Durban stripped of 2022 Commonwealth Games

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PHOTO:AFP/Getty image

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will no longer take place in Durban, South Africa, the BBC and other British media reported Monday.

South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula indicated that the government might withdraw its financial support because of the cost of staging the multi-sport event.

Durban was named as the 2022 Games host in September 2015 but Mbalula told a news conference in Cape Town in February that the South African government and the organising Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had still to reach an agreement over costs.

“It does not look like we will find each other,” said Mbalula. “We have given it our best shot, but we cannot live beyond our means.”

The CGF executive board was holding a scheduled meeting in London on Monday with the future of the 2022 Games on the agenda.

A CGF spokesman contacted by AFP would not confirm the reports about Durban losing the Games but said he expected to issue a statement later Monday.

The mayor of Liverpool has said the northwest English city is prepared to host the 2022 Games if they are no longer in Durban.

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Iran grants conditional release to Montazeri’s son

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Ahmad Montazeri

The jailed son of Ayatollah Montazeri, one-time heir to Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini, has been granted a conditional release, a news agency linked to the judiciary said Saturday.

Mizanonline reported that Ahmad Montazeri, a cleric serving a six-year jail term for “action against national security”, had been released after being pardoned by Khomeini’s successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ahmad Montazeri had agreed not to “take action against the regime”, failing which he would return to prison.

An appeals court ruled that the cleric, whose late father had originally been lined up to replace Khomeini before being sidelined, should serve a six-year term rather than 21 years as ordered by a religious court, Mizanonline reported last month.

He was also convicted of spreading “lies about the founder of the Islamic republic”, Khomeini.

In August 2016, Montazeri released recordings in which his father, Hossein Ali Montazeri, condemned the 1988 executions of thousands of members of the People’s Mujahedeen armed opposition group ordered by Khomeini shortly before his death.

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Nigerian military faults Amnesty report on Northeast (Read full details)

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The theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Lucky Irabor. PHOTO:

The Nigerian Military on Wednesday faulted the Amnesty International report which alleged mass abuse in the handling of the ongoing anti-terrorism war in the North-East.

Major-General Lucky Irabor, the theatre commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, picked holes in the report while addressing newsmen in Maiduguri.

“I am constrained to touch on the recently released Amnesty International Report for the year 2016. The reason being that the report made some unfortunate claims regarding the operations in the North-East,” Irabor said.

“Whereas the contents of the report have been condemned, I wish to join (in the condemnation) by saying that the troops of Operations Lafiya Dole are professional in conduct and disposition.

“They operate within the strict guidance of the rules of engagement and the code of conduct for troops.”

Irabor noted that Amnesty International had been consistent in its attack on Nigerian military in recent time.

“What needs to be clear is that we have observed a consistent attack on the institutions charged with the mandate to protect the nation against every form of insecurity.

“During the trying days of this operation, Amnesty International and other agents working against our nationhood tried fruitlessly to incite the populace against the military through various malicious publications.

“In spite of their distractions, we forged ahead and decimated Boko Haram.

“We worked assiduously to improve on our civil-military relations, the result of which is manifest in the unparalleled support, accolades and encouragement we have received from the populace. This position seems to have disappointed Amnesty International and their ungodly allies.”

Irabor expressed sadness that Amnesty was making use of some unpatriotic Nigerians to achieve its aim.

“Regrettably some Nigerians are being used as puppets and agents of destruction of our national security institutions.

“It is sad that when our national security institutions are gaining traction, these agents after fabricating their reports, sit back and push Nigerians to make the reports known to the public to give a national colour of some sort.

“We must rise up and stand against this subtle and increasing level of neo-colonialism; we all have a role to play in this direction.

“Our national institutions must be strengthened, it is our responsibility to do so, no one can love Nigeria better than Nigerians, I only ask you the press to shine your eyes”.

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Former FIFA executive Valcke challenges 10-year ban

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PHOTO:AFP

Shamed former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a 10-year ban for ethics breaches.

The world body fired the Frenchman in January 2016 over black market World Cup ticket sales and suspect television deals. Valcke is also the target of a Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA’s affairs under its former leader Sepp Blatter.

FIFA originally banned Valcke for 12 years but this was reduced to 10 years by a FIFA appeal committee in June last year. His current action at CAS is against the appeal committee.

“Jerome Valcke seeks to have the challenged decision set aside in order for the sanction imposed on him to be lifted definitively,” said a CAS statement.

The tribunal said an arbitration panel had not yet been constituted, in an indication that any decision will take several months.

Valcke, who was accused of destroying evidence when under investigation, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Following the ban, FIFA said last June that it had passed on information to Swiss prosecutors and US authorities about the activities of Blatter and Valcke.

In 2008, Valcke’s office transferred $10 million on behalf of South African officials organising the 2010 World Cup to senior FIFA officials in the Caribbean. US prosecutors suspect the money was a bribe in return for voting for South Africa to host the World Cup.

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Erigga – The Way Your Matter Be [Mp3 + Lyrics]

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Erigga Paperboi rides on the season to drop a valentine special titled “The Way Your Matter Be”. The acclaimed king of the street goes mushy on this track, a proof that even gangster’s fall in love too.

Download, share and enjoy.

DOWNLOAD

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Nadal coach announces split

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Spain's Rafael Nadal / GREG WOOD / AFP

Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle Toni Nadal has said he will no longer accompany the tennis great on tour, complaining that he is being shut out of decision-making.

“From next year I will no longer follow Rafael on the circuit and I will focus exclusively on our (tennis) academy,” he was quoted as saying on the Italian website tennisitaliano.it.

“Relations with my nephew are still excellent. During all these years, we have never been through a crisis,” he said.

“Until he was 17 years old, it was me who decided everything. Then Carlos Costa arrived as manager. Then his father became closer, each having his opinions.

“And the truth is that every year I had less decision-making, until the day when I will decide on nothing.”

Spain’s Carlos Moya joined the Nadal coaching team at the end of last year.

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Army donates clothing, cash to assaulted physically challenged person in Onitsha

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The Nigerian Army has offered clothing and undisclosed amount of money as succour to Mr Chijioke Orakwu, a physically challenged person, assaulted by two military police officers in Onitsha for allegedly wearing army camouflage.

Orakwu was manhandled by two soldiers on Feb. 7, at New Market Road,Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, presented the item and cash on Friday.

Musa said that the Army would not condone acts of indiscipline or gross misconduct by any member.He said that the action of the soldiers did not reflect the attitude of today’s soldiers under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

“Already, those who perpetrated the act have been arrested and tried, and because of the seriousness of the offence, they have been referred to higher authorities for further action.

“The Nigerian Army is seriously concerned about the incident.“We want to assure Nigerians, particularly the international community that the Nigerian Army has core values and respect for the rights of people,” Musa said.

The army spokesman urged the public to view the case as an isolated one, assuring that future assault similar to the Onitsha incident would be treated with serious action.

He said the army volunteered to take Orakwu to hospital but that he refused orthodox medication.Musa added that the doctors, who examined him physically, confirmed him to be physically fit.

The army spokesman emphasised that the items given to Orakwu were not to compensate him but to show that the Nigerian Army cares and respect rights of individuals.

“All we did was not an issue of compensation but to show Nigerians and the international public that the Nigerian Army is disciplined, responsive and responsible, and that we care,” he said.

The Army, he said, had warned against the abuse of military uniforms, saying it remain its policy which the army holds in high esteem.
Also, the Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Idongesit Akpan, assured that such incident would not repeat itself.

The representative of the state government, Dr Victoria Chikwelu, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Army in handling the case.He said that Gov. Willie Obiano was not in doubt of what the Army would do as regards the disciplinary measures against the perpetrators.

“Obiano has passion for the physically challenged and that is why he appointed one of them as his Special Assistant and also built three special skill acquisitions centres for their use,” Chikwelu said.

Chikwelu, who is the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said that the state government had plans to also empower Orakwu at a later date.Responding, Orakwu, who expressed happiness, commended the army for the kind gesture.

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NLC, TUC protest rising cost of living

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The NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the groups were protesting the delay in the upward review of minimum wage amidst increasing cost of items in the country. PHOTO: LUCY LADIDI ELUKPO/THE GUARDIAN

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday staged a protest at the National Assembly complex, Abuja over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

The NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the groups were protesting the delay in the upward review of minimum wage amidst increasing the cost of items in the country.

“We are here to demand good governance and express our support in the fight against corruption.

“More importantly, we demand respect for rule of law, greater accountability and transparency in governance,’’ Wabba said.

He expressed worry that Nigerian workers had been the major victims of the fall-out of corruption and bad governance.

“Today the dollar rate is N500 to one dollar and the salaries of Nigerian workers have remained the same. Therefore, we are here to urge the National Assembly to play an important role to ensure that life is made better for Nigerians.

“We cannot succeed if the fight against corruption does not succeed.

“We appreciate the efforts by the National Assembly to ensure financial autonomy for the local governments and this must be sustained because money meant for the local governments does not get there.’’

The NLC chairman further expressed concern that in spite of the bailout funds to states for workers’ salaries, “the living condition of workers have not been improved because many are not paid’’.

He explained that pensioners in the country were owed up to 77 months and called on the National Assembly to synergise with other arms of government to pay them.

Contributing, the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama said that the inflation rate in the country was growing astronomically.

Kaigama said that it was time for governments at all tiers to go back to the drawing board to revive the country’s economy.

“Whatever it takes, we must review the structure of our economy. If we must have to kill corruption, the laws have to come from the National Assembly.

“Nigerians are hungry, the cost of living is high, no houses, no light and factories have gone comatose,’’ Kaigama said.

Responding, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said it was time to go into action towards addressing the numerous challenges confronting Nigerians.

According to him, we need to sit down and work out how to make necessary adjustments.

“It can’t continue this way, the exchange rate is high, cost of things in the market have gone high but only the workers’ salaries remain the same.

“By the next time we will meet, I will tell you what the National Assembly has done to improve the living condition of Nigerians,’’ Saraki said.

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Board will refocus on NDDC’s original mandate, says Ndoma-Egba

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Ndoma-Egba

The Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has reaffirmed its resolve to refocus on its original mandate for development of the Niger Delta.

The Chairman of the Board, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), made the reaffirmation in a statement given to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Ndoma-Egba stated that the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan meant to accelerate the development of the region , had so far failed to achieve that objective.

“The region has become even more turbulent and more underdeveloped than when the Master Plan was launched, clearly because the master plan was abandoned after all the fanfare that attended its launching in 2007.

“The commission lost its focus and has rather acquired the reputation, rightly or wrongly, of a contract awarding factory or machine, delivering little impactful development to the region.

“We are coming on board at a very challenging time. The public image of the commission is not edifying. The militancy, restlessness and lack of development are most unnerving.

“We must rebrand the commission and change the public perception of it as a slush fund and this we must do through our honest work and single-minded focus and discipline”, he said.

He stressed the need to reform the processes of the commission, adding that things must be done differently if different results must be achieved.

“We must see our appointments as a life time opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of the ordinary people of the region.

“Let’s write our names in gold for posterity and not an opportunity for our own slice of the proverbial national cake or short term benefits. We should keep our eyes on history.” he said.

Ndoma-Egba noted that previous interventions in the region had been unremarkable, starting from the Niger-Delta Development Board (1961 – 1972), Niger-Delta River Basin Authority (1972 – 1983), Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (1972 – 2000) to the NDDC.

According to the chairman, these intervention agencies failed for loss of focus, mismanagement, inadequate funding, corruption and the lack of appropriate will to develop the region.

He said although the time for the current board was short, it was long enough to chart a new path.

The chairman stated that the commission must shed weight and unnecessary baggage and burdens to be effective and transparent.
“In keeping with Mr. President’s change agenda and global best practices, we have to audit our systems, processes, projects and staff.

“The commission must be transparent so that we can get more support from stakeholders and engage the attention of international development partners.

“We shall engage constantly with stakeholders and ensure that all organs of the commission are activated and functional.

“We should commit to transparently removing all impediments to the effective delivery on our mandate, and build strong systems and processes. Ours is the very first board under the APC government.

“Our attitude, policies and programmes must reflect the values of the government and party. We are bound by the party’s change agenda”, he said.

The chairman added that the commission would remain open to suggestions that would facilitate its vision and ensure value for money spent.

“The board will set quarterly targets, milestones, benchmarks and responsibilities that will form the focus for each quarter.

‘’Achieving these targets will be the core oversight function of the board’s committees that will be set up soon”, he said.

Ndoma-Egba assured that the budget process of the commission must be stakeholder- and end-user driven and owned with clear impact assessment.

“We shall evolve strategies to enhance staff productivity and compensation. Staff welfare shall be given priority attention. It will no longer be business as usual.
“The story in the public is that a commission of 10-15% is paid by contractors to get their payments from the commission.

“This is absolutely wrong if it is true. Getting payments for contractors has become an industry by itself.

‘There is no reason why contractors who have met conditions for payment should not be paid without any intervention,” he said.

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