Monday 27 June 2016

Lionel Messi Retires From International Football Amidst Tears

Messi 2
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.
“It’s not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I’ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion,” the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.
With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.
Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germany before two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.
“It’s been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over,” he added.
“I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there’s a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.
“It’s very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back.”
SOURCE: Nigeraimonitor

Lionel Messi Retires From International Football Amidst Tears

Messi 2
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.
“It’s not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I’ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion,” the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.
With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.
Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germany before two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.
“It’s been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over,” he added.
“I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there’s a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.
“It’s very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back.”
SOURCE: Nigeraimonitor

Tension In Police Force As New IG Recommends Immediate Retirement of 30 Senior Officers

Idris
According to reports on Monday, the new acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Friday, allegedly wrote a letter to the presidency to retire 30 senior officers.
The officers who are of the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, were said to have been penned down for immediate retirement.
A source who spoke to THISDAY Newspaper said, “There is serious tension at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. We have heard that the new acting IG wants to retire both his seniors and course-mates.
“On Friday, he wrote to the presidency, through the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and it was approved and forwarded to the desk of the President for final approval.
“According to what Idris wrote, his reason why he asked for their retirement is that he cannot work with them. He said he wants to in all sense of the word take charge of the police.
“He said since he has been given the responsibility to provide security, it was imperative that these AIGs be removed because they might be a clog in his wheel of progress.
“With this move, there is a tendency to make 14 Commissioners of Police AIGs since the available and compulsory vacancy for AIGs is 26.
“Already before now, 12 AIGs were promoted. From the 12, they will take seven of them to become Deputy Inspector General (DIGs) of Police and then they will be forced to go to the CP rank to fill up the AIG rank of 26.
“We wonder why they are removing experienced hands that would have helped him steer the police to greater heights.
“These officers that will be retired, are the last set of senior policemen that were trained abroad, or have gone for short courses.
“I don’t know why we are wasting manpower. By removing these old hands, we will have to expend huge amount of money to train the new crop of AIGs and CPs.”
SOURCE: Nigerianmonitor

Court Orders Governor Ikpeazu Of Abia To Vacate Office Immediately

Ikpeazu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, to vacate office immediately for submitting false information to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, for the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.

Justice Okon Abang in a judgment on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately issue a certificate of return to the plaintiff, Uche Ogah, who polled the second highest number of votes in the primary.
SOURCE: Punch

Folorunsho Alakija Makes Forbes List Of Most Powerful Women Of 2016

Folorunsho-Alakija_2841570b
Africa richest woman, Folorunsho Alakija has been named among one of the 100 Most Powerful Women of 2016 according to a list released by Forbes.  The magazine released its annual, and Folorunsho Alakija’s whose net worth as of yesterday, June 6, 2016 is $1.72 billion was among those listed.

The 66-year-old married mother of four is the vice chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company that has a 60% participating interest in block OML 127, part of the larger Agbami field, one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater discoveries, about 70 miles offshore. It partners include Chevron and Petrobras. Her first company was a fashion label that catered to Nigeria’s elite women, including the wife of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who awarded Alakija’s company an oil prospecting license. Alakija’s net worth has fallen in the past year as a result of lower oil prices.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel topped the list for the second time in a row, while US White House hopeful Hillary Clinton came in second, also steady in her ranking, and has a clear shot at the number one spot if she wins the Presidential election, Forbes said.
US Fed Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, philanthropist Melinda Gates and General Motors CEO Mary Barra rounded off the top five.

SOURCE: Nigerianmonitor


Friday 24 June 2016

David Cameron resigns as British Prime Minister

david-cameron_1939896c
David Cameron has resigned as Prime Minister of Britain in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.
His resignation followed a landmark referendum that saw the country voting to leave the European Union.
Mr. Cameron voice broke as he announced the cabinet would meet on Monday to draw up a time-table for his exit as leader of the world fifth largest economy.
A new prime minister is expected to be elected in October.
A majority of British voters (51.7 percent) followed the call of Pro-Leave campaigners who had described the vote as an independence from the European Union oppression and bureaucracy that has resulted in mass migration into the island country.
While England voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed the Remain camp.
With Over 72.2 percent voters’ turnout (last general election in the country has 66.1 percent turnout), many pro-Leave campaigners, led by leader of far-right UKIP party, Nigel Farage and former mayor of London Boris Johnson, are already seeing the referendum as a rejection of the leadership of Mr. Cameron, who campaigned vigorously for Britain to remain in the EU.

David Cameron has resigned as Prime Minister of Britain in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.
His resignation followed a landmark referendum that saw the country voting to leave the European Union.
Mr. Cameron voice broke as he announced the cabinet would meet on Monday to draw up a time-table for his exit as leader of the world fifth largest economy.
A new prime minister is expected to be elected in October.
A majority of British voters (51.7 percent) followed the call of Pro-Leave campaigners who had described the vote as an independence from the European Union oppression and bureaucracy that has resulted in mass migration into the island country.
While England voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed the Remain camp.
With Over 72.2 percent voters’ turnout (last general election in the country has 66.1 percent turnout), many pro-Leave campaigners, led by leader of far-right UKIP party, Nigel Farage and former mayor of London Boris Johnson, are already seeing the referendum as a rejection of the leadership of Mr. Cameron, who campaigned vigorously for Britain to remain in the EU.
Despite a strong showing for the Pro-remain campaign in London and Scotland, majority of British cities voted to quit the EU.
Mr Cameron’s Tory party rival, Boris Johnson, who hasn’t hidden his desire to become PM is seen by many as a possible successor.
“I think the Boris Johnson momentum will be unstoppable,” Steven Fielding, a professor of political history at the University of Nottingham told the Washington Post.
“Cameron will try to find a dignified exit. But it’s not clear how long the backbenchers will give him to do that.”
Mr. Farage, who already admitted that the Pro-remain were going to win the referendum, recanted and claimed victory for the historic decision.
“We have got our country back,” he tweeted. “Thanks to all of you.”
Let June 23rd go down in history as our Independence Day,” he shouted with arms held high to his supporters.
Although Mr Farage is claiming this as a personal victory, many political analysts see the possibility of his anti-immigration far-right party occupying No 10 Downing Street as far-fetched.
Gisela Stuart, Vote leave campaigner and Labour MP, addressed Manchester Town Hall this morning.
She says, “We have just taken control. 33 million people went to the ballot box and made a democratic decision. They reflected on our 40 year history and by a majority they have decided to leave.
“I think that is democracy at work.”
Pound crashes to three-decade low
The news of the Britain exit from the EU caused immediate backlash to the country’s economy as the sterling crashed to 9 per cent against the dollar – its lowest value since 1985.
Financial analysts also fear more debilitating consequences of the decision on the world’s fifth largest economy in the coming days.
“People will be waking up this morning to turmoil in the markets and the pound crashing, and fearing the emergency budget the Chancellor threatened to hike their taxes and cut public services, said shadow chancellor, John McDonnell.
“The Government must now take steps to stabilise the economy, and to protect jobs, pensions and wages. Labour will not allow any instability to be paid for by the working people of this country,” he added.

SOURCE: Premiumtimesng

Monday 20 June 2016

“We are happy our daddy is back hale, hearty”

President Mohammadu Buhari yesterday returned to Abuja, saying he was completely healed, stronger, more energetic and now fit to resume presidential duties. Recall that the president penultimate week proceeded on a 10 day leave and later jetted out to London, United Kingdom where he had gone to treat a persistent ear infection. He was due to come back to the country on Thursday but failed to do so.

The Vice President as the Acting President then told Journalists that the president would be returning to the country on Sunday (Yesterday) as he needed to rest after the medicals. The president whose aircraft touched down at exactly 5:35 pm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday said he was now fit. In a sure-footed manner, the president spoke to the State House Correspondents after inspecting a guard of honour by the Nigeria Armed Forces. 


“You have seen me. You saw me when I was going. You can do the assessment yourself. “I am okay. You can see me inspecting the guard of honour. You can see I am taller than you. Do you want to wrestle with me, you can do so”, he said. 

Also, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said he would resume duty today. “Mr President is fit and will resume work on Monday”, he said. 

On his part, the Chairman of Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari expressed gratitude to God for bringing the president home safely. “We thank God for bringing him (Buhari) back to his country. 

It is a good thing he went on break and returned to his people hale and hearty.” “Our daddy is back. He has gone to take a rest we are happy that he is back”, he said.

 Meanwhile, among government officials who were on hand to welcome the President were members of the cabinet including the Minister of the Environment Amina Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of the Niger Delta affairs, Usani Usani. Others included Minister of Water Resources, Minister of State for Education, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe; Minister of Budget and National planning, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Interior, Gen. Dambazzua; Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

 Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and Chief of Army Staff, Bruntia were also on hand.
SOURCE: Vanguardngr