ANOTHER ANGLE...

According to some findings, leading the revolt against Oshiomhole are Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF); Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

Aside this, Oshiomhole has not been in the good books of some APC governors who were loyal to the immediate past national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. The arrowheads of this group are Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Since the outcome of the primary elections which did not go the way most APC governors wanted, there had been series of protests on a daily basis at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

In an exclusive interview, Yekini Nabena, the then party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, had accused the aggrieved governors of sponsoring the protests.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has tried to justify attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the country.

Ribadu said the herders were being chased away from states in the country and denied opportunities for decent living.

His opinion came as the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria accused other Nigerians of unfair treatment and lamented the unlawful killing and detention of its members.

Ribadu spoke on Monday, in Abuja, at a national conference on conflict resolution, titled, ‘Towards an Enduring Peace’, organised by The Nation newspapers and Television Continental (TVC).

In an emotion-laden speech, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain tried to absolve President Muhammadu Buhari of any form of complicity in the entire crisis between Fulani herders and farmers, stressing that certain people were merely maligning the president because he was a Fulani man.

The former anti-graft boss said it was unfortunate that Nigerian people hated the Fulani people so much that they branded them as common criminals because of their nomadic and pastoral nature.

He stressed that the Fulani herders were also Nigerians and had the right to coexist with other citizens.

He said the fact that other citizens all over the country saw them as enemies made the Fulani herders to be denied the opportunities to settle together with them and graze their cattle.

Read the full story on the main reason behind continuous Fulani Herdsmen attacks here.

Enang said that although the Senate had lined up those matters before the adjournment, there was need for them to resume because of the urgency required for the approval.

“We are appealing to the Senate leadership and all caucuses of the National Assembly to see this as a clarion call for the good of the nation.

“As the liaison officer between NASS and the Federal Government, I know it is not the intention of the lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.

“The NASS vacation is usually planned to coincide with school vacations so that members can spend time with their children. However, this is an election year and the budget has just been appended to hence the urgent need to give approval for supplementary funds for it.

“We are not compelling them, we are appealing to them. As a liaison officer between the presidency and the NASS, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony”, he said.

On the defections in the House, Enang explained that it had nothing to do with the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and that the issues for defection were personal and domestic to the political actors.

According to him, the defections are perennial and usually happens in election years where politicians look for platforms to achieve their aspirations.

“In all the defections, they have maintained that they do not have problems with the Federal Government.

“There is too much competition within the major political parties. Politicians study the platforms and would not want to be where they may not get the tickets especially for those seeking re-election. Some need automatic tickets but their party may say no.

“Defections are not a sign of anything to worry about in a political party. None of the defectors is complaining about executive treatment of their people but about winning nominations for tickets outside,” he added.

Read the full story on one of the leading Nigerian news platform.

Many Nigerians have withdrawn their sympathy for the Super Eagles after concerns were raised on social media that they refused to put on a black armband in honour of those who died in the recent killings in Plateau State.

The killings occurred about 48 hours to Super Eagles Clash with Argentina in their group D fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Many fans had expected that the Super Eagles would respect the victims of killings in Jos, Plateau State by wearing black armbands, but ended up being disappointed.

While some commentators described the refusal to wear the black armband as unpatriotic, others said it is political.

Those, who argued that it is political, alleged that the Federal Government through the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) deliberately shunned the idea of wearing a black armband...

Read the full story on the Independent Nigerian Newspapers.

Who is Nigeria’s Most Bitter Woman?

We asked the Google Image search engine for this question and you won’t believe what we found.

But first, congratulations again to Miracle Ikechukwu Igbokwe (aka Miracle in the house) for winning the just concluded Big Brother Nigeria: Double Wahala edition.

The show finished yesterday, Sunday, 22nd April 2018 with Miracle winning the coveted price of 25 million naira, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that costs N12 million, a holiday trip for two, full home appliances and other prizes.

Amidst the whole reality drama and intrigue of passion, emotion and fun games of 85 days, Cynthia Nwadiora, also known as CeeC, stands out with her controversial personality.

She was unmistakably confrontational and not afraid to express herself, just exactly as she feels, whenever she feels like. One of such topical moments went down when she adapted her cultural Efik attire and when she lashed out on Tobi with abuses that warranted a big warning from Big Brother.

She has taken her personality to a large extent, that has so reflected in her online image.

Read the full story of the Most Bitter Woman on Independent Newspapers.

Ankakh:
In readiness of its planned listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), telecoms giant, MTN Group, on Tuesday (yesterday) reassured the Federal Government of its commitment to the country on the planned IPO and diversification of shareholding to Nigerians.

MTN Group made this known when its team met with the Federal Government in Abuja. The high-powered delegation led by Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko, chairman; Mr. Rob Shuter, group chief executive officer; and Mr. Pascal Dozie, board chairman, MTN Nigeria, met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa.

The delegation also included other MTN Nigeria board members amongst who were Colonel Sani Bello (rtd); Chief Victor Odili; Mr. Tunde Folawiyo; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman and the Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers

Why does MTN need to reassure FG of listing on NSE?

In readiness of its planned listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), telecoms giant, MTN Group, on Tuesday (yesterday) reassured the Federal Government of its commitment to the country on the planned IPO and diversification of shareholding to Nigerians.

MTN Group made this known when its team met with the Federal Government in Abuja. The high-powered delegation led by Mr. Phuthuma Nhleko, chairman; Mr. Rob Shuter, group chief executive officer; and Mr. Pascal Dozie, board chairman, MTN Nigeria, met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa.

The delegation also included other MTN Nigeria board members amongst who were Colonel Sani Bello (rtd); Chief Victor Odili; Mr. Tunde Folawiyo; Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman and the Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers

Okay, reporters from Independent Newspapers, Abuja are also reporting that the mace has been stolen.

They are allegedly led by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central), who was, just last week, suspended by the Senate for 90 days for making pro-Buhari remarks on the Senate floor.

And this is happening just after security beef-ups at the National Assembly after the Shiite demonstration.

The National Assembly will not stop to give us the required drama as 2019 election unfolds.

Israeli forces have shot and killed one and wounded at least 40 Palestinian protesters on Friday, Palestinian medics said, as thousands converged on Gaza’s border with Israel and set fire to mounds of tires to launch a second week of demonstrations.

Twenty Palestinians have died since the demonstrations near the heavily guarded Gaza border fence began on March 30, the latest a man who died in a Gaza hospital on Friday of gunshot wounds suffered on the first day of protests.

Five of Friday’s 40 wounded were in critical condition, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Palestinian tent encampments have sprung up a few hundred meters (yards) back from the 65-km (40-mile) frontier but groups of youths have ventured much closer, rolling tires and throwing stones towards Israeli troops.

The demonstrators are pressing for a right of return to what is now Israel for refugees – and their descendants – from the 1948 war surrounding the country’s creation.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers

Here are the major headlines for today, 3rd of April, 2018 on Independent Newspapers:

2019: It’s Foolish To Re-Elect Buhari, APC, OBJ Warns Again

28 Killed, 83 Wounded As Troops Clash With Boko Haram In Maiduguri

Twenty-eight persons, including 13 Boko Haram terrorists, 14 civilians, and a soldier, were killed at an outskirt of Maiduguri metropolis when a group of insurgents and suicide bombers attempted to infiltrate the city on Easter Sunday evening.

Ngige, Oloyede Cause Outrage Over N8bn Earned Academic Allowance

The National Executive Council (NEC) of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may decide on a fresh round of strike over roles allegedly played by the duo of Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Productivity... Read More »

Ambode Inaugurates 21 Roads, Two Bridges In Alimosho Council

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Monday, commissioned a network of 21 roads and two bridges totalling 27.4 kilometres in Alimosho Local Government Area, with a pledge to further develop other communities within the axis.

Former IGP Abba, DIG Ajao Vie For Okiro’s Job

Suleiman Abba, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and Israel Ajao, retired Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, have been shortlisted for the position of Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), investigation by DAILY INDEPENDENT has revealed.

GTBank Board Meets To Approve Q1 Financial Results

Petrolex Plans 250,000 Barrel Refinery In Ogun.

Deltans Will Give Okowa Second Term –Ukah.

Read all the juicy details of each story on Independent Newspapers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin won a landslide re-election victory on Sunday, extending his rule over the world’s largest country for another six years.

Putin’s victory will take his political dominance of Russia to nearly a quarter of a century, until 2024, by which time he will be 71.

Putin has promised to use his new term to beef up Russia’s defenses against the West and to raise living standards.

In a widely expected outcome, the Central Election Commission, with just over 70 per cent of the votes counted, announced that Putin, who has dominated the political landscape for the last 18 years, had won 75.9 per cent of the vote.

In a victory speech near Red Square, Putin told a cheering crowd he interpreted the win as a vote of confidence in what he had achieved in tough conditions.

“It’s very important to maintain this unity. We will think about the future of our great Motherland,” said Putin, before leading the crowd in repeated chants of “Russia!”

He told a meeting of supporters afterwards that difficult times were ahead, but that Russia had a chance to make “a breakthrough.”

Backed by state TV, the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating around 80 per cent, his victory was never in doubt.

His nearest challenger, Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, got around 13 per cent, according to partial results, while nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky got around six per cent.

None of the seven candidates who ran against Putin posed a threat, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred from running.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been at Arsenal for less than two months, but that hasn’t stopped the fiercely-driven star from ruffling a few feathers as he tries to lead the Gunners to Europa League glory.

Mkhitaryan moved to Arsenal as part of the deal that sent Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United in January and the Armenian has already established himself as a key figure in Arsene Wenger’s troubled side.

The 29-year-old found himself frozen out by United manager Jose Mourinho, but Wenger is more appreciative of his qualities and has installed him on the right of his three-man attacking midfield.

Mkhitaryan has scored in his last two appearances for Arsenal, with his maiden goal coming in their crucial 2-0 win at AC Milan in the Europa League last 16 first leg.

After netting again in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Watford, Mkhitaryan has done his bit to ease the pressure on Wenger, who is fighting to save his job after another miserable season.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers.

President Donald Trump has sacked US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who was on a state visit to Nigeria yesterday Monday and has replaced him with CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, just as he also appointed Gina Haspel, the new CIA Boss, the first woman to so named.

Trump made the announcement via his Twitter handle: @realDonald Trump

“Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!”

There are strong indications that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was removed from his post by President Donald Trump over two “major” errors that he committed.

The errors, our correspondent gathered, triggered Trump to consider and appoint another loyalist, Director Mike Pompeo, who is the Director of CIA, as the new Secretary of State.

Though Trump did not give any reason for sacking the US Secretary of State in his announcement via his Twitter handle, it was learnt that there have been frequent frictions between the two recently.

Before the sack, Trump had shown indications that he no longer had confidence in Tillerson. On Tuesday, he told reporters that the move to sack Tillerson had been considered for “a long time.”

“We disagreed on things … the Iran deal. So we were not thinking the same. With Mike Pompeo, we have a similar thought process.”

Beyond the Iran deal, Tillerson reportedly goofed in defending Trump’s position on Gulf States’ feud with the kingdom of Qatar and North Korea.

On the contrary, Pompeo played a ‘crucial’ role in the investigation of Russia’s involvement in the US election that brought in Trump as President.

Also, Tillerson’s assertion on Monday night that Russia “clearly” was responsible for the poisoning of a former British spy, is considered as “implicating and capable of exposing the White House to danger”.

A former Minister of Aviation of Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that US Secretary, Rex Tillerson, might have been affected by his visitation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It will be recalled that Tillerson was sacked by US President Donald Trump 12 hours after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock.
Fani-Kayode in a tweet on Tuesday alleged that President Muhammad Buhari has ‘chronic bad luck’.

Read all about this developing story here, here and here.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said on Wednesday that there was no basis for the one year tenure extension given to the John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).

His reason: tenure extension violates the constitution of Nigeria and the APC.

The Lagos State chapter of the party, which Tinubu belongs, had on Tuesday rejected the extension, saying it was against the constitution of the party.

Speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT on whether Tinubu was privy to the meeting and gave his backing, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said while he could not confirm if his principal was privy to the meeting where the decision was taken by the Lagos APC elders, Tinubu did not, in any way, support the extension of the tenure of the NWC because it was against Nigeria’s and APC’s constitution.

While insisting that the NWC and all those who benefitted from the extension should seek re-election when their tenure expires, Tinubu said the APC should always strive to do things in accordance with the constitution, noting that that was the only thing that separated the APC from other political parties.

Read the full story here.

Fela Durotoye, a public speaker and leadership coach last week announced his membership of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) under whose platform he aspires to contest the 2019 presidential election. He spoke with journalists on his desire for a new Nigeria and other issues. TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI brings the excerpts:

You are known as a public speaker and leadership coach. How does it feel to be a politician?

I know what it is to be a technotician, which is what we are in ANN. I don’t know whether I will need to learn what it means to be a politician but we are technocrats here and technoticians who have a deep understanding of political structures and realities and we also are not just focused on politics and the power of it but really the deliverance of good governance for the benefit of the people. So, I know what it means to be a technotician.

What is your background and professional calling?

I am professionally a business management consultant. My focus is business strategy and my area of specialty is on corporate transformation. I started my professional career in 1992 as an investment manager and consultant with focus on venture capital and project finance. I worked with Ventures and Trusts Limited that time the sole investment consultant to the European Investment Bank. Thereafter, I went to an MBA. Then I came back and joined a company called Phillips Consulting. I worked in the Total Quality Management Unit and then I went on to set up a customer service unit.

Read his full interview on Independent Newspapers.

Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has revealed that Nigeria was targeting about $100 billion investment in the petroleum sector to drive it to the projected level of providing maximum contribution to the overall growth of the nation.

Kachikwu stated this on Thursday while addressing the press shortly after the close of the five-day Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, which held in Abuja.

The Minister disclosed that already the Federal Government had sealed deals in excess of $40 billion that would start coming in the nearest future.

He said that amount would not, however, be able to adequately drive the needed investment in the nation’s petroleum sector.

“I did mention investment portfolio of about $40 billion, and the number is coming from three very unique projects.

Read the full story on this Nigerian Newspaper.

Barely ten months after the release of a batch of 82 of the abducted Chibok secondary school girls, investigation shows that the entire negotiations may have been nothing but a huge scam.

DAILY INDEPENDENT investigation that covered Nigeria, Switzerland, Chad, Niger and Cameroon has conclusively shown that Nigerian officials and Swiss agents involved in the clandestine talks to free the girls who were abducted from Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents have turned the negotiations into an illicit goldmine of sort.

Remarkably, this offshore and on-shore investigations have rubbished claim by federal authorities that no ransom was paid to secure freedom for the two batches of the 276 abducted Chibok girls already released by Boko Haram as it has been proved that millions of dollars were actually paid to secure their release.

Most of all, DAILY INDEPENDENT sources uncovered the face behind the mask in the negotiations. He is Swiss Foreign Service agent, Pascal Holliger. But he is not alone as he has been working closely with some Nigerians and other foreigners in a labyrinthine way that reaches to other countries and involves various organisations. To give them an absolute cover of decency, the negotiations have been spearheaded by the Swiss government, ostensibly on humanitarian grounds.

Yet, as the whole process had been enmeshed in secrecy Red Cross, the only visible entity, has always insisted that its role was limited to mediation and confidence building “as a neutral intermediary and not involved in the negotiation” between the parties.

Read the full story on Independent Newspapers.

Former Governor of Ogun State and former Managing Director of Daily Times, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has alleged ‘conspiracy’ as he was called to present one of the awards to Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, the immediate past Chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee.

Osoba jokingly said he suspected conspiracy as he, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was called to present an award to a PDP Chieftain.

While receiving the Award of Party Leader of the Year, Makarfi responded to Osoba’s joke, stating that he expects the former Ogun State Governor to rejoin PDP.

Read more here.

Today, all roads lead to Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, as the INDEPENDENT Newspapers awards hold.

The highly anticipated awards will kickoff at 7pm.

Motivated by its avowed commitment to promoting the common good and rewarding excellence in the society, this edition will be a breakaway from the norm in the quality of awardees, programme of events and guests.

Nominated as the ‘INDEPENDENT 2017 Man of the Year’ is the amiable and respectable Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Executive Governor of Delta State.

In his two years in office, Governor Okowa has retained the admiration of his people via his development strides through the Smart Agenda.

Governor Okowa was inaugurated as Governor on 29 May 2015, after winning the state elections conducted in April 2015.

Prior to being Governor, he was elected Senator for Delta North, in Delta State, in April 2011, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

An Ika from Owa-Alero in Delta State, Governor Okowa, till date, he holds the record of being the first person from Anioma to clinch the governorship position of Delta State.

Other governors to be awarded include, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. The Governor is nominated as ‘Governor of the Year’ for his achievements in Lagos State.

Born June 14, 1963, Governor Ambode was a civil servant for 27 years and a financial consultant before running for public office as Governor of Lagos State in 2015.

His road to his current office was on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state’s ruling party. He won the election, defeating the second-place candidate by 150,000 votes.

Governor Ambode began his tenure as the governor of Lagos State on 29 May 2015, succeeding former governor Babatunde Fashola.

On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is nominated for ‘Political Icon of the Year’.

Prior to being the governor of his state, Wike who was born on 24 August 1967, had been contributing to the development of the state in his own unique way. From 1999 to 2007, Wike was the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government in Rivers State, an office he used to redefine and exhibit his special brand of governance.

He was the National President of All Local Governments of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 (ALGON), between 1999 to 2007; he was also the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area where he distinguished himself exceedingly.

An outstanding administrator, lawyer, leader and politician, Barrister Wike was born to the family of Reverend and Mrs. Nlemanya Wike of Rumuepirikom community, Rivers State. He holds degrees in Political and Administrative Studies as well as Law.

For his sterling role in weathering the storm of the killer herdsmen in his state recently, Samuel Ortom of Benue was nominated and would be decorated as ‘The Governor of the Year on Security’, while David Umahi of Ebonyi State emerged ‘Governor of the Year in Agriculture’.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State is equally nominated as the ‘2017 Grassroots Governor of the Year’, while the ‘Outstanding Deputy Governor of the Year’ goes to Otunba Titilayo Tomori of Osun State.

Otunba Tomori’s recognition comes deservingly. Aside being the Deputy Governor of Osun State, she is also the Honourable Commissioner for Education.

Born in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State to the Amon Oyeyemi Laoye family, her early education includes St. Catherine Girls Grammar School, Owo and Victory College, Ikare.

Read the full story here.

Follow #INLAwards2017 on Twitter and facebook.com/independentngr for live updates from the event.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) may have been thrown into another round of confusion ahead of the 2019 general elections as posters of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe flood Abuja and other Nigerian cities.

This is happening barely a week after former President Olusegun Obasanjo stoked controversy in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him not to seek re-election in 2019.

At the weekend, posters bearing Kingibe’s portraits for president flooded major cities across the country, including Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja, Maiduguri, Calabar, Asaba, Uyo, Kano, etc.

Already close political associates of Kingibe are said to be reaching out to the old Social Democratic Party (SDP) stalwarts to reactivate and coalesce their support for the long-standing politician.

He is known to be an insider in the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and had lately assumed a prominent role behind the scenes in the presidency.

Read the full story here.

Now, the Fulani herdsmen are the latest threat to the nation. These herders appear licensed to kill. Apart from Lagos, virtually every state has had a dose of these invading death merchants as they have taken lives in thousands. Why the Army has not considered it expedient to organise a similar dance party to check the activities of these herders is a discussion for another day.

It is in the middle of all of these that former President Olusegun Obasanjo suddenly threw what has turned out to be a bomb into the political space. Obasanjo, in his letter of Tuesday, January 23, had picked holes in the president’s handling of the nation since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to office in 2015.

Obasanjo had accused Buhari of condoning corruption in the inner caucus of the presidency, failure to check the wanton killings by Fulani herdsmen, a proclivity for nepotism in appointments and bulk passing amongst others. As usual, the usual division earlier mentioned, has become visible. For many in the north Obasanjo’s outburst was an affront on the north.

In fact, a pro-Buhari youth group, the Democratic Youths Congress for Buhari 2019, out rightly described Obasanjo’s letter to President Buhari as an open confrontation against the “North that made him what he is.”

Similarly, members of the APC too have also not taken lightly to the outburst by the former president. Some have said he lacked the moral rectitude to pontificate as he did worse during his leadership as president of the nation.

If anything the Federal Government should see the letter by Obasanjo as a call to duty and a love letter from a concerned ally. When Obasanjo wrote a similar letter against ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, the same APC praised him to high heavens. When similar objections were raised then, people were advised to take the message and ignore the messenger. Why are the people suddenly being told now to ignore the message and concentrate on the messenger?

Read the full story here.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City proved against Newcastle United that their title charge will not be derailed by complacency as they bounced back to winning ways following defeat against Liverpool.

The runaway Premier League leaders responded to their first domestic loss of the season at Anfield on January 14 by overpowering the Magpies 3-1 with a Sergio Aguero hat-trick on Saturday.

Guardiola had said beforehand it was important that his players responded well and he feels the performance at the Etihad Stadium, which maintained a 12-point lead at the top, showed their character.

“I said many times it was going to happen, we can lose, so (it is) important the reaction we have to do,” said the manager.

“Still we have 42 points to play (for). It is 14 games. It is a lot of games to play and difficult games like Saturday and like Liverpool. It is important to show the team is still there but I don’t have the feeling we give up.

“We want to go through to the final in the (League) Cup and the FA Cup, so (we have) a lot of games but I think the people have the desire to keep going, to keep going, to keep going.

“Even with 12 points it is important to see the personality, the team and try to do the things with no mistakes. Never did I not see it this season and that is why I am so proud to be their manager.”

City have earned plenty of plaudits as they have dominated the Premier League this season.

Read more here.

Daura Emirate Youth Progressive Movement (DEYPM) on Sunday said it would purchase nominations forms for President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State to enable them re-contest in the 2019 general elections.

Malam Abdulkadir Lawal, the chairman of the movement, disclosed this in Daura at a rally, which was attended by thousands of youths from the five local government areas under Daura Emirate.

The five local government areas under of the emirate include Daura, Baure, Zango, Mai’adua and Sandamu.

“We will purchase the forms as part of our contribution to support the two political leaders to re-contest during the polls.” Lawal said.

He stated that the movement decided to purchase the forms following Buhari and Masari’s exceptional performances in office.

Lawal said the two leaders had brought rapid development in their respective areas of jurisdiction, especially in security, agriculture, among others.

“Governor Masari has succeeded in transforming education, infrastructure and health sectors in the state within the last two years,” he stressed.

He described Buhari as God send, stressing that prior to the advent of his administration, people in Northeast were experiencing hell due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the region.

Read more here.

There is no doubt that the world of money and finance is transforming before our eyes as digitised assets and innovative financial channels, instruments and systems are creating new paradigms for financial transaction and alternative capital.

But just like it did when the popular ponzi scheme, Mavrodi Mondial Movement, simply known as MMM was in vogue in the country, the CBN has called on Nigerians not to fall into the temptation of the crypto currency called bitcoin.

The apex bank said the virtual currencies are not legal lenders in Nigeria, and are unacceptable just as it called on financial institutions not to transact businesses in the currencies and anyone who does such, is at its own risk.

Digital currency bitcoin sold at $1000 in January 2017 and hit an all-time high of more than $19,000 in December.

Currently, the price of bitcoin has been stagnated in the last two weeks and financial experts around the world continue to discourage investors.

In recent times, the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies has been attracting the attention of investors in the global market, whilst it has remained a concern to regulators of financial institutions.

From the United States (US) to other countries in Europe and Asia, the allure to cryptocurrencies has continued to increase.

Indeed, investors in cryptocurrencies have been riding a tremendous bull run as it outpaced global stock market returns by huge margins last year.

Read the full report here.

A Federal High Court Abuja presided by the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Abdul-Kafarati, Thursday dismissed an application challenging the designation of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.

Justice Kafarati said the application was unmeritorious, and accordingly was dismissed.

More so, Justice Kafarati awarded N500,000 as fine against IPOB.

Justice Kafarati had on September 20, made an ex parte order declaring IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

The application filed by Ifeanyi Ejiofor on behalf of IPOB also challenged the proscription of the group by the Federal Government.

Read the full story here.

The House of Representatives Thursday resolved to investigate the loss of $21 billion, about N7.6 trillion, crude oil revenue to International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country.

Consequently, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the development and report back to it for further legislative action.

The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance, moved by Honourable Sunday Marshall Katung (PDP, Kaduna), urging the House to ascertain the whereabouts of billion of dollars of oil revenue unaccounted for.

The Committee is also expected to investigate the operation of the Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as well as require the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu to provide details of financial transactions between the NNPC and the IOCs during the period when the losses occurred.

Read the full story here.

Insurers will have to pay claims of around $135 billion for 2017.

This is the worst ever following a spate of hurricanes, earthquakes and fires in North America, according to a report published on Thursday.

German reinsurer, Munich Re, in its annual natural catastrophe review, also said last year’s total losses, including those not insured, were $330 billion, the second-worst in history after 2011 when an earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc in Japan.

Although individual events could not be linked directly to climate change, global warming is playing a role, Munich Re said.

“We have a new normal,” said Ernst Rauch, head of Munich Re’s Corporate Climate Centre, which monitors climate change risks.

“2017 was not an outlier,” he said, noting insured losses have surpassed $100 billion multiple times since 2005. “We must have on our radar the trend of new magnitudes.”

Last year’s hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the United States and Caribbean, wildfires in California and earthquakes in Mexico destroyed homes, infrastructure and numerous lives.

It expected more frequent extreme events in future.

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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, says the Federal Government is working assiduously to revamp the country’s refineries to address the problems of lingering fuel crisis.

Kachikwu said this on Thursday in Abuja during a one-day public hearing of the National Assembly Joint Committees on Petroleum (Downstream), investigating the causes of recent fuel scarcity recorded across the country in December 2017.

The minister, who decried the poor state of the refineries over the years, condemned their inability to produce sufficient fuel for the country.

According to him, it is shameful that a country after over 35 years cannot produce sufficient fuel for its citizens.

“I have said that selling crude is a fairly wrong model which is akin to selling our agricultural products in the wrong way and nobody does that anywhere in the world anymore.

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December 23, 2017, made it 16 years since Chief James Ajibola Idowu Ige, former Governor of old Oyo State and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the presidency of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was brutally gunned down by assassins at his Bodija, Ibadan home in 2001.

Indeed many were the high-profile politically-motivated killings that took place during Obasanjo’s eight-year tenure, which lasted from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.

These unresolved murder cases include that of ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Harry Sokari Marshall.

Also assassinated during the period was the man who succeeded Marshall in office, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo.

The killing of the 2007 governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Chief Funsho Williams; as well as the murder of the 2007 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC) in Ogun State, Otunba Adedipupo Dina, among others, are also within memory reach.

It would be recalled that in July 17, last year, President Muhammadu Buhari had given the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, instructions to reopen investigation into the assassination of former Attorney General of the Federation as well as that of Dikibo.

He’d reportedly ordered the fishing out of their assailants – a move that drew loud plaudits for the president from many Nigerians.

Curiously however nothing has been heard regarding whether any progress has been made in respect of the presidential directive.

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Juan Roman Riquelme says Argentina can win the 2018 World Cup in Russia if Lionel Messi is at his best. More here.

After battling through qualifying, Jorge Sampaoli’s men are not considered among the strong favourites for Russia 2018.

However, Riquelme, who was capped 51 times by the national team, believes Argentina could contend if Messi performs, having been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

“We hope that we do well, that the players do well and above all Messi,” the Argentinian told El Trece.

“If the latter happens, Argentina will have many chances to win. If Messi is good, nothing is complicated.

“I don’t know Sampaoli. It is important that Argentina can win the World Cup.

“We want to celebrate and when there are players as important as Messi, you depend on them a lot.”

Messi missed out on winning a sixth Ballon d’Or this year, with Cristiano Ronaldo instead joining him on a record five.

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Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group, has announced its first all women cabin crew flight from Addis Ababa to Nigeria scheduled for Dec. 16.

A statement issued by the airline on Monday in Addis Ababa, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, said that from the pilots and cabin crew to in flight ramp operations, as well as flight dispatchers on ground would be women.

It said that it would also be the first time the airlines would be operating an all women flight in Africa.

According to the statement, the flight, which is expected to leave for Lagos, Nigeria from Addis Ababa on Dec. 16, will have on board some selected Nigerian journalists.

It quoted the pilot, Capt. Amsale Gualu as saying, “this flight shows us that if women get equal opportunities and work hard,  they can achieve whatever they want in all fields including the aviation industry’’.

“The all-female crew which also has Tigist Kibret as First Officer, will be flying the Boeing 777.

“In a country where few women have dared to enter the highly male-dominated profession of piloting, Captain Guale, in 2010 became the first Ethiopian female captain to fly an Ethiopian Airlines Bombardier from Addis Ababa to Gondar.

“Ethiopian airlines say it wants to promote women’s empowerment and encourage more African women to pursue aviation careers.