The Nation Newspaper

Tag: set

  • Eduok set for Spain

    Eduok set for Spain

    Dolphins attacker, Emem Eduok has exclusively told supersport.com that he is playing his last season in the Glo Premier League.

    Eduok has been in great form this season and has scored twice for Dolphins this season with goals coming against former CAF Champions League semifinalists, Sunshine Stars. The forward has said Spain is his likeliest destination as he prepares to strut his stuff on the old continent.

    “This is my last season in the Nigerian league. I will be heading to Europe at the end of the season and Spain will be my next destination,” he said.

    Eduok, however, refused to reveal the identity of the club he will be joining when he eventually leaves Dolphins.

    “I can’t discuss that at this time but you will be the first to know as soon as the time is right,” he said.

    Eduok has previously represented Nigeria at Under-20 level. He was a member of the Nigeria Under-20 squad that reached the second round of the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey.

  • Enyeama set for Monaco game

    Enyeama set for Monaco game

    On December 22, 2013, Enyeama was involved in one of such occasions as Lille OSC travelled to the Parc des Princes to face PSG on match day 19 of Ligue 1.

    It was an occasion he craved as he tested himself against world-class talents in the shape of Marco Verratti, Lucas Moura, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Pastore and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    He was culpable for one of the goals conceded by his side on the day but still wowed the spectators with some brilliant saves that defied logic in the 2-2 draw.

    On Sunday, Enyeama will have another opportunity to gauge his level against stellar talent as Lille travel to Stade Louis II on match day 30 of Ligue 1.

    AS Monaco, widely regarded as the second strongest side in the league after PSG, are currently in the Champions’ League position and Enyeama knows a win for the Mastiffs-currently in third place on the standings-will help their cause to dine with Europe’s elite next season.

    “Second place (is) occupied by AS Monaco (and this) shows that it is a quality team. It has a mix of young talent and experienced players.

    “The best examples are James (Rodriguez who has been) very efficient lately, and (Dimitar) Berbatov, an excellent striker joined this winter.

    “A beautiful part lies ahead. When we confronted the PSG (side) in December, we would have thought that we would stay behind and wait.

    “Actually no, we produced the game, that made the game very interesting. I’m excited and looking forward to facing Monaco,” the shot-stopper told the club’s official website, www.losc.fr.

    Enyeama also discussed Lille’s run in which could see the club return to Europe next season.

    “There’s nine games, a total of 27 points, and the goal is to take the maximum. Today we have recovered almost all of (our players who were previously injured).

    “Hopefully this will allow us to defend our third place. I do not know if our bad crossing period from January to February is finally resolved, but we are all concerned with the same goal: to achieve the highest possible position in the standings,” he said.

    Lille OSC currently sits in third place on the Ligue 1 standings with 53 points from 29 matches.

    Enyeama has played every minute of Lille’s 29 league matches this season.

  • PDP crisis: Tukur faction set for showdown

    PDP crisis: Tukur faction set for showdown

    Four armoured vehicles were last night deployed in the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), following the tension generated by the reinstatement of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as national secretary.

    President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have directed that Oyinlola should be reinstated, but this has pitted the Bamanga Tukur faction of the PDP against the New PDP headed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

    But the National Publicity Secretary of the mainstream PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, told our correspondent last night that Jonathan did not issue such a directive.

    Metuh said: “There is no such directive and that is not how the party works. As I speak to you, there is no directive whatsoever from the President. I will issue a statement on Monday (today).

    “ We have not even got a copy of the judgment of the court, let alone talking about reinstatement. You see, the so-called New PDP engages in over-dramatisation of issues. Rather than taking up issues with them, we have decided to focus on our work at the secretariat.”

    There was a heavy security build-up at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat over plans by Oyinlola to resume duties today to press home last Wednesday’s Court of Appeal judgment which quashed his sack and ordered his return to office.

    Four armoured vehicles and some policemen were deployed in Wadata Plaza in Zone 5 in Abuja where the National Secretariat is located.

    It was learnt that the deployment of policemen was a pre-emptive measure against any breakdown of law and order.

    While security was being strengthened at the secretariat, G-7 governors and leaders of the New PDP were locked in meeting at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro District on the way forward and the reinstatement of Oyinlola.

    The meeting, which started at about 7pm, was rounded off after midnight.

    Briefing reporters at about 12.20am after the meeting, the Leader of the G-7 Governors, Babangida Aliyu said: “We thank Allah wa subhana ta’ala for what he has done by vindicating through the court, the position of the Secretary-General of PDP.

    “We are very happy with what has happened and the Secretary-General will resume his office appropriately after all due process have been covered.

    “And we think it is a vindication of what has been transpiring because all along, the issues were issues of due process, issues of reform and we are happy that that the court has done this for us. So we look forward to resolution and future resolution of matters.

    Asked when Oyinlola will resume, he added: “The moment he gives notice.

    “There is a court judgment. The judgment must be given to the PDP secretariat and immediately he gives, he resumes. If by tomorrow the court judgment is ready, he resumes tomorrow.”

    Responding to a question, he said the judgment of the Court of Appeal will hasten the resolution of PDP crisis instead of compounding it.

    He said: “As far as I am concerned, we should look at it as more positive or rather a plus for the resolution of the matter.”

    Concerning when the governors will resume talks with President Goodluck Jonathan, he said: “The onus is now on the President. We are waiting for the invitation.”

    Pressed to confirm if there was any invitation from the President, he quipped: “Not yet, not officially.”

     

    Some of those at the meeting were Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, ex-governor Adamu Aliero, ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Governor Bukola Saraki; Mr. Segun Oni; Alhaji Kawu Baraje and Oyinlola.

    Although the G-7 and the New PDP session was initially designed to be “short”, it stretched beyond the planned time.

    There were indications that the fate of Oyinlola was extensively discussed.

    A source said: “It appears the two factions have drawn a fresh battle line over Oyinlola’s reinstatement.

    “ The G-7 and New PDP are demanding compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal to reinstate Oyinlola.

    “But Bamanga Tukur’s group is not yet ready to accept Oyinlola because an application for a stay of execution of the judgment has been filed.”

    On the deployment of policemen at the PDP National Secretariat, Metuh said: “I am not aware. I am in my house, I do not go to work on Sunday.”

    The Group of Seven (G-7) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday served another warning of their readiness to team up with the opposition to “reshape the party in 2015”.

    The Abubakar Baraje-led New PDP, which Governors Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) belong to, said in a statement that should the expected peace talks with President Goodluck Jonathan “fail to produce the desired result, we have concluded that our door should be opened to the All Progressives Congress (APC) option, while not ruling out other options that would give us the leverage in reshaping the party come 2015”.

    The statement, signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, said it was winning over five other PDP governors. It did not name them.

    The statement added that the leadership of the faction had set up a six-man committee to plan a grand reception in honour of the five governors who, it said, have decided to join the faction.

    “The committee was directed to submit for consideration by the G7 Governors the venue, logistics and modalities for receiving the five governors, ex-governors, nationalists and key members of the National Assembly who have indicated interest to join us.

    “The Committee is headed by Hon. Dr. Sam Jaja, the National Vice Chairman of New PDP, with Hon. Nasir Isa Abubakar, the National Organising Secretary, as the Secretary of the Committee. Other members of the Committee include Alhaji Abubakar G. Umar, National Treasurer Binta Masi Garba, Women Leader Timi Frank, the Youth Leader and Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the National Public Secretary.

    “The party, after considering the expert opinion of our Legal Adviser, Eric Opia, decided that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola does not need any other oath of office to return to work as PDP National Secretary as he subscribed to PDP’s oath of office alongside other members of the NWC that were swornin at the Eagle Square on March 24, 2012″, the statement added.

    The New PDP also insisted last night that President Jonathan had directed the leadership of the Bamanga Tukur-led mainstream PDP to reinstate Oyinlola immediately.

    It congratulated the President for giving the directive.

    But the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, denied knowledge of such a directive.

    Speaking with our reporter on the telephone, Gulak said: “Well, if there is a court ruling and the judgment is to that effect, there is no problem. But I have not seen the court ruling. I have not seen the court judgment and I have not spoken with Mr. President. So, I am not aware.”

    On whether the PDP should carry out the order, he said: “This is a court judgment. If the party is served a court judgment and the order, the party is a law-abiding party and there is nothing wrong there.”

    The New PDP’s statement said: “We commend and congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for once again improving on his democratic credentials by directing the immediate reinstatement of Prince Oyinlola as the duly elected National Secretary of PDP.

    “Not minding the plots by some undemocratic elements within the system who want to portray our party in bad light by embarking upon an exercise in futility by trying to lure the Southwest PDP to write a petition against Prince Oyinlola and use it to invite him to the Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s Disciplinary Committee and suspend him afterwards.

    “To us, this plot, apart from being childish, exposes Tukur and his cohorts as true enemies of PDP and the force behind the continuous crisis in the party which they don’t want its end because of their myopic and selfish goals. But thank God for the intervention of President Jonathan to end this undesirable macabre dance.”

    The Baraje faction noted that the import of the Appeal Court verdict was that Oyinlola remained the validly elected National Secretary of the mainstream PDP.

    The New PDP asked Oyinlola to resume office immediately without waiting for any directive from any quarters, adding that any other person who parades himself as the National Secretary of PDP should be committed to prison for contempt of court.

    The faction enjoined him to ensure that the reigning impunity in the PDP becomes a thing of the past as it awaits other court rulings that would restore the Baraje-led NWC as the authentic NWC of the mainstream PDP.

    The return of Oyinlola is one of the conditions for peace given by the G7 governors in their negotiations with President Jonathan.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja last Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of Oyinlola but sitting national secretary Prof Oladipo said he would not vacate office. He said the party would go on appeal and secure a stay of execution of the judgment.

    The PDP was last night mulling its response to the challenge of the judgment as the governors last night discussed the Oyinlola matter which they are expected to table before President Jonathan at today’s resumed peace meeting.

    The G7 governors are Sule Lamido (Jigawa) Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

    According to a top source, last night’s meeting of the G7 governors was convened as part of moves to firm up their position ahead of resumption of talks with Jonathan.

    The source said: “We are continuing our meeting on the way forward on the crisis in PDP. You know, we had a session last week in Abuja when a Divisional Police Officer sauntered in.

    “There are many options before us, including shuttles to the G-7 governors by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is an offer we have not fully discussed as a group.

    “Some national leaders like ex-Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and some concerned leaders of the PDP have also been reaching out to the governors not to foreclose talks with the President.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The sack of Oyinlola is one of the grouses of the G-7 governors and the New PDP. It is left to the President to take advantage of the judgment to hasten the peace talks.

    “We will insist on the reinstatement of Oyinlola with immediate effect as part of the way forward.”

    Oyinlola is said to be insisting that the G-7 governors and the New PDP would determine his next step.

    His resumption of office as the National Secretary of PDP was still on the card last night.

    A key aide of Oyinlola said: “Our principal said he would consult with the G-7and the leadership of New PDP on his next line of action.

    “But, so far, all is set for his resumption on Monday.”

  • Abia set to rebrand made-in-Aba goods

    Abia set to rebrand made-in-Aba goods

    The government of Abia State has promised to bring experts to the state to help grow small scale industrialists in Aba, the popular commercial nerve centre of the state.  This will make goods produced in the state to compete with goods produced in other parts of the world.

    The state governor, Theodore Ahamefula Orji, told The Nation, that experts have been brought in to polish not only the creativity of the small scale industrialists but to also horn their skills in quality finishing of their products.  He said no government worth its salt can neglect the commercial city knowing the activities and contributions of the informal sector to the economy of the state and well being of the citizens.

    The governor said: “Aba is very important to us because it is only in that town that you cannot find somebody who is unemployed. Every person in the city has employment. It is either you are an artisan, trader or you are learning a trade, even the civil servant finds time to try his hand in one business or the other. Nobody is idle and no responsible government can joke with such people.

    “The support and encouragement they need to excel we are bound to give to them and we are doing just that as we have constructed over 18 major roads and will still do more to ease their transportation needs as they move their goods from the point of production to distribution.”

    According to him, the state government plans to improve the standards of the manufactured products and brand it as ‘Made in Aba with Pride.’ He added that gone were days when goods produced from the commercial city would carry a foreign brand name. To achieve this, he said experts have been hired to give the products an international reach so that they could compete favourably with imported ones.

     To underscore the seriousness of his administration, he disclosed that the state government is partnering with the private sector to build more markets to serve as production points in clusters. The clusters will be in accordance with the trade of each of the unions operating in the market and they would be provided with the requisite infrastructure.

    He said: “We are getting more markets for them. For instance, a company known as ABIC is building more markets for them just behind Osisioma motor park. There is another market springing up in Ukwa West Local Government Area very close to the city centre for wholesale goods, packaging and exporting. We are also organising them into small cooperatives to enable them access funds to help buy the needed machines and accessories make their products compete favourably with the ones that come from Germany and Hong Kong.”

    He said government has taken it upon itself to raise the bar and also lead a campaign for Nigerians to patronise made-in-Aba goods for their standard quality.

     According to him Aba is the only place in the country where you find experts in wears, leather shoes and bags that are exported and of very good quality. He said the development of Aba will not be limited to the city alone, adding that the government has commenced the development of Umuahia, the state capital, by building industrial centres.

    On the moribund Golden Guinea Breweries and Modern Ceramics industries, the governor said Modern Ceramics Industry was ceded to the Catholic Church through their business arm known as UCL Resources and Investments Ltd.  He said the state went into partnership with the firm in order to revive the ailing industry. He added that the firm was actually doing well before running into hitches, promising his administration’s resolve to bail it out.

    The Nation reliably gathered that under the current shareholding arrangement, UCL Resources owns 80 per cent, Abia State government, 5 per cent, while the remaining 15 per cent is reserved for private investors.

    On Golden Guinea Breweries, the governor said: “We have an investor now. Initially, he was delayed for lack of funds but he has got money and is Germany-bound to get new machines as the machines are out of use and needs to be replaced fully.”

  • Onyeudo set to quit Gombe United

    Onyeudo set to quit Gombe United

    Bishop Onyeudo is almost certain to dump Gombe United during the Globacom Premier League’s mid-seaon transfer, a close ally of the striker has revealed.

    The goal poacher has been a revelation for Gombe United this season having scored seven goals already this term but the Imo-born player will leave the Desert Scorpions because of their failure to pay him his entitlements since the beginning of the season.

    The source further said that the financial constraint in the Gombe team has hindered the players from putting up their best and that the motivation level has been low.

    The source also noted that the problem within the team has started taking its toll on Onyeudo hence his decision to call it quits with Gombe United for a more ambitious side.

    “Bishop (Onyeudo) will leave Gombe United by God’s grace during the mid-season transfer after the club’s failure to pay him his dues. He has been helping the club since the beginning of the season but he has not been seeing the money to the tune of his hard work. He will go to a place where his quality will be better appreciated and valued,” the source said.

    It would be recalled that Gombe United head coach, Maurice Cooreman recently complained about the lack of goals from Onyeudo after the striker’s last goal during the Week 12 home clash against Kwara United which ended 1-0.

    The striker has scored 7 goals and he is only behind Sunshine Stars’ forward Dele Olourundare who has netted nine goals this season.

  • Ameobi set for ‘Boro switch

    Ameobi set for ‘Boro switch

    Newcastle United midfielder Sammy Ameobi could be sent out on loan to help Middlesbrough in their bid for promotion to the EPL.

    Manager Alan Pardew revealed after his side’s 4-2 English Premier League victory over Southampton on Sunday that the two clubs will hold talks over the 20-year-old Nigeria-born England youth international.

    Pardew said: “We are going to talk to Middlesbrough. I would like to help Middlesbrough out if they want him, and hopefully we can conclude that.”

    Ameobi, the younger brother of striker Shola, has made 14 senior appearances, eight of them as a substitute, for the Magpies to date this season.

    His appearances have been limited this term following the influx of several more experienced players from France in the winter transfer window.

  • Mali, Nigeria set Durban alight!

    Mali, Nigeria set Durban alight!

    After the epic victory over Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday, the Super Eagles must display the same verve against a Mali side that is young, hungry and led by a wily old-head in Seydou Keita.

    Mali were third place finishers last year in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, but their record against Nigeria does not look good. In their last four Afcon encounters, Nigeria has prevailed on two occasions and drawn the other two.

    So Wednesday’s game against the Nigerians is as much about pride as it is about changing recent records in their favour. Mohamed Sissoko and Samba Diabate are a doubt for Mali with injuries, while Fegor Ogude could come back into the Nigerian line-up to replace Ogenyi Onazi.

    The Super Eagles must bring their game to Durban on Wednesday if they are to have any hope of dislodging the ambitions of the Eagles of Mali, who want to win the Afcon title for their country, which is currently in political and social turmoil.

    Coach Stephen Keshi does not necessarily need to change the team that was used in the quarter-final, barring any injuries, but the players need to be told that they have to show the same level of commitment and drive that they displayed against Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.

    In their penalty shootout victory over South Africa, Mali showed thaat they are well prepared tactically and technically to weather any storm and will look to drag this encounter into their comfort zone, so expect a cagey affair with the Malians playing on the counter-attack and the Super Eagles looking to get an early goal to settle their nerves.

  • Cash gifts, board jobs set PDP chiefs against Tukur

    Cash gifts, board jobs set PDP chiefs against Tukur

    More facts emerged yesterday about the crises crippling the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Besides the power struggle, there is a disagreement over an end-of-year “palliative” for the National Working Committee (NWC) .

    The palliative row has pitched eight deputy members of the NWC against the 12 members, who run the party at the National Secretariat.

    But National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur will today hold a “frank session” with the deputy NWC members.

    The G-84 members have written President Goodluck Jonathan, raising the alarm that the party is stinking.

    G-84 comprises the eight deputy members of the National Working Committee (NWC), 24 ex-officio members, 37 state chairmen and some former leaders.

    They alleged that the NWC is becoming “cultish”, with total exclusion of elected officers.

    They begged President Jonathan, as the national leader of PDP, to save the party from brinkmanship.

    They claimed that their letter had nothing to do with the ongoing feud between Tukur and the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    They said they are not in support of Tukur or Oyinlola. All they want is sanity in the party, the group said.

    The crux of the crisis in PDP, which also borders partly on the palliative, emerged from the letter written to the President by G-84.

    An influential member of the G-84, who spoke in confidence, said: “Greed is a major challenge facing the party. We also have problem of management of funds.

    “For example, when deputy NWC members were sidelined, we took our case to one of our leaders who said we should do a memo for end of year palliative.

    “But as soon as the money was released, the National Chairman got N7.5million end-of-year gift, the Deputy National Chairman and Secretary received N6million each; each member of the NWC was given N5million and National Vice-Chairmen got N2.5million each.

    “As for the eight deputy members of the NWC who initiated the end-of-year palliative, each of them was allotted N150, 000. The amount offered to us was least expected. We unanimously wrote a letter of rejection to the National Chairman.

    “The chairman is on N2m per month, Deputy National Chairman and National Secretary earn N1.5m, and other NWC members get N1.2m each. In addition, the NWC members get N100, 000 to N150, 000 per sitting.

    “At a point, one NWC member used to collect N10million every month for sundry issues until the National Chairman stopped it following observations that the money was not being properly utilised.

    “Apart from salaries and allowances by the 12 NWC members, each of them got a car loan of N8million, furniture allowance of N5million, and annual rent of between N12million and N5million. But none of the deputy members of the NWC got anything, in spite of the high cost of living in Abuja .

    “Since we were all elected, the deputy members of NWC only got N50, 000 in July 2012 when we had the last NEC meeting. As a sign of rejection, they allocated only one office to deputy NWC members some of who were former Senators, members of the House of Representatives, ex-Ambassadors and ex-commissioners in their states.

    “Deputy members of the NWC do not receive anything at the end of the month. No sitting allowance. Yet we have to rent houses in Abuja and feed our families too.

    “The Presidency also gave NWC and their deputies 14 chairmanship slots for boards of parastatals and 55 membership. The 12 NWC members shared everything among themselves without anything for their deputies.

    “You can see why there is tension constantly in the party. There is gross injustice among elected officers of the party. The PDP is in a tinder-box. Those leading us are selfish. The President must ensure justice.”

    Besides the palliative palaver, the G-84 members also highlighted alleged breaches of the party’s constitution

    An investigation by our correspondent revealed that the G-84 wrote the letter on January 19, 2013 to the President.

    Copies of the letter were sent to the Vice-President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, among others.

    It was gathered that it was on the strength of the letter and the directive of the President that Tukur will meet with the deputy members of the NWC today.

    It was learnt that before resorting to writing the President, the G-84 members, led by the deputy members of the NWC had met with Tukur and Oyinlola four times on their grievances but no action was taken to address the issues.

    The deputy members of the NWC are the Deputy National Secretary; Deputy National Treasurer; Deputy National Financial Secretary; Deputy National Organising Secretary; Deputy National Legal Adviser; Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Deputy National Auditor; Deputy National Woman Leader and Deputy National Youth Leader.

    According to sources, the aggrieved members had on November 28, 2012 met with Vice-President Namadi Sambo on the challenges facing the party.

    The issues tabled before the President by the G-84 are as follows:

    •breach of PDP constitution by not holding National Executive Committee(NEC) meeting;

    •wrongful and consistent misinterpretation of PDP constitution;

    •management of the party in a cultish nature;

    •exclusion of elected party officers by NWC;

    •wasting of party resources on personal events, functions, and chartering of aircraft;

    •fixing of wages and allowances by NWC members to the detriment of other elected officers; and

    •arbitrary sharing of honourarium both in cash and kind.

    A top source in G-84, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have met with the National Chairman and National Secretary four times but nothing has been done on issues we have raised.

    “We are unhappy with the cultish nature in which the affairs of the party are being conducted by the NWC with total exclusion of other elected officials. The party is really stinking; things are not being done properly. We itemised all the infractions of the NWC in our letter.

    “One of our grouses is wrongful and consistent misinterpretation of PDP constitution. The recent suspension of the National Vice-Chairman, North-East, Senator Girigiri Lawal, by the NWC was done in line with Article 29 Section 2(b) but without adequate reference to Article 57. The NWC has been arrogating to itself the power it does not have.

    “At least, due process was not followed in exercising disciplinary action against the National Vice-Chairman. It means the NWC can wake up one day to suspend either the President or the Vice-President. This same attitude made the NWC to revolt against Tukur on January 11, 2013.

    “We also noticed consistent breach of the party’s constitution by not holding NEC meetings. Article 31, Section 4 of the party’s constitution says that ‘NEC shall meet at least once per quarter.’ The last NEC meeting was held in July 2012.

    “These breaches and grievances accounted for the delay in convening NEC meetings because members are angry. People talk of Tukur being afraid of the PDP governors as the main reason for not summoning NEC. But I think the fear of the revolt of G-84 members is behind the foot-dragging on NEC meeting.

    “We have threatened to pass vote of no confidence and walk out if our grievances are not addressed.

    “Mr. President is a good man; he wants the party put on sound footing in a democratic manner but the present crop of NWC members prefers cultish style.”

    Responding to a question, another source in G-84 said: “The situation in Wadata (PDP National Headquarters) does not show fairness. We are meeting the National Chairman at our request and based on the intervention of the President.

    “This audience with Tukur on Monday has nothing to do with the crisis of confidence between him and Oyinlola at all.

    “For instance, the party leadership has excluded deputy members of the NWC from the conduct of the affairs of PDP. Yet, they were all elected in March 2012 together.

    “Our agitation has no sympathy for the chairman or Oyinlola. If they listen to our agitation, it means peace and more cordiality between NWC and deputies, ex-officio members and the 37 state chairmen of the party.

    “On June 27, 2012, we wrote a letter to the former National Secretary of the party (Oyinlola) on the continuing exclusion of elected deputy NWC members from the affairs of the party. We complained against the inability of the NWC to comply with Article 37(2) to 44(2) which says that deputies shall deputise.

    “Oyinlola only replied us that by virtue of Article 13 of the PDP constitution, “deputies to NWC members are to perform party functions only when the need arises. We were shocked and we wrote the BOT Secretary on 16th July 2012 to draw his attention to the anomalies in the management of the affairs of the party.”

  • Lawal set for Istanbul switch

    Lawal set for Istanbul switch

    Nigeria international Raheem Lawal has reached a preliminary agreement to join Super League club Istanbul Büyüksehir Belediyespor when the the transfer market reopens next week, reports the online edition of Turkey’s most influential sports daily Fanatik.

    Manager of the Istanbul based club, Bülent Korkmaz is keen on adding Lawal to his squad. Istanbul Büyüksehir Belediyespor will pay 600,000 euros as transfer fee to finally secure the signature of the former Atlético Baleares ace.

    Lawal is expected to officially put pen to paper on the contract before he leaves to join his international colleagues in Portugal. He scored 1 goal in 10 matches for Adana Demirspor.

    Lagging behind in the battle for Lawal’s signature is Mersin Idmanyurdu SK, who have on their payroll former Nigeria youth- teamer Nduka Ozokwor. Coach Giray Bulak has scouted Lawal several times this season and is believed to have started formalities to sign the midfielder.

  • Ghana President set for victory

    Ghana President set for victory

    Ghana’s President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was heading for victory yesterday in an election that has been described as a close race.

    Mahama had garnered 50.66 per cent of the vote and Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotice Party (NPP) 47.76 per cent.

    The electoral commission was releasing results on its website, but the most recent available included only 173 of 275 districts. Those results put Mahama at 49.61 per cent and Akufo-Addo at 48.9 per cent.

    A run-off election is to be held on December 28 if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent. Eight candidates contested the election.

    Ghana, a new oil producer with a booming economy, is seeking to live up to its reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa.

    Observers from the Commonwealth, West African bloc ECOWAS and local group CODEO have all said the vote held over Friday and Saturday had appeared peaceful and transparent.

    Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who led the African Union (AU) and the ECOWAS monitoring team said the election was credible.

    The opposition however issued a scathing statement alleging fraud.

    “Indeed, we have enough concrete evidence to show that the 2012 presidential election was won by our candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo,” the NPP said.

    “We have noticed a pattern of fraud, where substantial numbers of votes are either added to the NDC candidate or subtracted from the NPP presidential candidate.”

    It demanded an audit of collated vote figures as well as of data from the biometric verification machines used in the election before the results are officially announced.

    “We call upon our party members and the general public to ignore the tainted provisional results announced through the mass media,” the NPP said.

    A crowd of about 200 NPP supporters sought to march on the electoral commission Sunday afternoon. They remained peaceful as they stood behind security forces who blocked a main road to the commission, shouting “we want justice,” an AFP correspondent reported.

    Akufo-Addo has not spoken publicly, but Mahama told reporters his team had “a fair idea” of the results based on its own tallies, but would wait for the electoral commission to make an announcement.

    “We all will await peacefully the (commission’s) verdict and we will abide by whatever verdict the electoral commission gives,” said Mahama.

    The 54-year-old took power after John Atta Mills died in July. Akufo-Addo, 68, a Britain-trained human rights lawyer and son of a former president, lost by less than one per cent in the 2008 poll.

    Some analysts say the parties do not have major ideological differences, but the ruling NDC is seen as slightly centre-left while the NPP is viewed as more free market-oriented.

    Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary polls were held on Friday, but polling stations in some areas re-opened on Saturday after problems with a new biometric system and late delivery of materials led to delays.

    Elections since the return to civilian rule in 1992 have seen both parties voted out of office, establishing Ghana’s democratic credentials in a region that has had its share of rigged polls and coups.

    Obasanjo described the election as peaceful, transparent, free and fair, and should, therefore, be emulated by other African countries.

    He said: “By this successful and peaceful election, Ghana has again added another beautiful block to the already political edifice it has built over the years.”

    The former President spoke when he visited President Mahama at his official residence in Accra.

    Also at the meeting was Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Alhaji Baba Kamara, Ghana’s High commissioner to Nigeria among others.

    Obasanjo said Ghana’s democracy had reached a level where there would not be any need to resort to any court cases regarding this year’s election.