APC members divided over calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation

APC members divided over calls for Oshiomhole’s resignation


All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen in the six states of the South South have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Deputy National Chairman North, of the party, Senator Lawal Shuaibu to apologise to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

They threatened that Shuaibu will incur the wrath of the people of the zone, if he failed to do so.

They described as irresponsible and mischievous, the letter written to the national chair, asking him to resign.

The Chairmen added that the tone of the letter showed Senator Shuaibu was being used by enemies of the APC.

They declared this in a communique signed by Hon. Ini T. Okopido (Akwa – Ibom State), Hon. Amos Lalabunafa ( Bayelsa State), Mr. John Ochalla (Cross Rivers State), Prophet Jones Ode Erue – State Chairman , Delta State,Barr. Aslem U. Ojezua (Edo State) and Ojukaye Flag Amachree – State Chairman , Rivers State.

The communique reads, “Following the debates generated by the Deputy National Chairman, North Senator Lawal Shuaibu’s call on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to resign, the South – South State Chairmen of the party has risen in defence of the party’s National Chairman faulting the public outburst of a senior party official who ought to be well acquainted with the provisions of the party’s constitution regarding how to channel perceived grievances if any exist.

“The State Chairmen rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja called to review the content of the said letter and to critically evaluate the situation, came to the view that the Deputy National Chairman North merely expressed his personal opinion on perceived issues which is not a reflection of the views of the generality of party stakeholders who are yet to find anything ontoward in the stewardship of the party’s National Chairman His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

“The State Chairmen further disagreed with Senator Lawal Shuaibu’s claims that the actions of the National Chairman was responsible for multiplicity of court cases bedeviling various State chapters of the party rather, they asserted it was the landmines created by his predecessor who was bent on destroying the party before departing that fueled the unfortunate situation and wondered why Senator Lawal Shuaibu is just realizing the issues he raised barely few days after the NWC set up a committee to look into petitions against highly placed party stakeholders who were glaringly involved in anti-party activities which was responsible for the loss of the number of states mentioned in his letter vis a – viz the depletion also in the numbers of elected Senators in the just concluded 2019 elections.

“The State Chairmen also debunked the allegations of high-handedness against the National Chairman with particular reference to the altering of National Working Committee decisions as a veil plot to crucify the National Chairman over his uncompromising stance on truth against elements bent on destroying the party from within.

“They however, urged for restraint on the part of Senator Lawal Shuaibu asking him to employ more civilized ways of expressing whatever private grievance he has against the National Chairman instead of playing to the gallery by granting interviews to launch unprovoked attacks on the National Chairman and by extension, the very party he claims to love.

“The State Chairmen wondered whose interest the media outburst seeks to serve and it’s original intendment stating unequivocally that, the National Chairman cannot be removed on the pages of newspapers because the constitution of the party which Senator Lawal Shuaibu subscribed to, as a member of the NWC, clearly guarantees the tenure of office of the party’s National Chairman and the processes of removing him from office.

“The Deputy National Chairman North is hereby given seven days to apologise to the National Chairman in order not to receive the wrath of party members in the South South.

“The State Chairmen also frowned at the intermittent and most unjustifiable attacks on the National Chairman who have maintained unblemished records since joining active politics and has untiredlessly ensured internal democratic norms are entrenched in the party since his assumption of office.

“The State Chairmen observed that what the Deputy National Chairman , North have done is tantamount to creating disaffection amongst party faithful. This they said , is very offensive to the constitution of our great party.

“The Chairmen thereafter passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman and vowed to resist any attempt to blackmail him out of office for standing against injustice that has hitherto been the hallmark of his predecessor which was the only legacy he left behind,” it stated.

Maurizio Sarri asks to leave Chelsea ahead of potential Juventus move

Maurizio Sarri asks to leave Chelsea ahead of potential Juventus move


Maurizio Sarri has asked to leave Chelsea just two days after winning the Europa League with the Blues.

Sarri has been tempted by the prospect of a return to Italy, with Juventus earmarking the former Napoli coach as a potential successor to Massimiliano Allegri along with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The Italian coach only arrived back with the rest of the Chelsea squad from Baku following their 4-1 Europa League win over Arsenal on Thursday afternoon, and met with his representative Alessandro Pellegrini later in the evening.

Pellegrini joined influential agent Fali Ramadani - who acted as an intermediary when Sarri left Napoli for Chelsea last summer - in London on Friday to hold talks with the club regarding Sarri's future.

Reports emanating from Italy late on Friday night suggested that Sarri held a meeting with Marina Granovskaia, during which he told the director that he wants to leave - and Standard Sport understands that to be the case.

Chelsea are reluctant to sack Sarri having just paid former boss Antonio Conte £9m in compensation, and it is believed that the club will not stand in his way given that they can now make a managerial change without having to pay him off.

Juventus’ players are under the impression that Sarri will be their next coach and, significantly, Bianconeri president Andrea Agnelli was in Baku to meet with Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck before the Europa League Final.

Pochettino remains a target for Juventus, and the Italian champions want to see how the Champions League final plays out before making any final decisions as they still have ambitious thoughts toward the Tottenham coach.

But with Pochettino having four years left on his current deal and Spurs not wanting their prize asset to go, Sarri is seen as the more realistic target.

FOOTBALL| Furious Sarri storms out of Chelsea training over Luiz and Higuain square up in Baku row

May 28,2019


FURIOUS Maurizio Sarri stormed out of Chelsea training on Tuesday - as David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain squared up in Baku.

Earlier in Tuesday's training session, Higuain had gone in late on Luiz - with the pair going their separate ways, before storming back towards each other to exchange words.

The club claims the two incidents - the player row and Sarri's tantrum - are unrelated, as BT Sport cameras caught all of the madness.

However, all the tension is unlikely to do any good ahead of Wednesday night's monster game.

Speaking on BT Sport, ex-Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen claimed: "It does raise concerns. something must have gone on.

"You obviously have a group of players with big personalities and the last thing you need or want is for your players to get injured.

"Something has gotten the manager very angry in that situation as you can see.

"Something went on and sort of ruined the training session, that is what it looked like from here, anyway.

"You don't want to see your players arguing, that's for sure.
"VERY WRONG"

"You want a well-organised, short, sharp training session, 45, 50 minutes just reminding everyone of their tasks, getting the muscles ready, getting everyone hungry for tomorrow's game."

Fellow pundit Martin Keown added: "This [storming off] is where he is very wrong as a manager.

"Because no-one knew there was anything really particularly wrong until he acts like that. He's a little bit too emotional.

"I know he's disappointed, he's thinking, 'Why aren't they all getting along? We have a great occasion coming up.'

"He either loves them or he hates them and he has to be middle ground as the manager.

"If he's going to continue in that job it's going to take him to an early grave because those players will test you.

"Something has gone on, maybe David Luiz is being a bit immature, Higuain may have ran into him and he's not happy.

"These things happen all the time. The manager has added to it by the way he's behaved.

"That's disappointing and that's where Zola should come in and try to calm that one down - he's done that for most of the season.

"But then when you go into a 5-a-side, maybe Higuain knows he's not playing, he's getting frustrated and so there are emotions involved.

"Chelsea are gunning for a piece of silverware in Sarri's first season, having been under pressure from the boo-boys almost all season."

Keown continued: "Players get nervous and tetchy before big games, there's nothing wrong with that but there is something not right in that Chelsea group.

"The manager is the one above all else, his behaviour, it's almost a habit.

"In any family, the children start acting like the parents. It's the same in a football club.

Chelsea agree £115m Eden Hazard transfer fee with Belgian to sign £400k-a-week Real Madrid deal

REAL MADRID are confident they have agreed a deal to buy Eden Hazard from Chelsea for up to £115million.

Negotiations over the past two weeks are understood to have reached a resolution.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has confirmed his side are looking to sign Eden Hazard

And Real president Florentino Perez said: “We have been trying to make Hazard a Real Madrid player for several years.

"We are working on a project to make people dream again, where we recover our hunger and ambition. I have already lived through this stage before.

“I have a dream that Hazard will arrive this year. Let’s make a good team this year.

"I am very interested in him coming to Real Madrid and I am very hopeful that he will come this year. He’s one of the great footballers.

"Last year we wanted him, but this year he only has one year left on his contract and it is easier.”

Hazard has enjoyed another stellar season at Chelsea - chipping in with 19 goals and 16 assists in 51 games in all competitions.

Chelsea will receive £100m with a possible further £15m in add-ons for the winger who will play his last game for them in tonight’s Europa League final with Arsenal in Baku.

Kano Court Orders Arrest Of Sanusi, Two Others Over N4bn Fraud

 May 28, 2019


The  Kano State Public  Complainant and Anti-corruption Commission's Investigation into the alleged N4billion fraud against the Emir of Kano took on a legal coloration on Tuesday when the commission wrote to the court for an order of arrest of three palace officials.

A Chief Magistrates' court in Kano on Tuesday granted the order citing their refusal to honor the commission’s invitation.

Chief among those ordered to be arrested is Mannir Sanusi, the Chief of Staff to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Sanusi holds the traditional title of Damburan Kano.

The two others are Mujitaba Abba and the Accountant of Kano Emirate Council Sani Muhammad-Kwaru.

Chief Magistrate Mohammed Idris consequently issued and signed the arrest warrant sequel to a motion by Salisu Tahir, Chief State counsel.

Tahir had said that the request was based on the provision of Section 38 of the enabling Law establishing the Commission.

NAN recalled that the Commission had invited four people in connection to the allegation, of which only one person, Isa Bayero, alias Isa Pilot, who was a former Scribe to the Emirate Council, honored the invitation.

Mr. Muhiyi Magaji, the Chairman of the commission, said the three persons that have an arrest warrant on their heads are the principal suspects in the case.

He said the commission had already requested security operatives to enforce the order and arrest the three persons.

Scores killed, many injured as fresh violence erupts in Plateau

27th May 2019

Fresh violence broke out yesterday in Dutse Uku, Angwan Rukuba and Rikkos communities in Jos, Plateau State capital, leading to the death of many while scores sustained injuries as Christian and Muslim youths clashed over a dead body.

It was gathered that many houses were also torched as the violence spilled to neighbouring communities.

Police public relations officer in the state, Mathias Terna Tyopev, who confirmed the incident, said security operatives have been drafted to arrest the violent clash.

He said: “We have received reports of tension around Dutse Uku, Rikkos and Cele Bridge, and we have mobilised our personnel to the area.

“As we speak, the Area Commander, Jos Metropolis is there on ground. We are still at the trouble spots to bring the situation under control, I can’t guarantee you that I will issue a statement today until I return from the area.”

Residents of the affected communities are living in fear as many remained indoors while those who had gone out for early morning service hurried home to avoid being caught in the cross fire.

Daniel Marku, who is a resident of Dutse Uku, confirmed that there had been serious tension in the area in the last six days when a young man from Angwan Miango was found dead at the boundary between Rikkos and an Hausa settlement in Jos metropolis.

The tension emanating from the killing was, however, doused by security agents and normalcy returned to the area.

Bt yesterday morning, the body of another boy from the same Angwan Miango, who was allegedly killed when he went to wash a car at Cele River, a stream that runs between the Angwan Miango and Rikkos community, was found.

Youths in the Angwan Miango, who were angered by the development, took to the streets in protest, leading to violence between the Christian community and Hausas.

The protest degenerated into full- blown crisis with sound of guns booming in the communities while many houses were set ablaze.

It was gathered that the violence spread to neighbouring communities as residents of Tina Junction and Yantrailer are now living in fear.

It was also learnt that a retired military personnel, Babayale, was hit by a stray bullet in his compound, and has been confirmed dead.

As at the time of writing this report, security agents, including a Special Military Force, were struggling to control the situation in the affected communities and avoid escalating to other parts of the state.

Gunmen Storm Church Service, Killing 4 in Burkina Faso

May 26, 2019

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Gunmen burst into a church in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday and fatally shot four people, a security source said. It was at least the fourth attack on Christians in the West African country in the past month.

Other worshipers were wounded by the gunfire at the morning service at the church near the town of Titao, the source added.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which threaten to upend traditionally peaceful relations between the Muslim majority and Christians who make up a quarter of the country’s people.

The government has blamed unnamed terrorist groups operating in the country and Africa’s surrounding Sahel region.

Islamist militants based in Mali, to the north, have regrouped since a French intervention in 2013 and now use it as a launching pad for attacks on Burkina Faso and neighboring Niger.

In late April gunmen killed a Protestant pastor and five congregants in another church in northern Burkina. A Catholic priest and five parishioners were killed, and their church burned, in the central town of Dablo on May 12, and four other Catholics died in an attack two days later in the northern town of Ouahigouya.

Trump gets red carpet treatment while meeting Japan's emperor

27 May, 2019

US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump participate in a welcome ceremony with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace.

US President Donald Trump got the red carpet treatment at Japan's Imperial Palace where he made history, becoming the first world leader to meet with the new emperor of Japan.

Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne on May 1, opening what is called the era of "Reiwa," or "beautiful harmony."

The President and first lady Melania Trump kicked off the formal visit with handshakes and greetings with Naruhito and Empress Masako.

The President, who is on a four-day state visit to Japan, was treated to a welcome ceremony full of pomp and pageantry.

On a hot, sunny day, Trump stood at attention alone atop a platform before he walked along a red-carpeted route to review troops.

Military bands played and Trump passed in front of a group of schoolchildren feverishly waving US and Japanese flags.

Trump later will go to the Japanese state guest house for meetings, a working lunch and joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The president will also be the guest of honour at an imperial banquet at the palace hosted by the emperor.

South Africa: Ramaphosa to Announce New Cabinet Today

Newly elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce his cabinet Sunday, opting for a more intimate, affordable and efficient team of advisers than seen in previous administrations.

Ramaphosa made the announcement to thousands of cheering supporters gathered in Loftus stadium in Pretoria, where the inauguration ceremony was being held. The large number of attendees forced organizers to move the ceremony from the traditional locale in the state Union Building, where President Mandela and Thabo Mbeki were inaugurated in 1994 and 1999.

Delegates and representatives from across the East African region were present at the ceremony in a show of solidarity with the large southern nation.

Although Vice President David Mabuza was also sworn in, he requested an early departure from the ceremony due to some bad blood with the current party, the African National Congress (ANC).

Tension surrounds Ramaphosa’s incoming administration as his supporters butt heads with loyalists of former President Jacob Zuma, who is currently on trial for corruption charges.

The next five years may be a turbulent time for the new president, but he has promised to boost economic growth, fight corruption and foster social justice. Many believe the new cabinet will be a sign of how Ramaphosa is going to deliver his promises.

South African Energy Companies Expanding Into Angola

Agency Report -May 25, 2019

Angola, with its lucrative opportunities and reformed business environment, will be hosting a strong delegation of South African companies during the upcoming Angola Oil & Gas Conference, which will be held in Luanda from June 4 to 6, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) announced in a statement this week.

The summit is organised by Africa Oil & Power and endorsed by the Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum of Angola.

As Angola works on attracting foreign investors from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, its closest African neighbours are also entering the race to tap into vast investment opportunities in Africa’s second biggest oil producing market.

Beyond the traditional African oil players, most of them coming from Nigeria, South African companies have increasingly showed an interest in expanding their businesses beyond their home country.

“The economic reforms passed by President [João] Lourenço and the opening of wide swaths of oil and gas acreage constitute the single biggest exploration opportunity in the history of Angola,” said Africa Oil & Power CEO Guillaume Doane.

“This is a new era for Angola that will herald the arrival of several new entrants to the market.”

South Africa’s Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) – a Central Energy Fund group company – will also attend the summit to investigate the various licences and blocks Angola has to offer.

The State-owned entity recently became owner and operator of South Sudan’s Block B2 under an exploration and production sharing agreement signed in Juba this month and is keen to continue securing additional assets and reserves across Africa’s key oil markets that can benefit South Africans.

“The SFF seeks to invest in and acquire key oil and gas assets across Africa that can be of important interest to the host countries and South Africa,” said SFF CEO Godfrey Moagi.

“In our quest for attractive assets with vast resource potential, we believe Angola offers the right kind of environment, mature fields and political leadership needed to realise successful ventures.”

Angola has just released a new oil licensing strategy up to 2025 and is about to launch, for the first time, a bidding round that includes marginal oilfields with an attractive fiscal framework.

Oil concessions are now overseen by a new and independent agency, the ANPG, which took this responsibility over from State-owned Sonangol in a move to make the process more efficient and transparent.

“The ambitious reform agenda of President João Laurenço and Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Dr Diamantino Pedro Azevedo is proving successful in building up investors’ trust and confidence,” said Centurion Law Group CEO and AEC executive chairperson NJ Ayuk.

“It is very encouraging to see major African players coming to Angola from across the continent. This is very promising for the growing African energy cooperation and the development of our industry.”

LASPOTECH Guard Kills Colleague For Ritual

By
Kayode Ajiboye -
May 25, 2019

A private security guard named Cletus Wilson, serving at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, has allegedly murdered his colleague, John Okoro.

The act, as confirmed by the institution’s management, was committed on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Mr Wilson was said to have attempted to escape shortly after committing the crime, but other security guards on the campus chased and caught him.

The matter, according to witnesses, was promptly reported at a police station along Ikorodu-Sagamu Road, following which officers of the station were immediately detailed to visit the scene of the incident as Wilson, the accused, is now being held to help the police in their investigation on the allegation.

An anonymous eye witness stated that Wilson had confessed to the police that he did hit the deceased victim, Okoro, on his neck with a heavy metal before slaughtering him with  a knife.

“Very early on Friday we heard the noise on campus that another person had been killed by one of the security guards. It was after we moved near the scene of the incident that we saw how gory the whole thing is,” the witness said.

“Okoro is the guard at the Chemical Engineering Department while Wilson works at the Computer Engineering Department. After slaughtering his victim, Wilson also cut his hands. He was about to escape with the body parts before he was caught in the bush by other security men. He was handcuffed by the police and his photograph taken as he sat beside the corpse on the open field where the corpse was deposited.”

Confirming the incident, Olanrewaju Kuye, Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, stated that both the victim and the alleged culprit were members of the outsourced security operatives engaged by the institution.

“The report of the murder case is true. The two of them work for Kramoo Securities, a private company, which seconded them to us (LASPOTECH). We have since reported the incident to both the police and the security company.

“We are aware it is for ritual purpose but the police would unravel the details in their investigations.”

Adding his voice, divisional police officer in charge of the police station, Adekunle Omisakin said that the matter was under investigation.” ; Kuye said.

“Yes, there was a murder case on the campus this morning and the alleged culprit is in our custody,” Mr Omisakin said.