Blog

Tennis

By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Lagos Open Tennis on Tuesday visited Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos to seek his continued support for the championships.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that the championships which is an International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved circuit, will hold from Sept. 29 to Oct. 13 at the Lagos Tennis Club in Lagos.

The LOC, led by the Vice-Chairman, Afolabi Salami and had the Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, told Ambode of their readiness to host the championships.

“We visit you, His Excellency, Akinwunmi Ambode to seek his moral support and more importantly to tell you that we are ready for the Lagos Open Tennis 2018.

“The Governor confirmed his joy and happiness on the change of name of the championships, that for a city developing as a mega city now have a tournament named after the city.

“His Excellency promised to host some of the players during the competition at the State House in Marina and also find time to watch them play at the venue.

“He told us that he will particularly have interest in whatever sports or tennis will bring to add glamour to the international profile of Lagos.

“The vision for the Lagos Open to become a Challenger Series that will attract more foreign players is a welcome development for him,” according to a statement by the LOC.

NAN reports that over 130 players from 47 countries will participate in the 18th edition of the the Lagos Open formerly known as the Governor Cup Tennis. (NAN)
KOA/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Kidnap

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Kaduna State Police Command, on Wednesday said 16 miners have been kidnapped in Bogoma village of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area in the state.

The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Sabo said the 16 miners were abducted on Tuesday night when the truck they were travelling in was intercepted by armed bandits shortly after they left their mining site on their way home.

“The bandits kidnapped one Isa Tanimu and 15 others all of the same village,” Sabo said.

He added that a team of the Police Anti Kidnapping Unit are currently combing the area to rescue the miners and arrest the kidnappers.

He disclosed that information available indicated that a link had been established with the abductors and “the Police is making discreet efforts to track them down.”

Sabo described the incident as quite unfortunate, but assured that the command was  doing its best to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

“We appeal to the general public to assist the police with useful information towards ensuring that the criminals are brought to book,” the command spokesman said (NAN)

TJ/MZA

Football

By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji  Muideen Alalade, Kwara Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, on Wednesday said that 16 tertiary institutions would participate in this year’s JAMB) football competition.

Alalade, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Ayobola Samuel, made the disclosed this at a news conference to herald the competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that this year’s edition of the competition which started in 2017, will kick off on Oct. 1, in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.

According to the commissioner, talents that will be discovered from the tournament would form the nucleus of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) and Nigerian Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA).

The commissioner added that the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and the Technical Committee would look into raising a team each from the competition for the two bodies.

He explained that five universities, five colleges of education, four polytechnics and two innovative enterprising institutions, will make up of teams that will participate in this year’s competition.

Alalade said that cash prizes, medals and trophies would be given out to the first, second and third positions.

“The winner will receive N300,000, second N200,000 and third place N100,000.

“All the 32 matches of this competition will be played at the University of Ilorin `Sports Complex and the pitches of the Kwara State Football Academy from Oct. 1 to Sat. Oct. 6.

“The competition is classified as a grassroots sports development effort, and by this, institutions are expected to field bona fide students.

“They must have JAMB numbers and must not have played for either a professional or national league side in Nigeria.

“JAMB and the Inter-Collegiate Committee, comprising officials from NUGA, NIPOGA and WAPOGA, have provided the template for screening of players for this competition,” Alalade said. (NAN)
OOH/OOA
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(Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Peter Ejiofor)

Strike
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Bauchi, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) Mr Bala Mohammed, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Abubakar Tatari-Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, says lecturers of the polytechnic will not participate in the seven days warning strike declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Mohammed said this on Wednesday at a news conference in Bauchi.

He added that the academic staff under ASUP would not take part in the strike “because we were not briefed as a union or a body about the nationwide NLC strike.”

NLC has directed workers to proceed on nationwide seven days warning strike with effect from Thursday, Sept. 26 sequel to delay in negotiations for new minimum wage by the Federal Government.

However, the Abubakar Tatari-Ali Polytechnic ASUP chairman said “after due consultation electronically across the country, we resolved not to join the strike as a registered trade union and we have right to take our decision.”

According to the chairman, lecturers of the polytechnic have no interest in the strike and will continue with their academic activities.

He added that “ASUP will not go on strike. As at today, no lecturer has told me that they want to go on strike. We are not participating in any national strike.

“We are, therefore, calling on our academic staff and students to come for lectures. We are doing this in the interest of education and our youths.”

The union chairman added that ASUP had no issues with the Bauchi State Government “and if there was any, we would resolve it amicably.”

‎He, therefore, stressed that “normal academic activities will continue on Thursday.” (NAN)
MAK/GOM/HA
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Convention

By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) PDP Concerned Youth Association (PCYA), one of the youth groups in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the choice of Port Harcourt, Rivers for the party’s national convention on Oct. 6.

The group’s Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Willie and Secretary Malam Nura Lawal, said on Wednesday in Abuja that their rejection of the venue was to ensure a free and fair presidential primary election.

It noted that having the convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers, the territory of Gov. Nyesom Wike who appeared to have a soft spot for a certain presidential aspirants might not give room for a fair contest.

It also regretted that the party Chairman, Uche Secondus, was among those projecting his state Rivers as venue for the convention in spite of his relationship with the governor.

“This will not augur well for the party, especially now that the PDP is hoping to unseat the All Progressives Congress at the 2019 General Election,” they said in a statement.

They also said that a neutral venue like Abuja should be considered instead of Rivers where Wike was facing a serious challenge from Rivers Women Alliance (RIWA), a Non-Governmental Organisation.

“The distraction coming from RIWA which comprise of women from the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers, demanding for a governor from the riverine area in 2019, to succeed Wike, could be a source of distraction to members.

“In this case, the executive arm of the PDP Concerned Youth Association has seen the looming disgrace that awaits the party if the choice of Port Harcourt is allowed to stand, but will not allow that to happen.

“We therefore, urge the party hierarchy to review the choice of Port Harcourt and choose a venue acceptable to all members to enable the party produce a suitable candidate who can wrestle power from the current APC government.

“We also plead with the national leadership of the party to stand tall and not allow itself to be tossed around by members who are only interested in protecting their selfish interest instead of the party.

“The founding fathers and mentors of our party should ensure that PDP remains one after this convention. We will oppose thuggery in whatever guise,” the statement added.

The association urged presidential aspirants in PDP to see the forthcoming primary election as family affair to enable the party achieve its ultimate goal in 2019.

It will be recalled that the National Working Committee of the PDP and its Board of Trustees are having disagreement on the venue for the convention where delegates are expected to elect the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections. (NAN)
EMAF/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

By Victor Adeoti

Osogbo, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Iyiola Omisore, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Sept. 22 election in Osun has agreed to work for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Thursday re-run election in the state.

Omisore made this known at a news conference attended by the National Chairman of SDP, Prof. Yemi Farounbi on Wednesday in Ile-Ife.

Ife North and Ife South, believed to be the political stronghold of Omisore, is part of the four local governments that governorship re-run election will take place.

Omisore came third with 128,049 votes during the last Saturday governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Joseph Fuwape declared the election inconclusive.

He said the margin between the leading candidate 353 votes was lower than number of registered voters in the affected areas.

Since the declaration of the election inconclusive in the two local government areas, APC and bigwigs have been patronising Omisore to support them in the Thursday rerun election.

Omisore said decision of APC to accept his party manifestoes led to the coalition.

Omisore said SDP was left with no option than to pitch tent with APC, after PDP failed to respond to his party terms and condition for a coalition government among other reasons.

He said, “We have accepted to support the APC for victory in the rerun election tomorrow and thereafter form a coalition government.”

“ Our conclusion to form a coalition government is based on the party that is ready to work with SDP to adopt and implement the core values of our party, “ he said.

He listed the core values of SDP as social justice, equality and good governance.

“Our core values and philosophy, as indicated in our SDP manifestoes, have all been presented to APC and PDP.

“APC has since come back to accept all the conditions proposed to them by us, to form a coalition government while the PDP is yet to respond.

“We now therefore, as a party (SDP), accept to support APC for victory in the re-run election tomorrow and thereafter form a coalition government.”

The PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke, led the race with 254,698 votes, 353 votes more than his closest rival, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC.

The margin was, however, less than the 3,498 votes in the polling units where voting was cancelled.

Consequently, Afuwape declared the election inconclusive and ordered a re-run.

“Unfortunately, as the Returning -Officer, it is not possible to declare any party as the clear winner of this election at the first ballot,” Afuwape said.

The re-run will take place in three polling units in Orolu Local Government Area, one polling unit in Osogbo Local Government Area, one polling unit in Ife North Local Government and two polling units in Ife South Local Government Areas. (NAN)

VE/GOM/DUA

Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Dada Ahmed

Clash

By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) CSP Chike Oti, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday said there was no clash between the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), members and some Hausa residents in Ejigbo area of the state.

Oti , who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), denied some reports on the alleged killings at Ejigbo.

The PPRO said that the story of the clash going round some media was false and therefore capable of breaching peace in the state.

He said that the police at Ejigbo got information about the arrest of a suspected motorcycle thief and some persons attempted to secure his release from the police.

“The incident happened on Tuesday at Powerline Area, Ejigbo, at about 5 a.m.

The local vigilante group in the area arrested the suspect and informed the police.

“Operatives from Ejigbo came to the scene to take away the suspect and some people started hauling stones against the police. The operatives refused to use their arms against the people to avoid casualties.

“The police succeeded in going away with the suspect, currently detained at Ejigbo police division.

“One locally-made pistol was recovered from the suspects. No other arrest had been made,” he said. (NAN)

MIO/OOA/IA

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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Idris Abdulrahman

ExxonMboil
By Edith Ike-Eboh
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 200 entrepreneurs in rural communities in Bauchi state are to benefit from ExxonMobil Nigeria renewable energy program in partnership with a non-governmental organization (NGO), Solar Sister.

The ExxonMobil Managing Director, Mr Paul McGrath told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that this was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.

He said that the project would focus on empowering internally displaced persons who had been resettled to have a better life.

“You know energy poverty in Africa and specifically in Nigeria is a great problem and we are partnering with Solar Sister to take some initial steps with the 200 entrepreneurs right now. For us, this is the beginning of a beautiful job.

“We see that as such a big opportunity and as you know, renewable energy for the country is imperative,” he said.

McGrath added that the programme would also help the communities to learn how to use energy wisely.

He noted that the women in the benefiting communities would be assisted to develop their own business by exploring other opportunities.

“That is for us what Corporate Social Responsibility represents,” McGrath said.

Commenting on the choice of Bauchi as the pilot state, he said it was chosen because it is one of the states that Solar Sister had not entered with renewable energy programme.

He said that Solar Sister had done such projects in about 23 states.

“We see this as the beginning of that journey with Solar Sister, 200 initially and then graduating to bigger number, then from Bauchi it can be extended to other parts of Nigeria.(NAN)
ENO/IS
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Holiday
Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Sept. 26, 2017 (NAN) The Osun Government on Wednesday declared Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 as public holiday to enable electorate to vote in the re-run gubernatorial election.

A statement by Mr Sola Fasure, the Media Aide to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo, noted that
the public holiday was to enable workers to participate in the rerun governorship election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Sept. 22 election inconclusive.

The governorship election was declared inconclusive and a re-run ordered, because the number of cancelled votes was higher than the margin between the two top candidates.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke, was leading with 254,698 votes, while his closest rival of All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboyega Oyetola, had 254,345 votes, a difference of 353 votes.

The margin was, however, less than the 3,498 votes in the polling units where voting was cancelled.

Consequently, the INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Joseph Afuwape, declared the poll inconclusive and ordered a re-run.

“Unfortunately as the returning officer, it is not possible to declare any party as clear winner of this election at the first ballot,” Afuwape said. (NAN)
VE/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu