FIELDING JONATHAN FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS A COSTLY MISTAKE BY PDP - RAYMOND DOKPESI.

Fielding the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections was a costly mistake by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of the party’s national conference organising committee, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has said.

Dokpesi, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja, Tuesday, said the imposition of Jonathan by the PDP might have been responsible for the party’s loss of the presidency in the last general election.

He said the zoning formula put in place by the party’s founding fathers was jettisoned by its leadership at the time.

MASSOB GIVES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 1 WEEK TO RELEASE NNAMDI KANU OR FACE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

A faction of the separatist group, Move­ment for the Ac­tualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) has issued a one week ultimatum to the Fed­eral Government to imme­diately release the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, or face severe sanctions.

The group gave the ultimatum, in a state­ment signed by its director of Information, Comrade Uche Madu, in which he said, at the expiration of ultimatum, MASSOB would “unleash the potency of non-violence which includes civil disobe­dience, civil unrest, non-cooperation, civil /massive boycott as was done during the emancipation struggle of Ghandi of India & Martin Luther King junior”.

Madu affirmed that the action is sequel to the na­tionwide protest embarked by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday, demanding for the release of Kanu and pledged full support to the protest by the IPOB, stressing that they would not relent till their agitation is actualized.

CBN SLAMS N4BILLION FINE ON SKYE BANK PLC.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has imposed a N4 billion fine on Skye Bank Plc for failing to render appropriate returns on accounts of some government institutions and agencies.

This is contained in a statement by Skye Bank to the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The bank said the fine imposed by the apex bank was misdirected since it did not conceal any information of the accounts from the central bank.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SACKS EFCC BOSS IBRAHIM LAMORDE.

President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, of his appointment.

A top government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not the spokesman for government, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Monday.

“It is true that the man has been asked to go,” the source simply said.

(VIDEO) THE TEN RECORD BREAKING GOALS AT 2015 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP BY VICTOR OSIMHEN.

VICTOR OSIMHEN

Golden eaglets striker, Victor Osimhen broke the record for scoring the highest number of goals in the history of Fifa U-17 tournament when he banged in 10 goals in the recently concluded age group tournament in Chile.

Nigeria became the 2nd side after Brazil to have successfully defended the title won in 2013 at U.A.E. Victor is definitely set for glory.

MTN CEO RESIGNS OVER N1.4TN FINE IMPOSED BY NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISION.

Sifiso Dabengwa, the Group Chief Executive Officer of telecom company, MTN, has resigned following the massive N1.04 trillion ($5.2 billion) fine imposed on the company by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

MTN was sanctioned by the Nigerian government for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers.

Non-Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, will act as executive chairman for a maximum period of six months while the company identifies a successor to Mr. Dabengwa, MTN said in a statement issued in Johannesburg on Monday

KELECHI NWAKALI EMERGES GOLDEN BALL WINNER AS VICTOR OSIMHEN BECOMES HIGHEST GOAL SCORER EVER IN #FIFAU17WC.

With an outstanding team packed with talented players, Nigeria successfully defended their crown at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. Furthermore, the west Africans took centre stage when it came to the individual honours too. 

Top scorer Victor Osimhen and captain Kelechi Nwakali both made their mark on the competition, and after winning the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, the latter followed in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and Toni Kroos, who are now key members of the senior sides with their respective national teams. Osimhen set a new U-17 World Cup goalscoring record, while Mali’s Samuel Diarra and Ecuador’s example of Fair Play were also recognised in the honour’s list established and overseen by FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG).

(VIDEO) NIGERIA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP.

Nigeria became only the second side to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali in Vina Del Mar. Victor Osimhen stole the show once again thanks to his record-breaking tenth goal of the tournament, with Funsho Bamgboye adding a second moments later. Samuel Diarra had saved an early Osinachi Ebere penalty as the Malians played their part in an entertaining finale to Chile 2015.

The penalty came as both sides were just finding their rhythm in the opening exchanges, Chato the culprit with a handball. Ebere saw his low effort saved brilliantly by Diarra, the No17's follow up header hit the bar before a third bite of the cherry was blocked by the Malian defence.

Both sides had chances in a tense opening period, with Golden Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali hitting just wide and Boubacar Traore seeing his glancing header tipped over by Akpan Udoh.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Liverpool 1 Crystal Palace 2.

LIV 1 CYP 2

(HIGHLIGHTS) MANCHESTER UNITED 2 WEST BROM 0.

MAN U 2 WEST BROM 0.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Barcelona 3 Villarreal 0.

BAR 3 VIL 0

(HIGHLIGHTS) Arsenal 1 - 1 Tottenham.

ARS 1 - 1 TOT

TRIBUNAL SACKS TARABA STATE GOVERNOR DARIUS ISHAKU AS SEN. AISHA ALHASSAN BECOMES NIGERIA'S FIRST FEMALE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNOR.

The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

‎The tribunal headed by Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar declared the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan‎, as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.

‎Alhassan was among those that were cleared by the Senate to take up Ministerial appointment under President Muhammadu Buhari

DSS ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SAMBO DASUKI.,

Note: This statement by DSS is a response to alleged siege of residence of Ex- NSA Sambo Dasuki by security operative today. 

DSS PRESS RELEASE

1. The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been brought to the report making rounds that its operatives illegally blocked the residence of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo DASUKI (Col/Rtd), in violation of a subsisting court order granting him a relief to travel oversea for medical services. This is to say the least that such report is not only unfounded and malicious but aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Service. 

(HIGHLIGHTS) NIGERIA 4 MEXICO 2. #FIFAU17WC.

NIG 4 MEX 2

(HIGHLIGHTS) Mali 3 Belgium 1. #FIFAU17WC.

MALI 3 BELGIUM 1

(HIGHLIGHTS) Real Madrid 1 PSG 0.

R. MADRID 1 PSG 0.

(HIGHLIGHTS) Manchester United 1 CSKA Moscow 0.

Man U    1  CSKA 0.

DAVID MARK'S UNGOLDEN SILENCE.

SIR: Reports have it that over half a million persons are living with the dreaded HIV/AIDS in Benue State. This figure keeps rising by the day and sees Benue sit right at the top with the most endemic states a la HIV in Nigeria. What this portends for the state is better imagined. A commissioner from the state once stated that the virus was having a great effect on their state from farming to education et al, what with the impact on the human resources.

In March of this year, Nigerians decided that they were done with the ineptitude and insensitivity of the PDP since the inception of this democracy in 1999 and collectively decided to show them the door. This led to massive changes at the helm, from the Presidency to the two legislative arms of government which meant new faces/party at the helm of these hallowed chambers.

MORE TROUBLE FOR EX-NSA SAMBO DASUKI.

There is no respite yet for former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, despite being granted leave to travel out for treatment by a Federal High Court.

Security yesterday invited him for questioning over “fresh security matters” shortly after he left court.

But he told them to approach the court if there is any fresh allegation or security issue against him.