ONE WORD

Rotherham United star, Semi Ajayi has expressed disappointment over the decision of Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr, to drop him from the Super Eagles’ squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON. DAILY POST had reported on Sunday that Semi Ajayi and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho were the two players that have been dropped. Both players did not feature on Saturday as Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe at an international friendly played in Asaba, the Delta State capital. Reacting through his Instagram page, Ajayi wished the Super Eagles all the best in Egypt during the tournament. The 26 year old wrote: “Wishing my brothers the best of luck at the upcoming #AFCON 2019. “It’s been a privilege to have been part of this squad and as much as I’m gutted that I can’t make it, I wish everyone linked with the Super Eagles the very best of luck this summer. “I will be supporting the team until the end. Go and make Nigeria proud my brothers.”

Ivorian Gervinho and Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho were significant casualties as 11 coaches named 23-man squads for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which kicks off on June 21. A 32-year-old veteran of five Cup of Nations, winger Gervinho was hopeful his impressive Serie A form with Parma would earn him a call-up. The dreadlocked former Arsenal and Roma star -- real name Gervais Yao Kouassi -- scored 11 goals and was credited with four assists in 30 Italian league matches last season. Among those Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara will look to for goals in Egypt is Nicolas Pepe, runner-up to French star Kylian Mbappe in the 2018/2019 Ligue 1 Golden Boot race. Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha and clubless Wilfried Bony, who bagged a brace in a 3-1 warm-up win over the Comoros at the weekend, are among the other Ivorian attacking options. Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho (R) playing for Leicester City against Chelsea in the English Premier League last season Gervinho reacted ca...

Suspected cultistsand ammunition recovered from them The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it has arrested 202 suspected cult members in various parts of the state. The police also launched ‘Operation Crush’ aimed at at ending cultism and gangsterism in Lagos State. State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, at a news conference said from February, 2019 that he assumed duty, the Command had arrested 202 notorious cult members and that they had been charged to Court, saying that the cases were at different stages of prosecution. The commissioner added that the command recovered 54 assorted weapons from the cultists. Arm and ammunition recovered from cultists Other successes recorded by the Command includes the arrest of 105 suspects for armed robbery and 7 suspects for kidnapping. The Command has also successfully foiled 93 armed robbery attempts through prompt response to distress calls from members of the public at different locations in the state,” he said...

A former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that the current administration cannot solve Nigeria’s poverty issues. He also said that, “even three or four administrations in Nigeria cannot do that because the level of poverty is deeply rooted.” Amaechi said this when he fielded questions from reporters on the state of the nation. The former Minister of Transport added, “Look at it this way; if an economy is running purely on agriculture and a new president comes and say no, no, that it won’t continue, we have to re-gig the economy to create productivity. “Before you can finish creating such products, it would take more than 15 years because at that point, you are not just talking about agriculture, you are talking about industrialisation, you are talking about power, you are talking about roads and transportation. “Now, the president is focusing on roads, power, and transportation. “Look at the railway, if we do Lagos to Kano for $8.3 billion. Of the ...

Coaches and players of the Nigerian national team landed in the Egyptian city of Ismailia on Sunday night, Sporting Life reports. Kelechi Iheanacho and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, who were dropped from the squad earlier in the day, were the only two absentees. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) allowed the Warriors of Zimbabwe with whom the Eagles played a 0-0 draw in a friendly on Saturday, flew together with the Nigerian contingent to Ismailia aboard a chartered MAX Air flight from Asaba. The aircraft refueled at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano before heading for Ismailia. The three-time African champions are staying at the Hotel Mercure in Ismailia where they will spend one week before heading to Alexandria, venue of their Group B matches during the championship. Before then, the Eagles will face Senegal’s Lions of Terranga in another warm-up clash on June 16.

Mr Aniekan Bassey, Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly. The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on Monday inaugurated its 7th assembly with Mr Aniekan Bassey (Uruan-PDP), emerging as the speaker. Bassey, a returning member was nominated by Mr Nse Essien (Onna-PDP), seconded by Mr Mark Esset (Nsit Atai-PDP) and unanimously elected by the 25 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members present. The Clerk of the House, Mrs Mandu Umoren had earlier read a letter of proclamation from Gov. Udom Emmanuel, bringing the 7th Assembly to life in line with provisions of Section 105 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The former deputy speaker in the 6th assembly, Mrs Felicia Bassey also emerged as the Deputy Speaker, Mr Uduak Ududo(Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo-PDP), nominated Bassey and was seconded by Mr Emmanuel Ekpenyong( Ini-PDP). In his acceptance speech, Bassey thanked God for his election as the speaker, and acknowledged his party, the PDP and his constituency for giving him the opportu...

A 32-year-old member representing Ibarapa East Constituency, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, on Monday, emerged Speaker of the Oyo state house of assembly. Ogundoyin who is the only returning lawmaker out of the overwhelming 26 members elected on the platform of PDP was nominated by Hon. Adebayo Babajide, representing Ibadan North Constituency for the Speakership position, seconded by Hon. Adeola Bamidele from Iseyin/Itesiwaju local government. The clerk of the assembly, Ms. Felicia Oyediran, later sworn in Hon. Ogundoyin who was unanimously elected by the entire 32 lawmakers of the State. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin is one of the sons of the late philanthropist and industrialist, late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, who won the Ibarapa East by-election on the 2nd of June, 2018 to fill the post rendered vacant by the death of the late speaker of the 8th Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo. In his inaugural speech, Ogundoyin promised to operate an open door policy in order to avoi...