Chidera Nwachukwu

Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye scores his first career hat trick as he aims for Greek league title

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:32:00 +0000

Super Eagles front man Brown Ideye on Sunday pushed his club side to within grasps of the Greek League title as he scored his first hat-trick of his career as Olympiacos beat Veria FC 6-1 at the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Ideye’s first goal came in the 25th minute- Olympiacos first goal , then Ideye scored the 5th and 6th goal of his club to totally demolish Veria. Congrats to him!

Wrath Of God Will Visit Children & Grandchildren Of Corrupt Politicians – Ex CAN Boss

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 16:27:00 +0000

Former Prelate of the Methodist Church and one time President of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Prelate Sunday Mbang, has said that the wrath of God will visit the children and grand children of corrupt politicians who steal from the treasury just to benefit themselves and their families. The clergy man who recently turned 80 years old, said this in a recent interview with Tribune.
“In Christianity, the Bible makes it clear that when you commit a crime, it is to the third and fourth generations. The belief with us is that they have allowed the grace of God in the New Testament to seem to have covered what is in the Old Testament – the wrath and love of God – which is also reflected in the New Testament. If you don’t repent of your sin, the wrath of God will fall upon you. People suffer in this country and what they would do is to explain it scientifically. I said it earlier that I made a prayer and someone died.
That death would be explained scientifically and so the main point would be clear to the people. The fact is that once you commit sin; once you loot public treasury; once you convert money belonging to the people for yourself and family, you will suffer, your children will suffer to the third and fourth generations. When these things happen, people explain them scientifically.

Mikel says he spent over $30000 helping to organise logistics at Rio 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:57:00 +0000

The last is yet to be heard of Nigeria's chaotic preparations for Rio 2016 as team captain, Mikel Obi has revealed just how much he was involved behind the scenes. Speaking with goal.com the Chelsea midfielder said:

"I think if we talk about the money that I put into the team I think it was more than [£30,000] but we just had to do it.

"I said to myself, 'I won’t let this happen. If I can help, I’ll try to help'. Sometimes there was no food, sometimes there was no pitch to train on, there was no bus to go to the training ground. So all of this was what me and the coach had to figure out, and get money together.

"I came to the camp. I sat down with the boys in Atlanta and I could see the frustration, the pain and the anger. Their aim was to play in the Olympics, their goal was to play in the Olympics.

"And for me being there and seeing what they are going through, they are young boys, they want to start their career and someone in the ministry is trying to crush that dream."
On the now infamous incident which saw the team arrive Rio with just hours to spare after haphazard travel arrangements he said: "There was just no flight provided by the Nigerian ministry. "We planned to leave three or four days before the tournament, but we ended up leaving the day of our first game. It was a difficult one. I don’t think I have ever seen something like that before, it was crazy.
"[After our last minute flight] we got to the hotel, dropped our bags, grabbed some sandwiches, something to eat. A little bit of food. Then headed straight back to the stadium because we hadn’t even done our accreditations then, so we had to go there and wait in the line, do our accreditation.
"It was absolutely hectic. I don’t know how we managed to go onto the pitch and win that game, it was absolutely mind blowing."
He also spoke of his pride at winning bronze, Nigeria's only medal at the competition.
"Sometimes I wear my medal around the house, it gets my missus jealous," he joked as he showed off his medal. "The kids love playing with the medal. I am sure one day they will know what this really means."
Still on the problems the team faced en route Olympic glory he said: "We had lots of problems outside the pitch, but I always told the boys that you shouldn’t let that affect what we came here to do. We still want to achieve what we came here to do. We still have to represent our country and play for ourselves and our family and the people of Nigeria.
"So if the ministry don’t want to take responsibility, we have to make sure we play for ourselves and our country. The boys understand that and we made sure they went along with my message that I kept putting across to them every single day and we managed to achieve what we did achieve."

Many injured in Multiple accident on 3rd mainland bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:50:00 +0000

Many people sustained serious injuries in a multiple accident that occurred at the Oworonshoki end of the 3rd mainland bridge in Lagos this morning.

Woman On Wheelchair Blocks And Attempts Suicide In Front Of Buhari’s Convoy.

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:07:00 +0000

Head of state,President Muhammed Buhari was in Edo state earlier this week to join the grand finale of APC gubernatorial hopeful Godwin Obaseki’s campaign train, but what many people are not aware of is the drama that allegedly played out shortly before the president’s convoy appeared close to the House of Assembly complex by Airport road Juncture in Benin, Edo state capital.

An eyewitness, Chijioke Anyacho narrates how a disabled woman on a wheel chair attempted suicide when she ambushed the President’s convoy, lamenting her poor living.

Mexico finance minister quits over Trump visit

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:51:00 +0000

Mexican Finance Minister Luis Videgaray has resigned following the visit of Donald Trump last week.

Mr Videgaray was seen as the main organiser of the controversial meeting between Mr Trump and President Enrique Pena Nieto.
The visit was widely criticised by Mexicans both in the national press and on social media.
A spokesperson for the ministry said Mr Videgaray would not take on another public office.
President Pena Nieto is expected to name his replacement shortly.

Arsenal’s Iwobi resumes training and could return against Southampton

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:40:00 +0000

Alex Iwobi could be on parade against Southampton in Saturday’s English Premier League encounter having resumed training.
The Nigeria international has been sidelined since injuring his hip in the English topflight opener against Liverpool in August.

Initial reports suggested Iwobi would be out for four weeks, but the fact that he is back on the training pitch is a major boost for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Iwobi tweeted on September 1: “Putting in a shift to get back and ready for the next match.”
He has been working hard in the gym to keep up his fitness, and finally resumed regular training on Tuesday ahead the encounter with Claude Puel’s men.
According to Goal’s Arsenal Correspondent Chris Wheatley, “Iwobi trained today and will be named in the squad for Saturday's game.
“He recovered quicker than expected and worked hard in the gym over the international break.”
Arsenal drew 0-0 at Leicester City before caging Watford 3-1 without the Nigeria to place eight on the log with four points.

However, the Emirates Stadium giants will be without Aaron Ramsey, who also suffered a hamstring injury against the Reds.

Ex-militant, Tompolo’s father dies in Warri

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:36:00 +0000

Father of former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, has died. Family sources say the octogenarian died on Wednesday morning September 7th at a private clinic in Warri, Delta State after a brief illness. Tompolo is currently in hiding as he has been declared wanted by the Police for his alleged involvement in fraudulent activities in the last administration.

The former militant leader had in an open letter sent to President Buhari, accused the military of brutalizing his Father during one of their operations in th Niger Delta

“That same day, the military went to Kurutie Town in search of my 84 years old father and brutalized him. We managed to rescue him to Warri and hospitalized him. Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor’s report, it will be a thing of miracle if he survives this incident. Is this 84 years old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, that he was brutalised to the point of death?”

Fayose condemns postponement of Edo guber election, says; “democracy now in danger under APC”

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:31:00 +0000

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has condemned the call for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police, saying “It is obvious that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenged and afraid of losing the election and the party is using the federal government security agencies to cause a postponement of the election so as to be able to perfect its new rigging plans.”

The governor, who raised the alarm that “democracy is in danger” under the APC government, said; “obviously, within two years of APC government, Nigeria is in both economic and political recession and this should worry all true lovers of the country.” Reacting to the DSS and Police position that the election be postponed because of security threat, Governor Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said he was worried that “democracy in Nigeria has now graduated from inconclusive elections to postponement of elections in other to return APC candidates at all cost.” He said;

“Within two year, the APC government not only destroyed the economy of Nigeria, it has destroyed the legacy of free, fair and credible electoral process bequeathed on the country by the PDP.” The governor said; “The questions Nigerians must ask the APC-led federal government are; what security threat can overcome over 50,000 security personnel in an election holding in just one out of the 36 States in Nigeria? If election must be postponed in just one State because of security threat, what will then happen in 2019 when elections will be conducted in the entire country?

“Another question is; were they unaware of the security challenge when President Mohammadu Buhari went to Edo State to campaign for the APC yesterday? “No doubt, this is a game being played by the APC because it has become so imminent that the party cannot win the election if it is held on Saturday as scheduled.

“The postponement is obviously meant to give room for the APC to perfect a new rigging strategy and lovers of democracy in Nigeria should begin to see how the APC aims at perpetuating itself in power beyond 2019 even now that the party has been rejected by Nigerians

JAMB will soon upload names of successful candidates

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 09:39:00 +0000

JAMB says rules and regulations at individual schools will be followed for admission process – Board’s spokesperson reveals that successful candidates will not be posted to schools other than their choice Students who have been offered admission into tertiary institutions will soon see their names on the website of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). This revelation was made by Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board’s head of media and information team during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN He informed that the issue of unjust admission would not rear its ugly head as candidates who have successfully met the requirements for admission will have their names uploaded on their website soon. Dr Benjamin said: “We have just concluded a five-day Technical Committee meeting on Admission that started on Aug. 22 at the Bayero University Kano. “A lot was deliberated upon and at the end everything came out successful.

I will no longer work for Nigeria - Samson Siasia

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 09:27:00 +0000

– Samson Siasia says he would not work for Nigeria as long as the NFF structure remains – The coach says he was never appreciated for the work done with the U-23 Dream Team. Siasia also gave his views on the manner in which the team was flown from Atlanta to Manus Following the Dream Team VI success at the Rio Olympics, head coach Samson Siasia says he will no longer work for Nigeria due to the ill treatment he and the team suffered. The Dream Team were left stranded in the US just days ahead of the Olympics and arrived Manus, Brazil five hours before their first match against Japan with they eventually won 5 – 4. Reports from the camp claim Siasia and the Dream Team were left to fund for themselves and it also emerged that captain John Mikel Obi had to donate some of his cash to help the cash strapped team. He told Vanguard: “My next step is that I am done with Nigeria for now.” “You can’t keep going to a place where they don’t appreciate you. It does not worth it. Sometimes it is not about the money but the approach. They seem not to appreciate the sacrifices. I know how much I have sacrificed since the team began camping two years ago. “How can you keep going to people who don’t appreciate you? It does not make sense, so I am done for now. I have to go somewhere else where they will appreciate what I have done and what I can do and pay me the respect that I deserve.”

Polish Olympian sells Rio silver medal to help 3-year-old boy with eye cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 09:15:00 +0000

Polish discus thrower Piotr Malachowski sold the silver medal he won at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to help pay for the medication of a 3-year-old boy suffering from eye cancer.

Malachowski wrote, according to Facebook's translation: "In Rio I fought for gold," "Today, I appeal to everyone -- let's fight together about something that is even more precious. The health of this fantastic boy."

According to Malachowski, the procedure to treat the rare form of cancer isn't available in Poland; it is offered only in New York.

Malachowski said on Facebook that siblings Dominika and Sebastian Kulczyk,who are among the richest Poles, "declared the intention to buy my silver medal," which he put up for auction to help pay for treatment of the boy, Olek, who is suffering from retinoblastoma.

Malachowski did not reveal the amount he raised by selling his medal on Friday, but said the target, which was almost $130,000, has been met.

"My silver medal is worth much more today than it was a week ago," Malachowski said.

Stella Oduah's 28 year old son dies in Abuja Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 09:01:00 +0000

Former Minister of Aviation and now senator, Stella Oduah, yesterday lost her son. According to family sources, the 28 year old man died after a brief illness. He has been on admission at a private hospital in Abuja for an undisclosed ailment. May his soul rest in peace Amen.

Sanusi to Buhari: Continue this way and you would end up where Jonathan ended

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 16:17:00 +0000

Emir of Kano, Sanusi Muhammad II, says President Buhari could end up the way the Goodluck Jonathan administration ended up if he continues in the manner he is presently managing the country.

He said this while delivering a lecture at the ongoing 15th meetings of the joint planning board and national council on development planning in Kano, titled ‘Nigeria in search of new growth model’ today August 24th.

“If we do not expand the economy through wise investment, we can end up in classical Malthusian situation. If this government continues to behave the way the past government behaved, we will end up where Jonathan ended.”
Sanusi who was former CBN governor, said to get out of this present economic recession, the FG must set the foreign exchange rate to incentivise capital inflows, catalyse Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Direct Investment Funding.

I Did Not Bring Buhari To Power – Obasanjo

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 16:09:00 +0000

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has said that no single person or group can take glory for President Buhari's success at the 2015 presidential election. He said this while discrediting some media reports that quoted him as saying himself and a few others brought Buhari into power.

Speaking during a meeting at the Taraba state government house in Jalingo the state capital yesterday, Obasanjo said

“I never made such claims. It is inconsiderate of any single person or group to claim the glory. I am astounded by media reports quoting me as saying that I and few other persons brought President Buhari to power to save Nigeria. I have never said that, because it is not true. Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the President and we are all witnesses to that fact. No single person or group can claim that glory”.

DOZENS KILLED IN ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 16:03:00 +0000

At least 73 people have been killed in an earthquake that hit a mountainous area of central Italy, authorities say.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome, not far from Perugia.
Many of the dead were in Accumoli, close to the epicentre, and a short distance away in Amatrice, where three-quarters of houses were destroyed.
Many people are still believed buried under the rubble, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the volunteers and civil defence officials who had rushed to the scene in the middle of the night and used their bare hands to dig for survivors.

Joseph Yobo set for Kano Pillars move

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:58:00 +0000

Ex-Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo is set to join Kano Pillars until the end of the season.
After a glittering football career, the 35-year-old announced his retirement in June 2016 but reached an agreement with the League Management Company to play for a topflight team as league ambassador.
Though the former Everton star has indicated his interest in playing for the Kano based outfit, the move is on the verge of being completed.
“[Joseph] Yobo has not been confirmed as our player yet because we are still in talks,”.
“We told the League Management Company about our interest to have him in our team and we hope anytime soon, he teams up with us.
“Yobo on his own part wants to play for Kano Pillars and once an agreement has been reached, we will let everyone know.
The Elite Players Scheme assigns players of international repute to Nigerian club sides in a bid to further improve the quality of the league.
It is also to ensure that elite players bring star quality that will bring fans to stadia during their short stints.
Sani Kaita was a beneficiary of the scheme when he joined Enyimba for a three-month stint in 2014.
Pillars are 9th on the NPFL log with 45 points from 31 games.

Robert Mugabe Calls for the Arrest of Zimbabwean Olympic Team; Says They Are Useless

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:55:00 +0000

Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe has instructed the Commissioner General of Zimbabwe Police Republic, AugustineChihuri to arrest and detain the whole Zimbabwean Olympic Team members immediately the arrive at the Harare International Airport on Tuesday, August 23.
Zimbabwe which is one of the countries in the Olympics without a medal presented a team of 31 athletes. The closest any of the athletes came to win a contest was at the 8th position.
Mr. Mugabe who is incensed with the team’s performance told the Police Chief to arrest all the team members and detain them. “We have wasted the country’s money on these rats we call athletes. If you are not ready to sacrifice and win even copper or brass medals (referring the 4th and 5th positions) as our neighbors Botswana did, then why do you go to waste our money”

Trump overhauls campaign team again

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:59:00 +0000

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has overhauled his campaign team for the second time in two months, with two new leaders.

Pollster Kellyanne Conway becomes campaign manager and Stephen Bannon of Breitbart News the CEO. Paul Manafort remains campaign chairman, but analysts say he has effectively been demoted

Nigeria loses semi-final match, to face Honduras in 3rd place match for Bronze medal

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:46:00 +0000

Germany has qualified for the finals of the football event at Rio 2016 after demolishing Nigeria 2-0 in the semi-final tonight August 17th.

The Germans scored in the 9th minute through Lukas Klostermann and pressured from then on as the Nigerian defensive line looked shaky and lacked some solidity.Germany led Nigeria 1-0 but Nigeria created a few chances in the final 10 minutes to give their opponents something to think about at the break.

The second half started with Samson Siasia not making any change and the team showed some liveliness and more tactical awareness after the break. But after some indecisive play by Nigeria's front line through out the second half, they were made to pay for their blushes by Nils Petersen in the 89th minute after a stunning counter attack that left only Troost Ekong as the defensive cover for Nigeria's goalkeeper.

EFCC re-arrests and detains former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:26:00 +0000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today re - arrested the former governor of Imo State Achike Udenwa in connection with alleged campaign scandal at the last presidential election. Udenwa as a State Co-ordinator for The Presidential Campaign Organisation in Imo State was said to have collected the sum of N350,000,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) from the former senator representing Kaduna South and Director of Finance for the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Nenadi Usman.

The suspect, in his statement to the Commission admitted receiving the money via Diamond Bank account No.0058805692 and 005950791 respectively on the 14th and 28th of January 2015 in three separate instalments. He added that the money came from a company named Joint Trust Dimension Limited. This same company was charged alongside MrS Nenadi Usman and the Media Director of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani Kayode before Federal High Court Lagos on a similar allegation.

Investigation however revealed that Achike Udenwa and one Viola Onwuliri, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Education, who was his deputy at the Presidential Campaign Organization were the two signatories to the Diamond Bank account that received the money.

Upon his arrest, Udenwa was immediately granted administrative bail by the commission with condition that he should be reporting to the commission at an appointed time. But while enjoying his administrative bail, Udenwa chose to deliberately skip reporting, thereby compelling the commission to revoke his administrative bail pending his arraignment soon.

Achike Udenwa was a governor of Imo State under the flagship of People’s Democratic Party between 1999 and 2007 and became a minister of Commerce and Industry between 2008 and 2010 under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Mahrez signs new Leicester City deal

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:21:00 +0000

Riyad Mahrez has ended speculation linking him with a move away from Leicester City by signing a new four-year deal.
The reigning PFA Player of the Year had been tipped to join Arsenal this summer, and he has now committed himself to the Foxes until 2020.
And the club could not hide their delight at tying down their "magician" for four more seasons.

We’ve stopped Boko Haram from regrouping—BURATAI

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:01:00 +0000

Jos—The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday, insisted that the Nigerian Army had defeated Boko Haram terrorist group and stopped it from re-grouping anywhere in the country to cause havoc. Buratai spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Da Jacob Buba, in his palace in Jishe, while on a familiarisation tour of military units and formations under the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army.

Putin offers Turkey's Erdogan closer ties

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:53:00 +0000

Russia is ready to restore economic co-operation and other ties with Turkey, President Vladimir Putin has told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in St Petersburg.

It is Mr Erdogan's first foreign visit since an attempted coup last month.
Mr Erdogan thanked Mr Putin, saying "your call straight after the coup attempt was very welcome".
Russian-Turkish relations soured last November when Turkey shot down a Russian bomber on the Syrian border.
The visit comes as Turkey's ties with the West have cooled over criticism of Mr Erdogan's purge of alleged coup-plotters.
Before leaving Turkey, Mr Erdogan referred to President Putin as his "friend" and said he wanted to open a new page in relations with Russia.

Manchester City seal Stones signing

noreply@blogger.com (Santus Collins) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:53:00 +0000

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of centre-back John Stones from Everton on a six-year deal of a fee of £47.5m

The England international has been on Pep Guardiola's list of summer targets since his arrival at the club and the Catalan now has his man.