Ghana FA, Sports Ministry Divided Over New Coach Ahead Eagles Clash

Saul Niguez says he’s feeling better about life at Chelsea after a difficult start.

The midfielder is on a straight season-long loan from Atletico Madrid.

Saul told the club’s website: “The beginning wasn’t easy for me. I have changed my whole life, moving from Madrid, leaving Madrid with my family, changing language and culture, even the small things like driving on the other side of the road!

“Everything has changed – the stadium, team-mates, my whole life. The truth is it hasn’t been easy but I’m very grateful to my team-mates and the club for making it easier for me to adapt. My English is improving and everything is becoming a bit easier.

“Personally, I would like to have played more but I also understand that this team won the Champions League last season so it is difficult to get into the team. I feel good and every day I’m feeling better and prepared for when the head coach needs me.”

Saul also stated: “Yes, of course. Whenever I take a decision in life, whether it’s a sporting one or otherwise, I always speak to my family as they are so important to me. Now that they are a bit further away, it’s difficult but thanks to technology I can communicate with them daily.

“I needed to get my head out of the Atletico Madrid world for a while because I have been there since I was 12 so everything affects you much more. If the fans whistle at you, it affects you much more because those people are your people and when you have difficult moments you live them differently.

“It’s complicated, and leaving was complicated, but I took it as a challenge to compete with the best players in my position and I don’t have any fear in doing that. I feel good and if I’m as I should be, I know I can do a lot to help Chelsea.”

Stop Using Our Name To Attract Political Patronage, IPOB Tells Okorocha, Igbo Politicians

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February 3, 2022

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, replied Senator Rochas Okorocha, asking him to stop using its name to launder his image towards achieving his presidential ambition.

IPOB also told Nigerian politicians, particularly those from South East extraction to stop involving its name in their political campaigns or face the wrath of the pro-Biafra group.

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled, “Politicians should leave IPOB out of their campaign remarks’, described Senator Okorocha’s tenure as Governor in Imo State as one of the most unfortunate things that have happened to the state.

IPOB’s statement read: “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by our great liberator and prophet, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the laughable, disgraceful and unguarded statements coming from former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, claiming how IPOB operates and convinced youths in our region.”

“Okorocha tried everything he could as governor of Imo State to stop IPOB in Imo State but he failed and now he has started including IPOB in the infamous statements he was using to deceive the gullible minds in the state thinking he can be allowed to use IPOB for political gains.

“Okorocha’s tenure as Governor of Imo State was one of the most unfortunate things that have happened to Imo State.

“His infamous administration as Imo governor is better forgotten. Nigerians know him for whom he is: a hypocrite and selfish politician. He should not play his evil politics close to IPOB.

“Okorocha collected many lands belonging to the people of Imo State by force, converted same into his personal property because he was running Imo State as a private estate.

“His atrocities in Imo State are pursuing him and his family including that of his son in-law because he could not advise his father- in- law to leave people’s ancestral lands and homes. Their evil will continue to hunt them till eternity.

“Okorocha started this ranting during the jamboree declaration he did in Abuja and mentioned IPOB to appeal to his gullible audience. Since he has decided to use IPOB as a campaign slogan, let him prepare well!

“The infamous Imo State immediate past Governor arrested our women in Imo State thinking he can break the spirit of IPOB followers.

“The present administration in Imo State collected back the people’s lands he forcefully took from them and handed back to the owners. Since then, Okorocha hasn’t been himself.

“He and his successor started sponsoring unknown gunmen and cannibalism in the entire South East region, but we will soon expose them.

“The two are birds of a feather that flock together. They should stop deceiving Imo citizens and Nigerians over share of their evil booty which is the root cause of their now bitter face-off.”

Abia: 34 Ministries For 17 Local Governments Very Unfortunate — Udensi

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February 3, 2022

A chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi has faulted the existence of 34 ministries in Abia State with 17 local government areas, saying it unfortunate and way too much.

According to Sir Udensi, a governorship aspirant, this development leaves most of the ministries redundant, doing nothing and non-functional.

Speaking on a radio programme, Open Parliament streamed live by ABN TV on Wednesday, Sir Udensi stated that a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works told him that they don’t have information on the award of contracts and how the contracts are being carried out.

Sir Udensi said when he went to the ministries in disguise to obtain information, he discovered that some of them are not functional, adding that some past Commissioners informed him that they were being owed about 7 months allowances before they left office.

He further added that most of the existing ones do not have furniture in their offices.

“It is not just creating them. Are we utilizing them for the proper oversight function where they ought to do their various jobs in the state? That is where the problem lies and I am so disturbed.

“I am also concerned about the kind of people that are made Commissioners. I am not saying that all of them are bad. If I am made governor of the state for example, the kind of people that will sit with me at the exco table are people that will look at me and say Chikwe Udensi this is wrong, we can’t do this.

“If you are going to have o yes people as Commissioners, then the problem will continue, the governor may not be able to know exactly when he is wrong,” he said.

He also advised that only people who have track record of performance ought to be appointed as Commissioners, stating that Anambra, Imo and Enugu with more local governments have fewer ministries than Abia.

Sir Udensi said more than half of the ministries are redundant, revealing that a Director in the Ministry of Health told him that he does not have any idea of what goes on in her ministry, insisting that there is need to put the right person in governance to solve the enormous problems bedeviling the state.

69-Year-Old Man Collapses, Dies In Umuahia Street (Graphic Photos)

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February 2, 2022

A man believed to be in his late 60s on Wednesday collapsed and died along Lagos Street in Umuahia the Abia State capital, ABN TV reports.

A driving licence found in his custody gave his name as Ndukwe Kalu Kalu.

His body was discovered lifeless at about 5 pm after which he was rushed to a medical facility where he was confirmed dead, ABN TV reports.

When contacted, PPRO of Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident, saying there is nothing to indicate violence on the deceased.

The police Spokesperson further alluded that the late ‘Ndukwe Kalu Kalu’ may have suffered one ailment or the other, leading to his collapse and death.

“Anyone whose relative of that age (69) left his or her home this morning (Wednesday) for any place within the town should report at Central Police station Umuahia for detailed information so they can identify the body.

“Anyone whose relative bears such a name as Ndukwe Kalu Kalu should go to CPS Umuahia for detailed information on where he is being kept” he stated.

Obiano Sets Up Commission For Physically Challenged Persons In Anambra

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February 2, 2022

The governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has inaugurated the Disability Commission in the state. During the inauguration, Obiano charged members of the commission to collaborate with relevant ministries, parastatals and corporate bodies in the state.

He also assured people living with a disability that all public buildings in the state would be structured and designed to make them accessible and usable by persons living with disabilities.

He said, “Functions of the commission include implementing government policies in the law in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and all other disability matters. Issuance of guidelines for education, social development and welfare of persons living with disabilities.

“Issuance of direction and guidelines to special schools for persons living with disabilities, and issuance of direction and guidelines on all manner of disabilities, preventive or curative exercises, and other functions as stipulated in section 12 (a-u) of Anambra State Disability Rights Law, 2018.”

The commission is headed by Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie as Chairman; Barr. Chinenye Okeke – Secretary (Deputy Director representing Ministry of Justice); Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke representing JONAPWD State Chairman; Mrs Obianyo Anthonia – Director Rehab ( representing Ministry of Women and Children Affairs), and Miss Victoria Okonkwo – Unit Head Ministry of Basic Education ( representing Ministry of Education).

Others include Mr Tony Oli, representing Anambra State Sports Commission; Bishop Moses Ezedebego, representing Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); Dr Lady Pat Okeke, representing Private Sector); Mrs Eucharia Anekwe – Director Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (representing Civil Society Organisation focusing on Disability Issues); and Mr Williams Ndidika Umeh, a retired Director of Education and Former Head of Department ( HOD) Education and Social Development Local Government Service Commission.

In a vote of thanks, Chairman of the Commission, Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, thanked the governor for uplifting the plights of people living with disability through the provision of employment, disability rights law, and others.

Buhari Congratulates Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo For Surviving Coup, Pledges Nigeria’s Support

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February 2, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening spoke with Umaro Sissoco Embalo, shortly after the Guinea-Bissau leader survived a military attempt to overthrow his government.

The president congratulated Embalo on surviving the coup attempt and commended the loyal troops in Guinea Bissau for their show of patriotism leading to their “spectacular victory” over the disloyal elements of the military.

According to a statement by his special media aide, Garba Shehu, President Buhari condemned the attempt to subvert the established constitutional order in Guinea Bissau and extended the goodwill and support of the government and people of Nigeria to the Guinea-Bissauans and the Embalo administration.

“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between our sisterly nations, and the defence and promotion of democracy and its values throughout the sub-region, and the entire continent,” President Buhari told Embalo.

In the course of the conversation, President Embalo assured President Buhari that the situation had been brought under control and that “all is well, and normalcy has been fully restored.”

It Won’t Surprise Me If Buhari Rejects Amended Electoral Act Again — Sen. Ohuabunwa

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February 2, 2022

A PDP chieftain in Abia, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has said that he would not be surprised if President Muhammadu Buhari, declines his assent to the amended Electoral Bill transmitted to him Monday by the National Assembly.

Ohuabunwa who represented Abia North in the Senate stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after his consultation with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders from Arochukwu/Ohafia federal consituency at the Ohafia Council headquarters.

The former Leader, House of Representatives who described the act as the panacea to Nigeria’s electoral challenges, regretted that the President had refused to align himself with the yearnings of Nigerians “to save our democracy”.

“If he signs it, fine, if he doesn’t, I won’t be surprised because he has disappointed so many expectations of the people.”

Ohuabunwa tasked youths and all eligible voters in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency to ensure they get their Permanent Voter Card, PVC, ahead of the 2023 general election.

Senator Ohuabunwa pledged to bankroll the exercise along with other political elite from the constituency.

Ohuabunwa who decried political apathy among youths in the constituency urged Council and ward Chairmen in the constituency to mobilise all eligible voters in their respective domains to ensure the constituency did not take back seat in voter registration in the state.

Addressing the stakeholders earlier, the former Leader, House of Representatives, regretted that Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency which once commanded the highest voting population in Abia state, suddenly nosedived.

He said that a calculated attempt by some blacklegs to sabotage his political fortunes in 2019 ended up hurting the general interest of the entire constituency “which is now relegated” to the background in Abia and national politics.

Stiffer Sanction Awaits Bankers Who Aid Fraud As Reps Set To Enact New Law

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February 2, 2022

Bank employees who aid financial crimes may be in for stiffer penalties as the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed second reading a bill seeking to raise punishment for insider fraud by bank staff to a 20-year jail term,

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had November last year declared that most frauds in the banking sector were perpetrated by insider Information, Communication Technology (ICT) employees.

The commission revealed that most banking sector fraud cases it handled showed that bank employees aided the acts.

ABN TV reports that this development is coming just 24 hours after the Nigerian Senate passed a bill seeking to stop landlords in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from demanding advance payment of one-year rent from their tenants, for second reading.

The legislation is titled, ‘A bill for an Act to Regulate the mode of Payment of Rent on Residential Apartments, Office Spaces, etc, in the FCT and for Other Matters Connected Therewith’ sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi (All Progressives Congress, APC/Kogi-West), the bill was aimed at ending the practice whereby landlords demand a yearly advance payment of rents from their tenants.

Adeyemi said the bill seeks to replace the current annual advance rent payment with monthly payments in arrears. This, according to him, is aimed at making life meaningful for workers who are finding it difficult to pay their house rents.

He further attributed the growing number of unoccupied properties in the FCT to the outrageous annual rents which has left residents with the option of moving to the outskirts in search of accommodation.

Count Me Out Of Any Private Meeting With Atiku, Says Sen. President Lawan

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February 2, 2022