Premier League: How Wolves Held Arsenal To 1-1 Draw

November 2, 2019

Arsenal’s winless run in the Premier League stretched to three games as Raul Jimenez’s header 14 minutes from time earned Wolves a well-deserved 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Saturday.
A week on from a foul-mouthed reaction towards the Arsenal fans as he was substituted against Crystal Palace, Gunners captain Granit Xhaka was left out of the squad by Unai Emery in an attempt to ease the tension between players and supporters.
However, there was no great upturn in the Arsenal performance with doubts growing with every passing week that Emery is the man to lead Arsenal back into the Champions League next season.
Emery also responded to the Xhaka controversy by listening to the fans’ calls for Mesut Ozil’s return as the German made just his second Premier League start of the season.
However, Ozil made little impact with Arsenal again reliant on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who replaced Xhaka as captain and opened the scoring, for inspiration.
Wolves started by far the better of the two sides, but were too often reliant on potshots from long range as Bernd Leno saved from Joao Moutinho’s free-kick before Ruben Neves’s dipping effort just did not come down in time to hit the target.
Arsenal took the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes when a low cross found Alexandre Lacazette inside the area and he teed up Aubameyang to slot home his 50th goal for Arsenal.
The goal appeared to settle the Gunners’ nerves and Rui Patricio twice had to be alert to deny Lucas Torreira and Lacazette from doubling the hosts’ advantage.
However, Wolves ended the first period as they had started by posing the greater threat and only a wonderful one-handed save from Leno prevented Matt Doherty levelling from Diogo Jota’s cut-back.
Leno was the busier of the goalkeepers after the break too as he turned another long-range Neves effort to safety.
And Wolves were finally rewarded with an equaliser when Moutinho’s looping cross into the box was headed down past Leno by Jimenez.
Ozil had the chance to make himself a hero but failed to pick out an Arsenal shirt with plenty queuing up to apply the finishing touch six minutes later.
But it was Wolves who had the best chance to snatch all three points when Jota eased through a flurry of weak Arsenal challenges in the final minute only to be denied by Leno.
The final whistle was met with boos from the disgruntled home fans and Arsenal could end the weekend six points adrift of the top four if Chelsea and Leicester win later on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Source: AFP.

Nigeria Has Failed The New Generation, Ex Aviation Minister, Chidoka Laments

Editorial staff

November 2, 2019

A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has regretted that Nigeria has not met the hopes and aspirations of the younger ones since its independence in 1960.
“Is this the Nigeria that was the hope and aspirations of 1960? If a child has great talents, will Nigeria make it possible for him to unfold those potentials? I doubt that very much.”
Chidoka, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, said that what is happening is that 60 years after independence, “we cannot export groundnut out of Nigeria. 60 years out of our independence, our educational system is on the verge of collapse.”
When asked if the nation faces a bleak future when compared to its journey since independence, the former aviation minister said that Nigeria was at its finest immediately after the civil war.
“We took our deliberate decisions to build back a nation. That was a Nigeria that went ahead to say no victor no vanquish.
“That was the Nigeria that introduced the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that took Nigeria from their various communities to where they have never been to.”
Chidoka, however, said that there is hope for Nigeria in the years ahead, especially with the right combination of technology innovation and talent on the part of the younger generation.

CBN Governor Lists Many Benefits Of Border Closure, Including Reducing Kidnapping, ‘Yahoo Yahoo

Editorial staff

November 2, 2019

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has listed many benefits Nigeria stands to gain with continued closure of the nation’s borders, including improvement in security.
Emefiele, who delivered a lecture at the Edo University, Iyamho in Edo State, explained that the closure would specifically help to reduce the level of Boko Haram insurgence, kidnapping and cybercrime, popularly known as ‘yahoo yahoo’.
“I can tell you that if we leave these borders closed for another two years, Boko Haram will reduce,” he said.
“I can tell you that Kidnapping and ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ will reduce because they will now see that the only place that they can make money is in agriculture and not in kidnapping people.”
According to the CBN Governor, most of the arms being brought into the country were smuggled in through the borders, noting that ever since the borders were shut, the development has yielded good results.
According to him, one week after the borders were closed, the President of the Rice Farmers Association called to say that all the rice in their warehouses had been sold.
“The poultry people also called to say they have sold all their eggs.”
He stressed that the continuous closure of the borders would help to generate employment and reduce crime as Nigerians would have found diverse opportunities in legitimate businesses.

Buhari’s Visit Opened New Vista In Nigeria-Saudi Relationship

Greenbarge Reporters

November 2, 2019

The visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by His Excellency, President Muhammdu Buhari, was greatly successful by all standards.

The ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are charactetized by friendliness and cooperation in various fields over the past decades and under the leadership of both countries, in the best interest of their citizens.

These relations have witnessed remarkable progression during President Buhari’s recent visit to the Kingdom, where he attended and participated in the Future Investment Summit held in Riyadh, alongside a number of world leaders.

The visit culminated with the meeting between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, and President Muhammadu Buhari, and both leaders applauded the strong ties between the two countries and stressed on the importance of enhancing the ties in all fields, as well as strengthening cooperation between both countries on combatting terrorism, and coordinating their work on international and regional matters of common interest to both countries.

His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, alongsige his accompanying delegation, also met with His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, and ways of strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on energy and investment were discussed, in addition to a number of regional and international issues and the efforts being made in that regard.

During the meeting, agreement was reached on establishing a Saudi-Nigerian Council with the aim of enhancing mutual investment and supporting developmental projects in Nigeria, in all sectors: oil sector and other vital non-oil sectors. This will contribute to the realization of development and progress in Nigeria.

Assuredly, President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved great success by all standards and in all fields: political, economic, and in terms of security. This will have the greatest mark in improving the relations between both countries and in elevating the relations to wider horizons in the near future, which in turn will enhance the common interests of both countries to the benefits of our two friendly countries and people.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan bin Mahmoud Bostaji wrote in from Saudi Arabia.

Lawyer Nwabueze Still Crying Wolf After Supreme Court’s Verdict On 2019 Presidential Election

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

File photo: Atiku Abubakar hugs Professor Ben Nwabueze | Photo credit: pulse.ng/Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation

An old time constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), who vowed that he would not die until Atiku Abubakar becomes President has faulted the Supreme Court judgment which validated President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 presidential election. He cried out that Atiku was denied fair hearing.
In a statement today, November 1, Professor Nwabueze questioned the claim by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, that the panel of justices “examined all the briefs of argument and the exhibits for over two weeks and we have all agreed that there is no merit in this appeal”.
According to him, the decision dismissing the appeal as lacking merits was not taken at the sitting of the Supreme Court on October 30.
“The question arising is as to whom the word ‘we’ in the CJN’s statement refers. Can the ‘we’ be a reference to the Supreme Court?
“Can the Supreme Court function as regards the hearing of the appeal before the seven man panel to hear the appeal was appointed and the names of the members announced to the public? When exactly was the appointment of members made?”
The lawyer said that the manner the panel was appointed did not accord with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for fair hearing.
The statement reads: “Fair hearing requires among other things that it must be done in the presence of the parties.
“The ‘examination’ referred to in the CJN’s statement was certainly not done in the presence of the parties. The examination ‘of all the briefs of argument and the exhibits for over two weeks’ before 30th October, as announced by the CJN, could not be the fair hearing required by section 36 of the Constitution.
“No ‘examination’ of all the briefs of argument and exhibits as announced by the CJN in the statement quoted above can constitute a fair hearing required by section 36 of the Constitution in the absence of the parties.
“Furthermore, not only is the hearing required to be conducted in the presence of the parties in order to be a fair hearing, section 36(3) requires it to be held in ‘public’. Section 36(3) is quite clear and unequivocal on this point.
“It says: ‘The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held in public.’
“As the examination referred to in the statement by the CJN was not held in public, it is not the hearing required by section 36(3) of the Constitution. Secret hearings and trials are abhorrent to democracy.
“What happened in the Supreme Court on 30th October, 2019 is therefore a farce, not a valid hearing and determination of the appeal lodged by former Vice-President Atiku against the victory of President Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election as declared by INEC.
“Finally, the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal for lacking merits is a law within the meaning of Section 1 of the Constitution and, being inconsistent with section 36 of the Constitution, it is, by the self-executing declaration in section 1(3), null and void.
“Section 1(3) is a self-executing declaration and does not require anything else to bring it into effect. In other words, the decision dismissing the appeal is null and void without further ado.
“Whether or not the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal is a law within the meaning of section 1(3) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is under and subject to Constitution as the ‘supreme law of the land binding on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, including the Supreme Court.”

Many Trapped In Collapsed 2-Story Building In Lagos

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

File photo of a Collapse Building used for illustration

Several people are said to have been trapped in the rubble of of a two-storey building along Glover Road In Ikoyi Lagos this evening, November 1.
Information reaching us said that efforts are in top gear by other workers on-site to save those trapped in the rubbles.
An eyewitness said the voices of those trapped can be heard from beneath the rubble and they are still expecting emergency officials to beef up the rescue operation.
This was even as the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Osanyintolu, confirmed the collapse, saying that emergency response has been activated for first responders while calling for calm from residents in the area.
“A building collapsed in the afternoon at 4.10 pm today, Friday, November 1, 2019, at Glover Court Ikoyi. It is a two storey building under construction.
“LASEMA already activated the Lagos Emergency Response Plan for all first responders to move to the site of the collapsed building.
“Similarly, Lagosians within the vicinity of the incident have been enjoined to stay calm and allow emergency responders to do their job.”

Another “Toronto” Legislator Sacked By Court Over Forged MA Degree

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

The Jos division of the Court of Appeal, has nullified the election of Garba Muhammad Gololo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, having been found to be in possession of forged BSc, MA and NYSC certificates with which he contested the 2019 election.
Isa Muhammad Wabu, of the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP, had challenged the lawmaker’s BSc, MA, claimed to have been obtained from the Lagos State University.
Details shortly…

How 16 Local Government Chairmen Shared N100 Million Out Of N4 Billion Loan – EFCC

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

The Kwara State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has narrated how 16 local government chairmen, recently suspended by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, shared the sum of N100 Million from N4 Billion loan and 10 percent of the state’s internally generated revenue.
In a statement today, November 1, Head of the EFCC Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission gathered that the council chiefs, after securing the controversial loans, held a meeting and decided that N100m of it be shared among themselves.
According to the EFCC, the council bosses had, on the 7th of February 2018, written to the Ilorin branch manager of Sterling Bank requesting a N4bn loan in order to pay the salary arrears of the State Universal Basic Education Board teachers, local government staff and the local government pensioners, while the provisions for N100m for council chairmen were not appropriated in the request.
It alleged that the council chiefs were also accused of diverting monthly 10 percent of the internally generated revenue for their personal use, which was paid directly into their personal accounts.
The EFCC said that all the suspects, while undergoing interrogation by the operatives of the Commission, admitted that N100m was shared from the loan and that they also received 10 percent of the internally generated revenue.
The statement added, “The council bosses are now pleading with the EFCC to give them some time that they would pay back what they had benefited from government’s money.”
The EFCC said the politicians were still being held in custody and might spend the weekend there.
It said they would be charged to court after the investigations had been concluded.
Names of the local government chairmen involved were given as Risikat Opakunle, Saidu Yaru Musa, Umar Belle, Ayeni Dallas, Fatai Adeniyi Garba, Lah Abdulmumeen, Raliat Funmi Salau, Aminat Omodara, Muyiwa Oladipo.
Others are, Oladipo Omole, Abdullahi Abubakar Bata, Saka Eleyele, Lateef Gbadamosi, Oni Adebayo Joseph, Omokanye Joshua Olatunji and Jibril Salihu.

Nov 16 Governorship Polls: Thugs Being Mobilised In Kogi, Bayelsa – INEC Boss

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said that desperate politicians are already mobilising thugs from inside and outside for the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
At a quarterly meeting with inter-agency consultative committee on the electronic security today, November 1, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said: “there are already warning signals in the two States. Both are politically volatile. Elections have been severally disrupted by violence in the past. Our own risk assessment which will be shared with the security agencies at this meeting has identified some flash points. We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the States with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors.
“This calls for a robust response before the elections, on Election Day and during the process of collation and declaration of results. Nigerians expect that by now we have learnt enough lessons from previous elections to ensure a swift security response to the increasing desperation by political actors to disrupt elections and subvert the will of the electorate.
“If that happens, many Nigerians will blame the electoral umpire and the security agencies. We must continue to rise to this challenge.”
The INEC boss recalled how in the last two weeks, the Commission met a couple of times with the leadership of the Nigeria Police, being the lead agency in election security.
Professor Yakubu said that at the meeting, INEC reviewed the security situation in Bayelsa and Kogi States and how best to secure the environment to enable the Commission to conduct free and fair elections.
According to him, “doing so means providing security that will guarantee the safety of voters; protection of INEC officials (both regular and ad hoc staff); unimpeded movement, including access to polling units and collation centres for election officials, accredited polling agents, observers and the media; effectively and dispassionately dealing with disruptive behaviour by some political actors and persons acting on their behalf; enforcement of the restriction of movement in both States on election day; and the prompt arrest and prosecution of offenders.”
He expressed the commitment of INEC to ensuring a free, fair and credible election, adding that the security agencies have also resolved to ensure that security is fool-proof during the polls.
“On our part, INEC is committed to the integrity of the process. Over the last seven months, we have been working assiduously to ensure that we conduct credible elections. We cannot undermine the processes we have so laboriously established. We are equally confident in the assurances we have received from the security agencies of civil and professional conduct by their personnel deployed for the elections.
“We have been reassured by the security agencies that Election Day activities at polling units and collation centres will not be disrupted by the activities of hoodlums neither will thugs be allowed to cart away results sheets or compel our Returning Officers to make declarations under duress. We are equally re-assured that security personnel will adhere strictly to the standard operational guidelines and deal decisively with misconduct by their personnel on election duty. We are equally confident that with the sheer number of personnel the security agencies are deploying in the two States, there can be no excuse for the processes to be undermined by anti-democratic elements.
“I am glad that we are joined at this meeting by our Resident Electoral Commissioners for Bayelsa and Kogi States as well as the Commissioners of Police for the two States. They will brief us on the level of electoral and security preparations in the two States. We will also discuss and finalise the security deployment plan for the two elections in line with the provision of Section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) so that the security agencies are not perceived to be running parallel arrangement with INEC.
“Rather, it should be INEC’s plan for the election that we should all be implementing. “We shall continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible polls. On Thursday 7th November 2019, the Commission is organising another meeting with stakeholders in Bayelsa State to be followed by another meeting on Monday 11th November 2019 in Kogi State. We will be joined by the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of NYSC and representatives of all the security agencies to listen to the concerns of stakeholders and fine-tune our plans in full consultation with the stakeholders.”
Source: Vanguard

Nigerian Journalists Kick Against Move To Regulate Social Media

Editorial staff

November 1, 2019

Journalists in Nigeria,under the canopy of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have kicked against move by the federal government to regulate social media operators in the country.
The union, in a communique signed by the National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, at the end of the National Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, today, November 1, called on the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, not to succumb to the temptation of restricting the social media as the attempt could easily lead to “gagging the media.”
The union also rejected the position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the New Minimum Wage.
The governors had said that they would only pay according to the financial standing of their respective states.
It urged the governors would have to implement the new minimum wage captured on the federal government’s template as agreed upon with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The NUJ also appealed to the federal government, INEC, security agencies and political gladiators, to ensure hitch-free conduct of the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections.
On the lingering dispute among members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) the Union set up a five-man committee to reconcile the two factions involved in the leadership crisis rocking the association.
The NEC also suspended indefinitely, former President of NUJ, Waheed Odusile and the Vice President, Zone C, Petros Obi, as well as National Vice-chairman, Zone C of NAWOJ, Chibota Edozie, and a NAWOJ member, Ngozi Agbo for persistent anti-union activities.
It approved the employment of two additional Assistant National Secretaries, just as it offered contract appointment to Bamidele Gbemiga who retired as a Senior Assistant National Secretary.

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