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  • INEC chairman warns Anambra staff against electoral fraud

    INEC chairman warns Anambra staff against electoral fraud

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday warned the Anambra staff of the commission against involvement in electoral fraud.

    Yakubu gave the warning when he addressed the staff of the commission at the INEC state headquarters Awka ahead of Nov.18 governorship election.

    The INEC boss said that anybody caught in electoral malpractice would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

    “Every INEC worker must ensure that we all achieve our set goal of making Anambra Nov.18 governorship election flawless and historic,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said that Nigerians and indeed people outside are watching INEC in its resolve to make Anambra governorship election the best in the history of the commission.

    “INEC will be holding two elections in Anambra on Nov. 18, the governorship election and the state assembly election for Idemili North state constituency you must discharge your duties diligently.

    “There are many people out there working seriously to see that the commission fails in its commitment to record free, fair and credible election and you must have this in mind.

    “INEC will get rid of you if you do the wrong thing, and you are aware that those caught in the web of such negative act during the conduct of 2015 election are still facing the music’’, he said.

    He said that he had about one month ago provided money and other logistics needed for the smooth conduct of the  election and advised unit heads to work closely with their subordinates.

    “The deployment of materials to local governments will commence on Wednesday this week while the sensitive materials would be shared a day before the election.

    “You must make sure you get to the polling units by 8am on the election to make sure that things work according to plan’’, he said.

    Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, assured the national chairman that staff of the commission  were committed to ensuring a hitch-free election.

    NAN

  • Tottenham’s Dembele eyes start against Arsenal

    Tottenham’s Dembele eyes start against Arsenal

    Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele is confident he can make his first Premier League start for the club in two months, in the weekend’s clash at Arsenal after fully recovering from a foot injury.

    Dembele, whose progress has also been stalled by a hip issue, has featured just six times in the Premier League this season.

    And he played the full 45 minutes after coming on at half time in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace earlier this month.

    The Belgian international is targeting a full time return to first team action.

    “My injury is much better, “Dembele told Sky Sports.”I played 45 minutes in the last game so it is good. Of course.

    “I want to be playing for the team and adding my value but right now I am very optimistic and feel good.

    “For us every game is important, but we know there is some extra vibe for this kind of game, it’s important for us.”

    Tottenham are third in the table, eight points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, and Dembele stressed the importance of a win on Saturday.

    “Also, like the fans, we have the same goal, we want to achieve something as a club and any team that we play we want to beat, we want to win,” he said.

    “That is the same with this game, we are aware of the importance of this derby.”

    Arsenal, who were beaten 3-1 at City in their last league outing are sixth in the standings with 19 points from 11 games.

    NAN

  • Liverpool’s Mane suffers injury scare on Senegal duty

    Liverpool’s Mane suffers injury scare on Senegal duty

    Liverpool and Senegal forward Sadio Mane has returned to the English Premier League club earlier than scheduled after tweaking his hamstring on international duty, the Senegal Football Federation has said.

    The 25-year-old made crucial contributions for Senegal as they sealed a berth in the 2018 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win over South Africa on Friday.

    “Following the match between South Africa and Senegal on Friday, Sadio Mane slightly felt his old injury,” the Senegal Football Federation said in a statement on Monday.

    “After consultations between the medical staff of the national team of Senegal and Liverpool it was decided by mutual agreement to make him available to his club to continue treatment until full recovery.”

    Mane missed five games for Liverpool after sustaining the hamstring injury on Senegal duty in September and returned in the Merseyside club’s league win over West Ham United earlier this month.

    Liverpool are fifth in the league and host Mane’s former club Southampton, who are 13th, on Saturday.

    NAN

  • Why we chose Agege Stadium for continental matches – MFM Director

    Why we chose Agege Stadium for continental matches – MFM Director

    The Director of MFM FC of Lagos, Emmanuel Adeyemi on Monday said that the club chose to play its continental matches at Agege Stadium because it has a “fortress” of fans  no team will survive.

    Adeyemi said in an interview  that though the club could play its matches anywhere in Lagos, it remained in Agege to maintain its affinity with their supporters.

    “MFM FC can play anywhere in Lagos, it’s just that this is our home ground and this is where we have our fans and we are also used to the facility here.

    “Agege fans have been of great support to the team, we want them to enjoy our playing in the continent here, but that does not mean we cannot play anywhere else.

    “We are thankful to the Lagos State government for their tremendous support in making this place ready. The support has been so great; Agege remains a fortress,’’ he said.

    Adeyemi expressed optimism that CAF would certify the stadium for the continental campaign.

    “ I am confident that Agege will get CAF’s approval for our continental campaign, the Lagos State government has committed large sum for its remodelling.

    “ With the kind of passion shown to MFM by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, we are left with little to do, just to get our players ready.

    “For this competition, we are not only representing Lagos State, but we will be flying the national flag.

    “The state government has done everything possible in making sure that Agege Stadium gets CAF approval by December, and we will take it up from there,” he said.

    Adeyemi reporterd that the team would begin close camping as soon as it completes ongoing recruitment of new players.

    “Immediately after we must have done with getting new signings, we will go into closed camping. The coaches and the technical crew have submitted their list and we are looking into it.

    “We will strengthen all the departments from defence to the midfield and strikers; we want to add to our pool of talented players.

    “For us in MFM, we believe in excellence and we want to effectively represent Lagos and Nigeria at the CAF Champions League, so all hands are on deck.

    “We aim to make MFM the toast of many as far as football club is concerned.

    “So we are ready to surpass the targets of people with the level of support we have received from the Lagos State Governor,’’the director added.

    In the same vein, Sola Coker, a board member of the Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA) said that MFM would get all the support needed from the body.

    “We are ready to support MFM to any length. We are happy that Lagos is back on the continent after 16 years in the doldrums.

    “We are glad that Ambode gave his support for Agege Stadium to meet CAF’s standard, it’s such a huge investment and a positive development.

    “We have worked hard for this since about six years ago during the emergence of MFM till now and we can only hope for the better,’’ the LSFA board member said.

    NAN

  • Gombe citizens tackle Goje for embarrassing Buhari’s family

    Gombe citizens tackle Goje for embarrassing Buhari’s family

    The Concerned Citizen of Gombe have apologised to the wife of the President and her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari over the embarrassment she encountered during her condolence visit to Gombe state.

    The President’s wife, Aisha Buhari had on Wednesday visited Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje over the demise of his wife Yelwa who passed on in the United States on November 9, 2017.

    Senator Goje at the occasion claimed on the contrary that since he was sworn in as Governor in 2011, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has never visited him despite deaths and other calamities that had befallen his family, even though his late wife was instrumental to the governor’s candidature.

    The Concerned Citizens said it was not the first time Goje is embarrassing the president’s family, recalling that while a CPC Presidential candidate in 2006, Goje who was then governing Gombe state on PDP platform prevented Buhari from landing at Gombe Airport by blocking the runway of under the guise of maintenance work.

    “Secondly, he (Goje) ordered the complete sealing of Pantami Stadium and spread the vicinity with latrite to prevent vehicular movements around the stadium on the scheduled day of Buhari’s campaign team arrival.

    “Thirdly, on the day Buhari was to arrive Gombe for his campaign tour, some hired thugs were positioned directly opposite the PDP Presidential campaign office along Bauchi road to stone the office immediately Buhari’s convoy arrived to portray that the office was vandalised by Buhari supporters.

    “This made Buhari believe that the destruction of PDP campaign office was caused by his supporters and he tendered an apology,” the Concerned Citizens recalled through their spokesman, AIG Abdulmumini Abubakar (rtd).

    While speaking of how Goje ended up marrying the wife of his benefactor, late Ibrahim Hassan, the group also recalled how the Senator denied Abubakar Atku the use of Gombe airport during his 2007 presidential campaign tour, despite the former Vice President’s contribution to his becoming the governor of Gombe sate in 2003.

    The Group described the acclaimed late Yelwa Goje’s approval Dankwambo’s candidate during the preparations for 2011 election as distasteful, questioning how and positing that Gombe has some explaining to do.

    The AIG Abdulmumini (rtd) led group commended Governor Dankwambo’s handling of the matter and explained that they found it expedient to react in order not to allow silence give credence to the false claims.

  • NOA begins nationwide campaign on ‘Building People of Peace’

    NOA begins nationwide campaign on ‘Building People of Peace’

    The National Orientation Agency ( NOA ) has commenced a nationwide campaign tagged “Building a People of Peace’’ to foster harmonious relationship among Nigerians.

    The Kwara State Coordinator of NOA, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi, made the disclosure on Monday while delivering his speech at the flag off of the programme in Ilorin.

    He said the campaign was to foster peace in homes, workplaces and religious organisations.

    “Let me reiterate the fact that peace and harmonious living are the sine quo non for development, economic growth and well being of all and sundry.

    “Peace is an issue that cannot be over emphasised because without it, the society will experience crisis and be in chaos without achieving any developmental goals,’’ Adeyemi said.

    The NOA coordinator called on all stakeholders to play vital role in building peace, especially at a time when hate speeches and separatist agitations were being fuelled by selfish Nigerians.

    Kwara State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole, who spoke at the event, said equity and tolerance were necessary for peace and harmonious relationship and in building heterogeneous society.

    “To achieve cordial and peaceful relationship in the society, we should shun tribalism, favouritism, injustice and other vices,” she said.

    Oluwole called on civil servants to be committed to their duties and adhere to laid down rules and regulations governing their jobs.

    She urged NOA not to relent in the sensitisation of the public on issues that would promote peace in the society.

    The Guest Speaker, Prof. Isaac Albert, Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, said Nigerians must respect their socio-cultural and religious differences in order to build a strong and peaceful nation.

    He said: “we are not created to think and act the same way, therefore we must recognise the contributions and opinions of every citizen in Nigeria.

    “The country is diversified with different cultural and socio-political settings which tolerance and respect for one another must be factor of consideration to achieve peace.”

    NAN

  • Buhari’s visit to Turkey attracts 23 companies

    Buhari’s visit to Turkey attracts 23 companies

    Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to Turkey to boost bilateral trade, 23 Turkish electrical manufacturing  companies will  visit Nigeria this week to meet buyers and distributors.

    The Managing Director of Naijalink Ltd., Mrs Thessa Bagu, said this in Lagos that the visit would strengthen trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

    Naijalinks, a local firm, connected foreign companies willing to do business in Nigeria to local buyers or sellers.

    “Following renewed Turkish-Nigerian commitments to boost bilateral trade, a Turkish electronics and electrical goods trade mission will, this week, be visiting Nigeria for meetings with local buyers and distributors.

    “This trade mission is coming only weeks after President Buhari visited Turkey to strengthen trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

    “Under the ambit of the Turkish Electro Technology Exporters’ Association ( TET ) – a professional body representing over 7,500 companies – the trade mission will showcase advanced Turkish white goods, electronics, cables and electrical production and distribution equipment,’’ she said.

    Bagu said that the mission would comprise Turkish manufacturers, representing companies across consumer electronics and appliances, lighting, cables, electrical transmission and distribution equipment, industrial automation products and specialised cables.

    She said that the mission, to be led by the Vice Chairman of TET Board, Mr Mehmet Kavaklioglu, would hold pre-scheduled meetings with Nigerian business operators at Eko Hotel and suites, Lagos, on Thursday.

    According to her, Turkey’s fast-growing electronics, white goods and electrical components sector annually exports over 10 billion dollars in goods to the global market.

    Buhari went on a four-day working visit to Turkey on Oct. 18.

    The president participated in the ninth D-8 Summit in Istanbul on Oct. 20 and held bilateral meetings with some member-countries.

    NAN

  • Wizkid defeats Davido, sweeps AFRIMA 2017 award

    Wizkid defeats Davido, sweeps AFRIMA 2017 award

    Wizkid, a.k.a Star boy, has defeated his arch-rival Davido, to become the best African male artiste at the 2017 All African Music Award ( AFRIMA ) held in Lagos on Sunday.

    Wizkid’s award included, Artiste of the Year, for his song “Come Closer’’, Song of the Year for the same song and Best Male artiste in Western Africa.

    This win has once again renewed the battle of supremacy between the two popular artistes and is coming shortly after Davido edged Wizkid out at the 2017 MTV EMA by winning the “Best African Act”.

    Wizkid got a rare international recognition in 2016 after he had a collaboration effort with American international Drake with their Collabo song “One Dance sold in 15 countries including U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia.

    Earlier this year, Wizkid became the first Afrobeat artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to Drake’s hit song “One Dance’’.

    In his acceptance speech, the Ojuelegba crooner thanked 2baba and DJ Jimmy Jatt for their contributions to the African music landscape.

    Wizkid, born on July 16, 1990, a song writer and a solo artiste started his foray into music at the tender age of 11 with his band “Glorious Five’’ a group formed from a church choir.

    He however took the music world by storm with his all-time hit track “Holla at your Boy’’ in 2010 and another hit track “Ayo’’ in 2014.

    NAN

  • Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Chris Green, member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Monday that the Super Eagles worked hard and deserved to be at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Nigeria topped group b with 14 points to qualify for the World Cup. Other countries in the group, tagged the group of death are, Algeria, Cameroon, and Zambia.

    Green, the chairman, player’s status of the Federation, said this in Lagos that comments made by Stuart Baxter, Coach of the South African national team about Nigeria were unfair.

    Baxter, in a post-match reaction after losing 2-0 to Senegal, said that Nigeria and Senegal are not better than South Africa.

    “ Maybe, I am being blue-eyed, but I don`t think Senegal or even Nigeria were much better than us,” Baxter said.

    Green said that he sympathized with the South African coach for his inability to qualify the team for the World Cup.

    “ First of all, I sympathize with Stuart Baxter for his inability to qualify South Africa to play in the World Cup. He tried very much for his team, but, it did not work out.

    “ But as sportsmen, he cannot say that a team that qualified ahead of you, that you are better than that team,” he said.

    According to Green, there is no reason to say that South Africa is better than Nigeria when Nigeria qualified ahead of them.

    “ The World Cup is bigger than AFCON, CHAN, and so, it is the biggest stage and so, you cannot rightly say that you are better than Nigeria, that is not right, and that is not sportsmanly.

    “Much as one will want to respect the South African team, as one of the teams that are emerging in African football, it will not be right for anybody to say that his team is better than the other team,” he said.

    Green stressed the need for coaches to show respect to one another adding that he did not expect a coach like Baxter to make such comments.

    “ We should remember that Nigeria is the first in Africa to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

    Read Also:  Nigeria 1-1 Algeria: Super Eagles Finish 2018 W/Cup Qualifiers Unbeaten

  • Nasarawa to train information officers on modern journalism

    Nasarawa to train information officers on modern journalism

    Nasarawa State Government said on Monday it would train information officers in the state on modern trend of journalism for effective service delivery.

    Mr bdulhamid Kwarra, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made this known in an interview in Lafia.

    He said that the training was to sharpen the skills of the information officers for optimal productivity and efficiency in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    The commissioner said that Gov.Tanko Al-makura’s administration was media-friendly and would continue to engage the media at all times.

    “The ministry is planning to organize in-house training for information officers in the state in order to meet up with modern trends of journalism.

    “This is part of the commitment of the state government to improve journalists and workers’ capacity,” he said.

    Kwarra advised information officers in the state to be cautious of the dangers posed by the social media and brace up to the challenges it posed to factual information transmission.

    He also called on journalists in the state to ensure balance in their reports “in the interest of peace and for the socio-economic development of the state.”

    The commissioner urged journalists to adhere strictly to the ethnics of their profession, to guarantee fairness, accuracy and balance.

    NAN