Fresh News

Rio Ferdinand has warned Jose Mourinho that his Chelsea side lack leadership when John Terry isn’t on the pitch. Jose Mourinho’s side slipped to a fifth defeat of the season at the Estadio do Dragao, with Porto making Chelsea for several careless errors in defence, an increasingly regular occurrence in a disappointing campaign for the champions. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced the Golden Eaglets will finally fly out for a pre-World Cup training camp in Argentina today after several delays. “We have sorted all the logistics concerning the Eaglets training in Argentina and they will now leave on Thursday,” disclosed NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

Superstar actor and director Kunle Afolayan has continued to prove that he is indeed the best director we have around. The handsome filmmaker continues his great streak as he clinched a hat-trick of awards at the just concluded 11th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards is at Port Elizabeth in South Africa. His blockbuster film October I cliches 3 awards: Best costume design: October 1 – Nigeria , Best Nigerian Film: October 1 and Best actor in a leading role: Sadiq Daba – October 1 For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

Lady Gaga was named woman of the year by music magazine Billboard, after a 2015 song that saw her channel, Julie Andrews at the Oscars, tour with Tony Bennett that highlighted the problem of college sexual assaults. Gaga was chosen because she has been “a key influential figure who drove the conversation” this year, said Janice Min, who oversees Billboard as co-president of parent company Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group. This is made known in a statement on Tuesday. “There is no woman dominating popular culture tastes and its evolution as much as she is today,” said Min. The “Born This Way” singer won roaring applause and social media acclaim for belting “Sound of Music” tunes at the Oscars ceremony in February. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

Lagos-   With 2015 edition of Nigeria’s biggest and most prestigious annual music awards, The Headies, fast approaching, nominees for the annual awards have been revealed. Some of the biggest nominees for the year include Wizkid, Olamide and Praiz who have received six nominations while Yemi Alade, Cobhams have been nominated in five categories. Other nominees include PSquare, Korede Bello, Bez, Timi Dakolo, Asa, Reminisce, Mr 2Kay, Seyi Shay, Cynthia Morgan among many others  This year’s nomination is based on the period in review, July 2014 and June 2015. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review. Ojuelegba – Wizkid Eyo – Asa Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo Bez – There’s A Fire Cobhams – Do the right Thing PRODUCER OF THE YEAR An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review. Don Jazzy – Godwin (Korede Bello) Mastakraft – Wiser

There is still a lot of work on the road, but the present NFF administration believes it is working assiduously towards the set vision of building a sustainable football culture for Nigeria. At its inception at the end of September 2014, the Board led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick had unveiled a vision of building a sustainable football culture for the country, founded on strategies of capacity building and a virile youth development program. On Wednesday, in a statement to mark the one year of the administration and to look forward to the next one year, Pinnick gave the Board a pat on the back, and stated that the unity within the group and general body language assure him that everyone is ready for the enormous work ahead, as well as foreseeable and unforeseen challenges. “As you rightly note, there is a lot of work ahead. I am not happy with the decline of the Super Falcons and we are putting heads together for an all –encompassing solution to women’s football, not just the Falc

OUR country marks its 55th independence anniversary today. In a very fundamental sense, Nigeria’s story is also the story of my life, because I was born in the very last month of colonialism in our country, on September 5, 1960. I grew up in those early years of an independent country and found consciousness against the backdrop of the hopes generated by freedom as well as the anxieties that were associated with the problems of underdevelopment and the inability of the post-colonial ruling elite to find the consensus to build the new country, leading almost inevitably, if tragically, to the years of the Nigerian Civil War. I lost cousins in the war and one of those who returned suffered the dire consequences of what we would know many decades later, as Post- Traumatic Stress Syndrome. But when I reflect upon the early years of my life in our newly independent country, the motif was hope. Hope about the possibilities that a free country can give to its people and the hope that

Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed, in this interview said the waywardness and irresponsibility of the Nigerian political class dragged Nigeria backward. He also said for Nigeria to make headway, there must be elite political consensus. At 55 years, what change do you think Nigeria needs? I believe there cannot be development without change and the change can be accessed at various levels but there has to be a mental mindset change, there has to be a change in terms of economic outlook, there has to be change in the ways we as a people look at ourselves. I think the most important change Nigeria needs right now is new and I have been saying this since 1985 when I wrote a column after the Babangida coup of 1985. I said the most important thing Nigeria needs is what I call Elite political consensus. I said it will be very difficult for us to achieve it but it is the only way you can push the country forward. Without the elites coming together, nothing will happen in thi

GENERALLY speaking, it is beyond doubt that the security situation in Nigeria today is still worrisome. People are still cautious about moving freely within the country, even in broad daylight. The scale of kidnapping, robbery attacks, ritual killings, murder and other devious crimes, appear to continue on the upward trajectory. This is clearly a sign of the times. The security agencies are not fairing better in the blame game. What, with the seemingly endless and mindless mass murder and cold-blooded assassinations in many parts of the country. The situation was made more worrisome with the advent of Boko Haram terrorists who have succeeded in wiping out thousands of lives and destroying properties in the Northern parts of the country. This hydra-headed killer-group has also succeeded in annexing many towns and villages in the North Eastern part of the country and decimating families with daring and defiant extremity. Though the security agencies appear to have risen to the occa

As Nigeria celebrates its 55th independence anniversary today, stakeholders in sports  have frowned at its performance in the sector while others passed a vote of confidence on its performance. Former Africa’s fastest sprinter, Mary Onyali and former ace footballer, ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami said that the downward slide in sports leaves much to be desired of a country that prides itself as Giant of Africa. ‘’The journey of Nigeria in sports from independence was a great one and Nigeria flourished in it. We did well in virtually all sports ranging from Long Jump, Boxing, Tennis, Table Tennis,Track and Field and others. Nigeria produced sparkling results from an equally sparkling, determined and selfless athletes. The likes of Emmanuel lfeajuna who won a gold medal in high jump during the Commonwealth Games in 1954, Hogan Kid Bassey who became the world featherweight boxing champion in 1957 and Dick Tiger, who won the middleweight crown and later the world light heavywei

I HAVE made several efforts this week to speak with Chief Olu Falae, to extend my sympathy over his unfortunate kidnap as well as to express happiness that he was able to return home safely. Chief Olu Falae is without doubt one of the genuine elder statesmen in our country, and while many charlatans have been so described, there’s no gainsaying the fact that the chief is so deserving of the appellation. I met Chief Olu Falae for the first time in the lead to the 2014 National Conference, when the Okunronmu Committee on a National Conference held an experts’ meeting at the International Conference Center in Abuja. I had been invited as discussant of a paper presented by the venerable chief and I said things that he obviously didn’t like about his analysis. He angrily expressed his objection but after the presentation he was very accommodating in his response to me when I went to greet him. He pointed out that I looked like Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore, who he worked with in his ban

There is a limit to everything in life most especially when it comes to relationship and marriage because if the function of a man is switched, people will term the lady in his life as a witch. This is why it is advisable for couples or "couples to be" not to overstep their boundary when displaying love as the gossips, the broken hearted and perhaps those who mean well will term such guy as a slow poke person. Going straight to the business of the day, let's take a brief look on things guys do that show ladies are in control of their life. 1. Becoming her errand boy/puppet When men were boys, ladies used me as their puppet by sending me to buy food, fetch water and others. My friends made jest of me, calling me lover boy and reported me to my parents that I am under chioma's spell. 2. Suffering and Smiling Attitude Some ladies are in the habit of abusing guys for no reason most especially if he is broke or too dumb to express his emotion. If a guy

Abuja— The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, yesterday, faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision not to appoint a Minister of Petroleum, saying the President would be distracted and overload himself with excess workload. Speaking in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, Mr. Billy Harry, National Vice President, NACCIMA, stated that the President already had too much work to do to saddle himself with a ministerial appointment. He said if Buhari really wants to bring the change dividend that Nigeria voted for, he should focus on administering all the ministries from a vantage point as President, not as a minister and a President. He said: “It will distract him and not give him the required space and work time to be able to administer facets of the economy and policies. “We have so many more issues other oil. Agriculture alone can swallow everything that oil is doing.” Agriculture alone can give us over 500 per cent

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has raised concerns over the continued slow down of the country’s economic growth. The central bank on Wednesday also said the banking system had enough liquidity to take up what foreign investors might sell after JP Morgan removed Nigeria from its bond index. The CBN plans to retain foreign currency controls because of concerns about slowing growth, a senior bank official said on Wednesday. Growth was 2.35 percent in the second quarter year on year, compared with 6.54 in the same quarter of 2014. “We are concerned that we are having declining growth,” Moses Tule, the Central Bank’s monetary policy director, told reporters. He defended the bank’s decision to impose currency controls to preserve foreign reserves, which fell 23 per cent in the year to Sept. 23, central bank data showed. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

LAGOS —Two teenagers and a 30-year-old man, Seyi Egbonwan, have been charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly stabbing a police officer to death with a knife. The two teenagers, Wale Ojupon, 18, and Daniel Emeka, 18, and Egbonwan, were charged on a seven-count offence of stealing, breach of peace, murder, assault and possession of firearms. According to the charge, the trio conspired, kidnapped and killed one Constable, Abimbola Adesoji, by stabbing him. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

ALL is not well between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the man widely referred to as the “unofficial vice president”, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State. Proof: after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held on 17th September, 2015, el Rufai showed up in Osinbajo’s office and both took a photograph, all smiles; and splashed them all over the internet. Purpose: to debunk the “rumours” making the rounds that they had exchanged insults. To confirm the story further, a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) a couple of days ago tabled as an item for discussion/resolution the “face-off” between Osinbajo and el Rufai. El Rufai has been throwing his weight around since Buhari emerged as President of Nigeria. He is widely reputed to have been behind the double shuffle we saw on the last day of Professor Attahiru Jega as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Remember, Jega at the expira

At last, Senate President Bukola Saraki Wednesday received the first twenty – one names of nominees to make President Buhari ministerial list , just as the names would be forwarded in batches. Vanguard gathered that a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart in Lagos, Babatunde Fashola were among the names forwarded to the senate. Others in the list are, former governors, Anambra, Chris Ngige; Abia State, Ogbonaya Onu, Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; a one time APC governorship flag bearer in Taraba, Aisha Alhassan, Also said to be on the list are Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State; a former Governor of Anambra State, Chris Ngige; and a one-time Governor of Abia State, Ogbonaya Onu; Amina Mohammed; A former commissioner of Ogun State, Kunle Adeosun; Malami Abubakar (SAN) and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ibe Kachikwu For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

BENIN —Two persons, Festus Owie, 20, and Blessing Ebimor, 12, have been arraigned before an Egor Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly raping and assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The defendants, who were arraigned on a three-count charge of defilement, rape and assault, were alleged to have committed the offense on October 26, 2014. The court was told by the prosecutor that the accused persons conspired at about 5pm at 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin, where they not only assaulted the victim but also forcibly had sexual intercourse with her. The prosecutor said the offences were in contravention of Sections 218 and 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol II, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, applicable in Edo state. The charge read, “That you, Festus Owie (aka Ebo) on or about October,  2014, at about 1200 hours at No. 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin City, in the Egor Magisterial district did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with

Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu has dispelled rumours that he is among the nominees in the anticipated ministerial list submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the senate on Wednesday. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

Monarch, civil servants insist election was free, credible ABUJA —Governor Nyesom Wike, Wednesday, began the defence of his mandate, before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja. The governor, whose election is being challenged by the All  Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, opened his defence before the tribunal, by producing seven witnesses that testified on his behalf. Among those that mounted the witness box, and testified that the governorship election actually held in Rivers State on April 11, 2015, included the traditional ruler of Dagbo village in Khana Local Government Area of the state, Chief Adamgbo Sampson. The 53 years old king, who was led into evidence by Wike’s lawyer, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, told the Justice Suleiman Ambursa-led panel that he participated at the election which he said was violence free. To prove that he was an elector at the election, the witness

ABUJA — AHEAD of 2019 presidential election, the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has zoned the Presidency to the North, saying it has learned its lessons and would never repeat any such mistake in future. The party also said it had drawn a roadmap towards the 2019 general election and for future electoral success.   This was part of the recommendations of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu-led PDP Post- Election Review Committee, which recommended that in accordance with the popular views expressed in the submissions to the committee, the Presidency should be zoned to the North as it would also assuage any ill-feelings over any perceived breach of the party’s zoning principle. The committee also recommended that, as a matter of urgency, if PDP must heal inflicted wounds, it should constitute a strong reconciliatory panel made up of party leaders to facilitate the reconciliation of aggrieved members at all levels, just as it recommended that the party

Akure —FORMER Police Affairs Minister, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, has said neither himself  nor his colleagues and their aides are being victimised by the new administration. Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Adesiyan said probing the ministers should not be seen as victimization by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Adesiyan however  kicked against the selective probe of the President Jonathan administration but said that it should be holistic “even when President Buhari was the military Head of State” The minister, who was asked to react to alleged victimization of former Ministers under the Jonathan administration said “I am not seeing them doing it. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

Yenagoa— Former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, won in the rescheduled primary of All Progressives Congress, APC, to emerge as the party flag bearer for the December 5,  governorship election in the state. Sylva polled 981 votes  to beat his closest rival, Chief Godknows Powell, who garnered 39 votes. Fourteen governorship aspirants participated in the primary. The former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Timi Alaibe, had earlier withdrawn from the race citing party interest and collateral consequences. Also absent from the party secretariat, venue of the governorship primary, was the former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Imoro Kubo and Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio. The governorship primary, which was conducted by a seven-man team, led by Brigadier- General Monsur Dan-Ali (retd), was peaceful and without any security hitch. Most of the delegates were accredited and voted immediately to save time. Fo

ABUJA- AT last, Senate President Bukola Saraki Wednesday received the Ministerial list from President Muhammadu Buhari, just as the names would be forwarded in batches. A source told Vanguard that instead of thirty – six names, President Buhari sent twenty – one names as Ministerial nominees to the Senate President, with plans to send others very early on Tuesday before plenary session. Senate President Saraki received the long awaited ministerial list from the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari at 4.59 pm. For the full story, check the Vanguard newspaper.

One of the enduring topics of debate over Nigeria’s nationhood is the question: was Nigeria’s amalgamation a mistake? In 1914, Sir Frederick Lugard amalgamated the Colony of Lagos and the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria. Thus, hitherto independent and culturally exclusive kingdoms, such as the Sokoto Caliphate, the Igbo hinterland, Oyo Kingdom, Benin Kingdom among a host of others, were forcefully brought under one political and administrative umbrella under the British Crown. It was done by the colonialists partly for administrative convenience and partly to enable it tap maximally and evacuate the resources of the colony. This explains why one of the earliest superstructural amenities established by the colonialists included a two-legged railways system that ran from Nguru in the North East to Port Harcourt on the eastern corridor, while the western line ran from Kaura Namoda through Zaria to Apapa in Lagos. Most Nigerians recognise th

When the matter was mentioned Wednesday, the accused businessman was not present in court neither was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s prosecuting counsel present. In a 13-count criminal charge number FHC/L/288C/15 dated 14 July, 2015 signed and filed before the court by Deputy Chief Prosecutor/Legal Officer of EFCC, E.A. Jackson, it was alleged that Dr Chidi Barns Okpaluba and Quartermasters Limited between December 2008 and January, 2009 with intent to defraud, obtained N131 million from SouthGlobe Ltd and Konex Associates. The said f acility was allegedly obtained through Prince Kalu Otisi by falsely representing that Quartermasters Limited had 135 million ordinary shares for sale to interested members of the public at N1.80k per share, as private placement, out of which, he agreed to have 73,291,013. Shares to sell to Kalu Otisi for the amount obtained from him. For the full story, check the PM NEWS newspaper.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its governorship campaign in Kogi with a call on the electorate to vote for change in the poll slated for November 21. Addressing members and party supporters at a rally held on Wednesday in Ayingba, the party’s flag bearer, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, called on the people to liberate themselves from poverty and diseases by voting APC. He said that he was on a rescue mission to restore the state to its past glory by reviving education, agriculture and health sectors. He accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of mismanaging the resources and plunging the state into abyss through bad governance. The APC candidate urged the electorate to effect the necessary change in the state by voting him and his running mate, James Faleke whom described as “well exposed and enlightened”. “The power is in your hands; you are the electorate, effect the change in Kogi and see instant development and advancement of the state for the fut

At a news conference at the Mall, Gbemileke Oyinsan, Head of Programme, City 105.1 FM said the mall would host the musical concert from 11 am to 5 pm on Independence Day with several artistes expected. “The concert at Ikeja City Mall has been on for two years and it started out of a need to do more and get a lot of crowd to be in tune with the brand (CITY FM). This year’s edition will be the third one and will hold at the car park section for the first time. Although previous editions have been inside the mall, the need for space had encouraged an outdoor scenario for this year’s celebration. “The event will parade upcoming artiste performances, comedy, treasure hunt, dance competitions and other fun activities,” he said. Oyisan added that on Friday, 2 October, there would be In-Studio Concert from 11 am till the end of the day, saying that the “in-studio concert is one like no other. The day is entirely dedicated to artiste performances LIVE on air for the whole day. Last yea

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, has commended Governor Ben Ayade for lifting the ban on employment and for prompt payment of salaries of civil servants. The state chairman of the party, Mr John Okon, made the commendation on Wednesday in Calabar during an interaction with newsmen. He said that the governor had kept to his promise of paying salaries of civil servants by 25th of every month, noting that the gesture would motivate the work force. Okon said: “Governor Ayade’s first 100 days in office has shown that he has the interest of the state at heart. For the full story, check the PM NEWS newspaper.