing Barack Obama administration.
Mrs. Clinton at press time was, however, being expected to give a formal concession speech, following which President Obama would also make a speech expected to draw the most bitter presidential contest in recent American history to an end.
Speaker Paul Ryan, who until yesterday was the leader of the Republican Party and had a public falling out with Trump during the campaign yesterday congratulated the president-elect, surrendered the leadership of the party to Trump.
He described his success as the "most remarkable political feat he had seen in his life," saying that Trump provided the coat-tails to help the Republican Party achieve a majority that few expected.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, is expected to lead Trump’s transition team.
Abuja – Super Eagles looked sharp in training on Wednesday ahead of their crucial match against Algeria, the Fennecs, and would certainly have a mountain to surmount in Uyo on Saturday.
The team had their final training at the National Stadium, Abuja, before flying to Uyo in the afternoon.
It was a full house as all 23 players invited by Super Eagles' Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr for Saturday's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria participated in Wednesday's training session.GETTING READY … Super Eagles duo, Victor Moses (l) and Obi Mikel on reserve bench in readiness for action.
Belgium defender Elderson Echiejile, who was the last to arrive the team's camp on Tuesday evening, also took part in the training
Rohr and his assistants had on Tuesday put the players through their paces twice; in the morning and evening.
The final training was, however, more intense as the players were pitched against themselves in a one hour test match.
Team A had Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, Kenneth Omeruo, William Trost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Musa Mohammed, Leon Balogun, Mikel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses.
While, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, Uche Agbo, Wilfred Ndidi, Elderson Echiejile, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Brown Ideye, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa made up Team B.
Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa watched the game from the bench.
Though the game ended in a barren draw, it was an exciting match, full of fireworks from both sides.
Notably were Moses and Iheanacho, whose shots rattled the goal posts on two occasions.
They also had three shots each on target which tested the reflexes of goalkeeper Alampasu.
The likes of Captain Mikel, Iwobi and Etebo also showed class in the midfield, while Musa and Moses were also effective on the wings.
NAN also observed that the trio of Balogun, Ideye and Abdullahi who were nursing knee and ankle injuries seemed to have recovered as they showed no signs of pains.
The Super Eagles go into Saturday's match on a four-match winning streak, going back to the summer when they defeated Mali 1-0 in Rouen, France and spanked Luxembourg 3-1 in Luxembourg City; both were friendly matches.
In September, the Eagles pipped Tanzania 1-0 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, before edging Zambia 2-1 in Ndola at the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup race on October 9.
Manchester City of England's youthful forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored in all four matches.
President Barack Obama will on Wednesday for the first time publicly address the shock election of Donald Trump as his successor, the White House said.
With the world’s most powerful nation facing an uncertain future and Obama’s eight-year legacy under mortal threat, the outgoing president will speak in the Rose Garden of the White House at 12:15 pm in Washington (1715 GMT).
US President Barack Obama k. AFP PHOTO
Throughout the two-year-long election campaign, Obama has repeated a mantra that he will do all he can to ensure the peaceful transition of power.
But the day after Trump’s surprise victory, the White House remained in utter disbelief at the unexpected result.
The depth and scale of the Democratic defeat — with Republicans controlling the White House and both houses of Congress — represent a fierce repudiation of the Obama era.
America’s first black president had expressed faith that voters would reject Trump’s racially tinged rhetoric, betting that they would instead opt for Hillary Clinton’s experience.
That has proven to be a losing bet.
The outgoing commander-in-chief will now have to reassure financial markets reeling from the result and allies no longer certain that America’s security blanket extends as reliably to their shores.
