2022: Lasun Yussuff, Adeoti, Najeem Salam Join TOP, Vow To unseat oyetola

Three prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, today expressed their readiness to work together to rescue the party from what they described as imminent collapse and electoral loss.

Immediate past deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yussuff, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam and former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, jointly declared that APC cannot win the 2022 governorship election if it fields the incumbent, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

The trio who also contested the ticket of the party with Oyetola in 2018 lamented that the governor has been playing politics of exclusiveness and disunity since he took over.

Speaking at a special meeting of The Osun Progressives TOP, a caucus of the party, Salam said it was disheartening that genuine APC members who worked for the emergence of Oyetola, were being treated as outcast and nonentities by the governor and his people.

According to Salam, Oyetola was mismanaging the party because he is an opportunist, who got the party’s ticket on a platter of gold.

He said Yussuff, Adeoti and himself have resolved to downplay individuals’ political interest, accept and work with whoever emerges among them as the candidate of the party in 2022.

The former Speaker urged party members to work in unison to realise the dreams of the majority in a bid to salvage the party and the state.

Speaking in the same vein, Yussuff, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said it was painful that the APC in the state is in the hands of an impostor, stating that the party is in disarray and needed to be restructured.

Yussuff said he decided to join hands with other leaders of the party in The Osun Progressives because of his love for progressives, his relationship with the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola and the need to take the party back to the genuine progressives in the state.

Accoding to him, APC ran into problem in 2018 because its leaders refused to allow collective leadership to play out, accusing them of imposing Oyetola on the APC members.

He submitted that this time around, the leaders of the party are ready to embrace collective leadership which will start from presenting a candidate from their camp against Oyetola during the primaries of the party.

In his address, Adeoti, the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in 2018, said it was surprising that a governor that won with just 482 votes would be chasing away quality APC members and leaders.

Adeoti said it was hypocritical and unfair for Oyetola to be dissociating himself from policies, programmes and projects of Aregbesola’s administration, disclosing that he was actively involved in every decision of the government as a Chief of Staff to the governor.

The former SSG accused elders of the APC of nonchalant attitude to settlement of misunderstanding in the party before it snowballed into full crisis.

He specifically accused the former Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun of being a party to the crisis, saying that the former Chairman of the APC was also not willing to relate with anybody that has relationship with Aregbesola.

Adeoti concluded that the window of reconciliation has been closed, stating that what is needed was to be united to rescue the party from sinking.

All the three governorship aspirants jointly promised to work together, restructure the party and position it for victory in 2022.

GOLD FM FRCN ILESA.

AFCON: European Clubs Threaten To Withhold Players

 

AFCON trophy. 

Europe’s top clubs are threatening not to release players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon over fears surrounding its Covid-19 health protocol.

The European Club Association, which represents leading clubs across the continent, made its concerns known to FIFA in a letter seen by AFP.

“With regards to applicable protocols, as far as we are aware, CAF (the Confederation of African football) has not yet made available a suitable medical and operational protocol for the AFCON tournament, in the absence of which clubs will not be able to release players for the tournament,” the ECA told football’s world governing body.

The Cup of Nations, which was already postponed last year due to the health crisis, is due to start in Cameroon on January 9 and run until February 6.

Many of Africa’s leading players are based at clubs in Europe, including Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City, Achraf Hakimi, and Idrissa Gana Gueye of Paris Saint-Germain.

The ECA also raised concerns about the danger of players being unavailable for even longer periods due to the potential for travel restrictions or mandatory quarantine being introduced, in particular in relation to the emerging threat posed by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

According to FIFA’s rules for the release of players for international duty during the pandemic, clubs can retain players if “there is a mandatory quarantine of at least five days on arrival” in the place “where a national team match is supposed to take place” or when the player returns to his club.

An executive board meeting of the ECA — which represents almost 250 European clubs — on December 2 said these principles “must be strictly respected”, according to the letter sent to FIFA Deputy Secretary General Mattias Grafstroem.

“Should this not be the case…players (should) not be released for international duty”.

 ‘Unmanageable’ 

Clubs could lose players who are called up for the 24-team tournament from as early as December 27, which is particularly problematic for those based in England, where there is a busy schedule of matches over the holiday period in late December and early January.

“For certain clubs expected to release players, including English and French clubs, domestic competition matches are due to take place up until early January and hence the overlap of the 2022 AFCON release dates…are unmanageable,” added the ECA, whose chairman is Qatar’s Nasser al-Khelaifi, also the president of PSG.

CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba is currently in Cameroon overseeing final preparations for the delayed tournament.

The organisation refused to comment on the ECA threat when contacted by AFP but, in an update on its website, said that Mosengo-Omba “urged everyone to work around the clock to ensure that everything is in place for the opening game”.

However, the pandemic would appear to pose a far bigger threat to the successful staging of the tournament than concerns about the host nation’s readiness.

The CAF update said its president, Patrice Motsepe, had been in discussions with the Cameroonian government “on sanitary approach and Covid-19 protocols”.

When contacted by AFP, a senior official in the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) dismissed any suggestion the tournament could be called off as “fake news”.

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Alleged Sexual Assault: Lagos State Closes Case In Baba Ijesha’s Trial

The prosecution team of the Lagos State Government has closed its case against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha.

He is standing trial at the Sexual Offences Court sitting in Ikeja over allegations of defiling a minor.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi told the court on Wednesday that it was closing its case after the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness.

Following the DPP’s statement, the defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran announced to the court that the defence team intends to file a no-case submission.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said the no-case submission will be taken in the year as “the court is rounding up” for 2021.

Before this, the court ruled on the confessional statement made by the defendant to the police.

Justice Taiwo held that it was admissible as evidence.

She also ruled that there was no evidence before the court that proved that the Nollywood actor was tortured into giving the statement to the police.

She noted that there was no corroboration to the defendant’s claim that a police officer, one Inspector Abigail Omane had promised to set him free if he owned up to the allegations. She described as an afterthought the defendant’s application stating the same.

“Sitting on the floor does not vitiate the confessional statement. The statement is found to be relevant and admissible,” the judge said.

Following the ruling, the last prosecution witness, Inspector Abigail Omane resumed her evidence.

The police officer told the court that after she had taken the evidence of the defendant, she had taken all the parties in the case to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

“Thereafter the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti,” she said.

R being cross-examined by Olabiran, Omane threw more light on why the defendant’s shirt was torn when he was brought to the police station.

“The survivor told us that she was the one that beat him. There was no report of harassment of the complainant at the police station.

“I’m not aware if the police were informed prior to the installation of the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the complainant’s house,” she said.

The case has been adjourned to January 26 for the adoption of the no-case submission of the defendant.

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2023 Presidency: I Will ‘Consult Widely’ Before Making A Decision – Tinubu

 

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, said he will consult widely before making a decision on whether to run for the Presidency in 2023.

He made the remark after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Northern Alliance Committee in Abuja.

“I am not going to turn them down,” he said of voices that have clamoured for his candidacy. “But I will still effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians.

“But the President is still in office. I don’t want to distract him from all the challenges he might face today. So, don’t muddle the political waters. Consult, make our program known to the people later. And the intention is clear. So you can keep guessing.”

Tuesday’s meeting is seen as part of his consultations towards his 2023 presidential ambitions.

Some South-West politicians, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have openly endorsed Tinubu for President.

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Buhari Asks NASS To Address Issues That Will Strengthen Nigeria’s Democracy

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the National Assembly to address issues that will strengthen the nation’s democracy.

Speaking at the maiden parliamentarian lectures 2021 organised by NASS in collaboration with the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), he said the executive arm of government would continue to partner with the National Assembly

According to the President, this is for the smooth governance and execution of bills for the overall benefits of Nigerians.

President Buhari was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

While noting that Nigerians have called for the review of the 1999 Constitution, the President said he is aware that National Assembly is engaging stakeholders in the process of the constitutional amendment.

“I equally charge you to ensure that this lecture series is sustained and targeted at addressing key national and constitutional issues in a manner that will strengthen our democracy, eliminate grey areas and enthrone best practices,” President Buhari said.

“The Executive arm of government shall continue to build on the existing good working relationship with the legislature to ensure that the interest of each and every Nigerian is advanced and public good delivered.

“I, therefore, charge the National Assembly and the Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies to ensure that the outcome is well documented and circulated.”

He commended the 9th Assembly leadership for the maiden parliamentarian lecture, stating that it offers a veritable platform to enunciate outcomes of research, comparative analysis, best practices, tactical reasoning and policy implementations in the government’s quest to deliver good governance to Nigerians.

On the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari said the disease has tested the fabric of more established democracies around the world, with Nigeria equally affected.

He added, “There is no doubt that our system was equally affected, especially when the sub-national entities were allowed to determine whether or not to join others in enforcing control measures against the spread of the virus.

“It is on this important note that I wish to commend the leadership and members of the ninth National Assembly for their immense contributions to the promotion of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

“It remains a statement of fact that the legislature is the embodiment of the doctrine of popular sovereignty which recognises that the people are the source of all political power.

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Bisi Akande Is Someone I Can Go Into The Jungle With – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said a former interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Bisi Akande is a ‘‘perfect public officer,” and a person he could go into the jungle with.

Speaking at the public presentation of ‘My Participations,’ the autobiography of Akande, Buhari stated that the author has retained inflexible integrity in and out of public office, adding that he never accepted or offered bribes.

The President also described the former governor of Osun State as a decent, truthful, and friendly person as well as an administrator of the first order, whose leadership qualities made him the unanimous choice as the first Chairman of the APC.

“My first personal contact with Chief Akande was, if I recall correctly, in 2006 when preliminary consultations were coming to fruition for a grand coalition to unseat the PDP Government,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

“Those efforts eventually came to nothing. Neither he, nor I, nor many of our friends and associates gave up as, in Chief Akande’s words: “the country was going down and down under PDP” (p.396 of My Participations).”

While noting how Akande rose to prominence from his participation in the Constituent Assembly established by the Military Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo, Buhari said the ex-Osun governor was always in the thick of things through the difficulties and political discontinuities of the 1980s and 90s.

According to Buhari, Akande emerged as Governor of Osun State in 1999 when the military handed over to the civilians.

“Chief Akande had a horrendous baptism as Governor of Osun State with discord from his own party; his State Assembly (including an attempt to impeach him without any reason whatsoever); from the trade unions and from his own deputy governor!

“On top of that, he inherited a deeply indebted Treasury, huge arrears of salary, allowances, and pensions. Enough challenges to overwhelm many aspiring leaders.

“Bisi Akande stood four square and faced all the challenges head-on and overcame most of them. His first action was to stop payment of “critical allowances” a euphemism for government money customarily shared by the big boys in Osun State.

“This set the tone of his Administration. By 2003 Chief Akande had virtually sanitised governance in Osun State having cleared some of the troublemakers from his government and, though reluctant to serve a second term, he was persuaded to run again,” he said.

The President reflected on the political history of the author, particularly his bid to seek a second term as Osun governor.

Buhari noted that Akande was the victim – along with other AD Governors – of a diabolical double-cross which ended his gubernatorial career.

He added that it was only APC National Leader and ex-Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, whom the President said escaped the electoral massacre masterminded by President Obasanjo.

“Desperately disappointed though he was, and being a good Muslim, he accepted this setback as part of the trials of life. He looked to the future of service to the country.

“Chief Akande was in the thick of further attempts in 2011 and 2014 to fuse together different groups and dislodge PDP from governance.

“The key to his thinking which coincides with mine is that Nigeria can only be successfully managed by alliances between major groups.

“Although we failed in 2011, by persistence and knowledge that PDP was driving the country towards disaster, several major parties were able to finally coalesce into APC in 2014.

“Chief Akande was unanimously chosen as the first Chairman of this great coalition. Throughout the difficult negotiations, I found Akande truthful, steady and always with an eye to the ultimate goal.

“In or out of office, he has retained his inflexible integrity. On p.400 of his book, he wrote: ‘I never gave to or demanded bribe from anyone all my life.’ A perfect gentleman. A perfect public officer,” Buhari stated further.

Quoting a famous Hausa saying, ”Labarin zucciya a tambayi fuska” (loosely translated -if you want to know what is in a man’s heart watch his face), President Buhari affirmed that Akande has a permanent smile on his face, saying ”He is the type I will go into the jungle with.”

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Gender Equality Bill Suffers Setback In Senate

The Gender Equality Bill on Wednesday suffered a setback in the Senate as the sponsor Senator Biodun Olujimi was advised to step it down for further consultations with lawmakers who have reservations about the bill.

Senator Olujimi had tabled the bill for second reading in the Upper Chamber during the plenary session, stating that the bill seeks to eliminate discrimination against women and physically challenged members of society.

According to her, the bill will help eliminate gender stereotypes and harmful practices against widows, as well as encourage women to reach their full potentials.

The law

maker also explained that the bill which was thrown out in the Eight Senate has been repackaged and the issues ironed out through wider consultation with stakeholders.

But two of her colleagues, Senators Yusuf Yusuf (Taraba) and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), argued that the bill talks about equality between men and women which is against Islam and Christianity.

They say they will not support the bill in this form unless the title of the bill is changed by eliminating equality from the caption.

Senator Olujimi, on her part, agreed to change the title of the bill to now read Gender Equity Bill.

However, this does not satisfy some lawmakers, particularly Senator Yusuf who says he cannot support a bill when he has not studied the content.

He, therefore, requested that Senator Olujimi steps down the bill for another day.

A few senators, including the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, also argued that given the significance of the bill, there is a need for further engagements to allow lawmakers better understand the purpose and intent of the bill.

Frustrated by the action of her colleagues, Senator Olujimi reluctantly stepped down the gender equality bill to prevent it from being killed and allow for further consultations.

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Awoniyi Scores Ninth League Goal As Union Berlin Beat Leipzig

 

Union Berlin’s Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1 FC Union Berlin v RB Leipzig in Berlin on December 3, 2021. Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

In-form Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s early goal set Union Berlin on the path to a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig on Friday, lifting them to fourth in the German Bundesliga.

This was Awoniyi’s ninth Bundesliga goal this season while the result leaves Leipzig still looking for an away win in the league.

Ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures, Berlin climb to fourth on 23 points from 14 games.

Awoniyi pounced at the far post on six minutes to put Union 1-0 but Leipzig midfielder Christopher Nkunku levelled with a speculative shot from outside the box that bounced over the diving keeper on 13 minutes.

Union then grabbed the winner just before the hour mark when a shot from Max Kruse was deflected off teammate Timo Baumgartl and into the goal.

Leipzig, who are eighth in the table, face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday but their hopes of making the last 16 are already over.

The weekend’s major clash comes Saturday when Borussia Dortmund host Bayern Munich.

Star Bundesliga strikers Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski go head-to-head with one point between the sides.

Haaland has scored 10 Bundesliga goals for Dortmund so far this season while Lewandowski has 14 goals for Bayern.

AFP

Ramaphosa Visits Nigeria, Ask Countries To Lift Travel Ban Imposed On S/Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari and President Cyril Ramaphosa at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a lifting of the travel ban imposed on his country and other sister countries.

Ramaphosa said the restriction (which he termed discriminatory) should be reversed to avert long-lasting damage to the economies of the countries affected.

The South African leader said this on Wednesday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

He expressed gratitude at the reception and solidarity by the Nigerian government, a gesture he said sends the strongest message.

He adds that both countries have signed 32 agreements which include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of youth development and agreement on audiovisual cooperation, and a programme of cooperation on arts and culture, expected to boost the film production industries in both countries.

The two leaders equally launched two major initiatives during the bi-national commission, a joint Ministerial Advisory Council on trade, investment, and industry, a platform to wade off obstacles on doing business between both countries, and the inauguration of South Africa, Nigeria youth dialogue.

He stressed that the dialogue will further build the capacity of both South African and Nigerian youths across a range of sectors from peacebuilding to conflict resolution.

Rangnick Granted Work Permit To Start Man Utd Job

 

Ralf Rangnick

Ralph Rangnick has been granted a work permit to start his reign as Manchester United manager, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

The 63-year-old German will be introduced to the media on Friday and take charge of the team for the first time at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

“As all paperwork has now been completed, we will hold an in-person press conference with Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford at 9:00 am tomorrow morning,” said a United statement.

United confirmed the appointment of Rangnick as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s short-term replacement on Monday.

But Rangnick, who was manager of sports and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, had to wait for a work permit to begin his role at Old Trafford.

Caretaker manager Michael Carrick will take charge for a third time against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Thursday, the former United midfielder having overseen a Champions League win at Villarreal and a Premier League draw at Chelsea.

Rangnick will remain as manager until the end of the season before starting a two-year consultancy role at United.