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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Police murder of driver sparks massive protest on Kaduna-Abuja road

    THOUSANDS of commuters were on Friday left stranded for hours on both sides of the Kaduna –Abuja highway after drivers of articulated vehicles blocked the road to protest the alleged killing of one of them by a policeman.

    Abdul Liman, the driver of Peugeot J5 with registration number KTN – 180XQ, was killed for allegedly refusing to give the policeman a N1000 bribe.

    Kaduna State Police Commissioner Ali Aji Janga ordered a full scale investigation into the matter and pledged that the suspect would be prosecuted.

    The co-driver of the Peugeot J5 Ali Dan-Zaria, told NAN that they were conveying rice from Katsina to Abuja, when they were stopped by the police.

    There were three people in the vehicle when the incident occurred according to  Dan-Zaria, the driver, co-driver and  a young boy of about 20 years.

    He said that they were stopped at about 5:30 AM, a few kilometres away from Olam Hatchery when one of the police officers demanded N1000 from them.

    “I offered to give N200 which he refused to collect. I added another N200, but he still refused and insisted that I must give him N1000.

    “Then his colleague stood in front   of the windscreen and pointed his gun at us.

    “I was still negotiating with theofficer who demanded the N1000 when I heard a gunshot and my colleaguescreamed, saying “they have killed me, they have killed me.

    “I turned and saw my boss, blood gushing out from his head, where the bullet hit him. I immediately came out of the vehicle and asked ‘who killed my boss?’

    “The one who did it immediately ran and disappeared into the bush, while the remaining ones quickly entered their vehicle and zoomed off,” he said.

    Dan-Zaria said that within a few minutes, the scene was filled with sympathizers and immediately the road was blocked to prevent commuters from plying the road.

    The Deputy Chairman, Tanker Drivers Association, Kaduna State, Malam Musa Danazumi, told NAN that the road was blocked to draw the attention of security agencies and government officials.

    “We decided to block the road to seek justice for our colleague who was killed for no reason by police officers who were supposed to protect us from harm.

    “We insisted that no vehicle will move until Governor Nasir El-Rufai or the state’s Commissioner of Police come to the scene and give us his words to bring the culprit to book,” Danazumi said.

    It took the efforts of Colonel I. B. Gambari, the officer-in-charge of operations on  the expressway to calm the situation and convinced the transport union officials to open the road.

    Gambari promised the union officials that he would assist to ensure that the incident was documented and action taken by the police.

    The union gave in to his plea and allowed the road to be cleared at around 11: 10 PM.

    This was after agreeing to hand over the corpse of the victim to his family for burial, while Gambari and the union officials would see the commissioner of police for necessary action.

    Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement on behalf of the government, regretted the development.

    He said: “In the early hours of today, a group of drivers blocked the Kaduna-Abuja Road to protest the killing of their colleague by a policeman.

    “The loss of life is deeply regretted. The Kaduna State Government commiserates with the family of the deceased driver and has directed that the police will thoroughly investigate the incident.

    “However, grief and a sense of loss do not justify imposing such pains on other citizens as the protesting drivers have done by blocking a very busy public highway. They have left many people stranded for several hours and caused considerable distress.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Protesters block Kaduna-Abuja highway

    “The Kaduna State government apologises to road users for the inconveniences caused by the hours-long blockade.

    “The road has since been opened and the protesting drivers cleared. However, the standstill created by the blockage has resulted in a gridlock that will take hours to clear. The queue of stranded vehicles stretches for several kilometres.

    “Therefore, the state government appeals to all persons traveling on the Kaduna-Abuja highway to patiently cooperate with efforts to clear the gridlock.”

    Police Commissioner Ali Aji Janga directed a full scale investigation into the matter and assured the public that the police personnel involved in the killing would be prosecuted accordingly.

    The Police Command described the incident as unfortunate saying: “the Commissioner of Police CP Ali A. Janga has already defaulted the NCO involved in the incident as a preliminary disciplinary measure and he will be tried accordingly.

    “He further directed for a full investigation into the circumstances of the killing.”

    “The CP commiserated with the family of the deceased and assured them and members of public that the Command will ensure that justice is done on the matter.

    “The Command therefore calls for calm and pleads with the drivers’ unions not to take law into their hands by causing road blockade as such measure will only add difficulty to the public,” he urged.

    The blockade of the highway also left many other travellers stranded at the Jabi,  Utako and Mabushi Motor Parks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    A Kano bound passenger, Miss Hadiza Abubakar said she arrived the Utako Park around 9 AM and for more than three hours waited without getting a vehicle.

    Abubakar, who is a Youth Corps member serving in Abuja , said she planned spending the Sallah break with her family in Kano. “I used to pay N3,000 to Kano but today I was told that the price is now N5,000 and we the passengers are ready to pay.

    “But as you can see, there is even no vehicle on ground but we are waiting patiently because we have to travel.”

    Another passenger, Mr Gambo Yargaya, a civil servant, also decried insufficient vehicles at the park and prayed something was done about it for the benefit of passengers.

    Although there were passengers waiting for vehicles to travel to Kaduna at the Mabushi Park, the fare remained N1, 500 as it had always been.

    At the Jabi Park, Miss Agnes Jacob, a student said her family stayed in Kano and she wanted to travel for the Sallah break to be with them but there was no vehicle.

    Jacob said “I came to the park since8 AM. but since I came, no vehicle has been provided for us to travel, but we are still hopeful.”

  • Obaseki, World Bank, EU review impact of strategy in fight against human trafficking

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has met with officials of the World Bank and the European Union (EU) to review the impact of the multi-pronged strategy being deployed in the fight against human trafficking in the state.

    According to Obaseki, “the meeting provided us with the opportunity to appraise the work we have done so far and set new targets because the fight against human trafficking must be sustained.

    “We will continue to seek creative ways to sustain the fight against human trafficking and deepen our relationship with our partners; the World Bank, the European Union and other stakeholders.”

    The meeting which held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had in attendance World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Rachid Benmessaoud, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, among others. Part of the Edo State delegation includes Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele, among others.

    The European Union and the World Bank are critical stakeholders in the campaign against human trafficking and illegal migration championed by the Edo State Government. Both organisations have made critical commitments to the campaign and have provided support to ensure that the state government builds essential support structures and institutions to discourage illegal migration.

    Some of the projects captured under the partnership include the rehabilitation of the Government Science and Technical College, which is expected to serve as a centre of excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for youths in the state.

     

  • Yellow fever claims 16 lives in Ebonyi

    NO fewer than 16 lives have reportedly been lost to an outbreak of yellow fever virus in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Several other victims were receiving treatment at the Virology Centre and Iboko General Hospital in the state as at the time of filing this report.

    The virus had reportedly been ravaging the community since July before the information got to the state’s ministry of health which thereafter moved in to curtail further spread.

    The Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Achi, confirmed the incident on Friday in a chat with journalists in Abakaliki.

    He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had intervened in the matter.

    Achi blamed the death of the 16 persons on patronage of quacks and use of herbs to treat the outbreak.

    He appealed to the people of the state to always access health facilities located in their areas. According to him, a specie of mosquito called AEDES transmits the virus to humans and it has three to six days incubation period in human body.

    “Yes, that is why we appreciate the community giving early information to the authority especially when they notice that there is an unusual happening. We have always insisted that people should make use of our health facilities. In all the 171 political wards in Ebonyi State, we have  health centres  that will serve them.

    “On July 16, somebody called me from one of the villages in Izzi Local Government Area saying that there was a way people were dying in the village and that he was suspecting that something might be wrong. I called health workers there who said no such case came to their clinic.

    “I sent our rapid response team to visit the place, lo and behold, when they got there, it was a case of yellow fever but unfortunately, we had had about 16 deaths from the place. So we moved to the place and conducted case search. Those who already had the symptom, we moved to the health facility at Ndungele and when it was serious ,we moved some to the general hospital at Iboko and Virology Center here in Abakaliki.

    Read Also: Truck crushes three persons to death in Ebonyi

    “But the problem about the outbreak was that our people did not believe that they would have to go to hospital when they experienced yellowness of the eyes. They believed that they could be treated with local herbs and that’s why we recorded causalities which should not have been.” Achi said they state government notified federal ministry of health and Center For Disease Control immediately they knew about the outbreak.

    “For the past two weeks, they have been in Ebonyi State to ensure control and they equally came with drugs and consignments.”We are equally doing much to ensure that it does not spread to the capital city. Yellow fever is not transmitted from human to human. It can only be transmitted through mosquito. There are forest monkeys that equally carry yellow fever virus and if mosquito bites the monkey and bites somebody in the forest it will pass the virus and if the mosquito bites another person, it will continue to transmit the virus.

    That is the way the virus spreads. Yellow fever comes with fever, typhoid and if it is not detected on time, it will start draining the victim’s blood and the person will go into coma,” Achi explained.

  • INEC withdraws C’River REC’s powers

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has withdrawn all powers and functions delegated to the Cross River Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Frankland Briyai.

    Briyai on Thursday announced his resignation from his position to enable him participate in the forthcoming governorship election.

    But the commission said it has no information to that effect from the REC.

    INEC said the REC’ s resignation did not follow due process and thereby withdrew all powers delegated to him.

    According to a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye , the Administrative Secretary of Cross River State has been directed to oversee the office and take over the functions and duties of the REC until further notice.

    Read Also: JUST IN: INEC sacks Cross Rivers REC

    The statement reads: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Cross River State of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr. Frankland Briyai yesterday addressed the media to the effect that he has resigned his position as REC with effect from 8th August 2019 and joined a political party on whose platform he intends to contest the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State. Although this was done at the commission’s Cross River State office in Calabar, the commission is yet to receive any communication on this from Dr. Briyai.

    “The commission strongly frowns at the RECs’ expression of partisan interest. We note that the constitution precludes National and Resident Electoral Commissioners from belonging to political parties. Also, the use of INEC’s premises and facilities for such declaration or for any political purpose is unlawful and contrary to the Code of Conduct subscribed to by all INEC officials.

  • Murdered motorcyclist: Provide evidence of arrested killer-soldier, IPOB tells Ikpeazu

    THE Indigenous People of the Biafra (IPOB) has asked Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to provide pictorial evidence to confirm the arrest of killer of the commercial motorcyclist in his state.

    The slain cyclist, Chimaobi Nworgu was allegedly shot dead following his refusal to offer N100 bribe to a military officer at a checkpoint.

    The Biafra agitators, in a statement on Friday by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said no arrest was made as claimed by the governor.

    It said the death of Chimaobi represented a watershed, insisting that no amount of photoopportunity or public relations would diminish the fact.

    The statement partly reads: “It is unbelievable that Okezie Ikpeazu and the Police Commissioner in Abia State announced the arrest of the killer soldiers involved in the death of Chimaobi Nworgu.

    “Nobody has ever seen any picture or video of the murderers as is customary with Nigerian Police anytime they arrest suspects in high profile cases.

    Read Also: IPOB slams military over alleged killing of cyclist

    “No news conference where their full names, ranks and division they are serving in the army were made public. Biafrans must know there is no iota of truth in the widely circulated lie that those soldiers responsible for the death of Chimaobi are in custody.’’

    The youth wing of apex Igbo socio cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described as an assault to Ndigbo, a statement credited to the Nigerian Army over the murder.

    In a statement signed by the national President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Igbo group said: “We are shocked by the compromised and distorted statement marred with deceptive intentions credited to the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division Aliyu Yusuf, that the killing was perpetrated by gunmen in military camouflage.

    It is the a height of assault on Ndigbo. “The military should apologize to Ndigbo as we have uncovered from intelligence report that Cpl Ajayi was arrested on Wednesday trying to flee and he’s currently detained. This contradicts the earlier falsehood dished out to deceive the public.

    We laud Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his timely intervention to halt further violent protests that would have led to reprisal attacks on the military by Biafra agitators and angry Igbo youths over the untimely death of Chimaobi.

    We call on President Muhammadu Buhari as a matter of urgency to give a matching order to redeploy all the military leadership in the South East. “As Ndigbo awaits the unreserved apology from the military, we call on aggrieved persons, youths and Biafra agitators to shelve any planned violent protests or reprisals attacks as Abia State government had brought succour to the deceased family

  • Controversy trails arrest of notorious cultist Bobrisky in Rivers

    CONTROVERSY is trailing the announcement by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, that the Nigerian Army has arrested Bobrisky, a notorious cultist in the state.

    Wike during a security meeting with leaders of Rumuolumeni Community at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yon Friday, announced the capture of Bobrisky, an alleged mastermind of dastardly killings in Gokana Local Government Area of Ogoniland.

    But a source at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, debunked the claim, challenging the governor to parade the criminal to validate his claim.

    The governor, during the announcement said: “The army has captured Bobrisky of Gokana. I will pay the bounty that I promised to the Nigerian Army. Anyone who generates insecurity in Rivers, I am ready to pay any amount to ensure the arrest of that person.”

    Governor Wike called on community leaders to provide information to the State Security Council on criminals in their communities to frontally reduce crime in the state.

    He described Rumuolumeni as one of the flashpoints in the state where criminals had been using the waterway as a getaway point. Wike urged the community leaders to cooperate with the Rivers government to check the activities of cult groups and insecurity in the area.

    On the issue of road construction, Wike assured the people of the area that key roads in the community would be constructed by his administration.

    Read Also: We’re ready to tackle insecurity, says Wike

    He stated that at the end of this month, contractors would be mobilised to commence work on the selected roads.

    The governor said: “Key roads in the area (Rumuolumeni) have been primed for construction. I urge you to have confidence in us that we will continue to develop the area.”

    Wike reiterated the proscription of youth groups in Rivers State, stressing that any youth body that plans to operate must first be profiled by security agencies.

    Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, said almost all communities in the state had been overrun by cultists, declaring that security agencies would not watch and allow the situation to degenerate. He hailed Wike for donating vehicles and other equipment to the security agencies to fight crimes, while assuring that security agencies would intensify the battle against crimes, to achieve results.

    A source at the 6 Division, Port Harcourt,debunked the governor’s claim, saying: ”Let me confide in you that Bobrisky has not been arrested. I do not know what Governor Nyesom Wike intends to gain by lying and misleading members of the public. Since Gov. Wike insists that Bobrisky has been arrested by his army, not the Nigerian Army, let him parade Bobrisky on Saturday (today), Sunday or Monday.

    With the lie by Governor Wike and the press statement by his media aide, Bobrisky will escape from Nigeria or he may go underground. The truth remains that Bobrisky has not been arrested.”

  • Oyo poised to access over N2bn education funds

    THE Oyo State government has said, that, it is poised to do the needful to access the sum of N2,724,516,373.70 (Two Billion, seven hundred and twenty four million, five hundred and sixteen thousand, three hundred and seventy three Naira, seventy kobo), outstanding fund from the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), adding that this would boost the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration’s effort at improving education delivery in the state.

    Speaking during an advocacy visit by a team from Universal Basic Education Board, the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OyoSUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the state would leave no stone unturned to ensure every grant for the promotion of Education in the state is accessed.

    “Government will ensure that Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board benefits from every unassessed fund at UBEC,” he said.

    He said if accessed, the funds would be channeled into the development of education in the state, thereby encouraging enrollment in public schools across the state.

    Read Also: Oyo lawmaker empowers 200 constituents

    Adeniran said the board would also involve education stakeholders in addressing the menace of out-of-school children in the State.

    Lamenting the increasing number of such children, he promised that the state government, through the board, will involve all stakeholders including traditional rulers, parents and educationists to ensure an aggressive enrollment of these children in public schools.

    The Chairman promised that 2018 UBEC/SUBEB Projects would not be sited based on political considerations, but rather on the needs of each school.

    “Governor Seyi Makinde is committed to education in the state, and he considers that Basic Education is pivotal to the development of the state. Therefore, politics will not be a yardstick in siting schools. Rather, we would consider each school’s needs,” Adeniran said.

    Appealing to UBEC to support the State Government in order to replicate the Model Schools, he said: “Oyo State Government will stick to replicating model schools in the state. This, in turn, will promote education in the state, we believe.”

    Speaking earlier, the Director Administration and Supply, UBEC, Rt. Rev. Edwin Jarumai, who represented the commission’s governing board, urged the government to do the needful in accessing it’s outstanding funds.

    He further commended the state government’s concerted efforts at completing various UBEC/SUBEB Projects across the State.

     

  • Customs arrests notorious rice smuggler

    THE Ogun State Customs Command on Wednesday said it had arrested a notorious suspected smuggler in the Owode area of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    According to the Comptroller of Customs in the state, Michael Agbara, the suspect popularly called Victor Owode was arrested for allegedly smuggling several bags of rice into the country.

    He said the suspect had been charged before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi and remanded in prison.

    Agbara disclosed this at a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Idi-Iroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the command generated the sum N 1, 281, 034, 042.80 in the month of July as against its target revenue of N643, 471, 763.99 for the same month.

    Agbara also disclosed that the command had intercepted 7, 848 bags of smuggled rice, equivalent of 13 trucks in the month of July, 2019. He noted that the seizure was the highest recorded by the command.

    He said: “This is evidently a patriotic duty by the Service to fully align with one of the cardinal federal government policies targeted at boosting agricultural development with a view to attaining national food self-sufficiency.

    “The seizure of 7, 848 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 23 units of vehicles (seven used vehicles and16 means of conveyance) and 32 kegs of vegetable oil. 201 pairs of used tyres, three sacks of used foot wears, 320 bags of sugar, 4 bales and 1 sack of secondhand clothing.”

    He also announced that Ogun State command had been split it into two commands in line with the decision was taken at the Nigeria Customs Service Board 50th Regular Meeting held on May 21, 2019.

    Agbara explained that the unbundling was done with a view to enhancing administrative efficiency and boost revenue generation for the service.

     

     

  • Demote coronet Obas appointed by Amosun, committee tells Gov. Abiodun

    THE Chieftaincy Review Committee (CRC) set up by Governor Dapo Abiodun to review the appointments of 75 coronet Obas in Ogun State by the immediate past governor, Ibikunle Amosun, hours to his exit from office, on May 28, has submitted its report, on Friday, recommending that the affected monarchs revert to their previous positions as Baales (minor chiefs).

    The committee noted, that, some of the coronet Obas were upgraded contrary to due process. They were allegedly promoted from the lower rank of Baale to coronet Oba by Amosun’s administration without the knowledge of their respective prescribed authorities.

    Speaking while presenting the report to Governor Abiodun in his Oke – Mosan Governor office, in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Chairman of the Committee, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, regretted that the prestige of the traditional institution had nosedived over the years, and gradually lost its respect due to political interference.

    Olugbenle, who doubles as the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, advised politicians to tread with caution when handling issues concerning traditional rulers and the institution as their involvement in traditional matters was gradually weakening and rendering it ineffective.

    Olugbenle added that if the affected traditional rulers are to be upgraded to Obas, proper procedures should be followed or adopted.

    “It is absurd to see traditional rulers in political robes. As natural rulers, they are to see all the people as their children, irrespective of political affiliations.

    “Baales are minor Chiefs. Their upgrade should be recommended by their appointive authorities who are first class obas.

    Read Also: Amosun wins the race in Ogun

    “Some coronets Obas were upgraded without their prescribed authorities’ knowledge and we have recommended that they remain Baales. If they are to be upgraded, the requirements should be followed,” Olugbenle said.

    Responding, Abiodun tasked traditional rulers to ensure peace and security to guarantee the safety of lives and property of people in their respective domains.

    The Governor said, as natural rulers, they were closer to the people and know the goings – on in their domains.

    “We know what your roles in the society. You are not politicians. You know those in yours domains. Please ensure peace and security in your domains,” Governor Abiodun pleaded.

    He disclosed that the Chieftaincy disputes were becoming a security challenge that threatens peace in the state, saying that he was confident that the committee had done its best in finding solutions to these lingering issues.

    The Governor who made this known in a release by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, commended the Committee for working assiduously towards arriving at workable recommendations.

    He assured the committee that government would study, review and come up with appropriate policy decisions that would help reposition and strengthen the traditional institution.

    Meanwhile, members of the Ogun State Elders Consultative Forum have applauded Governor Abiodun for setting up Committees to look into various issues affecting the State.

    The coordinator of the forum, Taiwo Alimi, who gave the commendation when the forum paid a courtesy call on the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his office at the Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the committees were necessary to know the problems on the ground with a view to finding solutions to them, as “something cannot be build on nothing”.

    He expressed hope that the committees would carry out their assignments diligently and be objective in order to give a workable recommendations to the government.

    Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the forum, Justice Bola Ajibola, Olori Yetunde Gbadebo, said the 135-member Forum is made up of prominent elders, who have made their marks in the service of Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.

    She said members of the forum have dedicated themselves to the service of the State and have carried out some works in the past which they believe would help the present administration achieve its set goals.

    Another member of the forum, Prof. Biyi Afonja, urged the Governor to be equitable in the distribution of infrastructure and social amenities to all parts of the state to enable the people feel a sense of belonging.

    Responding, the State Governor, Abiodun, said he would tap from the experience of the elder statemen and women in running the affairs of Ogun State.

    Prince Abiodun noted that the state was lucky to have such an array of successful elders who have distinguished themselves and done the State proud in their various fields of human endeavours.

    He said as a result of their commitment, sacrifice and resourcefulness, other states have become envious of the state, just as their dedication, industry and intergrity as made the State first among equal.

    “It is unwise to do away with the wise counsel and wisdom of the elders. We will tap from our referred elders to reposition our economy, education, education and other sectors to the benefit of our people”, Governor Abiodun said.

  • As the Premier League opens

    THE noisemakers (fans from various clubs across Europe) are back. Families are poised to be ‘divided’ along different club lines for 90 minutes. Fathers pitched against sons, with the former condescending to listening to their kids and ready to accept their jokes in defeat. Wives are happy again. They prepare the delicacies the family likes. They are happy to have everybody at the table. The 90 minutes of fun filled and family bonding are out of this world, as some European commentators aptly describe incredible goals scored during matches.

    The biggest introduction to the Barclays English Premier League this season is the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which will validate some of the decisions which the human eyes cannot capture due to the speed of the ball. With VAR in the Premier League, there will be more disallowed goals. So players should be aware that they will still receive a yellow card for an ‘’illegal’’ celebration, such as removing the shirt, even if the goal is disallowed. Dear EPL organisers, the fans need to be educated on the changes to avert fracas at match venues.

    For many soccer faithful, watching matches is akin to going to worship. It is jigsaw that was on the sidelines when the league ended last June. The faithful are the ones who throng matches and follow their clubs religiously, irrespective of where the games are held. They roar when their teams are doing well. They sulk when things go awry and sometimes offer suggestions to their clubs’ managements. Other times, some of these fans could be naughty, flying posters and raising flags suggesting the exit of certain players, coaches or even managements, who in their view are the cogs in the clubs’ wheel of progress.

    But without the fans, the game will be dead as symbolised in some of the matches played without spectators, whose clubs infringed on the laws of the game. Indeed, the fans have brought untold hardship to others, with the urchins and roughnecks among them taking the law into their hands. We have some fans whose racist chants at players, coaches, officials etc have brought the game to disrepute. Thankfully, the CCTV fished them out for punishment.

    Today’s article isn’t meant to discuss the flaws of the game. The focus will be on those things that make the game a spectacle to behold. The most glamorous European game began on Friday with one of the promoted sides from the Coca-Cola English Championships, Norwich, slugging it out against the current UEFA Champions League winners, Liverpool FC, at Anfield. Liverpool secured 97 points from 38 matches last season, losing only one game to the eventual Barclays English Premier League winner, Manchester City.

    Interestingly, both teams (Manchester City and Liverpool) met at Wembley last Sunday in the season’s opener, with the Citizens walking away with the Community Shield via the penalty shootout, after a regulation time 1-1 result. It was a befitting dress rehearsal for the game after a two  months hiatus, not forgetting the thrills, frills, joy of victory and agony of defeat that will be experienced over the next nine months.

    Will Manchester City and Liverpool continue their rat race at the top as they did  last season, where the leadership position changed for 34 times, including the last week in the 38-match format? Manchester City won the title on the last day with 98 points to show how enthralling the season was. The two teams are poised to continue the drama, although other clubs such as Wolves,  Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, may give them a good fight for the title, if they get their acts together.

    Read Also: Salah, Mane up for Premier League player award

    Manchester City begin their title defence with an away tie in London against West Ham, a match which most pundits will give to the Citizens, given their pedigree and head-to-head encounters between both teams. But football is like biscuits. No one knows where it will crack, especially when one considers the fact that the Hammers’ tactician, Manuel Luis Pellegrini Ripamonti, once handled the Citizens, only to be replaced by Pep Guardiola. On 14 June 2013, Pellegrini was appointed manager of Manchester City. He won the Football League Cup and the Premier League in his first season as manager, becoming the first manager from outside Europe to manage an English Premier League title winner.

    Things haven’t been easy for Pellegrini with the Hammers losing to Manchester City 4-0 on November 24 last year. The Citizens hit the Hammers 4-0 at home in the return leg tie on February 27.

    Liverpool’s opening fixture at Anfield on Friday offered the right platform for Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane to begin their goal chase, knowing that goal monger Kun Aguero will strive to convert the goal-scoring chances that will come his way today in London against West Ham. Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be eager to score against Newcastle in one of the two Sunday games. Aubameyang, Sallah and Mane tied on 22 goals each to share the top scorer’s award for last season. Salah topped with 31 goals two seasons ago.

    Rafa Benitez’s exit leaves Newcastle lame in terms of depth, with many Magpies fans doubting the tactical savvy of their new manager placed against Benitez, who now manages Chinese side Dalian Yifang – he could return to the EPL, since that is where his colleagues operate in Europe. In fact, bookmakers have made Newcastle the first team to be relegated, based on the manager’s record in the elite class, coupled with the fact the Magpies lost their top scorer Perez to Leicester City in the transfer window, a move that would render the team’s attack impotent.

    Interestingly, the news broke on Wednesday that Arsenal rejected a £30 million offer from Everton for Nigeria international Alex Iwobi. Gunners are willing to trade off Iwobi, if they get over £40 million. Curiously, Iwobi is favourably disposed to leaving his boyhood club as he believes he may have to struggle to get regular playing time. Iwobi is home-grown and provides versatility across the frontline in a squad that will once again compete in four competitions next season.

    “I am not one to chicken out. I have had it all over the years, being told I’m not good enough. So whenever the chance comes, I always try and prove I should be starting. Obviously, my joy is to play soccer, not just sit out. If it comes to that, I would have no choice but to leave. But I would always put up a fight to play – that is what I’ve done all my life,” he said.

    A last-minute effort from Everton for Iwobi was successful  as the Nigerian underwent medicals in Liverpool, two hours after the transfer deadline lapsed at 5pm Thursday.

    But the biggest game for the first week of the Barclays English Premier League holds on Sunday at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Chelsea, two teams that have won the title in the past, although things have changed for them in terms of the quality of players and the stature of coaches. In Manchester United’s heydays, they had the King of the dugout, Sir Alex Ferguson. Chelsea had a long list of achieving coaches, with Jose Mourinho standing out as the most controversial.

    On Sunday, Ferguson’s ‘’Baby Face Assassin’’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the daunting task of ensuring that Mourinho’s protégé Frank Lampard doesn’t steal the Red Devils’ thunder at Old Trafford. Incidentally, Ferguson will be sitting at the stands for the game. Solskjaer would have compared notes with his mentor armed with the tips to dislodge Chelsea with goals at dusk on Sunday.

    Lampard is handicapped, with the exit of Eden Hazard and David Luiz, two former Chelsea players who helped the Blues on such days when rivals showcase their talents to admiring fans at home and at the stands.

    Romelu Lukaku broke Red Devils’ fans’ hearts when he tumbled out of the Manchester United exit door, with Inter Milan completing a £72million deal, including £12m in bonuses, for the forward on deadline day for English clubs.

    He incurred the wrath of another Manchester United legend, Gary Neville who described Lukaku’s last-minute exit as: ‘‘But the idea of a player being overweight for me is unforgivable. You can play badly, miss shots on goal, hit a bad cross or give goals away as they’re mistakes in football but you can’t be overweight.

    ‘‘You can’t go out on a Friday night and drink alcohol – there are things that you’re in control of. These two lads [Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, fellow United greats who also own 10 per cent of Salford] played until they were 38 and 40 and played for 25 years at the top, winning numerous titles. There’s no excuse for not being fit. We were never overweight, not fit or not prepared. How can you be overweight!?’’

    Will Red Devils miss Lukaku? Will a distraught Paul Pogba give his all for United like he did in the past, knowing that he would have wished he was playing for Real Madrid? Will Chelsea miss Hazard and Luiz? Or will Kante and William stand up and be counted with a blockbuster performance at old Trafford on Sunday?

    This is certainly the first week, with only one game played at Anfield. Yet, Manchester United fans look poised to launch a revolt against the club’s Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward (remember his brush with Mourinho over players’ recruitment last year) over his poor handling of the recruitment this season. The fans have vented their anger by getting #WoodwardOut trending on Twitter.