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These are past games bruh

It was another week of action with some top teams continuing their good run. However, the likes of Barcelona and PSG suffered defeat.

Oladipupo Mojeed brings us a review of some of the top games across several European leagues.


English Premier League
Manchester United 1-1 Everton
Andros Townsend scored for the third time in four matches to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Townsend, who scored for Crystal Palace at the same venue last season, converted an Abdoulaye Doucoure pass at the end of a swift counter-attack started by Demarai Gray in the 65th minute.

Anthony Martial had put United ahead just before half-time. The striker curled home his first Premier League goal since February from a Bruno Fernandes pass.

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench in the second half but was unable to find a winner on his 200th Premier League appearance.

Indeed, it was Everton who thought they had won it late on. Yerry Mina’s close-range finish from a Tom Davies pass was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Manchester United and Everton sit third and fourth respectively, both on 14 points.

Chelsea 3-1 Southampton
Late goals by Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell earned Chelsea a 3-1 win over 10-man Southampton. The win took the Blues to the top of the table.

Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for Chelsea on nine minutes, heading in at the far post after Ruben Loftus-Cheek flicked on Chilwell’s corner.

Southampton equalised in the 61st minute through James Ward-Prowse’s penalty, awarded for Chilwell’s foul on Tino Livramento.

Werner was denied by a brilliant save from Alex McCarthy on 72 minutes, moments before Ward-Prowse was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jorginho after a VAR check.

The German striker later provided the decisive moment, sliding in from Azpilicueta’s cross before Chilwell volleyed in from close range on 89 minutes to secure victory.

Chelsea are on 16 points, two clear of Liverpool having played a match more, while Southampton drop to 17th on four points.

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion were left to rue missed chances as they were held to a goalless draw by Arsenal at a wet Amex Stadium.

In an open first half, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a post with a header against the run of play. At the other end, Leandro Trossard, Dan Burn, and Shane Duffy all missed opportunities.

Jakub Moder failed to hit the target with two long-range efforts early in the second half as Brighton continued to press for a breakthrough.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez saved from Emile Smith Rowe on a counter-attack with 15 minutes remaining as Arsenal enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Two late efforts by Brighton substitute Solly March were saved by Aaron Ramsdale and Duffy headed wide from a corner as neither side could find a winner.

Brighton climb to fifth on 14 points, four points, and places ahead of Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Aston Villa
Spurs halted a run of three straight defeats and returned to winning ways. Son Heung-min played a starring role in a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa.

Son was involved in both goals. The first teeing up Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to give the hosts a 27th-minute lead. The Dane slotted into the bottom-right corner from outside the penalty area.

Both teams had chances on either side of half-time, with Son having the best opportunity when he was denied by Emiliano Martinez from six yards out.

Villa then scored a 67th-minute equaliser, with Matt Targett delivering a low cross from the left for Ollie Watkins to finish at close range.

But Spurs restored their lead with a very similar goal four minutes later. Son beat Kortney Hause on the outside and forced an own goal from Matt Targett as the defender slid for the ball with Lucas Moura.

Spurs climb to eighth, two points outside the top four and two ahead of Villa, who drop to 10th.

Liverpool 2 – 2 Manchester City
A magnificent solo goal from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool maintain their unbeaten start despite Manchester City twice coming from behind in a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

City goalscorers Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne had the best chances to break the deadlock as the champions controlled a goalless first half.

But Liverpool took the lead on 59 minutes as Sadio Mane fired in his 99th Premier League goal. The goals resulted via sublime play from Salah on the break.

City leveled on 69 minutes through Foden’s drilled finish from an acute angle after Gabriel Jesus had found him.

A sensational solo effort from Salah, who beat four City players and fired in a shot off the post from a tight angle, put Liverpool back in front on 76 minutes.

De Bruyne equalised five minutes later with a finish from the edge of the area, before a superb sliding block from Rodri denied Reds midfielder Fabinho a late winner.

Liverpool remain unbeaten but drop to second with 15 points. City are one point and one place below them.

Spanish La Liga
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
Atletico Madrid got back to winning ways by defeating Barcelona 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano. Goals in the first half from Thomas Lemar and Luis Suarez were enough to secure three points for Diego Simeone’s men. This also moved them level with Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Barca slumped to their second loss of the week, and the calls for Ronald Koeman’s dismissal may only grow after another disappointing result.

Atletico are next in action against Granada on October 16 after the international break. Barcelona face Valencia in their next match on October 17 at Camp Nou.

Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid
Espanyol have well and truly announced their return to the top flight by stunning Madrid.

The Catalonians fought hard for the victory with De Tomas and Vidal putting the hosts 2-0 up. Madrid pulled a goal back through Benzema but didn’t improve enough to avoid their second defeat in a week.

Espanyol’s victory lifts them to 12th in La Liga. Moreno’s men were magnificent here and should have no problems in staying up this season if they continue playing this way. Madrid stay top of the league on goal difference but missed the chance of extending their points further.

Espanyol will be delighted with the win. Madrid will once again rue their lack of cutting edge having dominated the game. Ancelotti has to get his team firing if this bumpy spell isn’t to become symbolic of their season.

Torino 0 – 1 Juventus
Manuel Locatelli rode to the rescue of the Bianconeri to break hearts across the city in Turin. It is Juventus who take bragging rights in their derby clash with Torino.

The hosts will be crushed, having gone blow-for-blow for so long. But their visitors snatched three points late in the day.

Ivan Juric will have a lot to think on and for a long time to too. This is because of thetwo-week lack of club football. His side deserved more than an empty hand at the end, but such is the cruelty of sport.

Massimiliano Allegri though has spun this one around over the past few weeks. With success at home and in Europe, he revives Juventus’ hopes. There is a long way to go, of course, and they could have come away with just a point. But they snatched a win and that’s all that matters.

Sassuolo 1 – 2 Inter Milan
Edin Dzeko’s second-half turn off the bench proves the brilliant difference for Inter. His goal tied things up with Sassuolo before he drew the penalty There are no spoils shared in Serie A games; the champions take it all.

Alessio Dionisi will have plenty of time to chew over that one, but it will undoubtedly sting, given how often his side took it to the Scudetto holders. They started October with a loss and the only way is up.

Simone Inzaghi has seen his side cut the gap at the summit though – and now, he will have to hope that Napoli slip up elsewhere for a best-case scenario.

French Ligue 1
Rennes 2 – 0 PSG
PSG suffer their first defeat of the season. The home side took a surprise lead on the stroke of half-time, with Laborde firing them ahead with a lovely finish.

It then took them a matter of seconds to double their advantage in the second half, with Laborde this time turning provider, as Tait finished off a quick counter, to make it 2-0.

PSG struggled to get going after the break, but managed to get the ball into the back of the net. However, Mbappe’s goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.

This victory moves Rennes up to seventh in Ligue 1, while PSG remain top. But their unbeaten run comes to an end. Next up for Rennes is a trip to Metz after the international break. Meanwhile, PSG will look to get back to winning ways when they face Angers.

German Bundesliga
Bayern Munich 1 – 2 Frankfurt
Frankfurt came from behind to beat Bayern 2-1 for their first win this season. Goretzka gave the hosts the lead just before the half-hour mark after Hinteregger’s mistake and slotted his shot into the far bottom corner.

Just three minutes later, the captain made up for it though as he thumped in a header at the other end.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/review-of-games-across-top-europan-leagues/

After a turbulent start to life in Italy, Victor Osimhen has finally started to hit the ground running and show his talent for the Naples.

This article will shed more light about the untold story of the lanky Nigerian football star.

Background
Victor James Osimhen was born on 29th December, 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria. He’s the last of 6 children born to Nigerian parents, his late mother and father, Mr Patrick Osimehn.

Osimhen has previously recounted having a rough childhood as his family could barely afford basic needs. He lost his mother at a very young age and his father lost his job months later. The striker also previously described how they had to stick together as a family to survive tough times.

Osimhen had his primary school education in Olusosun Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, whose football field served as the meeting points for pupils of the community to play football.

Rise to stardom
Osimhen started his football career with Ultimate Strikers Academy. In 2014, his performances earned him a spot in Nigeria’s U-17 team, The Golden Eaglets.

Victor was exceptional in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Chile, scoring 2 great goals on his debut. He then went on to bag the top scorer award with 10 goals at the end of the tournament. He also won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Silver Ball after his performances helped his team to succeed.


Victor caught the eyes of several scouts during the tournament, and finally earned a move to German Bundesliga club, Wolfsburg in 2016.

Battle with Injuries
He signed a three and half years contract with the club and made his Bundesliga debut in May 2017. His stint at the club was however marred with injuries and illnesses which saw him have 0 goal contributions at the club.

Redemption Journey

He moved on to the Belgian side Sporting Charleroi and was brilliant yet again, bagging 20 goals in 36 appearances. After his dominant spell in Belgium, he moved to Lille OSC in July 2019.

The Super Eagles star moved from strength to strength in Lille, helping the French side adjust to the loss of Nicolas Pepe who moved to Arsenal in the summer.

Osimehn bagged 18 goals in 38 appearances, helping Lille to a 4th place finish in the French Ligue 1.

He attracted a lot of interest from Europe’s top clubs. He finally made a move to Napoli, after the Serie A side splashed €80m, making him their record transfer in history.

Life at Napoli
Injuries struck yet again in Victor’s first season with the Naples as he missed 14 games due to a shoulder injury. Shortly after his return, he got infected with the Corona Virus and also had a head injury later that season. He however managed to find the back of the net 10 times in 30 games.

He however started this season brightly and the Serie A side are finally enjoying the fruits of their investment.

The former Lille striker scored 4 goals in 5 games in the league and another 3 in 2 games in the Europa League. He’s helped Napoli to an unbeaten start with 6 wins in 6 games as they sit top of Serie A.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/victor-osimhen-from-ojota-slum-to-italian-limelight/

Roland Bayode examines Nigeria’s political landscape and brings us highlights from the last couple of weeks.

Northern governors slam southern colleagues ahead of 2023 election
The Northern States Governors’ Forum held an emergency meeting on Monday, 27th of September in Kaduna State. In a statement, they said that only a candidate with majority votes would become the next President of Nigeria.

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who is also the Chairman of the Forum, signed the release.

The 19 northern governors criticized the assertion of their 17 southern colleagues, that a southern candidate should succeed President Buhari.

PDP floors APC in Kajuru Local Government chairmanship election
The opposition party in Kajuru LG area in Kaduna State, said that the Peoples Democratic Party won the chairmanship election.

The Returning Officer, Dr Ibrahim DanMaraya from Kaduna State University, confirmed that Ibrahim Gajere polled 14,432. The immediate past chairman, Honourable Cafra AB Caino of APC trailed behind with 9,095 votes.

Also, PDP won nine councilorship positions, while the ruling party, the All Progressives Party won only one seat. Honourable Gajere gained the highest number of votes and won the election.

APC will sweep Plateau LG polls – Governor Simon Lalong
Local government elections in the 17 council areas of Plateau State will take place on October 9, 2021. Ahead of that, Lalong has said that his All Progressives Congress party will sweep the polls.

The governor spoke on Saturday, 25th of September while campaigning for the party in the Shendam Local Government Area.

The governor said, “APC is the party of choice in Plateau State just as it is being embraced by people from other parties at national level. I am very optimistic that we will sweep the elections because we don’t have opposition in Plateau State, thanks to our performance. We have shown leadership that is centred on the peace and progress of Plateau.”

Age limit recommended for Presidential post
Mr Peter Obi has recommended a 60-80 year age range for aspirants vying for the office of President of Nigeria.

In his speech at Aguata on 24 September, Obi pointed out numerous projects he did across the state. He appealed to the people to vote in Val Ozigbo for possessing the capacity and youthful age to deliver.

He also said that the other two contestants have had the opportunity to help their people and did nothing. Peter Obi claims that the difference will be clear with Ozigbo in office. He went on to say that two of the major contestants were over 60 years, while Mr Ozigbo is 50. Obi concluded that Val possessed the ideal age for governorship at sub-national level, which he put between 40 and 60.

He also inferred that, “it is the experience garnered at that (governorship) level that would contribute to the success of leadership at presidential level’.

Encourage members to contest for political offices – Gov Wike tells church leaders
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigeria’s Christian leaders to encourage their members to contest for political positions. This statement was disclosed in an official statement signed by the governors’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.

Wike made the call on Wednesday, 22nd of September as he advised that churches should encourage their members to be part of the governance process.

He said, “You must be part of choosing leadership. Don’t say you have no role, you have a role. When you don’t participate, bad leaders will emerge and when bad leadership emerges, you are part of it.

“You must encourage your people to be part of leadership. I didn’t go to any school to study leadership. Nobody should say that as a Christian you cannot be a governor, no.”

“The head of SUBEB in my state is a priest. And you can see the leadership he has given to that agency today. You will feel proud about it. That used to be the most corrupt agency. But today it is headed by a priest and you can see the difference,” the governor stated.

Northern Elders Regret Getting Rid of Jonathan to Elect Buhari

The Northern Elders Forum has said that it regrets getting rid of Nigeria’s former number one citizen, President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 elections.

The group expressed their dissatisfaction, revealing that President Buhari has let down millions of Nigerians. He has abused the trust of the All Progressives Congress who voted for him years back.

The Northern Elders Forum Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed revealed this on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ last Tuesday. .

He said, “Is there any Nigerian who is not disappointed in President Buhari including diehard APC people? Is there anybody who would not tell you he wished President Buhari had done much better?

“We raised huge expectations. We told people, “Get rid of Jonathan, put Buhari there. He will fix corruption, insecurity, the economy (but) look at where we are now.”

“How can anybody say they are happy with the record of President Buhari? Even the people very close to him would tell you that they wished he could have done much better. And he could have done much better but he hasn’t.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/nrtc-political-roundup/

Roland Bayode brings us a highlight of the recent goings-on within Nigeria’s business sector.

One million jobs saved, prevented the closure of 150,000 SME’s – Osinbajo
The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said that the present regime saved over one million jobs. They also stopped the closure of over 150,000 small businesses hit by COVID-19 through the Economic Sustainability Plan.

Osinbajo made this assertion on Tuesday in Abuja, while speaking virtually during a United Nations High-Level Forum on Jobs and Social Protection.


Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement tagged, ‘Why social protection schemes are crucial’.

According to him, Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 was guided by the conviction that social protection schemes are important. And that they can break the cycle of poverty and give real access to jobs and economic opportunities. As such, it also improves human capacity and productivity.

NNPC denies funding elections with bribes from oil traders
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has reacted to an allegation that trading firms paid its agents to win oil contracts. It is alleged that these payments helped to raise funds for Nigeria’s general elections in 2015 and 2019.

In a report released by NNPC, a former Glencore Plc employee in July admitted paying a middleman $300,000 to secure a crude shipment. The employee understood that the money would be spent on the national election.

The 2015 contest for the presidential seat was mainly between ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Rtd. Major General Muhammadu Buhari. And in 2019, it was between Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. Buhari emerged as the winner in both elections.

UBA publishes names and account details of Forex defaults
The United Bank of Africa has published names of individuals who applied for Personal Travel Allowance to buy dollars cheap. However, they did not use the funds for the declared purpose.

The UBA disclosed this in a publication on its website titled ‘CBN FX Defaulters. The publication included account numbers and Bank Verification Numbers of the defaulters.

According to the bank, the beneficiaries committed the offense after applying with fake or by cancelling their trips. And in compliance with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria, banks must publish the names of defaulters.

Why we continue to borrow, says FG
The Federal Government has responded to critics who describe its frequent request for loans as insincere. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, spoke for the government during a town hall meeting in Maiduguri on Thursday.


Mohammed inferred that the critics were members of previous administrations who ‘performed poorly in terms of modernizing our infrastructure, even when they served at a time when our earnings were multiples of what we get today.”

He added that the government doesn’t borrow for recurrent expenditure or to pay salaries. But it does so to build world-class infrastructure that would benefit generations of Nigerians.

FG, States, LGs shared N696.9bn in August – FAAC
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee confimed that it released a total of N696.965bn as August 2021 revenue. This is for payments to federal, state and local governments, as well as other relevant agencies in Nigeria.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) disclosed on Wednesday, that the shared revenue was contained in a communiqué issued by FAAC after its monthly meeting for September 2021.

The OAGF’s Director of Information, Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja.

Buhari demands PIA amendment, ignores host communities’ three per cent agitation
President Buhari has asked the Senate to amend certain provisions of the controversial Petroleum Industry Act. However, the new amendments proposed by the President did not address the concerns of the South-South stakeholders.

Buhari also remains silent on the contentious three percent equity share for the host communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill approved by both chambers of the federal parliament.

According to him, the conference committee set up by the presiding officers of both chambers have addressed the situation. In their recommendation, they fixed the equity share at three percent. The National Assembly subsequently approved their recommendation.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/nrtc-business-pot%e2%80%8bpour%e2%80%8bri/

The English Premier League returns with Matchday 7 action alongside other top games from other European Leagues.

NRTC’s Oladipupo Mojeed highlights the match fixtures you won’t want to miss.

Manchester United vs Everton
Manchester United’s midweek performance was poor but they can thank David de Gea for keeping them in the game against Villarreal. And also Cristiano Ronaldo for his match-winning goal. The atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side must build on that.

Everton ended a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over struggling Norwich last weekend. Rafa Benitez was able to welcome back some key defenders but remains without his first-choice strike partnership in Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

United haven’t lost at home to Everton since 2013. However, they cannot afford to drop points here if they want to keep the pace with their title rivals. Given Everton’s issues in attack, the Red Devils have enough to get over the line.

Prediction: 2-1
Brighton vs Arsenal
Brighton missed the chance to top the Premier League on Monday, only gaining a point away to Crystal Palace. They have won four of their first six Premier League matches.

Arsenal are moving in the right direction with three wins in a row in the Premier League. The Gunners look much improved now Mikel Arteta has his first-choice defence to call on.

This fixture is certainly a potential banana skin for Arsenal but they look much better placed compared to a few weeks ago. Both teams have scored in four of the last six meetings.

Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea vs Southampton
Chelsea have lost back-to-back matches, albeit against Manchester City and Juventus. But more concerning is that they have only managed one shot on target across the two fixtures.

After three straight draws, Southampton required penalties to beat Championship side Sheffield United in the League Cup and then lost 1-0 at home to Wolves last weekend.

Southampton have already held Manchester City and Manchester United to draws this season, so they must not be underestimated.

However, Chelsea haven’t lost three games in a row since October 2015 and are the favourite.

Prediction: 2-0
Crystal Palace vs Leicester City
Crystal Palace were unfortunate only to draw with Brighton on Monday, conceding right at the death. They have one win, three draws and two defeats from their first six league games.

Leicester’s sorry start to the season continued on Thursday with a 1-0 defeat away to Legia Warszawa. The Foxes’ only win across their last six was against Championship outfit Millwall.

Palace are actually unbeaten in four of their last five home games against Leicester and have a decent chance of extending that good run. Given the current woes of their opponents, this is very achievable.

Prediction: 1-1

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
Tottenham will hope to put a dire September behind them when they welcome Aston Villa to north London on Sunday. Spurs lost all three league matches last month, conceding three goals in each defeat.

This is a huge downturn in form after a superb start to the season, which saw them top the Premier League table at the end of August. Howver, a 5-1 win on Thursday night will have boosted morale.

After a run of one win in four to kick off the campaign, Aston Villa look to have turned the corner. With back-to-back wins over Everton and Manchester United, they come into Sunday’s game one point ahead of Spurs.

Villa won this game last season, and have secured all the spoils in two of their last four visits to Tottenham.

Spurs need to get their season back on track. But they could head into the international break on the back of a fourth successive defeat with Villa starting to hit their stride.

Prediction: 1-2
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Liverpool are unbeaten in all competitions this season but there have been signs of vulnerability at times. They conceded three times to Brentford last weekend, shipped a couple to AC Milan and couldn’t break down a Chelsea side with a man less for 45 minutes.

Manchester City missed chances against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek as they lost 2-0. Pep Guardiola’s side were superb in their victory over Chelsea last weekend but have failed to score in three of their first nine games this season.

Jurgen Klopp is the most successful manager against Pep Guardiola-managed sides, with nine victories from their 21 previous encounters. With a packed Anfield crowd behind Liverpool, he will aim to make that 10.

Prediction: 2-1
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid have been on a difficult run of late, but a comeback win over AC Milan in midweek could spark them to life. Prior to that, they had just one win in four. Former Barcelona forwards Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann will be keen to get one over on their old club.

Ronald Koeman is on the brink as Barcelona head coach after their 3-0 defeat away to Benfica in the Champions League in midweek. They did at least win in the league last time out but morale at the club is low. It is difficult to see them producing a shock result here.

Prediction: 2-1
Espanyol vs Real Madrid
Espanyol’s less than impressive start to life back in La Liga continued last time out with another defeat. This time against Sevilla despite the Andalusians having a man sent off as early as the 65th minute.

Espanyol face another difficult outing as they welcome Real Madrid. Madrid will be desperate to bounce back quickly from their embarrassing midweek home defeat to Moldovan champions Sheriff in the Champions League.

Prediction: 0-2
Torino vs Juventus
Torino were held to a 1-1 draw on Monday as Koffi Djidji gifted another penalty to Venezia after his mistake against Lazio the previous week.

Juventus defeated Sampdoria 3-2 last time out in Serie A and then produced a great display to beat Chelsea 1-0 in midweek.

Again without their main forwards here, they will need an in-form Federico Chiesa to produce the good again.

Prediction: 1-2
Sassuolo vs Inter Milan
Sassuolo picked up their second win of the season after a pretty even game against Salernitana last Sunday.

Inter played their part in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Atalanta and need to bounce back from an underwhelming performance in Kiev earlier this week.

The Nerazzurri are favourites to win, although there are a lot of question marks concerning their captain Samir Handanovic in goal.

Prediction: 1-3
Fiorentina vs Napoli
Dusan Vlahovic’s third penalty of the season was enough for Fiorentina to get three points in Udine last weekend in their third successive away win.

Napoli comfortably defeated Cagliari last weekend thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen and Lorenzo Insigne before losing at home in the Europa League on Thursday.

Fiorentina have already shown that they can be a real threat for the bigger sides with their high pressing. Napoli will try to extend their winning streak in the league.

Prediction: 1-2
Atalanta vs AC Milan
Atalanta’s 2-2 draw with Inter is the most entertaining game of the season so far. The Bergamaschi kept their momentum going with a convincing win against Young Boys in midweek.

AC Milan defeated Spezia thanks to another late goal from Brahim Diaz and were harshly outdone by Atlético Madrid on Wednesday after playing 60 minutes in numerical inferiority.

Atalanta will want to avenge last season’s defeat in this fixture, which saw them slip into third place on the final matchday, while the Rossoneri will try to extend their unbeaten start in Serie A.

Prediction: 2-1
Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich
Both these sides played in Europe in midweek, but Bayern enjoy at least 24 hours more rest and recuperation than Frankfurt who travelled to Belgium.

Robert Lewandowski amazingly did not score for the first time in 20 games in all competitions against bottom side Fuerth, but bounced back with a brace in midweek.

Winless Frankfurt have drawn five in a row and are going for their fifth 1-1 in succession too in the Bundesliga. The visitors would kill for a share of the spoils here.

Record champions Bayern have scored in 53 consecutive Bundesliga games and anything other than a comfortable Bayern win would be a huge surprise.

Prediction: 3-1
Dortmund vs Augsburg
Hopes remain high that the Black and Yellows can mount a title challenge for the first time in 10 years but they are already four points behind Bayern.

Star man Erling Machine Haaland boasts 47 goals in 48 Bundesliga games, but was badly missed last weekend in the dire defeat at Gladbach.

Augsburg have managed two goals in six games, but have somehow picked up five points. They could be put to the sword against Dortmund, but to their credit they usually perform well here. Chances are that they will keep the game tight for long periods.

Prediction: 2-0

Rennes vs Paris Saint Germain
The combination of Rennes’ lack of depth, prioritizing the Europa Conference League and travelling in the week hardly line up as favourable circumstances for the hosts.

PSG may not be as bouyant as they were in the Champions League but should still have plenty about them to get three points from this encounter and maintain their perfect start.

Prediction: 1-3

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/top-games-to-watch-out-for-across-european-leagues-this-weekend/

Nigeria’s theatre arts industry has grown over the years. From dance, to drama and music, arts have grown into a notable industry in the country. Some individuals work judiciously to make the industry a force to reckon with. One of such persons is Segun Adefila.

Segun Adefila is a theatre maestro par excellence. He has spent about three decades of practice in the industry. He is the co-founder of Crown Troupe of Africa – a theatre house that displays art in its finest form. For his doggedness and resilience to thrive in the arts industry, he is NRTC’s Personality of the Month.

Who is Segun Adefila?
Adefila is a Nigerian artist from Omu Aran in Kwara State. He is an actor, writer, singer, dancer, poet and director. His love for arts began as a child. He danced with masquerades during traditional festivals. This helped him to develop his art and groomed him for greater works. Now, he uses his performances to tell stories on social justice and to enlighten the public on socio-cultural and political issues.

Adefila had his informal training in theatre with Black Image Theatre Company. Thereafter, he co-founded Crown Troupe of Africa with some friends in June 1996. He is also the artistic director of the company. In 1997, he obtained a certificate in Drama from the defunct Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Lagos.

Also, in 2002, he bagged his B.A degree in Creative Arts from the University of Lagos. Crown Troupe of Africa is the platform that honed his skill and brought him acclaim. The company has performed on various stages in Nigeria and beyond.

The first international exposure for the company was when some of its members joined the National Troupe of Nigeria to perform at the maiden edition of Contacting The World. This is an international youth theatre festival and was hosted by Manchester-based Contact Theatre in 2002.

In 2009, Adefila was nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award in the Most Promising Actor category for his role in Arugba. He describes himself as a relentless explorer. Besides, he has paid his dues in the industry.

This year, Crown Troupe of Africa celebated its 25th anniversary. It was an event laced with exciting performances. Adefila has come a long way in proving that the arts industry is here to stay. He is not just a performer; he is a theatre maestro par excellence.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/segun-adefila-a-theatre-maestro-par-excellence/

A procession of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites, was dispersed on Tuesday by soldiers who shot at the crowd.

According to reports, at least eight IMN members were feared dead after the men in military fatigues opened fire on the procession during the annual Arbaeen trek at Gwarinpa district of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The incident happened at 3rd avenue, Gwarinpa around 10:00 am.

In a statement after confirmation of the event, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, Abdullahi Musa, accused the military of victimisation as the group went about its religious rites.

“The Arbaeen trek is an annual street demonstration by Shi’ites globally.

“Since the military authorities demolished our Centre in Zaria, we have been leading the religious trek from here (Abuja). It began on Monday.

“However, we had hoped to conclude the activities today (Tuesday).

“So, we assembled at the Galadima gate (Charly Boy bus stop) in Gwarinpa around 9:00 am, and staged our religious walk peacefully for about an hour.

“We neither made any demand on the government nor criticised anyone during the trek. It was purely a spiritual exercise for us.

“But as we were about to disperse, security operatives arrived at the scene and opened fire on our members, injuring many and killing some people.

“As for the casualty figures, I need to verify the numbers and get back to you, please.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/soldiers-kill-8-at-shiite-procession/

In the entertainment and celebrity circle, the last weekend was one of intrigues as Nigerians were treated to a potpourri of interesting break out stories.

The love-gone sour of Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and her estranged lover, Prince Kpokpogri will not go away in a long while as it keeps springing up one scandal or the other.

Celebrity Mompha was in the news with the allegation that he was in a same-sex relationship with cross-dresser, Bobrisky, forcing Mompha to come out crying in denial.

The Big Brother Season 6 Housemates also spiced up the weekend while “Godwin” crooner Korede Bello came out with a bombshell, alleging that most celebrities have sold their souls to the Devil.

The roundup ended on a sad note, however, as former BBN Naija Housemate, was involved in a serious accident, though she survived the mishap which wrecked her car beyond recognition.

Here is a list of celeb gists we tracked for you over the weekend.

Tonto-Kpokpogri messy breakup
Estranged celebrity couple, Tonto Dike and Prince Kpokpogri, are still exchanging words over their messy breakup. Both of them have made several statements so far, with each hinging the reason for their breakup on infidelity. However, Tonto has taken the legal route to sue Kpokpogri for blackmail and obtaining by tricks, as he allegedly threatened to release her nude pictures.

Besides, she informed Instagram influencer, Jane Mena, that Kpokpogri has several “sex tapes” of her, both old and new, and won’t be long before he blackmails her too.

In her words:

“This may be a good time to say @janemena this man has so much of your sex tapes with him in his possession (old and very recent). Not just you, but a lot of other married women, celebrities and single girls too. If he hasn’t blackmailed any of you yet, it’s a matter of time,” she said.

Nevertheless, Kpokpogri refuted Tonto’s claims and described them as totally false.

Bobrisky and Mompha linked in a relationship

During the week, Nigeria’s number cross-dresser, Bobrisky, was romantically linked with businessman, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha.

This news was disclosed by the Bobrisky’s ex-PA, Kyme Oye, while on an Instagram question and answer session. However, Bobrisky and Mompha have both refuted the claims.

Bobrisky said:

“This thing never happened. Mompha and I are only friends. Nothing is happening. This is the last time I’m going to say this, Mompha and I are just friends and nothing more.”

It will be recalled that the cross-dresser has been in the habit of posting suggestive pictures of himself and Mompha on his Instagram page. And with the pictures usually accompanied with questionable emojis, many have jumped to wild conclusions with insinuations rife that they are into a relationship of siome sort.

Mompha, on his part, described Oye’s claims as false and asked her to apologise or else he would sue her. She has since apologised.

Big Brother Naija Season 6 Update

On Sunday, Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye took another twist with Housemates Queen, Nini and Saga evicted, while Angel and Pere were asked to stay in a white room as who would be evicted between the two of them will be determined by a task.

This decision by Biggie did not go down well with some fans of both Housemates. Their reason was that they felt Angel should have been evicted as her votes were lower than that of Pere.

Korede Bello reveals that celebrities ”sell their souls for fame”

Mavins record artiste and “Godwin” crooner, Korede Bello, disclosed the extreme measures many celebrities take to achieve fame and fortune.

The singer who recently declared that he is now a born again Christian, disclosed that several celebrities sell their souls to the Devil because they desire fame and money.

The “Real Man” singer made the revelation on his Twitter page where he wrote:

“The price of fame is at an all time high. Souls being sold out here.”

BBNaija Star, Mercy Eke, involved in ghastly motor accident

On Saturday, Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem winner, Mercy Eke, revealed that she was involved in a motor accident. She shared a video of her damaged vehicle on her Instagram page.

The good news, however, was that she came out unhurt and gave thanks to God for sparing her life moments after the accident occurred. She added that she came out from the accident scene unhurt.

The reality TV star and business woman wrote:

“Every day above is a blessing, and God has been so merciful to me. God said devil, not today.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/celeb-round-up-5--we-tracked-for-you/

The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), has described as unconstitutional the power shift being canvassed by their Southern counterparts and groups in the region.

The NGF also rejected the Value Added Tax (VAT) law signed recently by Lagos and River State governments, saying it would bring about a rise in food prices and hardship on the people.

The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Gov Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who disclosed these in a statement issued at the end of their meeting in Kaduna on Monday, said the governors have declared their support for the Federal Government on VAT collection.

They insisted that until the Supreme Court rules on the substantive suit between the federal government and River State government, the matter was subjudice and would remain such.

The statement read:

“Some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to the three geo-political zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation.

“Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors’ Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.

“The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall:- score the majority votes; score at least 25 percent of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation. In the case of run-up, a simple majority wins the election.

“On VAT, as responsible leaders, while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is subjudice, we however, for the purposes of educating the public, make the following observations:

“The judgment of the Federal High Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13 percent derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service.

“Rivers and Lagos State Governments had enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors’ Forum have expressed support for this course of action;

“VAT is being confused by these state governments as a sales tax. If every state enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxations will result in increases in prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but a terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer.

“Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its ‘overall effect’. The reason Lagos account for our 50 percent VAT collection is that many of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing, and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT

“Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/northern-governors/

The outgone weekend was one that was riddled with top of the draw football matches that produced goals in the dozens, while there were surprises and unpredictable results to go with them.

The top European leagues saw some top teams squaring up against each other and doing what they were expected to do, while some others could not measure up.

Here is how the European football weekend panned out:

English Premier League
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City

Gabriel Jesus ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season as Manchester City won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The champions started brightly and went close in the third minute when Aymeric Laporte’s header dropped wide.

Chelsea were forced into a change before the half-hour mark as Reece James went off with an injury, Thiago Silva replacing him.

City continued to dominate and Jesus sliced a good chance wide at the end of the first half. The Brazilian striker made up for that miss with the decisive goal, a deflected shot on the turn from the edge of the area on 53 minutes.

City had chances to double their lead. Jack Grealish drew a save from Edouard Mendy before Jesus was denied a second by Thiago Silva’s goalline clearance.

Man City move up to second on 13 points, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.

Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa
Kortney Hause scored a late winner to give Aston Villa a rare Premier League victory over Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes missed a stoppage-time penalty and the visitors won 1-0 at Old Trafford.

Man Utd were on top early on, but Villa missed two great chances to take the lead. Matt Targett blazed over from close range and Ollie Watkins shot too close to David De Gea.

Man Utd lost Luke Shaw to injury before twice going close just before half-time. Harry Maguire’s header was saved well while Paul Pogba’s header flew narrowly wide.

Maguire went off injured in the second half before Hause headed in Douglas Luiz’s corner with two minutes remaining.

Hause then conceded a penalty in stoppage time, handling a cross. But Fernandes fired over the resulting spot-kick.

A second Villa win over Man Utd in 46 Premier League matches lifts them to eighth, with 10 points. Man Utd drop to fourth on 13 points after their first defeat of the season.

Brentford 3-3 Liverpool
Substitute Yoane Wissa struck late to earn Brentford a thrilling 3-3 home draw with Liverpool.

Both teams had shots cleared off the line in a fast-paced opening 10 minutes at Brentford Community Stadium.

Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock reacted quickest to tap in the opener on 27 minutes, but Liverpool were level four minutes later through Diogo Jota’s header.

Salah latched on to Fabinho’s pass to score his 100th league goal for Liverpool shortly before the hour mark.

But Brentford came back and Vitaly Janelt headed a loose ball in after Pontus Jansson had hit the bar. That parity did not last long as Curtis Jones struck from range to put Liverpool back in front midway through the second half.

Salah lobbed over when through on goal and Wissa made him pay, neatly clipping in a loose ball from close range with eight minutes remaining.


The result means Brentford are ninth on nine points and Liverpool go a point clear of Manchester City at the top.

Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka both claimed a goal and an assist as Arsenal won the north London derby honours with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners raced into a 3-0 lead with a stunning first 45 minutes.

Saka set up Smith Rowe for the opener on 12 minutes, the latter steering the cross beyond Hugo Lloris from eight yards.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started and finished a counter-attacking move for Arsenal’s second after 27 minutes as he swept home Smith Rowe’s pass.

Arsenal added a third seven minutes later when Saka powered forward, weaved past a couple of challenges and kept his composure to produce a crisp finish.

Son Heung-min pulled a goal back for Spurs with 11 minutes remaining, for the first goal conceded by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in his three Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

Ramsdale produced a brilliant fingertip save in stoppage time, tipping Lucas Moura’s effort on to the bar, but Spurs could not add a second.
Victory takes Arsenal up to 10th on nine points, one place ahead of Spurs.

Leicester City 2-2 Burnley

Jamie Vardy recovered from scoring an early own goal to scare twice and earn Leicester City a 2-2 draw against winless Burnley. The striker flicked Ashley Westwood’s corner past team-mate Kasper Schmeichel to give the visitors the lead after 12 minutes.

He redeemed himself on 37 minutes, latching on to a Youri Tielemans through-ball and finding the bottom-left corner.

But Burnley restored their advantage five minutes before half-time through Maxwel Cornet’s first Premier League goal.

The Ivorian volleyed Matej Vydra’s cross spectacularly past Schmeichel but was forced off shortly after through injury.

The second half continued in a similar end-to-end fashion and Vardy eventually squeezed the ball in from a tight angle to level for a second time with five minutes to play.

There was still time for a late drama as Chris Wood headed in from close range, only for his effort to be overturned following a VAR review. Leicester sit 12th with seven points, while Burnley stay 19th on two points.

Spanish La Liga
Barcelona 3-0 Levante
Barcelona get back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Levante at Camp Nou. They led by two goals at the break, with Memphis Depay and De Jong scoring early on to get them off to the perfect start.

It looked like it would end 2-0, as Fernandez was excellent in goal for the visitors, denying Depay on several occasions. But Fati wrapped up the three points in stoppage time, marking his return from injury with a goal.

The win moves Barca up to fifth in the table, five points behind Real Madrid at the top, with a game in hand.

Next up is a trip to Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, before returning to LaLiga action next weekend to face Atletico. Meanwhile, Levante dropped to 17th and remain without a win so far this season and face Mallorca next time out.

Real Madrid 0-0 Villareal
The two sides will share the points as neither side could find the winning goal. The hosts were noticeably improved after the break after Villarreal could probably count themselves unlucky to go into the break level.

They went close through Militao and Benzema but were also kept honest as the visiting side threatened on the break. Ancelotti made changes as he tried to go for the victory but they couldn’t have the desired effect and it finished goalless.

The hosts extend their lead at the top to three points but will rue the opportunity to have made it five as they missed numerous chances to win the game.

They will head to Espanyol in their next La Liga game. Meanwhile, the visitors move to 10th in the table and will count this as a good point due to the form of their hosts. Emery and his men will host Real Betis next in the league as they look to move up the table.

Deportivo Alaves 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Alaves shocked Atletico with a 1-0 victory for their first win of the LaLiga season. Laguardia scored the winner in just the fourth minute when he rose highest to head Duarte’s corner past Jan Oblak.

In the second half, Loum and Pina both fired great chances high over the bar, while Correa came off the bench and saw an effort well-saved by Pacheco with his legs. De Paul also saw a late effort saved and Atletico just couldn’t find a breakthrough.


Atletico’s unbeaten start to the season comes to an end, but they stay fourth in LaLiga. Next up for them is a trip to Milan in the Champions League. Alaves lift themselves off the bottom of the table with that win and they travel to Athletic Bilbao for their next game.

Italian Serie A
Spezia 1-2 AC Milan
A below-par performance did not stop Milan from escaping with another three points. as Diaz – who had been on the pitch for less than five minutes – snatched the win with a decisive intervention from the bench.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/top-european-weekend-matches-review/

The decision of Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi to take football as a career did not go down well with his parents who wanted their son to grow up to become either a doctor, an engineer or lawyer, like most Nigerian parents.

His father, an army officer and a disciplinarian, tried all he could to curb his son of his football craze but the young Wilfred would not just allow the strong arm of his father to put a hold to his dream as he would sneak out of their house at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos to join his peers in the round leather game.

Starting out at the dusty football field of the Army Barracks, today, Wilfred has carved a niche for himself as one of finest footballers on the African continent. His skills, power, precision, tackling and ball distribution skills has easily seen him rated among the best when it comes to defensive midfielders n Europe.

A mention of African footballers plying their trades in Europe will not be complete without the mecurial midfielder who currently plies his trade with Leicester City Football Club in the English Premier League.

However, despite the footballer’s pedigree, little is known about his life outside football.

Newsroundtheclock’s Oladipupo Mojeed sheds some light to what you probably did not know about the 24-year-old soccer wizard.

Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a holding midfielder for Premier League club, Leicester City, and the Nigerian National team.

He is widely recognized as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and is known for his defensive prowess and long range shots.

Background

Ndidi was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 16 December, 1996. He is a native of Delta State, Nigeria but grew up in Lagos till the age of 17 when he moved to Belgium and was raised, along with his two sisters, by foster parents, Theo and Marleen Van Vlierden.

At the early stage of his career, Ndidi played for Nath Boys Academy, a club he joined at 14 years of age and the Nigerian Youth team before moving to Genk in 2015, a Belgian Pro League team.

Personal Life
The Super Eagles star is happily married to his longtime girlfriend Dinma Fortune. The two tied the knot in May 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria and are blessed with a year old daughter.

Outside of football, Ndidi is back in school, studying for a business degree at the De Montfort University in Leicester. He revealed that his wife pushed him to enroll in school. Dinma, his wife, has a master’s degree in International Crime, Tourism and Global Security from Coventry University.

Financial Worth
Ndidi moved to Leicester City in a deal worth €17 million in 2017 after a year with Genk in the Belgian Pro League. He’s on a contract that runs till June 2024 and is currently valued at €60 million. He earns around €91 thousand weekly salary which amounts to about €4.5 million yearly salary. His net worth is placed at €30.3 million.

Lifestyle

From what is known, Ndidi lives a frugal lifestyle despite his high income. He currently owns a car, BMW X3 which he was pictured with in Lagos. He also bought a Mercedez Benz for his wife.

The Super Eagles midfielder currently lives in a 3-bedroom apartment in Leicester City, 10 minutes away from The King Power Stadium, his club’s home ground.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/wilfred-ndidi-what-you-didnt-know-about-the-super-eagles-star/

The new Taliban government in Afghanistan have executed and hanged the bodies of four men accused of kidnapping, to serve as a deterrent and lesson to others who might want to commit such crimes in the future.

The bodies of the men were found hung on Saturday from cranes in the Afghan western city of Herat, with a notice that it was a “lesson” for other abductors.

According to Herat Province’s Deputy Governor Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Muhajir, the corpses were displayed across several squares in the city on the same day as the Taliban wanted to teach a “lesson” to the abductors.

“In order to be a lesson for other kidnappers not to kidnap or harass anyone, we hung them in the squares of the city and made this clear to everyone that anyone who steals or abducts or does any action against our people will be punished,” Mujahir was quoted as saying.

Muhajir said security forces were informed a businessman and his son had been abducted in the city on Saturday morning.

Police shut down the roads out of the city and the Taliban stopped the men at a checkpoint, where “an exchange of fire happened,” he said.

“As a result of a few minutes of fighting, one of our Mujahideen was wounded and all four kidnappers were killed.

“We are the Islamic Emirate. No one should harm our nation. No one should kidnap,” he said in the video clip.

Muhajir added that that before Saturday’s incident, there had been other kidnappings in the city, and the Taliban rescued a boy.

“One kidnapper was killed and three others were arrested,” he said, although in another case, the Taliban “failed and the abductors were able to make money”.

“It saddened us a lot because while we are in Herat, our people are being abducted,” Muhajir said.

“In order to be a lesson for other kidnappers not to kidnap or harass anyone, we hung them in the squares of the city and made this clear to everyone that anyone who steals or abducts or does any action against our people will be punished.”

“The aim of this action is to alert all criminals that they are not safe,” another Taliban commander who did not identify himself, was heard saying in an on-camera interview conducted in the square.

Wazir Ahmad Seddiqi, who runs a pharmacy on the edge of the square, said that the Taliban officials had announced that the four were caught taking part in a kidnapping earlier Saturday and were killed by police.

Ziaulhaq Jalali, a Taliban-appointed District Police Chief in Herat, said later that Taliban members rescued a father and son who had been abducted by four kidnappers after an exchange of gunfire. He said a Taliban fighter and a civilian were wounded by the kidnappers, and that the kidnappers were killed in crossfire.

Another video showed a man suspended from a crane at a major roundabout in Herat with a sign on his chest reading: “Abductors will be punished like this”.

On Friday, one of the leaders of the new Taliban government in Afghanistan, Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, had said that cutting off of hands and executions are necessary and will be implemented by the regime as the laws must be followed.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Turabi, said that the executions and amputations will be back soon as the laws must be followed.

“Everyone criticized us for the punishments in the stadium, but we have never said anything about their laws and their punishments.

“No one will tell us what our laws should be. We will follow Islam and we will make our laws on the Quran. Cutting off of hands is very necessary for security,” he said.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/taliban-hang-bodies-of-kidnappers-in-public/

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to publish the names of those indicted in the looting of over N6 trillion funds from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The recently submitted Forensic Audit Report of the NDDC had indicted some executives of the NDDC to have misappropriated the funds between the years 2000 and 2019.

SERAP, in a letter addressed to Buhari on Sunday, September 26, urged the president to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, move fast against the alleged looters.

The organization also called on Malami and the anti-corruption agencies to promptly bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing N6 trillion and to fully recover any misappropriated public funds.

In the open letter dated signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group stressed the need to promptly publish the names of those indicted in the report, in the interest of the public, and to ensure that they are prosecuted as required.

SERAP maintained that taking such steps would advance the victims’ right to restitution and compensation, and also guarantee a non-repetition, as well as improve public confidence in the fight against corruption.

The organisation argued that using the audit report to genuinely combat the corruption epidemic in the NDDC and rein in those indicted would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations.

“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from trillions of naira budgeted for socio-economic development in the region primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“The level of grand corruption in the NDDC and the devastating effects on poor Nigerians are serious enough to meet the requirements of crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which Nigeria is a state party.

“The public interest in publishing the names of those indicted by the audit report outweighs any considerations to withhold the information, as there would be no prejudice against those whose names are published as long as the information is appropriately framed and truthful.



“The audit report raises prima facie evidence of grand corruption and its staggering effects in the Niger Delta. Nigerians have the right to know the names of those indicted and other details in the report, as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Freedom of Information Act.”

“Publishing widely the report and the names of those indicted would remove the possibility of obstruction of justice, and provide insights relevant to the public debate on the ongoing efforts to combat grand corruption and the longstanding impunity of perpetrators in the country.

“Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure, and a presumption that all information is accessible subject only to a narrow system of exceptions.

“According to public interest test, even if the government demonstrates that the publication of the names of public officials would substantially harm a legitimate interest, it is nevertheless obliged to disclose the requested information if, as it is the case here, the public interest in disclosure is sufficient enough to overweigh any perceived harm.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Misappropriation of public funds meant to ensure access to basic public goods and services rises to the level of crimes against humanity, as this has forced millions of Nigerians in the region to live in inhumane or degrading conditions, in violation of the Rome Statute.

“According to our information, the Forensic Audit Report into the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) reveals grim allegations of misappropriation of N6 trillion in the commission between 2000 and 2019, and that there are over 13,000 abandoned projects in the Niger Delta.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/serap/

Money is really hard to come by. This is not the best of times in Nigeria, and by extension, the world over, following a global economic melt occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

However, like the saying goes, “tough times do not last, but tough people do.” And if you can just put your mind to it, you can actually save good money, even in the hard times.

Why you should save money

There is virtue in cultivating a saving habit. A good reason for saving money is to prevent having regrets in the future. Remember the saying about saving for the rainy days?

The great thing about saving is that when we take up the option of saving money, we have the extra feeling of comfort and accomplishment that comes with the process and results of saving your money.

The result of saving money is the increased freedom to live well in the future and the one sure road to a comfortable retirement is through savings, and regular savings is the key to building wealth.

Irrespective of the virtues in saving, you can start small and and before you know it, you could be in for a big surprise.

Whether you use the local method of saving your money in what is fondly called piggybank or in a contribution group often called ‘ajo’, saving your money is a good way to secure your future.

Saving money requires some financial discipline. It is like running a weight loss or weight control regime.

1. Be disciplined

They both take discipline and depend on your attitude. The key to success in saving money is to see it as a game of self-control where you make prudent choices, even when you are faced with multitudes of daily temptations to derail the process.

2. Focus your thoughts on the benefits

In both saving and weight control, those who succeed concentrate their thoughts on the benefits, not the tough choices that need to be made.

Just like weight watchers take pleasure in being in shape, looking their best, being in good health, and receiving compliments about their looks, savers should take pleasure in the fact that the process would lead to a financially secure future.

3. Skip or stop impulsive buying

One of the main secrets to saving is guarding against buying based on impulses. Impulse buying is the purchase of things without planning.

When you go shopping, make a list even before leaving your house. Do not make the list without taking inventory of what you have and what you don’t have.

Avoid buying anything on impulse just because it would look good on your shelf. Making a list prior to going shopping helps you stay focused on what you do with your money.

When you go shopping, practice the concept of “double positives” which is a situation where you do not buy anything unless you say yes to it.

4. Frequently analyze your expenses

Go over your expenses every month or two and find out if each expenditure provided you with equal value for money.

Ask yourself if all the expenditures were equally worthwhile. Find out those expenses that you could have successfully and happily substituted with less expensive alternatives.

Also weigh those that you could have had as much fun and happiness without; then cut them out and save the money instead.

5. Stop the habit of showing off

The average Nigerian is egotistic, and we like to show off even if it impacts our savings account.

This is even more now when you go to the Internet or social media with a picture of yourself in one expensive item or another.

You do not always have to be like the rest and try to impress just you will be counted as a happening hippie. Cut off those luxuries and save the money instead.

6. Keep a record of all your expenses

By keeping a record of all your expenses, you might find out that you do not need some of the items you are buying. Weed out those items you do not need and save the money instead.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/tips-to-save-your-money/

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared a sit-at-home in the South-East on October 1, which is Nigeria’s Independence Day.

In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB says it has also banned the flying of the Nigerian flag in the region effective from Saturday, September 25.

The statement read:

“IPOB has declared 1st of October, 2021, total shutdown in Biafra land as a sign of our rejection of the evil construct called Nigeria and there shall be no movement in Biafra land on this day.

“Also, IPOB has declared from 25th September, 2021, that all Nigerian flag mounted anywhere in Biafra land must be brought down,

“Only banks are exempted. IPOB leadership will communicate to banks directly and give them reason they must peacefully bring down Nigeria flag in their banking premises before we do it ourselves in our own way.

“In line with the Memorandum of Understanding and alliance between Ambazonia and Biafra nations, we wish to ask Biafrans to support and celebrate Ambazonia Independence Anniversary on October 1st 2021.

“It is, therefore, the delight of the Directorate of State, of our great movement, IPOB, that we inform Biafrans all over the world of this upcoming Independence day celebration of our great ally and neighbour, the Ambazonian people billed for 1st of October 2021.

“We, therefore, urge world leaders to use the opportunity of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly meeting to discuss the sufferings of the two persecuted nations of Biafra and Ambazonia.

“Our people have suffered enough in the hands of our oppressors who are in bed with terrorists but derive pleasure in crushing peaceful agitators instead of addressing our genuine concerns.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/ipob-declares-sit-at-home/

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has knocked the speech by President Muhammadu Buhari speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States.

The Leader of the caucus, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement, said Buhari’s claims did not represent the true state of affairs in the country.

Buhari had, in his speech during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, said Boko Haram insurgents has been severely weakened following the relentless military onslaught on the jihadists in the North-East.

However, Elumelu insisted that the economy, security, and social sectors are suffering under the Buhari administration.

He added that the President’s speech was a great disservice to the country.

“The caucus is distressed over claims in President Buhari address which are in complete disagreement with the ugly reality of the failures of his administration as well as the economic, security and social ruins that have confronted the nation under his watch.

“Our caucus holds that President Buhari’s speech is a great disservice to our nation by not presenting the true picture of affairs in our country; the human rights violations, corruption, and incompetence in his administration.

“The excruciating hardship, escalated insecurity, national divisiveness, and infrastructural decay under his watch, thereby blocking avenues for desired intervention in our various ailing sectors.

“The minority caucus was alarmed by President Buhari’s report to UNGA that terrorists have been so weakened in Nigeria that they are now preying on soft targets when in reality, insurgents have become so emboldened under his watch, that they are now attacking military formations, kidnapping and killing our gallant officers while overrunning communities and murdering our citizens without restrain.

“As representatives of the people, the minority caucus is depressed that President Buhari’s speech did not reflect on the kidnapping and killing of students and school children in Nigeria.

“The speech did not reflect on the closure of schools and crippling of education in many parts of our country, where normal life has been destroyed by terrorists, neither did it show any empathy towards the victims of terrorism attacks.

“Our caucus is worried that in reflecting on violent conflicts, Mr. President’s address conveyed no personal commitments that can guarantee an end to poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice, and inequalities, that are prevalent under his watch, even after identifying such as the causes of conflicts

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/buharis-un-speech/

Mental health issues are not gaining the attention it should, especially in this part of the world. Some assumptions have been attached to it, which creates a stigma for individuals struggling with it.

Various reasons can cause challenges in one’s mental health and at times, it could be as a result of stress and anxiety. In other instances, it could be because of past experiences which combine to bring the victim to a state of despair.

Olympics champion and Gymnast, Simone Biles, pulled out from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics a day to the Women’s Team Final because she was battling with severe mental issues and said she wanted to concentrate on mending. The decision of the 24-year-old gymnast got global attention but she got support from some persons including music star, Justin Bieber and former Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps. Of course, that helped her a lot as she went back to help the United States win a silver medal.

In his response to Biles’ decision, Bieber posted on his Instagram page saying:

‘’Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face! I know we don’t know each other but I’m so proud of the decision to withdraw. It’s as simple as – what does it mean to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul.

“Sometimes, our no’s are more powerful than our yes’s. When what you normally love starts to steal your joy, it’s important we take a step back to evaluate why. People thought I was crazy for not finishing the Purpose Tour but it was the best thing I could have done for my mental health! So proud of you @simonebiles.’’

In 2017, Bieber equally got global attention when he cancelled the remaining dates of his Purpose Tour to focus on his own mental health challenges.

Meanwhile, Phelps reacted to Biles’ decision saying:

‘’I hope this is an eye-opening experience…. an opportunity for us to jump on board, and to even blow this mental health thing even more wide open.’’

Possible solutions to mental health struggles
There are various options one can take to overcome mental health struggles and we take a look at five possible solutions.

1. Recognize your problem
A lot of persons shy away from the issues they face. It is somewhat embarrassing for some to open up about their mental health challenges. However, the first step to solving the issue is by recognizing that there is a problem. From there, solutions can be sought.

2.Seek treatment
After recognizing that there is a problem with you mental health, you can then seek treatment. There are various health practitioners one can contact to seek for advice and help. On this note, it is advisable to seek treatment from professionals.

3. Join support groups
In your desire to resolve your mental health struggles, talk to people who are going through similar situations. When you come out in the open about your struggle, you would see people who would encourage you to beat it. Support groups are very helpful in this case. It helps you to speak up, be free, and get help. You can equally open up to a close friend.

4. Manage stress
Stressful situations can heighten your mental health issues. If your work drains you mentally, talk to your boss to give you some days off. If possible, ask for a reduction in work time. Do not dwell much on work after you leave the office. Simply relax your mind or try something more interesting.

5. Stay positive:
One of the important tips to beat mental health struggles is to wear a positive attitude. Surround yourself with happy people. Engage in healthy conversations which lightens your mood and makes you excited. Go out for fun activities. Be creative with yourself and do not engage in meaningless conversations. Be happy. It will go a long way to cure your mental health issues.

Have you ever had a struggle with mental health? What was your situation like? Kindly share with us.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/5-tips-to-beat-mental-health-issues/

Like every sphere of life, relationships have their challenges. At times, the challenges are unexpected.

However, when they come, do we sit and watch them overun us? The answer to this should be a definite no! When challenges do come to us, we have to face them squarely.

That should be the thumb rule as we navigate the stormy waters of relationships.

Whether you anticipate it or not, quitting is not always the best solution except you have no other choice. There are various challenges that can occur in any relationship.

Here are five of such situations that you should watch out for:

1. Communication

Many relationships crash because of a lack of proper communication. Often, there is an assumption that our partner totally understands our schedules and that when we do not keep in touch, they would understand.

Really? How can you claim that you love someone and you go for days without saying hello?

Mind you, communication goes beyond the talks on the phone. What you usually discuss forms a fundamental part of your relationship.

Many may actually put a call across, however, is there a connection between you both regularly? Are the conversations usually filled with words that connect your feelings?

If there are no connections with your words, then, communication is still at a shallow level.

2. Finance

We cannot neglect the importance of money in any relationship. As couples, there are certain financial expectations from you both, especially the man.

No woman feels comfortable carrying out the financial responsibilities in the house alone. Likewise, most men expect their wives to support the home except they state otherwise.

On some occasions, finance can cause a break in relationships. When there is lack of proper understanding, disparity surely sets in.

3. Intimacy

There are some persons who are very conscious of their space. They do not allow ‘’unwanted visitors’’. Even when they go into relationships, they still have some restrictions.

It can become a challenge when these set of people get involved with someone who is a complete opposite.

On the other hand, there are some who love to touch and be touched. That is a form of love expression for them. Love entails sacrifice. There has to be an adjustment by both partners.

You cannot have it all in a relationship. Some sacrifices have to be made for the relationship to work.

4. Infidelity

This is one of the deal breakers for most relationships. When some people fall in love, they go all out to satisfy their spouses.

They show how much they care and they are actually sincere about it. However, sexual indiscipline is often their weak points. They would go all out to cheat on their partner and say they did not really mean it. They apologize and assume all will be well in that relationship.

It is very disrespectful for you to cheat on your partner and expect your partner to flow with you as before. You have broken a bond and you should be ready to dance to the tune that comes afterward.

It is pertinent to note that infidelity can lead to the abrupt end of any relationship. However, there are some persons who would still stay with their cheating partner no matter what. Perhaps, cheating is not their ‘’deal breaker,’ you may say.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/5-common-challenges-in-relationships/

The Deji of Akure, HRM. Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has began his traditional Ulefunta festival annual leave.

The Ulefunta Festival is a historical and cultural fiesta in Akure, celebrated annually.

The Chief Press Secretary to the traditional ruler who is the new Chairman Council of Obas in Ondo state, Mr Micheal Adeyeye, made this known to the journalist at the Oba’s Palace on Wednesday.

Adeyeye disclosed that the annual leave is a period where the Deji goes into seclusion to take a rest and also use the period to pray for peace and prosperity of the land, and will last for a period of seven days.

The Kngi’s spokesman also emphazised that according to tradition, there will be no beating of drums within Akure town throughout the seven-day period.

“It is significant to inform the general public and residents of Akure that beating of drums within the Akure Kingdom under any pretence.

“It is prohibited throughout the seven days of the annual leave,” Adeyeye said.

He added that all roads leading to monarch’s Palace will be closed including markets, shops and stalls near the Deji’s Palace in line with the traditions of the Kingdom.

“All road users are, hence, urged to make use of connecting routes during this period,” he added.

Adeyeye also urged the people of the state to comply with the directives given when going on with their daily and rightful activities.

In line with tradition, the CPS added that the king will not attend to any task or receive any visitor for the period of this seven days.

The first stage of theeUlefunta festival which sees the Deji going into seclusion for seven days, will continue when he returns where indigenes of Akure Kingdom, including masquerades are all expected to pay homage to their king.

Ondo NIPR Charges Deji Of Akure To Promote Peace

Following the recent appointment of the Deji of Akure as the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, the state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has charged him to use his office to drive change, tackle challenges and promote peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.

This call was made in a press statement signed by the Chairman of the chapter, Lamidi Ishola, and issued by the Secretary, Sunday Omosule.

“NIPR understands that the appointment was not a coincidence but a result of sincerity, excellence, dedication and commitment illustrated in running the affairs of his domain and his passion for the development of the sunshine state,” the statement reads in part.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/deji-of-akure-begins-annual-leave/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will commence the first quarter display of the voter’s register across the country on September 24.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Dr. Joseph Chukwu, who disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abakaliki, said the register would on display from September 24 to September 30.

He urged those that took part in the registration exercise to use the opportunity to cross-check their biodata and any other relevant information and make corrections where necessary.

Chukwu noted that the exercise followed the conclusion of the first quarter of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) that began in June.

The REC, who commended eligible voters for participating in the exercise, appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting INEC’s activities ahead of the 2023 elections.

He said: “Following the completion of the online and physical registrations which began on June 28 and closed by 11:59 p.m. on September 21.



“The display of voters’ register for claims and objections will hold effective from September 24 to September 30 for the first quarter.

“The exercise will take place in all the INEC offices in 13 local government areas of Ebonyi including the two centres at the state headquarters.

“The register will also be on display simultaneously across the 774 local government areas and the Federal Capital Territory as well as other designated centres.

“All registrants are, therefore, advised to visit centres where they registered or made corrections to check for the correctness of their particulars.”

The INEC official revealed that the second quarter of the CVR exercise would begin nationwide on October 4 and end on December 20 while the third phase of the exercise would start on January 3, 2022, and close on March 4.

The fourth quarter process would be from April 11, 2022, to June 30, 2022.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/inec-to-display-voters-register-nationwide/

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned of an impending shutdown of economic activities in the South-East. If the Federal Government refuses to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court.

The IPOB leader, Kanu, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of violence and sedition against the Nigerian state.



However, IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Wednesday. Claimed the Federal Government was scheming to ensure the perpetual imprisonment of its embattled leader.

It further warned the FG to produce Kanu by the next court ruling on October 21, 2021.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great prophet and liberator of our time. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the plot by the Nigerian government via DSS in Abuja not to produce our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to court, on the 21 October 2021.

“That is the date Kanu is due to appear in court to start his case. The federal government of Nigeria has again perfected plans not to bring him to court on that day.

“Their wicked plan is to perpetually keep Kanu behind bars without trial. To see if they can demoralise him and Biafrans but they are late.

“If the federal government refuses to bring him to court in his next court appearance on October 21, 2021. The entire Biafra land will be on total lock down for one month.

“The federal government will know that they cannot take us for granted any more.



“Our peaceful disposition as a people, should not be misconstrued as weakness. Nigeria cannot incarcerate our leader illegally and expect things to be normal again.

“If by October 21, Kanu is not brought to court. Nigeria will know that Kanu commands the unflinching loyalty of over 60 million Biafrans at home and in Diaspora.”

IPOB’s anger stemmed from the fact that at the arraignment of Kanu, at the Abia State High Court on Tuesday, the federal government failed to make an appearance.

This forced the vacation judge, Justice KCK Okereke to adjourn the case to October 19. While ordering that the case be transferred back to the State Chief Judge for re-assignment.

The respondents in the case are the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief of Army Staff and the Brigade Commander, 14 Brigade Ohafia.

Others are the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Commissioner of Police, Abia State, the Director-General of the Department of State Security Services, DSS, and the Abia State Director of DSS.

Kanu had, through his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, sued the Federal Government of Nigeria for his “extra-ordinary rendition from Kenya”.

He demands amongst other things that; he be returned to Kenya where he was “abducted”, and then to Britain where he resides. And also be paid N5 billion for the gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

Ejimakor, who appeared for Kanu in company of several lawyers including Patrick Agazie and Wilson Kalu. Expressed confidence in the capacity of the Abia High Court to uphold the law by enforcing Kanu’s human rights.

“At today’s hearing, t emerged that, out of the eight respondents. Only two; the DSS in Abuja, and Umuahia – have filed their reply to the Suit but their processes were filed out of time.

“Nothing was received from the other six respondents, which included; the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Nigerian Army.

“It also emerged that an apex Igbo socio-cultural organization. The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) has filed an application seeking leave of the Court to file an amicus brief in support of Kanu,” he said.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/ipob-vows-to-shut-down-south-east-over-kanu/

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has advised Nigerians to desist from raining curses on the country’s leaders over the current hardship in the country.

Sanusi, who addressed members of the Tijjaniyya Movement in Nigeria at an event in Sokoto, urged Nigerians to constantly pray for the country’s leaders.

He said: “What is expected of us now is patience, fervent prayers and we must stand up to get things better in our own way through legitimate ways,” Sanusi said.

“We must desist from abusing or cursing our leaders over hardship because the Holy Prophet discouraged that.

“We shall not involve ourselves in corrupt practices and other atrocities because our religion preaches against it,” Sanusi added.

“We must change for the better and remain committed to peace and development of our societies.”

The deposed Emir of Kano also urged the group followers to be politically active as the 2023 election approaches.

“When you are approached during elections, you need to ask for recognition in terms of school construction, health facility, and other services,” Sanusi added.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/sanusi-cautions-nigerians-against-cursing-leadrrs/

Pat Utomi, Nigeria’s foremost Professor of Political Economy, has said part of the challenges facing Nigeria is that leaders in the country are obsessed with power rather than purpose.

According to Utomi, this was part of the issues that led to the rise of a new third force, Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP), which was launched in on Tuesday in Abuja.

Utomi had teamed up with former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, and former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, alongside other politicians to unveiled the RNP.

Speaking during an interview on a television programme on Wednesday, Utomi said the “purpose of building a strong nation with a viable and sustainable economy should be the primary concern of all leaders who want to lead the country before the business of power.

“Part of my challenge with Nigeria as we are trying to build it up is that there is too much focus on power rather than purpose.

“The purpose of building a strong nation with a viable and sustainable economy is the primary thing before this business of power,” Utomi said.

“But we seem to be obsessed with power rather than purpose. So anytime there’s a grouping that is designed to advance purpose, the question is, how are they going to get power?

“I think that what happened in Abuja yesterday was a cumulation of conversations between people who are thoughtful and focused on some problems.”

“I expect three or four more of these groups that I know of to emerge in the next couple of weeks and I think many of them would focus on specific areas.

“One particular group is looking at the issue of quality leadership, competence and courage and not the usual issues of where you come from and that kind of stuff.

“Another group that I’m associated with is focusing on constitutional and electoral process reforms. There’s going to be a major outlook coming out from the group, offering Nigeria a draft new constitution.

“One group is offering Nigeria a movement that says unless electronic transmission of election results are going to define how we go forward, then let’s not have elections because what we’ve had in the past is a complete farce.

“We don’t have elections in Nigeria. Some people are relying on state capture to abuse the electoral process and announcing that they have won elections. This group will be so insistent with its work.

“There would be another group which I am also familiar with and participated in their work that is going to focus on responsible economic management.

“I keep saying that we don’t have a national strategy, how do we grow this economy?” Utomi added.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/pat-utomi/?fbclid=IwAR19GH0JhoVbSUKEyiokiFexfeV1umUMNIxk7b3H6oVWSJ7Oy-AqJGKNRAY

A former Vice-Presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Peter Obi, has reiterated the importance of electing competent and capable hands in order to steer the affairs of the country in the right direction.

With ongoing discussions amongst political stakeholders on zoning and its ramifications for the country, the former Anambra Governor cautioned against zoning for the sake of it while sacrificing competence.

“I advocate competence and not zoning, ideally. Every zone has competent people. In whatever we do, let us consider competence and capacity; not just zoning for the sake of zoning,” he implored.

He further spoke on the ongoings within the PDP ranks regarding zoning and the 2023 Presidency.

“I can’t speculate on what the PDP zoning committee is going to do but in discussions, I do not see zoning of the Chairmanship to any section being a determinant on where the next President emerges from.

“We have to get it right in 2023 or we are finished. I can’t predict whether the PDP will zone the Presidency to the north but the Southern Governors want the position to come to the region.”

On the issue of the recent gale of defections as witnessed with the high-profile switch of a former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode to the ruling All Progressives Congress, Peter Obi said, “The defections are worrisome.

“I never made the comment about defecting from APGA; it was never caught on tape and it was orchestrated by some naysayers.

“I was a close aide and confidant to Goodluck Jonathan and it was impossible I would have said PDP is a curse to the South-East even when I was in APGA.

“What is worrisome is people being led weekly to take photoshoots with the President. I want to see President Muhammadu Buhari taking pictures with the troops, with enterprising youths et al.

“The perception is sending the wrong signals that you can get to be something from nothing, which is why the country is in ruins.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/peter-obi-calls-for-competent-leaders/

Miss Abuja, Oluchi Madubuike, has won the coveted Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant for 2021. She was among the 36 contestants who participated in the annual event organized by Silverbird Group to select the queen who will go on to represent Nigeria at the Miss World Pageant.

The event was held at Eko Hotel and Suites on September 18.

Abuja residents were elated that their representative at the beauty pageant won the coveted crown as Madubuike wil fly Nigeria’s flag at the world event which will hold in Puerto Rico in December 2021.

Besides Madubuike, other state winners who carted away prizes were Miss Anambra, Miss Bauchi, and Miss Bayelsa, respectively, and will also represent Nigeria at different global beauty pageants.

The winner of the MBGN has since been inundated with congratulatory messages and expectations of more opportunities for the beauty queen as she represents Nigeria in the next one year.

Reactions to Madubuike’s win
Nnaemeka Enemchukwu said, ‘’She deserves the most beautiful girl in Nigeria. They judge based on facial beauty, brains, pageantry professionalism, talents, and future marketability.

Ologunwa Oyinkansola commented, ‘’The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode. But the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. Besides, you all need to stop with the negative comments. Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. She deserves the crown and that’s on period. And I say it out with my full chest. She is beautiful.

Queen Ihowa posted, ‘’Those people saying she is not beautiful, make una leave her like that, Beauty is not just about facial appearance but your level of intelligence.’’

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/oluchi-madubuike-crowned-mbgn-2021/

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has insisted that the north must produce the next president in 2023 as the heaven will not fall if it does.

The NEF also said the north will not play second fiddle by relinquishing power to the south as being advocated by many Nigerians, as it has the numbers to tilt the votes in its favour in any election.

The position of NEF was made known by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.

Baba-Ahmed said this while delivering an address at the maiden Maitama Sule Lecture Series organized by the students’ wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) held at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“We will lead Nigeria the way we have led Nigeria before, whether we are President or Vice President, we will lead Nigeria.

“We have the majority of the votes and democracy says vote whom you want.

“Why should we accept a second class position when we know we can buy a form and contest for first class and we will win?

“Why does anybody need to threaten us and intimidate us? We will get that power but be humble because power comes from God. We inherited leadership and being honest is not being stupid.

“The North has pride; we are humble enough to know that we are going to run Nigeria with other people but we are not going to pay a second fiddle to anybody.

“We may not have the most robust economy, there are people who are trying to strangulate us even more than we are being strangled.

“We are ready for this. We will consider every economic adversity, challenge. We will fix the Northern economy and we are the only one who can fix this Northern economy.

“For that reason, we are not for sale. We are in the process of rebuilding the North and we will rebuild the North from 2023.

“Whether the North holds power in 2023 or not anybody who wants to break up in this country will say so, they are just looking for excuses.

“This is democracy. If they don’t like what Nigeria is, they will say they want to break up from this country, we don’t pay attention to those people, we are focused on the fact that we are running a democratic system.

“If the majority of Nigeria voters vote for a candidate from the North and he becomes the President and somebody doesn’t want to live under the Nigeria President, the person can leave.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/nef/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop taking external loans as his administration is accumulating debts for the future generations.

Obasanjo who spoke on Sunday at an event in South Africa, faulted the federal government’s plan to source fresh external loans, insisting that if the existing debts are left unserviced or unpaid, it might become a problem for successive governments.

He added that the “FG was accumulating debts for the next generation, which is a criminal act.”

While noting that borrowing is not in itself a problem, the former president said that the problem with such massive borrowing is when there are no specific plans or the capacity to pay back

“If you want to build a commercial house and you go and borrow money, and you have 50 percent of your own money, and you borrow 50 percent and in five years, you pay the 50 percent that you borrowed. That is a wise thing to do,” he said.

However, the former leader said borrowing for recurrent expenditure is the height of folly for any nation, or even as an individual.

“But if you have to go and borrow money for you to be able to feed yourself and your family, that is a stupid thing to do.

“So, if we are borrowing for recurrent expenditure, it is the height of folly. If we are borrowing for development that can pay for itself, that is understandable. Then the payment, how long will it take to pay itself?

“But we are borrowing and accumulating debt for the next generation and the next generation after them, it is criminal, to put it mildly. What are we borrowing for?

“When I came into government and was elected President, we were spending $3.5bn to service debt, and even with that, our quantum of debt was not going down.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/obasanjo-accuses-buhari-of-incurring-debts-for-nigeria/

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up a probe panel to investigate three High Court Judges for issuing conflicting ex-parte orders on the same subject matter.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko; had about two weeks ago directed the three judges before the NJC for granting conflicting ex-parte matter on the same matter.

They are to face the panel in order to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for such act.

The NJC Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the panel was constituted by the council at its 95th meeting held on September 15 and 16 and presided over by the CJN.

However, the statement was silent on the names of the three Judges and their areas of jurisdiction.

The statement read: “Council resolved to set up a Medical Board in order to ascertain the health status of Hon. Justice Amina Yaroson of Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal.

“Council also considered the reports of its Investigation Committee and decided to issue a warning letter to Justice Sobere Biambo of High Court of Rivers State for descending into the Arena of conflict in a matrimonial Suit No: OHC/IMC/2018.

“Council at its plenary considered the reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees (PCAC) on the petitions written against 18 Judicial Officers and on the recommendation of the Committee.

“In the end, NJC issued a letter of advice to Justice Elias O. Abua of Cross River State High Court to in future be wary of granting an order staying the execution of judgment which appeared executory in nature as the one he granted in Suit No. HC/MSC/67/2019.

“Council, however, dismissed the petitions written against Justices Inyang Ekwo and Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, O. O. Ogunjobi, S. B. A. Candide-Johnson and S. A. Onigbanjo of High Court of Lagos State, Justices Chiwendu Nwogu, S. C. Amadi and A. U. Kingsley Chuku, for either lacking in merit, subjudice, or statute-barred.

“Other petitions dismissed for the same reasons were those written against Justices I. K. Banu, Chief Judge, of Adamawa, A. L. Lagre, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Adamawa, Felibus B. Andetur, Chief Judge, Taraba State and Sunday Olorundahunsi of Ondo State, High Court.

“The rest are those against Justices Nse Daniel of Akwa-Ibom State High Court and H. T. D. Gwadah of Kaduna State High Court.”

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/njc/

The Executive Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN), has appointed His Royal Majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi of Akure as the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas.

This was contained in a press statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Governor, Richard Olatunde.

The appointment of Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi was confirmed after the cessation of the two-year single tenure of the immediate past Chairman of the council, Oba (Dr.) Fredrick Eniolorunda Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo in ilaje local government, who was appointed on the 13th of September 2019.

In the statement, Akeredolu appreciated the council under the leadership of the former Chairman, whom the Governor described as someone who had done excellently well and gave all the necessary support to ensure that the good people of Ondo State enjoyed good governance.

The Governor, however, urged the new chairman to enhance the good record of his predecessor by working in peace and harmony with other Obas and the government in ensuring the growth and development of the Sunshine State.

Short Brief of The New Chairman
Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, is a Nigerian monarch who was born on December 28, 1956, in the Akure settlement of Ayede-Ogbese, to the Baale, the Player of Ayede-Ogbese in Ondo state.

His kingship as the Deji of Akure began in 2015, when he ascended the throne as the Odundun II after succeeding the late Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida.

He is the 47th and current traditional ruler of the Akure Kingdom, a traditional state in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He started his elementary education at St. Patrick School, Aponmu Akure, before proceeding to Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, where he obtained his secondary school certificate (SSCE).

He graduated as an Architect from Florida State University in Miami, Florida, USA. Oba Aladetoyinbo also has a Master’s degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, also in the USA.

He is a distinguished member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and one of the founding members of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

The King had given public lectures in notable higher institutions, in places likes Adekunle Ajasin University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and others.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/akeredolu-appoints-deji-of-akure-chairman-council-of-obas/

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has imposed sanctions including a travel ban and asset freeze on Mali and Guinea’s Army rulers.

The decision was taken by the West African leaders at meeting in, Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, making the sanctions the bloc’s toughest response to a spate of coups in the region.

The ECOWAS sanctions also extend to family members of the junta leaders just the body demanded a quick return to civilian rule in the two countries.

The demand came after a summit of the 15-nation regional group to decide how to respond to the September 5 ouster of Guinean President Alpha Conde, by special forces troops led by Col. Mamady Doumbouya.

At the meeting, the West African leaders also piled more pressure on Mali’s transitional government, demanding they stick to an agreement to organize elections next February.

It announced sanctions on those it said were frustrating efforts for a return to constitutional rule.

In May, Mali junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita staged another coup, deposing a transitional administration in which he was vice president.

He has pledged to stick to the old transition schedule but his government has been accused of dragging its feet on efforts to achieve civilian rule.

Guinea‘s junta was due to hold its last day of consultations on the future of the country in Conakry on Friday.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/ecowas/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has vowed to arrest the founder of AbokiFX, an online platform that collates daily exchange rates.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emiefiele, in a statement on Friday, advised Nigerians to ignore the black-market exchange rate for the Naira to other foreign currencies, branding it, a window for unscrupulous individuals to milk the economy.

According to Emiefiele, Nigerians with legitimate dollar needs should use their banks not the black market as there is enough forex to meet the demands.

Emiefiele particularly fingered Olusegun Adedotun Oniwinde, the owner of Abokifx, saying their operations was illegal as he is an illegal trader who uses his website to manipulate the market.

He also revealed plans by the CBN to arrest Oniwinde who currently resides in the United Kingdom, to answer for the damage he has done to the Nigerian economy.

“I have requested for the website to be shut and the owner arrested, we can not allow this to continue,” he said

AbokiFX is a website that publishes the parallel market exchange rate of the Naira against other currencies of the world on a daily basis.

The company was registered in the UK in 2015 as a sole owner but there are also other significant owners, which include Boaz Associates Limited, Esther’s Limited, ES Merchant Limited and AbokiFX, a company he founded six years ago.

“Oniwinde is using the information on Abokifx to milk the economy, while manipulating the exchange rate. Oniwinde will be arrested and made to answer to the law,” CBN governor added.

read more: https://newsroundtheclock.com/cbn-to-arrest-abokifx/