Super Eagles face a setback

Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has been ruled out of Thursday’s friendly against Senegal in London following an injury.The Wolverhampton Wanderers of England goalkeeper was missing in the team’s final training session due to a knock.With Ikeme out injured, the Super Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr, drafted in relatively unknown goalkeeper, Tope Okeowo of Peckham All Stars, as a replacement. It is very likely that Okeowo will man the goal for Nigeria as the other invited goalkeepers, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, were still being expected as at Wednesday night. NAN also reports that Okeowo, a former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper, is Peckham Town’s first choice. Okeowo had been at Peckham Town for many years, helping his team get promotion from Division Two to Division One in their first season in the Kent County League. He produced some outstanding performances in 2015/2016 season which saw him help his team win promotion into the Premier Division of the Kent County League. Nigeria will take on Senegal at the Hive Stadium, Barnet FC’s ground on Thursday from 8 p.m. before wrapping up their schedule against Burkina Faso next week Monday to round up their two-game international friendly.

Saraki, opposition within APC – APC lawmaker

A member  of the Adamawa State House of Assembly representing Jada/Mbulo Constituency, Alhaji Alhassan Umar, has said the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is not only a threat to the future of their party, the All Progressive Congress, but has also formed a strong opposition within the party.

Umar, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Yola, alleged that Saraki had formulated multiple plans to frustrate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to the detriment of Nigerians.

The lawmaker pointed out that the unnecessary crisis over the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was a grand design by Saraki to frustrate the war against corruption by the present administration.

He said: “Senate President Bukola Saraki is an opposition within APC.

PHOTOS: How the APC led FG paid hired protesters in Abuja

International protesters hired by the Nigerian government in Abuja getting paid for protests.

Senator Dino Melaye shares his NYSC photos

Controversial Senator Dino Melaye who is facing accusations from Sahara Reporters over an alleged report of not graduating from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The Senator took to twitter to share photo from his nysc. The Senator is pictured wearing blue short in the picture.

President Buhari Approves Appointments Of Sovereign Wealth Agency Board Members

Nigeria’s leader President Muhammadu Buhari has made fresh appointments just over a week after returning from vacation in the United Kingdom.

President Buhari approves appointments of sovereign wealth agency board members

President Buhari has approved appointments of those that will manage Nigeria's investments and save for the future of the country

The president approved the list of nominees into the reconstituted board of directors of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Premium Times reports.

The approval was announced by the agency on Wednesday, March 22 in a statement in Abuja.

It said the list had earlier been approved by its Governing Council.

The National Economic Council, NEC, during its last meeting received the list of nominees.

The list of the new Board nominees includes:

1. Olajide Zeitlin (South West) – Chairman

2. Bello Maccido (North West)

3. Lois Laraba Machunga-Disu (North Central)

4. Urum Kalu Eke, (South East)

5. Halima Buba (North-East)

6. Asue Ighodalo (South-South)

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority is a federal government-owned investment agency which was established to manage the fund set aside for investments in real and financial asset in strategic sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed concern over the menace of examination malpractices and fake certificates in the country.

The president also condemned the spate at which public servants and individuals of questionable wealth were being celebrated with alumni recognitions, honorary degrees, chieftaincy titles and sometimes higher religious titles.

We Failed To Learn From Biafran War — Ekweremadu

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has traced the humanitarian crisis in the North-East to the nation’s failure to learn lessons from the civil war to build her internal capacity and mechanisms for managing such situations.

He also affirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to bringing succour to parts of the country facing humanitarian challenges.

Ekweremadu spoke when he received a delegation from the Princess Modupe Ozolua-led Empower 54, which paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

He observed that as a country that had gone through armed conflict and humanitarian crises, Nigeria ought to have learnt from such experiences and strengthened her capacity to build peace and manage humanitarian challenges.

He said: “As a young boy in the 1960s, I experienced firsthand the humanitarian crisis in the eastern part of Nigeria occasioned by the Biafran war. Then, we had to depend on international donors and humanitarian organisations.

“Unfortunately, from the developments so far in the North East, it is clear that, like virtually every other thing in our history, we did not learn from that experience. We remain heavily dependent on humanitarian organisations and donors.

“If we had learnt from the experience of the civil war, Nigeria would have needed little or no external support. We would have built our internal capacity and mechanisms to manage the North East situation”.

Ekweremadu, however, commended the Empower 54 for its humanitarian outreach, particularly its efforts to have some of its supplies manufactured in Nigeria.

In a related development, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, yesterday, said no amount of pressure would make his group and other pro-Biafra groups quit their struggle for the actualisation of an independent state of Biafra.

Madu, in an interview with journalists in Aba, said the agitation for Biafra had come a long way such that the groups behind it would not relent until their dream was actualised.

Asked whether the group would relent in its agitation now that it appeared that the Federal Government had started addressing infrastructural issues in the South-East, the MASSOB leader said, “We can’t stop, we have passed that point. Some people think that the agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra was because of marginalisation or infrastructural decay in the South-East. No. We have passed that stage.

“We want Biafra, not because our roads are bad, not because Igbo man has not become the President of the country. We want Biafra not because of negligence of our area, but we want Biafra because we are Biafrans; we are created Biafrans and we have to exhibit it in all sense of responsibility. We want to restore the ancient kingdom of Biafra as it was before the 1914 amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorate.”

Gunners Boss under pressure

The Gunners boss came under ever increasing pressure for his position after he saw his side crash to a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's Premier League match at the Hawthorns.

The result is the fourth loss in the side's last five league games and comes on the back of a recent 10-2 humiliation to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking to Sky Sports 1 after the defeat to the Baggies, Wenger said: "I know what I will do in my future and will let you know soon. You will see."

The 67-year-old added of the encounter against West Brom, "It was a typical Premier League game nowadays where there is a team with a lot of the ball and a team who defends very well and plays on the counter-attack and set-pieces.

"Even though it is a disappointing result, everybody goes away now (for the international break) to recover and prepare well."

We've caused Chelsea problems in the past: Stoke manager Mark Hughes

The Potters are unbeaten in their last eight home Premier League games. Their last encounter in front of their own fans saw them beat Middlesbrough 2-0, before earning a point with a 0-0 draw at Manchester City in their most recent tie.

Speaking ahead of the game, Stoke manager Mark Hughes told a press conference: "We've caused them problems in the past, and we're on the back of a really good performance against Man City, who are clearly one of the teams close to Chelsea's level. We've shown that we can acquit ourselves strongly against these teams."

The Blues are unbeaten in their last 11 fixtures across all competitions and have won four games on the trot, eliminating Manchester United from the FA Cup on Monday with a 1-0 result at home.

Manager Antonio Conte's men enjoy a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings with 11 games left in the season, while Stoke are ninth, 30 points adrift.

Chelsea defender David Luiz told the club's official website that Conte has urged his players to remain focused ahead of the Stoke clash as the season enters its most important stage.

"He’s doing a great job but didn’t finish yet and tells us we have to keep focus," said Luiz.

In team news, Stoke will miss defender Glen Johnson due to a shoulder injury, but Marko Arnautovic has recovered from illness in time for the clash. Mame Biram Diouf and Xherdan Shaqiri are available after doubts surrounding their fitness.

Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses is unlikely to feature against Stoke after he picked up, what seemed to be a calf strain against Manchester United. The rest of the squad should be ready for selection.

Don Jazzy Shows Off His Girlfriend And She Is Beautiful

Popular Nigerian producer and label owner, Don Jazzy has always managed to keep his relationship private and has remained single whenever he gets questioned by the media.

However matters of the heart can't be kept hidden forever as the Mavin records boss, has always dropped hint about the woman in his life, despite openly stating at every single opportunity that he has a strong crush on music star Rihanna.

Don Jazzy while trying to promote Iyanya's new single, last week let slip and shared a footage of his girlfriend singing the tune on his gram stories. This isn't the first time he will be sharing a photo of the mysterious lady tho, as he once showed her off on his gram with a caption that nothing will ever break them apart..

See more of  her photos below...

Senate Walks Out Hammed Ali, Customs Comptroller General For Not Wearing Uniform

The Senate  walked out the Customs Comptroller General, Col Hammed Ali from its chambers for not wearing uniform as directed. He was asked to return next Wednesday, March 22 in uniform. According to the Senators, Ali should lead by example. Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu had earlier queried the Comptroller General for not wearing his official uniform. Responding to the question Ali claimed that the letter inviting him did not request that he should appear in uniform.

John Terry one of four Chelsea players fuming with Antonio Conte

Conte had been using the FA Cup to give his fringe players a run out, but with Manchester United pitching up to Stamford Bridge on Monday, the Italian decided to field his strongest eleven.

This meant Terry and his centre-back partner Kurt Zouma warmed the bench while Asmir Begovic was pushed out of the eleven by No.1 stopper Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake did not even make the matchday squad, leaving several players angry with Conte’s snub. 

Chelsea fixtures

Stoke (A) – Sat 18 Mar
Crystal Palace (H) – Sat 1 Apr
Manchester City (H) – Wed 5 Apr
Bournemouth (A) – Sat 8 Apr
Manchester United (A) – Sun 16 Apr
Southampton (H) – Sun 23 Apr
Everton (A) – Sun 30 Apr

The team selection paid off with Chelsea beating ten-men United 1-0 in the game.

There was no complaints from any of their other first-team players, but Terry and co are reportedly unhappy with the lack of faith shown by Conte.

Ake returned to Stamford Bridge from Bournemouth under the impression he would be given first-team action, but the defender has played just 180 minutes since arriving back in January.

Rejection means Magu Immediately Ceases to act as EFCC Chairman – Ozekhome.

Buhari can no longer re-present Magu’s name. Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activists, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said the second rejection by the Senate to consider Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu for confirmation has put the final nail on his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari and he ceases to act in that capacity. Magu Speaking to Vanguard in a statement while throwing light on ‘The Legal and Moral Issues of the Second and Final Rejection of Confirmation of Magu as EFCC Chairman’, Ozekhome said that Ibrahim Magu has henceforth ceased to be the Chairman of the EFCC going by the powers vested on the Senate by the constitution. He said, “Going by sections 2(1) and 2(3) of the EFCC Act, he ceases to be the Executive Chairman. Having left his “acting” position during his proposal to the Senate, he also loses his “acting” capacity. It is simply a bad case. “The Senate is the only repository of confirmatory powers of the EFCC Chairman. And it has spoken. That is the beauty of the doctrine of separation of powers between the three Arms of government, the Executive, the legislature and the judiciary, as ably propounded by Baron de Montesquieu in 1748. “Magu’s problem is self-inflicted from within the APC ruling party itself that is also not comfortable with the way he has carried on with his functions”. “The worm that kills the maize is right inside the maize. His tenure should have nothing to do with efficiency and effectiveness alone, which he apparently possesses. “The role of the number one anti-Corruption Czar should be more. It should also embody the finest and most edifying virtues of nobility in terms of observance of citizens’ fundamental rights and the all-important rule of law concept. “The anti- corruption war has so far been fought without a human face, in the most crude, most bizarre, most discriminatory and most degrading manner that diminishes the humanity and respectability of Nigerians and bring us back into the Hobesian state of nature where life was short, nasty and brutish. “The anti-corruption fight has been fought in the most opaque, selective, bestial and humiliating manner, devoid of any scintilla or modicum of decency and respect for our collective and individual civil liberties and freedoms. “It has all but reduced Nigeria to a one Party state, with everyone decamping to APC, because once you do that, you are immediately and automatically protected from the inquisition of EFCC and like Naaman the leper who was dipped into River Jordan seven times and became cleansed of his leprosy, such a decampee is cleansed of his political leprosy and antecedental criminality. “EFCC has been acting outside of and above the Law, contrary to its motto, using the most detestable, unorthodox, arm-twisting and extra- legal tactics to intimidate, humiliate and bamboozle hapless opponents, critics of Government, opposition elements and critical voices of reason and dissension. “It should never be as bad as this. Buhari can no longer re-present Magu’s name again, because of the serious moral burden, ethical challenges and legal impediments thus imposed on him with this second definitive rejection, this time after a full screening. “Re-presenting his name will raise more questions than answers as to why the insistence on One man. This is unlike the first instance when Senate merely turned him down without any screening. “That it was done shortly after the celebrated arrival of President Buhari from his medical vacation makes it more interesting and more significant as it underlines the independence of the Legislature, the Senate. “It is high time for PMB to look for another competent Nigerian out of about 180 million people in population. After all, there was once a Nuhu Ribadu, a Mrs. Waziri and a Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde. “Like the cliché goes, soldiers go, soldiers come, and Barracks remain.”

PDP: Sheriff welcomes Jonathan’s intervention

By Ben Agande

Abuja – The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has welcomed former president Goodluck Jonathan intervention in the leadership crisis in the party, saying that he has exhibited the character of a true leader.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the national Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo said the party also welcomed the stand of the governors elected on the platform of the party supporting Jonathan’s intervention.

According to Professor Oladipo, following the reopening on the national Secretariat of the party, the National Working Committee ( NWC ) met and resolved to fukky participate in the reconciliation process.

The NWC commends the leadership role exhibited by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in finding a lasting solution to the PDP leadership crisis.

“The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP Governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party.

“The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process.

“The NWC hereby calls on all staff of the PDP National Secretariat to resume duties immediately” the statement added.

He added in the statement that the committee “received and approved the request from Ebonyi State PDP for the approval of the time – table to conduct primaries for the local government elections”.

It will be recalled that after meeting with former president Jonathan, PDP governors resolved to exploit political solution to to the resolution of the leadership crisis in the party.