The President, Nigeria Youth Organisation(NYO), Abdullahi Wali, says he will sue President Muhammadu Buhari if he refuses to contest in the 2019 presidential election.

Wali, in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said he was reacting to a statement credited to Buhari during a meeting with APC governors.

He said that the president was quoted as saying that he needed time to decide whether he would run or not.

Wali said President Buhari should run in 2019 in order to consolidate the achievements he had recorded so far.

He listed some Buhari’s achievements as effective implementation of Treasury Single Account(TSA), diversification of the economy, anti-corruption war, war against insurgency, the complete refund of Paris club loan deduction to states among others.

“If Buhari decides not to run in 2019, the achievements recorded by his administration will vanish as the vampires of our common treasury will resurrect and loot everything leaving the masses with nothing.

“Therefore, he needs to solidify his achievement before handing over to hopefully a youth.

“NYO agenda is to build Nigerian youths to actively participate in leadership for national unity and development and will therefore not sit and watch the solid foundation made by this administration for the benefit of Nigerian youths sink.

“ I have directed my lawyers to sue the president if he refuses to run and will also mobilise millions of youths under my leadership to stage the highest rally ever in Nigeria until the president accepts to run,’’ he said.

Wali said that he would be glad to beg the president for the privilege of purchasing a nomination form for him if he decided to run in 2019.

Source: NAN

Neymar Jr., the world’s most expensive footballer, was stretchered off 10 minutes from time at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night as Paris Saint-Germain beat Marseille 3-0 and opened up a 14-point lead in Ligue 1.

The 26-year-old was on his own when he innocuously rolled his ankle and flopped to the ground in pain.

“The first examination in the locker room revealed that it was a twist to the ankle. Now we will do a medical examination to find out what this twist is,” said Unai Emery, whose team face Real Madrid at home on March 6 in the Champions League last 16 where they need to overturn a 3-1 deficit.

“We will wait for the examination, we will be optimistic. If I had to say today (whether or not he will face Real) I would rather say yes to being optimistic.

PSG skipper Thiago Silva told Canal+ added: “Neymar already had a swollen ankle. I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think he’ll be available on Wednesday (when PSG face Marseille again in the French Cup). He has to rest.”

It was an otherwise easy night for the big-spending Parisians as teenager Kylian Mbappe became the youngest scorer in the French ‘Classique’.

Uruguayan goal-machine Edinson Cavani was also on the scoresheet while Neymar had a hand in PSG’s other goal.

With Monaco drawing 3-3 at Toulouse on Saturday and Lyon held 1-1 at home to local rivals Saint-Etienne earlier on Sunday, it meant none of PSG’s three nearest challengers managed to win.

Monaco remain second with Marseille third, two points behind, and Lyon a further five adrift.

This result was never in doubt and Emery even had the luxury of bringing off Mbappe, 19, after an hour to give Argentine international Angel Di Maria a half-hour run out.

PSG were off to a flying start through Mbappe but Marseille were in part the architects of their own downfall.

France midfielder Adrien Rabiot tried to thread a through ball on 10 minutes to Mbappe, cutting in from the right.

Source: NAN

The meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not hold on Wednesday, February 28, according to a statement by media and publicity adviser, Femi Adesina.

He said the meeting was shelved because of the participation of President Muhammadu Buhari and a significant number of ministers at the High-Level Meeting of the International Conference on Lake Chad Basin.

The conference will hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for the better part of Wednesday, Adesina said.

He did not indicate whether the meeting will hold later in the week.

Source: NAN

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guineas Southern-Highlands-province early on Monday, disrupting communications and oil and gas operations.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the tremor hit near the centre of Papua New Guineas main island around 560 km (350 miles) from the capital, Port Moresby, at around 3.45 a.m. local time (1545 GMT Sunday), according to the USGS. It was about 35 km (22 miles) deep.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, although PNGs disaster management authourity did not respond to a request for comment.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no risk of a tsunami in the aftermath of the quake.

ExxonMobil Corp said it had shut its Hides gas conditioning plant, close to the quakes epicentre, to assess if there was any damage.

All of ExxonMobil PNG Limiteds employees and contractors at its Hides facilities have been accounted for and we are pleased to report they are all safe, ExxonMobils PNG spokeswoman said in an email.

Gas is processed at Hides and transported along a 700 km (435 miles) line that feeds a liquefied natural gas plant near Port Moresby for shipping.

PNG oil and gas explorer Oil Search said in a statement it had shut production in the quake-affected area and there had been several aftershocks with magnitudes greater than five.

It said there were no reports of injuries.

Several aid agencies said poor communications in the densely forested area made damage and injury assessment difficult.

Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on the Pacifics Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

Chinas Communist Party has handed President Xi Jinping an open path to indefinite rule a move analysts warn carries enormous risks by abandoning a succession model that brought stability after turbulent decades under Mao.

Xi, who has concentrated power, accumulated titles and purged potential rivals since becoming head of state in 2013, could remain president for life after the party proposed abolishing a rule limiting the top leader to two five-year terms.

But giving all the levers of power to one man could further erode human rights, unsettle other nations and even set up traps for Xis rule at home, analysts warn.

The two-term limit was supposed to increase stability. By ruling beyond the standard 10-year tenure, Xi will be subject to much closer scrutiny by Chinese citizens and the political elite, said Simone van Nieuwenhuizen, Sydney-based co-author of China and the New Maoists.

The announcement made abruptly on Sunday further chips away at the era of collective leadership that was championed by reform leader Deng Xiaoping to prevent the return of another Mao-like cult figure.

Xis two predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, both served two five-year terms, providing a smooth succession that accompanied Chinas rise to become the worlds second-largest economy.

But Xi, 64, has adopted Maos playbook, tightening his grip with a relentless crackdown on civil society and corruption, enshrining his name in the party constitution and building his own personality cult.

Remaining in power beyond 2023 gives Xi a chance to push through his vision of a rejuvenated China with global clout, a prosperous society, a revived Silk Road trade route and a powerful military.

Chinas rubber-stamp legislature is expected to give Xi his second term and remove the 10-year limit at its annual meeting opening on March 5.

Term limits were a crucial part of the institutionalisation of the leadership transition, something that has plagued Communist parties leading to both tyrannical reigns and catastrophic party decline, said Jonathan Sullivan, director of the China Policy Institute at Nottingham University.

The rule enabled smooth transitions and preserved party unity, he said.

The removal of term limits is a rejection of all this and it comes with real risks for stability in the long term.

Xi provided a major hint that he intended to stay in power when no heir apparent was anointed at the five-yearly party congress in October.

The state-run Global Times tabloid said the Central Committees proposed amendment to lift term limits would improve leadership.

From the anti-corruption campaign to comprehensively advancing the rule of law to profound economic restructuring, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has sturdily opened a new era for a hopeful China, the daily said in an editorial.

Source: NAN

Gennaro Gattuso has sparked a fire in AC Milan.Unbeaten in 12 games with five wins in a row, the Italian coach has transformed the demoralised squad he took over three months ago from Vincenzo Montella.

Sundays 2-0 win against AS Roma in the Stadio Olympico was an important one, against a direct European rival which allows AC Milan to dream even of Champions League qualification.

Gattusos side are just seven points adrift of the last spot for the elite European competition. When he took over fourth place was 11 points away.

At the end of the match I congratulated the group, but I also said that we have to keep our feet on the ground, said 2006 World Cup winner Gattuso whose appointment last November raised eyebrows.

In Gattuso, the Chinese-owned club who spent 230 million euros ($270 million) in last summers transfer market turned to a member of one of their most successful sides, but one with little coaching pedigree who was training Milans youth team at the time of his appointment.

But the former defensive midfielder, who also spent a season at Scottish club Rangers during his playing career, has proved an astute choice and wants to seize his chance.

I need to thank (directors Marco) Fassone, (Massimiliano) Mirabelli and (owner) Mr Li (Yonghong) for the opportunity they gave me. I love Milan and they are my priority. Its like a family for me, said the 40-year-old after Sundays win.

A beautiful relationship was born between me and these guys.

The secret? Hard work

But what is the secret that has got the seven-time European champions winning consistently again.

For the players the answer is simple hard work.

Gattuso is making us work harder, especially on tactics, explained Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie, 21.

With Montella we did very little work in training, but its different with Gattuso and you can see the results on the pitch.

Its like a family here and the results are arriving.

Patrick Cutrone, 20, who scored the opener on Sunday for his 13th goal in all competitions his season, added: Its an important win, one that will make a difference.

The coach really cares about the squad and weve come together under him. We are really united now.

Gattuso made us understand from the first day what it means to wear this jersey, added left-back Davide Calabria, who scored the second goal against Roma.

The winning mentality that Gattuso brings is incredible, as he focuses on every detail. We are working with great intensity.

Older players have benefited as Giacomo Bonaventura has scored five goals under Gattuso. Their defensive base is also strong with just four goals conceded in the last 12 games.

AC Milan will play Lazio in Wednesdays Italian Cup semi-final back in the Stadio Olympico, Inter Milan in next weekends derby clash and Arsenal in the Europa League round of 16 on March 8.

From tomorrow the head goes to the Lazio, said Gattuso. We are playing something important and we will think about the (Milan) derby from Thursday.

Has Arsenal lost today (League Cup final)? We are not Manchester City, we have to put on a helmet and go to battle.

AFP

Source: NAN

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) will collaborate with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education.

This partnership was signed by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, ACU Chief Executive and Secretary General, Dr Joanna Newman, and COL President and Chief Executive Officer Professor Asha Kanwar at the 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers.

Ministers of Education from Commonwealth countries and other stakeholders witnessed the event.

At the signing, Scotland acknowledged the increased collaboration between Commonwealth education organisations, adding that even closer partnership would deliver concrete outcomes for member states.

On her part, Kanwar welcomed the partnership saying it would synergise the specific strengths of the three organisations for greater impact in member states.

Speaking, Newman expressed delight in working with the Commonwealth Secretariat and COL to achieve the SDGs through education.

The Commonwealth Education Partnership for Sustainable Development will see the three organisations working together to support member states to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Through this partnership, the three organisations will develop joint programmes and support policy development across the Commonwealth, in response to the evolving needs of member states.

Source: NAN

Up to 134 flights have been rescheduled as Phuket International Airport in Thailand closed a cracked runway for urgent repairs, airport officials said on Monday.

The decision to close a runway during the early hours of Monday and Tuesday followed reports of cracks late Sunday, said the Aiport Director, Phet Chancharoen.

Chancharoen blamed heavy air traffic during the high tourism season for wear and tear on the runway, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated that 300,000 tourists travelled from China on Feb. 16 for Lunar New Year alone.

A total of 75 flights were rescheduled on Monday, while at least 59 others will be cancelled due to repairs on Tuesday.

Most of the flights cancelled were for international routes.

Runway closure for maintenance is conducted four times a year at the airport and airlines and passengers are informed months in advance.

This weeks sudden closure, however, was unavoidable after cracks covering almost 100 square metres were discovered, Chancharoen said.

Phuket, an island in the Andaman Sea popular among international tourists, is located 840 kilometres south of Bangkok.

Its airport manages up to 300 flights daily.

Source: NAN

The newly elected Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, has sponsored 52 indigent students to two Universities in Kwara state.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani, the students are to attend Al -Hikmah and Crown Hill Universities.

The students were drawn from the twenty three local governments in all the three Senatorial Zones of the state.

This gesture is coming after another batch of 40 undergraduate students were sponsored by the senator to attend the Maryam Abacha American University in Maradi, Niger republic.

The new batch of 52 lucky students who are set to depart Sokoto for Ilorin on Sunday are to study different courses in Humanities, Medicine and other Sciences.

Addressing the students at his Gawon Nama residence in Sokoto, the Senator who represents Sokoto North Senatorial District said that more opportunity was given to educationally disadvantaged local governments of Gudu, Silame and Illela.

The former Governor of the state, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, said: the gesture is in continuation of my undying commitment to ensure that, poverty does not inhibit indigent youths from across the state from acquiring education at all levels.

The gesture is also aimed at bolstering the religious, scientific, technological and socioeconomic developments of the state and Nigeria in general.

It will further bridge the existing wide religious and cultural gaps between the Muslims in the core north and their brothers in other parts of the country, especially the north central states, he said.

Senator Wamakko admonished the students to shun all acts capable of jeopardizing their students, warning that any indolent and lazy student will be withdrawn and replaced with a more serious one.

He further urged them to be good Ambassadors of their respective families, local governments and the state, in general.

Source: NAN

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel is preparing to name her ministerial team for a new German government, to give a new face to her administration.

This is coming amid reports that she had planed to promote an ambitious conservative critic.

Merkel had signaled she would put fresh faces in her Cabinet after a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats, who won the powerful finance ministry, drew criticism.

She pledged to name her Christian Democratic Unions proposed ministers Sunday, a day before a party congress considers the coalition accord.

The deal must still be approved in a ballot of the Social Democrats members to take effect.

Much attention had focused on whether Merkel give a Cabinet job to 37-year-old Jens Spahn, a leading advocate of a more conservative approach.

The Bild am Sonntag newspaper and the news agency dpa reported she will name him health minister.

Source: Washington Post