Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Yusuf Completes Ban

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September 13, 2019

By Akinwale Kasali

Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf, who was banned for a year, allegedly, for collecting bribe at the West African Football Union, WAFU, Championship in Ghana in 2017, is ready to roar again. He has completed his one year ban.

Yusuf was caught on tape collecting the sum of $1000 (N365,000) from an investigative journalist who disguised as a football agent. He bribed the coach to field certain players during the competition.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, set up an investigation committee to look into the issue. The panel found Yusuf guilty and, he was banned for a Period of one year from all football related activities.

During this period, the second Assistant Coach of the team, Imama Amakapabo, filled the vacuum thus, becoming the first Assistant coach to Gernot Rohr.

With this development, Yusuf has returned to his position in the team, and will go back to his job as the coach of the Home-based Super Eagles team. The team is preparing for the African Championship for Home-based Players known as CHAN Tournament.

Air Peace: Allen Onyema Sheds Tears Meeting Airlifted Nigerian From Xenophobic South Africa

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Uche Mbah

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September 13, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

There was jubilation, hand pumping and-wait for it-tears from the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema as he received a batch of the returnees from Xenophobic South Africa, with the returnees singing praises of him and bursting into the Nigerian National Anthem. About 169 people were airlifted in the first batch by the airline. Second batch is expected Saturday.

In the wake of the Xenophobic attacks, Air Peace had volunteered to Airlift Nigerians who are willing to leave the country after the attacks. The last attempt at attacking and looting foreigners’ interests were vehemently resisted by the Nigerians themselves, supported by a more alert South African Police, who have made dozens of arrests.

The federal Government made no attempt to procure an Aircraft to airlift its citizens until Onyema volunteered Air Peace, then there were talks of helping them to settle down.

As the plane touched down at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, and Onyema walked in and was introduced to the returnees, there was an outburst of jubilation, with the song”onyema kayigeso, monjej monanana onyema kayigeso”-an igbo song declaring complete loyalty to Onyema.

The returnees were predominantly from South east.

In the midst of this, Onyema covered his face and wept profusely.

He wept for Joy.

There has been nothing but praises by Nigerians across divides on the patriotic gesture of the business mogul. Some vented their anger on religious leaders who according to them, “refuses to send their Private Jets to evacuate Nigerians but will expect them to come to their church for thanks giving when they return”.

Meanwhile, contrary to reports, no sanctions were targeted at the South African government to jolt them to take positive action against Xenophobic attacks. instead, the South African government officials were outdoing themselves trying to either justify the attacks or sit on the wall in morbid attempts at political correctness. “They must align with the expectations of the masses for election purposes”, an analyst told this magazine last week

Reports also indicate that South African authorities were busy trying to prevent Nigerians from leaving. For those who left, their Visas were cancelled to make sure they do not come back.

PDP Governors Visit Buhari At Night To Pledge Allegiance – Wike

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed some PDP Governors as hypocrites.

Speaking on Thursday in Port Harcourt, he accused them of visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in the night to pledge allegiance to him.

Wike was responding to criticisms from some quarters following his unexpected congratulatory message to Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal on Wednesday.

Wike’s party, the PDP, condemned the Tribunal judgement in very strong terms, vowing to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

But defending himself, Wike said: “I do my own in public. What do you expect me to do? The Tribunal said he won. Why won’t I congratulate him? I do mine in public.

I am not some PDP Governors who visit Buhari at night to pledge allegiance to him. I will never visit him. I will never pay allegiance to him. He is not my friend. Everybody knows he is not my friend. But, Buhari, congratulations.”

Masari Personalises the Katsina Primary Education

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Uche Mbah

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September 12, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Governor of Katsina state, Aminu Masari, has allegedly personalized the education system in Katsina state such that instead of “A for Apple”, children now learn “A for APC” and “M for Masari”.

Generally, educationists use common objects like Apple, books and other things to introduce the letters of the alphabet to early learners. But in Katsina, it has become a political ploy to allegedly start from infancy to indoctrinate the children into party politics and personality cults. Katsina is an All Progressives congress, APC state.

According to reports, the student/ teacher ratio in Katsina is put at 75/1 in the state public primary schools.

Apart from the conventional schools, the state is one of the those that are plagued with the Almajiri system. Besides, the nomadic education system also has it’s root there.

It is not clear whether other states are following suit in the imortalization of themselves within the children psyches.

Kanu Chides Arsenal For Letting Iwobi Leave

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo, has lambasted Arsenal Football Club coach, Unai Emery, for selling Alexander Iwobi to Merseyside club, Everton Football Club.

The two-time African Footballer of the Year – 1996 and 1999 – blamed the coach for failing to advice the club Management on the need to keep the Nigerian at the club.

Kanu insisted that Iwobi was part of the future of the club as he was an integral part of the Arsenal team in the 2018/2019 season and has been part of the rebuilding of the team few years to the exit of former coach, Arsene Wenger.

“It is a big loss for the club allowing Iwobi to go. The loss of Arsenal is a big gain for Everton.

“If I had known that Arsenal was going to let him go, I would have advised them not to sell this promising youngster. Iwobi is worth more than the 40 million Pounds Everton paid”, Kanu stressed.

Kanu who spent over five years with the London club won the 1998/1999 and 2003/2004 seasons English Premier League trophy and several FA Cup titles with the club believes the club was ill-advised on the decisions taken so far, especially on Iwobi.

Odegbami Alleges Yekini Was Murdered By Friends

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Governorship Candidate in Ogun State during the last 2019 General Election in the country and former Green Eagles player, Segun Odegbami, has alleged that the late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, was killed by friends due to his philanthropic gestures to people and the money he had.

The former 1980 African Cup of Nations winner made this allegation on Channels Television, saying that contrary to the insinuations that Yekini was suffering from insanity and schrizonphrenia, he was murdered by his friends.

“His people actually abducted him from his car and took him to a native doctor claiming that he was suffering from insanity. Why insanity? Just because he was doing some philanthropic projects, giving people money, which he had kept in the bank for so long.

“All through his professional career, he wasn’t spending lavishly, he had kept the money in the bank. The money he made in Europe was kept in his United Bank for Africa, UBA, account.

“He was advised to invest the money, but due to his own native intelligence, he had preferred to keep it in the bank. He built his house and did some little things. He had a lot of money on him so he decided to distribute it to people and assist them which his friends weren’t happy about that. They took him to a native doctor who started giving him some concoctions that later deteriorated his health which later led to his death. That’s why I said he was murdered by his friends”.

When asked how he got all this information, the Wasinmi born, Ogun State indigene, said he was privileged to be a friend to his account officer and one of the managers of the bank that revealed all this to him in confidence.

The late Yekini was an integral part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 AFCON tournament, and also qualified Nigeria for its first world cup appearance at the United States of America in 1994.

Yekini was, also, the African Footballer of the Year in 1995, and still remains Nigeria’s highest goal scorer of all time with 39 goals to his credit.

He died in year 2012.

Why PDP Governors Deserted Party, Atiku, At Election Tribunal

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Uche Secondus, the PDP National Chairman, cut a lonely figure at the venue of the Presidential Election Tribunal on Wednesday. He was there without any support from any of his Party’s governors. That was unlike his APC counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole, who was surrounded not only by party big wigs, but by a couple of APC governors.

Speculations have been rife as to why they all abandoned their party and their candidate on such a crucial day.

One of the reasons, according to one of them, is that they have all moved on, and are looking forward to 2023 where, at least, five of them are already angling to contest for the office of the President, and would rather not waste time on the outcome of the 2019 election.

Another PDP stakeholder told thesourceng.com that none of the governors was present because they knew, in advance, that nothing was going to come out of the case, and that they would rather not waste their time on a lost case.

Another said they boycotted because their candidate, Atiku, has been away to Dubai since the election, and was not, for once, present during the hearings at the Tribunal.

“There was no leadership or inspiration from him. He was absent all through, leaving his running mate, Peter Obi, to carry the can.”

Yet, not a few people said that the governors did not behave well, and that whatever was the case, they ought to have shown some solidarity with the candidate. They say the party is likely to approach the Supreme Court a divided house.

In the next few days, political pundits say, a number of them are likely to follow the foot steps of Rivers State Governor and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Election Tribunal.

Anger, Indifference Trail Tribunal Judgement

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Uche Mbah

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September 12, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

There was no jubilation following the Tribunal ruling that President Muhammadu Buhari was duly elected President of Nigeria by the Presidential Election Tribunal; instead, it has become the butt of jokes amid angry outbursts on the social media.

Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had dismissed the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples democratic party, PDP, Atiku abubakar, striking out the petition “in its entirety”.

But there was no jubilation outside the court, as is usually the case with such electoral victories in court. Critics interpret this as meaning that Nigerians have resigned themselves to fate as they are disappointed with the ruling. Many insist that the Judiciary, the last hope of the common man has become gagged, and has become an appendage to the Executive.

“Now that the PDP petitions have been “stroked out”, by the judicial herdsmen,can we go back to South Africa??”, a Facebook commentator asked.President

Nigerians are being airlifted back from South Africa with reports of the South African Authorities preventing them from coming back.Certain points in the Judgement has elicited wisecrack from Nigerians. the assertion that President Buhari is an old man and cannot tell lies has received the most reactions.

But the Senate President has said that the Judgement has put a “Judicial seal” on the presidency of Buhari.

“This is the kind of judgement that leads to a revolution in a country”, says Buba Galadima.

Some opposition watchers insist that it is premature to say there is no celebration. According to them, it will not be long before the government rents crowds to celebrate.

“Even in the said VICTORY, there is no seeming excitement. We shall reap what we sow”, wrote Peter Osamgbi on his Facebook page.

On his own, Joachin Okhai wrote: “Jurisprudence in Nig. suffered its worst attack yesterday.
May posterity be unkind to Justice Garba, Abang et al.”

Breaking : Wike Breaks Rank With PDP, Congratulates Buhari

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

From an unexpected quarter came a congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has, unexpectedly, congratulated the President on his resounding victory, Wednesday, at the Presidential Elections Tribunal. In doing so, he sent shock waves within PDP stakeholders and supporters.

President Buhari’s election was re-affirmed by the Tribunal which dismissed all the five grounds on which Wike’s party, the PDP, hinged its petition against Buhari’s victory.

But the PDP, in a swift response, rejected the judgement, dismissing it as a robbery and a rape of justice, vowing to challenge it at the Supreme Court.

However, in a surprise move, the Rivers Governor has congratulated the President on his victory, thus breaking ranks with his party. He has, also, become the first outside the APC governors, to congratulate President Buhari.

While congratulating him, Governor Wike advised President Buhari to use his victory over Atiku, to work for the country.

Obviously, if, and when the PDP goes to the Supreme Court, it will be without the support of one of its key governors- Wike.

It will be recalled that the relationship between the party and Wike has not been smooth, especially, since Hon. Ndudi Elumelu became the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives against Wike’s favourite choice, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.

Wike Accuses PDP Of Corruption; Threatens To Fight The Party To A Standstill

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The Source

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September 12, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

From a high profile member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, comes a serious allegation of corruption against a Committee of the Party.

The allegation came from the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

He also warned the PDP not to mess with Rivers state as, according to him, the State is capable of facing the party squarely.

The governor issued the warning in Portharcourt on Tuesday, remarkably, on the day the Presidential Election Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by his party and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

His warning and allegation stem from his anger over a Panel set up by the party to investigate the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

Elumelu, from Delta state, had clinched the position against Hon. Chinda, from Rivers State, favoured by the Governor for the position.

Wike and his supporters had decried the process which produced Elumelu as untidy. The National leadership of the party, which, allegedly, was not in support of Elumelu’s emergence, had suspended him, and some others, and set up a panel to probe the circumstances through which Elumelu emerged.

Since then, it has been a ding-dong affair. The Committee seem not to have taken off properly, not to talk of proffering any solution.

A former Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Austin Opara, who was named as a member of the Committee, later quit his membership of the Committee, allegedly, over pressures from the home front.

On Tuesday, Wike dismissed the Committee as patently corrupt, the most corrupt, according to him, in the history of party politics.

Wike: “The committee set up by the PDP on the illegal emergence of Ndudi Elumelu is the most corrupt committee ever set up by the party. We thank our worthy son, Austin Opara, for withdrawing from the committee, so that he is entangled in the illegal activities of the tainted committee.”

The governor also had some hard words for the PDP.

“We are warning PDP to be careful not to toy with Rivers State. The state has all it takes to withstand the PDP, and fight the party to a standstill. Rivers governor is not one of those governors that anyone can cajole. He is not one of those governors that will kowtow to illicit activities.”

Incidentally, this is not the first time the governor would issue a threat to his party.

Days to the Party’s Presidential Primary, Wike had vowed to deal with the party for planning to withdraw the hosting rights from his state, after giving it to them.

He apologised later for the threat. The primary finally held in Rivers State. Even though he supported a different aspirant, Atiku won decisively.

In the case of the Minority Leadership of the House, this magazine gathered that denying Chinda the position was a high-wired political manoeuvre by a number of PDP stakeholders, including some PDP Governors who feel that the Rivers State Governor has formed the habit of imposing his will on the party, and has vowed to begin to resist same. They allege that he is “bullying” the party because of the financial muscle of his state.

Said one of the governors to the magazine: “Wike is bullying the party. He wants to run the party for us. He wants to impose his will all the time. He made Uche Secondus the Chairman. He took the Presidential primary to Rivers State. He threatened us over the failure of his favourite candidate to fly the Presidential flag. And he wanted to impose the Minority Leader on us. That is not right. Enough is enough”