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Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain was axed by Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli on Friday for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela as the South American giants look to resurrect their faltering campaign.
Gonzalo Higuain
Higuain, who has scored 31 international goals in 68 appearances, failed to convince recently-appointed coach Sampaoli of his strengths in two friendlies against Brazil in June.
Argentina currently occupy fifth place in South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia with just the top four nations guaranteed to make it through.
The fifth-placed team will have to negotiate a play-off against the winners of the Oceania zone in order to reach Russia.
Argentina, with Lionel Messi pulling the strings, will face Uruguay on August 31 in Montevideo and Venezuela at Buenos Aires on September 5.
MOST road travellers will remember with nostalgia the food delicacies they used to enjoy around the Ogbemudia Farm axis on Benin-Lagos expressway while on such long journeys. This nostalgic feeling has today melted into oblivion, sadness and melancholy as the area has been turned into a nightmare for road travellers on account of armed robbery attacks.
Day and night, luxury and mini-buses travellers are subjected to persistent armed robbery attacks as their monies, goods and sometimes lives are lost at the spot to dare-devil armed bandits, while the Police patrols seem not to care. In fact, the story making the rounds is that the so-called policemen are responsible for the robbery attacks.
They hinge their reason for holding such strong view on police connivance in the robberies to the fact that despite mounting APC and patrol vehicles on the spot, the armed robbery attacks continue as travellers are robbed at gun point with the Police just a stone throw away.
To remember that this spot was once a beehive of economic activities, ranging from food vendors, fresh fruits and vegetable traders to beer parlours where passengers stop to unwind on long journeys. That it presently remains a deserted place is a cause for regret.
Just recently, a luxury bus conveying passengers was ferociously attacked by "armed robbers" and they were all robbed of their monies, precious items, while some sustained serious bullet injuries. In another incident involving a popular transport company, one passenger was killed on the spot.
This raises the question on whether the police have lived up to expectation in discharging their primary responsibility of protecting lives and property. A situation where innocent travellers are gunned down by "armed robbers" at an identifiable dark spot, and the police fail to stop such nefarious acts leaves much to be desired.
It raises the question as to their commitment to the avowed duty of every responsible government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens. It is also worrisome that despite such incessant robbery attacks, not much effort is made by the Edo State Police Command to live up to its responsibilities, including tracking down the culprits.
At this period of dwindling oil revenues, it is expected that other sources of revenue like tourism can be enhanced, but this cannot be realised under an atmosphere of insecurity as being witnessed on the Benin–Ore expressway.
The security agencies must devise a strategy to ensure that our highways are safe, as they reflect the state of safety or the absence of it in the country. Perhaps, this accounts for the reluctance of most foreigners in Nigeria to embark on road travels, thereby denying the various states the benefits accruing from such tourism-related investments.
Time has therefore come for the Edo State Police to immediately swing into action and save road users travelling on that route the harrowing experiences of armed robbery attacks.
It is indeed disheartening that despite all the support being given to the police by state governments across the country, their performance is far from meeting the expectations of law-abiding citizens of this country.
A situation where armed robbers block a federal highway for hours, robbing passengers without the police swiftly confronting them leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
The police are infamous for always reporting to the scenes of armed robbery attacks after the evil perpetrators must have escaped with their loot, and in some cases leaving trails of blood of their victims.
There is no doubt that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is focused on safeguarding lives and properties of Nigerians, but the activities of some bad eggs in the police appear to seriously undermine such efforts.
It is, therefore, incumbent on the Inspector General of Police to rein in these elements or else they will continue to hamper his efforts at ridding the country of crime and criminality. Of course, the recent dismissal of four policemen who stole household items they were supposed to guard at former President Goodluck Jonathan's house is a clear testimony that criminal elements are in the employ of the Nigeria Police.
Therefore, to save the majority of the policemen who are honest and dedicated, there is need to go the whole hog towards restoring the good image of the police by identifying the bad eggs and show them the way out.
Mr. Boniface Enekwechia public affairs analyst, wrote from Awka, Anambra State.
Pep Guardiola believes the best is yet to come from Manchester City after they kicked off their Premier League title challenge with a 2-0 win at Brighton on Saturday.
Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Guardiola has spent over £200 million ($258 million) on new signings as the Spaniard aims to make amends for City’s trophyless flop in his first season in charge.
The early returns were encouraging as City eased to victory thanks to Sergio Aguero’s 70th minute strike and an own goal from Lewis Dunk five minutes later.
Guardiola was satisfied with the way City controlled possession and eventually killed off newly promoted Brighton.
But the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss expects even better from City once his new players get used to the tempo of the Premier League.
“We had chances in the first minutes. We have controlled the counter-attacks and we didn’t concede one chance. We are going to improve the way we attack,” Guardiola said.
“I was very happy with the new players. I want to say thank you to the club. We have huge players with lots of talent.
“Big congratulations to all the people in Manchester City — we are a strong club.
“I want to continue with what we did in the last three games of pre-season. We were stable but we have to try to improve. The most important thing was to win the first game.”
The UN on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to support the Federal government's counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East regionot.
The UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Peter Lundberg, said this at a press conference on Saturday in Maiduguri.
Lundberg said the UN would continue to support Nigeria to address the major problems affecting education, health, malnutrition and security challenges occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said the raid conducted by the military on UN Humanitarian facility in Maiduguri would not affect its relations with Nigeria, adding that the issue had been amicably resolved.
"I am very pleased to inform you that our relationship of collaboration and trust is intact, and at this stage we are focused on the work ahead, to ensure that the millions of vulnerable people in the North-East are supported with life saving humanitarian aid.
"I reiterated that we are here in support of the government of Nigeria; the UN agencies and over 60 development organisations working to provide the much needed food, shelter, safe water, latrines and medicines," Lundberg said.
Lundberg announced that the UN had resumed its services, after it was temporarily suspended following a raid by the military on its office.
He explained the UN humanitarian services were facing serious challenges due to security threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The UN official added that humanitarian services were impeded or restricted to thousands of people in the affected areas due to various challenges.
"The rainy season is also creating challenges to humanitarian access in some areas in the region."
He said the UN estimated that about 8.5 million people were in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the North-East and Lake Chad region.
He said that the UN has targeted 6.9 million people for distribution of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
Lundberg disclosed that the Agency was providing food assistance to 1.3 million people in the affected states.
"The UN and its partners are currently providing food to about 1.3 million every month, about 1.2 million of them have also received seeds, tools and fertilisers for this cropping season," he added.
Lundberg called on the stakeholders to support the UN in providing unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in the affected areas.
Also commenting, Gov. Kashim Shettima, reiterated the state government's commitment to collaborating with the UN to address the humanitarian crisis in the state.
Shettima assured of the government readiness to support the UN programmes, protect and safeguard its personnel.
The governor commended the UN over its support to Nigeria to end insurgency and address humanitarian crisis.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Army on Friday raided the UN Humanitarian facility in Maiduguri,
The military said in a statement that it conducted a condon- operation in search of profiled Boko Haram insurgents.
No arrest was made in the exercise, which resulted to high tension in the state capital.
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The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has expressed satisfaction with the commitment of Notore Chemical Industries Plc in Onne, Rivers State to environmental standards and control.
This came as the company also unveiled its certification by the International Standards Organisation to be ISO 9001:2015 compliant.
Addressing journalists at the Notore plant in Onne at the celebration of World Environment Day and kick off of the company's three-day Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) awareness programme, the South-South Zonal Director of NESREA, Mr. Ralph Nnam, said his agency was satisfied that there was a conscious effort by Notore to protect the environment in all their operations.
He said, " Notore is doing well. The fact of observing this week also shows some consciousness about the protection of the environment. So far, in the course of our inspection of their facilities, we have found Notore compliant to all the advice that we gave. They take responsibility in protecting the environment in their operations. So, I will say their operations are commendable."
Meanwhile, Notore's Group Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Onajite Okoloko, expressed satisfaction with the certification of the company as ISO 9001:2015 compliant.
Represented at the event by Group Chief Operating Officer, GCOO, Mr. Bode Agagu, Okoloko said, "It is gratifying to be admitted into the global league of about five percent of companies operating a Quality Management System (QMS) that meets the new ISO 9001:2015 standard.
The Amirul Hajj of the Nasarawa State's 2017 Hajj, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, has said 1,120 pilgrims from the state will perform the hajj.
He urged prospective Muslim pilgrims to pray for the nation's economy and President Muhammad Buhari .
Balarabe-Abdullahahi, who is also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, made the appeal on Saturday in an interview with Newsmen in Lafia.
He said the pilgrims should also pray for the success of other leaders during their pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
The speaker said the pilgrims should pray fervently for the quick recovery and safe return of President Buhari to enable him to continue with the good work he had been doing in the country.
He urged them to be good ambassadors of the country, adding that it was on record that pilgrims from the state in previous years proved to be so.
The Speaker also commended Gov. Umar Tanko Al-makura for promoting religious activities and urged the pilgrims to make the state proud by shunning sharp practices while in the holy land.
"I want to use this medium to advise the intending pilgrims to obey all rules and regulations guiding pilgrims .
"You are also to obey the laws of the Saudi authorities.
"I call on you to pray fervently for President Muhammadu Buhari, Gov. Almakura and leaders at all levels to enable them to succeed in the task ahead of them."
Manchester City confirmed their status as Premier League title favourites with a professional 2-0 win at promoted Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening game on Saturday. Aguero While rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool made uncertain starts to the campaign, City dominated their game against the division’s new boys.
Only a failure to convert their dominance of the ball into goals raised any doubts about their credentials.
Pep Guardiola’s expensively assembled team enjoyed 76 percent of possession, but scored only twice, through Sergio Aguero after 70 minutes and an own goal by Brighton defender Lewis Dunk five minutes later.
In front of a record Amex Stadium crowd of 30,415, Brighton did not manage to force a single save from Ederson, who had one of the most uneventful debuts of any goalkeeper in Premier League history.
It was the Seagulls’ first top-flight match since 1983. Coincidentally, their previous home game at this level had also been against City, a 1-0 defeat that confirmed their relegation.
City also went down that season, but while Brighton may struggle again on this evidence, City look in the mood to live up to the bookmakers’ billing.
Guardiola also gave debuts to Kyle Walker and Danilo and Walker’s pace gave the home side early jitters as he advanced down the right before cutting back a dangerous cross that Brighton cleared with difficulty.
Then Gabriel Jesus flicked the ball over the head of Dunk, only for his final pass to be intercepted by Ireland centre-back Shane Duffy.
Brighton seemed in awe of their visitors and it was lucky for them that Danilo shot wildly after Solly March had failed to track his run.
As Chris Hughton’s men repeatedly gave the ball away, it seemed only a matter of time before City got the ball in the net.
It happened after 27 minutes when Jesus got inside Dunk to reach a lofted pass from Aguero.
But as the ball bounced up off the forward’s knee, he nudged it past Mathew Ryan with his arm before colliding with the Australian goalkeeper.
Winded, he required treatment before rising from the turf to be shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver.
– De Bruyne pounces –
Jesus should have scored a legitimate goal after 33 minutes.
Walker again crossed from the right, the ball going over the giant Duffy to leave the onrushing Brazilian a free header.
Ryan got down well to parry, but it seemed that Jesus must score from the rebound. Instead he hacked the ball wide.
City had given Brighton a lesson in possession and movement, but not finishing.
That should have changed when City had a goal wrongly disallowed six minutes into the second half.
The referee’s assistant incorrectly flagged for offside as David Silva collected Fernandinho’s forward chip and passed to Jesus in front of an empty net.
But City had no excuses a minute later when Duffy’s dreadful back-pass sent Aguero through. However, with only Ryan to beat, he skewed his shot well wide.
Suddenly there was a flurry of attacking from Brighton. Following a corner, Duffy saw his shot deflected wide, then Dunk’s effort was blocked and Davy Propper crashed the ball a foot past the post.
However, it was a brief respite in City’s continual attacking.
Brighton were forced back in front of their own penalty area and unable to break out, Walker almost a full-time attacker.
Kevin De Bruyne appealed for a penalty when his shot struck the arm of Dunk, but referee Oliver shook his head.
The breakthrough finally arrived with 20 minutes to play.
De Bruyne robbed a tiring Stephens on the right before playing the ball inside to Silva and he sent Aguero through to beat Ryan.
Five minutes later, Brighton again failed to clear their lines and Fernandinho’s cross from the right was headed past his own goalkeeper by the hapless Dunk.
A UN humanitarian official said Saturday that relations with Nigeria remain “intact” following an unauthorised raid by Nigerian troops at a UN base in the country’s conflict-torn northeast.
Peter Lundberg told a press conference in Maiduguri that the United Nations was working with the Nigerian government to resolve the issue of Friday’s search of the humanitarian camp known as the “Red Roof”.
“I am very pleased to report that our relationship of collaboration and trust are intact at this stage,” the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria said.
“We are focused on the work ahead to ensure that the millions of vulnerable people in the northeast are supported with life-saving humanitarian aid,” Lundberg added.
The UN camp in Maiduguri is located at the epicentre of the conflict with Boko Haram jihadists who have been waging an insurgency since 2009.
A UN source told AFP Friday that the soldiers’ search of the camp was illegal under international law and may have been triggered by inaccurate information that a Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, was at the facility.
The Nigerian military, which claimed there was no sign it was a UN camp, issued a statement Friday calling its “operation” a success but added that no suspect was found.
General Ibrahim Attahiru, who commands operations in Borno state where Maiduguri is located, said on Saturday that the army “will continue to work toward providing and enabling a conductive environment to UN agencies to enhance their operations.”
“Peace building is a collective responsibility,” he said in a statement.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the organisation had formally complained to the Nigerian government.
“There have been contacts — we understand from the government that this was a mistake. The raid should not have happened,” he said at a daily briefing in New York Friday.
The raid happened against a backdrop of strained relations between the Nigerian military and foreign organisations seeking to relieve the humanitarian disaster engulfing the country’s northeast.
Over 20,000 people are estimated to have been killed over the eight years of the Boko Haram conflict and more than two million displaced. The UN estimates that nearly seven million Nigerians are in need of humanitarian aid.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV) has decried the occupation of its flow station and gas plant in Kula and Belema Communities in Rivers by some angry youths.
Mr Joe Obari, the spokesman of SPDC, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday that the occupation of the flow station an gas plant was illegal.
Some protesting youths on ha Friday shut the facility over claims of neglect, demanding that the company's licence be revoked and re-awarded to an indigenous oil firm.
Obari described the development as worrisome, saying that the company and its partners had spent millions on human and infrastructure programmes in the communities.
"SPDC's commitment to the welfare of host communities in the Niger Delta remains unshaken and, as such, decries the illegal occupation of Belema flow station and gas plant.
"The company has implemented a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) in the area that led to a wide variety of social investment projects including university scholarships award in the communities," he said.
Obari said that the Rivers Government, after mediating in a disagreement in the community, created the Kula Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC) in 2012.
He explained that the PIMC served as an interim platform for the delivery of social investment initiatives and programmes worth N262 million in a Soku-San Berth project.
According to him, these projects are separate from the GMoU projects initiated by communities using funds provided by the SPDCJV.
"However, a GMoU was eventually signed in 2014 for the Kula Cluster, but has yet to be implemented due to continuing intra-community disagreement.
"As at 2015, there were a total of 11 court cases involving different groups with SPDC as a co-defendant in all of them.
"Sadly, these suits and disputes have rendered it impossible to implement more development projects planned for the affected communities.
"SPDC has continued to implement its social investment programmes in the communities despite divesting its equity in OML 24 in Kula and Belema communities," he said.
Obari said that the company had already spent N352 million on schools, sanitation, electricity, walkways and health outreach programmes in the communities.
He said that more than N600 million had been set aside to drive SPDC development initiatives in Kula, Belema, Offoinama and Boro Communities in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
He said that the company had informed the authorities of the illegal occupation and was working toward a resolution and resumption of safe operations in the area.a
Wife of the Acting President Dolapo Osinbajo, has urged Nigerians to show love to one another as the nation now needs love more than anything else.
Osinbajo gave the advice on Saturday in Owerri at the official inauguration of a non-governmental organisation.
Nwesmen report that ELFREEDA FOUNDATION, the NGO, is an initiative of Mrs. Uloma Nwosu, daughter of Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo .
"Our nation needs love now more than anything else. I encourage the people of Imo to show example of this love which I see in them to the rest of the country.
"This is not my first time in Imo State and each time I come I see peace everywhere. This state is like a house full of many people and I say to this house, peace be upon it.
"I have a request that is deeply rooted in the BibleL: Love your neighbour as you love yourself .
''It is a selfless request because it entails loving everybody, irrespective of religion or tribe; this is what Nigerians should be doing now. "
She said she was imagining that ELFREEDA FOUNDATION as a dream, but now it had become a reality.
Osinbajo commended the founder of the foundation for her goodwill, but enjoined her to use the it to touch lives positively.
In his speech Gov. Okorocha said the nation had been marching towards achieving greatness with all the challenges confronting it .
Okorocha described the wife of the Acting President as a mother whose love knew no bound, irrespective of class, religion or tribe.
The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of ELFREEDA FOUNDATION, Mrs Uloma Nwosu , said the foundation was set up to help the less-privileged.
She said it was not the dramatisation of wealth but a concern for the widows, orphans, the disabled and others in the society.
VIAGRA is no longer new on the market, and a lot of new brands of pills performing exactly the same I miracle' have since flooded the chemist's shelves. But is Viagra the magic pill men thought it would be? Dubbed I the little blue pill', it was designed to turn every man into a stud and put a smile on every woman's face. The ageing playboy publishers, Hugh Hefner, once admitted taking it as soon as it became available and his example has been followed by millions, but is Viagra all it's cracked up to be?
According to one of American's leading impotence experts, the answer is no. Dr. Abraham Morgentaler says that when it comes to relationships – as opposed to just sex – Viagra is a bit of a flop. It is prescribed for men who find it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection – a problem known as erectile dysfunction (ED). But less than 50 per cent of those who use it once ask for a repeat prescription, says Dr. Morgentaler, a specialist in men's sexual health problems at Havard Medical School.
He explains that although Viagra works well in physical terms – by improving the blood flow to the penis – it can have a disastrous effect on the emotional side of the relationship. He believes the same problems will affect the three other impotence drugs available – Cialis, Levitra and Uprima.
According to him, "If a man is in a happy, stable relationship and the only problem is erectile dysfunction, then Viagra can work very well. However, many of my patients great erection will not solve their relationship problems and frequently makes them worst. Men and women can see sex in very different ways. For a man, it can be about the firmness of the penis, while for a woman, it also involves emotions, kindness and attention.
"Some couples stop all physical touching when they stop having sex – they don't kiss and cuddle any more and in turn they become a lot less close. Taking a tablet which produces an erection will not restore that closeness. That is something which the couple will need to work on themselves. And this is not the only problem. Some couples feel that sex loses its spontaneity if they have to take a pill first. Sometimes, women think the tablet will turn their partner into a great lover, even if he wasn't a great lover before. They become too demanding. Other women may be relieved that love making has stopped, and find it an imposition when the man gets frisky again.
"A woman may feel she's so unattractive that her partner needs to take a pill before he can make love to her. A man might suspect that it is the effect of the pill which the woman loves, rather than him. It is all much more complicated than we expected" .
Dr. Cynthia McVey, a psychologist agrees that Viagra has caused problems, but believes these could be solved if couples were willing to take things more slowly. "If a man stops holding hands and cuddling his partner, she may feel unattractive, unloved and unwanted. Unless there is more time for courtship, sex will seem very mechanical and the woman may be resentful. This is likely to be worse if it is several years since the couple have had sex.
"The effects of Viagra wear off a few hours after it has been taken, which gives an added urgency to the situation. If you are interrupted by someone calling at your house at the wrong time, or if you have a row, then the opportunity is lost. Some of the new drugs on the market are longer acting, which can take some of the time pressure off. The problem is that people are expecting a drug to fix their emotional problems as well as the man's physical problem. It is not enough to go back to having sex; many people will need to work on their relationships as well.
The All Progressives Congress in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State has elected three National Delegates. The exercise witnessed massive turnout of party supporters across the ten Wards of the LGA.
APC
The positions which were contested by five aspirants had Mrs David Alumo scoring 116 votes, Kingsley Fanwo, 93 votes and Edward Olorunmbe Eseyin, 79 votes. Others are Atteh Dare, 2 votes and Mubo Folorunsho with 1 vote.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the Congress, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kinglsey Fanwo said the exercise was very peaceful and transparent.
“Today, Nigerians have seen how transparent and internally democratic our party is. Our members conducted themselves peacefully and remained firm with their determination to deepen the democratic credentials of our great party.
“Today, we made a bold statement that Mopamuro remains an APC stronghold despite the predictions of the Prophets of doom that the Congress will be violent.
“Today, the Executive Governor of Kogi State and the undisputed leader of the party in the state has proven his leadership acumen and capacity to lead the party to unassailable victories in 2019. Our party is peaceful. Kogi State is peaceful and we shall remain peaceful”.
When asked why some party leaders boycotted the Congress, Fanwo said it is no problem.
“They are adults. They made a decision and it is not my duty to question their decision. What would have been worrisome is if the supporters and loyal party members had stayed off. This party is owned by the people. They came out and did a marvelous job of proving to the world that the Governor retains their support.
“Politics is about the people. The Governor made it mandatory for his appointees to bond with the grassroots and that has paid off. We know our people and our people know us. We are not afraid of going to our villages to meet our people.
“We will build on this momentum and ratchet up our bond with the people; mulch our gains and continue to make our party great”, he said.
The Chairman of the party, Alh. Haddi Ametuo was one of the leaders who failed to attend a stakeholders meeting of the party a day prior to the Congress, but Fanwo said he was not ready to discuss personalities.
“Alh. Haddi Ametuo and other leaders of the party were invited for the meeting. While others attended, some choose to remain in Abuja. The Governor attended the meeting at the State Secretariat of the party, so the meeting was open to all party leaders. If anyone choose not to attend, we have no problem with that.
“I do not agree that the failure of those people to attend took any shine away from the peaceful, credible, transparent and fair Congress. It has come and gone and we are focusing on the future”.
Fanwo thanked security agents and party faithful for success of the exercise.
Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Saturday assured that the governors would continue to align with the ideals of the party and support it to regain power.
Fayose gave the assurance at the party's special national convention in Abuja.
He said that the party would, as it had just done, overcome other challenges that may arise and win the general elections in 2019.
He urged members of the party and supporters to not only work towards, but should begin to congratulate themselves because "re-occupying Aso Rock in 2019 is certain''.
He said that from 2019, he would be attending to the needs of Nigerians from the Presidential Villa, recalling that he had indicated interest in the presidency of the country.
"The crowd here in the convention arena is a testimony of what is happening in Nigeria; the party is now a religion and a belief that we are going back to `our villa'.
"I am going there; I don't know how many of you will be ready to go there.
"PDP will take Nigeria out of one chance and give it plenty chances.
"We made a mistake but our ability to correct is the one that is important; we fell and we are bound to rise, so, it is time to arise and shine and let your light be seen be men,'' he said.
Fayose added that Nigeria would be liberated from poverty that had set into national life since PDP left office.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sidelines, former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, said that the success of the convention was "a happy one for the party''.
"Today, we are happy that PDP is united and Nigerians are happy that PDP is on the march again.
"Now it is very clear that indeed, PDP is set to regain power in this country and bring hope and good things to Nigerians.''
Turaki said that PDP would take away prevailing hunger, poverty, despondency, quarrel and insecurity and bring back prosperity and good times to Nigerians.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru President Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend said that he was desirous to return to Nigeria but he had to stay back to obey the orders of his doctors.
The President said there was tremendous improvement in his health which had prompted him wishing to return home, “but I’ve learnt to obey my doctor’s orders, rather than be the one issuing the orders. Here, the doctor is absolutely in charge.”
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina quoted the President to have expressed the desire to come back to Nigeria when he received the presidential media team, and the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, at Abuja House, London, on Saturday.
The statement said the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed led the team that had the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity; Mallam Garba Shehu, Personal Assistant on DigitalOnline Media, Lauretta Onochie, and the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
It said, “When the team expressed delight at the much improved health of the President, he retorted: “I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I’ve now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed.”
“On how he felt hearing different conjectures about his health, an amused President Buhari said he followed events at home closely, lauding Nigerian television stations, and the media generally, for keeping him informed.
“When told that prayers were going on fervently for him, not only in Nigeria, but all over Africa, and round the world, a delighted President said: “What we did in The Gambia early this year fetched us a lot of goodwill on the African continent. It gave us a lot of latitude. I thank all those who are praying. May God reward them.”
It also stated that President Buhari sent appreciation to all Nigerians, expressing hope that he would be with them soon.
The presidential media team led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture included Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity; Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, and Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media. Also, there was Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.
Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the party will continue to pray for the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the party's non-elective convention held on Saturday in Abuja, Makarfi said it was the desire of the party that Buhari should be well soon.
"We mean well for our president. We will continue to pray for him, we want him to be fit but that does not mean that we will go to sleep. We will work hard to win the 2019 elections,'' he said.
He described the non-elective convention of the party as an affirmation that the PDP was a government in waiting.
Makarfi commended the security agencies for ensuring that the convention was conducted in a secured environment.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for being unbiased and for demonstrating its independency.
In his remark, Sen. Ben Obi, the Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, said all hands must be on deck to reposition the party to rescue Nigeria.
Also, Mrs Iyabo Apampa, PDP stalwart from Ogun, expressed joy that PDP came back to life in spite several efforts to destabilise the party.
Letter To Fellow Biafrans: I know some of my Igbo brothers and sisters are not happy with me simply because I have not used My Brand as CharlyBoy to advocate for the clamour of The Biafran state.
However, like I always say, there is more than one way to achieve a purpose. Though I may disagree with my Igbo brothers and sisters on the choice of rhetorics and methodology, our objectives are to a large extent identical because we all want to bring an end to the marginalisation of the common peoples, by the evil cabals who are holding Nigeria to a ransom and getting away with their obnoxious impunity and criminality.
Charlie Boy during Sit-out protests in Nigeria and London to demand Buhari’s return or resignation
Those who truly know and have followed me know that I am not a Group soul and I have always dared to follow the path least travelled in the continuous struggle to add value to my environment.
It is indeed laughable that despite being a native chicken, Nwa afo, son of Biafran soil with a full-blown Igbotic blood, I have been persistently labelled a wannabe Yoruba, Hausa, Tiv and an Ijaw man simply because I have consistently maintained that I believe in the unity of Nigeria.
To start with, I go like tell una sey you may not be totally wrong if you call me the man from all tribes in Nigeria. This is because I believe in the oneness of all Nigerian peoples. I believe that we have gotten to a point in our national history where a Yoruba man cannot live in isolation of an Igbo man. Likewise, an Ijaw man cannot live in isolation of a Hausa/Fulani man. All tribes in Nigeria today have become a mat of interwoven fibres that cannot be segregated. There have so far been intertribal marriages, intertribal business ownership, and intertribal partnership; and countless other intertribal collaborations and relationships in Nigeria.
For this reason, my question to those agitating for secession would be that if each tribe decide to secede from Nigeria today, what then would happen? Who would lead the new nations?
Will the people be happy? Will injustice be defeated in the new societies? Will criminality end in leadership positions? Will there be happiness in the new nations? Will the people finally have a country to call their own? – These are important questions we must ask ourselves and provide answers to before we even start to beat the drums of secession.
Having said that, I must state that whereas I am a Biafran at heart, what should engage our minds is not a sectional Biafra but a national Biafra. The fight for nationalists who will drive the discourse and the engagement necessary in answering the Nigeria National Questions must not be bogged down by petty sentiments, tribal colorations, and religious propaganda. The failure of the Igbo nation and all Nigerian tribes and peoples is the fault of influence peddlers and directionless decision makers.
The crux of the Biafran agitation is that my people are tired of a system that has perpetually failed them. My Igbo kinsmen are tired of a system that enriches the rich and impoverishes the poor. My people are tired of a system that glorifies impunity and criminality. My people are tired of decades of oppression and marginalization. However, the deeply rooted disgruntlement in Biafra land is not peculiar to my Igbo brothers and sisters alone; all the common peoples in the 500 tribes in Nigeria are victims of a failed system and persistent oppression. And this is essentially where I disagree with my brother Nnamdi Kanu that though Biafra is right, it should be a national cause and not a sectional one.
Let me be clear: The Brand CharlyBoy is not only a Global brand but also a national brand that should not be reduced to a sectional brand.
The problem in this nation is not the lack of a space where we all can coexist but the lack of men of integrity and progressive nationalists. We lack the right kind of leadership that will fight for the interest of the common people. And if at all there would be an agitation, it should be geared towards sanitizing the currently bastardized Nigerian system. Our agitation for Biafra should be about having the right leaders in positions of power and not power drunken people with an insatiable appetite to plunder and loot.
Therefore, my people, I insist that the suffering of the People from the South East is also the suffering of the people from the other geopolitical zones in Nigeria. And the oppression of the Igbo people is also the oppression of all Nigerian peoples. An injury to one is an injury to all. A Biafra state is not going to change the players of the game, it will only exacerbate the sufferings of the victims of the game.
In conclusion, my people, let us dutifully work ourselves back into reckoning by fighting for Fairness, Justice, and Equality for all Nigerians; Not Ibos Only; Yorubas Only or Hausas Only but all Nigerians.
Areafada CharlyBoy President of All Frustrated Nigerians.
Abuja – Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja announced that the Peoples Democratic Party had returned from limbo and would reclaim power in 2019.former Preident Goodluck Jonathan State during the Non-Elective National Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
Jonathan asserted this in his address at the party's a special national convention.
He said that the party's achievements while in power would rekindle the confidence of the electorate to vote it back in power in the 2019 general elections.
"The party is indeed back to reclaim its prime position as the party to lead Nigeria to greatness.
"As a human institution, we cannot claim to be perfect and as a political party, our accomplishments up to 2015 are clear for every Nigerian to see,'' he said.
According to Jonathan, the achievements of the party while in power are ample evidence to demonstrate that PDP is a party of vision and accomplishments.
Highlighting achievements of the party, he said that elections conducted from 2011 by the government controlled by PDP met globally-accepted standard.
"We succeeded in doing that because of the leverage and the autonomy we gave to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
"PDP is a party that wants to place Nigeria in a position to compete favourably with other countries,'' he said.
On the economy, the former president said that PDP provided focused leadership through institutional and sectoral reforms which impacted positively on the country, especially in the last four years of our tenure.
"We tamed inflation at a single digit, maintained price stability, and drove the economy to become the largest in Africa.
"We also made Nigeria to be the number one foreign direct investment destination in the continent,'' he said.
According to him, in 2012, PDP ensured that prices of food remained stable in spite of flood which affected 50 per cent of farmlands along the flood plains of river Niger and Benue.
Jonathan said that the country was able to regain its goodwill internationally because the PDP pursued programmes and policies that were not only rewarding but were copied by other countries across the globe.
"We can recall that our agricultural transformation agenda transformed key agricultural value chains, boosted local production and created a new generation of young commercial farmers.
"The introduction of electronic wallet checked corrupt practices in the distribution of fertilizer and enabled farmers to get fertilizer like all other agro inputs.
"In the same vein, the YouWin programme empowered a crop of young Nigerians to go into entrepreneurship and in turn employed others,'' he said.
Jonathan said that though his administration did not block all the loopholes, it came up with strong innovations to fight corruption.
According to him, we introduced the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which has helped to reduce corruption.
"Government is run by policies, the creative thinking, brains in the executive council and in the civil servants were harnessed to get to where we are.
"If elected in 2019, PDP will fight poverty and ensure that food prices are reduced,'' he added, and urged Nigerians to partner the party to restore good life in the country. (NAN)
Gov. Nasir el-Rufa'i of Kaduna State has urged the youth to use their energy on promoting peace to attain sustainable development.
The governor made the appeal in a message to the youth to mark the International Youth Day in Kaduna on Saturday.
el-Rufa'i said the sustenance of peace in Kaduna State would depend on the youth's active role in that regard.
According to the governor, the youth play a great role in determining the level of peace enjoyed in a community.
He explained that as agents of change, his administration had recognised young people as critical actors in conflict resolution, prevention and peace sustenance.
Nasir el-Rufai
"If the youth are not engaged in profitable ventures, they may become tools in the hands of negative forces; that is why our policy and resources are channelled towards youth development.
"As part effort to build youth to contribute to national development, the state recruits 2,250 teachers and 1,245 health workers, among others, who are youths.
"We recognise that government alone cannot engage all the youth; hence we have provided an environment that is conducive for private sector investors who are already proving their capacity for job creation.
"The state government has also been providing intervention funds for Small and Medium Enterprises in partnership with the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture.
"We are also providing layers of training for our youth to increase their capacity for job-creation and employability,'' he said.
The governor, therefore, called on the youth to take advantage of the policies and interventions to build a resilient society where peace and justice would reign.
The theme of International Youth Day 2017 is "Youth Building Peace''
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