ONE WORD

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has said that the only way for his side to retain this season’s Premier League title is to win their remaining games and make sure they don’t drop points. Guardiola stated this ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Tuesday. Guardiola’s side won the Premier League title last campaign with a record 100 points from 38 games but the former Barcelona coach believes that the pressure on winning the Premier League title this term is both on Liverpool and City. He said, “In both situations (Man City and Liverpool), later or earlier, the only chance we have is if we win the games. If not, it will be almost over,” Guardiola was quoted by Independent as saying at pre-match. “Every game for us is a final. In the cup competitions, we are playing also a final. So what should we do? If playing after, we have to win. If playing before, we have to win. “I think all the teams that want to win the title have to feel th...

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would have silenced him if he had skeleton in his cupboard. Saraki said this when he paid a visit to Muftau Gbadamosi, olofa of Offa, at his palace on Sunday. The senate president said but for God and the support of the people “I will not be standing today.” “Since we joined the PDP the party has honored Kwara state, they gave us DG of Campaign, National Leader of the party and have agreed that if the party wins, senate president is our slot in Kwara,” he said. “But what has the other party to offer? If I have skeleton in my cupboard, this government would have silenced me and forced me to drop the campaign. “But for God and the support of the people I would not be standing today. They didn’t want to honor our agreement. We all laboured and what they couldn’t get in three times they got it and we demanded that they give to Kwara what we deserve. “We need to teach our seasonal politicians a l...

Abuja – The Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance has said that the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari is proper and timely. The Chairman of the Forum and Presidential Candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Alhaji Mohammed Shittu, said this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja. Protesters in support of suspension of CJN Onnoghen in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. Buhari had on Jan. 25 suspended Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and swore in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the most senior Supreme Court Justice, as the acting CJN. The president said that the suspension was as a result of the ongoing trial of Onnoghen by the CCT and subsequent order of the tribunal directing him to suspend the CJN pending the completion of his trial. Shittu expressed astonishment at the reactions t...

A former Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau North, Jonah Jang, on Monday boasted that the state will deliver two million votes for the PDP presidential flag bearer Atiku Abubakar, come February 16, 2019. Jang accused the APC-led government in the country of taking the nation backward through its bad policies, adding that PDP would unseat it in the forthcoming polls. He stated this while speaking at the Plateau State PDP gubernatorial zonal rally for the northern zone held in Jos South LGA of the State, where urged the APC to accept defeat and handover power to the winners of election on May 29. “The ruling All Progressives Congress want to remain in power at all cost, but in 2015 when we (PDP) lost, we handed over to them; they should do same if they lose in 2019. “Since 1999, no PDP presidential candidate had ever lost an election in Plateau State, and failure will not start in 2019. “I want to urge Plateau people that during the forthcoming presid...

Lagos state House of Assembly has threatened to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over his failure to present the 2019 budget to the House. A source at the Assembly, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that the House might make move to collect signatures from lawmakers to remove the governor from office if the budget is not presented soon. Ambode lost his bid for re-election in October after the former governor of Lagos State and national leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress Bola Tinubu refused to back him for a second term because he deviated from the master plan created for the development of the state. Tinubu also accused Ambode, whom he supported in 2015, of alienating those who ” contributed so much to our development”. “Whenever a government departed from this plan without [a] compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure,” Tinubu said. Apart from this, the governor and the House publi...

 Mahmood Yakubu As part of it efforts to ensure transparency and build confidence in the February 16 presidential election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has vowed to solely man the result collation centre, stressing that he will not share his constitutional responsibility as the chairman of the collation secretariat with anybody. The INEC boss was also said to have raised the alarm over what he described as the increasing violence tendencies by politicians and youths who could be used by politicians to carry out nefarious activities, saying that the elections might be disrupted if the security agencies refuse or fail to carry out their jobs, in line with INEC’s specifications. This is coming as the electoral body has also decided to allow members of the accredited civil society groups, local/international election observers and the media access to its Situation Room. The Situation Room is a centre where a...

Cuban police cordon off a street in the tornado-hit Luyano neighbourhood in Havana early on January 28, 2019.  ADALBERTO ROQUE / AFP A rare and powerful tornado that struck Havana killed three people and left 172 injured, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said early Monday. Diaz-Canel, who toured the darkened streets of Havana in the pre-dawn hours visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage to the Cuban capital from the late Sunday tornado was “severe.” The tornado overturned vehicles, uprooted trees, knocked down lampposts, and left part of the city in the dark. In the city’s Luyano neighborhood storm debris — including parts of a balcony ripped off an old building —  blocked the streets, AFP photographers reported. As emergency sirens blared across the city, firefighters and ambulances rushed about on rescue missions, their flashing lights giving light to blacked out areas. “Aas of now we mourn the loss of three human lives and 172 injured people ar...

By: Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome has tongue lashed the APC led federal government over claims of foreign interference in the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen saying the warnings of the US, UK EU and the international community amounted to raising the red flag and warning of the clear and present danger ahead They are literally telling the government to its face, “You are already rigging this election by the illegal suspension of the CJN. You are terrorizing the judiciary. We do not believe you will organize free, fair and credible elections. We are watching and monitoring you. We will not accept the outcome of any flawed elections”. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria in a statement titled ‘DID I HEAR GOVERNMENT WARN FOREIGN COUNTRIES OFF NIGERIA’S ELECTORAL AFFAIRS? noted that “Rather than shut up and exercise caution from the usual brinkmanship and verbal diarrhea, at least for once, the ...

Manchester United’s Norwegian caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer/ AFP Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to continue his impressive start as Manchester United manager at home to Burnley on Tuesday, with the case for him to be appointed permanently seemingly growing by the week. The FA Cup fourth-round victory at Arsenal on Friday took the Norwegian caretaker manager’s record to eight successive wins since taking over from Jose Mourinho before Christmas — a mark that surpasses even the great Matt Busby at the start of an Old Trafford managerial reign. While it appears Tottenham Hotspur’s Mauricio Pochettino remains United’s preferred choice as long-term appointment, the strides Solskjaer is making on and off the pitch make an increasingly compelling case for the 45-year-old to win the job. A fourth-placed finish, and Champions League football next season, were looking a distant dream in the latter days of Mourinho’s reign, but victory over Burnley would lift United level on points...

Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a penalty during the italian Serie A football match Lazio Roma vs Juventus on January 27, 2019 at the Olympic stadium in Rome. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to seal a hard-fought 2-1 win for Juventus against Lazio in Rome on Sunday to pull 11 points clear in Serie A. Juventus had trailed after an Emre Can own-goal after an hour before substitute Joao Cancelo pulled the champions level and then earned the penalty which Ronaldo slotted in with two minutes to go. An eighth straight Serie A title beckons for Massimiliano Allegri’s side who soar clear of second-placed Napoli who were held to a goalless draw at AC Milan on Saturday. Inter Milan are 19 points behind the leaders after losing 1-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday. Lazio drop to eighth place — three points off the Champions League spots — after their second defeat in a row after losing to Napoli by the same sco...

It is mourning and tears for the family members of a Nigerian soldier only identified as Isa following his sad death. According to Segun Odunuyi, the couple were set to get married this Friday February 1st, but  died in a recent attack by Boko Haram members in Buni Yadi, Yobe state. The soldier and his fiancee had released their pre-wedding photos anticipating the big day before the tragic incident. Sadly, that would never happen as his life was cut short while prosecuting the war against the sect members. Source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/01/young-soldier-set-to-wed-this-friday.html

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State , Hakeem Odumosun, has disclosed that the policeman killed by unknown gunmen in Benin on Saturday night was a member of a secret cult. LIB  had reported that the police officer identified as Oisa Monday Ehigie, the orderly to the Chairman of Ikpoba-Okha local government area, Dr. Eric Osayande, was shot dead along the Normayo / Sakponba road in Benin City. It was also said that the killing might not be unconnected with activities of secret cults that had claimed several lives in the city recently. The CP said that two other persons were killed in the shootout that claimed the life of the officer . According to him , the slain policeman died while fighting on the side of his cult group against rival cult group. “Three people were killed in the fight — the Police officer and two others. I have gone to see his family. It is a cult killing and the officer is a cultist, ” the CP added. The Commissioner said that arrests have been ma...

Neymar has been ruled out of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Manchester United due to a foot injury. The Brazil star cannot put any weight on his right foot and will miss the last-16 first-leg clash at Old Trafford on February 12, according to RMC Sport. PSG host United in the second-leg on March 6 but it is unknown whether Neymar will be fit. Neymar limped off the pitch in tears after suffering a metatarsal injury in his right foot in the French Cup win against Strasbourg on Tuesday. The ex-Barcelona ace, who also fractured a metatarsal on his right foot in February, has been in stunning form this season for the Ligue 1 leaders having scored 20 goals and made ten assists. The 26-year-old underwent surgery for the injury last year and fought his way back to feature for his country at the World Cup in Russia. Midfield stalwart Marco Verratti is already on the sidelines as he nurses his own ankle injury after picking up the knock against Guingamp last tim...

A Nigerian mum, Shalom Sam-Ogbaji and her three kids have been declared missing in Lagos. According to Twitter user, Lawrence Olanrewaju, who shared the story online, Shalom and the kids were last seen on Friday January 25th at Ajao estate. Since then, no word has been heard from them. He wrote; ''My big brother's wife - Shalom and their kids were last seen on Friday 25th January, 2019 at Ajao Estate, Lagos. Any information about their whereabouts is highly appreciated! Call Sam on 08182934285. The case has been reported to the Police. Please kindly retweet. . source: https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/01/nigerian-mum-and-her-three-kids.html

Everything you need to live well Groundbreaking superhero blockbuster “Black Panther” on Sunday won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards — a major boost to its campaign for Oscars glory next month. The film won for best ensemble cast, besting musical romance “A Star Is Born,” Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians.” Chadwick Boseman, who plays the title role in what was the top-grossing film in North America in 2018, explained the film’s significance alongside his co-stars, nearly all of them black. “We all know what it’s like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured, yet you are young, gifted and black,” Boseman told the audience at the Shrine Auditorium. “We knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world — that we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing, that we could create a world that exemplified a world we wanted to see.” “Black Panther” al...

A 37-year-old woman has been left blind in one eye after she was stabbed in the face with a shard of glass with doctors removing a plaited hair extension stuck in her eye socket after a fight with her sister.  According to Daily Mail, the lady whose identity wasn't revealed was rushed to Delta State University Teaching Hospital where she was given local anaesthetic before surgeons pulled out the shard which had left her unable to see, then stitched up the cuts on her eyelids. Before she was operated Doctors said she was in an 'anxious state' because of the gaping wound in her cheek. Dr. Mabel Okiemute Etetafia of Delta State University reported the woman's predicament in the journal BMJ Case Reports. According to her, the woman's right eye was producing excessive amounts of fluid and intensely red, the report said, but her eyeball was mostly intact. However, she suffered 'irreversible' damage to her cornea – the front of her e...

Nwankwo Kanu Foundation A milestone was achieved by the Kanu Heart Foundation in Abuja last week when three ailing children had successful open heart surgeries. The surgeries were undertaken at the Alliance Hospital, Garki, Area 11 in the Federal Capital Territory, led by Dr. Rehan Sayeed Mohammed in company with other surgeons who include Dr. Etobo. Coordinator of the Kanu Heart Foundation, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, who was also present at the hospital while the operations lasted, described the event as a medical feat. “It was long in coming and we thank God that the operations went without any hitch whatsoever,” the coordinator remarked, adding that the three children were Ben Aruna, Kikilola Lawal and Kehinde Jaiyeoba. “Two more children scheduled to be operated on in Abuja were held back in their localities and will now be operated on in February,” he said. According to Pastor Abia, four children; Doris Onyeama, Memud Fadilullah, Sunday Jemima and Ogwuegbunam Benjamin a...

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has deployed airwomen and female air officers, known as Women of War, for military operations in the North-East. The female military personnel, according to Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar are actively involved in the on-going counter-insurgency operation with special forces against Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements. Air Marshal Abubakar told PRNigeria that NAF is a gender-sensitive service that encouraged its personnel to explore their potentials without inhibition in the armed forces. The Air Force Chief said: “We call them Women of War as they are well trained to engage in combat and combat support operations for peace, security and national development. “The female personnel like their male counterparts, help in neutralizing insurgents during air strike missions, while also providing tactical supports for the ground troops. “Some of our airwomen and female officers are regular combatants who have completed ...

Acting Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu Inspector General of Police (IGP) Adamu Mohammed has retired seven deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs) who were his seniors, police sources have said. Among the affected officers are Maigari Dikko, DIG, Finance and Administration and Habila Joshak, DIG, Operations. Others are Emmanuel Inyang, Information and Communications Technology; Agboola Oshodi-Glover, Logistics and Supply; Mohammed Katsina, Research and Planning; Sani Mohammed, Training and Development; and Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence. The Guardian learnt that the retirements, which came yesterday, would be formally announced at a later date. Force Public Relations Officer (PFPRO), Frank Mba’s telephone was switched off, as at the time of filing this report, while Oshodi-Glover said he was not aware of the retirements. “I am not aware of my retirement,” Glover said. The Spokesman of the Police Service Commission...

By Harris Emmanuel UYO—Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it uncovered no fewer than 22 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom State. According to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, “on my resumption, we did a profiling of the state and found that 22 polling units were located in the bush and private homes of politicians and one in a traditional ruler’s house. They were authentic polling units but their locations were illegal. So, we had to relocate them to appropriate places. INEC “We are going to use card reader. It is backed by Section 160 of the Constitution and Section 52 of the 2015 Electoral Act and because politicians have seen the effect of card reader, they want to run away from it. Card reader has brought credibility to voting. “We are returning power to the people to make their choices. Because we have enhanced the card reader, there would be no incidence forms. So, the political Egyptians you see today, you would...

[FILE PHOTO] Voters during election The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the names of 144 observers that will monitor the 2019 general elections. INEC, however, threatened to cancel and withdraw the accreditation of any organisation if its members or agents breach the code of conduct. The commission, in a notice on its website, warned that any unaccredited group found in any state for the elections would be handed over to law enforcement agencies. It also said that accredited field observers found in states other than where they were posted would be sanctioned. According to the commission, the list includes 116 local observers and 28 foreign observers. “INEC is pleased to announce the successful applicants to observe the 2019 general elections holding on February 16, 2019 and March 2, 2019. “All accredited observers shall abide by the code of conduct for election observers, which is available for download from the INEC website.” Me...

Former Nigeria youth international Taiwo Awoniyi underlined his new-found form as he was the match winner again for his Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron as they won 2-1 at table-topping Genk. Awoniyi, who is on loan at the club from Liverpool, struck in the 90th minute to deny the hosts a point from the game. The 21-year-old striker was match winner last weekend on his debut and has now scored twice in two games. In the first round of the season, he failed to score in 16 league games for KAA Gent. He has previously played for FSV Frankfurt and NEC on loan from Liverpool. Awoniyi won U20 AFCON in 2015 in Senegal and was a world champion with Nigeria U17 in 2013. Source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/01/awoniyi-match-winner-again-in-belgium.html

By Adewale Kupoluyi ONE  of the issues that has elicited diverse discussions in the last few days is the boycott of the presidential debate by the two main aspirants in the race to the highest office  in the land. To be sincere, next month’s presidential election is likely to be the most keenly-contested in the annals of the nation and is mainly going to be between the two most popular political parties. It is because of the dominance and deciding factor of these big parties that there has been a hue and cry  that the people were unable to hear from the duo during the organised debate. Ordinarily, such a platform would have afforded the contestants as well as the electorate an opportunity to have a clear picture of what is to come and who has what it takes to achieve the desired electoral outcomes. It would equally have made it possible to measure the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants in terms of what they have to offer and the limitations. It is in light o...