PDP crisis worsens as 3 chairmen emerge

 

L-R: Prince Uche Secondus | Prof Adeale Oladipo | Barr Ahmed Gulak

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday, with three different people claiming leadership of the party.
Those in the contention are, acting national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, one-time special adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Barr Ahmed Gulak, and the party’s national secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo.

The PDP Governors’ Forum had Wednesday night asked the embattled Secondus to handover the leadership of the party to Prof. Oladipo. 
The directive came few hours after Gulak had addressed a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, where he proclaimed himself as the substantive national chairman.

MASSOB Debunks bid to colonise S-South region

ENUGU—MASSOB, yesterday, dismissed insinuation of championing the course of Biafra secession  to colonise the south-south geopolitical zone given its huge oil resources.
MASSOB was reacting to a statement credited to Sagir Mohammed wherein he described the agitation for Biafra as a desperate ploy to colonize the south-south region and tap the crude oil reserves as its economic mainstay.

File: MASSOB protests

Frowning at the comment, Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu,  in a statement said: “MASSOB can never be intimidated, disorganized or shaken because of some disgruntled, frustrated, confused, defeated people like Sagir Mohammed who in frustration, alleged that Ndi Igbo wants to capture and colonize the people of south-south with Biafra.

Boko Haram: Kabiru Sokoto sues FG over conviction

ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed February 4 to hear a fresh suit lodged against the Federal Government by the convicted kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Kabiru Umar. a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto.

The High Court had on December 20, 2013, convicted and sentenced Sokoto to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of masterminding the  Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011.

File: Boko Haram: Kabiru Sokoto Suspected Mandala Bomber Federal High Court in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

In his judgment, trial Justice Adeniyi Ademola said he was satisfied that the federal government successfully established the culpability of the convict beyond every reasonable doubt, noting that ‘Sokoto’ had in two separate confessional statements, admitted that he had prior knowledge of the attack.
The court noted that the accused person, throughout the trial, never showed any remorse for his actions, describing him as “a pathological liar with no regards for the truth.”

Govt to improve tax collection by 20 percent

•Forensic auditing for 81 revenue generating agencies

The fund the deficit in the 2016 budget, the federal government plans to increase tax collection by 20 per cent, Minister of Budget and Planning Udoma Udo Udoma said yesterday.
Stressing that the government does not want to increase the suffering of Nigerians, he said that the government will increase corporate tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) collections.

He spoke with State House reporters after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The Minister was accompanied by Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) Willy Obiano (Anambra) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).

Bello appoints Chief of Staff, Media Adviser, CPS

The new governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has appointed Mr Edward Onoja as his Chief of staff and Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulmalik as his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy.

A statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday to newsmen also said that Mr Kingsley Fanwo has been appointed as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor.
The statement said all the appointments took immediate effect.

The statement was personally signed by the new governor.
It described Onoja, the new Chief of Staff, as a tested administrator who rose to management positions in several blue chip companies in financial, and oil and gas sectors.

The case against ex-Air Force chief, Amosu

Air Marshall Adesola Amosu

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have been quizzing Nigeria’s former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals probe.
Amosun who was detained by the EFCC on Tuesday night,  is expected to shed light on more than 10 contracts valued at $930,500,960  which were awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015 and why NAF bought used Mi-24V helicopters instead of Mi-35M series.”
The other issues he was confronted with are:

Kosowo by Shizzi featuring the legendary Wandecoal and Brian (Downloadable)

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Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez trashes ‘unfit’ rumours

Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez brushed aside rumours he is out of shape following his side’s 1-1 draw away to Real Betis in La Liga.

James has struggled to win back his place in the Madrid first team this season amid stories of a poor relationship with former coach, the sacked Rafa Benitez, and that he is overweight, reports Xinhua.
His performance on the pitch and his appearance in a TV show recently appeared to confirm the stories of Benitez. But he was clearly irritated at accusations that he was not looking after himself as a professional footballer should.

Sunshine Stars Set To Return To Akure Township Stadium After LMC Pardon

1. The League Management Company have pardoned Sunshine Stars of Akure, as the Nigeria Professional Football League side can now return to the Akure Township Stadium for their home game this coming season.
   
   The NPFL side were banished from the Akure stadium towards the end of last season following the unruly behaviour of their fans in last season’s Week 36 fixture against Lobi Stars.

Dimitri Payet is on the same level as Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, says former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair

West Ham hero: Payet has made an immediate impact on the Premier League Ian Walton/Getty Images

Dimitri Payet is showing himself to be the equal of Mesut Ozil, according to former West Ham midfielder Trevor Sinclair.

The Arsenal playmaker, on course to break Thierry Henry’s record for assists Premier League season, is among the leading candidates to claim the Footballer of the Year award after a campaign in which he has been pivotal to his side’s title challenge.

Whilst it has taken Ozil two seasons to discover his breath-taking best in the Premier League Payet made the adaptation almost immediately, replicating the form that had carried Marseille to the top of Ligue 1 for much of last season and earned him an eight-figure move to the Boleyn Ground.
Payet’s early return from an ankle injury in January has coincided with West Ham storming back towards the Champions League places and Sinclair, speaking exclusively to 888poker.com, believes the French midfielder has had an equally impressive season.

Peter Okoye Of Psquare Unveils Football Academy In Lagos - Photos

Peter Okoye of popular music duo, Psquare has officially unveiled his own football academy called P-Classic Football management.

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   According to the singer, he dreamt of becoming a professional footballer with his brother before they started music. Now he has the opportunity to help grassroots footballers achieve their own dreams.
   
   In his words: “When I was a kid I dreamed of becoming a professional football player. Like you all know we were playing football before we finally decided to settle for music and now we are professional and established musician but still dreaming of playing. Personally I have always been passionate about football and in other to give back I decided to sponsor a football club in OMOLE where we reside.

FIFA confirms final five for presidential election

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FIFA on Tuesday confirmed the final five candidates to take over from the banned Sepp Blatter as head of the world body one month from the vote.

FIFA’s electoral committee said that Prince Ali bin al Hussein, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne had all been admitted for the final campaigning.

The vote, caused by Blatter’s decision to stand down amid growing scandal, will be held in Zurich on February 26.

Osimhen in Germany to perfect Wolfsburg move

– Osimhen was spotted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en route Germany
– He should complete his move to Wolfsburg
– It will be a four-year deal and in the range of €3.5 million
Nigerian u-17 starlet Victor Osimhen has moved to Germany to perfect his move to Bundesliga giants,



The 2015 African young player of the year was seen at the departure wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en route Germany to seal a move worth 3.5 million Euros with the Bundesliga side.

Nwakali, Chukwueze close in on Arsenal deal

– Allwell, the younger brother of Kelechi Nwakali says his brother move to Arsenal is almost a done deal.

– Allwell also reveals that Nwakali will be joined alongside teammate Samuel Chukwueze.
– Both players worth a combined cost of £5million from Diamond Football Academy.

Allwell, the younger sibling of the Nigeria under-17 wonder kid Kelechi Nwakali has all but confirmed his brother’s move to English Premier League side, Arsenal, Daily Post reports.

According to the report, Nwakali is expected to be joined at the Emirates alongside Samuel Chukwueze, at a combined cost of £5million from Diamond Football Academy.

Nwakali and Chukwueze edge closer to Arsenal deal

BREAKING: Nigeria crash out of Chan 2016

There’s all to play for when the Super Eagles of Nigeria square up against the Syli Nationale of Guinea today, January 26, in the last round of matches in Group C at the on-going 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

Both sides occupying the top two places respectively know a win will see them book a place in the last eight at the expense of rivals, Tunisia and Niger.

Adeniji runs after the ball

Victory by any margin will guarantee the Eagles top spot, same goes for Guinea. However, any of the teams could still crash out should they slip up. This is because should Tunisia achieve a high score win over Niger Republic or vice versa then, a defeat for either Guinea or Nigeria will mark the end of the tournament.
Fully aware of the situation on ground, both teams will seek a crucial victory this afternoon when they lock horns.