Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his disappointment following Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens missed the chance to move clear of Liverpool in the title race after the stalemate.
“I had the feeling we missed an opportunity today,” Guardiola said. “I have a feeling that we leave them alive. But I said to the team afterward to keep their heads up – I don’t want any sadness for one second.
“Normally when you do many good things and don’t win you are sad but I said forget about it. The last simple action we maybe did not do but I’m glad and proud of my team.”
Guardiola claimed City cannot afford to drop a single point because he expects Liverpool to win their seven remaining games of the season.
“We fight until the end,” he added. “One game dropped, we will not be champions. If we draw, we will not be champions.
“If we won today, maybe we’d have the chance to miss something in the future. It will be difficult – but for them too, they have to win all the games.
“It’s nice to say I was watching that game. The punches – we attack, they attack – the weapons both teams have.”
New Zealand will deploy a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe on Wednesday for two months, a statement from the New Zealand government said Monday.
The team will travel throughout Europe transporting equipment and supplies to distribution centers for Ukraine but will not enter the country itself, the statement said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand’s support “is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability.” “Such a blatant attack on a country’s sovereignty is a threat to all of us and that’s why we too have a role to play,” she said.
New Zealand is also contributing $8.8 million (NZ$13 million) in further support to help Ukraine procure equipment for its military via the United Kingdom, the statement added.
The European Union is “already discussing a sixth package of sanctions” in an effort “to keep increasing pressure on Russia to stop the war,” Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Monday.
“From the Danish side, we will be willing to go as far as we can to find consensus on sanctions, including also on energy,” he told reporters when arriving for a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, said he was “happy that the European Commission was very clear that we’re starting to work on six package with oil options.”
“And I hope that this time, it works.”
Asked what more is needed from the EU, Landsbergis said it was “best to go to Kyiv, go to Irpin, go to Bucha and see for yourself why we need to impose the sanctions.”
Some background: Europe has imposed punishing sanctions on Russia’s economy after Putin’s tanks rolled into Ukraine in late February, but stopped short of targeting Russia’s energy sector.
But images of unarmed civilians, bound and shot, lying along the roads of Bucha — a town that was until recently under Russian occupation — appear to have convinced leaders to change tack.
Russia’s oil and gas could be the next target. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers last week that the fifth round of sanctions “will not be [the] last.”
“Yes, we’ve now banned coal, but now we have to look into oil,” she said.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said that the EU needed to take a “maximalist approach to sanctions to offer the strongest possible deterrent to the continuation of this war and brutality.”
The view of the Irish Government that further sanctions should include oil, he said.
War crimes investigated: The European Union’s High Representative Joseph Borell confirmed that European Foreign Ministers will also discuss how to better support the International Criminal Court in investigating war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Ronaldo apologised after he smashed a fan’s phone on Saturday
The parent of an Everton fan whose phone was smashed by Cristiano Ronaldo has slammed the forward’s apology to the 14-year-old.
Following Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, Ronaldo began to walk down the tunnel cutting a frustrated figure.
Jake Kelly, who was attending his first game and suffers from autism and dyspraxia, was filming the players walking off the pitch.
He then lowered his phone to show a leg injury suffered to Ronaldo before the forward smashed the phone out of his hand.
Jake’s mother, Sarah, said that her son was left unable to sleep at night and had also suffered pain to his thumb and bruising to his hand.
Ronaldo has since posted a message of apology to Jake and invited the youngster to watch a game at Old Trafford as a way of saying sorry, while Merseyside Police have also confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Jake’s mother, Sarah, was not impressed by Ronaldo’s apology
However the apology has not been received well by Jake’s mother, as she explained that she was expecting more of a personal message from the forward.
“The apology or lack of apology was what angered me even more,” she said
“I thought, ‘How rude – you are telling everybody you have apologized and you haven’t’. OK, you have put it out to social media but …you should be apologizing to my son.
“He [Ronaldo] had several hours to ponder on it. He should have found out our contact details… been private, said he had spoken to us and released something. I would have been happy with that.”
Sarah also expected more from Man United
Sarah also said that expected more from the club as well in the way of apologies.
“He has released what he has released. I was quite shocked United hadn’t put a statement out asking us to get in touch, just something a bit heartfelt, rather than Ronaldo saying the supporter can come to me,” she added.
“That comes across really, really rude to me. Why would we, as Everton fans, go to United? He put, ‘this supporter’. It doesn’t state if he was an Everton supporter or a United supporter. It’s just a very, very weak apology in my opinion.
“It was our first time [together at football]. Jacob is obsessed with Everton and football. It’s his passion. It just took a complete shine off the game, the win, the experience. I’m not even thinking of the day I had with him, the nice time before the incident. I’m just thinking of the last five seconds. It has completely spoilt it. It’s shocking.”
New Zealand will deploy a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe on Wednesday for two months, a statement from the New Zealand government said Monday.
The team will travel throughout Europe transporting equipment and supplies to distribution centers for Ukraine but will not enter the country itself, the statement said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand’s support “is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability.” “Such a blatant attack on a country’s sovereignty is a threat to all of us and that’s why we too have a role to play,” she said.
New Zealand is also contributing $8.8 million (NZ$13 million) in further support to help Ukraine procure equipment for its military via the United Kingdom, the statement added.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has asked Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, to “show respect and withdraw from the 2023 presidential race”.
The VP will be squaring up against APC heavyweights including his political benefactor and former governor of Lagos State Bola Tinubu; Transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi; former governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha; and governors of Kogi and Ebonyi states, Yahaya Bello and Dave Umahi.
“Let me drop it here for history and posterity: If you are one of the people Asiwaju (Tinubu) raised up and you are eyeing the presidency of the federal republic of Nigeria, show respect and withdraw from the race,” Igbokwe wrote on his known Facebook page.
Osinbajo served 8 years as attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Lagos State when Tinubu was the governor between 1999 and 2007. He was nominated as the running mate to Muhammadu Buhari in December 2014, the then-candidate of the APC for the 2015 presidential election.
Osinbajo has since served about seven years as vice president to President Buhari, whom he described as a “true Nigerian patriot”.
Former Presidential Media aide, Reno Omokri has reacted to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration to run for President in 2023.
Omokri, in a tweet on Monday, shortly after Osinbajo’s live declaration broadcast on Channels TV, expressed surprise at the VP’s move adding that he has ‘backstabbed’ his benefactor and now fellow 2023 Presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It’s common knowledge that Osinbajo was brought into power by the former Lagos Governor and APC national leader. Omokri tweeted that if Osinbajo could do that to Tinubu, who is his former boss, he would do same to President Buhari.
“Wow! So, Osinbajo is declaring? If Osinbajo can stab Tinubu, who God used to make him what he is, in the back, then Buhari better hope he never becomes President.”
“Backstabbing is a habit. If Osinbajo can backstab Tinubu, he can definitely backstab Buhari after 2023!”
Osinbajo called on Nigerians to support his ambition adding that he will build on President Buhari’s legacy.
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, has called on Nigerians to elect leaders who are responsible and have the interest of the country at heart irrespective of their age.
The former speaker made the call in Kaduna at the weekend while speaking as the special guest of honour at the 16th Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and Voice of Nigeria (VON).
“We will continue to pray and take part in the process and try as much as possible to have responsible people interested in the Nigerian project to lead irrespective of their age,” he said.
Speaking on the topic ‘Social Media; Effects on Morality’, Bankole said social media is not the cause of Nigeria’s problems, but rather a consequence of its problems, adding that, “without a proper diagnostic experience, we cannot begin to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems.”
He said, “If we get our responsibilities in the right order, from home, this thing can be treated from primary schools, secondary schools, formative years of young people, parents getting involved, empowering the local governments to make sure this thing works, then we will begin to get a proper foundation that would be very difficult for anyone to dissuade into bad immoral behaviour.”
VP Yemi OsinbajoVice President Yemi Osinbajo has joined the 2023 Presidential Race.
On Monday, Osinbajo in an early morning broadcast on Channels Television revealed that he will be contesting for the exalted position on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It’s been widely rumoured for months that the VP was harbouring ambitions to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
During his Declaration speech closely monitored by POLITICS NIGERIA, the VP made 10 significant promises to Nigerians if given the opportunity to rule the country.
They are;
EXCELLENT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: “Providing an excellent environment for businesses to thrive”
2. AGRICULTURE: “Taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization and developing the farm to table value chain.”
3. REGULATIONS: “Making sure that the government, its agencies and regulators serve the business community”
4. TECHNOLOGY: “creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions”
5. SIP: “Enhancing our Social Investment Programme to a full scale social welfare scheme”
6. POVERTY: “Completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade”
7. EDUCATION: “Completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school and reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century”
8. HEALTH: “Completing the task of universal health coverage for all”
9. GOVERNANCE: “Strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates.”
10. ETHNICITY: “Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone , where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us.”
“Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect.”
VP Yemi OsinbajoPresident Yemi Osinbajo has declared his intention to run for President in 2023.
ABN TV has a full transcript of his declaration on Channels TV on Monday morning;
“In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari. We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.”
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; & in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.”
“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters. I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.”
“I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.”
“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and it’s great peoples.”
“Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started, radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture;
“Completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the observance of rule of law, rapidly advancing our infrastructure development, especially power, roads, railways and broadband connectivity;
*providing an excellent environment for businesses to thrive;/
*Taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization and developing the farm to table value chain
*making sure that the government, its agencies and regulators serve the business community;
*creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions;
*enhancing our Social Investment Programme to a full scale social welfare scheme;
*completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade;
*completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school;
*reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century;
*completing the task of universal health coverage for all ; and
*strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates.
Above all, front and Centre of our efforts will be the provision of jobs and opportunities for our young people
I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us.
We will, working together, establish by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors.
“We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation. I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.
“Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone, where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us.”
“Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect. Where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation.”
The people of Ebem Ohafia Ancient Kingdom have rolled out warm tributes to Hon. Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in...
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