Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has reacted to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s outstanding performances in the 2021 African Cup of Nations tournament.
Naija News reports that the two Reds’ forward helped their nation qualify for the finals after beating their opponents in the semi-final.
Egypt had defeated AFCON host Cameroon on penalties, while Senegal also won 3-1 against Burkina Faso.
Reacting to the development, Klopp has told Salah and Mane that one of them will suffer heartbreak after full-time in the final match.
Egypt will face Senegal in the 2021 AFCON final this Sunday in Cameroon.
Klopp, however, during his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Cardiff City on Sunday, said it won’t be easy for one of the African players as one will win and the other will lose.
He commended the players saying “Great achievement for both [Salah and Mane] getting through to the [AFCON] final.”
Klopp added: “Naby [Keita of Guinea] played an exceptional tournament as well. So far, a really successful tournament for our boys and it will be exciting.
“It won’t be easy because one will be really happy afterwards and one less so. It’s a chance to achieve something really big.”
Speaking on the availability of both Salah and Mane for Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Leicester on Thursday, Klopp added: “I think they will be available, but we will see.
“Tuesday or Wednesday is the latest the winner will be back, the other slightly earlier. I have to talk to them. They have rhythm as they have played quite a few games!”
A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu says his perfect understanding of Nigeria, positions him as the right candidate for the 2023 presidency.
He stated this on Friday evening during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, monitored by POLITICS NIGERIA, where he spoke about his plans for the country if elected to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I understand Nigeria. I know Nigeria. I have the Fulani brain, I have the Kanuri brain, I have the Yoruba brain, I have the Efik brain, I know everybody by communities, by homes. And Nigeria requires a Nigerian who will claim to be (truly) Nigerian,” he said.
Asked if he sees Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, as a threat, Kalu answered, “No! and I am not a threat to his ambition. By the time we meet in Eagles Square, this issue will be settled.
“Mind you, politics is not only about money; it is about the people you are going to govern … the people of the north-west, the people of north-east, the people of north-central, the people of the south-east, the people of the south-west, and the people of south-south, and we have the people. I can move the people and the people are with me.”
Kassim Afegbua, spokesperson of former military president Ibrahim Babangida and one-time campaign spokesman for ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) rigged the 2019 presidential election.
It will be recalled that on February 27, 2019, Atiku lost the presidential election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC by over 3 million votes. Atiku subsequently described the election as the “worst in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
Asked in a recent interview with Punch if he aligns with the claim that Atiku was rigged out as claimed by the former VP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time, Afegbua accused the APC of rigging the last presidential election through Borno and Yobe states.
“Of course we were rigged out,” he said. “They used Borno and Yobe states to rig the election. Yobe state recorded close to 84 per cent attendance; such a curious figure where insurgency has been ravaging, same goes for Borno, about 86 per cent attendance. The figures we scored in those two states affected us badly, and we felt the military under Buratai (Tukur Yusuf) might have compromised. Don’t forget that there was this issue of bullets for ballot during that election. It was like a threat and the rest, as they say is history.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has ratified the creation of a new government agency, the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB).
The establishment of the agency followed a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami.
In a statement issued on behalf of Pantami, Uwa Suleiman, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, his media aide, said the NDPB was established in line with global best practice and will focus on data protection and privacy for the country, among others.
He said the successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria has significantly increased the adoption of data platforms and accelerated the ‘datafication’ of the country. “This has increased the importance of having an institution that focuses on data protection and privacy,” he said.
“Furthermore, the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in January 2019, as a subsidiary legislation to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, has increased awareness about the need for data protection and privacy.”
Buhari also approved the recommendation of Pantami, for Dr. Vincent Olatunji to serve as the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau.
Dr. Olatunji hails from Ekiti State and, at the time of his appointment, was the Director of the eGovernment Development and Regulations Department at NITDA.
The All Progressives Congress faction loyal to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has blamed Governor Gboyega Oyetola for the attack carried out by some gun-toting men on the old campaign office of the minister.
The attacked which happened on Thursday evening has triggered a fresh allegation and counter allegation between the two factions of the APC in Osun State.
The chairman of Aregbesola’s faction of APC in the state, Rasaq Salinsile, in a statement on the attack said the Thursday attack was the climax of the numerous attacks on those of them opposed to the style of governance of the incumbent governor.
But in a swift response to the allegation, the state government dissociated itself from any involvement in the attack.
Salinsile, in his statement, declared that the state was fast descending into anarchy under the watch of Oyetola.
The statement read in parts, “The Thursday attack climaxed a litany of others on members of the APC who are opposed to the style of governance and party administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the state.
“On the 18th of November last year, a similar attack was carried out in the daylight when gunmen shot into the crowd of members at the same Oranmiyan House. Till date, nothing has been heard of that incident.
“Just on Tuesday, thugs were sent after party members in Ikirun during a Federal Constituency meeting. The police, rather than arrest the thugs that unleashed mayhem on elderly women and men, went from house to house of our leaders and members to arrest them in a midnight raid.
“They were on Wednesday sent to Ilesa correctional centre. At this stage, all we can do is to alert the whole world to the fast descent into anarchy under the watch of Governor Oyetola and in particular, the devilish plot to mow down APC leaders and members who refuse to go along with him on his misadventure.
“We call on the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, be alive to their duties before more havoc are wreaked by the desperation of the governor.”
However, the state government has also condemned the attack on the Oranmiyan House which housed Aregbesola Campaign Office in 2007.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, in a statement called on the police to fish out the hoodlums who carried out the attack.
The commissioner also strongly dissociated the state government from any involvement in the attack, saying that it was wicked for anyone to attribute such mischief to a government that had invested heavily in the peace of the state.
Egbemode said, “The accusation that the government of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola had anything to do with Thursday’s attack on the Oranmiyan House is sad and laughable. It defies reasoning that a man who has invested so much in the peace of Osun in the last three years will descend that low.
“This government is united, it has all its ducks in a row. The Party is also united and its status and activities have been ratified by the national secretariat. There are no reasons to join issues with anyone, let alone engaging in violent act.
“Those who are grabbing at straws to stay afloat, especially because their rebels’ den has fallen like a pack of cards, should try to fix their fortunes instead of blaming everybody, but themselves, for what has happened to them,” the statement partly reads.”
The four teenagers, who allegedly killed a 20-year-old girl identified as Sofiat Kehinde, have been ordered by an Abeokuta Magistrates Court sitting in Isabo, Ogun State to be remanded in prison for two months.
The suspects, Balogun Mustaqeem, 20; Majekodunmi Soliudeen,18; Abdulgafar Lukman,19; and Waris Oladeinde,18; were arraigned on Thursday on two counts of conspiracy and murder.
Recall that the teenagers were apprehended in the early hours of last Saturday burning the head of Sofiat in a local pot for ritual.
Inspector Lawrence Balogun, police prosecutor, while speaking in the court noted that the defendants committed the offence around 11pm on January 28 at the Kugba area in Abeokuta.
He further stated that the suspects conspired among themselves to kill Sofiat, who was Soliudeen’s girlfriend.
The prosecutor added that the defendants murdered the girl by cutting off her head with a cutlass, adding that they had plans to use her for money rituals.
According to Balogun, the offence contravened sections 324 and 316 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.
He said, “They unlawfully killed Sofiat Kehinde, aged 20, by cutting off her head, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The Magistrate, I. O Abudu, who did not take the plea of the defendants, ordered that they be remanded in prison.
Abudu ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Oba Custodial Centre pending legal advice from the Ogun State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
She, however, adjourned the case till March 14 for mention.
Ensure Professionalism at all Times Chief of Army Staff Urges NAOSRE
Nigerian 22nd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has commended the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, for its role in externalizing the counter insurgency efforts of the Nigerian Army under his Command in its reportage.
The Army Chief, who was represented by the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General Markus Kangye, made the remark when the association’s President, Comrade Oyewale Femi led his team on a courtesy visit to Army headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking, the Army Chief harped on the important role of the media in nation building and urged NAOSRE to redouble its commitment.
He noted that the cardinal focus of NAOSRE, in harmonizing sustainable understanding between military and civilians, aligns with the Nigerian Army Department of Civil Military Affairs, DCMA, which was established to serve as an interface between the Nigerian Army and the civil populace.
He therefore, tasked NAOSRE on professionalism and called for stronger ties in the interest of a better and safer Nigeria.
He explained Army success story in building on-going civil-military relations which has led to better understanding between civilians and military, resulting in the continuous degrading of terrorists across Nigeria
“In Adamawa State, a woman approached me after one of our military-civil events and exclaimed that she never knew that Army could be this friendly.
“She thought she would be made to do frog jump when she came to the event. But she and others were surprised. They were all happy and we related like brothers and sisters.
“That is the kind of Army that is being led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya. The Army, under Yahaya, is uncompromising in the respect for fundamental human rights and friendly engagements with civilians,” he stated.
Earlier, Comrade Oyewale Femi regaled the Army Chief of NAOSRE’s patriotic mission and promised to lend all necessary supports to the military so that Nigeria would be safe and remain a first choice to investors on the Continent.
The Nigerian Government has disclosed that a total of 123 companies, 33 Bureau-De-Changes and 96 individuals have been linked to terrorism financing in the country.
The Country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed disclosed this in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Thursday morning.
The controversial minister revealed that the suspects were uncovered by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. In his words: “For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators.”
“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets. Also, from its analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance linked to corruption, NFIU has identified N3,909,707,678,112.43 in VAT and N3,737,918,335,785.82 in Withholding Tax due to the Government.”
“NFIU has also sent 1,165 intelligence reports on cases of corruption, money laundering and other serious
offences to 27 domestic agencies for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery. On terrorism financing, NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries. During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totalling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore Dollar and 1,091 Euros to 11
countries of victims who came into the country.”
President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) receives Emmanuel Bwacha, Deputy Senate Minority Leader, to the APC.
The Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Emmanuel Bwacha, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday.
Governor Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC, led Bwacha to President Muhammadu Buhari who received the senator to the ruling party.
The African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2021 third-place match day has been rescheduled.
A statement released late Wednesday by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) confirmed that the match which was originally scheduled for Sunday 6 February 2022, is now moved to Saturday, 5 February 2022.
The third-place game will be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium and will kick off at 20: 00 hrs, Naija News reports.
The match reschedule according to the CAF statement came to be after discussions with the Government of Cameroon and the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
The statement read, “The CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Organising Committee, after discussions with the Government of Cameroon and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), decided to move the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 third and fourth place originally scheduled for Sunday 06 February 2022 to Saturday, 05 February 2022.
“The match, to be played at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, will kick-off at 20h00.”
Burkina Faso would now await a loser between Egypt and Cameroon to contest a third place in the ongoing AFCON games.
Senegal had on Wednesday night ended the Terenga Lions run to the AFCON final after beating them to 3-1.
While for the final, Senegal will hope to meet a winner between Cameroon and Egypt to battle the African tournament title, Naija News reports.
Meanwhile, the referee who officiated the match between Tunisia and Mali in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Janny Sikazwe has revealed who told him to end the game ahead of official minutes.
Naija News recalls that there was an outrage on January 12 after Sikazwe blew the final whistle before the last minutes of the second half of the game.
The Zambian official sparked controversy when he ended the group-stage fixture a few minutes earlier.
Speaking in an interview days after, Sikazwe said God had told him to bring the match to an end and that he could have died of heatstroke if the match went on any longer.
Naija News understands that the Tunisian ten were already losing 1-0 and playing against 10 men when Sikazwe ended the match that day.
The Zambian man left members of their coaching staff furious and they stormed onto the pitch to confront the referee.
However, Sikazwe has now thanked God for saving him from death.
