A First class traditional ruler in Bayelsa State and Amananaowei of Amassoma, His Royal Highness Maj. Graham Naingba (retired), has raised the alarm that politicians are exploiting the crisis in the community to cause fresh tension over the 2019 general elections.

He, therefore, warned politicians against igniting fresh crisis that could deepen the unfortunate crisis which recently engulfed Amassoma, a host community to the Niger Delta University in Wilberforce Island.

Naingba specifically cautioned a popular Ijaw musician and lawyer against producing any music on the recent crisis involving the NDU and the Amassoma community.

The monarch in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by him, described the planned crisis as “condemnable and reprehensible.”

He said any further fresh crisis could negate ongoing efforts of the Bayelsa State government towards amicable resolution of the crisis.

According to him, governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has not only put adequate measures in place to address emergent issues but is also effectively resolving the crisis.

“Characters with dubious intent with the backing of politicians focused on 2019 elections should desist from exploiting the crisis to cause further division in Amassoma community.

“The platform of music should not be exploited to inflict pain and agony on the community because the conflict is already being resolved by the various authorities.

“It has come to the attention of the traditional institution and authorities of Amassoma that a popular musician, Chief Barrister Smooth, has released a musical record in the form of an inflammatory dirge on the recent crisis in our dear community, Amassoma.

“While we are not opposed to genuine efforts geared towards peace, security and prosperity of our town, the people òf Amassoma are not in support of the activities of the particular musician with the backing of politicians which are designed to inflame passions in the community.

“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis situation to aggravate conflict cannot be the best way to show concern and love. This is unknown to the culture of our people.

“The Amassoma community finds this curious action as unpatriotic. Amassoma can do without these crocodile tears and detrimental sympathies. For the purpose of emphasis, we advise that nobody should compose a song to inflame tension and threaten public peace in our community.

“The Governor and the traditional authorities have not only put machinery in place to address the issue but are indeed resolving the crisis. Nobody should do anything that will inflame passion or acts that can lead to further unrest in our community. ”

The monarch said that for anyone to claim to love Amassoma more than the indigenes was the loudest way to express hypocrisy.
“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis to deepen conflict cannot be the best way to show concern. Amassoma is beyond any individual,” he said.

Source: NAN

Real Madrid fans have returned 1,000 tickets for Saturdays Champions League final against Liverpool as spiralling accommodation and travel costs deter supporters from travelling to Kiev.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the tickets could not be resold to Liverpool fans for security reasons but they would instead be put on sale for local fans in the Ukrainian capital.

As anger mounts over the rocketing prices and cancelled bookings with some hotels charging up to 100 times their standard rates Liverpool said they had complained to the highest levels of European footballs governing body.

Ukrainian UEFA vice-president Grigoriy Surkis criticised the behaviour of hotel owners looking to make a quick buck for the clash between the two European giants, who have won the competition 17 times between them.

I am not disappointed, I am furious, he told AFP. I think it is a disgrace for the capital, where individual hotel owners did not give everyone a chance to come here by raising the prices not ten-fold, the way it happens in other cities, but nearly a hundredfold.

Around 1,000 Liverpool fans also face the prospect of being stranded in England after a number of charter flights were cancelled due to a disagreement between a travel company and aviation authorities in Kiev over the size of the aircraft.

Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said he was still hopeful a favourable solution can be reached to help those left behind.

However, Moore criticised the infrastructure in Kiev, which hosted the Euro 2012 final, as not fit for purpose.

They just dont have the airport infrastructure and the hotel capacity to cope with an event of this size and there isnt another major city within real hitting distance of it, he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

Its not only affected Liverpool fans but Real Madrid fans too. There will be lessons learned from this. Rest assured, Ive raised this at the highest levels of UEFA.

The decision to award the final to Kiev was made before Ceferins election as president in 2016 and the Slovenian has already reintroduced a tender process with evaluation reports on cities bidding for finals.

Istanbuls 76,000-capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium was named as the host for the 2020 final on Thursday, while next seasons final will take place at Atletico Madrids Wanda Metropolitano.

Source: NAN

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday scolded the House of Representatives for unlawfully suspending former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 legislative days.

Jibrin was suspended in 2016 for alleging that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal officers of the House padded the 2016 budget with about N40 billion.

He then dragged the House, the speaker and the clerk of the House to court to challenge the suspension.

Justice John Tsoho, in his judgement, declared that the action of the House was unconstitutional. It was the second time, a judicial review of a National Assembly action was being thrown overboard as unconstitutional. Another Federal High Court in Abuja had overruled the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, by the Senate.

Justice Tsoho said it was necessary to admonish the House to perform its duties with the constitution in mind and avoid arbitrariness, bias and impartiality.

At this juncture, a general admonition is deemed necessary.

The House of Representatives should be the bastion of representative democracy in Nigeria and should thus hold as very dear, the tenets of democracy and stick tenaciously to same.

Democracy thrives on and is fuelled by the rule of law and not by the rule of force, arbitrariness or impunity.

The House should not desecrate itself by openly exhibiting lack of faith in the constitution and the rule of law to which it owes its very existence.

Drawing from a traditional adage, it is apt to state that any entity that challenges its soul to a fight is doomed and will fail, the judge said.

The judge nullified the suspension of the lawmaker and ordered the House of Representatives to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances that accrued to him while he was on suspension.

The suspension is null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

According to Tsoho, the defendants by suspending Jibrin, violated his rights as enshrined in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He added that the defendants were biased when the principal officers who raised the allegation against Jibrin were part of the committee that investigated the matter.

The court maintained that it was wrong for the defendants to be judge in their own case.

The court further held that the House erred when it went ahead to suspend Jibrin, not minding the pendency of an action against it.

The court also held that according to the House standing rules, the House could not suspend Jibrin for more than 14 legislative days or 30 legislative days in more serious matters.

Source: NAN

The Federal High Court in Benin has ordered that the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Chief Dan Orbih, be remanded in prison custody if he failed to perfect his bail.

The court had on Thursday granted the Orbih and Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the 2016 governorship candidate, bail in the sum of N10 million for alleged N700 million fraud.

Also granted bail in the same condition, were the former deputy governor, Mr Lucky Imasuen, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegnemi and Efe Anthony.

Justice P. Adjokwu ordered the defendants to produce a surety each in like sum.

The judge ordered that the sureties, who must not be below salary grade level 16, must also be house owners, with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) that should be deposited with the courts deputy registrar.

Adjokwu, who rejected the plea by defendants counsel, Mr Charles Edosomwan, ordered them to be remanded in prison until they met the bail conditions.

The Judge adjourned the case till July 4.

EFCC had arraigned the defendants on an eight-count charge of laundering the sum of N700 million.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants were arraigned for receiving N700 million prior to the 2015 general elections, from former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The money was part of the $115 million that Diezani pilfered from the treasury.

He said the offence contravened Section 15(2)(d)of the Money Laundering (Prohibited) Act 2011(as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) punishable under section 15(3) of same Act. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has praised Governor Nasir El-Rufai APCs panel on restructuring for doing a good job.

Dickson stressed that Nigeria was in dire need of devolution or restructuring in order to guarantee stability.

He stressed the need to expand the scope of consultation on the restructuring, saying that all parts of Nigeria needed to be carried along, especially the leadership of Northern Nigeria.

Dickson told journalists on Thursday after he updated President Muhammadu Buhari on security and socio-economic developments in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.

Dickson, who held a closed door meeting with the President, said he stressed the need for change in approach to security management in the Niger Delta during the meeting.

The governor, who described his interaction with the president as fruitful, said the meeting also deliberated on the issue of devolution of power.

So, I thank the President for availing me the opportunity to share perspectives on very serious issues on security, stability and development of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

We talked about the need to revisit the Brass energy; we talked about the need for change in approach to security management in the Niger Delta; we talked about the challenges of stabilizing the Niger Delta and the need for federal support.

We talked about a whole range of other issues including what we think should be the final response to the ongoing debate about devolution and I believe that we had a very fruitful interaction, he said.

The governor reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to partner with the Federal Government and security agencies to advance and consolidate security of life and property in the region.

He said: Governors of the Niger Delta region are doing a lot and as governors we will continue to do our best, working with the security agencies, we should be apolitical in supporting constituted authorities in the states.

We expect that this interaction will yield positive results. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its National Convention for Saturday, June 23, 2018.

The party gave the new date via its official twitter handle, @OfficialAPCNg on Thursday night.

The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi added that inauguration of new Party executives will subsequently hold on Monday, June 25, 2018.

The decision followed the Partys approval of a request by the National Convention Committee chaired by the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

Before now, the APC had settled for June 2 for its National Convention as contained in a notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but many stakeholders pushed for the new date in view of the ongoing Ramadan which will be concluded before June 23.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday alerted Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo that his position as VP was being threatened by Nigerian women in politics.

The president stated this while reacting to a request by Nigerian women who asked for the slot of Vice President of Nigeria in subsequent elections in the country.

The women under the auspices of the Nigerian Female Parliamentarians made the request when they paid a courtesy call on Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The chairperson of organisation, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, who spoke on behalf the delegation, lamented that Nigerian women were being marginalised by their male counterparts in the nations body politics.

Since 1999 we only have one principal officer each in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

And in the State Houses of Assembly we have only just five per cent, women are five per cent of the total population of elected members of the State Houses of Assembly and we feel that this is not good enough for all the efforts we women had put in the development of this country particularly in politics.

We feel the trend now needs to be reversed and we feel you are the only one who can do it now.

The implementation strategy is simple. Any statement you make today is a policy statement and is a law.

Now your Excellency is twinning. Many African countries have imbibed that culture of twinning and is working in Rwanda, in South Africa is working and we believe it will work in Nigeria.

Where a man is a president we expect that the vice president should be a woman; where a man is speaker, we expect that the deputy speaker should be a woman and vice versa, she said.

Besides, Ativie called on the Buhari administration to invest more in womens participation in politics by creating an enabling environment for women to thrive and tackle perceived systematic and cultural hindrances to womens inclusion.

She commended the president for the recent approval given to the Inspector-General of Police to employ youths into the Nigeria Police Force and expressed the optimism that at least 35 per cent of the those to be recruited would be female police.

She also called on the president to urgently intervene in the protracted industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

She said: Indeed, this strike action bites harder on women and children who are the most vulnerable in our society.

We humbly appeal to Your Excellency to graciously look into the issues as the father of the nation in order for the health sector to bounce back and ameliorate the plight of the citizens.

Responding, Buhari noted the efforts of women in ensuring political stability in the country and for the support given to him during the 2015 presidential elections.

On their demands including the VP slot in future elections in the country, Buhari regretted that he was not as powerful as you think Im.

It is a pity the Vice President is not here. But I believe the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will tell him that his position is threatened, he jokingly told the visiting female parliamentarians.

Source: NAN

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT command says it is poised to curb drug abuse and trafficking among youths in the territory through Surprise Raiding Strategy (SRS).

Mr Peter Adegbe, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

According to Adegbe, the strategy is part of the agencys efforts in tackling drug vendors and traffickers in the territory and environs.

He said the command would achieve the goal by ensuring that the demand and supply of both cocaine and cannabis sativa are reduced to the barest minimum.

Once people, especially the youths, are well informed about the dangers of drug abuse, the demand will drastically reduce and this will affect the supply.

The command has chosen to tackle the menace of drug abuse and ridding the territory with this new strategy, he said.

The spokesman said that the menace of drug abuse had become a global concern as citizens particularly young people in several countries were engaged in the act.

It is disheartening that children at tender age already have problem using drugs.

There should be deliberate and sustained efforts at educating the younger generation on drug prevention, Adegbe said.

The spokesman said the command would not relent in its efforts to rid the FCT of hard drugs, adding that several campaigns had been held in this regard.

He urged Nigerians especially parents and guardians to give listening ears to their children and youths who were the vulnerable groups against drug abuse.

Adegbe also appealed to residents of the FCT to join hands with the NDLEA in ensuring a responsible society void of social vices.

The public needs to understand that they should also support the NDLEA in tackling this drug menace, he said.

Source: NAN

(Reuters/NAN) Iran wants European powers to present it with measures by the end of May to compensate it for the U.S. decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal, a senior official said on Friday.

The official said Tehran would decide within weeks whether to quit the accord.

The 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions on Tehran.

In return, the middle east country agreed to curb its nuclear programme.

Since President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out on May 8, European states have been trying to find a way to ensure Iran still gets the economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal.

But that has proven difficult, with European companies frightened away by U.S. sanctions.

Nations that remain in the agreement Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia began meetings on Friday for the first time since Trump left the pact, but diplomats see limited scope for salvaging it.

Their officials will try to flesh out with Irans deputy foreign minister a strategy to save the deal by keeping oil and investment flowing.

To be honest with you, we are not confident, a senior Iranian official told reporters on Friday before the talks.

EU leaders have united behind the accord, with Brussels working on measures, including banning EU-based companies from complying with re-imposed U.S. sanctions and urging governments to make money transfers to Irans central bank to avoid fines.

We expect the (economic) package to be given to us by the end of May, the Iranian official said. Im sorry to say that we havent (seen) the Plan B yet.

The Plan B has just started to be figured out.

He said European measures would need to ensure that oil exports did not halt, and that Iran would still have access to the SWIFT international bank payments messaging system.

Washington has not only re-imposed sanctions but started to make them even tighter. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday threatened Iran with the strongest sanctions in history if it did not change its behavior in the Middle East.

Pompeo was like taking a cold shower, said a European diplomat. Well try to cling to the deal, but were under no illusions.

Irans supreme leader set out conditions on Wednesday for Iran to stay in the deal: unless Europe guarantees Irans oil sales will not be hurt, Tehran would resume enrichment of nuclear material.

He also rejected any new negotiations over Irans missile program, which was not covered in the nuclear deal.

The official said time was running out and that if Iran was not satisfied by European efforts, Iran would seek a ministerial meeting before making its decision.

Iran has struggled to benefit from the accord so far, partly because of remaining unilateral U.S. sanctions that have deterred major Western investors from doing business with Tehran.

Some Western companies have already quit the country or said they may have to leave because of the new U.S. sanctions.

Trump denounced the accord, completed under his predecessor, Barack Obama, because it did not cover Irans ballistic missile program, its role in Middle East conflicts or what happens after the deal begins to expire in 2025.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to complement the nuclear deal with negotiations between all sides over other issues, an idea cautiously received by Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

Our position is very clear: make the JCPOA (Iran deal) a successful story, then come to us and ask for dialogue or discussion or negotiation on other subjects, the Iranian official said.

European nations share U.S. concerns, but they say that torpedoing the nuclear deal makes them far harder, not easier, to address.

They have said that as long as Tehran meets its commitments, they would remain in the deal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which polices the pact, said on Thursday that Iran continued to comply with its terms, but could be faster in allowing snap inspections. Its chief, Yukiya Amano, briefed participants before Fridays meeting.

Source: NAN

Australia and the Netherlands have decided to officially hold Russia accountable for its role in downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, paving the way for the two countries to possibly take legal action against Moscow.

MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. In a report from the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) issued Thursday, international investigators said the Buk anti-aircraft system used to bring down the jet belonged to the Russian military.

The Netherlands and Australia are now convinced that Russia is responsible for the deployment of the Buk installation that was used to down MH17, Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stef Blok said in a statement on Friday.

The government is now taking the next step by formally holding Russia accountable, Blok said.

Australia and the Netherlands have informed the Russian Federation that we hold it responsible under international law for its role in the downing of MH17, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

Bishop and Blok said their governments asked Russia on Friday to enter talks about its role in the disaster in order to find a solution that would do justice to the tremendous suffering and damage caused by the downing.

The case could next be presented to an international court or organization for judgement, the Dutch and Australian governments said.

The son of an Australian couple killed in the disaster said earlier Friday the international community should pressure Russia to take responsibility after investigators found its military missile brought down the flight.

Its good to see some strong evidence that Russia was involved, Paul Guard, who lost his parents Jill and Roger in the disaster, told Australian broadcaster ABC.

Clearly, Russia has a lot of questions to answer as to what its missile launcher was doing there and why it was involved in this war in the first place.

He said governments have a problem in acknowledging their involvement in these sorts of things.

The US, I think, took over 10 years to acknowledge the shooting down of an Iranian jet. Im not expecting anything anytime soon.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase has lauded the passage of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Act amendment Bill by the Senate.

This is even as he said that CAMA will greatly boost and increase the viability of small businesses in the country.

Ruwasegave the commendation when he led other executive members of the Chamber on a courtesy visit to the President of the Senate, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Sanni Onogu, in in Abuja.

The LCCI boss noted that the passage of the CAMA amendment Bill is a major step towards enhancing the business environment in the country.

He said that the Bill when signed into law would reduce the burden of reporting obligations for small businesses, reduce time and cost of of setting up a company and also facilitate the transition of many informal sector players to the formal sector of the economy.

He said that the amendment is timely in view of present economic realities as the country cannot afford a static legislation in a dynamic business and economic environment.

Ruwase further stated that the beauty of legislation lies in how well it is aligned with contemporary realities and thanked the President of the Senate for the efforts of the Red Chamber in promoting private sector development and for collaboration.

The fact that your Excellency has a private sector background has brought a lot of value to the content and processes of legislation, he added.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, thanked the LCCI and its members for their contributions to the nations economic growth.

He noted that the 8th Senate has been keen on working with the private sector to improve the nations economy and business environment right from its inception in 2015.

He said that the Senate with the collaboration of major players in the private sector had identified a number of critical laws that required urgent review to improve the ease of doing business in the country, most of which have now been passed and signed into law.

This is a Senate that is very pro-business. We believe that our role as a government is to create enabling environment that will allow businesses to thrive.

Even in the area of infrastructure, our focus has been on how we can pass laws to enable private sector participation. With our reforms in railways, ports and road construction and maintenance, we hope that the private sector will play a bigger role with the bills we have passed.

There are some bills that are still pending like the the Investment and Securities bill where there is a major amendment that we hope to pass very soon. We are also looking into the reform of the Stock Exchange to make it more attractive and also in line with global best practice, he said.

Saraki said the aim of the Senate is to strengthen the economy and be able to provide jobs for the youth through legislation.

Source: NAN

U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed Democrats of frustrating talks between him and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, earlier scheduled to hold in Singapore on June 12.

Though Trump said on Friday that he was happy with North Korea for leaving the door open for potential U.S.-North Korea talks, he maintained that Democrats were against negotiations with the rogue regime.

Democrats are so obviously rooting against us in our negotiations with North Korea.

Just like they are coming to the defense of MS 13 thugs, saying that they are individuals

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Senate has intervened in the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), in a bid to end the strike and make the nations hospitals functional once again.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, after a meeting with the leadership of JOHESU yesterday () where he listened to their grievances and demands, today () met with the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, to hear their own side of the issue.

While meeting with the JOHESU leadership led by its Chairman, Comrade Biobelemonye Joseph, the President of the Senate, had pledged that the Senate would ensure that the right thing is done to end the strike.

Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Sanni Onogu, in a statement in Abuja, said Sarakis meeting with Adewole and Ngige was meant to hear their side of the issue and to forge a way forward, not only to end the strike but to ensure that there is lasting peace and industrial harmony in the nations health institutions.

During his meeting with the leadership of JOHESU, Saraki said the Senate and indeed the National Assembly, would ensure that the right thing is done to end the strike.

He noted that it is not in the interest of the country to have its hospitals closed while he pledged that the Senate would work with all stakeholders to ensure that the strike is called off.

Saraki said: Our interest here in the Senate and the National Assembly in general, is to find a solution to this problem. It is not in the interest of the country for us to have our hospitals closed and we must work to ensure they are reopened promptly.

I have heard your remarks, I will spend sometimes to discuss with you and get more details to see how we can put an end to this strike.

On our own part, we will bring all parties involved together to ensure that where commitments have been made, those who made the commitments honour them.

The only thing I can assure you is that we will make sure that the right thing is done and that this matter is resolved, he said.

Source: NAN

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Thursday, calling his J-League move an “important career challenge”.

“This is a very special day for me,” the 34-year-old World Cup winner said after signing his contract at a glitzy unveiling in Tokyo.

“I had a lot of offers, other clubs showed an interest in me,” added Iniesta, who is reported to have agreed a three-year deal with an annual salary of $30 million, comfortably a J-League record.

“But I chose Vissel Kobe because it was an interesting project. There was also a lot of trust and confidence in me as a person and also as a player — that was a big reason.”

Iniesta, who lifted 32 major trophies and made 674 appearances for Catalan giants Barca, was handed his trademark number eight shirt by Vissel owner Hiroshi Mikitani.

“I am confident that Iniesta’s leadership philosophy and his DNA will be a terrific inspiration for not only Vissel Kobe but Japanese football,” said Mikitani.

“His arrival in Japan will raise the profile of Japanese football globally. Iniesta will inspire and empower us to reach new heights in football in Japan. We are very proud to see this day come.”

The Spain icon’s decision to choose Kobe arguably represents Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers.

It also comes as a timely boost to the J-League, which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years.

Iniesta will join former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski in the western port city of Kobe after he completed a move from Galatasaray last summer. Podolski was quick to send a “welcome” tweet to Iniesta on Thursday.

“I’d like to help take this club forward and help the J-League grow in Asia,” said Iniesta, who is set to join his new team mates after the World Cup in Russia.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the Kobe players as quickly as possible to be able to help with that process.”

Danish star Michael Laudrup, himself a former Barcelona fan favourite and one of Iniesta’s boyhood heroes, also played for Vissel in 1996-97.

Source: NAN

Contrary to reports, northern groups have denied asking President Muhammadu Buhari against seeking a re-election in 2019.

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) on Wednesday also denied asking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar not to contest presidential election.

The group described the report as misrepresentation.

Mr Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesman of CNG, said in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday that the CNG did not discuss individual aspiration at its two-day summit in Kaduna as reported in the media.

According to him, the communiqu only highlighted its support for structural reforms with condition that only youths between ages 18 and 60 should represent the North.

The attention of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has been drawn to certain misrepresentations of parts of its communiqu of May 21, 2018 by a section of the media.

While we do not want to believe that the misrepresentations, though very fundamental, were maliciously made, we nevertheless owe the public a duty to straighten the records.

At the end of our two-day summit at Arewa House, Kaduna, a five-page communiqu was read by our spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in which we categorically stated that the North fully supports the restructuring of the country and shall be prepared to represent itself in any debate thereon.

Our coalition said the North supported structural reforms, with certain conditions, he said.

According to him, one of the terms is that those who will carry the banner to any future discussion with regards to Nigerian federal arrangement should be within the 18 to 60 years bracket.

We said this out of a patriotic conviction that the older men who have been speaking and running the country since independence should cease to take the front seats at such national discourses.

The coalition was, however, quite surprised by some reports by a section of the media, tending to suggest that we have asked certain aspirants to the 2019 presidency to shelve their ambition.

We wish to respond here that at no time did the individual aspiration of any politician ever came up at our two-day summit nor was it mentioned anywhere in the communiqu we read.

Our summit and subsequent communiqu essentially concentrated on the issue of restructuring. Nowhere, and at no time, did we discuss such matters as the 2019 presidency, Suleiman said.

He said that the summit was sequel to calls from several quarters in the last six months asking for our position on the issue of restructuring.

Suleiman said the group answered those calls by mandating a committee to sample the pulse of Northern Nigeria in that respect.

He said that the committee, after contacting stakeholders across all shades of interest in the region, reported that the North favoured restructuring of the country.

Consequently, we called for the summit at which participants unanimously confirmed Norths support for total and holistic structural reform.

A communiqu was issued to that effect, devoid of the slightest hint at partisanship or 2019 elections, nor did we discuss the individual aspiration of any politician, he added.

He advised media practitioners in the country to stick to their professional ethics of accurate reporting of events and avoid unnecessary sensational overkill.

NAN reports that a section of the media on Monday reported that CNG asked Buhari and Abubakar not to contest for president in 2019.

CNGs position was reported to be contained in a communiqu issued after at the end of its two-day summit in Kaduna. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said no fewer than 131, 687 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were still uncollected in Sokoto state.

The commissions Spokesman in the state, Malam Muhammad Musa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto that the unclaimed PVCs comprised 69, 685 not claimed between 2011 and 2014.

Musa said that another set of 62, 002 PVCs were recently received from INEC National Headquarters for distribution to owners, adding that the distribution of the cards commenced on Monday.

He said the Continues Voters Registration (CVR) that started on April 27, 2017 was in progress across the 39 collection and registration centres in the state.

He advised eligible persons to forward their Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) for the collection of PVCs at designated centres.

Musa said that ongoing issuance of PVCs was to persons who applied for transfers, lost, defaced or destroyed cards.

The commission is assuring those who registered in 2018 that their PVCs will be ready for collection in good time before the 2019 general elections, he said.

He, however, appealed to public to use the opportunity to collect their PVCs for use in the 2019 elections. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Voters Union, a programme of Be-The-Change Organisation (BCO), a civic advocacy organisation, says it is committed to increasing the chances of peaceful, credible elections and protection of voters voices.

Voters Union Chairman, Ms Diana Olabisi, who briefed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the group envisioned a well-informed passionate voters that were hard to be compromised.

She said the decision to create Voters Union came after a rigorous research for solution to boosting voters mood and increasing political participation.

According to her, Voters Union is a voter advocacy platform where voters connect to achieve common goals.

Olabisi listed the goals of the group to include: increasing voters access to information

To educate voters on voters rights, duties and responsibilities; to minimize oppression and suppression of voters voices, to reduce the toxicity in political atmosphere; to maintain and improve relationship between the voters and the voted.

With Voters Union, protecting constituency integrity, protecting our votes, and election follow ups becomes easy.

This will check the right of citizens to participate in public affairs without intimidation or favour, she said.

She said that the widespread development of non-partisan election monitoring around the world was a tangible evidence of citizens desire for responsive, transparent, and democratic governance achievable through voter education.

The chairman said that by providing voter education, election monitoring, vote protection, and constituency integrity, the group was working to advance democratic goals and strengthening democratic institutions.

She said that Voters Union had made conscious decision for monitoring efforts that would safeguard electoral integrity and create governmental and political accountability.

On his part, Mr Emeka Ejezie, National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, said he came to lend support to Voters Union.

He said that the most important persons in politics are the voters not the voted.

We need to protect our votes so that our voice will count, before, during and after election.

That is only the way we can effect a change and get the people we want into offices.

We have 150 members in 32 states; as role models, we want to join our voices with Voters Union, he said.

He said the guild always made meaningful impact in any sector it identified with.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Appeal Committee in Kwara State has said there was no petition or appeal against the state congress conducted on Saturday by Senator Bukola Saraki-led faction, which was supervised by the national secretariat of the party in Ilorin.

Chairman of the committee, Mr Osita Egwuatu, made this known in Ilorin on Wednesday at a news conference at the party secretariat.

Egwuatu said the three -member committee were in the state for hearing of election petition that might have arisen from the state congress election.

He added that as at the 9 a. m on Wednesday when their assignment ended, the committee has not received any complaint against the conduct of the congress.

Egwuatu said members of the committee arrived Ilorin on Sunday to hear any complaint, petition and appeal against the state congress of the party.

He said he pasted notice on the board at the APC secretariat for any person with petition or complaint to submit same.

As I am speaking to you, we have not received any petition from anybody.

Today is the last day of the hearing of the petition, up till now, no petition from anybody, Egwuatu added.

He said that since there was no petition, appeal or complaint from anybody, it means that the congress went well in the state.

Reports had indicated that two congresses of the party were held simultaneously on Saturday, with the Saraki led group, holding its own atthe Banquet Hall opposite the Government House. It elected Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani as chairman.

Another faction loyal to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, held another congress at the Arca Santa Event Hall, in Ilorin and electedMoshood Bolarinwa as chairman.

Malam Abdullahi Samari was elected as the Deputy Chairman.

Others were Alhaji Abdulganiyu Saka (Secretary); Abegunde Goge (Assistant Secretary); Rahmat Abolaji (Women leader) and Samuel Isaac (Youth Leader).

Source: NAN

Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi has accepted the resignation of his deputy, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado, who turned in his letter of resignation on Wednesday.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Mr Ali M. Ali, Special Adviser, Media, the governor described the tenure of his deputy as meritorious and therefore deserving of commendation.

Wereceived the resignation of our Deputy Governor, Engr. Nuhu Gidado.

On behalf of the people of Bauchi state, I want to thank him for his meritorious service while in office.

He remains vital to our administration and party.

I wish him well in his future endeavours, and he can count on me for support.

I am also optimistic he will avail the state his service when called upon in the future, said Ali in the statement, quoting the governor.

It would be recalled that the deputy governor resigned on Wednesday, attributing his action to the dampening of spirit and waning zeal with regards his official responsibilities.

Ordinarily, I should have remained up to the end of the tenure, but, with the current dampened spirit and waning zeal as it relates to my official engagements, my continued stay will not be fair and truthful to you as my brother and leader.

In this regard, I feel sure that, Your Excellency will readily recollect the most recent one on one discussion we had, precisely, on Thursday, April 19th, 2018, in your office, where, among other issues, I expressed to you, my contemplation to step aside, if need be, in order to free my conscience.

I regret to say that it has become necessary to yield to that inner calling, and may this development be in accordance with the blessed will and guidance of Allah, said the deputy governor in his resignation letter.

Source: NAN

President Donald Trump has cancelled the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Koreas Kim Jong Un, citing the tremendous anger and open hostility in a recent statement from North Korea.

It came on a day that North Korea dismantled its nuclear bomb testing site, in the presence of some invited journalists

Trump said in a letter to Kim released Thursday by the White House that based on the statement, he felt it was inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.

The president says the North Koreans talk about their nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.

Read Trumps letter:

The aborted Singapore summit had a ring of doubt since it was first suggested. At the heart of the problem was Trumps suggestion that North Korea unilaterally give up its arsenal of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles.

Last week, Trump sought to placate North Korea after it threatened to call off the summit, saying Kims security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafis Libya, unless that could not be reached.

But the reference to the case of Libya has angered North Korea.

In a statement released by North Korean media on Thursday, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui called U.S. Vice President Mike Pence a political dummy for comparing North Korea a nuclear weapons state to Libya, where Gaddafi gave up his unfinished nuclear development programme, only to be later killed by NATO-backed fighters.

It is to be underlined, however, that in order not to follow in Libyas footstep, we paid a heavy price to build up our powerful and reliable strength that can defend ourselves and safeguard peace and security in the Korean peninsula and the region, Choe said.

Choe said the fate of the summit was entirely up to the United States.

We will neither beg the U.S. for dialogue nor take the trouble to persuade them if they do not want to sit together with us, said Choe.

She said she could suggest to leader Kim that North Korea reconsider the summit if the United States offended the Norths goodwill.

Source: NAN