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
As the business end of the season continues to ramp up, Real Madrid have collected all the cards ahead of the six most decisive games of their attempts at winning LaLiga and the Champions League.
Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Real Madrid’s midfielder Lucas Vazquez celebrate their 3-0 victory over Atletico at the end of the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on May 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
An historic double is certainly in their sights after the 3-0 beating of Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final tie, putting one foot in the Cardiff final, while they can even afford a draw with four games left in the league.
In total, should Los Blancos reach the final and barring any extra-time drama, there is just 540 minutes of action left in 2016/17, approximately the same length of the Godfather trilogy
Focus will be on LaLiga t0day when Real travel to the southern city of Granada for a bout with Tony Adams' already relegated side, before the second leg with Atletico at Estadio Vicente Calderon on Wednesday
Immediately after that, Sevilla come to the capital for Madrid's final home game of the campaign on Sunday May 14, ahead of the rearranged trip to Celta Vigo the following Thursday.
The domestic season draws to a halt with it currently set to go to the final day, when Zinedine Zidane takes his team away to Malaga, a fortnight before a potential Cardiff date with Juventus or Monaco.
Napoli great, Diego Maradona has admitted he would consider becoming head coach at the San Paolo in future, but only "if the people want it."
Diego Maradona
The former Argentina star is a heralded figure among Napoli fans, having inspired the club to two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup during a seven-year spell between 1984 and 1991.
The 58-year-old, who is still the club's all-time top goalscorer on 115, has not held a head coaching position since leaving Al Wasl in 2012.
But the 1986 World Cup-winner says he would not turn down the chance to coach his old club if the fans desired it.
"Would I coach Napoli? If the people wanted it, then yes," he told Amici.
Maradona said in January that he would jump at the chance to take on a role with Napoli if president Aurelio De Laurentiis makes him an offer.
He is in dispute with Italian tax authorities over an alleged debt of €39millionthat first came to light in 2013.
"First of all I have to sort out the problems I have here in Italy, then I can work for Napoli in Italy and in the world," Maradona said.
"We have to do things well because I want a winning team, a team that can play on level terms against Juventus, Inter, AC Milan and Roma."
Mesut Ozil has defended himself against recent criticism of his perceived attitude at Arsenal, insisting that "some people don't like me."
Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil gestures as he celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, northeast England on April 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
"Some people like me, some people don't," Arsenal's club-record signing told Goal. "Some people look at my body language and think I don't care. But that's me. I won't change my body language or my style of play drastically anymore.
"Expectations on me were very high everywhere because I am a player who can make the difference. You have to deal with that.
"There will always be criticism and there will always be praise. But what matters is what the manager tells me. I have said that numerous times.
"But what I can't understand is when people say: 'Look, he does not push anymore' or 'He does not run enough'. If you look at my numbers you can see I run a lot and I show a good attitude."
The committee constituted to screen persons for political appointments in Edo on Friday presented nominations for Special Advisers (SA) and Senior Special Assistants (SSA) to Gov. Mr Godwin Obaseki.
Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki
Presenting the report at Government House, Benin, Chairman of the Committee, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, described the process as innovative and democratically-driven.
He recalled that the committee had three weeks ago submitted report on the recommendations for the appointment of commissioners to the governor.
Agbonlahor said, "we received 11 applications for the position of Special Advisers; we recommended six nominees, two each from the three senatorial districts in the state.
"Out of the six persons, two are females, representing 33 per cent of the nominees.
"We used the same criteria to screen the SSAs. We received 150 applications and after interview, with the leaders of the various local government areas and the applicants, when necessary, we nominated 54 persons.
"Three persons from each of the 18 LGAs in the state, including seven females, were selected, which is about 13 per cent of the nominees," he said.
Receiving the report, the governor commended the committee for aligning with the principle and criteria set up for the screening.
He said that the process was necessary to allow people at the grassroots participate in the selection of political leaders.
According to Obaseki, we must involve people at the grassroots to participate in the process of nominating people they believe will represent their interest to work in government.
He explained that the committee was set up to listen and review the complaints of those who felt they were left out of the political process.
He assured that before the end of May all the political nominees would be appointed into offices.
ABUJA—Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the people of Plateau State to take advantage of the recent reforms undertaken by the Presidential Enabling Business Council, PEBEC, to improve their economy.
VISIT: Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State (left) welcoming Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the latter's visit to Plateau, yesterday Photo: NAN.
Speaking during the launch of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME, Clinic in Jos, yesterday, the Vice President said issues of new business registration, access to loans, certification of products, issuance of visas and import inspection were all being addressed under a new reform regime anchored by the PEBEC secretariat.
He said: "We tried to look at the various areas that make it particularly difficult to do business in Nigeria. For instance, for those who want to register companies, it used to take a long time but now we have improved on that considerably.
"It is now possible for you to do a lot of business registration online. As a matter of fact, by next month, the portal facility of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, would be completely online.
"We are using a private sector cyber resource called Main One which is providing all of the services for the CAC portal. So, it can become much easier for us to use, I am saying that the Corporate Affairs Commission will now be online all the time.”
AJAPA — SEVERAL villagers have been reportedly trapped in the bush for four days without food and water, while the waterways have been cordoned off, following the invasion of Ajapa community, the hometown of Ossy Ibori, the notorious sea pirate kingpin, already killed by soldiers in Lagos, at Arogbo kingdom, Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Vanguard gathered that the soldiers were carrying out a search operation in the community for his boys and mop up of arms.
President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Mr Eric Omare, who confirmed the tense situation in Ajapa. told Vanguard that the council had received distress calls from innocent villagers, who were practically under siege, saying: "The people are hemmed inside the bush. There is no food, no water, no shelter and they urgently need help."
Reacting to the invasion, national presidents of the Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, and Foundation for Human Rights, Anti Corruption, FHRACC, Austin Ozobo and Alaowei Cleric respectively, said: "The world should rise in defence of the Ajapa people. The military high command should call their boys to order before they commit genocide.
“This is what we have been saying that there is a sinister plan to wipe out all Niger Delta communities in order to protect their oil interest. The government values the oil more than the people of Niger Delta. Why must Ajapa community be sacrificed for the sins of one man?
"The invasion is beyond the criminal syndicate that has been terrorising Lagos and environs. This is purely an act of aggression against innocent and peace-loving Nigerians. The Nigerian government is manifesting its evil agenda against the people of the Niger Delta.
"Our sources informed us that the bombing is a fallout of the military engagement with one Ossy Ibori, a notorious criminal who has been terrorising Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states. The said Ossy, who was a native of Ajapa community, was killed in a shoot-out by the JTF on May 2, 2017."
A top intelligence analyst, who was part of the Obama administration, Mr. Matthew T. Page, has thrown light on the claim made by former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, that the State Department invited 12 northern governors to Washington to seek their support on the need to achieve regime change in Nigeria during the 2015 Presidential election.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost the election to President Muhammadu Buhari, also alleged international conspiracy in the build up to the elections. The statements of both Aliyu and Jonathan were revealed in a new book, entitled 'Against Run of Play' by Segun Adeniyi.
However, Page, who provided the details of the meeting in an interview with Jonathan's former aide, Reno Omokri, claimed that the northern governors came to the meeting with a prepared speech that read like a petition against the ex-President.
His assertion which is contained in Omokri's new book, 'Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years: Chibok, 2015 and Other Conspiracies' billed to be released in June 2017, provided details of the US meeting which was said to have begun at the State Department and ended in the White House.
Page, who was Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Africa with the US National Intelligence Council and U.S. State Department's top intelligence analyst on Nigeria before he resigned in 2016, told Omokri that he was present at the meetings with the northern governors.
Cases against Jonathan
In the book, Page alleged that "at that meeting, Admiral Murtala Nyako read out a memo he had written itemizing the case against Jonathan. He was so openly and almost violently against the Jonathan administration in his speech that he had to be openly rebuked at the meeting by the then Nigerian ambassador to the US, Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye, of blessed memory.
"Admiral Nyako's belligerence against the Jonathan administration was so venomous that it prompted a rebuttal from the Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who showed loyalty to the then Nigerian President. According to Mr. Page, this prompted most of the other Northern governors present to turn on him."
On whether the Obama’s administration was against Jonathan's second term bid, Mr. Page said: "My objective opinion is that it was not as if the administration was against Jonathan. There were a number of issues. The Obama administration was a bit disappointed (I know that sounds paternalistic) but there were some issues they had felt let down on.
“The human rights situation in the Northeast, which has still not changed under Buhari, and Diezani Alison-Madueke who they felt should have been removed. There were some issues with some clauses in the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013”.
Interesting connection
Continuing, Mr. Omokri noted that "another interesting connection is that these high level meetings arranged for Northern governors by the Obama administration took place in 2014, at the same time that Obama confidant and former White House Senior Advisor, David Axelrod's firm, AKPD Message and Media, began to work as a paid consultant for the then Nigerian opposition party, All Progressives Congress."
The book also claimed that "sublimal messages were communicated by President Obama" in the special broadcast he made to Nigerians on March 28, 2015, urging them come out and vote.
The ex-President's spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, who said he was yet to read Mr Omokri's account was quick to point out that he was relying on the statement of his boss in reaction to Adeniyi's book that a true account of what transpired could only come from the key actors in the election.
"At the right time, those people, including former President Jonathan, will present the complete picture,” he said.
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday prayed at the Aso presidential Villa, Mosque.
President Buhari at jumaát
His appearance at the mosque which came weeks after he had failed to appear in public is expected to douse tense about his whereabouts.
Before now, the president had for three consecutive times missed the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
In his stead, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo functioned.
Consequently, the development prompted fresh concerns over the state of health of the President who returned from London on March 10 after an extended medical vacation.
But amid the growing anxiety, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement on April 27, said that the President was hale and hearty but was taking some rest at the residence.
He said: “The Presidency hereby assures the good people of Nigeria that, despite the insinuations of a number of media organisations, there is no need for apprehension over the health of our President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Buhari's absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision; otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the President's doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.
“President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London. Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.
“Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.
“God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation.”
In the same vein, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday told State House correspondents that the President who also recorded absent at last FEC meeting was still at home, resting.
Mohammed also dismissed reports that the President was being fed intravenously.
“You are also aware that the President was at his office yesterday, and he worked at his office yesterday. A few days before now, we came out to say he’s been asked to take some rest by his doctors, and he chose today to rest and not to attend the Federal Executive Council meeting.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank Nigerians who have expressed a lot of concerns and sympathy, and who have been praying for him. Like we’ve always said, Mr president will stick to his doctor’s advice so that he can recover much more quickly.
“We thank all of them for their concern. I think it shows how concerned Nigerians are about the health of the president. And all their suggestions are being taken on board.
“It is absolutely untrue that he is being fed. He was in the office yesterday as you all reported. And if the doctors said he should take a rest, I think you’ll recover faster when you rest when you ought to rest, rather than by forcing yourself to work when you are not fit to work.
“All he is doing is following the doctor’s advise. Mr president himself told the nation he has never been this sick and he is going to take it easy. He said it from day one when he came back from the UK.
“So, whatever is happening today is not any strange development. It is exactly what he said. That he’s been advised to take it easy by his doctors and that he will soon also go back for further treatment.
“So, I don’t think it’s anything that is out of the place from what he said. He has been quite transparent and upfront in the matter concerning his health”, he said.
Still in the week, the First Lady, Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari tweeted that her husband was not as sick as being perceived in some quarters.
This came on the heels of a meeting of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, Niger State.
Meanwhile, at a time no one had the inkling of his public appearance even after failing to worship at the Villa mosque for two times, the President attended the Jumaat prayer on Friday.
Dressed in a white flowing gown with a white cap to match, the President was seen waving and exchanging pleasantries with other worshipers.
Notable government officials who worshiped with him at the mosque were his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno and the Director-general of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.
Others included the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru.
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has expressed his joy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s appearance in the public, on Friday but has urged the president to resign and focus on his health.
Fani-Kayode made this known via his tweeter handle following reports and videos of President Buhari attending Jumaát prayer at the Aso Villa Mosque.
Fani-Kayode tweeted on his handle (@realFFK: ”Glad that @MBuhari was at the mosque today.Again we call upon him to resign and to go and take care of his health.We say NO to corpsocracy!”
Buhari after Jumaát prayer
Recall that President Buhari had been absent at the Federal Executive, FEC meetings for three consecutive times, fueling apprehensions that he was gravely ill.
However, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday, took to social media and said that her husband was not ill as being perceived.
Recall also that Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Debo Adeniran, an activist, have called on the president to take urgent leave and attend to his health.
Others who have advised the president to resign on account of his ill health include Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state,Global Youth Peace Empowerment and Development Initiative (OGYPEDI), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, among others.
"We have unprecedented hunger in the land as Nigerians were being killed in Southern Kaduna and other places. It is better for the president to resign because he appears not to have capacity for positivity. If all the presidents that ruled before Buhari had behaved like he is behaving now, he himself will be in jail, " Fayose said this in statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
He equally said that "if the President and his hatchet men in the DSS, EFCC and other federal government agencies do not know what to do other than to record phone conversations of their perceived political foes, they should just resign and save the country from this harrowing experience."
National Coordinator of OGYPEDI, Mr.Japhet Omene, in a statement in Osogbo during the organisation's emergency meeting on the state of the nation, said: "Since the President came back to the country from his medical leave abroad he has been inactive and silent which is a bad omen for the country. It is very glaring and conspicuous that the President needs rest to recover well, but we advise him to resign on health issues. The President needs to address some issues facing the country that made Nigerians lose faith in him. Nigerians are still waiting for the change he promised”.
Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN called on president Buhari to resign and take care of his health.
Bishop Simeon Okah, National Vice President PFN (South-South), at a joint meeting with CAN in Warri, Delta State said: “Today our children are now being deported from America and here we have people from outside our country killing people and raping our daughters, mothers and wives. Our farmers no longer have farmlands to farm. I think it's high time we started defending ourselves if the government cannot help us. The economy is dying.
“When Jonathan handed over to Buhari, the exchange rate was between N170 to N190 to a dollar. Today, it is N550 to a dollar. Imagine how things had gone bad? While the church will pray, if he (Buhari) cannot save the country, let him resign for the country to move to where God wants it to be."
LAGOS— THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has lost one of its Assistant General Overseers, Pastor Olu Obanure, who died at the age of 65 on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
Olu Obanure
Pastor Obanure's sudden death was announced in a statement signed by the Assistant General Overseer (Admin/Personnel), Pastor Funso Odesola.
The statement read: "The Redeemed Christian Church of God announces the sudden home call of Pastor Olu Obanure, the Assistant General Overseer and Pastor-in-charge of RCCG (West Coast).”
"The family and the entire church are deeply touched by his sudden exit but are comforted by the exemplary Christian life which he lived and the fact that he served his Lord and Master till the end.
"Pastor Olu Obanure was appointed the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Establishment during the 64th Annual Convention of the Mission in August 2016.
"He had served the mission in such various capacities as the Special Assistant to the General Overseer (Admin/Personnel), Pastor-in Charge of West Coast with base in Accra, Ghana, and as the Provincial Pastor, Northern Province 5 with headquarters in Abuja.
"The Kogi State-born man of God had a Masters degree in Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He is survived by his widow and children."
Usain Bolt conquered athletics and now the fastest man on the planet says he wants to become among the top players in world football.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt
The Jamaican sprint legend, 30, will retire after the World Championships in London in August after a track and field career in which he has amassed eight Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and three world records.
Bolt has already made clear his desire to become a footballer, but spelling out his ambitions, the Manchester United fan told France’s So Foot magazine: “I have the ambition to become one of the top 50 (players in the world), if I get the chance to play regularly, and I want to be an attacker who scores at least 20 goals per season.”
Warming to his theme, Bolt added: “I hope to have the chance to play football at the highest level.
“I love this sport and it’s been in my head for many years. In the last few months I have spoken to clubs, and there have been possibilities, but nothing concrete at the moment. We are waiting to see.”
Bolt previously made clear his dream was to play for United, but he is likely to get a taste of top-level football in September with Borussia Dortmund for “three or four days” of training.
Dortmund have rejected suggestions it is a publicity stunt for Puma, the sports manufacturer they and Bolt use.
“I will see at this point whether I am as good as I hope,” Bolt said.
“Football is a very physically demanding sport, and I’m not very young anymore, but I think I can play well for at least four years.”
Asked if he was prepared to play in France’s second division if nothing better comes along, he replied: “Why not?
“I would do it if I need to prove myself, I have to start somewhere… but I need an ambitious team.”
The Kogi Government on Friday, threatened to terminate the appointment of any of its staff, under its health sector, that participates in the ongoing indefinite strike by doctors in the state.
Mrs Kehinde Lawal, the State's acting Head of Service, made the threat in a circular she signed in Lokoja on Friday.
According to her, the state government will also adopt the policy of 'no work no pay' for any doctor on strike.
Lawal further said government was doing its best to make sure that all the salary arrears of cleared officers, by the screening committee, would be paid within the shortest time possible.
"It is equally noteworthy for every union to realise that the best way to resolve any issue is through peaceful dialogue and not strike action.
"In view of the foregoing, any staff of Kogi State Government that decides to go on strike is hereby notified that such person will have his/her job at stake.
"The policy of 'No Work No Pay' will be adopted for any worker that embarks on strike action," she said.
The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has directed its members to embark on indefinite strike, claiming that the state government failed to pay salaries of its members, among other demands.
Barely 48 hours into the strike, health activities have been grounded in most state government-owned hospitals across the state.
A visit to the state Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, showed that the ever busy hospital had few or no patients.
One of the patients, Mrs Jumai Usman, disclosed that no doctor was on ground to attend to her, adding that the development had forced many patients to patronise private hospitals.
She urged the state government and the NMA to dialogue and reach mutual agreement, to save the lives of patients, especially the poor who could not afford the high cost of bills at the private hospitals.
Manchester City have been hit with a ban on signing youth academy players for two years after breaching Premier League regulations.
Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola
City were found to have approached the families of two promising young players who were registered with other clubs in a bid to lure them to Eastlands.
The Premier League club will be unable to sign academy players in the 10-18 age range who have been registered with another top-flight or Football League team in the preceding 18 months.
The second year of the ban, due to begin on June 30, 2018, will be suspended for three years, while City have also been fined £300,000 ($388,000, 353,000 euros).
“Following an investigation, the Premier League found evidence that the club’s conduct prior to applying to register the players contravened League rules,” a Premier League statement said on Friday.
“This included evidence of contact between the club and members of each Academy player’s family while those Academy Players were still registered with their previous clubs.”
In April, the Premier League probed three City signings, including an 11-year-old Everton midfielder and a 15-year-old from Wolves.
City will not be permitted to retain the players whose moves triggered the ban.
“In each case, the Academy player was conditionally registered with Manchester City while the Premier League’s investigation was ongoing,” the statement read.
“As a result of the club’s breaches, the players’ registrations will be terminated on a specified date, with no compensation rights retained by the club, and the club will not be permitted to re-register them as Academy players.
“In addition, Manchester City has offered to pay compensation to each player’s previous club, and maintain educational provision for each player until the completion of his GCSEs.”
City’s punishment comes after Liverpool were also hit with a ban on signing academy players for two years for a similar breach.
The National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG has handed down a red alert notice to all indigenous Itsekiri VTP5 and VTP6 trainees of Chevron Nigeria Limited to prepare to shutdown the company's operations in Escravos and other fields if they fail to engage them as staff before the contract runs out in June 2017.
While noting that "it is an insult on the Itsekiri Nation to keep our graduates as trainees for four years without employments", NAIG demanded that "Itsekiri graduates in VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6/OTP3 are staffed without further delay" by Chevron.
The Itsekiri graduates' body in a statement released Friday May 5 by its President Comrade Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin, alleged that the OPITO certificates of the affected trainees are in the custody of Chevron to purportedly keep the trainees tied to the company, a situation the association claimed "it's not being done in Richmond, Angola or those trainees in 'National' Programme".
NAIG declared that the excuse of cutting cost being adduced by Chevron for non-regularization of the trainees "is not only a fallacy, but a dent to the integrity of CNL", because the company "recorded a profit of $1.2 billion in the just concluded fiscal year" and "the EGTL train 1 and 2 are fully operational. Pure diesel, naphtha and LPG are constantly being exported daily".
While stressing that Itsekiri people are host to over 75% of Chevron Nigeria's onshore/offshore/ swamp fields under the over-lordship of the Olu of Warri.
NAIG decried the attitude of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Femi Gbajabamilia over their position of the Presidency's directive for IOCs to relocate their corporate headquarters to the Niger Delta.
NAIG added the action of members of the House of Representatives "only buttress our long held believe that the treatment being metted out to the Itsekiri by Chevron is because some people in the corridors of power, especially of the Yoruba stock are aiding Chevron to marginalize us without recourse to the fact that we host Chevron Tank Farm, Ugborodo".
Former president Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, eulogized the late Former president Umar Musa Yaradua, in his Facebook account, stating that Yaradua left behind a legacy of detribalised leadership and a soil that was fertile to grow trees.
According to him, “Seven years ago you left this world leaving behind a legacy of detribalized leadership and a soil that was fertile enough to grow trees whose shade you would never enjoy.
President Goodluck Jonathan and late president, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
Stating how Yaradua expressed his peace loving spirit to Nigerians, he said, “As a peace maker, you helped bring peace to the Niger Delta and that singular act brought manifold benefits to Nigeria. As a democrat, you promoted due process in government and equity in public administration. Umar Musa Yar’adua, a friend and brother, a great gift to the nation and people of Nigeria.
Seven years gone but never forgotten. May you Rest In Peace even as we hope and believe that you made al-Jannah firdaus. Miyetti Allah for the life of service you lived and may Almighty God care for the family you left behind. GEJ.”
Turkey dismissed 107 judges and prosecutors over alleged links to a failed coup in July last year, Turkish televisions reported on Friday, further widening a purge during which it dismissed around 145,000 civil servants, security personnel and academics.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Detention warrants were issued for the dismissed judges and prosecutors, Turkish TVs said.
On April 30, Turkish authorities expelled 3,900 people from the civil service, military and gendarmerie, in what appears to be the latest large-scale purge related to last year's failed coup.
The expelled included prison guards, clerks, academics, and employees of the religious affairs ministry, all of whom were suspected of links to "terrorist organisations and structures presenting a threat to national security" the government said.
It is the second large-scale purge since the narrow victory of an April 16 referendum giving President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping powers.
On Wednesday more than 9,000 police personnel were suspended and another 1,000 detained for alleged links to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the failed coup.
Some 1,127 employees of the justice ministry, including prison guards and clerks, 484 academics, and 201 employees from the religious affairs directorate, the government said on Saturday.
Some 120,000 people have already been suspended from jobs ranging from the civil service to the private sector, and more than 40,000 arrested, following last year's failed coup.
Mass detentions immediately after the attempted coup were supported by many Turks, who agreed with Erdogan when he blamed Gulen for orchestrating the putsch which killed 240 people, mostly civilians. But criticism mounted as the arrests widened.
Relatives of those detained or sacked since July say they have nothing to do with the armed attempt to overthrow the government, and are victims of a purge designed to solidify Erdogan's control.
The Women Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the party's leaders to accept any verdict the Supreme Court will deliver on the party's leadership tussle.
The co-convener of the forum, Dr Aisha Aliyu, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Friday after the forum's meeting on "political developments and events affecting the party''.
The Supreme Court had on Thursday fixed May 25 to hear application on an appeal in a case between National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi.
Aliyu said that the women believed that judgment of the apex court would be a deserved justice that should be accepted with a sense of commitment to the rebuilding of the party.
"The women call on all party faithful to accept with a sense of commitment to the rebuilding of the party, whatever the outcome of the case before the Supreme Court will be.
"The PDP will always remain larger than any individual or group of persons,'' she said.
Aliyu commended the desire of the court to speedily dispense justice on the party's leadership tussle ahead of 2018 when there would be excessive political pressure on the system.
"We trust that justice will not be unduly delayed nor denied in all instances. '' she added.
She urged the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure the immediate release of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) on bail conditions and others in political detention.
"We welcome the release of Nnamdi Kanu as well as former governor of Adamawa, Sule Lamido and his Niger counterpart, Babangida Aliyu.
"We urge the office of the Attorney-General to immediately ensure the release of the former NSA on bail as it is now clear after almost two years, that there are no grounds for doing otherwise.
"This is also the case for former Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue State,'' she said.
Aliyu expressed concern on recent developments in the polity which, according to her, are seemingly suggesting high-handedness by certain officials in government.
She said that the development included unnecessary aggression between the executive and the legislature as well as uncertainty within the presidency.
She urged leaders in government to pursue dialogue and consultation in addressing issues in order to entrench democracy and uphold the rule of law.
"We are saddened by the fact that governance has become a matter of media vilification rather than strategic direction and consensus building.
"Our view is that corruption has to be prosecuted in a more discernible manner with clearly defined guidelines of law and process.
"Women of the PDP particularly believe in building the country into a better nation.
"We appeal for greater forbearance by those in public position within a culture of reference to established norms such that decisions which affect individuals, institutions, the opposition, media and others are manifestly credible.''
The convener said that this would reduce the tendency to resort to "disparaging, disgraceful accusations in the media even when such action is widely open to further investigation and inconclusive procedure''.
On the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, she urged the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to do more in clearing the air on it.
" We note the role of Aisha Buhari as the mother of the nation, when she spoke out against some vested interests in the government and drew the country's attention to their nefarious activities.
"As women, this was an act of courage and forthrightness.
"We call on her to further demonstrate this uncommon quality by speaking to the women and mothers of the nation at this time of grave apprehensions about the health of her husband.
"It will seem that many of those speaking at the presidency have lost the credibility to do so and she is in the best position to make public the issues surrounding her husband's state of health,'' Aliyu said.
She prayed for the president and against "any interest intent on pushing the country in a direction open to challenges''
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday prayed at the Aso presidential Villa, Mosque.
See photos:
President Buhari after Jumaát prayer with key officialsBuhari with key officials after Jumaát prayerBuhari after Jumaát prayerPresident Buhari going to Jumaát prayer todayPresident Buhari at jumaát
Airport officials said a cargo plane contracted by UPS went off the runway on Friday after landing at an airport in the U.S. state of West Virginia, killing the pilot and co-pilot.
The plane, flying from Louisville, Kentucky, was trying to land at Yeager Airport in Charleston at around 7:00 a.m. local time (1100 GMT).
After crashing, the plane went down a steep, wooded hill, according to a Fox News report. Mike Plante, a spokesman for Yeager Airport, said 11 that the plane is owned by Air Cargo Carriers, which contracts for UPS.
Plante said there was no indication of any issue with the aircraft before the crash.
Charleston airport officials have proposed spending 290 million dollars to rebuild and extend the runway after a landslide in 2015 took out a church and an unoccupied house.
The proposal calls for lengthening the runway from about 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters).
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, Fox News said.
Workers at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) have threatened to begin an indefinite strike from Tuesday over the non-payment of four months salaries owed them.
The workers, operating under the aegis of OGBC chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)and Radio Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union(RATTAWU), issued the strike notice on Friday in Abeokuta.
The workers explained that inspite of issuing three different notices to the management, nothing was done to effect payment of the owed salaries.
RATTAWU Secretary, Mr Biodun Adelodun, said the union had given the management 21 days, 14 days and seven days notices , adding that they would give another three-day notice which would lapse on Tuesday.
These notices, he said, were to serve as avenues for negotiation and amicable resolution of the issue.
"The situation that existed in OGBC is pathetic as our members are being owed four months salaries. Since we are already in May, it will soon be five months.
"We have given the management three different notices to allow for negotiation and amicable resolution of the issue but nothing came out of it.
" The next notice we are giving the management will be for three days.
" We will give them the notice today, Friday May 5, and it will lapse on Tuesday, May 9. If nothing is done within this period, the workers will commence total strike, " he said.
Apart from owed salaries, Adelodun further claimed that workers pension deductions from 2012 till date totalling about N50 million were not remitted.
He also said deductions for the National Housing Fund was over N2 million.
Adelodun, who said the workers had no dispute with Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, maintained that their grouse was with the management of the station.
"The unions dissociated themselves from the politicians who had started politicising the issue of the non payment of salaries and saying unprintable things about the governor and the state government on the social media, " Adelodun said.
The RATTAWU secretary , however, appealed to the governor to prevail on the OGBC management to pay up the salary arrears.
" The governor graciously approved increment in the payment of monthly subvention to the station from N3.5 million to N10 million.
"The government has never failed to disburse to the station our monthly subvention as and when due, " he said.
Also at the briefing was the NUJ Chairman in OGBC, Mr Abiodun Ogundipe.
