Less than 48 hours after some top members of opposition PDP defected to the moribund Social Democratic Party (SDP), reports emerged that some retired military officers were also among those reviving the party.

The ex-military officers are among the brokers leading talks to put the SDP on a good stead ahead the 2019.

The reported that at least two frontline members of the groups that have coalesced into the party.

The report reveals that there was an imminent exodus of members of the National Assembly elected on the tickets of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to SDP in March.

Professors Jerry Gana and Tunde Adeniran, as well as a former deputy Senate president, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, who are PDP stalwarts have joined SDP after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SDP leadership.

Many influential personalities were seriously engaging other power brokers for collaboration towards making the SDP the party to beat in the next round of elections.

He said some influential individuals were talking to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to collaborate with the party.

According to , a coordinator of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) was fully discussing with others on the need to strengthen the SDP.

A lot of the members of both the PDP and the APC have not only been working underground for us but have indeed joined the fray unofficially.

So, one or two things will soon happen, one of which is the imminent exodus from the two parties to the PDP, in fact before the end of March 2018.

Source: NAN

Germany is collaborating with the European Union to increase power generation in Nigeria by 500 megawatts (MW) through renewable energy to serve 100,000 people.

Iner Hommers, The Programme Head, Nigerian Energy Support Programmme (NESP), said in Abuja at a presentation of a compendium of the achievements of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

Hommers said that 33 million Euros had been earmarked to execute the project which is the second phase of NESP to enhance further developments in Nigerias power sector, especially renewable energy.

She said the EU would provide 20 million Euros in the programme while the German government through, its federal ministry of economic cooperation and development, would give 13 million Euros to support it.

The programme will ensure as part of its schedule that up to 500 MW of solar photovoltaic electricity would be procured and generated to serve about 100,000 people.

It will also provide support to renewable energy operators to scale up their electricity provision, she said.

She added that it was also to support Nigerias provision of stable data for electrification planning, sustainable on-grid and off-grid electricity, as well as creating an enabling environment for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.

Hommers explained that the new financial package would be used in the second phase of the NESP which would last from December 2017 to November 2020.

She stated that the first phase of the NESP was successful and contributed in providing electricity to about 10,000 people in Sokoto, Niger, Ogun, Cross River and Plateau.

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen, stated at the event that studies had shown that Nigeria could generate up to 53,950MW of electricity from solar and hydro sources.

He said there was a need for to ensure that right investments were made in this regards.

Karlsen explained that the success of the first phase of the NESP inspired the EU to continue with its support for the second phase.

He called for a replication of the same expertise that was used in implementing the first phase. (NAN)

Source: NAN

BBNaija Double Wahala housemates Angel and Ahneeka (Gelah) have been evicted from the show.

The paired housemates who were evicted on Sunday are the third set of housemates to be evicted from the BBNaija house and the fourth pair to depart the house.

Bitto and Princess (Pritto), Deeone and Vandora (Vandee) were evicted from the show alongside Khloe and K-Brule (Ksquared) who were disqualified.

Gelah fighting to stay for at least another week in the BBNaija house saw their chances of winning the grand prize of 25 million Naira and an SUV cut short during the last nomination process on Monday.

The pair emerged with one of the highest numbers of nominations along with Cee c and Lolu (Ceelo) and Leo and Ifu (Lifu)

Longstanding BBNaija host Ebuka Uchendu announced Gelah had received the lowest per cent of votes from fans across the world compared to fellow housemates Ceelo and Lifu.

After a week of intense arguments between strategic partners Cee c and Lolu, the two housemates put their differences aside to produce a spectacular performance during the Art and Culture week task.

Surviving the latest eviction is a huge boost to the pair.

Big Brother (Biggie) revealed Lifu came out on top during the Roc Da Mat challenge. The pair won a prize of 5 million Naira, one year supply of Pepsi and Pepsi chillers and VVIP trip for One Africa Festival in London, England.

A good week for Lifu turned better when the pair narrowly escaped eviction form the BBNaija house with 28.37 per cent compared to Geallas 26.97.

Outgoing housemate Ahneeka revealed her plans for life after the BBNaija show.

She said on stage during the Live eviction that she aimed to get back into the real world and explore the entertainment industry.

She claimed she resisted fellow housemate Rico Swarveys advances because she did not want to lead him on knowing his feelings were temporary.

An excited Angel attempted to clear up his future plans with Ahneeka. He said on the live show I will love to be more than friends with Ahnneka.

Angel who rated his chances highly after successfully coming out of several evictions told Ebuka Uchendu that he planned to get his music career on track with some music videos as well as a movie shoot already planned for May.

Eleven housemates left in the game continue to vie for the grand prize as reality continues to set in as more housemates leave the BBNaija Double Wahala show. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Oil giants Eni and Shell go on trial in Milan on Monday, charged with bribery and corruption in the purchase of an offshore oilfield in Nigeria, at the centre of which is Malabu oil company owned by former oil minister Dan Etete.

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, his predecessor Paolo Scaroni and several officials from Eni and Shell are among those facing the judge.

Ex-Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete is also on trial.

Eni also charged with corruption in Algeria in a separate trial and Shell stand accused of handing out bribes during the 2011 purchase of OPL245, an offshore oil block estimated to hold 9 billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion.

Both companies deny the charges against them.

Eni expresses its full confidence in the judicial process and that the trial will ascertain and confirm the correctness and integrity of its conduct, the Italian firm said in a statement.

The agreement allegedly saw Nigerias former president Goodluck Jonathan and former oil minister Etete pocket bribes, according to corruption watchdog Global Witness.

Eni and Shell closed the deal with the government without the involvement of an intermediary. The money was deposited into an account owned by the Nigerian government, said Eni, which has regularly reaffirmed its trust in Descalzi.

Descalzi made it clear last year that Shell and Eni had not been involved in the governments decision on how to use the money.

Shell also said it believed the judges would conclude there was no case against them, adding there is no place for bribery or corruption in our company.

The 2011 deal with the Nigerian government aimed to end years of litigation over the OPL245 block between Shell and Dan Etetes Oil and Gas Malabu company.

A former oil minister under the dictator Sani Abacha, Etete appropriated the block in 1998, selling it to Malabu, a company he secretly owned.

The licence was subsequently revoked by the government and then transferred to Shell and then again to Malabu, resulting in major litigation.

After taking office in 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan resumed negotiations on the highly coveted block.

According to Global Witness, the deal resulted in $1.1 billion being paid into an account in London opened by government officials and going directly to Etete and $210 million to the government.

Email exchanges between Shell management cited by Global Witness, and seen by AFP, suggest that Shell was aware the money was likely to be funnelled to individuals, including Etete and Jonathan.

Etete can smell the money, a Shell official wrote in 2010, while another said, the President (Jonathan) is motivated to see 245 closed quickly - driven by expectations about the proceeds that Malabu will receive and political contributions that will flow as a consequence.

Nigerias anti-graft agency, the EFCC, filed corruption charges against Shell and Eni in March 2017, accusing 11 defendants, including Etete, of official corruption in connection with the deal.

Current president, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to fight relentlessly against the cancer of corruption that plagues Africas largest oil producer.

But in a letter leaked in February from Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, to Buhari dating from September, the minister asked the president to interrupt the EFCC investigation.

In the letter Malami expressed concern that the case did not contain enough evidence to bring the main defendants to justice and that a trial would be an embarrassment for the country and could put off potential investors.

Global Witness called for justice, saying that $1.1 billion can help a lot of people in a country like Nigeria where 80 percent of citizens live on less than two dollars a day.

Source: NAN

Timothy Weah, the son of current Liberian president, George Weah made his professional debut in Paris Saint Germaines 2-0 win over Troyes on Saturday.

Timothys father had also played for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

The US youth international, who only turned 18 last week, replaced Giovani Lo Celso for the final quarter hour after being named to the first-team squad for the first time.

My name pushes me a little bit more because my father did very good things here. I want to do the same thing, said Weah, who nearly scored a debut goal in stoppage time.

Everything is going to be fine, soon I will start to score goals!

Born in New York City, the teenager signed a professional deal with PSG last summer but has spent much of his time with the clubs reserve team in the fourth division.

Hes a very young player but he works very hard. He played 15 minutes and had a good chance to score. He deserves it. Its the first time, he needs to keep on working, PSG coach Unai Emery said.

George Weah spent three successful and prolific seasons at PSG between 1992 and 1995, and remains the only African footballer to win the Ballon dOr award. He won it in 1995.

AFP

Source: NAN

American heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder tempted Britains Anthony Joshua with a fight after knocking out Cubas Luis Ortiz in the 10th round on Saturday.

Wilder has been trying unsuccessfully to get a unification fight with two-belt titleholder Joshua.

With no date set he had to fight the dangerous counter-punching Ortiz (28-1). Together they are all part of a crop of new fighters who are trying to bring the heavyweight division back into the boxing spotlight.

On Saturday Wilder floored Cubas Luis Ortiz in the 10th round to retain his World Boxing Council heavyweight title and keep his record intact of knocking out every opponent he has faced.

He knocked down Ortiz three times in the fight, finishing off the previously unbeaten challenger with a right uppercut as the referee stopped the fight with 55 seconds left in the 10th round.

The 32-year-old Wilder improved to 40-0 with 39 knockouts as he made the seventh defence of his heavyweight title.

Wilder knocked Ortiz down in the fifth and twice in the final round but Ortiz made him work for the victory. Wilder barely survived the seventh round after Ortiz surprised him with a right hook and left hand combination and followed it up with a barrage of his own.

This was the first career title fight for the stout Ortiz who weighed in at 241 pounds, almost 30 pounds heavier than the taller and leaner 6-foot-7 Wilder.

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Source: NAN

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro clinched his 21st career title with a 6-4 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson in the Mexican Open final in Acapulco on Sunday.

The week after losing to Frances Tiafoe in the second round at Delray Beach Open in Florida, the former U.S. Open champion dropped only one set in four matches on the Acapulco outdoor hardcourt on his way to the title.

One break in each set was enough to give del Potro his first title of the year and the world number nine did not face a single break point as he improved his perfect career record against the big-serving South African to 7-0.

Anderson, ranked a spot above Del Potro in the world rankings coming into the tournament, was seeking his second consecutive title after winning the New York Open two weeks ago.

When Anderson gets it right with his booming serve he can be difficult to break down but 29-year-old Del Potro was able to feed on the South Africans weaker second serve to get the crucial breaks.

In the womens event, Ukraines Lesia Tsurenko battled back from the brink of defeat to successfully defend her title with a 5-7 7-6(2) 6-2 victory over Stefanie Voegele in the final.

Swiss Voegele was only three points from clinching the match in two sets but Tsurenko forced a tiebreak and it was nearly all one-way traffic from there as the Ukrainian took command in a nearly three-hour battle of attrition.

After dominating the tiebreak to even up the contest, the 28-year-old world number 40 walzed through the final set to secure the fourth title of her career.

Its such a special tournament for me, winning here for the second time, Tsurenko said.This is just an unbelievable feeling for me to be here.

Source: NAN

Italian club, Fiorentina have announced the death of their captain Davide Astori. He passed away in his sleep overnight on Saturday evening in Udine at the age of 31

Astori who was also an Italian international was found dead in his hotel room.

Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died, read a club statement.

For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.

Fiorentinas game with Udinese has subsequently been cancelled.

Astori, who played as a central defender, was born7 January 1987 in San Giovanni Bianco, the province of Bergamo in Italy.

After playing youth football forPontisola, he started his senior career withMilan, spending loan spells withPizzighettoneandCremonese.

In 2008Cagliarisigned him in aco-ownershipdeal, before signing him fully from Milan, for whom he never made a first team appearance, in 2011. He later spent loan spells atRomaandFiorentina.

He made his international debut forItalyin 2011 and represented his country at the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring a goal in Italys victorious bronze-medal match.

Source: NAN

Davide Astori, Italy international defender and captain of Fiorentina died of natural causes after a cardiac circulatory collapse.

Antonio de Nicolo, a Udine magistrate described the cause of death as a kind of heart attack, in reports published by Italian media.

Astori, 31 years old, died in his hotel room during the night of Saturday to Sunday, his club Fiorentina said.

The magistrate added that it was strange that such a thing happened without any warning symptoms in a profession which is so closely monitored.

Astoris body was taken to a hospital in Udine for an autopsy.

Fiorentina are profoundly shocked to have to announce the death of captain Davide Astori after a sudden illness, the Serie A club said on Twitter. The 31-year-old, who leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, was in Udine to prepare for Sundays match against Udinese.

Fiorentinas game was called off in the morning. The early kick off between Genoa and Cagliari, one of Astoris former clubs, was abandoned when players learned the news while warming up on the pitch.

The Italian league then postponed the other five Serie A matches scheduled for Sunday, including the Milan derby.

Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015. He played 14 times for Italy.

Former team-mates, coaches and teams were amongst those taking to social media to express their grief.

Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus captain, called Astori a great man.

Farewell dear Asto, wrote Buffon in a post on Instagram accompanied by a photo of the two players exchanging pennants before a game between their clubs.

Buffon said he did not usually make a habit of expressing his feelings about others.

I want to make an exception to my rule because you have a young wife and others close to you who are suffering, but mostly because your little girl deserves to know that her dad was a good man a great man, Buffon wrote.

Meanwhile former Italy manager Antonio Conte, now in charge of Chelsea, was visibly upset as he paid tribute to Astori ahead of the Blues match with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

This is a tragedy and it really hurts me. Its very difficult at this moment to find the right words for the family, Conte told Sky Sports.

I had him with the national team. He was a great player but especially a fantastic guy. I stay close to his wife, parents and daughter. He was only 31 and its very difficult to explain this situation.

Radja Nainggolan, a Belgian international who played with Astori at two clubs, posted a photo of the two of them joyously celebrating a goal at Cagliari.

A great player, but an even bigger man, so many battles fought together in Cagliari before coming to Rome, I cannot believe it, he wrote.

Astoris formative club Milan also expressed their condolences.

A man who loved football and who grew up with us. AC Milan is shocked by the tragic death of Davide Astori, the clubs official account tweeted in English.

Matteo Renzi, a former mayor of Florence and now leader of the Democrat Party in Sundays Italian election, tweeted: This seems to me impossible. I dont believe it and I cry with the family and everyone at Fiorentina. Ciao capitano.

AFP

Source: NAN

The acrimony caused by the December national convention of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to fester in spite of moves to mend the fences.

Many of the aggrieved members, especially some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party are reported to have defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Reports say that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, by the defecting members, other political parties and other groups to dissolve into the SDP.

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and former minister of information, Prof Jerry Gana, who are members of PDPs BoT are aggrieved.

Adeniran, who was edged out of the National Chairmanship contest in December, confirmed their defection.

He said they decided to leave PDP because they needed a platform, among other things, that is not owned by one or few individuals.

Though he expressed satisfaction with the reconciliation team led by the Bayelsa State governor, but had been constrained to leave PDP because his supporters from the South-west were miffed by the way Wike insulted them on the eve of the national convention.

I am a member of the SDP and we have taken a decision to move to the SDP. What has happened is this: there are those of us who believe in genuine internal party democracy, who believe in social justice, equity fairness and honesty in politics and are irrevocably and uncompromisingly against impunity imposition and corruption.

We formed what we called new political order. Most of us came in from the PDP, some came in from some other parties, groups, social activist and so on.

Those of us in the PDP felt that the PDP has gone beyond what could be redeemed in terms of its commitment to what we thought should be things of the past. But we realised that we would not be able to get justice for the people and for the things that we should be running away from, and would not move this country forward.

So, we thought we needed a different platform that will respect the dignity of man; that will be honest in all its dealings; a platform where the love of country, genuine patriotism and interest of the masses of the people is supreme; a party that will not be easily purchasable by one individual or group of individuals.

So those of us who believe in the future generations and the youths and the rights of women to be respected and given their rightful place in society and in the politics of the land, we felt we needed a platform that will provide opportunity for this and we considered some new parties and some existing parties and among the various parties that we considered we also thought of those that are likely to encourage national spread, that will not promote ethnicity; a party that abhors internal crisis, a party that will have good programmes and principles, whose structure is good for the country.

That was what recommended the Social Democratic Party. As we are moving in as part of it, everybody is equal; nobody is bigger than the other, and there is room for people and others coming behind because there are so many other groups coming from all over the place and different parties that are still coming in.

He said that though the PDPs reconciliation committee was headed by a very honourable, honest, nice and patriotic man, but the committee did not do much.

He told newspaper: He is someone I respect a lot. I admire his style of leadership. He meant well, no question about that. But after all that was done, you know, politics is about people. We represent people and so forth.

I am from the South West, I have gone back to my people and they felt so insulted by some people within the PDP, and they said they do not believe that they can relate and deal with people who have no regard or respect for them.

Other reports on the state of PDP are trending in social media, including twitter.

Tunde Adeniran: Why I left PDP with my supporters

TODAY (@todayng)

Some tweets say that SDP may have emerged as Third Force
OBJ
IBB
APC Faction
PDP faction
36 parties
6Governors
10 Ex Governor
15 Senators
Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran Defect To SDP, The last-ditch effort by politicians sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Breaking News

SDP emerges as Third Force
OBJ
IBB
APC Faction
PDP faction
36 parties
6Governors
10 Ex Governor
15 Senators
26reps
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Jerry Gana, Tunde Adeniran Defect To SDP, The last-ditch effort by politicians sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Nura Othman (@NuraOthman2)

Source:with additional reports

Source: NAN