Crisis In Football House: Giwa Warns Those Calling For Election

August 10, 2018

Chris Giwa, President of a faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress, has warned that his board would have nothing to do with the adjusted 2018 NFF Elective Congress time-table.
The Electoral Committee set up by the Amaju Pinnick-led faction of the NFF had on Thursday rolled out a new time-table that would have led to election of Executive Committee 2018-2022 on September 20.
Giwa, whose ban was recently lifted, in a statement today, Friday, said that the time-table should be disregarded, as “it has no place in law and was not sanctioned by our legally-recognised board. ”
He warned those still parading themselves as members of the electoral committee to desist from doing so as they were in breach of the laws of the land.
“We want to give the last warning, and strongly too, to the electoral committee members to stop forthwith their illegal actions and face the reality that the legally-recognised board did not sanction this electoral time-table. ”
Giwa also warned the committee to stop issuing statements on any purported election or be ready to face the long arm of the law soon.
“Our being quiet should not be misconstrued as ignorance of the law, as the enrollment order of the Federal High Court, Jos dated June 5 states inter alia:
“That an order is granted to First and Second Applicants setting aside all acts, resolutions and or decisions made or taken by the Executive Committee of the NFF purportedly elected on September 30, 2014.
“Including the purported “ban’’ of the Executive Committee elected on Aug. 26, 2014 from all football activities, as illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional and null and void.’’

Speaker Dogara Not As Desperate As Senator Saraki – Oshiomhole

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

“So, Honourable Dogara has no problem whatsoever with the APC and he did not do anything similar to what Senator Saraki did. He emerged as Speaker and he also ensured as a patriot that an APC member emerged as Deputy Speaker. He was not so desperate as to mortgage that position to PDP in order to cling on to his speakership. He knew the difference between personal interests and his party interests.”

These were the words of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, when he addressed news men today, Friday in Abuja, on the issue concerning the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Oshiomhole said: “I have absolute confidence in Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara. I said something earlier that it was Sen. Saraki that complained. He did not only complain that he was not given juicy appointments but that Rt. Hon. Dogara was also not given and I wondered aloud whether Saraki thought that Dogara is not capable of speaking for himself, afterall he is the Speaker.

“So, if those were the views of Rt. Hon. Dogara, it was not for Sen. Saraki to parrot because Hon. Dogara is capable any day of speaking for himself.

“The point I tried to make is that Saraki wants to drag everybody along with him.

“The APC as a party and myself as Chairman, we have confidence in Hon. Dogara. I have had very useful interactions with him. We have had couple of meetings. He had shared with me in trust, his concerns that have to do with issues in Bauchi state and I have taken steps to address those issues to the best of my ability and I have shared with him that I am excited that we are getting very positive results.”

Saraki, Ekwerenmadu Cry Out: FG Set To Implicate Us In Security Siege On NASS

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have raised an alarm that the Federal Government has commenced the execution of a plot to implicate them and other People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senators for the last Tuesday invasion of the premises of the National Assembly by men of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement signed by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu, and Uche Anichukwu, today, Friday, the duo said that after receiving the interim report submitted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim, the Presidency constituted a closet panel today, Friday, to review the report and submit a final recommendation.

The mandate of this closet panel, the two legislators said, is to turn facts on the head and blame the invasion of the National Assembly on the two leaders of the red chamber of the National Assembly, who will now be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, to stage the parliamentary security breach.

“We have been reliably informed that instead of the Presidency to set up a public inquiry or judicial commission to probe last Tuesday’s early morning invasion of the National Assembly as being demanded by the general public, they have commenced a process of manipulation and fabrication.

“The Presidency has set up a closet panel, which would work to a predetermined conclusion in which they will now claim that the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President worked in collusion with ex-DG of DSS, Lawal Daura to stage the invasion.

“They want to shield the fact that the previous night before the invasion and up till the early hours of Tuesday, there was a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and that the plan was for them to be moved in a Coaster bus into the National Assembly complex later that morning for them to purportedly remove us and select a new Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

“Their plot only failed because the media, particularly social media, Nigerians and international community responded very swiftly as some legislators who came into the complex were refused entry by gun-wielding, hooded security operatives.

“Now, they want to turn the facts on its head and blame us for their botched plot against democracy. We are hereby alerting all Nigerians and members of the international community that the present Nigerian government will stop at nothing to destroy, suppress and incapacitate the opposition. This is their new tactic and plot as we approach the period of the 2019 polls.

“We hereby reiterate our earlier position that the coup against democracy as represented by last week Invasion must be probed through an independent judicial commission of inquiry which will produce a comprehensive report. We reject any manipulated and fabricated investigation.”

The presiding officers added that they have also uncovered a sinister plot in which the government plans to use the anti-graft and security agencies to incarcerate them and some members of their families from next week, all in a bid to break their will and effect their removal.

After Impeaching Saraki, We’ll End His Political Dynasty In Kwara – Oshimhole

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

The national Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshimhole has vowed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki will not only be “definitely impeached” but will also be defeated in his senatorial district in 2019 thereby ending Saraki political dynasty in Kwara State.
Oshiomhole, who spoke to newsmen today, Friday, in Abuja while reacting to Saraki’s position that he could only be impeached by the two-thirds majority of the Senate, stressed that Saraki will not only be removed but the party will work hard to ensure that he is defeated in his senatorial district in 2019 and he will not return to the senate.
According to him, Saraki’s time and political dynasty in Kwara State are over in the political scene of the country.
“Saraki will not be the first to be impeached and I doubt if is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and according to the democratic norms,” Oshiomhole said.
“The only way Senator Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable, which again leads to the issue of character.
“He failed to understand that the Nigerian national project is more complicated and is not that easy. He will not only be impeached, we will work hard to have him defeated as a senator in his own senatorial zone come 2019 by the people of Kwara State who are fed up with him and who are fed up with Bukola.”

Aisha Buhari Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree At South Korean University

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

The Sun Moon University, Asian in South Korea has confirmed Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for the conferment of a honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanity (Honorary Causa) on Monday, August 13.
A letter conveying the award, which was presented by Professor Hong Young-Shik at the presidential Villa, Abuja, said: “I have been directed to notify you, Your Excellency, on the decision of the University to confer on you, a meritorious Doctor of Humanity (Hon. Causa).”
The letter indicated that recommendations came from various sources and these were verified.
“Your humanitarian activities have caught the attention of the world and the Senate of the Sun Moon University, especially your outstanding work with women and children through Future Assured Programme” the letter added.
According to a programme released by the University, Aisha Buhari would be invested at the International Conference Hall of the University on Monday 13th August, 2018.
She would also be invested with a World Leadership Award by Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea for her humanitarian activities on Tuesday, 14th August, 2018. She will also commission a Seminar Hall named after her at the same University.

Forex: CBN Ijects $327 Million, CNY 69 Million Into Retail SMIS

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has once more injected the sum $327,440,499.50 into the interbank retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales, in addition to the sale of CNY 69,707,333.39 in the spot and short-tenored forwards.
The figures obtained from the CBN today, Friday, showed that the US dollar-denominated interventions were only for concerns in the agricultural and raw materials sectors.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor said that the exercise which was in tune with the CBN guidelines, were for the payment of Renminbi denominated Letters of Credit for agriculture as well as raw materials.
He added that the sales in the Chinese Yuan were through a combination of spot and short-tenored forwards, arising from bids received from authorized dealers.
Okorafor said that availability of Renminbi would ease pressure on the Nigerian foreign exchange market, even as he attributed the relative stability in the foreign exchange market to the intervention of the CBN as well as the sustained increase in crude oil prices in the international market.
He assured that the CBN would remain committed to ensuring that all the sectors continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange by Nigerians.
Meanwhile, $1 exchanged for N360 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY 1 exchanged for N53.35.

Address Me Now As ‘Doctor’ – Linda Ikeji

Greenbarge Reporters

August 10, 2018

Media Mogul and Nigeria’s richest blogger, Linda Ikeji has asked his fans and admirers to henceforth address her as Doctor, having bagged a honorary doctorate degree, conferred by the Trinity International University of Ambassadors in Georgia, the United States of America.

The excited soon-to-be mother, who is currently in Atlanta for the birth of her baby, shared the news on her Instagram page.

The doctorate degree was conferred on her at the weekend.

Ikeji, who is the founder of Linda Ikeji Blog and TV, was awarded the honorary doctorate degree for her contribution to media in Africa and as Africa’s Most Successful Blogger. [myad]

Dare Devil Armed Robbers Strike In 2 Edo Banks, Kill 10

Greenbarge Reporters

August 9, 2018

No fewer than 10 persons were killed following a robbery attack at two banks in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State today, Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. when the robbers invaded the community in attempt to rob the two commercial banks in the town, killing 10 persons, including security officers attached to the banks.

A resident of the community, Ofei Obende, said the robbers attacked the police station in the town before attacking the banks killing four security men at the bank premises.

The Secretary to the Otaru of Igarra, Chief Folorunsho Dania, confirmed the incident to NAN in a telephone interview and said 10 persons were feared dead and the police station set ablaze.

“This is a serious case, armed robbers have besieged Igarra so many lives killed, 10 persons have been killed. Three people were killed and in the banks too. Many persons were killed. It is a calamity. In all, ten lives have gone.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in Edo, Chidi Nwabuzor, said that information about the attack was still sketchy and would release details later.

NAN reports that six persons were killed in a similar attack in November 2015 when armed robbers invaded the community. [myad]

FIFA Female Under-20 World Cup: Rasheedat Puts Nigeria Ahead Of Haiti

Greenbarge Reporters

August 9, 2018

Falconets ace skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty kick as the only goal Nigeria’s side scored in their U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, against Haiti, in Saint Malo today, Thursday.
Nigeria was awarded a penalty kick when Imo was fouled in the box by Dougenie Joseph.
Skipper Ajibade kept her cool to convert the spot kick, sending Théus the wrong way in the 36 minute.
Goalkeeper Kerly Théus was called to duty as early as one minute of the play, when she dived at full stretch to make a save from Rasheedat Ajibade’s cross.
Haiti played with confidence and passed the ball around as they took the game to the two-time finalists.
The two teams reduced the tempo as they resorted to the tactical route for about eight minutes.
Ajibade, Monday Gift and Anam Imo cut frustrated faces as they were starved of the ball by the physical Haitians.
The energetic Sherly Jeudy bombarded her way to the box, but goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie did well to grab the ball after mistiming it.
Haiti were unruffled in their approach. They came out in numbers. Melchie Dumonay whipped a brilliant free kick which was well taken by Nnadozie.
Ajibade should have made it 0-2 to the African team but she flashed her shot wide of the post after a mistake by Théus.
The busy Jeudy was menacing at the final third at resumption. Her big frame gave the Falconets defenders something to worry.
Falconets weren’t sharp when the game resumed in the second stanza. They were second best in the opening 15 minutes and that made the Haitians attack their territory.
A cross from substitute Mikerline Saint-Félix failed to trouble Nnadozie who was at the right place to pick the ball.
Saint-Félix fired an ambitious shot which almost embarrassed the vigilant Nnadozie.
Striker Imo scampered away from her marker and found Christy Ucheibe with a cross. The midfielder’s goal bound header was well dealt with by Dougenie Joseph.
The Falconets had a moment of scare when Melchie Dumonay skillfully nutmegged Mary Ologbosere and curled a low grounder which beat Nnadozie but didn’t land at the back of the net.
It was the Haitians against Nnadozie as she dived at full stretch to foil Dumonay whose brilliantly taken free kick was heading to the roof of the net in the 83rd minute.
Substitute Aishat Bello whipped a brilliant long range effort which was stopped by Théus.
Falconets were grateful to their keeper Nnadozie who made three great saves in the final embers of the match. [myad]

Buhari Describes Ambassador Atta As Exceptional Peace Maker

Greenbarge Reporters

August 9, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has described Ambassador Abdullahi Ibrahim Atta as an exceptional peace maker around the world even as he rejoiced with for turning 90 tomorrow, August 10, 2018.
In a statement by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, and Malam Garba Shehu, and Buhari thanked God for his continued benevolence, strength and never-failing care to the celebrant in the past decades of a remarkable life of service and dedication to humanity.
President Buhari acknowledged Ambassador Atta’s service to the nation during his career in the foreign and public service, where he distinguished himself, with courage, in the work of reconciliation, conflict prevention, justice and peace around the world.
The President reminded the family, friends, former colleagues of Ambassador Atta as well as the young and old ones of their responsibility to give the nation hope for the future. [myad]

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