Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, other EPL clubs January done deals so far

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1ksyVeHdvsLkdKxkU3uzmiZvAUq_l1DcqbbqbNjkzdOHPQ3mQ8riKOZxUSkVCOLw_YBbv-dgMZVb3UvBkDDsTXLSEe2guiqsjLgM8HWY_Mx0poT3sD4xWAtcQPt9fMITJLBEJeNKg_E/s1600/epll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1ksyVeHdvsLkdKxkU3uzmiZvAUq_l1DcqbbqbNjkzdOHPQ3mQ8riKOZxUSkVCOLw_YBbv-dgMZVb3UvBkDDsTXLSEe2guiqsjLgM8HWY_Mx0poT3sD4xWAtcQPt9fMITJLBEJeNKg_E/s400/epll.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, City, and other English Premier League clubs are not left behind in the 2020 January transfer window opened on January 1.<br /> <br /> The transfer window is expected to close on January 31.<br /> <br /> Check below for a comprehensive list of all the Premier League ins and outs as compiled by Skysports.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> Arsenal<br /> In<br /> <br /> Eddie Nketiah – Leeds United, recalled from loan<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Tyreece John-Jules – Lincoln, loan<br /> <br /> Emile Smith-Rowe – Huddersfield, loan<br /> <br /> Aston Villa<br /> In<br /> <br /> Danny Drinkwater – Chelsea, loan<br /> <br /> Pepe Reina – AC Milan, loan<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Andre Green – Charlton, loan<br /> <br /> Bournemouth<br /> In<br /> <br /> Kyle Taylor – Forest Green Rovers, recalled from loan<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Burnley<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Danny Drinkwater – Chelsea, end of loan on Jan 6<br /> <br /> Anthony Glennan – Grimsby, loan<br /> <br /> Ryan Cooney – Morecambe, loan<br /> <br /> Christian N’Guessan – Oldham, loan<br /> <br /> Adam Philips – Morecambe, loan<br /> <br /> Chelsea<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Danny Drinkwater – Aston Villa, loan<br /> <br /> Marc Guehi – Swansea, loan<br /> <br /> Crystal Palace<br /> In<br /> <br /> Cenk Tosun – Everton, loan<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Everton<br /> In<br /> <br /> Joao Virginia – Reading, recalled from loan<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Cenk Tosun – Crystal Palace, loan<br /> <br /> Callum Connolly – Fleetwood, loan<br /> <br /> Kieran Dowell – Wigan, loan<br /> <br /> Liverpool<br /> In<br /> <br /> Takumi Minamino – Red Bull Salzburg, £7.25m<br /> <br /> Joe Hardy – Brentford, undisclosed<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Herbie Kane – Hull, loan<br /> <br /> Rhian Brewster – Swansea, loan<br /> <br /> Allan Rodrigues de Souza – Atletico Mineiro, £3m<br /> <br /> Manchester City<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Lukas Nmecha – Middlesbrough, loan<br /> <br /> Patrick Roberts – Middlesbrough, loan<br /> <br /> Manchester United<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Ethan Hamilton – Bolton, loan<br /> <br /> Norwich<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Philip Heise – FC Nurnberg, loan<br /> <br /> Akin Famewo – St Mirren, loan<br /> <br /> Carlton Morris – MK Dons, loan<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Sheffield United<br /> In<br /> <br /> Jack Rodwell – Unattached, free<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> West Ham United<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Nathan Holland – Oxford United, loan<br /> <br /> Conor Coventry – Lincoln City, loan<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Wolverhampton Wanderers<br /> In<br /> <br /> –<br /> <br /> Out<br /> <br /> Jesus Vallejo – Real Madrid, end of loan<br /> <br /> Elliot Watt – Carlisle, loan<br /> <br /> Ivan Cavaleiro – Fulham, undisclosed<br /> <br /> Patrick Cutrone – Fiorentina, loan

Latest-News Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, other EPL clubs January done deals so far

Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, City, and other English Premier League clubs are not left behind in the 2020 January trans...

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Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s wife

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43dh4uSzy3umNGgvIEQI8ljcKK-A7r5icv0ZK0e1rgNbJ0gKmTDcc4uu-7VCgFf1DyvfdfLO1ncYaf8YjjUJ-JdVw0956bRFUXL9LBHv-6igRBSqSri4DM4817PQ2d2HVcwvCRDy352IU/s1600/gunmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="412" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43dh4uSzy3umNGgvIEQI8ljcKK-A7r5icv0ZK0e1rgNbJ0gKmTDcc4uu-7VCgFf1DyvfdfLO1ncYaf8YjjUJ-JdVw0956bRFUXL9LBHv-6igRBSqSri4DM4817PQ2d2HVcwvCRDy352IU/s320/gunmen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Police have confirmed the abduction of a housewife in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa.<br /> <br /> A security source said the woman is the wife of a Jigawa State Assembly member representing Miga constituency, Haruna Dangyatun.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> SP Abdu Jinjiri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said the victim, Hajiya Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by three gunmen on Saturday about 4 a.m. at Dangyatum village.<br /> <br /> “Today at about 4 a.m., a housewife named Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Dangyatum village in Miga local government area.<br /> <br /> “Three unknown men came to the residence of the victim with guns and cutlasses and took her to unknown destination.<br /> <br /> “But the police are already giving the suspects a hot chase,” Jinjiri told NAN.

Latest-News Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s wife

Police have confirmed the abduction of a housewife in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa. A security source said the woman is the wi...

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Buhari’s children have right to use Presidential jet – Presidency

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIafe2FuecwU8wkrZvKs050B3cpc0W2U3FKzzMlCsOle3-I5ehL6_82kgvM95SsVdCHgrs3IrZiWm-iso6XZv0czCgmnhrBvavb4EubekOVSMNniBNGPosZ3rReAdEqmj1IsSEI58obo4/s1600/hanan-buhari2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="760" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIafe2FuecwU8wkrZvKs050B3cpc0W2U3FKzzMlCsOle3-I5ehL6_82kgvM95SsVdCHgrs3IrZiWm-iso6XZv0czCgmnhrBvavb4EubekOVSMNniBNGPosZ3rReAdEqmj1IsSEI58obo4/s400/hanan-buhari2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Presidency says the wife and children of the President Muhammadu Buhari have the right to use the Presidential jet when they need to.<br /> <br /> The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a message sent to newsmen, on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Shehu was reacting to criticisms from some Nigerians over the decision of the President to allow his daughter, Hanan, to use the Presidential jet to attend a private function in Bauchi on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The President’s spokesman said Hanan received approval from her father who in turn informed the National Security Adviser.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Shehu said, “It’s true that a member of the First Family was flown to Bauchi yesterday on a mission duly authorised. It wasn’t an impromptu or improper trip because it followed normal procedure. The Presidency informed the National Security Adviser of the mission who in turn informed the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet.<br /> <br /> “The normal practice in existence for a long time is that the Presidential Air fleet is available to the President and the first family and four others. These four are the Vice President, the Senate President the Speaker and any other person(s) authorised by the President.”<br /> <br /> A debate has been raging on social media following the decision of the President to allow his daughter to use the Presidential jet for a personal engagement.<br /> <br /> This is despite complaints by Nigerians that the budget of N8.5bn for the Presidential jets in the 2020 budget is too high.<br /> <br /> Hanan, according to Daily Nigerian, was conveyed by the Presidential jet to attend the Durbar in Bauchi on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The President’s daughter, who recently graduated with a first-class in Photography from Ravensbourne University, London, was said to have been invited by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, as a special guest of honour.<br /> <br /> In photographs which have since gone viral on social media, Hanan could be seen disembarking from the plane and being welcomed by Bauchi State officials.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that the durbar was specially organised to avail the President’s daughter of the opportunity to take photographs of the traditional durbar, Bauchi architecture and other cultural sites in the state.<br /> <br /> As a professional photographer, Miss Buhari is expected to document her experiences in pictorial form in her gallery.<br /> <br /> The incident has since sparked a debate on social media.<br /> <br /> Pro-transparency activist, Inibehe Effiong, described the use of the Presidential jet by Buhari’s daughter as an abuse of office and a waste of taxpayers’ money.<br /> <br /> “Buhari is only fooling himself and his supporters with this fake integrity,” he added.<br /> <br /> Some Buhari supporters, however, said there was nothing wrong with the President allowing his daughter to use the Presidential jet.<br /> <br /> Recall that Buhari had before becoming President, criticised past governments for misusing public funds.<br /> <br /> The All Progressives Congress had promised to sell off some of the jets in the Presidential fleet due to the high cost of maintenance.<br /> <br /> However, only two helicopters out of the fleet of 10 were donated to the Nigerian Air Force while two presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7X executive jet and Hawker 4000, that were advertised for sale in October 2016, had yet to be sold as of 2018.

Latest-News Buhari’s children have right to use Presidential jet – Presidency

The Presidency says the wife and children of the President Muhammadu Buhari have the right to use the Presidential jet when they need to. ...

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Trader slumps, as fire guts Anambra market

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNTn3CAkMe94jLRKVuBLu9pXWZscS4ql34u6CUIVnZGirhgf37D1t4pfrjhZvl0pVrpXHQNQyguutHO_WoY37mRRVWUZVHqDyRQ35gLWViNAcnhHF-rjhB7ZREsv3zqX3WvwKjJSu3eM/s1600/FIREee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNTn3CAkMe94jLRKVuBLu9pXWZscS4ql34u6CUIVnZGirhgf37D1t4pfrjhZvl0pVrpXHQNQyguutHO_WoY37mRRVWUZVHqDyRQ35gLWViNAcnhHF-rjhB7ZREsv3zqX3WvwKjJSu3eM/s400/FIREee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> A trader on Saturday slumped and was rushed to hospital after watching his shop ruined by fire.<br /> <br /> The trader whose identity could not be ascertained as of press time reportedly shouted, “I am finished” and collapsed.<br /> <br /> “Bystanders rushed him to the hospital. We don’t know his state of health as of now, the incident occurred around 1.30am on Saturday when all of us got a text message that the market was on fire and rushed to the place,” an eyewitness told our correspondent.<br /> <br /> Our correspondent gathered that property worth millions of naira was destroyed in the inferno at the old Automobiles Spare Parts Market Awada, Anambra State.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.<br /> <br /> The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.<br /> <br /> He said firefighters responded swiftly that no life was lost in the incident.<br /> <br /> He said, “About 01.30am, there was a fire outbreak at old Automobiles Spare Parts Market, Awada.<br /> <br /> “Following the distress call, police patrol team led by the DPO Awada Division, Tony Adeyi, rushed to the scene and alerted the fire service department and other emergency units which also responded promptly and put off the fire.<br /> <br /> “The area was cordoned off by the police to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to loot.<br /> <br /> “One person whose identity is yet known collapsed and was taken to the hospital for medical attention.<br /> <br /> “Cause of the fire and value of property destroyed are yet to be ascertained.<br /> <br /> He said while the Commissioner of Police in the state, John Abang, had sympathized with the victims of the inferno, he had ordered for a discreet investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.

Latest-News Trader slumps, as fire guts Anambra market

A trader on Saturday slumped and was rushed to hospital after watching his shop ruined by fire. The trader whose identity could not be a...

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CAF Awards: Why we voted against Asisat Oshoala – NFF Reps

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqE-YUX50n9Cn_22Z75iYKSLkt6gZv0hzsQeTt2CXOa8LFUxUfaMr0Q5kiMpJ_S3uhXeQQc-82XwyM0tke5Luu0dIjewiOyUMJp9AJ1uShxl3sQZGbGJRKs5ROkGoUpFr1YtIp-0HxpE/s1600/oshoa+with+caf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqE-YUX50n9Cn_22Z75iYKSLkt6gZv0hzsQeTt2CXOa8LFUxUfaMr0Q5kiMpJ_S3uhXeQQc-82XwyM0tke5Luu0dIjewiOyUMJp9AJ1uShxl3sQZGbGJRKs5ROkGoUpFr1YtIp-0HxpE/s400/oshoa+with+caf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Some officials of the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF), who all voted against Barcelona star, Asisat Oshoala in the recently concluded CAF awards, have responded to the backlash from Sports analyst and other Nigerians.<br /> <br /> Social media users have been unrelenting in their criticism of NFF Reforms Committee members Osasu Obayiwuana and Chisom Mbonu for shunning Asisat Oshoala for Malawi’s Tabitha Chawingwa as their first choice in the votes.<br /> <br /> Defending his decision to vote against the Super Falcons star, Obayiuwana said that he believes that Oshoala is not the best female African footballer at the moment and as such isn’t deserving of the accolade.<br /> <br /> “Right, I understand that some members of Nigerian media are unhappy that I didn’t vote for Asisat Oshoala to become the @CAF_Online AFOTY. That’s a shame. But I am not obliged to vote for her.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Congratulations to her, on yet another title. But in my opinion, Tabitha Chawinga is the best woman footballer in Africa, bar NONE. The only reason she is not winning the AFOTY title is because she’s Malawian. And they don’t play in the @CAF_AWCON.<br /> <br /> “Asisat is a damn good footballer, no question. This is not even the point. It’s just that I don’t think she is the best in Africa for 2019. I didn’t make my @CAF_Online Awards selections based on whether the nominee is from Nigeria or not. I voted based on whether I think, on the facts available to me, they are the best in Africa at the present time.”<br /> <br /> “My duty, as a voter, is not to Nigeria, but to African football. If I think a Nigerian player is the best, I wouldn’t hesitate to vote for him or her. But I wouldn’t vote for them just because they are Nigerian. I have a professional reputation to protect, in all that I do,” he explained.<br /> <br /> Chisom Mbonu said she voted against Oshoala based on ‘facts and stats’ and doesn’t mind the backlash.<br /> <br /> “I voted the way I felt was right based on facts and stats. The backlash is expected. Even the insults. But, it is everyone’s right to post and feel as they do. I have received praises from people in the past and I will take the bashing now. That’s life,” she wrote on Twitter.<br /> <br /> Despite the curious snub from her compatriots, Asisat Oshoala was named Africa’s Best Female Player for the fourth time at the CAF Awards ceremony in Egypt on Tuesday 7th January 2020.<br /> She claimed the award, but all thanks to the media and other Countries’ football federations who voted for her.

Latest-News CAF Awards: Why we voted against Asisat Oshoala – NFF Reps

Some officials of the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF), who all voted against Barcelona star, Asisat Oshoala in the recently concluded ...

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Nigerians react angrily as Buhari's daughter cruises presidential jet for personal use

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="749" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uqX6Ob6GNW-1CCx3uDfS979wNfCtLONvI7z6OuVPjbSji-QTwfAVHJQBvtff4cYgOghkYef_xq7DsbbYFUpA0mxLZYD5FyDCXvlu7iS6RSDnkRh43o8BJv8KVEjQmUV128KfMdszcPMi/s400/Hanan-Buhari-and-Bauchi-governors-wife-749x570-1.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> Nigerians on Twitter have expressed outrage after President Buhari’s daughter Hanan was flown in a presidential jet for a private photoshoot of an arranged durbar.<br /> <br /> The certified creative photographer and the youngest daughter of Buhari landed in Bauchi on Thursday for the durbar organized just for her photographic pleasure by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, at his palace.<br /> <br /> Hanan was also accorded the courtesy that would have been accorded her mother Aisha, as she was received at the Tafawa Balewa Airport by Bauchi’s First Lady and other government officials<br /> <br /> Reports showed Hanan clicking away during the Durbar.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Miss Buhari’s visit on presidential jet has triggered a Twitter storm with most people condemning the use of the Nigerian Airforce aircraft for “personal use” and questioning Buhari’s integrity.<br /> <br /> Read some of the reactions below:<br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Lest we forget:<br /> <br /> The daughter of the president who promised not to allow unwarranted spending in governance,<br /> <br /> Hanan Buhari is busy flying Airforce 1 to go greet dignitaries & their wives With DSS securities, all on tax payers funds.<br /> <br /> Lest we forget. <a href="https://t.co/UKp4ySR4Mc">pic.twitter.com/UKp4ySR4Mc</a></div> — Young Otutu (@YoungOtutu) <a href="https://twitter.com/YoungOtutu/status/1215667465906196480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">So Hanan Buhari is now cruising with our Presidential flight. Though we were told in 2016 that there was a plan to sell them inorder to reduce cost, but now his daughter, despite the fact that he's regarded as the "Man of Integrity" is using one of them. <a href="https://t.co/yuleaX7k4E">pic.twitter.com/yuleaX7k4E</a></div> — Usman Okai Austin (@Oma_igala1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Oma_igala1/status/1215728396539432962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Office of the Last Daughter of President of Nigeria, Hanan Buhari.<br /> <br /> The family of our HUMBLE and POOR President now flying Presidential Jet up and down.<br /> <br /> And the Almighty President Daughter is being received by... <a href="https://t.co/cA1NyRJXib">https://t.co/cA1NyRJXib</a></div> — Lere Olayinka - Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlayinkaLere/status/1215879076143157248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">So Hanan has this week, she’s just making headlines. The other day was about somebody been detained by DSS and today is about her trip to Bauchi on Presidential jet. <a href="https://t.co/mBQqWhCJLN">https://t.co/mBQqWhCJLN</a></div> — Fahad LONGMAN 🇳🇬 (@FahadLongman) <a href="https://twitter.com/FahadLongman/status/1215733242009194496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">There’s nothing in this life that’s ever going to justify or normalize Hanan Buhari’s use of the Presidential jet for private trip, not even the President is within the law allowed to useless the taxpayers money on personal or private purposes. But BMC boys would say it’s okay.</div> — Barrister Bayo Olalekan! (@Malcom__A) <a href="https://twitter.com/Malcom__A/status/1215913101306073088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">So Hanan Buhari is now cruising with our Presidential flight. Though we were told in 2016 that there was a plan to sell them inorder to reduce cost, but now his daughter, despite the fact that he's regarded as the "Man of Integrity" is using one of them. <a href="https://t.co/yrTklizBCv">pic.twitter.com/yrTklizBCv</a></div> — SNOW🥶⚪ (@iam_alvinpaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/iam_alvinpaul/status/1215930886396444677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">There’s nothing in this life that’s ever going to justify or normalize Hanan Buhari’s use of the Presidential jet for private trip, not even the President is within the law allowed to useless the taxpayers money on personal or private purposes. But BMC boys would say it’s okay.</div> — Barrister Bayo Olalekan! (@Malcom__A) <a href="https://twitter.com/Malcom__A/status/1215913101306073088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Buhari's last daughter Hanan Muhammadu Buhari, arrived Bauchi for a state visit. Nigeria, oh how my heart bleeds!<br /> <br /> WHERE IS ZA INTEGRITY? <a href="https://twitter.com/MBuhari?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBuhari</a>, Mr. President, will history be fair to you?✍ <a href="https://t.co/K0YSVxAfwd">pic.twitter.com/K0YSVxAfwd</a></div> — Dickson Iroegbu (@dicksoniroegbu) <a href="https://twitter.com/dicksoniroegbu/status/1215716055986966529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="async" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /> <br />

Latest-News Nigerians react angrily as Buhari's daughter cruises presidential jet for personal use

Nigerians on Twitter have expressed outrage after President Buhari’s daughter Hanan was flown in a presidential jet for a private photo...

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Harry, Meghan’s royal quit: Trump sends strong message to Queen Elizabeth

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR04V96GP-Fo1UzV0fb3USOkFx55fZFK5MVDiNbr3l0byHWIJTKtajso0HlehvI6Ng4UwlyYp2VkI0Rr4KvuUqfTCugpukX2jQu-yQ33BZFKVx7rtYWdyaDT0B5cRnljTMjpvQh4u7UY/s1600/Donald-Trump-and-Queen-Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="700" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR04V96GP-Fo1UzV0fb3USOkFx55fZFK5MVDiNbr3l0byHWIJTKtajso0HlehvI6Ng4UwlyYp2VkI0Rr4KvuUqfTCugpukX2jQu-yQ33BZFKVx7rtYWdyaDT0B5cRnljTMjpvQh4u7UY/s400/Donald-Trump-and-Queen-Elizabeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said the decision by Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan to step back from royal duties was “sad.”<br /> <br /> Trump sent the “strong message” to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in an interview with Fox.<br /> <br /> Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who is Harry’s grandmother, was reportedly not consulted before the pair announced their decision to seek a lower profile, build financial independence and divide their time between Britain and North America.<br /> <br /> “I don’t want to get into the whole thing. I just have such respect for the Queen I don’t think this should be happening to her,” Trump added in an interview with Fox News that was partially aired on Friday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The couple said they plan to restrict media access and withdraw from a rota system for press coverage of the royal family.<br /> <br /> Buckingham Palace said discussions were ongoing with the couple, who are officially known as the duke and duchess of Sussex.<br /> <br /> The surprise announcement came after they had denounced intrusive and inaccurate media reporting, as well as the vitriol directed toward them on social media, including racist attacks against U.S.-born Meghan, whose mother is black.<br /> <br /> In an interview last year with the British newspaper The Sun, Trump called Meghan “nasty” after finding out that she did not support his election.

Latest-News Harry, Meghan’s royal quit: Trump sends strong message to Queen Elizabeth

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said the decision by Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan to step back from royal duties was “...

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Operation Amotekun: Lagos, Osun, Ekiti to recruit 1,320 militiamen

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV5F2qgiDUUT_e4cAdYj664PA5Gx82gKHJ_rYCBp-eTJh2hOx3-CixNlV2fKIkau3mgIxiXI_EPjyZddVVGyFiGfKEoNY1OXRv50actXJV9luOo8ZJmsSzrCQ9-fVziqNgjFgsJkCh7w/s1600/amotekunnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV5F2qgiDUUT_e4cAdYj664PA5Gx82gKHJ_rYCBp-eTJh2hOx3-CixNlV2fKIkau3mgIxiXI_EPjyZddVVGyFiGfKEoNY1OXRv50actXJV9luOo8ZJmsSzrCQ9-fVziqNgjFgsJkCh7w/s400/amotekunnn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The new security outfit geared towards tackling kidnapping and criminal activities in the South-West, Operation Amotekun, gained momentum on Friday as Lagos, Osun and Ekiti state governments announced they would recruit about 1,320 militiamen for the purpose.<br /> <br /> The announcement came barely two days after South-West governors led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State inaugurated the outfit, also called Western Nigeria Security Network.<br /> <br /> The development came just as the police have identified about 52 deadly blackspots they would focus on in collaboration with the militiamen.<br /> <br /> The development came amid the announcement by some social-political groups across the country endorsing the outfit, saying it would help tackle insecurity in the region.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The groups are the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ijaw Youth Congress, Pan Nigeria Delta Forum, Middle Belt Forum and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra<br /> <br /> Announcing their plans to recruit militiamen from the Oodua Peoples Congress, Agbekoya, Vigilantes and hunters, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti said the recruitment would be handled by each state in collaboration with the security agencies.<br /> <br /> The Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Ismail Omipidan, said the state planned to recruit 700 locals that would work with the conventional security outfits in the state.<br /> <br /> Omipidan also said all security agencies were involved in the recruitment, which according to him, was going on smoothly.<br /> <br /> He added that the role of the militiamen would be restricted to intelligence gathering.<br /> <br /> He said, “The success of the Civilian JTF initiative in the fight against insurgency has encouraged us to engage the locals primarily in the area of intelligence gathering.<br /> <br /> “We are recruiting 700 locals and all security agencies are involved in the recruitment process. It is ongoing and I believe it will be completed soon.”<br /> <br /> A top official of the state close to the Operation Amotekun said the state would inaugurate its own chapter of the  outfit  before the end of  the month.<br /> <br /> He said, “ Osun will use the Olajokun Park in Gbongan as their operational base.  We are still perfecting the operational procedures and we should complete that  next week.<br /> <br /> “What we want to do now is to have men on  patrol  to know the areas very well.  The people  we will  recruit will gather intelligence and send it to the operational base in Gbogan.<br /> <br /> “They will not arrest anyone, they will  only gather information. We will recruit about 10 people  each through the local government areas and the local council development areas.<br /> <br /> “These people understand the terrain, they understand the culture, beliefs and other things that can make them function better. It will be successful.”<br /> <br /> Also, the Special Adviser on Security to Ekiti State Governor, Brig Gen Ebenezar Ogundana (retd), said on Friday that  Operation Amotekun would fully  take off as soon.<br /> <br /> Ogundana said the states were awaiting the operational procedure which would define the mandate of the operators.<br /> <br /> The security adviser said, “It will take off as soon as possible. The only thing we are waiting for is the standing operational procedure that is going to define our mandate so that we don’t send people out and something happened that we will not be able to explain. When we get the document, we will read it to them and we begin operation.”<br /> <br /> Ogundana said they would not do any recruitment in Ekiti because “we have people we are going to use”.<br /> <br /> He added, “We are using members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, it is an institution that is already on the ground. The  Oodua Peoples Congress is a regional organisation that is fully on the ground that is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.  The hunters have a national association registered with the CAC too.<br /> <br /> “These are the people we will use and we have them in Ekiti, we have them in every local government. We have contacted the local government and they will forward their lists to us. The kabiyesis are the ones coordinating the hunters and the head of the vigilante group has the list. That is what we are compiling.<br /> <br /> “In Ekiti, we are looking at between 400 and 500 people for a start.”<br /> <br /> Ogundana said the vigilantes, hunters and OPC members  to be recruited would be trained to enhance results for the outfit.<br /> <br /> He  said, “The roles they are going to play is in terms of gathering information which will be localised and they will be located in their own atreas.”<br /> <br /> Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, on Friday said the state had donated 20 vehicles and would recruit 120 people  to support Operation Amotekun.<br /> <br /> Omotoso, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said although the state already had its local Neighbourhood Watch similar to  Operation Amotekun, it would continue to support anything that would promote peace in the region.<br /> <br /> He said, “Lagos has donated 20 vehicles and in terms of personnel, we are going to contribute no fewer than 120. We also have a template on the same security. We have been running Neighbourhood Watch and it is working for us. But it does not mean that if there is any regional idea we would not support. That is why we have contributed vehicles in terms of equipment and 120 personnel in addition to other things that we are doing.”<br /> <br /> The commissioner said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was not able to attend the inauguration of the outfit on Thursday because he already had a scheduled programme for that day.

Latest-News Operation Amotekun: Lagos, Osun, Ekiti to recruit 1,320 militiamen

The new security outfit geared towards tackling kidnapping and criminal activities in the South-West, Operation Amotekun, gained momentum...

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NIN: NIMC to register UTME candidates on Saturday

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQUmSymT4ewdrQpfMhG1BLY2zLJcINGolCeuTxcyiyZ1Nkcy9RKP9LF8aW35-YsUsHIk5idCy91BMAQNb9sHC8wOIyv6Up0-6-61aRDIEog1T87gvnMBRRZacotBizkODg6glalu3tM0/s1600/jambnin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="691" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQUmSymT4ewdrQpfMhG1BLY2zLJcINGolCeuTxcyiyZ1Nkcy9RKP9LF8aW35-YsUsHIk5idCy91BMAQNb9sHC8wOIyv6Up0-6-61aRDIEog1T87gvnMBRRZacotBizkODg6glalu3tM0/s400/jambnin.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br /> Candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Abuja, Lagos and Kano will get another opportunity to obtain the National Identification Number on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Possession of the NIN is a mandatory requirement for participation in the examination, which will start on Monday.<br /> <br /> The National Identity Management Commission announced on its twitter handle on Friday that enrolment centres in Abuja, Lagos and Kano would open on Saturday to enrol the UTME/DE candidates.<br /> <br /> The tweet explained that only candidates for the examination would be registered in the three cities on Saturday.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The public notice read, “All NIMC enrolment centres in Abuja, Kano and Lagos will open on Saturday, January 11, 2020 to enrol UTME/DE candidates only.<br /> <br /> “Candidates should come along with their school means of identification and required documents for the NIN enrolment exercise.”<br /> <br /> The development followed difficulties being experienced by candidates and other Nigerians, who are seeking to obtain the NIN.<br /> <br /> The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board had on October 17, 2019, said only candidates with the NIN would be registered for the 2020 UTME.<br /> <br /> The inability of some candidates to obtain the NIN as of Thursday and slow pace of registration and long queues at the enrolment centres had led to calls on JAMB to reverse the decision.<br /> <br /> But the examination body had insisted that there was no going back on the policy on NIN.<br /> <br /> Corrupt NIMC officers and touts have cashed on hitches in the enrolment exercise to extort money from JAMB candidates and other Nigerians.<br /> <br /> It was gathered that touts and the NIMC officers were demanding between N500 and N2,000 from candidates.<br /> <br /> NIMC had announced that it was working with JAMB to ensure that all UTME /DE candidates were enrolled before the examination.

Latest-News NIN: NIMC to register UTME candidates on Saturday

Candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Abuja, Lagos and Kano will get another opportunity to obtain the Nationa...

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BREAKING NEWS: JAMB suspends NIN for 2020 UTME, Direct Entry registrations

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp-W2sUBIDTi4kQyJUqos8UpnPJz_e2IJEHm5j0G_Da9k_q-b9_esT7dIfJAqX8LrGLHa6moN3EFd94L4Q1pX6U7-XxZUY79BN-B0Dv7yBlkIWfC8CE3RQTXRchK7ZXaSpHwTXfvjX33X/s1600/jamb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp-W2sUBIDTi4kQyJUqos8UpnPJz_e2IJEHm5j0G_Da9k_q-b9_esT7dIfJAqX8LrGLHa6moN3EFd94L4Q1pX6U7-XxZUY79BN-B0Dv7yBlkIWfC8CE3RQTXRchK7ZXaSpHwTXfvjX33X/s1600/jamb.png" /></a></div> <br /> Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has suspended the use of National Identification Number, NIN, as a requirement for registration in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The suspension also affected the JAMB’s Direct Entry Registration for the year. But the board which announced the suspension of NIN at an ongoing press conference,at its head office, at Bwari,Abuja,said NIN would be a necessary requirement in the 2021 UTME and Direct Entry registrations.<br /> <br /> JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. ishaq Oloyede,who broke the news at the press conference, attributed the action to what he called “technical reasons.” The press conference was attended by top management staff of the National Identification Management Commission, NIMC,led by its Director General, Aziz Aliyu.<br /> <br /> Oloyode,citing ongoing difficulties being faced by candidates in the NIN registration,insisted the NIN requirement as a precondition for the UTME and Direct Entry registrations have been set aside.

Latest-News BREAKING NEWS: JAMB suspends NIN for 2020 UTME, Direct Entry registrations

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has suspended the use of National Identification Number, NIN, as a requirement for registr...

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Beko’s wife Abosede Ransome-Kuti laid to rest

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIPS7ClYiZOLys8ue6S5xJ4EuhGLVl_brIdzHl32mQWcVigyjn3i-F2IW9g2edsDI23ob7KNIHwWLBCycCjVnP1kP-ZIQDR5gYkdYkbAu7VJjV2bW1FOnkAY0upYbdosM3rPgBLjHSWg/s1600/beko+nd+wife.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="621" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIPS7ClYiZOLys8ue6S5xJ4EuhGLVl_brIdzHl32mQWcVigyjn3i-F2IW9g2edsDI23ob7KNIHwWLBCycCjVnP1kP-ZIQDR5gYkdYkbAu7VJjV2bW1FOnkAY0upYbdosM3rPgBLjHSWg/s400/beko+nd+wife.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Late Mrs. Abosede Folasade Ransome-Kuti, wife of the legendary human rights and pro-democracy activist Dr. Bekololari Ransome-Kuti, who died on 3 December 2019 was buried on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria.<br /> <br /> Abosede who was born on the 7th of January 1945 attended Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State and Pitmans College, London.<br /> <br /> She was the Chief Executive Officer of Boselli Ventures Limited, Anthony, Lagos until her death.<br /> <br /> The burial arrangements started on Thursday 9 January with service of songs at Fountain of Life Church, Lagos, while the lying in state was held on Friday, January 10 at her residence in Anthony Village, Lagos.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> A commendation service was also organised in her honour at the Fountain of Life Church, Lagos after which interment followed.<br /> <br /> Her Family and friends then gathered at Grandeur event centre for the reception.

Latest-News Beko’s wife Abosede Ransome-Kuti laid to rest

Late Mrs. Abosede Folasade Ransome-Kuti, wife of the legendary human rights and pro-democracy activist Dr. Bekololari Ransome-Kuti, who di...

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Billionaire doing a $9 million giveaway to his Twitter followers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBzWWINS22bPUtMaAxts8Kb5if6CNJY__dFp457IS0b2nyrPqYxP6GPynxJ-3Z93LtAG50xM56Nc5d9pTCXGcYCfEzywparH79kxc-nyY4-OOADqm6YARByxcOhmVduiOgDY4bdXfruIT/s400/vqvq.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <b><br /></b><b>A Japanese billionaire will give away more than $9 million to 1,000 people on Twitter to see if it improves their happiness. All they had to do to get it was retweet him.</b><br /> <br /> Online shopping mogul Yusaku Maezawa will divvy up 1 billion yen (around $9 million) among the Twitter users. Winners will end up with a million yen each (roughly $9,100).<br /> <br /> In an announcement on YouTube, the tech tycoon called the contest a “serious social trial” to see what impact a million yen could have on a person’s life.<br /> <br /> In the video explaining the contest, Maezawa urged contestants to use the money “as they like” and to answer regular questionnaires about how they’re using it.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Almost anybody was eligible to receive the small piece of Maezawa’s fortune. All they had to do was join Twitter and retweet the announcement tweet before midnight on January 7.<br /> <br /> More than 4 million people heeded his call and retweeted. A lottery will determine the winners, and Maezawa will personally notify them in a direct message within two to three days.<br /> <br /> Maezawa also said he would contact the lucky winners afterward to ask about the impact, and called for social scientists to help analyze the results of the experiment.<br /> <br /> The billionaire pulled the same stunt in January 2019. He promised 100 million yen, roughly $914,000, to be shared among 100 Twitter users. They ended up with a bit more than $9,000 each.<br /> <br /> He broke a record in the process: His January 2019 tweet was the most retweeted ever at the time, with 4.68 million retweets.<br /> <br /> Maezawa is worth an estimated $2 billion, according to Forbes, and has made a name for himself as an eclectic billionaire — a rock musician, hopeful moon tourist and high-rolling art collector. He dropped $111 million on a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting in 2017 — the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by an American artist.

Latest-News Billionaire doing a $9 million giveaway to his Twitter followers

A Japanese billionaire will give away more than $9 million to 1,000 people on Twitter to see if it improves their happiness. All they had ...

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African literary giant, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike dies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0buGzG6QaUMRyYxxgkAiNnOuUB3p1syza89q7U1BowpfbEPI6yOp2Giho-jcIfcArfgSP0xxeUtcmDtrNNJIbR_XQX60oXMpzJPnbTDFEPG9L_F_GsMUeAoRnbea83AgASYEf4utkCvE/s640/Prof+Chukwuemeka+Ike.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> One of Africa’s literary giants, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike, has passed on.<br /> <br /> A family source who spoke on condition of anonymity to newsmen on Friday said Ike died on Thursday. Ike until his death was the traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.<br /> <br /> The monarch lost his only son, Osita Ike, about three years ago.<br /> <br /> Some Nigerian writers have mourned the death of the novelist whose works, such as Toads for Super, The Naked Gods, The Potter’s Wheel, Sunset at Dawn, Expo ’77, The Chicken Chasers, The Bottled Leopard, Our Children Are Coming Home and Conspiracy of Silence, continue to provide robust discourse on African literature.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> One of them is US-based writer and lecturer, Okey Ndibe, who mourned Ike on his Facebook page on Friday.<br /> <br /> He said, “I just learned that Chukwuemeka Ike, novelist extraordinaire (author of such scintillating reads as Sunset at Dawn, The Potter’s Wheel, Toads for Supper”, The Chicken Chasers, and The Naked Gods), passed on yesterday (Thursday) into eternity. Ike, who was born April 28, 1931, had a rich life as an academic, bureaucrat, father to an only son, Osita Ike (who preceded him in death), husband (to Adebimpe Olurinsola Ike, nee Abimbolu, who survives him), and traditional leader of his community, Ndikelionwu.<br /> <br /> “His death is a big loss to the community of writers, but his formidable body of work will keep him in the hearts and memory of readers everywhere for a long time. May he find eternal rest.’’<br /> <br /> Ike reportedly died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, after a brief illness.

Latest-News African literary giant, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike dies

One of Africa’s literary giants, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike, has passed on. A family source who spoke on condition of anonymity to newsmen on...

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We mistakenly shot down Ukraine plane that killed 176 people - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="504" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSMKPQOXnPoiO2q5VMc2ZMr7_8-FGB5IoVkKzOvBTBLCugLuC5M8bKp6PllATzBShQhlZ9T0QpY8C6gkE5m8dGHtN9hrnUeGz7PeWI3uVgHd4wMCHmK1B7tGcnPxToeIBb0cmafrhuete/s400/President-Hassan-Rouhani-504x336+iran.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Saturday said his country “deeply regrets” the shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner, which he described as “a great tragedy and unforgivable mistake”.<br /> <br /> “Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably, missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane and death of 176 innocent people,” he added on Twitter.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Investigations continue to identify and prosecute this great tragedy and unforgivable mistake.”<br /> <br /> AFP

Latest-News We mistakenly shot down Ukraine plane that killed 176 people - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Saturday said his country “deeply regrets” the shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner, which he described ...

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Russia reacts after Iran admits to shooting down Ukraine plane

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxY6HFucZ1AuaJoihHARwXbxaItzHVYktRVqfHtuUmT600K6DfbkI9GlAXRt8ittpxsNoke2lcGz4tx6fWjU8yhDA-irpSmoaHIsLaP3RfpVul_UIaxNdaY5ecu3kVDjkAM92EFoa83Jd/s1600/Putin-696x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="696" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxY6HFucZ1AuaJoihHARwXbxaItzHVYktRVqfHtuUmT600K6DfbkI9GlAXRt8ittpxsNoke2lcGz4tx6fWjU8yhDA-irpSmoaHIsLaP3RfpVul_UIaxNdaY5ecu3kVDjkAM92EFoa83Jd/s320/Putin-696x500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Iran, which admitted on Saturday that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner killing 176 people, must “learn lessons” from the disaster, the chairman of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee said.<br /> <br /> “If decryption of the black boxes and the work of the investigation do not prove that the Iranian army did this intentionally, and there are no logical reasons for this, the incident must be closed.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Hoping that lessons will be learned and action taken by all parties,” said Konstantin Kosachev, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Latest-News Russia reacts after Iran admits to shooting down Ukraine plane

Iran, which admitted on Saturday that it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner killing 176 people, must “learn lessons” from the di...

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First patient dies from mysterious virus in China

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiPN6cR3CA3051WTIDikNz55U261siZ0j7OeTkxdvLWo_xAzXREVoYVsLdh25ExHuJa7cI_xO9jDeSATZ3IiCD3jaN7eOofI4RnNxSZovxhe1BM1blkGlXFi1SzXzQMezFmz5yIVhi9g3/s1600/hospital+sign+red+cross.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiPN6cR3CA3051WTIDikNz55U261siZ0j7OeTkxdvLWo_xAzXREVoYVsLdh25ExHuJa7cI_xO9jDeSATZ3IiCD3jaN7eOofI4RnNxSZovxhe1BM1blkGlXFi1SzXzQMezFmz5yIVhi9g3/s320/hospital+sign+red+cross.png" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> A patient died on Saturday from a mysterious illness after an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, according to the local health commission.<br /> <br /> The emergence of the virus is raising concerns as hundreds of millions of people are getting ready to travel during the Chinese New Year holiday later this month.<br /> <br /> Experts who analysed the gene sequencing of the virus think it could be triggered by a new type of coronavirus, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.<br /> <br /> A total of 41 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Seven people are still in critical condition, and two have been released from hospital, with no new infections detected for the last week, Wuhan’s health commission said.<br /> <br /> Most of those with the illness are workers at or visitors to a particular market in Wuhan which sells fish and wild animals, the World Health Organisation said.<br /> <br /> It is not clear if the disease is being passed from person to person, the commission said, adding that of the more than 700 people who have come into contact with the patients, none has been infected.<br /> <br /> Coronaviruses can infect animals and people, causing diseases ranging from the common cold to severe illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).<br /> <br /> The disease raised an alarm in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, where officials said they would set up quarantine zones or scan passengers from China for signs of the disease.<br /> <br /> Symptoms included fever, difficulty breathing, and lung lesions.<br /> <br /> (dpa/NAN)

Latest-News First patient dies from mysterious virus in China

A patient died on Saturday from a mysterious illness after an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, according to the local healt...

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Amotekuun not different from IPOB – Northern Youths

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ia-8FPU3SlEgGcLKF171rX-iXwzFfX4pkfrYaJwAGrZsx5o8y6hZiPYmgsH4TrKEBtHsEWkmk1i2Hi9dYTba-5UahJnt-Nqc9J_12BZPt4sIFpBg3YblcC-ko07ebNED3onPzhFe7sw/s1600/amotekun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ia-8FPU3SlEgGcLKF171rX-iXwzFfX4pkfrYaJwAGrZsx5o8y6hZiPYmgsH4TrKEBtHsEWkmk1i2Hi9dYTba-5UahJnt-Nqc9J_12BZPt4sIFpBg3YblcC-ko07ebNED3onPzhFe7sw/s400/amotekun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has faulted the creation of Amotekun in the South-West, claiming it is not different from the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).<br /> <br /> Recall that it was reported that the Amotekun was launched in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday as part of measures to curb crime in Yoruba land.<br /> <br /> But the NYCN in a statement faulted the move, describing Amotekun as the “military wing” of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).<br /> <br /> “Amotekun group in the South-West is OPC military wing in disguise and in the same league with the proscribed IPOB. The President must not allow this unconstitutionality to prevail,” the body said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The South-West governors must desist from backing nefarious groups such as this one. Amotekun is a threat to peace and national security and an attempt to jeopardise Nigeria’s sovereignty. Amotekun is no different from Boko Haram and IPOB in their formative stages.”<br /> <br /> Furthermore, the group said: “Nigeria Police, DSS and Army shouldn’t take this lightly with the governors of the Southwest.<br /> <br /> “The National Security Adviser should promptly take steps that will avert the looming threat to our national security that is about to be threatened by the South-West governors, OPC and others.”

Latest-News Amotekuun not different from IPOB – Northern Youths

The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has faulted the creation of Amotekun in the South-West, claiming it is not different from th...

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EPL: Sheff Utd move fifth as VAR denies West Ham

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwwWWsfM2gwwonxNZUZzwUl5ISrRi3gPG1MbrjZCEj4bdzPNBYpiSIVlgCN_qIDnTTShBgr3UIvA98rw78WmAlvFfVXPJhjOO_obH8e3LMTT2lVA2yK0_d3PW78XTZaqm3LB1UEpaphU/s1600/Sheff-Utd-750x430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="750" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwwWWsfM2gwwonxNZUZzwUl5ISrRi3gPG1MbrjZCEj4bdzPNBYpiSIVlgCN_qIDnTTShBgr3UIvA98rw78WmAlvFfVXPJhjOO_obH8e3LMTT2lVA2yK0_d3PW78XTZaqm3LB1UEpaphU/s400/Sheff-Utd-750x430.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Sheffield United climbed to fifth in the Premier League table on Friday with a win against West Ham, who had an injury-time equaliser ruled out by Video Assistant Referee.<br /> <br /> John Fleck took advantage of a big mistake by substitute goalkeeper David Martin, latching on to his wayward pass to tee up Oli McBurnie to finish from close range after 53 minutes.<br /> <br /> Substitute Robert Snodgrass thought he had levelled for the visitors, but the goal was disallowed after the ball was judged to have hit Declan Rice’s arm in the build-up.<br /> <br /> “VAR, VAR”, the home fans chanted as the final whistle sounded, with West Ham condemned to their eighth defeat in 11 Premier League games and their first under new manager David Moyes.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The result means the Hammers remain two points above the relegation zone and could drop into the bottom three if results go against them this weekend.

Latest-News EPL: Sheff Utd move fifth as VAR denies West Ham

Sheffield United climbed to fifth in the Premier League table on Friday with a win against West Ham, who had an injury-time equaliser rule...

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Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsgl8lBRTTpMBgjeuPkLx2p90xvUESgpGC5zHEfJPPsRuG3zEjlwRl9KZaTMIOwBbkDXFJzFTpCBzKdGAVNQB66YDPf3twVtWmsayqdJX5BB7kiGIxWVgykZobebgVxn4gzCK_qvow4o/s1600/200108122000-28-iran-plane-crash-0108-exlarge-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsgl8lBRTTpMBgjeuPkLx2p90xvUESgpGC5zHEfJPPsRuG3zEjlwRl9KZaTMIOwBbkDXFJzFTpCBzKdGAVNQB66YDPf3twVtWmsayqdJX5BB7kiGIxWVgykZobebgVxn4gzCK_qvow4o/s400/200108122000-28-iran-plane-crash-0108-exlarge-169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Iran on Saturday said it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week killing 176 people, calling it an “unforgivable mistake”.<br /> <br /> The Ukraine International Airlines plane came down on Wednesday shortly after Iran launched missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran’s top generals, in a US drone strike.<br /> <br /> “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted.<br /> <br /> “Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people,” he added.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake.”

Latest-News Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane

Iran on Saturday said it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week killing 176 people, calling it an “unforg...

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Alleged N75bn fraud: EFCC clears air on Atiku’s arraignment

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWO6hTNw6GstPMcfCHmJ9aCfUp5-8Z_SLmwwlET8tMBbyKfn8blVN0mYzC6spcMwp8XcO3yPEvH1zUK9s8xbeHfQSNhFX_ebGMhRT_dHERnwVp8tPE8yzkjoy2n-ge0D6wWIruD_j1ws/s1600/Atiku-Abubakar-2-640x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWO6hTNw6GstPMcfCHmJ9aCfUp5-8Z_SLmwwlET8tMBbyKfn8blVN0mYzC6spcMwp8XcO3yPEvH1zUK9s8xbeHfQSNhFX_ebGMhRT_dHERnwVp8tPE8yzkjoy2n-ge0D6wWIruD_j1ws/s400/Atiku-Abubakar-2-640x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has rubbished news that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was arraigned for an alleged fraud of N75.3 billion.<br /> <br /> The commission, in a statement, said its attention had been drawn to an online report which claimed that the Commission on Thursday arraigned Atikur before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged fraud of N75.3biilion and wished to state categorically that nothing of such took place.<br /> <br /> “The Commission also wishes to state that no statement or press release emanated from the spokesperson of the Commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren to that effect as claimed in the report, nor was there any involvement of any sort from the Commission’s prosecutor, Joy Amahian in the imaginary arraignment. It remains imagination of the author of the fake news.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “The Commission, therefore, urges the general public to disregard the fake news as handiwork of mischief makers,” it said.

Latest-News Alleged N75bn fraud: EFCC clears air on Atiku’s arraignment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has rubbished news that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was arraigned for an alle...

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CAF awards: Oshoala speaks on Nigerians who didn’t vote for her

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYtBhATvbcTnJYtUfe5I1YzO9GxwM8fkFPDquU2ESgb037tvffTHQWHTk49LncNCSEh58mjDla7opxi3ZZAtx202MnbrD_IGYmRupOEkhZDnRfPxnAz7QkC4RrX4S4QqgJK5aw8QyAj8/s1600/oshoa+with+caf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="700" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYtBhATvbcTnJYtUfe5I1YzO9GxwM8fkFPDquU2ESgb037tvffTHQWHTk49LncNCSEh58mjDla7opxi3ZZAtx202MnbrD_IGYmRupOEkhZDnRfPxnAz7QkC4RrX4S4QqgJK5aw8QyAj8/s400/oshoa+with+caf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, has insisted she is not bitter with Nigerians who did not vote for her after she won the African Women’s Player of the Year for a fourth time on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> Oshoala, who equalled the record of her compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha, garnered 351 votes.<br /> <br /> The Barcelona star garnered 30 more than Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout, while South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana earned 247 votes.<br /> <br /> Despite Oshoala’s triumph, Nigerians have taken to social media to criticize the five Nigerian voters, including Nkwocha, who overlooked her for the record-equalling prize.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> However, the 25-year-old striker has refused to be drawn into the heated social media argument.<br /> <br /> “For me, I don’t think that anyone should be obligated to vote for anyone.<br /> <br /> “If you think you want to vote for me, it’s fine. I am not the first player this will happen to.<br /> <br /> “The only thing in my head right now is about how to help my team to win a lot of laurels as much as we can this year. We have the Spanish Cup game, the league, and the Champions League.<br /> <br /> “I also have the African Women’s Cup of Nations. So, I think there is a lot to worry about than thinking of winning the African Women’s Player of the Year in 2020,” Oshoala said.

Latest-News CAF awards: Oshoala speaks on Nigerians who didn’t vote for her

Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, has insisted she is not bitter with Nigerians who did not vote for her after she won the African Wo...

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Alleged Extortion: EFCC speaks on Buhari’s ‘involvement’ in Shehu Sani’s arrest

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v9rcT9scITC_qPXxX02cF8Pt_8tiTyEmzGOm-Z3RRLnRmAbH-vc6svt1gOF1bI6sPv25gSJygKbrSxMsDPPMjkYVuDikDWbYfb7lTrZsS2W-J_L8hyZfZBd6CtAq-FollkSeiqQEaZ8/s1600/Sani-Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v9rcT9scITC_qPXxX02cF8Pt_8tiTyEmzGOm-Z3RRLnRmAbH-vc6svt1gOF1bI6sPv25gSJygKbrSxMsDPPMjkYVuDikDWbYfb7lTrZsS2W-J_L8hyZfZBd6CtAq-FollkSeiqQEaZ8/s400/Sani-Buhari.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says insinuations and phantom claims that the Commission is “prosecuting” Senator Shehu Sani, because he is a known critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, are fallacies.<br /> <br /> The commission, in a statement, said Sani is currently facing criminal investigation, and that he was being detained by the EFCC in very conducive environment, based on a valid court order.<br /> <br /> Invariably, claims in some quarters of the breach of his fundamental human rights is merely in the imagination of the purveyors of such claims.<br /> <br /> “Let it be stated clearly, that Senator Shehu Sani has questions to answer as regards the alleged involvement in name-dropping, and particularly that he obtained $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda, the ASD Motors boss, in order to help shield him from investigations being carried out by the EFCC.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “For certain people to brazenly come out to defend a suspect, who is being probed for a serious offence as the one committed by Sani shows that they are not really conversant with his offence.<br /> <br /> “It is unfortunate that certain people are ready to do anything to support evil for pecuniary gains. This is quite unfortunate,” the commission said.

Latest-News Alleged Extortion: EFCC speaks on Buhari’s ‘involvement’ in Shehu Sani’s arrest

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says insinuations and phantom claims that the Commission is “prosecuting” Senator Sheh...

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INEC, Police trade blames over security lapses during Bayelsa/Kogi polls

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8c5npGIT5J7S_U_qiBc-DYqOfUqlaQ6jZ__xyrzQt2WcSkXoNeeQ3rVO4dn55UY8GAdOLTZwUKpoCcp0uU5mJF5YCgZA5vQeMTWGUzZKb8C0r1DalOA6a2hCIsyp5gJ5KTxozt4fhtY/s1600/voting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="650" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8c5npGIT5J7S_U_qiBc-DYqOfUqlaQ6jZ__xyrzQt2WcSkXoNeeQ3rVO4dn55UY8GAdOLTZwUKpoCcp0uU5mJF5YCgZA5vQeMTWGUzZKb8C0r1DalOA6a2hCIsyp5gJ5KTxozt4fhtY/s400/voting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police Force, on Friday traded blames for the security lapses that marred last year’s governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.<br /> <br /> INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, insisted that security deployment in recent elections left much to be desired.<br /> <br /> He vowed that the Commission must adopt a different approach to election security, going forward.<br /> <br /> But in a tacit response, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, said that security operatives cannot on their own undermine an election without the collaboration of INEC officials.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He said that touts cannot disrupt an election without working in connivance with INEC officials and politicians.<br /> <br /> Yakubu and Adamu spoke at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police Force, on Friday traded blames for the security lapses that m...

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96,090 university staff enrolled in IPPIS, says FG

Latest-News 96,090 university staff enrolled in IPPIS, says FG

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National Hospital discharges separated conjoined twins

Latest-News National Hospital discharges separated conjoined twins

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Minimum wage: TUC gives states January 31 ultimatum

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrBjVLJEqXQ-4FO_2i_w4bOYb7wLy32cHjq3n7AVdzLyZD0F4m2quiawoNKMqjHBuAhpKupbzpa41yqiUR982_vlXXBZmc5ZXd_P6qkpHeelH-guiIUmC-79s5vdEMwonyFtL1dVJG6M/s1600/Trade-Union-Congress-TUC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="727" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrBjVLJEqXQ-4FO_2i_w4bOYb7wLy32cHjq3n7AVdzLyZD0F4m2quiawoNKMqjHBuAhpKupbzpa41yqiUR982_vlXXBZmc5ZXd_P6qkpHeelH-guiIUmC-79s5vdEMwonyFtL1dVJG6M/s400/Trade-Union-Congress-TUC.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Trade Union Congress has given state governments that are yet to implement the N30,000 new minimum wage up until January 31 to comply or risk industrial action from workers.<br /> <br /> The union gave the ultimatum in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Lagos on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The communiqué was signed by the President, TUC, Quadri Olaleye and the Secretary General, TUC, Musa Lawal.<br /> <br /> It read in part, “The congress advises all state governments that have not complied with the implementation and immediate payment of the N30, 000 new national minimum wage to commence negotiations and implementation on or before 31st January, 2020.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Otherwise the state governments should be responsible for the consequences of their failure. State councils have been directed to commence mobilisation of their members immediately.”<br /> <br /> On Monday, the Organised labour said it would meet to review the minimum wage negotiations between states and workers across Nigeria.<br /> <br /> Ekiti, Cross River, Benue, Gombe, Osun, Sokoto, Oyo, Niger, Ogun, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kwara, Taraba and Anambra states have reportedly not agreed on consequential adjustments of salaries.<br /> <br /> While Lagos, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kastina and Borno states had agreed to pay the new minimum wage, other states started negotiations few days to the end of the December 31, 2019 deadline.<br /> <br /> Commenting further on the current status of the minimum wage, Olaleye said six states had signed to commence the implementation.<br /> <br /> He disclosed that 15 states were negotiating and some would soon conclude negotiations.<br /> <br /> He noted that if the states failed to pay the minimum wage, they were disobeying a directive from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).<br /> <br /> Reminded that labour had earlier given the states a December 31 deadline to comply with the minimum wage payment, Olaleye argued that the December 31 ultimatum did not emanate from the TUC.<br /> <br /> Other issues addressed in the communiqué included insecurity, casual and contract staff in various sectors of the economy and the need to review the existing labour law.<br /> <br /> On security, Olaleye sought the Federal Government’s support for the ongoing efforts by states to establish security and paramilitary outfits.<br /> <br /> On labour issues, he condemned what he described as all forms of casualisation and slave labour in Nigeria.<br /> <br /> He called for a review of the labour law, saying the existing one was old and did not answer to the present day workplace realities.<br /> <br /> Olaleye warned against any attempt to remove labour matters from the exclusive legislative list.<br /> <br /> In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday accused state governors of shunning the welfare of workers and implementation of the new minimum wage while wasting public funds on weddings, funerals and private jets.<br /> <br /> Secretary General of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said during an interview in Abuja that although NLC had not extended the deadline beyond December 31, 2019, it was being cautious in taking action that would truncate negotiation processes in the states.

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EFCC told to release Shehu Sani

Latest-News EFCC told to release Shehu Sani

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Amotekun: Northern youths blow hot over South West security outfit

Latest-News Amotekun: Northern youths blow hot over South West security outfit

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FG appoints new Registrar-General for CAC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dCjtLDiwBh7h1gOYTLjpIdMS8cSptFBYQCJf1uIdthq2CtCXFBzf-fk8sD6a16DJ5UpOY-BnzbPhiqAnQOAF8k7GmI0KkzGjvGDOFE5WPQSxVLgP_kSzikUm3IIURmgYB3n7usVfo6E/s1600/Corporate-Affairs-Commission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dCjtLDiwBh7h1gOYTLjpIdMS8cSptFBYQCJf1uIdthq2CtCXFBzf-fk8sD6a16DJ5UpOY-BnzbPhiqAnQOAF8k7GmI0KkzGjvGDOFE5WPQSxVLgP_kSzikUm3IIURmgYB3n7usVfo6E/s400/Corporate-Affairs-Commission.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> The Federal Government on Thursday appointed Alhaji Garba Abubakar as the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).<br /> <br /> Mr Moses Adaguusu, Head, Public Affairs of the commission, made this known in a statement in Abuja.<br /> <br /> Adaguusu said Abubakar’s appointment was conveyed to CAC through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.<br /> <br /> He said that the new registrar-general has resumed duty.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Abubakar joined CAC in April 2004 as a Principal Manager Compliance and became a director in January 2016.<br /> <br /> Between August 2017 and October 2017, Abubakar was the Special Adviser to the former Registrar-General.<br /> <br /> Prior to joining CAC, he worked with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, formerly National Provident Fund, as Compliance Officer between 1991 and 1993.<br /> <br /> Abubakar worked at NICON Insurance between June 1995 and December 1997.<br /> <br /> He is a member Governing Council of the Nigerian Bar Association on Business Law from March 2017 till date.<br /> <br /> He is a member of Inter-Agency Committee Against Money Laundering and Terrorists Financing from 2007 till date and CAC focal on Open Government Partnership.<br /> Abubakar is also a member, in-house committee on the review of the Companies and Allied Matters Matters Act (CAMA), among others.<br /> <br /> He is married, hails from Bauchi State, born on Oct. 7, 1966.<br /> <br /> Abubakar is a graduate of Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1989.<br /> <br /> The Code of Conduct Tribunal had on Dec. 24, ordered the suspension of the Acting Registrar-General of the commission, Ms Azuka Azinge, for allegedly not declaring her assets.<br /> <br /> On Dec. 31, the Federal Government appointed Hajiya Saratu Shafii as the Acting Registrar-General of the Commission.

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CAF Awards: Pinnick hails Mane, Oshoala

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3w7hrBoBIo29lP7FnM2_KZKGegcLHi3T6iQYb21JwmJndc7Zmyd7nQhyphenhyphenpi46_vgYfMtg2LuAG60TuPlYTWYOOl0QEfiYsAbmf2ev_QfGDUeBFSjQluJfz_H-o4QzHzn0SS4n51aGvgw/s1600/Amaju-Pinnick-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="727" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3w7hrBoBIo29lP7FnM2_KZKGegcLHi3T6iQYb21JwmJndc7Zmyd7nQhyphenhyphenpi46_vgYfMtg2LuAG60TuPlYTWYOOl0QEfiYsAbmf2ev_QfGDUeBFSjQluJfz_H-o4QzHzn0SS4n51aGvgw/s400/Amaju-Pinnick-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has declared African Men’s Player of the Year, Sadio Mane of Senegal and Women’s Player of the Year, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala as fully deserving of their honours at the 2019 CAF Football Awards ceremony in Hurghada, Egypt on Tuesday night.<br /> <br /> The NFF boss, who is a Member of the CAF Executive Committee and Member of the influential Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, praised both football stars for their integrity, high-level commitment to club and country, discipline, dedication and good heart, and their love of the game and the different societies they hail from.<br /> <br /> “There is no doubt that both players deserve their awards. Mane has been very consistent for a number of years and has worked hard to improve himself in all areas of his game, and I must say the same goes for Asisat Oshoala, who has also been an impact player for FC Barcelona Ladies within the short time that she arrived at the club,” Pinnick said.<br /> <br /> “Mane and Oshoala have also been role models in their native communities with their commitment and investment in charity causes. I congratulate both players and urge them to continue to improve as they strive for excellence in all areas.”<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> While Mane’s honour was his first, Oshoala picked up her fourth African Women’s Player of the Year title, adding to wins in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and equalling compatriot, the legendary Perpetua Nkwocha at the top of the all-time list.<br /> <br /> Other big winners o the colourful night at Hurghada include Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, who picked up the gong for Youth Player of the Year and South African Desire Ellis emerging the Women’s Coach of the Year.<br /> <br /> Djamel Belmadi, who in the summer of last year led Algeria to only her second AFCON title, was named Men’s Coach of the Year.<br /> <br /> The fennec Foxes of Algeria duly won the Men’s Team of the Year and Cameroon the Women’s Team of the Year.

Latest-News CAF Awards: Pinnick hails Mane, Oshoala

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has declared African Men’s Player of the Year, Sadio Mane of Senegal an...

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Atletico Madrid stun Barcelona 3-2 to reach Spanish Super Cup final

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-SmjAQoAeZPoKrp15xeuIFKbwJQeL6B97KsK2q0uR4NvQYiZi8c-IcgaI1lPFH7Wf9wsX09BXhs1gtUNeok_WlVrsaBAgMpNu58CPxLAM773oG78z5GdhE16M9GNCwIe8La5gqrrf1nu/s640/317665-lionel-messi-gestures700.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> <br /> Angel Correa scored late on as Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2 in an incident-packed game to reach the Spanish Super Cup final.<br /> <br /> Koke's clinical strike put Atletico ahead early in the second half.<br /> <br /> Lionel Messi equalised and then Antoine Griezmann headed Barcelona into the lead in Saudi Arabia.<br /> <br /> Alvaro Morata converted a penalty to make it 2-2 before Correra ran through and grabbed the winner with a powerful strike that was too strong for Neto.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In the second half, Messi had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for handball while Gerard Pique should have taken the game to extra time but sent his header over the bar.<br /> <br /> Atletico's 20-year-old Portuguese forward Joao Felix, who joined the club for £113m in the summer, was involved in an altercation with Messi in the first half, with the pair going head-to-head.<br /> <br /> It was sparked by Barca full-back Jordi Alba appearing to poke his finger in Felix's face.<br /> <br /> A number of players from both sides got involved to separate Messi and Felix, with Luis Suarez having to be pulled away from Stefan Savic.<br /> <br /> Victory means Atletico Madrid will face city rivals Real, who beat Valencia 3-1 on Wednesday, in the final on Sunday (18:00 GMT).<br /> <br /> The tournament has a new format this season, with the top two from La Liga and the Copa del Rey finalists playing in a four-team competition rather than the two winners playing each other.<br /> <br /> Real, despite finishing third in La Liga, qualified because Barcelona won the league and finished runner-ups in the cup.

Latest-News Atletico Madrid stun Barcelona 3-2 to reach Spanish Super Cup final

Angel Correa scored late on as Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2 in an incident-packed game to reach the Spanish Super Cup final. Koke...

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More woes for Jose Mourinho as Harry Kane is out injured for four months

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yTElkloxKH_TX4rmmGWHaTHipCRtu8KGfhPGi4smWBK_QhpgwMaNVTK2iLDggKSoZeCrunTWqgOyHwBmOJFyslNIfkIzrtPedMolCnHFpcu963hf5nVOuaZsY2T9_Tdjk-G11pA5pbp7/s1600/kane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="720" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yTElkloxKH_TX4rmmGWHaTHipCRtu8KGfhPGi4smWBK_QhpgwMaNVTK2iLDggKSoZeCrunTWqgOyHwBmOJFyslNIfkIzrtPedMolCnHFpcu963hf5nVOuaZsY2T9_Tdjk-G11pA5pbp7/s320/kane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that striker Harry Kane will be out for four months after having a surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring.<br /> <br /> The England captain is expected to return to training in April. He suffered the injury during Tottenham 1-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day and specialists advised that an operation was needed.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> A Tottenham club statement read: “Following ongoing assessment by our medical staff over the past week, we can confirm that Harry Kane will undergo surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring.<br /> <br /> “The striker suffered the injury during our Premier League fixture against Southampton last week and specialists have advised surgery after further review of the injury.<br /> <br /> “The decision to undergo surgery is not expected to impact the time-frame that the England captain will be sidelined, with the expectation that he will return to training in April.”<br /> <br />

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US-based professor blasts Nigerian governors for wasting public money hiring prayer warriors

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8hG8cMFR_Bh5irNQBROYFcVxdg8kfk50L2gSSwmsIeOFjnkSHk04khOoYuqoThCbQQL2aFle7VqGxcaqTanj_HrjuzipV5eImPS5rxqAqfW3ftjXWdx-yiCzD_j3hLFUCb0Z0DDTy3du/s1600/tt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8hG8cMFR_Bh5irNQBROYFcVxdg8kfk50L2gSSwmsIeOFjnkSHk04khOoYuqoThCbQQL2aFle7VqGxcaqTanj_HrjuzipV5eImPS5rxqAqfW3ftjXWdx-yiCzD_j3hLFUCb0Z0DDTy3du/s320/tt.jpg" width="255" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Professor Olufemi Taiwo</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> <br /> A Nigerian professor based in the United States has lambasted Nigerian governors and officials who waste public funds in hiring prayer warriors or organising ‘useless’ thanksgiving prayer sessions to mark the end of another year.<br /> <br /> Professor Olufemi Taiwo, who teaches at the Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University, in New York asked the public officials to adopt the scientific method and reasoning, rather than anchoring things on the supernatural.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Every governor who illegally wastes the people’s money on useless ‘thanksgiving services’ for a successful year is an obscurantist that should be unmasked as no good for the general health of the people he leads; for he confirms them in their thrall to unforeseen forces domiciled in powerful principalities, directing their fortunes in the world”, Taiwo said.<br /> <br /> His comment was contained in his essay on “How we killed Favour Daley Oladele”, the Lagos State University student murdered for money rituals that failed.<br /> <br /> Taiwo said all Nigerians should be hanged for the lady’s death as the belief of the three persons arrested for her murder was all fed by the Nigerian society’s “active embrace of mytho-religious explanatory frameworks characterized by supernaturalism, occultism, and obscurantism, in our relation to our world”.<br /> <br /> “When things happen, from earthquakes to floods, from motor accidents to bad governance, we are forever deploying those lame, obscurantist non-explanations: “it is God’s will,” “only God can make things right,” “it is a spiritual attack,” “spiritual warfare,”, “mysterious fire,” “mysterious birth,” and so on, and so forth”.<br /> <br /> The professor urged Nigerians, including journalists and academics to jettison such beliefs and embrace the age of scientific reasoning.<br /> <br /> “Every governor who attributes his success and prospects of succeeding at his task to god is entrapped in this mytho-religious animus that pervades the society. And when people in elevated positions deploy the same explanatory framework to account for their place in and relations to the world, they feed the illusion that dominated the characters in the saga we are using to illustrate this larger argument.<br /> <br /> “Every journalist who is eager to report “mysterious fires,” “mysterious deaths,” “babies born with a Koran in their clutch,” and does not come to his or her remit with a skeptical attitude that demands evidence, repeatability—humans are the same—and what causal antecedents explain this outcome that are open to objective verification across geographical and cultural divides, contributes to feeding the obscurantism that gives credence to the unfounded belief in ‘money rituals’.<br /> <br /> “University professors who do not come out to contradict publicly and call on the carpet a crazy Daddy G.O. who lately predicts that earthquakes are on the menu in places where they never did occur previously because “God is angry” are culpable in cementing the belief that earthquakes are caused by supernatural causes and can only be appeased by religious devotion are guilty of feeding the condition that makes ordinary people believe that “principalities do indeed exist and remotely cause things to move in our world”. Such beliefs are akin to believing that albino blood is unlike other blood and has a secret ingredient that, in the hands of the “experts” can transmute into money”.<br /> <br /> To the money ritualists and others still steeped in the idea that money can be conjured supernaturally, the university professor reminds them of a verse in the Bible: “From the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread”.<br /> <br /> Taiwo thus enjoined Nigerians to embrace hard work, knowledge, all aspects of the scientific method, as the preferred way of relating to the world in all ways.

Latest-News US-based professor blasts Nigerian governors for wasting public money hiring prayer warriors

Professor Olufemi Taiwo A Nigerian professor based in the United States has lambasted Nigerian governors and officials who waste...

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All you need to know about the new South-West security apparatus, 'Amotekun'

<b><br /></b><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs8DvsohCnUQ5elQpgJrR9oESdpfE7_KCtYKsJjsqCncNcqCWr_7l9Nsorq54gUIOTnZOXifYJGuBiMBLyDRn8fN8DV3YHSLmrm2LBHed3pd67ZSwgRJVaWzTy3nokg3HmhIuo3zsq3NY/s640/amotekun.jpg" width="640" /></div> <b><br /></b><b><i>Amotekun</i> is a security outfit jointly established by governors of the six states that make up Southwest Nigeria. They are Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti.</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The idea came through three-day technical sessions by experts of Southwest origin. The idea was conceived out of the need to jointly tackle increasing criminal activities, including kidnapping and armed robbery, in the region.<br /> <br /> It was thought that a single state will battle criminals in vain as contiguous states will readily serve as safe haven for them, if they are not involved.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <b><br /></b><b>Amotekun</b><br /> <br /> Amotekun is the Yoruba name for leopards, a carnivorous big cat with strong bones and jaws. They have a running speed average of 58 kilometer per hour.<br /> <br /> Leopards hunt down their preys in the same manner as lions and tigers. They are feared in Yoruba land because of their strength, speed and carnivorous nature.<br /> <br /> The name was carefully chosen to convey the above attributes which are believed will send the right signals to criminals.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>Membership and structure</b><br /> <br /> Membership of the outfit comprises vigilante groups operating within each state, security experts and statutory security agencies such as the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.<br /> <br /> Though a regional outfit, each state will have its own Amotekun in the form of a state police command. They will operate from a given base in each state.<br /> <br /> There will also be local government organs, which will coordinate Amotekun activities in each local government. But, the six state commands will relate with the regional command to which each has contributed vehicles equipped with security and communication gadgets.<br /> <br /> The regional command will operate from the control centre in Ibadan, and will work closely with the DAWN Commission, which provides administrative supervision to the project.<br /> <br /> Amotekun will be funded by the state governments with support from their security trust funds. The Commissioner of Police in each state will oversee Amotekun.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>Operational guidelines</b><br /> <br /> As at press time yesterday, governors and police bosses were still perfecting the document that will serve as the operational guidelines for the outfit.<br /> <br /> While the governors were interacting on funding and management, commissioners of police and the three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) in the region were firming up the technical aspects to prevent inter-agency rivalry and clashes over leadership and superiority among members during patrol and other operational activities.<br /> <br /> NE learnt that the states have recruited many of the unconventional security personnel.<br /> <br /> As a local collaborative measure, Amotekun will gather information about crimes and suspicious activities for interpretation and proper action, including prevention, management or counteraction.<br /> <br /> It will undertake routine patrols in parts of highways in the region, which police are unable to adequately cover day and night. Working with traditional rulers, its activities will also permeate local communities to keep an eye on suspicious residents, visitors and non-residents coming for business or related activities.<br /> <br /> The outfit will deploy technology in its operations, including geographical mapping and security drones.<br /> <br /> By gathering intelligence and sharing it with the police and other statutory security agencies, it is believed that these security measures will help improve community peace and security all over the region.<br /> <br /> The inauguration of the outfit is expected to have sent jitters down the spines of criminals who have returned to their trade, particularly in Ondo State in the last one month.<br /> <br /> The bandits may have explored the room created by the slight delay in the inauguration of the outfit, which was due since last October.<br /> <br /> When contacted yesterday, the AIG Zone 11, Leye Oyebade, declined comment on the outfit. He said facts about it will be made know during tomorrow’s inauguration.<br /> <br /> The Director-General, DAWN Commission, Mr Seye Oyeleye, was also unavailable for comments.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>Police involvement</b><br /> <br /> The Nigeria Police is a key stakeholder in Amotekun’s operations. The force will offer services in the area of security clearance for those to be recruited as members, exercise the legal power of arrest and prosecution and also provide technical training and back-up for the outfit.<br /> <b><br /></b><b>Launch</b><br /> <br /> Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, yesterday rumours making the rounds that the newly launched Western Nigeria Security Network code-named Operation Amotekun is regional police.<br /> <br /> Fayemi who spoke in Ibadan at the launch of the security apparatus stated that the Southwest governors were not out to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria but were providing the Yoruba people with a “confidence-building strategy” to tackle crime and criminality in the region.<br /> <br /> The governor added that Amotekun was neither an alternative to any of the conventional security agencies in the country nor a state police.<br /> <br /> He said rather, Amotekun would complement and work in collaboration with existing security agencies to provide adequate security of lives and property in the region.<br /> <br /> “The Western Nigeria Security Network operation Amotekun is nothing but a community policing response to a problem that our people would like to put an end to. But pending the time that the community policing strategy being put together by the Nigeria Police comes to fruition, it is clearly important that we give our people a confidence boosting strategy.<br /> <br /> “So if you ask me, Amotekun is nothing but a confidence building strategy for our people in the western zone. When those elements that are going to work in the joint task force with the mainstream security agencies undertake this assignment, they are going to do it with the knowledge of the terrain, language and culture of the community they are going to work.”<br /> <br /> “Amotekun is not a duplication neither is it a replacement for the Nigeria Police Force. Amotekun is a complement that gives our people the confidence that they are being looked after by the people they elected into office. We do not want this to create fear in the mind of anyone. We are not creating a regional police force. We are not oblivious of the steps we need to follow in forming State police. We are law abiding citizens of Nigeria. We know that will require a constitutional amendment and we are not there yet”, he said.<br /> <br /> While commending the role played by the mainstream security agencies in tackling kidnapping and banditry in the zone, the governor said Amotekun would reduce the burden on the agencies which he described as “overstretched”.<br /> <br /> Fayemi who added that the security agencies have embraced the Western Nigeria Security Network urged Nigerians not to give room for fears which may have emanated from the propaganda circulating in the social media about Amotekun.<br /> <br /> ” We were daily assaulted by the spate of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery across the length and breadth of the South West. We obviously sought succour in all the right places and the mainstream security tried their best in arresting the security situation. It was in the context of this development that we lost the daughter of our leader in Afenifere, Pa Fasoranti.<br /> <br /> ” As elected leaders of our various States, our primary responsibility according to section (14)2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, is the security and welfare of our citizens and that’s what informed the coming together of my colleagues and I to fashion a way that we can utilise to complement the work of our mainstream security agencies that are quite overstretched in their efforts to curb the menace that has afflicted not just our zone but the entire country at the time”, he said.<br /> <br /> In his speech, the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said the governors are united in their resolve to ensure peace and security in the region.<br /> <br /> Akeredolu stated that the south west governors cannot erect “an antagonistic structure whose template is against existing security apparatus”.<br /> <br /> He said the ” barbarism” displayed by criminal elements in the region gave the governors grave concern which necessitated the security platform.<br /> <br /> The governor stressed that he and his colleagues believed in the unity of Nigeria because the nation’s “strength is in unity”.<br /> <br /> Earlier in his welcome remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde had stated that development cannot take place in a state of insecurity.<br /> <br /> He added that Amotekun would protect the lives and property of indigene and non indigene.<br /> <br /> Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who was represented by his Deputy, Benedict Alabi thanked the service chiefs for their support in tackling insecurity in the region.<br /> <br /> He assured that Amotekun would work in collaboration with all security agencies.

Latest-News All you need to know about the new South-West security apparatus, 'Amotekun'

Amotekun is a security outfit jointly established by governors of the six states that make up Southwest Nigeria. They are Oyo, Lagos, Ond...

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An Open Letter to Aisha Buhari

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TtYx9n_oFXR-mJQFaKeq6RDOV6XPdjXOG0_W_TdM_XFC0Vz4-Iu3Ab2ZOUlIfT0c7H8kb34hwLnGengX7LnRWvUMwbbWn5gQMHPN0ZG5znunNOAlkxCYIGGNZH-dcAC-eSbBnuq0M5Ek/s1600/Sefi-Atta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1068" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TtYx9n_oFXR-mJQFaKeq6RDOV6XPdjXOG0_W_TdM_XFC0Vz4-Iu3Ab2ZOUlIfT0c7H8kb34hwLnGengX7LnRWvUMwbbWn5gQMHPN0ZG5znunNOAlkxCYIGGNZH-dcAC-eSbBnuq0M5Ek/s640/Sefi-Atta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Dear Aisha Buhari,<br /> <br /> Last Christmas in Lekki, Lagos, where I live, I saw a street beggar and I thought about you.<br /> <br /> She sat on a pavement near a busy junction. She was barefoot and wore a hijab. She breastfed her baby as pedestrians walked by. I was in my air-conditioned car with a hired driver and we were on our way to a shopping mall.<br /> <br /> These days, whenever I see beggars at the road junctions they frequent, I have taken to looking down, or putting my hand up to shield my eyes. Sometimes I murmur to myself, “Oh no,” over and over until they’re out of sight, then I let out a sigh.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> I am no stranger to the moments of guilt that plague privileged Nigerians, and I’m sure you recognise that despite your recent health challenges and domestic troubles at Aso Villa, you are one of the more fortunate, and visible, women in our country. From my brief observation of the woman who caught my attention, you and she had nothing in common, except being a Northern Muslim and a mother.<br /> <br /> I have followed news reports on you over the years, some of which have taken me by surprise. For instance, your October 2016 interview with BBC News Hausa in which you accused a certain cabal of hijacking the president’s administration and said you would not campaign for him if he sought a second term in office. I wasn’t overly surprised, however, when he, in response, said your place was in his kitchen and “the other room”. Nor was I amused by the general ribaldry and jocularity that followed, in the Nigerian press and on social media, over his choice of words.<br /> <br /> Throughout this event, I never questioned your loyalty to your husband, but I had no idea what your motivation was in making those statements. I couldn’t decide whether you were speaking out of concern for Nigerians, or out of personal frustration with him.<br /> <br /> In October last year, when the video of you giving your in-laws an ultimatum in Aso Villa went viral, it didn’t faze me one bit. The standards of conduct for first ladies are especially high, and I know wives who have thrown worse tantrums having had enough of their husband’s meddlesome relatives.<br /> <br /> In December, however, after the president left Nigeria to attend a peace summit in Egypt, and you gave an interview to TVC News in which you said you no longer had pillow talk with him over how he ran the country, and went as far as to name members of the cabal, I must confess that I was again in doubt as to why you shared all that information. I came to the conclusion that perhaps you just had to have your say and didn’t care about the consequences – the public speculation and castigation from all sides.<br /> <br /> I can attest to being in that frame of mind whenever I write, and if nothing else, you shattered the myth of the subservient Northern Muslim woman – and the oppressed African woman, I should add. For even though you enjoy unusual entitlement as first lady of Nigeria, your counterpart Melania Trump, in the United States, where I spend most of my time, would dare not open her mouth to chastise her husband publicly the way you have. Should she ever do so, he might send her back to Slovenia.<br /> <br /> As the Nigerian press often reminds you, Nigerians voted for your husband, not for you, and the office of the first lady is not provided for in our constitution. It is granted because of the public duties and services you perform. I am aware of your programmes for Northerners who have fled Boko Haram, for Nigerian mothers and children, and for infant and maternal well-being. Perhaps that was why you came to mind when I saw the woman and her baby. They would fall into all these categories. She was just one of a number of displaced Northerners in Lagos, some of whom send their children to beg on our streets the way Lagosians who can afford to send their children to school.<br /> <br /> On my trip to the mall, I passed several primary and secondary schools, all of which were privately owned, as educational institutions that rely on public funding are now in varying stages of dilapidation. At the mall, I bought some ankara fabric, which I later took to my seamstress. She is from the East and not a fan of your husband. I have wondered if this is due to tribalism, but she once said, “He promised us change. Where is the change? We’re still waiting for it.”<br /> <br /> She made me a dress which I wore on Christmas Day at a family function with my in-laws. My husband is a Ransome-Kuti. His last name may ring a bell. His late father, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, served as health minister under General Babangida’s regime. His Uncle Beko spent several months in detention during General Abacha’s regime, and his Uncle Fela was jailed during your husband’s regime in 1984.<br /> <br /> Frankly, the Kutis’ past conflicts with the government have put me off political activism, as I have witnessed its devastating effects on their family. I’ve only heard about the fate of my husband’s grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who sustained severe injuries when she was thrown from a first-storey window in a military raid on Fela’s house during General Obasanjo’s regime. She once led a women’s protest that forced the Alake of Egbaland to abdicate.<br /> <br /> I come from the Atta family, who are descendants of titled men and have played key roles in government over the years. We’ve had diplomats and civil servants, a state governor and an inspector general of police. My Uncle Abdulmalik was Nigeria’s first high commissioner to the United Kingdom. My Aunt Sefi, among her many accomplishments as a pioneering woman, served as an ambassador to UNESCO, and to Italy, and was head of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. My father, Abdul-Aziz Atta, was Secretary to the Federal Government during General Gowon’s regime when he died in 1972.<br /> <br /> None of our previous governments has been above reproach, but with the end of military rule in 1999, Nigeria had a chance to usher in a new era of democracy. Yet what did we choose to do instead? Like a nation with Stockholm syndrome, we began to recycle our former leaders in a political landscape dominated by two parties that were so similar in their lack of ideas. It made no difference to us whenever their members changed side.<br /> <br /> I was not on the Never Buhari bandwagon. I was for any presidential candidate who would cause the least damage to our country. I believed the news reports that said the Nigerian economy couldn’t withstand another term under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. I was also willing to believe, when your husband assumed office in 2015, that he despised corruption and terrorism enough to take steps towards cleaning up the government and defeating Boko Haram. But during his first term, his administration appeared to be more preoccupied with attacking members of the opposition party. I reasoned that he was finding it difficult to manage Nigeria as a civilian president because he didn’t have the power he once had to rule by decree. Still, I continued to wish him success only because I wanted conditions in our country to improve.<br /> <br /> Regrettably, his war on corruption stalled. He wasn’t able to bring a halt to Boko Haram attacks and didn’t seem keen on curbing raids by Fulani cattle herders. His promise to bring back the rest of the Chibok girls fell by the wayside and judging by what I hear in the marketplace, our economy has lagged in terms of personal income growth.<br /> <br /> My driver was from Cotonou and I had noticed a significant increase in the number of casual workers from his country on Lagos Island. Some of them were underage, but he assured me that they had come to Nigeria willingly, to increase their earning capacity. As a casual worker himself, he was paid three thousand naira a day by his boss. He said he’d had more jobs during Jonathan’s administration. I gave him extra money for food. Sometimes I shared my takeaway meals with him. I once asked him why so many Beninese men worked on building sites in Lekki and he said it was because Nigerians were reluctant to work for meagre wages.<br /> <br /> As you know, Nigerians do work for negligible pay. We work as hard as it takes to achieve our goals. Most of us are in fact overworked and underpaid, which is why we are loath to pay taxes. We provide our own water, electricity and security if we can. We survive with little or no support from the public sector. We resent government interference, especially if it ends up making life more difficult for us. We are all, as the owner of a private school once told me, our own governments. Complaining about our country, meanwhile, has become one of our national pastimes.<br /> <br /> About two weeks after I arrived in Lagos for Christmas, I went to Murtala Muhammed International Airport to pick up my husband and daughter, who were flying in separately from the United States. Both flights were delayed and I ended up waiting for over six hours, during which time a mass fight nearly broke out. Other than that, I had quite a few pleasant encounters. I saw an old friend who had just arrived from England, and a fellow alumna of Queen’s College who, like me, was at the airport to meet someone. I got into conversations with total strangers: a woman who had read my books and two men who were arguing over politics. I grumbled to the woman about the state of the airport. Actually, the word “grumble” may not be emphatic enough because I said our airport was a complete and utter disgrace. I was twelve years old when it was named after General Muhammed, and in all my years of travelling in and out of Lagos, I had seen it in better – and, admittedly, worse – shape.<br /> <br /> Whenever I arrive home, I expect the moving walkways not to function and anticipate the carousels will get jammed. Roof leaks are inevitable. After I get past Customs, I am prepared for touts, as we call them, to approach me and offer services I don’t need or goods I have no interest in buying.<br /> <br /> With the two men, I initially listened to their debate before I chimed in. One of them was in his early thirties and his position was that he was indifferent to politics because he had never known a time when Nigerian leaders were competent. The other criticised the president’s handling of our national problems and then said he knew someone who could solve them. That was when I chorused with the first man, “Who?” I laughed when the second man indicated that he was referring to himself.<br /> <br /> After I met up with my husband and daughter, we headed home. It was night-time now and the journey took us about three hours. We went via Maryland because someone else I befriended at the airport warned me to avoid going through Oshodi as robbers were smashing car windows to steal mobile phones.<br /> <br /> We finally reached Lekki and got stuck in yet another traffic jam, our slowest so far, on a dual carriageway. A woman in a black velvet dress parked her car on the hard shoulder and used her door for privacy while she crouched down to pee. I was watching her when I heard sirens on the other carriageway where the traffic was moving freely. I looked over to see police escorts clearing the way for a government official, but got confused because they were heading in the same direction we were going, at top speed.<br /> <br /> A long line of unrelated vehicles followed them. Consequently, that side of the road transformed into a dual carriageway of its own and of course all the vehicles got stuck at the next roundabout where they faced oncoming traffic. By then, our side of the road, which was supposed to have three lanes, now had five. Yes, the three lanes on the tarmac became a haphazard four and an extra one developed on the hard shoulder. I was holding my head at that point because I could not have conjured up a more perfect metaphor for why our country, with its two-party political system, was going nowhere.<br /> <br /> When your husband ran for a second term, I was fed up with his administration. I didn’t want to hear a word he had to say about change any more. I didn’t even want to listen to the vice president, who seemed earnest, except he reminded me of my born-again friends who ignored transgressions in their churches. I got the impression that he was trotted out to placate Southern Christians. Sometimes, he played the role of apologiser-in-chief, calming down angry citizens; other times, he was explainer-in-chief, such as in January 2019 when he and the president took part in a town-hall meeting moderated by Kadaria Ahmed, and he kept interjecting until she suggested that he let the president speak for himself.<br /> <br /> Nigerians voted for them nonetheless, and barely a year later faced an escalation in their administration’s autocratic measures. Take the case of Omoyele Sowore, for example, which I won’t go into because the details have been repeatedly rehashed, and hashtagged to boot. I’m glad he has since been released on bail, but how could a Department of State Security agent flagrantly walk into a court of law during his hearing and physically restrain him in an attempt to re-arrest him against court orders? Haba, in what kind of democracy does an incident like that occur?<br /> <br /> It is no wonder that Punch started referring to your husband as Major General Buhari. His government responds to critics in ways that show he is indeed a military man in mufti. But he cannot run Nigeria as if he still heads a martial law regime without incurring some public push-back. Nor can he get away with taking counsel from a group of men who comport themselves like feudal lords. Our constitution provides checks and balances to ensure the executive office doesn’t overstep its boundaries of power. It derives its power from the Nigerian people, not from any cabal.<br /> <br /> During the December interview in which you named members of the cabal, you said this about being afraid of the consequences of speaking out: “Everybody is talking in the country.” That may be so, but not without repercussions. You then said that everybody was free to talk, and I will take the liberty of assuming you meant that you were an ally to those who stood on the side of free speech, including government critics.<br /> <br /> Nigerians revere them because most of us don’t have the courage to do what they do. We’ve had a democratic system for over twenty years and they will not willingly go back to a state of silence. Those who remain quiet may do so for fear they have something to lose. Those who speak out recognise our nation has everything to lose if we go down that route again. A vote represents one voice only. A voice represents many others, from a street beggar to a writer who steers clear of political activism.<br /> <br /> The late Toni Morrison once suggested that contemporary literature would be spared a good number of novels if authors would only write letters home once in a while. This one is long overdue. I used to think it was enough for me to address Nigeria’s problems in fiction. I now realise that will no longer suffice. I am therefore addressing you, woman to woman, in the spirit of Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, please try to find a copy. First published in 1979, it is an epistolary novel set in Senegal. The protagonist, Ramatoulaye, recently widowed after thirty years of marriage, writes to her younger, more progressive friend, oddly enough called Aissatou, a variant of your given name.<br /> <br /> I hope my letter resonates with you as hers did with me.<br /> <br /> Sincerely,<br /> <br /> Sefi Atta<br /> <i><br /> *Sefi Attah is an award winning novelist and playwright.</i>

Latest-News An Open Letter to Aisha Buhari

Dear Aisha Buhari, Last Christmas in Lekki, Lagos, where I live, I saw a street beggar and I thought about you. She sat on a pavement...

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