South East Governors on Wednesday met with the Leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOBNnamdiKanu together with Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN and Evangelist Elliot Uko, at the Government House, Enugu.
The meeting, according to the Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum, Gov. David Umahi, who briefed journalists alongside Gov. IfeanyiUgwuanyi of Enugu State and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. NkemOkeke, "deliberated on the demands of IPOB and noted their concerns accordingly".
"However, the meeting agreed that these demands by IPOB should not be absolute, rather the South East Governors shall immediately engage the leader of IPOB, Kanu and the entire leadership of IPOB to further meetings and dialogue with a view to quickening the resolutions of all issues amicably", the governor said.
Gov. Umahi noted that the Governors of Abia and Imo States travelled out of the country.
The meeting with the IPOB leader may not be unconnected with the recent move by the federal government to re-arrest him on alleged violations of his bail condition. Mr Kanu is currently on bail after being charged with alleged treasonable offences.
Mr. Kanu in a recent reaction dared the federal government to arrest him.
Kanu is currently agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra.
Ibadan, capital of Oyo state will witness the biggest coronation event in its history on Sunday as Gov. Abiola Ajimobi will crown 30 kings in one fell swoop.
The coronation will take place at the historic Mapo Hall.
The 30 are among the 32 recommended by the Akintunde Boade-led Judicial Panel on the review of the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
On Friday, secretary to the government presented letters to some of the new monarchs at a ceremony held at the historic House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan.
The governor had on May 19 inaugurated the panel based on several requests received by the state government.
The panel on Aug. 18 submitted its report, recommending that 11 Olubadan High Chiefs and 21 Baales be allowed wear the beaded crown in Ibadan.
Those who received the letters were nine high chiefs of the Olubadan-in-Council and 21 other local chiefs, known as baales who were elevated to obaship status in line with the government white paper.
Apart from Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor and Osi-Olubadan of Ibadanland, as well as two deceased members, eight other high chiefs were on hand to receive their conferment letters.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, who presented the letters at the House of Chiefs, explained that Eight High Chiefs were given letters elevating them to Obaship and changing their titles to “His Royal Majesty” while 13 Baales were elevated to “His Royal Highness”, noting that 9 vacant Baale stools were not conferred but their positions are now recognized as Obas.
…a cross section of the Obas…
Among those who received the letters amidst jubilation were Oba Lekan Balogun, the OtunOlubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakunleyin, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba TajudeenAjibola, Osi -Balogun of Ibadanland and Oba Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa-Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Others were Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, the EkerinOlubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lateef Adebimpe, Ashipa-Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland and Oba Kolawole Adegbola, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.
According to the letter dated Aug. 25, 2017 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs Olawunmi Ogunesan, the new titles takes immediate effect.
The letter stated that the title qualifies the new obas to wear the royal beaded crown, with the High Chiefs to be addressed as Royal Majesty while the baales would be addressed as Royal Highness.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, it added, would henceforth be addressed as Imperial Majesty.
“The government rested its powers of the confirmation of the Obaship title on section 28(I) Cap. Vol. 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000, ’’ it said.
NAN reports that among the baales promoted to obaship status are Oniroko of Iroko, Onikereku of Ikereku, Olodo of Olodo, Alaba of Abanla, Onilagun of Lagun and Elegbeda of Egbeda.
Others are Alakaran of Akanran, Alajia of Ajia, Onido of Iddo, Alawotan of Awontan, Onijaye of Ijaye, Alakufo of Akufo, Olofa-Igbo of offa Igbo, Oloke of Okelade-Akin, Olugbon of Ile-Igbon and Ologburo of Ogburo.
Cameroon’s bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) may be a lost cause with the country’s troubled Football Association stripped of its authority by FIFA, who have also appointed a normalisation committee in its place.
Also, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) declared it has set very high standards for the AFCON and the Cameroon may require more support to host or be stripped of the rights.
On Wednesday, FIFA announced it had appointed a normalisation committee for the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT) in accordance with art of the FIFA Statutes.
FIFA thus set 28 February, 2018 as the scheduled hand over date after the committee completes its ad hoc duties.
Coupled with the administrative challenges, FECAFOOT is struggling to also convince CAF of its readiness to host the 2019 AFCON particularly after the recently adopted reforms in Morocco.
The 32nd edition of Africa’s football fiesta has been moved from a January-February event to June-July.
Importantly, the structure of the competition has also been altered with a significant increase in the number of participating teams from 16 to 24.
As a result, CAF’s head of Organising Committee for Africa Cup of Nations, Amaju Pinnick has suggested Cameroon will be stripped of the 2019 AFCON hosting rights it if falls short of “matching the very high standards that the new CAF has set.”
Pinnick also attempted to dispel insinuations that the current CAF Executive is out “witch-hunting Hayatou.”
Cameroonian veteran administrator, Issa Hayatou is the immediate past President of CAF.
On 16 March 2017 he was defeated in the polls by Malagasy official Ahmad, bringing an end to his 29-year reign.
However, while the Ahmad-led CAF has suggested it will entrench democratic principles that have been non-existent in the body prior, it has also been criticized for dismantling structures put in place by Hayatou, including attempts to strip the Central African country of the rights for the 2019 AFCON in response to Madagascar losing the hosting right for the 2017 U17 Africa Cup of Nations to Gabon under Hayatou’s watch.
Speaking on the latest development Pinnick said, “The new CAF wants to do away with artificial divisions and colonial creations along linguistic divisions. No one is witch-hunting Hayatou.
“AFCON should be bigger than what it is now. It should be a destination for vacation and add value to African football in all areas.
“We want Cameroon to host AFCON 2019, but they can only do so by matching the very high standards that the new CAF has set.
“We will exhaust all possibilities and give Cameroon all the support that is necessary for them to be ready to host, before taking it away,” Pinnick explained.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will work from home after rodents damaged his official office during a more than 100-day overseas medical absence, a presidential spokesman told AFP Tuesday.
The animals damaged furniture and air conditioning fittings in the president’s official Abuja office while he was in London receiving treatment, his media adviser Garba Shehu confirmed.
“These are also general works and it is not uncommon for Nigerian presidents to also work from the presidential villa. He has used the residential office for many years,” said Shehu.
“What is important is that the job gets done. Whether he does it from his bedroom or his sitting room or his anteroom — it does not matter. Let the job be done. And the job will be done,” Shehu told the Arise News broadcaster.
Shehu was unable to confirm what type of rodent was responsible for the damage, which occurred during the president’s prolonged absence for an undisclosed medical condition.
“I do not have that level of detail,” he said, adding that it was unclear how long the refurbishment would last.
During his time away, tensions surfaced back home, where calls grew for him to either return or resign.
The Nigerian leader met with his security chiefs at his official residence on Tuesday, ordering them to deal with threats to the unity of the country.
In the weeks before Buhari left for London on May 7, he also worked from the presidential residence — missing cabinet meetings and having official documents transported to him.
Rumours about his health have dogged Buhari even before he came to power in May 2015. He rejected claims during the election that he was critically ill from prostate cancer.
Buhari did not address his absence or medical situation when he addressed the nation on television on Monday, instead talking about separatism, crime, terrorism and the economy in his first speech since returning.
In an official letter to parliament on Monday relieving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of his duties as acting head of state, Buhari described his trip as a “medical follow-up”.
Clashes between protesters calling on Buhari to return from his recent lengthy absence and the presidents’ defenders erupted in Abuja last week.
He first travelled to London in June last year for what aides said was a persistent inner ear infection, returning in January for check-ups, according to his office.
The health of Nigeria’s president is a sensitive issue. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died in office in 2010 from a long-standing, but previously undisclosed, kidney complaint.
I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers. I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.
2. In the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs, but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far.
3. In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.
4. Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.
5. Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.
6. I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.
7. This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.
8. The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.
9. The national consensus is that, it is better to live together than to live apart.
10. Furthermore, I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.
11. Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.
12. Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against, elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.
13. Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of economic security, political evolution and integration as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.
14. I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained. I am so glad to be home.
A Nigerian fraudster, Babatunde Adu a.k.a T-Money, who laundered almost a million pounds in a year has been jailed for six years and four months.
His house was searched in October 2016 as part of a week-long police initiative to tackle card fraudsters, after intelligence suggested he had been using compromised cards to buy electronic goods with a value of £15,000 and sell these on.
Officers found a number of credit cards and a number of fraudulent documents, including a driving licence with Adu’s picture but using an alias. When police researched this name they found a bank account which had been used in 2014 to receive £50,000 from a romance fraud.
Further enquiries found there had been a £900,000 turnover in a bank account during the previous year.
Adu was found guilty of disguising criminal property at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, 4 July, following a trial and was sentenced to a total of six years and four months’ imprisonment. He had already pleaded guilty to three other charges.
Detective Constable Damian Ward, of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), said: “Adu was a career fraudster who had falsely obtained money through a variety of means and I am delighted with this conviction. This sentence should send a message to any would-be fraudsters that you will be caught and punished.”
Intelligence about Adu was passed to the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit to investigate during a week of action against remote purchase fraud in October which saw the unit work with retailers, banks and the card schemes to take action against fraudsters. The DCPCU is sponsored by the banking industry and made up of officers from the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police Service, bank investigators and support staff from UK Finance.
Established in April 2002, the DCPCU has since achieved an estimated £486 million in savings from reduced fraud activity. The DCPCU is a unique proactive police unit, with a national remit. It is sponsored by UK Finance, the new industry body representing around 300 firms in the UK providing credit, banking, markets and payments-related services.
President Muhammadu Buhari...now hale and hearty...
Buhari Walks Smartly, Body Language Expressible
NUJ Europe exclusively brings you picturesque of event as President Muhammadu Buhari arrived and was received by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. August 19,2017At long last, President Muhammadu Buhari has landed in Nigeria with the jet conveying him touching down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAIA, even as the President smartly alighted from the aircraft all by himself.
There was a display by motorbikes in the presidential escort with motorcade including the President’s official car lining the presidential wing of the NAIA.
Spotting a flowing caftan and a cap to match, he was seen waving to the cheers from aides and supporters at the tarmac as he moved to take the presidential salute while the national anthem was sang.
The President was received by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who led top government functionaries to the presidential wing to receive Buhari.
The presidential jet, Eagle One touched base at the termac at about 4:35pm on Saturday. The President has been away in London for medical vacation for over hundred days ago.
Others at the airport are: Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo; AbdulAziz Yari of Zamfara, Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, among members of the Federal Executive Council as well as presidential aides.
Buhari then moves briskly as he shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with government officials who have been waiting for him, without inspecting of the guard of honour mounted for him at the airport by the Nigeria police.
President Muhammadu Buhari returns to the country later today, after receiving medical attention in London.
The President had left the country on May 7, this year, after handing
over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has functioned as Acting
President since then. President Buhari is expected to speak to Nigerians in a broadcast by 7 a.m on Monday, August 21, 2017.
He thanks all Nigerians who have prayed ceaselessly for his recovery
and well-being since the beginning of the health challenge.
FEMI ADESINA Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) August 19, 2019
Photo credit: Femi Adesina
President Buhari receiving government functionaries earlier in Abuja House, London
Nigeria's anti- corruption forces came under firing attack as a group of yet unidentified gunmen early on Wednesday struck at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, located at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.
Reports say the group of heavily armed men invaded the office at about 05.00 hours and shot into the premises, damaging vehicles parked in the premises, the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.
However, the attack was repelled by guards on duty.
The hoodlums escaped in a getaway vehicle but not without leaving a message; a white envelope dropped by the fleeing attackers was found to contain a death threat addressed to Ishaku Sharu, a senior investigator with the Commission.
Mr. Ishaku who heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud Section is in charge of corruption investigation involving several politically exposed persons and retired military brass hats.
The attack on the Zone 7 office which houses the Commission’s AMCON Desk, Procurement Fraud and Foreign Exchange Malpractices Sections, is coming few weeks after another investigator, Austin Okwor, was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The latest incident has already been reported to the police for investigation, Mr. Uwujaren said.
Ooni of Ife Oba EniitanAdeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 and Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi
Oduduwa palace media director, Comrade Moses Olafare on wednessday said Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi Ojaja 11 and palace authority will not react to the unfounded information about the allegedly strain in relationship between the monarch and his wife
Olafare when contacted debunked the rumours saying formal reaction on it will amount to a needless misdirection of energy.
“Ooni Ogunwusi is a working monarch commited to moving the African race forward especially in the areas of Cultural tourism, Youth development and women empowerment.
“He’s too busy to be responding to unfounded rumors and too focused to be distracted by some faceless practitioners of jungle journalism abusively benefiting from the opportunistic social media porosity”.
Wole Arisekola...coming with 'Oke'badan' Radio and Television...
On 14th of August 2017 federal authorities in Nigeria approved the licence applications for the establishment of much awaited broadcast outfits in Ibadan, felicitations and warm greetings have since been pouring in from corners of the globe to welcome the brand new Oke'badan Radio and Television. Reports indicate that things are looking
really rosy for debonair Ibadan-born businessman, Wole Arisekola as he added another feather to his cap by securing radio and television licenses from the Federal
Government of Nigeria.
The well traveled and respectable businessman who confirmed this to PMParrot on Monday evening said he got the licenses under the trade name Street Journal Nigeria Limited.
Media and business impresario Wole Arisekola the erstwhile President of Nigeria Union of Journalists Europe chapter (NUJE) and publisher of Street Journal who is also known offline and online as Wole StreetJournal added, “we will call our broadcasting outfit
‘Oke’Badan Radio and Television’.”
He added “By God’s grace, we plan to be on air by January, 2018 and we are hoping to start from Mokola hill in the heart of Ibadan.” Wole Arisekola’s passion,
commitment and determination towards making Nigeria better is quite
impressive. He is always guided and inspired by the burning desire that
Nigeria can definitely and would still be a better place to live in. Among the congratulatory messages pouring in at press time: ''You are indeed a leader on a mission to activate a vision, keep on keeping on'' sent by Chief Femi Davies, publisher of Metronews. A congratulatory message from the Acting President of NUJ Europe, Prince Lashley Oladigbolu who also described Wole Streetjournal, the Chairman of Association of Online Media Practitioners
of Nigeria (AMPON) as a frontliner of investigative journalism who has
been upholding and promoting postiveness among patriotic Nigerians. ''Oke'Badan Radio and Television will promote standards and excellence in media broadcast services'', he stated.
Wole Arisekola’s businesses are vast and successful and he runs them from Dublin, New York, London, Abuja and Lagos.
Wole, just like others who attended Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan is set to take over the broadcasting world in Nigeria.
Stay with us for more details on this upwardly mobile Nigerian and what he does.
There is no argument in the fact that the agency is overrated in the media glare as sole distributor responsible for providing the news contents for its subscribed local media operators in Nigeria.
In a Punch news item captioned "Chelsea treating me like a criminal -Costa" published on Monday 14th August, 2017, credited to *News Agency of Nigeria* the claws and flaws of copyright are hanging on the neck of NAN for not professing that the news content is an exclusive interview story by the *UK Daily Mail* published same day, upon sending her team of professionals on a worthy and expensive journey to the remote town of Largarto in Brazil where Diego Costa is living with his parent.
The Punch newspaper has done what it takes professionally to indicate NAN as its source, however the news republished by the agency is devoid of copyright rules. No credit is given to Daily Mail UK.
Is NAN by this act different from bloggers and journalists who are often threatened for using its news items without due copyright compliance?
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has said he feels ready to return home after medical treatment in the UK, and is awaiting his doctor's permission.
The African leader has recently faced questions at home over whether he is well enough to run the country.
Since the start of 2017 he has spent more time in the UK than in Nigeria.
His current period of sick leave is the second this year, after a stint from January to March. The nature of his illness has not been disclosed.
"I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge," Mr Buhari said in a statement. "I've now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed."
He added that there had been a "tremendous improvement" in his health.
Some protesters in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, have demanded the president's resignation this week. Others called for more transparency about his condition.
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGESImage captionSome Nigerians have urged their president to return - or resign
When Mr Buhari first went to London for treatment in June 2016, his office said it was for a persistent ear infection.
His main opponents in Nigeria's 2015 election had claimed he had prostate cancer - which he denied.
Photos released by the presidency show the 74-year-old standing outdoors in sunglasses and smiling as he holds a "Get well soon" card.
Mr Buhari has appointed his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, to carry out his duties in his absence.
Media captionA Nigerian state governor said Mr Buhari was "very, very ok" after meeting him
The leader's medical challenges have sparked speculation in Nigeria about whether he will be fit to seek a second term in 2019.
If he does not stand for re-election, observers say, it could prompt tensions between factions in the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south.
The health of Nigeria's leaders has been a sensitive topic since 2010, when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua died in office after months of treatment overseas.
Buhari's Health: Charly Boy, others are getting it wrong.
- Dr. Ajulo
A constitutional lawyer Dr. Kayode Olukayode Ajulo says the so called 90 days limit for which the President can be away is a farce and not constitutional.
Speaking with FRCN Politics Editor Victorson Agbenson in Abuja, Dr Ajulo said those currently protesting against the President's absence were doing so ignorantly.
He said the 1999 constitution has
no limit as to the period the President could be away.
Dr. Ajulo maintained that the President Mohammadu Buhari had done the needful by handing over power to his deputy, vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He explained that the president can only resign at his discretion or if his cabinet invokes section 144 of the constitution which stipulates that two third members of the Federal executive council could site reasons of incapacitation after medical examination by a duly set up medical board.
Dr. Ajulo said the ongoing protests could be interpreted broadly as treason as it may be said to be calling for regime change by unconstitutional means.
Dr. Ajulo who participated in the protest during the days of ailing late president UmaruMusaYar'Adua said the current circumstance was very different since the president duly handed over power before leaving.
Man Utd 1 (Lukaku 62') - 2 (Casemiro 24', Isco 52') Real Madrid
..And Mourinho takes his medal off immediately
Runners-up
medals don't mean an awful lot to Jose. He receives his and takes it
off straight away - the Man Utd players keep theirs on.
Zinedine Zidane's incredible record
Zinedine Zidane's incredible record
The Uefa Super Cup is still the
one trophy that is not part of the Jose Mourinho collection but even a
man who takes defeat as badly as him might regard this one at the hands
of the best team in Europe as a lesson worth learning as he approaches
his critical second season at Old Trafford. This Real Madrid side are one of the great teams of the 21st century,
and there were times in the game when it looked like it might take
another generation for United to catch them, never mind within the scope
of time the current manager might have at the club. Yet when it seemed
like United could find themselves on the end of debilitating scoreline
they recovered to make a game of it. Their goal was from Romelu Lukaku after the new striker had missed
another chance that might have flattened his confidence. On the left
side, Marcus Rashford, a second half substitute gave the team a new
burst of life. Paul Pogba was relentless in forcing his way back into
the game and although United could not quite retrieve it against the
masters of European football, they did adapt and evolve and almost take
it to extra-time.
In the
end, Madrid had taken too much of the game, with goals from Casemiro and
Isco and a performance that was at times breathtaking until they
started to wilt when Lukaku scored after the hour. United had a claim
that the first goal was offside but in the end it was the better team
that won this trophy for the third time in four years
Romelu Lukaku scored United's only goalCredit:
AP
The
champions of Europe three times in the last four years and a team at the
top, or at least near, the arch of their development – it should not be
underestimated how hard it is playing against Real Madrid. Mourinho’s
team might have hoped to catch the Champions League winners cold with
Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench and no notable summer signings apart from
Theo Hernandez, who was also a substitute. Yet the Madrid of 2017 are quite capable of turning it on when they
want and although United had their moments in the first half they were
more of the hectic variety, openings that closed off suddenly. Zinedine
Zidane’s side on the other hand, exerted a slow deadly grip on the game
around the half hour mark, with a sequence of passes that moved United
gradually and inexorably backwards towards their own goal.
That was
the most impressive feature of the first half, even considering
Casemiro’s goal, a period of dominance which showcased the quality
throughout Madrid’s team. They have players who can pass and retain the
ball all over the pitch and, superstars though they might all be, they
have a keen sense of where their team-mates are.
Isco gave a midfield masterclass Credit:
REUTERS
United
started the better but they ended the first half with 40 per cent of the
possession and just one effort on target, a Romelu Lukaku header that
went straight into the mitts of Keylor Navas. They never probed Madrid
or had the kind of advanced possession that allowed them to pull the
opposition out of shape and use the spaces that created. Zidane selected Gareth Bale, a move that goes some way to spiking the
suggestion that the Welshman is surplus to requirements if another big
signing comes in. Mourinho had said that Bale’s selection was a test of
his status at Madrid and, as such, he passed it - but then it was just a
Mourinho theory and nothing more. Early on Bale was often the beneficiary of the kind of diagonal ball
into the left channel that eventually created the goal for Casemiro.
Madrid seemed to sense a weakness in United down their right flank.
Mourinho had started with a back three and Victor Lindelof was the man
on the right side of it, obliged to come out to meet Bale when the ball
was played in behind Antonio Valencia.
It was
from that kind of position that Casemiro ran to meet Dani Carvajal’s
cross on 24 minutes, sweeping the ball in with his left foot at the back
post. The water break on the half hour came at the right moment for
Mourinho whose team were wilting badly in the heat of the Macedonian
evening. They were not pressing the ball at all and for the most part
they were giving Madrid all the time they needed.
Before
the goal Bale and Casemiro had chances to score with the Brazilian’s
header from a corner hitting the bar. United had barely laid a glove on
them and they still had Ronaldo to come. As he left for half-time, the
former United man reciprocated Mourinho’s handshake and arm around the
shoulder – a public show of friendship after their parting of the ways
when the latter left Madrid four years earlier.
Jesse Lingard struggled to get into the game at timeCredit:
AFP
Jesse
Lingard, stranded out on the right side with no real idea of how to make
the wing-back role work, was replaced at half-time by Rashford who was
asked to do it better. United seemed to invite the pressure. The confidence to break up the passing of Madrid seemed to elude them
and so they dug in and hoped for the best, although it only felt like a
matter of time. Isco, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric had the run of the
midfield and a position deep in United’s half. De Gea got a strong hand
to Kroos’ left foot shot early in the half but there was nothing he
could do about Madrid’s second.
That was
created on the left side between Isco and Bale with a rapid exchange
that saw Isco run through three United defenders to take the return ball
and roll his shot into the far corner. The speed and movement of Madrid
was overwhelming and when Bale struck the bar on the hour you wondered
just how bad it might get for United.
Lukaku
had missed badly when Pogba’s shot had been saved on 54 minutes, a
terrible lash at the ball that sent it over. Navas had got away with
that one but when he pushed Nemanja Matic’s left foot shot out on 62
minutes, United’s £75 million striker could not miss from such close
range. The goalkeeper’s error had let United back into the match. With Rashford making inroads on the left and Pogba’s incredible
stamina in such difficult conditions United looked as good as they had
since the start of match. Marouane Fellaini was back out there too, a
replacement for Ander Herrera and playing higher up the pitch where he
would soon head the back of Sergio Ramos’ head. They had their chances
but so did Madrid, with Ronaldo on for the end and another trophy in the
bank. Credit: Telegraph
- How Osinbajo Dropped ICPC Board Members Under Probe
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the Acting President has dropped the two new members nominated to be on the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission who are said to be undergoing investigations by the same commission.
Osinbajo had last week named a new chairman and board members for the commission.
Anti-corruption agents are wondering how the two nominees passed security screening despite their being probed for graft.
( http://www.nujeurope.org/2017/08/two-of-members-newly-appointed-icpc.html ) that two of the board members are currently being investigated by the ICPC.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed on his Twitter handle on Sunday that the nomination of the affected persons was being stepped down.
Akande said it had been confirmed that the two nominees were being investigated by the agency they were nominated to serve.
He said the situation presented a conflict of interest.
Akande wrote, “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.
“While existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them (six) from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.
“A basic check showed no court convictions against them. But when weighty petitions come up, this administration will always do the right thing.”
Akande, had on Friday told our correspondent that the allegation against the two nominees would be thoroughly investigated.
“These claims would be promptly investigated. The Presidency will surely do only what is right, proper and seen to be so,” Akande had said.
Osinbajo had on Tuesday redeployed the Chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
In his place, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye was appointed as chairman with a renewable tenure of five years.
Owasanoye was part of the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption.
Also appointed as members of the ICPC board are Dr. Grace N. Chinda, Okolo Titus M., Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, Group Capt. Sam Ewang (retd.), Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed and Abdullahi Maikano Saidu.
Others are Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Daud, Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki, Maimuna Aliyu while Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar would serve as secretary.
“The appointment of the Chairman is for five years, while the tenure for all the members is four years. Also, these appointments are subject to Senate confirmation”, the statement added.
In a bid to ensure adequate funding for the newly launched N50b Oyo State Health Care Endowment Fund, five (5) bank accounts designated for receiving donations have been made known by Oyo State ministry of health.
In a release by the Health Commissioner, Dr Azeez Adeduntan stated that the accounts are being made known to the public to facilitate direct funding for the health care projects, aimed at transforming the healthcare sector and to establish health centres among others planned in the scheme.
Potential donors can deposit sums into any of the designated bank accounts listed as follows:
Oyo State Health Care Endowment Fund account numbers;
The donation activity is for a period of 2 years ending APRIL 2019.
First Bank
Account Number---2032335729
Access Bank--------Account Number-- -0737782040
Heritage Bank-----Account Number---5900006333
UBA-----------------Account Number----1020497940
Fidelity Bank------Account Number----5030080814
Members of the public are enjoined to support the initiative aimed at turning around the much needed transformation of health sector and towards improving health centres across Oyo State.
The health commissioner, while thanking every one who has been in support of the initiative also seeks participations from larger public and help to disseminate this widely for potential donors.
Oyo State Healthcare Endowment was flagged off by the state Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi on 3rd August, 2017 at the International Conference Center of the University Of Ibadan under the chairmanship of Professor Emeritus Oladipo Akinkugbe.
"The endowment fund is to take health care delivery system in Oyo state to the next level with a view to making the state the hub of health care delivery system." stated Dr Adeduntan.
"I thank you all on behalf of the people and government of Oyo State.
Yours
Dr.ADEDUNTAN
Hon. Commissioner for HEALTH OYO STATE."
Announcer: Honourable Commissioner for Health, Oyo State.
*Please for immediate release and wider publications. Thank you.
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGESImage captionSome Nigerians have urged their president to return - or resign
Professor Yemi Osinbajo
