Transfer: PSG coach, Tuchel speaks on Kurzawa joining Arteta’s Arsenal

January 19, 2020

Paris Saint-Germain boss, Thomas Tuchel has demised report linking his left-back, Layvin Kurzawa with a move to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal this January transfer window.

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DAILY POST had reported that Arsenal have spoken with Kurzawa, but are not the only European club interested in the left-back.

The 27-year-old left-back is into the final six months of his contract with PSG and will not sign a new deal.

However, Arsenal are ready to snap him up in January, rather than wait until the summer.

With Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac both injured, the Premier League side is keen on Kurzawa’s low fee and the idea that he could be revived by a new challenge.

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But, Tuchel is now saying that PSG needs Kurzawa in case first-choice left-back, Juan Bernat suffer an injury.

“I haven’t spoken with Layvin or anyone else about his departure this winter,” Tuchel told a news conference ahead of PSG’s clash with Lorient in the Coupe de France on Sunday as quoted by Goal.

“Layvin is number two behind [Juan] Bernat in the left-back position. We need him and Layvin will play tomorrow (Sunday) against Lorient.”

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Imo: Clear reasons Hope Uzoninma defeated Ihedioha in Supreme Court – Oshiomhole

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said his party deserved the victory handed it by the Supreme Court in the Imo State governorship election.

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Oshiomhole explained that APC deserved the judgement based on the ‘facts’ available to the court and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Recall that the Supreme Court had a few days ago nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo State while declaring Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the governorship election.

However, Oshomhole in a press conference over the weekend in Abuja described the INEC declaration of Ihedioha as governor of Imo State as fraudulent since the sacked governor never met the required one-quarter vote in two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state.

Oshiomhole also accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of recklessness and attempt to stir violence among Nigerians since the court’s decision.

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He said: “PDP is not only reckless, they believe it is their birthright to benefit from electoral fraud. Courts are bound to interpret laws according to the constitution. No court has the power to bend the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended.

“As far as we know, Imo has 27 local government, and Emeka Ihedioha scored two-thirds of the votes in 12 LGs. Two-third of 27 is eighteen. So you have a huge deficit of six LGAs which Ihedioha or anybody else must necessarily have to be declared a winner of a governorship election,” the APC chairman explained as he condemned the state’s Returning Officer, Francis Otunta, for “unlawfully declaring Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo State.”

Oshiomhole stated that the added 388 PUs votes by the apex court were cast at Uzodinma’s senatorial district, Orlu (Imo West), where he was twice elected as senator.

“You are at liberty to ask for those documents, they are not classified. Every political party has the right to inspect election materials but neither did Emeka Ihedioha’s lawyer nor PDP’s lawyer questioned the validity of the votes that were cast in this 388 PUs because they were duly signed not only by APC agents, but by the polling units’ presiding officers as required by the law, as well as other political parties, including the PDP.

“However, because PDP has a reputation for manipulating system, to our shock, the lower court conveniently overlooked these 388 units and proceeded to deal with other units. They made no comments, nobody nullified those units,” Oshiomhole said.

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Nigerian newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Sunday morning

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

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1. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, office in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, was early Saturday set ablaze by unknown arsonists. This occurred amid rising tension over the forthcoming local government election in the State. This is as many aspirants in Nsukka Council Area, under the platform of the party, have been crying out over the alleged hijack of the process by the party hierarchy, in favour of a particular candidate. Mr. Fabian Onah, PDP chairman in Nsukka LGA, who confirmed the inferno, while speaking to journalists, said he was informed in the morning that part of the building was set ablaze.

2. Two people have been killed and two others seriously injured following an attack on Gora-Gan community in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state by unidentified gunmen. The council chairman, Mr Elias Manza, confirmed the incident, saying the incident happened when some youths were playing around the village market square. The unknown gunmen, according to the chairman opened fire on the youths, killing two girls instantly, while two boys sustained various degrees of injuries.

3. John Oyegun, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has lamented that Nigeria was currently not working. Oyegun maintained that Nigerians were increasingly becoming unhappy with the state of things. Speaking in Abuja, Oyegun lamented that the Federal Government was not addressing what was making people poor and unhappy.

4. U.S. President, Donald Trump, on Saturday said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “should be very careful” about what he says. According to Trump on Twitter, the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ of Iran, who has not been so Supreme lately, had some nasty things to say about the United States and Europe even when their economy is crashing, and their people are suffering.

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5. Save Lagos Group, a Southwest Association has given the All Progressives Congress stalwart, Bola Tinubu, 24 hours to reveal his position on the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’. In a statement on Friday, the Convener, Save Lagos Group, Adeniyi Sulaiman, said the group was giving Tinubu 24 hours to speak up. Sulaiman asked Tinubu, who is an advocate of restructuring, to be courageous regardless of his rumoured Presidential ambition.

6. Report gas claimed that despite the National Assembly’s resistance on electricity tariff hike, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has drafted a timetable and proposals for consultations with stakeholders on how to review power tariffs beginning from April 2020.

7. Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said his party deserved the victory handed it by the Supreme Court in the Imo State governorship election. Oshiomhole explained that APC deserved the judgement based on the ‘facts’ available to the court and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Oshomhole in a press conference over the weekend in Abuja described the INEC declaration of Ihedioha as governor of Imo State as fraudulent since the sacked governor never met the required one-quarter vote in two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state.

8. President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday congratulated the current World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua. He met with Joshua at a meeting with a select group of the Nigerian Community in the United Kingdom. Buhari hailed AJ, as fondly called, on regaining his world championship belt. The president said the boxer put Nigeria “on the world map again like Hogan Bassey.”

9. Ex-Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha has said he pity for those celebrating the verdict of the Supreme Court, which sacked him as governor of the State. Speaking with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his Abuja residence on Saturday, Ihedioha said the judgment was more about the country’s democracy than himself but that he was still in shock over the verdict.

10. The Nigerian military says no fewer than 608 repentant Boko Haram insurgents are currently undergoing De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) Programme by Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) at Malam-Sidi, Gombe State. Brig:- Gen. Musa Ibrahim, Commandant DRR Camp OSC, made this known when the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali visited the camp on Saturday.

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2023: Buhari govt reveals target

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said that Nigeria targets being among the first 70 countries by 2023 in World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.

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Mustapha spoke at the weekend during the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards in Lagos.

The SGF, who was chairman of the occasion, said that currently, the country had moved up from 170 to 131, after President Muhammad Buhari signed the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in July 2016.

NAN reports that he expressed optimism that with the PEBEC initiative, the 2023 target would be achieved.

Mustapha said that the government, in its bid to improve efficiency and productivity in the industry and country, had created the council to ensure an enabling environment for port efficiency.

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“Government will continue to support the maritime sector because on it rests opportunities for wealth creation and economic growth,” the SGF said.

He said that there was still a long way to go, but there was need to recognise the progress that had been made so far.

The 2020 Finance Bill recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari is in line with the business ease target.

While presenting the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, Buhari said the bill has “five strategic objectives, in terms of achieving incremental, but necessary, changes to our fiscal laws.

“These objectives are; Promoting fiscal equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation; Reforming domestic tax laws to align with global best practices; Introducing tax incentives for investments in infrastructure and capital markets; Supporting Micro, Small and Medium-sized businesses in line with our Ease of Doing Business Reforms; and Raising Revenues for Government.

“The draft Finance Bill proposes an increase of the VAT rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent, as such, the 2020 Appropriation Bill is based on this new VAT rate,” he added.

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Imo: Why we lost Zamafara to PDP – APC

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday said it lost the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because God wanted to test the party.

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APC Chairman, Lawal Liman, spoke on the Supreme Court ruling on Imo governorship election at the party’s monthly stakeholders meeting in Kaura-Namoda.

Liman said the APC members in the state deserved commendation considering their patience and persistence in supporting the party in spite of the challenges they are facing.

“We are aware of the challenges that our members are facing from the present PDP-led administration in the state.

“Though we have lost the leadership of the state as a result of Supreme Court judgement, we shouldn’t be discouraged because of fear of witch-hunting and harassment; we should consider it as a test from God”, he said.

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Liman urged the PDP-led government in the state to accept that, “the room for opposition is provided in the nation’s constitution, therefore any democratic government must accept opposition”.

He urged party members and supporters in the state to continue to be united, patient and law-abiding.

“The recent reconciliation with the former APC governorship aspirant, Alhaji Aminu Jaji and defection of former PDP governorship aspirant, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu-Bakauye to the party has increased our strength”, Liman added.

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, had revealed why the court declared the party winner in Imo.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment on Tuesday, sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as Imo governor and declared Hope Uzodinma as duly elected.

A seven-man panel, in its decision held, that Ihedioha did not win the majority of votes cast at the March 9, 2019 governorship election.

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The judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun held that the candidate of the APC won on grounds that he polled majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.

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EPL: Lampard reveals players he will buy after Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has said he is looking to bring in attackers, following their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.

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The Blues wasted the chance to go clear in fourth place, as they lost thanks to Isaac Hayden’s late goal.

Chelsea could end the weekend nine points behind Leicester in third, if the Foxes beat Burnley on Sunday.

It was another frustrating afternoon for Lampard’s men, who had 70 percent of the ball and 19 attempts, but could not score.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Lampard insisted he needs reinforcements this month, amid links to strikers Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele.

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“If we are looking for people to bring in to the areas to win games when you are controlling it, it is scoring goals.

“We can’t work anymore in training on finishing. You need to have that killer instinct in front of goal.

“We need to score more goals from front-line areas if we are going to get to where we want to be.

“It’s quite clear from what I am saying now that we know where we need to strengthen but we shall see.

“We know we have problems at the top of the pitch in terms of we don’t get enough goals.

“If you don’t score you are always liable for a sucker punch and they got it,” he said.

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Buhari breaks silence as gunmen attack Emir of Potiskum

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with the Emir of Potiskum, Umaru Bubaram over his encounter with bandits during his journey between Kaduna and Zaria on Thursday night.

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DAILY POST had reported that gunmen on Wednesday attacked Alhaji Umaru Bubaram, killing five of his aides along Kaduna-Zaria highway.

Umaru was on his way to Zaria when the attack occurred. ‎The incident happened around Fandatio village, not far from Maraban Jos.

The President, in a statement by one of his spokesmen, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, was quoted as saying: “I feel greatly relieved that his Highness had survived this tragedy that resulted in the death of four of his aides during the attack.”

He sympathetically told the monarch that, “I can relate with great empathy the kind of traumatic experience you had encountered at the hands of these evil elements in our society.”

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The President assured the Emir and the people that his administration would spare no efforts in tracking down these criminals who have become a nightmare in the lives of Nigeria, high or low.

According to the President, no criminal group will be allowed to hold the country to ransom.

He reassured Nigerians that, “the law would never surrender to mass murderers who engage in wanton destruction of lives and impoverishment of their victims.

”This administration remains firmly committed to the security of Nigerians and we will continue to fund and adequately motivate our security personnel in order to encourage them to respond vigorously to these challenges.”

The President also appealed to Nigerian communities to desist from obstructing law enforcement agencies in hot pursuit of suspected criminals.

Buhari said reports reaching him indicated that residents of the community where the attack on the Emir happened resisted the house-to-house search for the suspects, saying these were unhelpful and did not speak well of the members of the community.

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Fire consumes over 10 shops in Cross River

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Over ten shops were completely razed down by fire in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

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The incident occurred at about Ogbojo-Akakpa in Ogoja along Federal Science College, Ogoja on Saturday in which ten shops were completely burnt down while the people watched helplessly.

Although, the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, but it only took the efforts of the people in the absence of the Fire Service, to used mai ruwa (water carriage) to restrain the fire from consuming other shops and houses.

An witness who gave his name as Raymond Obi said, “The people watched helplessly as fire burnt down their building harbouring the shops.

“Although, nobody knew what caused the fire that escalated wildly, many people tried to pick up some few things as no life was lost,” he said.

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He recalled that several incidences of fire outbreak have occurred in Ogoja – leading to loss of properties worth several millions of Naira in recent time, Obi said but question the whereabouts of the fire service people in the area.

One of the shop owners, a radio/television technician, who declined to mention his name recounted the incident thus, “I went across to buy some food to eat and when I came back I saw people gathering in front of my shop.

“I saw the fire burning everywhere. I couldn’t pick even a needle aside from the TV sets that I left outside,” he lamented.

When DAILY POST contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Cross River State Fire Service, Comrade Cletus Makers for come, he said he was out of town.

“I am currently not in town. I am in Akure for an official assignment. But, I’ll direct you to the person in charge of Ogoja station, he’ll know better”, Makers said.

Consequently, when we tried to reach out to the Fire Service man in charge of Ogoja Station, Comrade Solomon Atambi, as directed by the PRO our efforts proved as his phone number was not connecting.

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PSG coach, Tuchel names ‘leader’ in his squad

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Thomas Tuchel, says forward, Neymar is the ‘leader’ the club hoped for this season.

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The Brazil international has been on top form in recent weeks for Tuchel’s men after recovering from a groin injury earlier this season.

The former Barcelona star has scored 11 goals and registered 5 assists in 12 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG so far this campaign.

“For Neymar, there are a lot of words to describe him,” Tuchel told a news conference ahead of PSG’s clash with Lorient in the Coupe de France on Sunday.

“But the best thing is to watch the games. He is really decisive for us, he closes spaces, he defends.

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“He is the leader we hoped for and it is a really good time for him. The challenge is to keep going, to employ the same effort, the way of working and the mindset. It is good but it is just the beginning. It is only January.”

“I am convinced that football is based on team effort,” Tuchel added.

“We attack together and we defend together and if we do that, we are a dangerous team. If not, we are an average team and you cannot win any big thing as an average team.”

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Boko Haram: 608 ex-terrorists to be freed – Nigerian military

i BRAND TV

January 19, 2020

The Nigerian military says no fewer than 608 repentant Boko Haram insurgents are currently undergoing De-radicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) Programme by Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) at Malam-Sidi, Gombe State.

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Brig:- Gen. Musa Ibrahim, Commandant DRR Camp OSC, made this known when the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali visited the camp on Saturday.

NAN quoted him as saying 14 of the repentant insurgents were foreigners from Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic.

Ibrahim said: “from inception we received 893 out of which 286 graduated and were returned to their respective states and countries for reintegration’’.

He said the personnel in the camp were working diligently with the mandate of OSC in conformity with international best practices.

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According to him, the success of the programme will go a long way in restoring peace and security to the North East in particular and the country as a whole.

Ibrahim said the programme was in need of five Hilux vans, additional vocational center, accommodation for camp staff and clients, and prompt release of funds to run the power generator among others.

Last Wednesday, five aid workers were rescued from the captivity of terrorists in North-eastern Nigeria.

The operation was carried out by the Department of State Service (DSS), military and intelligence services.

The aid workers were abducted by the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, on December 22, 2019 along Monguno-Maiduguri Road in Borno State.

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