James Maddison scored the opening goal in Leicester’s victory over West Ham at London Stadium but left the field with an apparent leg injury after 25 minutes.
The 25-year-old received his call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup in Qatar earlier this week.
Maddison, who has now scored seven goals in the Premier League this season, was able to walk off the pitch and didn’t appear to be in any significant pain.
West Ham were more involved in the game after Maddison’s departure but Craig Dawson gave away a penalty which was well saved by Lukasz Fabianski from Youri Tielemans’ low drive.
But Harvey Barnes finished off a lovely counter-attacking move when he slotted past Fabianksi to seal a third consecutive away win for the Foxes.
Having won six games at home in the Premier League West Ham have now lost their last two on the spin at London Stadium, suffering defeat last weekend after conceding a last-minute goal to Crystal Palace. BBC
The Senate on Saturday gave Visible Concept, the construction firm handling the N30billion renovation work at the National Assembly complex marching orders for speed completion and delivery of the project.
But the Engineer of Visible Concept, handling the renovation work of the National Assembly Complex, Tajudeen Olanipekun, demanded more funds in the presence of the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad, during an on the spot assessment of the projects by the Senate Committee on FCT.
The FCDA in March awarded contracts for rehabilitation of critical segments like plenary Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Dome in the White House as well as construction of office of National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and Library at the cost of N30bilion.
Contractors handling the projects which were to be delivered in phases between January and August 2023, were given N9billion mobilisation fee as disclosed by the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello in June this year during the first on the spot assessment visit made by the Senate Committee on FCT.
But at the second on the spot assessment visit carried out by the Senator Smart Adeyemi-led committee on Saturday, members of the committee were worried at the slow space of work.
Senator Adeyemi said though the renovation works being carried out at both chambers were commendable but the slow spate of work was worrisome.
He told the contractor that except miracle happens, the January 2023 deadline for delivery of the upgraded Chambers, was no longer feasible.
“This project must not be abandoned in anyway. The Hallowed Chambers are expected to be completed and delivered by the end of January 2023.
“But the level of work seen here today is not pointing at that which to us, is a threat to our legislative duties and functions.
“Non-completion of this project at designated times, is even a threat to democracy itself because we don’t want the incoming government to inherit it as an abandoned project.
“So, this committee wants to know the challenges confronting the contractors as regards expeditious execution of the projects,” he said.
Olanipekun said fluctuations in the value of Naira to US dollar have been problematic for them in importation of required materials and equipments coupled with the need for more funds from FCDA.
Disturbed by the response, Senator Adeyemi told the Executive Secretary of the FCDA to get in touch with the Minister for more funds for the contractors.
“The Executive Secretary of FCDA and Chief of Staff to the Minister, you have heard the contractor. Please give them more money for this project because we don’t want to hand over problem to the incoming government.
“Even if it is bond to be taken from a bank, let it be done for timely completion of the project please.
“For us in the National Assembly, we want well transformed Hallowed Chambers to be handed over latest by April 2023,” he said.
Other lawmakers at the oversight visit were Senators Lekan Mustapha, Danjuma La’ah, Jibrin Isah, Micheal Nnachi, etc.
Two late goals from Rodrigo Bentancur earned Tottenham a remarkable Premier League victory over Leeds, who surrendered the lead three times in north London.
Bentancur fired Spurs level for the third time in the match via a wicked deflection off Luke Ayling, before tapping in Dejan Kulusevski’s low cross to earn Antonio Conte’s side all three points in dramatic fashion.
In a breathless first half, Crysencio Summerville’s fourth goal in as many top-flight games opened the scoring before Harry Kane rifled in an equaliser from close range.
In-form Rodrigo scored his fourth in four league matches to put Leeds ahead again, but Ben Davies snuck a shot beyond Illan Meslier and the retreating Rasmus Kristensen to restore parity for the second time.
Another smart Rodrigo finish left Spurs staring at the prospect of a third straight league defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Bentancur’s late double broke the visitors’ hearts.
Leeds’ misery was compounded when Tyler Adams was dismissed for a second bookable offence with three minutes remaining.
The victory consolidates Spurs’ place in the top four, while Leeds drop two places to 14th. BBC
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)Peter Obi has cautioned his supporters, popularly called ‘Obidients’ to desist from name calling or derogating anyone, groups of persons or religions.
Obi was referring to a comment made by the LP governorship candidate in Benue, who described Samuel Ortom as a “deceit.”
He stated that everyone has their flaws and shortcomings while adding that Ortom has always been a patriotic Nigerian.
Obi in a statement posted on his social media platforms said: “I call on the Labour Party Faithfuls, especially candidates at all levels, including my supporters, to desist from name calling or derogating anyone, groups of persons or religions.
“Nigeria has very huge problems and is currently at risk of implosion from economic hardship and insecurity. The focus, therefore, should be on how to deal with deleterious consequences of a tanking economy, pervasive insecurity, and the many challenges that the nation is contending with, rather than degenerating into name calling.
“Specifically, during our recent campaign in Benue, a candidate referred to the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as a “deceit.” That is totally unacceptable to us.
“The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, remain a very patriotic Nigerian, who has always spoken for the best interest of his people and Nigeria in general. We all have our shortcomings, I have mine, and so do others. But, we should not refer to people in such derogatory manner.
“We must continue to focus on running an issue-based campaign, and unite with everyone to build a new and better Nigeria. I wish all our candidates, including myself, well in the forthcoming elections.”
Nigeria has continued to maintain relevance from politics to entertainment on the global stage.
This is evident again in the number of Nigerian artistes enlisted alongside their African counterparts and others in the West for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released at the weekend.
The 2022 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Black Panther features popular Nigerian artistes at home and in the diaspora.
It is the sequel to Black Panther released in 2018 and the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Rihanna’s single ‘Lift Me’, co-written by fast rising award-winning singer, Temilade Openiyi known as Tems was the first to be released in the movie promotional effort.
Tems also performed Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman No Cry’ as a solo act.
The song was bridged together with Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.”
The PDP has been dogged by crisis over the demand of five Governors elected on the party that the national chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu should resign.
Former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam, on Thursday hinted that Jonathan has been drafted to resolve the crisis.
But the former President in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, denied having anything to do with the crisis rocking the party.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to news media and social media reports linking former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s name to the current troubles in the Peoples Democratic Party with a false claim that the aggrieved PDP governors are demonstrating their loyalty to him.
“We are also not unmindful of the fact that, this being an electioneering season, bizarre tales are often contrived, propagated and weaponised to either smear others or deliver cheap political advantage to the purveyors.
“First, we would like to make the point that it is not out of place if there were crises in a political party like the PDP and a former President, who served under the party’s platform, is called upon to intervene. That being the case, we initially did not see anything wrong with the headlines in some papers, indicating that the former President was being persuaded to help resolve the issues in the party.
“However, we are dismayed that the seemingly purpose-minded headlines were only cast to mask the mischief of the sponsors of the story and hoodwink the unsuspecting populace. Our attention was called to provocative and insulting statements in separate but similar versions of the story in different news media, either claiming that ‘the whole thing we are seeing in the PDP…is orchestrated for President Jonathan’, or that ‘he (Jonathan) is encouraging governors Nyesom Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi and Ortom to behave the way they are doing’, knowing that ‘these five governors are fighting his cause’.
“We believe that such duplicitous statements could not have emanated from the camps of those who truly wish the party well. It simply shows that the so-called ‘sources’ of the story are not disposed to the peace and unity they pretend to be seeking in the PDP.”
The former President also dismissed claims that he was nursing a grudge against the party’s flag bearer, Atiku.
He added: “How could anybody turn around in 2022 to accuse Jonathan of bearing a grudge against the PDP when the former President had campaigned vigorously for the party and its presidential candidate during the 2019 elections?
““Those who insinuate that Dr Jonathan is not happy with the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because of whatever roles he played ahead of the 2015 elections forget that the former President actively campaigned for Atiku in 2019, attending the flag off of his campaign in Sokoto and subsequently participated in the campaigns in some states like Rivers and Bayelsa.
“The fact that Dr Jonathan stood out as an exemplary politician who, throughout his political career, abhorred treachery and mean-mindedness, and played politics without bitterness, needs no gainsay. Unlike many of his detractors, the former President has, out of office, progressed to a higher level of statesmanship, faithfully applying himself to causes that promote peace, love, unity and progress across the entire West African sub-region.
“It is Dr Jonathan’s wish that the PDP is able to resolve its internal crisis, unite all members and have a good showing in the forthcoming 2023 elections. We wish to however point out that it will be difficult to achieve this aspiration if some forces in the party continue to engage in mudslinging, disinformation and manifest tendencies that negate the values that are dear to loyal party members.”
Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has said he does know a South African pariimentarian Zanele Sifuba, who accused him of leaking her nude video.
The Governor said he doesn’t know let alone have contact with Sifuba, who is at the centre of a trending leaked nude video in South Africa.
The Speaker of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) Free State legislature alleged Diri was the mastermind of her leaked nude video.
Sifuba topped the trends list in South Africa after she was captured in the s3x tape.
She described Diri as her lover, saying he betrayed her trust.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sifuba alleged Diri leaked the video.
“This is the picture of the man who leaked our video. He is my lover whom I trusted. A Nigerian Official, by name Douye Diri.
“I trusted him with my life, but he betrayed me. Please share for the whole world to know the kind of man he is,” she wrote with the picture of the Governor on it.
Many South Africans, groups and parties sympathised with her and condemned the circulation of her nude images and s3x tape.
The scandal apparently started with the leakage of screenshots from the actual video as the nudes started making the rounds on Monday, 31 October.
The Free State Legislature quickly responded by ordering an investigation into the Speaker’s sex scandal.
The development subjected many Nigerians in South Africa to verbal attacks.
But Director, New Media to the Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, said in a statement on Saturday that Diri had not been to South Africa in the last 10 years.
Oredipe described media reports linking the Governor to the trending story involving the female parliamentarian, Sifuba, as a mere distraction.
He said the Facebook account on which the post was made purportedly belonging to the woman was created on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Oredipe said that the scandal first appeared on the social media in South Africa on October 31 and was linked to an unnamed Nigerian youth.
He noted that those behind the post twisted it with a fake account with the Governor’s image with the intent to tarnish his image.
Wondering how Governor Diri would resort to blackmail for N8m, Oredipe urged the public to discountenance the story which he described as untrue and lacking in merit.
The statement with the title: ‘Trending South African Sex Story: a mere distraction’, reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to fake news circulating online about Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State over an alleged nude video leak of a South African female legislator, Zanele Sifuba.
“The post linking the governor to the allegation suddenly appeared on the Facebook page purportedly belonging to the woman after trending for more than a week.
“Our investigation however revealed that the said account is fake and was only created on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
“For a scandal that initially appeared on the South African media space on October 31 and was first linked to a ‘Nigerian youth,’ it is obvious that those behind the new twist opened the parody account with the deliberate intention to tarnish the image of the Bayelsa Governor.
“Sadly, even without any effort to confirm the ridiculous allegation against the governor of a state, a few Nigerian online platforms rushed to publish the fake news from the ‘Zanele Sifuba Facebook’ account without investigating its source.
“Let it be stated without any equivocation that Governor Diri does not know and has had no contact or relationship with the said woman at the centre of the scandal. He has also not been to South Africa in the last 10 years.
“While we have read about a purported attempt to collect R300,000 from her, the ‘young blackmailer’ is certainly not Governor Diri.
“Ask the question: why would a governor of an oil-rich state resort to blackmail for a mere R300,000 (about N8 million)? This is simply ridiculous.”
He said clearly the political mischief-makers had gone on overdrive in their desperation to tarnish the reputation of a hard working, calm, peaceful and focused Governor.
Oredipe said the story is just another failed attempt to distract the man that is single-minded on his developmental agenda for his state and who had in the last six weeks devoted his time and energy to managing the devastating flood that hit Bayelsa.
He said: “The situation is under control, meanwhile four of the criminal elements were neutralised and police/military patrols have been intensified in the area.
“The joint task force also recovered some of their operational vehicles which include Venza jeep and others
“Further details shall be communicated please as operation is still ongoing.”
Ortom stated this at the weekend in Enugu during a banquet and command performance by the Enugu Government for members of the G-5 Governors who are in the State to flag off the party’s campaign ahead of the 2023 elections.
According to a statement signed by the his Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, CPS , Nath Ikyur, Ortom stated that having travelled to many countries and seen how orderly things are done, it was their desire to see the same replicated in Nigeria.
He maintained their insistence on the right things to be done in the PDP and the country at large was not out of personal interests but for collective good.
Ortom said God has blessed Nigeria with human and material resources, stating all that was left was to coordinate things for everyone.
The other Governors in attendance at the banquet were Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and the host Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Oyetola is challenging the outcome of the July governorship election in which candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was declared winner.
Akeredolu, who spoke in Owo at the funeral service of his late mother, Grace, said Oyetola would ‘regain his mandate very soon whether you like it or not. He is a man after my heart.’
Akeredolu, in a response to sermon delivered by Revd Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi, said there were crops of politicians in the Southwest the people could be very proud of.
According to him: “We have listened to your political sermon. It was wonderful listening to the sermon. I will not contend with you but I know as politicians we are doing our best. It might not be good for everybody.
“You should also say the things we have done. Continue to pray for us so that we will do our best. We will look at it. It is not that we are not trying. We have our shortcomings. We have crops of politicians in the Southwest we can be very proud of. Not all of us shall die. We shall be here when Christ shall come.”
Revd Fagbemi, in his sermon, tasked politicians to begin their campaigns tours in hospitals.
He told candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that God has placed him where he is going to make a difference.
“Go to hospitals and schools and see what Nigeria is like. I encourage you to go to FMC here in Owo to campaign and see what the future holds.
“The poor are getting poorer. Nigeria needs a change that will ensure safety and security in villages. We need a government that understands economics. Life is hard in this country. Let our leaders be careful to help us move things forward. The best place to start campaign is hospital.”
Revd Fagbemi urged Governor Akeredolu and his siblings to immortalise their mother because she lived a life of service to God and humanity.
President Mohammadu Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the life of the mother of the Ondo Governor deserved celebration.
According to him, “Today is a day of great joy. We have reached where we must celebrate one the greatest legacy. It is a time to celebrate Mama because of the great deeds. The life of Grace Akeredolu is a life worthy of celebration. She lost her husband at the age of 50 and lived up to 90. She brought up her children. She made a great effort at raising four boys
“She did very well indeed. We must thank God because not only did she bring up her children well but all of them are successful. What we must celebrate most is her service to God and mankind. We celebrate the life of a great woman, a woman who served God well and her community.”
Tinubu, on his part, urged Nigerians not to give up on politicians.
He said the APC would do better
“Thank God we are alive, there might be weaknesses and inadequacies in expectation. no one wants failure. You cannot give up on us. We will do better. We will contribute to the improvement you might want. Mama has given us the Grace of the day that she will not be the one to bury us. She had the greatest legacy of a life full of achievements.”
Late Grace Akeredolu died on September 15 in her sleep.
She was interred beside her husband in Owo, hometown of Governor Akeredolu.
Dignitaries present at the event included members of the Ondo State House of Assembly led by Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun, Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State. Former Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko former Interim Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Senator Ibikunle Amosun amongst others.
