The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tour

  • Lagos ITTF World Tour: French club stops Toriola

    French Club, Argentan Bayard has refused to release Nigeria’s Segun Toriola for the forthcoming International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open, which serves off on March 10 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    The inability of the French elite club to allow Toriola travel to Nigeria for the championship was due to the crucial league encounter Roanne lntt on March.

    According to Toriola, the exit of one of the team’s top players may have put the pressure on him being the most experienced player in the team.

    “We had a Chinese player, who was playing for our team toward the end of last year but he was sacked because of poor performance, so that onus now rests on me to lift the team. On March 10 when the Lagos ITTF World Tour will kick off, we are to face Roanne lntt and we tried to appeal to our opponents to postpone the match but they refused our request. This has made it impossible for me to leave the team because I cannot play a match on March 10 and travel again to Lagos on March 11, it will be too stressful for me,” Toriola said.

    Toriola, who was recently appointed as the Chairman, Athletes’ Committee of the Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) said: “My club did not agree to release me because they believe so much in me and what I can deliver at the league. The tournament came at a time when I can’t leave my base.”

    Toriola, one of Africa’s, most decorated players, appealed to his fans to bear with him and understand his inability to attend the tour. “I know my fans will be expecting me in Lagos and would be disappointed knowing that I am not coming.

    “I appeal to them to please bear with me and understand that I would have loved to take part in the competition,’’ he said.

    The Olympian said he was confident his compatriots would perform well against the visitors.

    “I have told them to believe in themselves as this is the only way they can make it. I wish them the best at the tournament and promise to keep praying for them,’’ he said.

    Some of the countries taking part in the Lagos Open are Egypt, Portugal, Russia, Republic of Benin, Cameroun, Congo DRC, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Togo, and the host, Nigeria.

  • Van Gaal to decide on squad after US tour

    Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he will make a final judgement on his squad at the conclusion of the United States tour.

    Van Gaal vowed to give every player a chance to prove their worth before adding to the arrivals of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw ahead of United’s Premier League opener against Swansea City on August 16.

    The Dutchman has stuck to his word, utilising the entire 26-man travelling squad in the four consecutive wins against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Roma, Inter and Real Madrid in the USA.

    Speaking in the lead up to Monday’s International Champions Cup final against rivals Liverpool in Miami, Van Gaal said he was close to making a decision with Marouane Fellaini, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha facing uncertain futures at Old Trafford.

    “I shall make judgements. After this tour I shall make judgements because I let all the players play and I know now more than before the tour,” Van Gaal told reporters.

  • Barkley returns in time for pre-season tour

    Barkley returns in time for pre-season tour

    Everton will welcome the return of England midfielder Ross Barkley ahead of their pre-season tour of Thailand today.

    The 20 year old was part of Roy Hodgson’s squad during a disappointing World Cup campaign, featuring in every group game, and has been linked with a move to a host of clubs including Manchester City.

    However, Irish full-back Seamus Coleman is set to miss the tour after withdrawing from Everton’s friendly against Tranmere Rovers as a precaution over a hamstring concern.

    Speaking to the club’s television channel evertontv, manager Roberto Martinez said: “He will miss the Thailand trip to give proper consideration to his injury, for proper treatment and to remove any chance of aggravating that feeling that he had.

    “We don’t really know the extent of the injury yet but it is sometimes a little bit of a setback that comes with pre-season preparation and getting a lot of volume into the bodies. Hopefully it is going to be just a minor setback.”

    Coleman, who made 36 league appearances last season, will be joined on the sidelines by long-term absentees Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone.

    Meanwhile, former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson made his first appearance in nine months, appearing for 45 minutes against Tranmere.

    The 26 year old suffered serious cruciate knee ligament damage during Ireland’s victory over Kazakhstan last October.

    “Darron looks really strong,” Martinez added. “It’s been very frustrating for him to spend such a long time away from the football pitch. But when you see him using that technical ability he has and the quality he brings to the side, he is like a fresh player coming back to us.”

  • Alli shines in pre-season tour

    Alli shines in pre-season tour

    Dele Alli fired in a brace as  MK Dons thrashed St.  James’s Gate 6-0 in their first pre-season game of the 2014/2015 campaign on Monday.

    Alli, a player promoted from the Academy to the main team, opened the scoring when he latched on to Dean Bowditch’s sweet pass to fire a half volley past the St. James’s Gate keeper.

    He was decisive again as the Dons proved too strong for Gate – who were restricted for the large periods of the first half.

    The second goal arrived when Alli fired home from 20-yards after a quickly-taken free-kick on the right from the equally impressive Giorgio Rasulo.

    Alli still had enough to produce and he ran past the defenders with ease. He was a delight to watch from his midfield position.

    On the hour mark the Dons coach Karl Robinson introduced second-year scholar Ben Tilney in place of brace hero Alli and just a minute after that the Dons made it 3-0 with Hitchcock getting on the scoresheet with a neat close-range finish after a wonderful assist from Rasulo.

    Rasulo added the fourth with a neat finish, before Kabongo Tshimanga and Kyran Wiltshire completed the scoring.

    Meanwhile,The Dons ended their pre-season tour of Ireland with a 2-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

    The skillful Nigerian was introduced at the beginning of the second half and he troubled the Irish side with his direct play and mobility.

  • Tony Gallopin wins 11th stage of Tour de France

    Tony Gallopin wins 11th stage of Tour de France

    Two days after wearing the yellow jersey, France’s Tony Gallopin claimed the 11th stage of the Tour de France thanks to late attacks in a nervous finale on Wednesday.

    German John Degenkolb was second and Italian Matteo Trentin took third place at the end of a 187.5km ride from Besancon.

    Italian Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after staying safe by the front of the bunch in the final descent.

    Gallopin, who gave France its second stage win this year after Blel Kadri prevailed last week, powered away in the last climb and after being rejoined by Michal Kwiatkowski, Peter Sagan and Michael Rogers, he counter-attacked 2.5km from the line.

    The Lotto-Belisol rider looked back several times but held off the peloton to cross the line with the bunch breathing down his neck.

    “It’s incredible, I want to thank my family because my father had told me that we should check up this stage, and it clearly helped,” said Gallopin, who wore the yellow jersey during Monday’s 10th stage.

    “I would not have imagined that but I had marked that stage after coming close in Sheffield and Nancy.”

    Nibali’s Astana team suffered a minor wobble when the Italian’s lieutenant, Michele Scarponi, fell off his bike in a climb, but he finished the stage.

    Ireland’s Nicolas Roche was voted the most aggressive rider in the stage after trying his luck several times in the finale as the Tinkoff-Saxo team turned its focus to stage wins following Alberto Contador’s exit from the race.

    Roche was reined in when Sagan, who has yet to win a stage this year despite coming very close several times, led the peloton at breakneck speed in the descent towards Oyonnax.

  • Ogun students tour home state

    Ogun students tour home state

    Members of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have gone on excursion to the state.

    They visited Adire International Market, the Governor’s Office, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Olumo Rock, the Alake’s Palace, the Palace of Osile of Oke-Ona, among others.

    The Adire International market was their first port of call where they were taught how to make tie and dye.

    The next day, the students went to the palace of the Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo III. The traditional ruler told the students the history of Egbaland evolved.

    A student, Teniola Oshin, asked the king to explain the cause of the war between the people of Ijebu and Egba.

    The students left for the office of governor, Ibikule Amosun, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela; the Director of Education Support Services, Mrs Folashade Oresegun and the Director, Administration and Supply Mr Adebowale Oyejole. The association’s President Abdul-Azeez Adeosun, told the governor’s representatives that it had been eight years since bursary was paid to students of the state. The commissioner enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the state and the country.

    The students visited the palace of the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso. He donated some of the books he wrote on Oranmiyan to the university’s library.

  • X-raying benefits of Dickson’s Thank You Tour

    X-raying benefits of Dickson’s Thank You Tour

     Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their people. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish–  Sam Walton

    Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State’s recent ‘Thank You Tour’ of Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State has been revealing. The tour has thrown up the great cultural antecedents of ancient kingdoms that existed long before colonial rule. It has also shown the great love and support the people have for the Governor and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who hails from the state.

    Nembe Local Government Area, largely regarded as a center of cultural excellence hosted the “Contriman Governor” as part of his thank you tour and project inspection visit of the state. The ancient city of Nembe, renowned for its colourfoul celebrations, water based cultural displays such as the boat regatta, traditional dances, and colorful masquerades which are usually held during festive occasions.

    The indigenes of Nembe trooped out in their numbers to welcome Governor Dickson and his entourage which included the Deputy Governor, Rtd. Rear Admiral John Jonah, top government functionaries and prominent sons and daughters of the state.

    The atmosphere was that of festivity as the people displayed their rich cultural heritage through their colorful boat regatta with the Governor sitting atop one of the war canoes and waving to the excited crowd. It was indeed a tourist’s delight worthy to behold and further accentuated the affection and respect the people have for the Governor and his administration. After the cultural display, the Governor and his retinue berthed at the town’s jetty and were received by the Executive Chairman and Councilors of the Local Government Area, members of the local Traditional Rulers Council, community leaders and representatives of various interest groups.

    In a show of respect for the traditional institution, Governor Dickson upon arrival made straight for the palace of the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Edmund Daukoru where he and his team paid the traditional ruler a courtesy call. In a short but solemn ceremony, the Amayanabo bestowed honour on the Governor tantamount to honorary citizenship of Nembe by inducting him into the Opu Sekiapu Club of Nembe, one of the most prestigious in the kingdom tracing its existence to the nineteenth century.

    The king in his address commended Governor Dickson for his visit, style of governance, achievements and his penchant of carrying the people along. He further pledged his support for both the Governor and the President ahead of 2015 elections stating that the Nembe people and indeed the Niger Delta are fully behind President Goodluck Jonathan. Having said this, King Daukoru further tabled before the governor challenges being faced by the people of Nembe and asked for the Governor’s intervention. In his response, His Excellency promised to look into issues raised by King Daukoru and assured him of his administration’s resolve to strengthen the participation of traditional institutions in local government administration through a bill which is presently going through the state house of assembly. He assured the excited council of chiefs and community leaders that by 2015, the road from Ogbia to Nembe would be completed in other to enhance development in the area. Those at the palace greeted this statement with wild celebration as presently the only means of travel between the capital city and Nembe was a two-hour boat ride with its attendant challenges

    From the Amayanbo’s palace, the Governor and his team in company of their hosts proceeded to inspect some projects and commission a road initiated by the Dickson administration. This included the recently upgraded Nembe general hospital and a road leading to the police station which the Governor found to be inadequate prompting him to direct that a bigger police station be built in other to increase police presence and security coverage in the Community.

    After the commissioning the road, the Governor paid a visit the council of chiefs in neighboring Gbasembiri town where he was hosted by the Nembe/ Gbasembiri council of chiefs to a grand civic reception by the community.

    From Gbasembiri, the august visitor and his entourage made for the Nembe City center where a civic reception was held in his honour at the King’s Square by the people who numbered in their thousands; all eager to catch a glimpse of the ‘countriman Governor’ who was acknowledged as the first Governor ever to embark on a post-election thank you tour of the State. As he entered the venue, the people amidst thunderous ovation and dancing men and women clad in their ceremonial attires received Governor Dickson.

    Just before he addressed the crowd, the Governor’s membership of the Opu Sekiapu Club was announced by the Secretary to the king of Nembe, Chief Isiah Howells who requested that the governor dance in procession with other members of the club as a symbolic gesture of his acceptance.

    The visit to Nembe by the governor was replete with adulation by the people especially in the face of his purposeful and result oriented style of administration. In the views of many, he was born to lead Bayelsa out of the doldrums of its yesteryears as speaker after speaker enthused.

    Other highlights of the event include the presentation of cheques to the four Rural Development Agencies in the Local Government Area by the Governor just as he had done the day before at Brass. This time, the amount totaled Sixty Million Naira as revolving loans to cooperative societies for the purpose of empowering women in the area.

    In his address, the governor expressed his gratitude to the people of Nembe for their warm and colourfull reception. He touched on several crucial issues including the need for beneficiaries of the loan scheme to wisely utilise the loans provided and repay back to the bank. He also reiterated that his youth empowerment scheme would kick off in earnest in 2014 to ensure youths are supported in various small scale enterprises. Presently over 10,000 youths have volunteered and have been screened to participate in this programme. The Governor praised the people for their active participation in security but urged them to increase the tempo in other to create an enabling environment for the growth and development of tourism in the area.

    As part of his avowed commitment to bring governance e and development closer to the people by governing the state from various local governments in the state from 2014, Governor Dickson spent the night in the newly rebuilt Governors lodge where he consulted with the people and community leaders on their needs and challenges. He was also feted to a to a refreshing carol night in line with the festive season where he was regaled in yuletide songs in English and Nembe langauges. He rounded up his tour with a visit to Nembe Grammar School presently being rebuilt by his administration where he inspected the finished structures and ongoing works. In line with his acclaimed revolution in the educational sector, he interacted with students and teachers of the school in other to get a first assessment of their needs and challenges and promised to ensure their needs were attended to soon.

    To the people of Nembe Local Government Area, Governor Dickson’s thank you visit is a promise kept and as they themselves describe it, a blessing from God. He is seen not only as a man of his words, but also as a rare breed of leader whose commitment to promoting the interests of the people is without question. Going by the events of the past two days in the historic city of Nembe, it is clear that by the end of the tour, the people would have officially endorsed Governor Seriake Dickson‘s administration as the best thing that has happened to the Ijaw Nation since the creation of Bayelsa over seventeen years ago. The overwhelming support, love and endorsement of the Governor by, men , women, old and young was unprecedented as he galvanises his people to a level of develoment unparralleled in the country today.

    •Akpe is the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on E-Media and Head Media Team, Abuja.

     

     

  • Tukur jittery as Jonathan backs Anenih’s peace tour

    Tukur jittery as Jonathan backs Anenih’s peace tour

    Opponents renew anti-Amaechi battle ahead NGF election

    It was designed to bring peace and harmony, but the reconciliation tour in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be opening another battle front.

    National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, who has just concluded a peace tour, is said to be jittery over the ongoing tour by Board of Trustees Chairman Tony Anenih.

    President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be strongly in favour of Anenih’s mission rather than Tukur’s.

    Anenih will today in Minna meet with the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, who has been passionate about the need for the President to respect the one-term pact he allegedly entered into with PDP governors.

    Tukur and his strategists are believed to be comfortable with the intervention of Anenih in rebuilding PDP.

    It was gathered that some Tukur strategists had made him to erroneously believe that Anenih might take over the control of the party, if he succeeded with the rescue mission.

    A source, who spoke in confidence said: “There is a sort of cold war between Tukur and Anenih over the peace and reconciliatory moves. The reunification was actually the idea of Anenih, but having been fed wrongly that the BOT chairman might hijack the party machinery, Tukur came up with a crash programme on reconciliation tours.

    “But Anenih avoided unnecessary controversy by coming up with a well-tailored work plan on how to woo strategic stakeholders back into the party.

    “It is now clear to all leaders of the party that Tukur’s peace moves have failed. Instead, the party is now more divided than before.

    “As Anenih is moving about with BOT leaders, Tukur and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are jittery.

    “The position of Anenih is that the party is bigger than all members. His plan is to reconcile and reposition the party for Tukur to manage. He is not competing with anybody.”

    Asked why Anenih embarked on reconciliation tours simultaneously with Tukur, the highly-placed party source said: “Most of our governors and leaders have rated Tukur’s tours as mere jamboree and the high rate of boycott was evident.

    “There is a big difference between Tukur’s peace plan and that of Anenih. Beyond mouthing reconciliation, Tukur did not offer anything to the aggrieved. He never placed anything on the table, not even in his home state of Adamawa.

    “On his part, Anenih and his BoT members listen to the aggrieved party faithful and agree with them on solutions which could reunify the party. He has been holding frank talks with concrete offers to assuage frayed nerves.

    “In most instances, Anenih adapts solutions to the peculiar challenges being faced by PDP members in each state.”

    “Another defect in Tukur’s efforts is not carrying key party leaders and all NWC members along. “Anenih is not isolating any leader or group in the party,” the source added.

    The Nation learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan is in support of the peace meetings being held by Anenih than those conducted by Tukur.

    A Presidency source said: “We have seen evidence of success in Anenih’s efforts than that of the party leadership. For the first time, governors like Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) are receptive to genuine reconciliation.

    “As a matter of fact, Anenih has been carrying the President along on his reconciliation trips and terms agreed to with the stakeholders. He enjoys the tactical backing of the President.”

    Anenih and other BoT members have gone to Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa states. “And for every tour and issues arrived at, Jonathan gives Anenih the go-ahead to salvage the situation,” the source added.

    Anenih is set for a major challenge in the reconciliation, with today’s likely meeting with Aliyu in Minna.

    Aliyu, who is leading a powerful caucus in the party, spark the controversy the alleged one-term secret pact between President Jonathan and PDP governors.

    Also, Aliyu has been passionate about power shift to the North in 2015.

    Although the Presidency is believed to be uncomfortable with Aliyu’s revelation, it has not officially confirmed whether there was any pact or not.

    Instead, there have been attempts to threaten Aliyu and persuade him to recant.

    A source in Niger State, who confided in our correspondent, said: “The BoT delegation has been scheduled for a meeting with the governor on Wednesday (today).

    “Definitely, all issues, including the controversy over one-term pact, will be reviewed. At the end of the day, these leaders will find a way of dousing the tension.

    “We are all eager to know what Anenih and other leaders are coming to discuss with Aliyu, who is technically being blackmailed since he spoke on the one-term pact.”

  • Knocks for Edo PDP chair over tour

    A  group, Edo is in Safe Hands, has accused the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dan Orbih, of insincerity.

    A statement by the group’s coordinator, Washington Osa Osifo, said Orbih goofed when he said: “the Edo State Government had no project to showcase to the visiting Good Governance Team”.

    Osifo said: “For Orbih to say there is nothing to show in Edo is insincere, what about the road leading to his village? Is it not dualised? Can’t he see water flowing in his village at Ogbonna, right at his family house?

    “The two primary schools (Imaikene and Oboarekpe primary schools) in his village have been reconstructed with modern facilities. Can’t he see or feel?

    “The roads from Ekperi to Anegbete are almost completed and that means it is no longer a difficult terrain and yet he cannot attest to these projects.

    “We are not in a unitary system of government. The Adams Oshiomhole-led administration does not need the Federal Government to help showcase what it has achieved.

    “It is the people in Edo State who will determine that and not a group from Abuja.”

  • ARG objects to minister’s tour

    ARG objects to minister’s tour

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has objected to the ‘Good Governance Tour’ by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, saying that it is a waste of time and resources.

    The group lamented that the minister of a federal government that has performed poorly is leading a jamboree visit to the states.

    ARG said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, that there is no basis for the tour.

    He added: “This Tour is nothing but a waste of tax-payers’ resources. It is yet another demonstration of the profligacy already associated with this government. It smacks of the usual aggrandisement. From all intents and purposes, it is obvious that the minister and his co-travellers are enjoying themselves at the expense of Nigerians.

    “It is our belief that the minister should mobilise his colleagues in the cabinet and other government functionaries to provide data, facts and figures on the qualitative impact of the programmes of the Jonathan Administration on Nigerians. That would be more verifiable than this charade called ‘Good Governance Tour’.

    “The question is: where is this administration’s overall performance score-card in the critical sectors? From the available data, the lot of Nigerians remains within the low range in terms of Human Development Index (HDI) and other qualitative indices of performance.

    “Specifically, in the Southwest states, we are at a loss as to which federal projects the minister will like to showcase. Is it the deteriorating state of infrastructure in the region, including the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Shagamu-Ore Expressway, Ilesa-Akure-Owo Road, and other abandoned federal projects littering the region. The other day, a big show was made of the construction of the Okerete International Market in Shaki, Oyo State, for which nothing has been heard about it, almost two years after.

    “How would Mr. Maku have defended the skewed and unfavourable allocation of projects in the region, an ongoing practice that has become the trademark of the Jonathan Administration?

    ARG advised the minister to stop deceiving Nigerians because his boss has nothing to show as achievements to Nigerians.

    Famoriyo added: “The sectors; education, health, energy, rail, roads and other sectors, remain parlous, and more than 70 per cent wallow in poverty. He should stop wasting the tax-payers’ money on an unnecessary junketing across the land, which at the end of the day is a meaningless jamboree.”