A’Ibom PDP fumes as Senator defects to APC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhHQ21mm2gQOSLM2FfFlSuRFLVjhfRLhCELMxRlOMdh3fdBcSi4hMSmm8tbn6ou6-Vj3djmnQLyhU_V1s9oXUukYZxn7g2OSe1BHt5JW7orMEjmarGsiu9wrdzcBCAkLdDhWQQsyMNSs/s1600/Senator-Nelson-Effiong-1-300x219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhHQ21mm2gQOSLM2FfFlSuRFLVjhfRLhCELMxRlOMdh3fdBcSi4hMSmm8tbn6ou6-Vj3djmnQLyhU_V1s9oXUukYZxn7g2OSe1BHt5JW7orMEjmarGsiu9wrdzcBCAkLdDhWQQsyMNSs/s400/Senator-Nelson-Effiong-1-300x219.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">A Senator, elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Akwa Ibom State, Nelson Effiong, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The lawmaker made the announcement of his defection on the floor of the Senate, on Thursday. He said the intractable crisis in the PDP necessitated his defection to APC.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> He said no politician worth his onions should remain in the PDP, adding that APC as a party has brought stability to Nigeria. He said APC has also restored peace to some troubled parts of the country.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “I have decided that no reasonable politician who is worth his onions would remain in PDP and allow his people to be drifting about without a direction. So I have decided today (yesterday), the 19th day of January, 2017, to resign from the PDP and move to the party that is bringing peace and direction to this country, the APC,” the lawmaker announced.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, who stood in for Godswill Akpabio, frowned at the defection and warned the Senator of the consequences.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Bwacha noted: “I hope that my colleague is aware of the implications of what he has just done. The PDP as a party is one and is intact. I fear for his seat and the consequences that may follow as a result of this action. I want to say that what he has said appears to be an insult to those of us who are in the PDP that ‘a politician that is worth his onions will not remain in PDP’.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “That is an insult. If you want to do the usual business in the Nigerian politics of following the weather, he should say it clearly. This business of moving here and there following the weather should be stated clearly and let him not deviate from the original intentions he has. We are going to meet in court.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Akpabio, who walked into the chamber about five minutes after the defection, announced that the PDP in Akwa Ibom State will challenge the defection in court and reclaim the mandate.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> He said as an individual, Senator Effiong has the right to jump ship, but not to the detriment of the party, whose platform he rode on to get to the Senate.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Akpabio thundered: “I understand maybe due to political intoxication or otherwise, the Senator has jumped ship and moved from this side to the other side. I need to let the Senate and the president know that in terms of the court decisions up to the Supreme Court, that it is not an individual that contests an election.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “It is a political party and therefore the moment somebody takes the mandate of a political party, it behooves on that political party to immediately take steps. We heard that this action is going to take place and we engaged the Senator in various discussions and we showed him the implication.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “I want it to be noted in this Senate that the PDP in Akwa Ibom State is already on its way to court and we would want to reclaim its mandate. We must reclaim the mandate given to us and we do not mind the Senator joining the APC, but he will not go with the mandate given to us in Akwa Ibom State. The reason why I am standing is that today, it is the PDP, tomorrow it might be APC.”</div> <div class="wdfb_like_button" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> <fb:like class=" fb_iframe_widget" colorscheme="light" fb-iframe-plugin-query="app_id=192331394489933&color_scheme=light&container_width=0&href=http%3A%2F%2Fsunnewsonline.com%2Faibom-pdp-fumes-as-senator-defects-to-apc%2F&layout=button_count&locale=en_GB&sdk=joey&send=false&show_faces=true&width=450" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" font="" href="http://sunnewsonline.com/aibom-pdp-fumes-as-senator-defects-to-apc/" layout="button_count" send="false" show_faces="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; position: relative;" width="450"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: bottom; width: 78px;"><div class="div0 trc_related_container" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;" width="78"> </div> </span></fb:like></div> <div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content_bottom" style="background-color: white; 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A’Ibom PDP fumes as Senator defects to APC

A Senator, elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Akwa Ibom State, Nelson Effiong, has defect...

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BREAKING: Osinbajo rushes home from Davos as Buhari heads to UK

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNBhFfMYenW67JH0Azpt-kIg4oaFndDbvRYGp-b7xuG8Sx4KRdQ623CZjvNx73xBJmvLjBsxpkaaaKDs2YzrF4XfnSFO8rrO52mrP749AoJl7bh_fTLiWWAU24pd-FLxF3iJ211X2lPo/s1600/Prof.-Yemi-Osinbajo--300x210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNBhFfMYenW67JH0Azpt-kIg4oaFndDbvRYGp-b7xuG8Sx4KRdQ623CZjvNx73xBJmvLjBsxpkaaaKDs2YzrF4XfnSFO8rrO52mrP749AoJl7bh_fTLiWWAU24pd-FLxF3iJ211X2lPo/s1600/Prof.-Yemi-Osinbajo--300x210.jpg" /></span></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who led Nigeria’s delegation to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, is returning to the country a day earlier than scheduled.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> President Muhammadu Buhari left the country, on Thursday, for the United Kingdom as part of his annual vacation during which he would undergo medical checkup, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said in a statement.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The President had in a  letter transmitted to the Senate and read of the floor of the Red Chambers during plenary, sought a ten day leave between 23rd January and February 6th 2017. Following that letter Osinbajo is supposed to act from January 23rd.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Should Osinbajo hold his return till Friday as earlier scheduled, there may be a vacancy as both will be out of the country the same time.</div> <br />

BREAKING: Osinbajo rushes home from Davos as Buhari heads to UK

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who led Nigeria’s delegation to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, is returning to the count...

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Why El-Zakzaky can’t be released despite court order‎ – Presidency

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eA9aqN7qXQ7x_265YmHyMwMpLfw-TFxhtvDNTfPYYjy9J0WtEvQbrcxC-OS_gMbVcmU91nqOv8Vy8h95CphW6_xcs8NNZImraddPYc_V5dE212szXzyJitGcPQgN3IiCmiguprdHfjw/s1600/elzakzaky-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eA9aqN7qXQ7x_265YmHyMwMpLfw-TFxhtvDNTfPYYjy9J0WtEvQbrcxC-OS_gMbVcmU91nqOv8Vy8h95CphW6_xcs8NNZImraddPYc_V5dE212szXzyJitGcPQgN3IiCmiguprdHfjw/s1600/elzakzaky-300x225.jpg" /></a></span></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></b></div> <b><br /></b> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s release from detention may not breath the air of freedom anytime soon because of security reason and the need to protect the interest of the public, says the Presidency.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>“The issue of the release of Zak Zaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public interest as against individual interest undertones”, a presidency source was quoted as saying.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>A Federal High Court in Abuja had on December 2nd, 2016 ordered the unconditional release of El Zakyzaky, within 45 days.‎</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>The court had also awarded N25m damages each in favour of Zakyzaky and his wife, Zeenat against the Federal Government.‎</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>The Shiite leader had been in detention since December 2015.‎‎</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>‎But the Presidential source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to newsmen said, ‎the “major constitutional policy objective of government as stated in section 14 (2) (b) is public and not individual security.‎</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>“Public interest and national security implications must be factored into consideration in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above any other individual claim of right. The fedaral government of nigeria is looking into the case with the public and security interest dimensions into consideration,” the source said.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>‎</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>On the detention of the Shiite leader’s wife along side her husband, the source maintained  that El-Zakzaky’s wife was not of “any security interests and therefore was merely keeping her husband company in the apartment in which he is kept.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>“She is not under detention. If it is her wish, that of her husband or of the IMAN, she will be allowed to go home in a matter of hours,” he said.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>According to the source,  El-Zakzaky’s spouse was picked up by the Department of Security Services, (DSS) beside her husband with bullet wounds following IMN’s encounter with the army.</b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b>“They took her along with the husband, treated her wounds and allowed her to care for her him. Upon his request on an occasion,  the children joined them duringRamadan. That is what happened.”</b></div>

Why El-Zakzaky can’t be released despite court order‎ – Presidency

Leader of the Islamic Movement of ...

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Manchester City 'evaluating' Holger Badstuber deal, Pep Guardiola says

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://e2.365dm.com/17/01/16-9/20/skysports-pep-guardiola-holger-badstuber_3865831.jpg?20170107092333" /></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Holger Badstuber played for Pep Guardiola during his spell as Bayern Munich boss</span></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span> <strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted they could make a move for Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber.</span></strong><br /> <strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></strong> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Guardiola believes his squad is short of defensive options, especially considering they will compete across three competitions in the second half of the season following a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham in the FA Cup third round.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Spaniard insists there are no names on the table yet but he will hold talks with City's director of football Txiki Begiristain in the coming days before deciding on their targets.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://e1.365dm.com/17/01/660x350/skysports-pep-guardiola_3865755.jpg" /><span style="color: #999999;">Guardiola watched his side thrash West Ham 5-0 in the FA Cup third round</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He said: "We are evaluating if there's a chance to take one (defender). I know Holger, he's a fantastic player, a fantastic guy, but he's a Bayern Munich player, and we should first of all speak with them and with him.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Now, on the table, there are no names because we had a lot of games. But now we have 10 days until Everton, so we have time to discuss with Txiki, with the club, what is the best for the rest of the season</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://e1.365dm.com/16/11/660x350/skysports-vincent-kompany-man-city-manchester_3837809.jpg" /><span style="color: #999999;">Vincent Kompany continues to struggle with injuries at Man City</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"We have to speak about the situation. When we arrive now in the Premier League, in the FA Cup, in the Champions League, if something happens with the injuries we don't have enough.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"We have Nico [Otamendi], John [Stones] and [Aleksandar] Kolarov. Kolarov is a full-back, and of course we have Tosin [Adarabioyo], but Tosin is still young. Hopefully Vincent [Kompany] can help us, but Vincent in the last two years he was like this [with injuries]."</span></div>

Manchester City 'evaluating' Holger Badstuber deal, Pep Guardiola says

Holger Badstuber played for Pep Guardiola during his spell as Bayern Munich boss Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted they cou...

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P-Square – Bedroom ft. Akon

<img height="480" src="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/bedroomartwork.jpg" width="640" />\<br /> <b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b><b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b><br /> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_156576" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An unreleased <a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/tag/p-square/" style="border: 0px; color: #e50000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="P-Square">P-Square</a> song featuring American music star <a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/tag/akon/" style="border: 0px; color: #e50000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Akon">Akon</a> titled Bedroom made it to the internet this morning.</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_156576" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></div> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></span><div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_156576" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Listen to the tune below as the <a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/tag/p-square/" style="border: 0px; color: #e50000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="P-Square">P-Square</a> brothers take the “fight” to the bedroom</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/P-Square_-_Bedroom_ft_Akon-36NG.com.ng_.mp3" style="font-family: Alegreya, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">DOWNLOAD</a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> here</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-family: Alegreya, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <span class="mejs-offscreen" style="border: 0px; clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 20px; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;">Audio Play</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </b></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

P-Square – Bedroom ft. Akon

\ An unreleased  P-Square  song featuring American music star  Akon  titled Bedroom made it to the internet this morning. ...

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Orezi – Just Like Dat

<img src="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Just-Like-Dat-Orezi-720x720.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /><br /><br /> <b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b><br /> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_156952" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With Call The Police still getting airplay, hitmaker <a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/tag/orezi/" style="border: 0px; color: #e50000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Orezi">Orezi</a> has released another tune Just Like That, weeks after teasing the song on Snapchat</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></div> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_156952" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The new feel good tune is a joint production of Dr Amir and Popito. Catch the vibe down below!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b><a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Orezi_-_Just_Like_That-36NG.com.ng_.mp3">DOWNLOAD</a></b> </span>here</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Orezi – Just Like Dat

With Call The Police still getting airplay, hitmaker  Orezi  has released another tune Just Like That, weeks after teasing the song...

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Sugarboy – Dada Omo (Prod by DJ Coublon)

<img height="640" src="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sugarboy-Dada-Omo-720x720.jpg" width="640" /><br /> <b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b><br /> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_157697" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">G-Worldwide act Sugarboy welcomes fans into the New Year with a new single titled “Dada Omo”. The mid-tempo pop song which was written by Sugarboy was produced by Dj Coublon who has been responsible for most of the hit songs to have come out of the label and a beautiful guitar skills was demonstrated by Fiokee.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="border: 0px; color: #444444; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b></span></div> <div id="content-main" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px; z-index: 10;"> <div id="content-main-inner" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="post-area" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"> <div class="post-section" id="content-area" itemprop="articleBody" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="theiaPostSlider_slides" id="tps_slideContainer_157697" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; clear: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Dada Omo” is a promise of unending love to Sugarboy’s imagined ladylove, and it is his 4th official single since dropping, “Hola Hola” “Double” and “Legalize” last year.  Talks of an album in 2017 will not be far-fetched, as the artiste has shown on successive tracks that he has the capacity and skill set to deliver monster tracks to his fans.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b><u><a href="http://www.36ng.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sugarboy_-_Dada_Omo-36NG.com.ng_.mp3">DOWNLOAD</a></u></b></span> here</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Sugarboy – Dada Omo (Prod by DJ Coublon)

G-Worldwide act Sugarboy welcomes fans into the New Year with a new single titled “Dada Omo”. The mid-tempo pop song which was writ...

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Mikel finally joins Chinese side, Tianjin TEDA

<img height="573" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mikel-Obi--300x269.jpg" width="640" /><br /> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To earn N78m weekly </span></em></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Undergoes medical</span></em></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BY JOE APU</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi seem to have his mind made up to go for the big bucks of the Chinese league and is set to sign a three-year deal with £140,000-a-week (N78, 400.00) earning The Chelsea midfielder was expected to complete his medical at Tianjin TEDA yesterday after agreeing to the deal. Mikel, who hasn’t even made the bench at Stamford Bridge this season, looked set to join Valencia having turned his back on the Chinese Super League. But according to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old has had a change of heart after a three-year deal was put on the table.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He will join the likes of former team-mate Oscar, who made a £60m switch to Shanghai SIPG this month, and Carlos Tevez who became the world’s highest paid player after completing his China move. Mikel will leave Chelsea a fan favourite having won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League amongst others. A figure for the transfer is still unknown but the two sides remain confident that a deal can be agreed once Mikel completes his medical. And Chelsea may use the funds made from the sales of Oscar and Mikel to land Napoli ace Faouzi Ghoulam. Antonio Conte is keen to bolster his defensive options at this crucial stage of the season.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Italian is also willing to let midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek leave on loan with Brighton keen on his services. Only on Tuesday in Lagos, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr had admitted that he would prefer Mikel remains in Europe but should he decide to head to China as is the case now, he would still play a key role in his plans.</span></div>

Mikel finally joins Chinese side, Tianjin TEDA

To earn N78m weekly  Undergoes medical BY JOE APU Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi seem to have his mind made up to go for the bi...

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Bode Olajumoke: OBASANJO, JONATHAN’S GREED RESPONSIBLE FOR PDP crisis

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img height="640" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BODE-OLAJUMOKE-300x300.jpg" width="640" /></span><br /> <em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Says some party leaders discussing merger with others</span></em><br /> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">By ’TUNDE THOMAS</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">A </b>chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Bode Olajumoke, has accused two former<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />presidents, elected on the platform of the party, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of laying the foundation of the festering crisis in the party, which is  now threatening to destroy it.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He argued that their dictatorial tendencies and pursuit of personal ambitions were responsible for the crisis bedevilling the party.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Senator Olajumoke spoke of how the two former leaders destroyed the party by seeking to control its machinery, without regard to party rules and discipline, actions, he said, caused disenchantment among members.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He particularly said Jonathan’s greed caused the PDP’s defeat in 2015, stressing that the former president had no reason to seek reelection, having agreed to run for only a single term. In spite of the crisis in the PDP, Olajumoke said the ruling APC has not done any better, vowing that his party would bounce back. He also spoke on other national issues.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, how do you feel about<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />the current crisis rocking the party?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that PDP is still a formidable party, in spite of this crisis. It is still the most truly national party in outlook in the country. I strongly believe that we will soon get over the crisis and then refocus the party. We are hoping that in the new year, we will be able to chart a new course for the party. PDP has a strong and very enormous structure and that’s the advantage the party has over even APC. Almost half of the entire APC members<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />emigrated from PDP. PDP is bound to bounce back in due course.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With cases still in court, how come you are sounding optimistic?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m very optimistic that PDP will come out of this crisis stronger. Although from the present look of things, it may look as if there is, or should be cause for alarm, but as an elder and with my experience in politics, I  strongly believe that PDP will bounce back stronger. Why I say so again is very simple, PDP has a strong structure, and it is one of the reasons why the party has not<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />collapsed as a result of this crisis.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But what will be your appeal to leaders of the two factions, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The PDP Board of Trustees earlier this year spent quality time with both factions, and tried to broker peace. The board is still going to renew that initiative. The gladdening thing is that each faction still claims to be working for PDP and its interests. This is quite<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />different from having a scenario where the opposition is working<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />against us. PDP is a very big family and there is bound to be misunderstanding, and this is normal in any family setting.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, my appeal to both Makarfi, and Sheriff is that they should let good judgment prevail. We should all come back together as members of one family. APC needs a virile opposition. APC has enormous challenges and even within APC some of their leaders have been able to come out and boldly declared that they have crisis. You will recall that APC came together bringing people of diverse interests and ideologies – that’s why APC is today a split house.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately the situation in APC should have translated into an advantage for PDP, but because of the  crisis in PDP, we have not been able to take advantage of APC’s crisis. PDP by now should have been a very virile opposition party keeping APC on its toes as a watchdog.</span><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-44483 alignright" height="220" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Bode-Olajumoke-330x242-300x220.jpg" srcset="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Bode-Olajumoke-330x242-300x220.jpg 300w, http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Bode-Olajumoke-330x242.jpg 458w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px 5px 20px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why do you believe that PDP as party is stronger than APC?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The reasons are not far-fetched. Look at most of  the APC members, they came from PDP and in terms of structure, PDP, don’t forget, dominated the nation’s political landscape for 16 years. The PDP has a stronger structure than APC – for how long has APC been in existence? Yet the party has been riddled with so many crises.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How do you think PDP crisis can be better resolved?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dialogue makes a lot of sense. Court adjudication  is very artificial and never deep. But when you have genuine and true reconciliation through dialogue, that will endure.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people have been asking this question that where were you, elders, before the crisis snowballed to this level, again Sheriff has been claiming that he was invited to take over the party and that he didn’t force himself …</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(Cuts in) … Well, Sheriff is right in a sense. But the fact remains that PDP governors should also take a chunk of the blame for this crisis in PDP.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It is sad that the governors arrogated to themselves certain powers, believing that they can do and undo. But that’s what I call impunity. The governors’ action was a clear breach of party’s rules and it amounts to indiscipline. But I believe that the governors inviting Sheriff not withstanding, he (Sheriff) should not allow himself to be seen as a selfish individual who wants to destroy PDP. Sheriff should consider the interests of PDP by stepping aside. He should forget his justified anger, and join hands with others to build PDP. Sheriff should not be directly blamed for PDP crisis, it is the governors that should be held responsible. It is the impunity of the governors that is responsible for the crisis. But for the sake of peace, Sheriff should step aside now.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Are the governors above the party?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">No. Every elected or non-elected members of the party including the president and state governors are supposed to<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />be guided by party’s rules and regulations, and when they flout any of the party’s rules, they can be sanctioned. That’s the way it should be. But unfortunately the rot we have in our political system today where the president and state governors behave as if they are Alpha and Omega, or above the political party through which they get elected into office is very unfortunate. But former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be held responsible for<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />this bastardisation of our political system. I recall vividly that it was only late President Umaru Yar’Adua that tried to reverse the ugly trend.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Obasanjo and Jonathan  sowed seed of impunity. The same impunity that is causing crisis in PDP. When Obasanjo was in power, he behaved like an emperor. He put himself over and above PDP and nobody could challenge or look at him in the face. He was a dictator.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yar’Adua tried to reverse the trend, but unfortunately he didn’t live long. Unfortunately, Goodluck Jonathan that succeeded Yar’Adua continued in Obasanjo’s footstep. He considered himself as the owner of PDP. Obasanjo and Jonathan should be held responsible in a way for the crisis rocking PDP.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When former President Olusegun Obasajo started taking steps to change the status quo in the party , why wasn’t<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />he challenged by other party members?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Obasanjo was a Supremo Generalissimo. He was dictatorial in everything. He didn’t tolerate opposing views. He brook no opposition. Whatever he wanted he rolled it down or forced it down the throat of other party members. There were complaints. But who dared challenge the lion, as it were then? This was the beginning of indiscipline in the party, because the state governors now after Obasanjo were behaving and taking similar actions as Obasanjo was doing at the centre in their own respective states. But this is very abnormal. It is not the norm, and PDP is paying the price today.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the politics of First, Second and Third republics, the parties were supreme, and that was why you have the president and state governors deferring to party chairmen on issues relating to the party, but Obasanjo and Jonathan bastardised everything.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But some people have described former President Jonathan as a gentleman, and that he was not a military ruler like Obasanjo, so why was it difficult for him to reverse the ugly trend?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But Jonathan enjoyed what he inherited from Obasanjo. He was determined to have absolute control over the party and the Federal Government. But this is a manifestation of dictatorship. Jonathan and Obasanjo’s determination to pursue their own selfish interests eventually hurt PDP’s interests as a political party. Both of them laid the foundation for PDP crisis. But my hope is that as we grow in our democracy, things will return to normal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Is it true as some people have claimed that you elders in the PDP didn’t take assertive actions at the initial stage of the crisis, because PDP governors led by Governor Ayodele Fayose asked you elders to take a back seat and allow younger elements to be in control of the party’s affairs?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also recollected the governors saying so, but I’m sure the governors must be regretting their action now. Their action has boomeranged, and I’m sure today they must be pondering over their action by asking elders to take a back seat – words of elders are words of wisdom. There is no society that wants to progress that will shun its elders.Any society that shuns its elders will be doomed. It is absolute nonsense to ask elders who build the party to step aside or take a back seat.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How do you feel about the PDP loss in the recent gubernatorial election in Ondo state?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m a democrat. I believe that what happened in Ondo State is a manifestation of democracy in action. What do you expect to happen to a government that didn’t meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people? You must remember that the electorate had enormous power to remove a government that has not been responding positively to the yearnings and aspirations of the people. That’s what happened in Ondo State.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Forget about the PDP crisis, Ondo State people used their votes to express themselves. Yes, Jimoh Ibrahim’s factor is there. But Jimoh’s role in the events that led to PDP’s loss is also a form of protest – he certainly wasn’t happy with the political settings under Governor (Olusegun) Mimiko. Before the election, Jimoh Ibrahim had always been coming out to openly voice his disagreement with some of Mimiko’s policies. PDP’s loss in Ondo State is sad, but that was what happened when a government failed to live up to expectations of the people. Mimiko should be blamed for PDP loss. If he had provided good governance, PDP would have won.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two notable members of PDP in the Southwest who were once friends and political allies have now suddenly become political foes. That’s talking about Governor Ayodele Fayose, and Senator Buruji Kashamu, with fears  being raised that the feud between the two may further weaken PDP especially in the Southwest …</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(Cuts in) … We are already making moves to reconcile them. Both of them are assets to PDP. The two of them are formidable. We can’t afford to lose Fayose to another party, and same for Kashamu now. Both of them will be reconciled. It is a must for the party to do so.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What’s your take on the speculated formation of a new mega  political group?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Honestly, I don’t think formation of a mega party is the answer to our democratic challenges. You remember that APC is also a mega political party, but has anything changed? Nothing has changed. Can you say that Nigerians now know the difference between PDP and APC? I will say APC and PDP are birds of the same feather. They are the same folks. It is same group that you have in power. Nothing has changed. There is no difference between APC and PDP. The difference you have is in the name.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Party affiliation notwithstanding, what will be your advice to President Muhammadu Buhari?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He should re-invent the economy. President Buhari has not shown enough will to re-invent the economy. At times I wonder whether the man is now tired or bereft of ideas. I was an admirer of Buhari. Although I didn’t vote for him during the<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />2015 general elections, I voted for him in his previous attempt to get power; I voted for Buhari even as a member of PDP because I had so much confidence in him. But so far, I’m not impressed by him. It is very sad the way things are. It is evident that the economy is suffering, although the economic recession is a global thing, there are ways we can still<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />manage our own that it will provide relief to Nigerians. President Buhari should  do something fast to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you share the views and opinions of some PDP members that PDP would have still be in power if former President Jonathan had not sought a second term?</span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I agree absolutely with those saying so. There was no need for Jonathan to seek a second term. There was an understanding in place, but he breached it.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />However, it was opportunists that surrounded him that kept on goading Jonathan that he should run. But sincerely speaking, Jonathan has no business running for a second term. There was agreement he consented to that he would only serve a term, but sadly Jonathan reneged thereby making PDP to lose 2015 general elections. Jonathan has been so blessed by God. What was he looking for second term for? He has no business running for a second term, but he succeeded in messing up the party because of personal ambition. Anybody PDP put down especially from the North would have won that presidential election in 2015.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people are saying that the ongoing reconciliation within PDP, will be incomplete without reaching out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo… </span></b></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(Cuts in) … To me, I believe that no individual should be regarded as super hero, or that a particular individual should not be subjected to party discipline.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For former President Obasanjo, if he chooses to come back to PDP, he is welcomed, and if he decides not to come, good luck to him. But I still  remember that Obasanjo openly tore his PDP membership card and also openly vowed not to have anything to do with the party again. An individual doesn’t make a party. I think PDP should be forward looking, we should not be going to the past again.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, Obasanjo could have money, influence and grassroots support, but that should not be the only determining factor in wooing a person or inviting a person into a political party. An individual joining a political party must be ready to subject himself or herself to party discipline and party supremacy, but is Obasanjo ready to do that? We should also not forget some of his actions when he was in PDP. As I said earlier, an individual doesn’t make a party.</span></div>

Bode Olajumoke: OBASANJO, JONATHAN’S GREED RESPONSIBLE FOR PDP crisis

Says some party leaders discussing merger with others By ’TUNDE THOMAS A  chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and member of...

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Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr confesses… NIGERIA, MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN AFRICA

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img height="584" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Eagles-300x274.jpg" width="640" /></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BY JOE APU</span></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">FRANCO-GERMAN Gernot Rohr has had his fair share of sojourning in Af<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">rica working </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">with club sides an</span>d national teams.</span></div> <div class="page" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He was fired by Étoile Sport- ive du Sahel following a third-place finish in the league, out- side of the 2010 CAF Champions League plac- es, on 15 May 2009 and on</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2009 and on 9 June was as the 2009, named as the new head coach of the Ligue 2 team FC Nantes, his contract running till 30 June 2011 but on 3 December 2009, he was fired by FC Nantes and replaced by Jean-Marc Furlan.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On 21 February 2010, Rohr replaced French coach Alain Giresse at the helm of the Gabon national football team and became manager of Ni- ger national football team in September 2012.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He resigned in October 2014 and headed to Burkina Faso and again on 22 December 2015, he was sacked by Burkina Faso national football team as manager. His passion for African football saw him shortlisted for the Guinea national team job in July 2016 and in August 2016, he was named man- ager of the Super Eagles of Nigeria by the Nigeria Football Federation under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With three wins from three games in Nigeria’s run-up to the Russia 2018 World Cup, a confident Rohr during the week in Lagos expressed optimism that Nigeria looks good for a ticket.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though, he admits that the battle against Cameroon and Algeria would be though, he is confident that the target of taking the Super Eagles to the World Cup is achievable.</span><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-27056 alignright" height="225" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NFF-gives-Gernot-Rohr-2018-World-Cup-target-300x225.jpg" srcset="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NFF-gives-Gernot-Rohr-2018-World-Cup-target-300x225.jpg 300w, http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NFF-gives-Gernot-Rohr-2018-World-Cup-target.jpg 400w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px 5px 20px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Taking a close look at the other coun- tries he had coached before settling for the Nigeria job, Rohr is quick to con- fess that Nigeria remains his biggest challenge working in the continent.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In most of the other countries I have worked with, there have been a dearth of players to work with and though I made some impacts, I dare say that Ni- geria remains the toughest test I have had to take on.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nigeria provides me the biggest challenge to showcase myself and given the caliber of players available, I think the task is not impossible.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rohr admits that Nigeria has had a long running battle with the Lions of Cameroon at different times but he says he can beat his chest that they cannot continue to have upper hand.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m aware of the records between Nigeria and Cameroon but I’m sure that in Uyo whewre we feel at home, they will fall and like was the case in Ndola, Zambia we’ll go to Cameroon and give it our best shot to fortify our position on the table.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rohr boasted that he has a bet- ter team than Cameroun and Algeria, pointing out that his presence in Ga- bon would give him the opportunity to fine-tune his strategies before the qualifiers resume later this year.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He also believes the trip would give him the chance to arrange for friendly games for the country, as well as moni- tor Nigeria’s possible opponents in the 2019 African Nations Cup, which qualifiers also begins in March.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I am very optimistic that Nigeria will qualify for the World Cup from our group,” he said as he responded to the avalange of questions took ques- tions from the media in Lagos during the week.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After the break from the qualifiers after Nigeria took a commanding lead in the group, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, would come knocking at the Nest of Champions in Uyo in Au- gust and Rohr promises that nothing will stop the Lions from being con- sumed.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We have a better team than Cam- eroun. That is why we won away in Zambia where Cameroun was beaten. There is also this family spirit in the team that no team can break now.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that the Cameroonians are good but we are better. We also have the advantage of playing at home. The support is going to be magnificent and I urge all Nigerians to come out and support their team,” he said.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To propel the Super Eagles to victory, Rohr made a plea to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Fed- eration, NFF asking tactfully that his players be re- warded with handsome bonuses.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“You must encourage the players with their bo- nus. We must progress if not, we’ll regress,” the coach said.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He dismissed fears that the Super Eagles might go the way of the Super Falcons before they can get their bonuses paid. “I do not hope so,” he shot back to the question but noted that the team apart from bonuses is proud to play for their fatherland.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We have a young team who are more interested to play for their nation. We must encourage them. There is nothing wrong in some of the players buy- ing tickets to honour call-ups so far as they are refunded. That also shows loyalty and patriotism. But, we must be ready to pay bonuses for the team. They are ready to win all their remaining matches and need to be paid for their hard work,” he stated.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the issue of lead strikers for the Super Eagles ahead the double header against Cameroon, the Franco-German coach who had worked with Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Gabon said the time to the game is a long while.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I cannot tell you if it would be Iheanacho, Igha- lo, Brown Ideye or Iwobi that would be in the line- up. There’re several new strikers that want to play for Nigeria and that are doing very well for their clubs. You cannot also rule out the issue of injuries but we’ll do our best to be ready for the tie against Cameroon in Uyo and then go away to them.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Every match is a difficult one in the race to qual- ify for Russia 2018. Cameroon and Algeria won’t be easy but the challenge of taking Nigeria to the World Cup and the players making their first ap- pearance is strong enough to see us through. That some of the players used their money to fly just to play for Nigeria underlines the determination that flows in the team.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s not all about money but the conviction of the players ready to make the sacrifice they are making. As regards the game against Cameroon, a friendly international match against Senegal that plays the same pattern. This is with a view to get- ting a good grasp of what Cameroon would bring to the table. We can’t afford to take any team lightly but must be prepared.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Super Eagles handler while speaking on the goalkeeping crisis in the team admitted giving up on his efforts to get Vincent Enyeama to come out of retirement.</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“When we had crisis in our hands after Carl Ikeme’s injury, I called him over 10 times and he never responded nor called back. We just have to move on with life and let him be.”</span></div> <div class="page" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The coach commended Dan Akpeyi for his prompt response and playing his role well. He needs to buckle up and rise to the challenge be- cause we can’t solely depend on Ikeme.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Enyeama had retired from international football after falling out with former Nigeria coach, Sunday Oliseh.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Speaking on the future of Mikel touted to be heading to Spanish side Valencia or China, Rohr revealed that he would prefer to have the midfielder remain in Europe instead of heading to China.</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="layoutArea" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div class="column" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We give assistance where necessary for our players and for our captain, Mikel, I would prefer he stays in Europe and get high caliber games. If he moves to China and remains in top form, he would remain with the team. There are other players we have that we hope they move in the January trans- fer window.</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <br />

Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr confesses… NIGERIA, MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN AFRICA

BY JOE APU FRANCO-GERMAN Gernot Rohr has had his fair share of sojourning in Af rica working  with club sides an d national teams. ...

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Diezani forfeits N35b to FG

<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img height="558" src="http://www.sunnewsonline.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Diezani-Madueke-300x262.jpg" width="640" /></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Former</b> Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday temporarily forfeited  $153.3 million  to the Nigerian government.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This was sequel to an order by a Federal High Court  in Lagos.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The seized money, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was stolen from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and stashed in three banks in Nigeria, in US dollars and Naira.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Out of the loot,  N23.4 billion, another  N9.08 billion and $5m were kept in three different Nigerian banks. Justice  Muslim Hassan, who gave the order,  gave the banks and any other interested party 14 days to appear before him to prove the legitimacy of the monies, failing which the funds would be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The judge made the order in favour of the EFCC which appeared before him yesterday with an ex parte application seeking the temporary forfeiture of the funds.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In a nine-paragraph affidavit by an EFCC investigator,  Moses Awolusi  and filed in support of the ex parte application,  the anti-graft agency discovered  how sometime in December 2014 Diezani invited a former Managing Director of one of the banks to her office. There,  they allegedly hatched the plan of how  $153,310,000 would be moved from NNPC to Okonkwo to be saved for Diezani.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Diezani, according to Awolusi, instructed Okonkwo to ensure that the money was “neither credited into any known account nor captured in any transaction platforms” of the bank.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The bank chief accepted and implemented the deal leading to the movement of $153,310,000 from NNPC to his bank.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He averred  further that two former Group Executive Directors of Finance and Account of NNPC, B.O.N. Otti and Stanley Lawson, helped Diezani to move the cash from NNPC, Abuja to the headquarters of the bank in Lagos.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Awolusi said in a desperate bid to conceal the source of the money, Okonkwo, upon receiving it, instructed the Country Head of the bank, to take $113,310,000 cash out of the money to the Executive Director, Commercial and Institutional Bank, of another bank, to keep.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He said the remaining $40m was taken in cash to the Executive Director, Public Sector Account, of an old generation bank, to keep.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The investigator said out of the $113,310,000 handed over to Adesanya, a sum of $108,310,000 was invested in an off balance sheet investment using the Asset Management Trustees firm of one of the first three banks.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The money was  subsequently converted into N23.4 billion  and saved in the bank.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Awolusi said the EFCC had recovered the N23.4bn in draft and had registered it as an exhibit marked, EFCC 01.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The investigator said the EFCC had also recovered another $5m out of the money kept with the Managing Director of another bank.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He said the $5m was recovered in draft and had been registered as an exhibit marked, EFCC 02.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">According to him, the old generation bank’s Executive Director, had  similarly converted the $40m kept with him to N9,080,000,000. Awolusi, however, said the EFCC had recovered that also in draft and registered it as Exhibit EFCC 03.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When summed together, the total money so far recovered from the former minister comes to about N35b.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving the ex parte application yesterday, the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, urged Justice Hassan to order the temporary forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government and to order the banks and their mentioned officials, who were joined as defendants in the application, as well as any other interested parties, to appear in court within two weeks to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oyedepo, who said the application was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution, said granting the application was in the best interest of justice.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Justice Hassan granted the order and adjourned till January 24 for the respondents to appear in court to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria</span></div> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <br />

Diezani forfeits N35b to FG

Former  Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke yesterday temporarily forfeited  $153.3 million  to the Nigerian government. This ...

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Fire wreaks havoc in Uyo AKWA IBOM STATE

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRc3bY-rtCbn8GlapwbaM7Ym84rqWsH44pH7HTIoh_VgG5jhgLQHexyO___DZ5JTDZVdXEJ50z7KomXRgyajmT2pf3UOO9GG4zdS-G3Fnb9BjQ4X1cCqxDwjIg-LfHlgNnrDdSogWvtSw/s1600/fireuyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRc3bY-rtCbn8GlapwbaM7Ym84rqWsH44pH7HTIoh_VgG5jhgLQHexyO___DZ5JTDZVdXEJ50z7KomXRgyajmT2pf3UOO9GG4zdS-G3Fnb9BjQ4X1cCqxDwjIg-LfHlgNnrDdSogWvtSw/s640/fireuyo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Uyo, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) Fire on Wednesday night gutted the depot of the Nigerian Bottling Company office on Abak Road, Uyo.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that goods worth millions of Naira were lost in the inferno.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> One of the eyewitnesses, Mr Ekong Charles, told NAN that the fire started from where the pallets were packed and engulfed the entire packing zone.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Charles said that it was the quick intervention of firefighters from the state Fire Service that prevented the fire from spreading to the office complex.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “The fire started from where the pallets are packed and the fire service was quickly alerted to control the spread to other buildings.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “In fact, it was so serious; if not for the quick intervention of the firefighters it would have consumed the entire depot.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “Five trucks of firefighting vehicles were brought to put out the fire,” Charles said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The Chief Fire Officer in Akwa Ibom, Mr Ndarake Ukpe, told NAN that he had to mobilise firemen from Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Akpan Andem to put out the fire.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Ukpe said the cause of the fire was yet unknown, and appealed to residents to be careful in handling inflammable materials during this harmattan period.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> He also confirmed that no life was lost to the inferno as the place was taken care of by security personnel.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “Fire does not just happen, it is cause by carelessness and fake electrical installations in our buildings.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “We have organised seminars for people in the markets and advised them to stop storing fuel in their houses.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “We are committed to ensuring that our department response to fire calls within record time so that minimal lost is recorded,” Ukpe said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> He urged members of the public to report fire outbreak promptly instead of waiting until the damage was done before calling on the fire service.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> The Uyo depot manager, Mr Benjamin Uche, told NAN that the cause of the fire was yet unknown.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> Uche said that he was yet to quantify what the company had lost to the inferno.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> “I have to take stock to know what we have lost in this incident, ” Uche said.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> On Christmas day, the home of the Commissioner for Works, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, was gutted by fire. (NAN)</div>

Fire wreaks havoc in Uyo AKWA IBOM STATE

Uyo, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) Fire on Wednesday night gutted the depot of the Nigerian Bottling Company office on Abak Road, Uyo. Eyewitness...

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