Arsenal currently sits top of the English Premier League table for the 2022/23 season after recording a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in the clash between both teams on Saturday.
The win maintains Arsenal’s perfect start to the season as the Gunners have now made it three wins out of three games so far played this season.
Naija News reports before the win against Bournemouth on Saturday, Arsenal had previously recorded victories against Crystal Palace and Leicester City respectively.
On Saturday, the North London team continued their fine start to the season with two goals from captain Martin Odegaard, and the third from William Saliba.
Reacting, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday personally wrote on his Twitter account: “3 out of 3. It’s looking like a great start this season for @Arsenal.”
3 out of 3. It’s looking like a great start this season for @Arsenal :). -AA
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 20, 2022
Up next for Arsenal is a home game against Fulham on the 27th of August.
The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that 243 soldiers retired because of low morale and poor conditions of service.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement titled, “Voluntary Retirement or Discharge is a Routine in the Nigerian Army” explained reason the 234 soldiers who recently retired from the force tendered their resignations.
It reads, “The allegation that soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA) are proceeding on voluntary retirement due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions and low morale as recently reported by some outfits in the social media is nothing but a concoction of the imagination of the unrepentant enemies of the nation and mischief makers and should be out rightly discountenanced by the public.
“The subjective and unethical report is a distraction and another failed attempt at dampening the morale and fighting will, of the loyal, dedicated and patriotic fighting force of the NA.
Soldiers Are Allowed To Apply For Voluntary Discharge
“Perhaps these impenitent mischief makers need to be schooled to understand that the NA is not a conscript Army and that recruitment into the NA is voluntary with extant policy on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organizations.
“This provides its personnel the opportunity to apply for voluntary discharge, when they deem fit and meet the terms and conditions as stipulated in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service soldiers/ratings/airmen (Revised) 2017.
“It is thus, the inalienable right of a personnel to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge, if they meet the terms.
“It is therefore not an aberration that the COAS granted approval for 91 NA/32/4792 WO Ndagana Ishiaku and 242 others to voluntarily discharge from the NA, as being unprofessionally manipulated by some media.
“Given the mannerism of the ill-fated report, it is clear, that it is targeted at deflating the high morale of troops by downplaying recent critical interventions by the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya on troops’ welfare, which include car loans, housing loans, extensive construction of new accommodation, massive renovation of old and dilapidated accommodation, building of befitting residences.”
The boxing title rematch between the Nigerian British fighter, Anthony Joshua and Ukrainian, Oleksandr Usyk ended in a loss for the Nigerian.
Joshua lost the WBA, WBO , IBF and IBO belt on Sunday at the Jedda Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua had lost the first match to the Ukrainian in 2021, but needed a win to retain the title he previously held.
After the 12th round, the judges ruled that the Ukrainian won on points.
The first judge ruled 115-113 in favour of Joshua.
The second and third ruled 115-113 and 116-112 respectively in favour of Usyk.
Joshua had boasted that he would defeat his opponent before the match.
He had said, “I wanted to overcome my opponent, whether it’s Usyk or anybody else, that was the mentality. I want to beat my opponent and crush him come Saturday,” Joshua said in his pre-match press conference.
“I was focusing on different aspects of my career such as having a better jab, punch more and getting punched less, for example. You need to focus on your aggression and I don’t do that at the end of the day. My competitive spirit can overcome any obstacle.”
The 2022 World Peace Symposium in honour of Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, now Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Ret’d, has been fixed for Sunday, August 28 at Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel, Lagos.
The symposium which is organized by World Institute for Peace is expected to kick start at 11.30 am and is themed ‘Building Up Internal Security Set-Ups And Community Protection In Nigeria: Notions, Styles, Possibilities and Master Plan.’
The symposium will feature series of events including the launch of an anthology of poems as well as the declaration of General Buratai as the bearer of security touch in recognition of his excellent service to Nigeria and the West Africa sub region as Army Chief and as an Ambassador.
The event organizers say General Buratai is the first to be so honoured in the world by the World Institute for Peace.
While the event will be hosted by Chief Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, executive chairman, World Institute of Peace, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, a public affairs analyst, will deliver a keynote address.
Others from Asia, Europe Continents would lend their voices as speakers physically and on zoom.
Born on November 24, 1960, Ambassador Buratai who hails from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, North East Nigeria was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1983 and had multiple command, administrative, and instructional appointments before he retired in 2021.
He was Chief of Army Staff between 2015 and 2021.
He was made Ambassador of Republic of Benin by President Muhammadu Buhari few days after retirement from the Army.
The identity of the 45-year-old Nigerian man known as Ibrahim, who died in India after drug capsule he smuggling burst inside his stomach, has emerged.
ETV Bharat reports that the deceased was found dead in Delhi after he was declared missing by his wife who lodged a complaint with the Kondwa Police Station in Pune.
It was gathered that late Ibrahim came from Nigeria to Pune about a decade ago and was married to an Indian woman from Kondhwa area of the city.
Trouble started when Ibrahim complained about abdominal pain and was admitted to AllMS hospital in India.
However, he tried to escape from the hospital as he was allegedly carrying drug capsules in his stomach, according to the police.
An autopsy report revealed Ibrahim had drugs in his stomach as at when he was admitted to the hospital over abdominal pain.
Speaking about the incident, Inspector Aviraj Kurade of Mira Road said that the police had informed Ibrahim’s wife about his death and an identification paraded was also conducted to identify the deceased.
He added that investigators found that Ibrahim used to meet his friend, Andy in the Mira Nagar area.
Upon receiving information that Ibrahim has died in Delhi, a team of officials from the Mira Nagar Police station was sent to Delhi.
Ibrahim was suspected to be a drug dealer and had swallowed capsules of drugs to hide them which later burst in his stomach.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reacted to the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to suspend the licenses of several media houses.
Naija News recalls the NBC on Friday announced it had revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM amongst others over their failure to renew broadcast licences.
This was made known by the Director General of the NBC, Mallam Balarabe Shehu.
He also directed NBC state offices to liaise with security agencies to ensure the shut down of the operation of these stations within the next 24 hours.
Shehu stated that the licenses of about 52 television and radio stations was suspended over failure to pay federal licensing charges to the tune of N2.6 billion.
Reacting to the development, the NUJ in a statement on Friday by its National President, Chris Isiguzo however described the action of the industry regulator as hasty, ill-timed and reckless.
It added that a media blackout is not what the nation needs at the moment, adding that more dialogue should have been employed in resolving the issue.
The NBC statement reads: “The decision today by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission – NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over-indebtedness to the Commission was ill-advised. The affected stations, according to NBC, are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billion since 2015.
“Although the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill-timed and reckless. It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licences at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.
“While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfil their obligations to NBC, in view of dwindling resources, we caution against such a large-scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence.
“We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such a media blackout at this time. We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.”
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has announced the revocation of the broadcast licences of some television and radio stations in the country.
In a statement on Friday, the Director General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu, said the broadcast licences of the media outlets were revoked over their failure to renew their licences.
Shehu said that the media stations were owing about N2.6 billion in debt, stating that even if they pay their fee, they would have to pay a recommencement to go back on air.
He listed some of the affected media platforms to include Silverbird TV, African Independent Television (AIT), Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM, amongst others.
Shehu directed the Commission’s state offices to liaise with security agencies to ensure the shutdown of the operations of the stations within the next 24 hours.
He, however, called on all stations who have not renewed their licences for the current duration to do so within 30 days to avoid sanctions.
Full list of Television/Radio stations affected
Silverbird TV (Silverbird Communications Co. Ltd) Network
Rhythm FM (Silverbird Communications Ltd)
AIT/Ray Power FM (DAAR Communication Ltd)
Greetings FM (Greetings Media Ltd)
Tao FM (Ovidi Communications Ltd)
Zuma FM (Zuma FM Ltd)
Crowther FM (Crowther Communications Ltd)
We FM (Kings Broadcasting Ltd)
Linksman International ltd
Bomay Broadcasting Services Ltd
MITV (Murhi International Group Ltd)
Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd)
Classic FM (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd)
Classic TV (Pinkt Nigeria Ltd)
Beat FM (Megalectrics Ltd)
Cooper Communications Ltd
Splash FM (West Midlands Ltd)
Rock City FM (Boot Communications Ltd)
Family FM (Kalaks Investments Nig. Ltd)
Space FM (Creazioni Nig. Ltd)
Radio Jeremi (Radio Jeremi ltd)
FM Abuja
FM Lagos
FM Yenagoa
FM Port-Harcourt
FM Jos
Wave FM (South Atlantic Media Ltd)
Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation
Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation
Niger State Broadcasting Corporation
Benin
Network
FM Network
FM Okene,
FM Suleja
FM Abuja
FM Benin
Breeze FM (Bays Water ltd)
Vibes FM (Vibes Communication Ltd)
Family Love FM (Multimesh Broadcasting Co. Ltd) Port-Harcourt
Port-Harcourt
Gombe State Broadcasting Corporation
Lagos DSB
Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation
Osun State Broadcasting Corporation
Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation
Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation
Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation
Bayelsa State Broadcasting Corporation
Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation
Imo State Broadcasting Corporation
Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation
Borno State Broadcasting Corporation
Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation
Sokoto State Broadcasting Corporation
Zamfara State Broadcasting Corporation
Kebbi State Broadcasting Corporation
Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation
Kaduna State Broadcasting Corporation
Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation
Femi Gajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has narrated what happened behind the scenes when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Ogun residence on Wednesday.
Tinubu, who is perceived as a political enemy of Obasanjo, visited the former president as part of consultations for his 2023 presidential bid.
The visit came as a surprise to political watchers as the All Processive Congress (APC) presidential candidate had severely criticized the two-time former president in the past.
Tinubu, in an open letter in 2019, described Obasanjo as an “election rigger without peer” adding that the ex-president “is the person most responsible for the flaws in the Nigerian political economy since 1999” and whose “ego is as expansive as the firmament but his good deeds would fit into a modest sachet with ample room to spare.”
But re-counting Tinubu’s visit to Ogun on Thursday, Gbajabiamila said Obasanjo received the former Lagos governor “like a brother” and gave assuring statements about his aspiration to be president.
The Speaker stated this during a meeting of APC stakeholders at the Surulere Local Government Area (LGA) in Surulere, Lagos.
“When we were going to Obasanjo’s house, we were eight, including Asiwaju Tinubu and me; we didn’t want many people to know about the meeting. So, we were to meet Obasanjo and five others from his side,” Gbajabiamila was quoted by The Nation to have said.
“But when we eventually got there, we met something pleasantly shocking: a mammoth crowd of our supporters was already at the former president’s house waiting for us.
“So, Obasanjo told Asiwaju Tinubu to pick three people from his side and that he would pick three from his side to meet behind closed doors.
“So, I, Chief Osoba and Chief Akande and Asiwaju went from our side. My people, what I heard there, what Obasanjo said, the victory of Asiwaju is assured.
“Obasanjo spoke at length and we were all happy. He embraced our candidate like a brother, gave him a pat on the back, and prayed for him copiously,” he said.
Obasanjo had recently received the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
His former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who is running for president on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, has yet to consult with him since emerging as the PDP candidate.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reportedly cut down to three his delegation to meet with Governor Nyesom Wike and his allies over the crisis rocking the opposition party.
Recall that the PDP plunged into crisis after Atiku overlooked Wike and picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate for the presidential election.
The Rivers governor, who came second in the party’s presidential primary, has refused to openly back the presidential ambition of Atiku.
Some top members of the party who are unhappy with the PDP leadership have also joined Wike in calling for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
Atiku and Wike had agreed to set up a 14-member committee to meet and iron out differences for peace to return to the opposition party.
But the committee to explore grounds for reconciliation between the two men failed to meet as scheduled on Monday.
Naija News understands that the meeting failed to hold due to a disagreement over the venue, with one faction proposing Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, while the other insisted on Abuja.
To prove his commitment to reconciliation, Atiku on Thursday night dispatched his three-member delegation to Port Harcourt.
The delegation is led by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, a former governorship candidate of the party in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, and Akilu Indabawa, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source in the delegation told Premium Times that it was well-received by Governor Wike’s people and that arrangements were being made for the meeting tomorrow (Friday).
“We have received very positive signals from them, and we are confident more than ever before that this crisis will soon be resolved,” the source said.
On why Atiku cut the size of the delegation, the source said: “You know in matters like this, too many cooks can spoil the broth. It is an intra-party crisis, and Waziri believes that the reconciliation can be better done by a compact team.”
The battle to have a valid governorship candidate for the Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress may have shifted to Abuja as former Minister of State for Mines, Uche Ogah, and High Chief Ikechi Emenike are parties in a pending suit before the Federal High Court Abuja division.
The two are governorship aspirants who both won parallel primary elections of the party in Abia State.
The party has been unable to present a governorship candidate due to the inability of the headquarters of the party to resolve the crisis.
Several lawsuits have been filed by both candidates to determine the actual governorship candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 general polls.
The suit in contention (SUIT NO: FHC/UM/CS/95/2022) was filed by Dr. Uche Ogah against High Chief Emenike & others and it is pending before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Court.
In a letter written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho on August 16, Emenike’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, urged the CJ to transfer the pending suit in Abuja to Abia, contending that the division in the state has requisite jurisdiction to preside over all the matters relating to the election.
However, Ogah’s counsel was said to have insisted that all pending suits relating to the election should be transferred from Umuahia Division to Abuja.
Arguing, Fagbemi explained that there were about three suits before the Umuahia court; quering the rationale behind instituting another application in Abuja.
He urged the CJ to transfer the suit to Abia especially for the sake of minimizing cost and allowing a single division determine all matters arising from the election.
The letter partly reads: “We are counsel to the 1st Defendant (hereinafter called “Our Client”) in the above-referred suit now pending before His Lordship, Honourable Justice Nyako of the Abuja Division of this Honourable Court.
“On 15th August, 2022, we received a letter from the Plaintiff’s counsel which was addressed to your Lordship but only copied to us.
“Without going into the correctness or otherwise of the content of the Plaintiff’s letter, it is obvious that Plaintiff is not aversed to a proposal whereby all the pre-election matters pertaining to Abia State gubernatorial primary election of APC will be heard together by a single judge.
“However, Plaintiff has stated further that the cases at the Umuahia Division of the court should rather be transferred to the Abuja Division to be heard with this instant action.
“My Lord, as appealing as the request of the Plaintiff is, he has failed to address a fundamental issue which is: how did this instant suit – SUIT NO: FHC/UM/CS/95/2022 -.get to Abuja in the first case, while three other suits on the same subject matter are left behind in Umuahia, Abia State? Why the isolation!
“Plaintiff has not addressed this concern. Curiously, Plaintiff is a Defendant in one of the matters left behind in Umuahia and he seemed not to care about that other matter, rather his concern is to get this instant suit moved to Abuja and same be beard in Abuja of all cost.
We have it on good authority from our client that Plaintiff applied behind the back of other Defendants,( without copying them his request to have this instant suit brought to Abuja. The approach adopted by the Plaintiff has given room for serious concern which the 1st Defendant is not in the least taking lightly.
“ My noble Lord, we are of the humble view that what is most appropriate in the circumstance of the facts placed before your Lordship is to send this isolated case back to Umuahia to be heard together with the three (3) other cases which have the same subject matter rather than move all the three (3) other cases with all the parties to Abuja and be heard with an isolated case at the Abuja Division of the Court.. Court must minimize cost of litigation.
“We therefore cannot but repeat our request that this instant suit be transferred back to Umuahia situate in Abia State and be heard together with the other three cases still pending at the Umuahia Division of the Court.
“More so this instant suit and the other three pending cases at the Umuahia Division relate to the Governorship primary election of APC in Abia State. Clearly, Umuahia Division is the appropriate forum for all the cases.”
