Luis Enrique to leave Barcelona at end of season

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Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique before the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Malaga CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.<br />Luis Enrique announced on March 1, 2017 that he will leave Barcelona at end of season. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique’s decision to remove any suspense over his future by confirming he will step down as coach after three trophy-filled but turbulent seasons at the Camp Nou at the end of the campaign was met with surprise on Thursday.

“Goodbye leader,” said the front page of Barcelona sport daily Mundo Deportivo in reference to Enrique’s announcement coming on the same night Barca overtook Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Normally a combustible character, the 46-year-old calmly explained his reasoning for not seeking to renew his expiring contract after a 6-1 thrashing of Sporting Gijon on Wednesday.

Enrique cited the daily grind of the pressure as Barca boss and insisted he needs time to rest.

“Luis Enrique leaves as he has always been, faithful to who he is: unpredictable and indomitable,” said Barcelona-based newspaper Sport.

“His announcement took almost everyone by surprise in a decision that was strictly his.”

However, it was the sudden nature of his announcement rather than the decision to leave that shocked the most.

“In the summer he already told us he was considering this could be his final year,” said Barca president Maria Josep Bartomeu.

The conclusion has merely been precipitated by a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago that leaves the Catalans needing a historic comeback in next week’s second leg to avoid elimination from the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the first time in 10 years.

Enrique told the players his decision just minutes before going public at the end of his post-match press conference on Wednesday. “We were all left a bit open-mouthed,” admitted midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

However, undercurrents of disagreement with major figures in the dressing room have been a feature of Enrique’s time in charge.

Captain Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets criticised his tactical set-up in the demolition by PSG a fortnight ago.

Moreover, a bust up with Lionel Messi in January 2015 nearly cost Enrique his job after just six months in charge.

Instead, he went onto win eight trophies in the last three seasons. Only the two greatest coaches in Barca’s history — Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff — have won more.

That figure could even rise to 10 as Barca face Alaves in the Copa del Rey final on May 27 in what is likely to be Enrique’s last match in charge, and hold a one-pont lead over Real Madrid in La Liga, albeit Madrid do still have a game in hand.

– Stylistic differences –
Yet, the criticism that followed Barca’s dismantling in Paris centred around a feeling they have begun to lose their identity in the Enrique years.

Far from the sides filled with home-grown players built around the midfield of the Guardiola years, Enrique’s team has been about feeding the star front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar the ball as quickly as possible.

In Barca’s first outing after Paris last weekend — a nervy 2-1 win over lowly Leganes only sealed by a late Messi penalty — there was only one Spanish player in Barca’s starting line-up for the first time in their history.

Therefore, maintaining a sense of Barca’s DNA in the next appointment is likely to be crucial to an under-fire board.

For that reason former Barca player and highly experienced Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde is a leading candidate.

However, polls suggest the supporters’ choice would be Sevilla’s Jorge Sampaoli.

Sampaoli, who has guided Sevilla to third in La Liga and the Champions League last 16 in a highly impressive first season in Europe, is also likely to be a popular choice with fellow Argentine Messi.

The five-time World Player of the Year has just over a year to run on his contract and keeping Messi happy and willing to extend his deal will have a huge influence on who is chosen to succeed Enrique.

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Ash Wednesday: Clergymen task Christians on exemplary life

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Ibadan – As Christians in the country join others across the world to observe Ash Wednesday, clerics have admonished Christians to emulate the exemplary lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

The clergymen gave this charge while speaking on Wednesday in Ibadan.

They described Ash Wednesday as one of the most popular and important holy days observed by many Christians, and mark the beginning of the season of Lent.

Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, said that the Lenten season was a period of 40 days of intense prayer, fasting and alms giving.

“Ashes symbolise a call to repentance, grief and acknowledge of one’s sins before God.

“It also serves as the reminder that we are dust and to dust we will return. It is a day of penitential prayers.

“The Lent reflects the suffering of Jesus in the desert when he prayed and fasted for 40 days,” he said.

He called on Christians to follow the example of Jesus and live a life of love, selflessness and service.

“For those that cannot fast for reasons like pregnancy or health issues, they are advised to engage in active alms giving and service to others during this period,” he said.

On his part, the Bishop of Ogbomoso Methodist Diocese, the Rt. Rev. David Moradeyo, said that Christians should use the Lenten season to have a sober assessment of their lives and values.

According to him, it is through imitating the exemplary lifestyle of Christ that peace, tolerance and unity can be fostered in various communities and the country as a whole.

“People looked to Jesus while on earth, He was praiseworthy and was worthy of imitation and honour.

“He said concerning us that we are light of world and salt to the earth, therefore how we live our lives matter.

“We must live a life of sacrifice, love and kindness,” he said.

He said that Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits.

“Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline.

“Ash Wednesday emphasises our sinfulness before God and our human mortality, it helps us to realise that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said.

He urged Christians to use this period of fasting and prayers to call on God for his intervention in the country’s affairs.

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Xenophobic Attacks: Ekweremadu leads Senate Delegation to South Africa

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By Henry Umoru
ABUJA – DEPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West is leading a seven- member delegation of the Senate to South Africa following the return of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa where Nigerians have been attacked, injured and property destroyed.

Other members of the Senate team to engage their fellow parliamentarians on the matter as announced by Senate President Bukola Saraki during plenary Wednesday are Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, APC, Yobe North; Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central; Senator Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central; Senator Magnus Abe, APC, Rivers East and Senator Stella Oduah, PDP, Anambra North.

It would be recalled that the Senate on Tuesday, condemned in strong terms, the return of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, just as it described the action as extra-judicial killings of Nigerians by both the South African police and South Africans on Nigerians.

The Senate also advised the federal government to reconsider Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with South Africa with a view to averting the recurrent cases of xenophobic attacks and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

The Upper Chambers had also resolved to send a delegation to South Africa to engage their fellow parliamentarians on the matter.

The resolutions of the Senate on Tuesday were sequel to a motion by Senator Rose Oko, PDP, Cross River North and titled, ” Resurgence of Xenophobic Attacks and Extra-judicial Killings of Nigerians in South Africa.” It was co- sponsored by three other Senators.

Senator Oko who expressed concerns over recurrent cases of xenophobic attacks and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa, had said that on February 18, this year, South Africans attacked and looted businesses belonging to Nigerians in Pretoria, pointing out that the acts violated Article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights which she said provided that “no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”

She has also recalled that in 2016, 20 Nigerians were killed under similar circumstances over allegations of drug trafficking without a recourse to legal processes and the principle of fair hearing.

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Again Amaechi’s aide to Reno: “You’re a zookeeper; answer my questions, don’t write about lions, monkeys

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The end is not yet heard about the verbal altercations between the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s aide, Mr. David Iyofor and the Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Reno Omokri over the alleged maladministration of the past government as Amaechi’s aide has, in a second letter to Omokri, asked him to answer the questions he raised in his first epistle rather than being like “an excited new zookeeper…who childishly and unintelligibly writes about lions, monkeys, lizards and alligators in a manner sane people cannot fathom.”

In the second letter titled, “Before It Is Too Late: My Second Epistle To Bitter Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri,” Mr. Iyofor said he is deeply troubled by Reno’s state of mind especially at the intensely bitter obsession with infinite sadness he showed in his earlier reply to his first letter, saying “whoever spews that kind of garbage you wrote truly and urgently needs help, psychiatric and perhaps spiritual help.”

Recall that Omokri had in his reply article to Iyofor’s first letter said the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi is  “ a decorated monkey only loyal to his stomach.” He also said Amaechi is a “pot-bellied monkey” that perhaps will retire to Daura with President Muhammadu Buhari to become his house servant since he is not welcomed in his hometown in Rivers state.

Read Reno’s reply here: Reno to Amaechi: “You’re a decorated monkey only loyal to your stomach”

Omokri was responding to Iyofor’s first epistle that said he(Omokri) is “like a mad man in the market square that points his fingers at sane people, calling them mad.,”

Read also: Amaechi’s aide to Reno: “you are like a mad man in the market square….”

But in the second letter, Mr. Iyofor said The Transport Minister will not stoop to joining Reno Omokri in the exchange of verbal salvos and neither would he(Iyofor) will join him(Omokri) in exchanging derogatory words. He said, instead, he(Iyofor) is calling on Omokri’s family members, friends and well-wishers to urgently rescue him from “self-destructive voyage of hate, bitterness, anger and misplaced vengeance against Rotimi Amaechi, before it is too late.”

“My Dear Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri,

If you are astonished that I am writing you a second letter so soon, barely 24 hours after I lovingly admonished you in my first epistle to you, kindly pardon me. I do not mean to belabour you with this letter (its not like you have anything else to do with your life, anyway).

Your response early Tuesday morning to my first letter was so mortifying. It’s only pertinent I write you a second one. Again, I crave your indulgence and I would try not to take too much of your time.

Before I delve into the issues you raised, actually you didn’t raise any, all you did in that utterly disgusting piece you wrote was to attack, abuse, insult and call Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi all sorts of denigrating names. And this is the crux of my worry for you, brother Wendell Smilin.

I am deeply troubled by your state of mind. You were intensely bitter and obsessed with infinite sadness. Your words were ominously dark, your thoughts deviously vengeful, replete with so much bile, unbelievable and unbridled anger as you displayed a debilitating self- destructive hate. I am afraid you may have completely lost it.

Whoever spews that kind of garbage you wrote truly and urgently needs help, psychiatric and perhaps spiritual help. It’s far more worrisome and urgent when that person is a duplicitous character with multiple identities, who boldly puts “pastor”, like a moniker in front of one of his multiple names. That piece was a clarion urgent call for help by Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri.

I took you on, exposed your lies, fake news and multiple fake personalities, but you left the issues and went after Amaechi who has always completely ignored your endless hateful and vengeful attacks on him. Yours is a classical case of been beaten by Mr. A but you left Mr. A to go after Mr. B who has always ignored you. I know you crave a fight with Rotimi Amaechi, for him to trade words with you; sorry to burst your bubble-that will never happen.

You avoided the issues I raised in my first letter and refused to respond to the questions I asked, but rather took the highway of the mundane and the ridiculous.

You wrote two paragraphs, yes two paragraphs on the clothes Amaechi wears as if Amaechi’s fashion style will answer the question of whether the then CBN(Central Bank of Nigeria) governor, the same Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that you faked documents to demonize, wrote a letter to your boss and idol, that $49 billion cannot be accounted for and so was missing from NNPC account and not paid to the federation account?

Come on! If you really think that Nigerians care more about how ill- fitting or well-fitting Amaechi’s clothes are, than their missing billons of dollars, then your problems are far more profound than I had ever imagined.

 

Like a buffoon, overly excited new zookeeper, you childishly and unintelligibly wrote about lions, monkeys, lizards and alligators but no sane person could fathom how that answers the question of why you created a fake document and circulated fake news that sought to portray our former Central Bank Governor, now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a sponsor of terrorism; shamelessly and callously using the name of your brother-In- law’s innocent young son, Wendell Simlin to demonize Sanusi?

Brother Wendell, was it because Sanusi had the guts and courage to write the letter of the missing $49 billion to your god and idol?

You gleefully wrote about Amaechi’s supposed potbelly and eating habits, but how does that answer the question of whether Amaechi lied when he said your god and idol did not save money in spite of the huge savings he inherited from previous administrations and was surreptitiously spending alone the money meant for Federal, States and Local Government Councils?

Was Amaechi lying when he said your principal’s administration refused to call NEC (National Economic Council) meetings for about two years, in contravention of the constitution, so that the central administration you were part of, can covertly continue to spend unilaterally, the money meant for the three tiers of government; and that was why State Governors took the Federal Government to court to share the proceeds from the Excess Crude Account(ECA)?

My dear Reno, regularly billions of our money in naira and other currencies are been recovered from operatives of your principal’s past administration; yet you want us to believe that Sanusi was wrong when he wrote that billions of Nigeria’s money was missing. You must really think we are all fools and daft.

You went on to say a whole lot of balderdash that were neither coherent nor made any sense. You blabbed continuously, throwing up and joining diverse and different items that are entirely unrelated. Severally, you presented alternative facts as facts and wrote fake news as news.

Significantly, all these were done in a very incoherent and disjointed manner, which tells a lot about the state of your mind. I do not intend to dignify baloney and contemptible behaviour by responding to them.

There is a saying in my village, when translated, literarily means one do not wait for his brother to remove clothes and run stark naked in the market before you acknowledge that he is going mad when the signs are all obvious. That incoherent tirade against Rotimi Amaechi by Wendell Smilin aka Reno Omokri is an obvious cry for help.

Family, friends and well-wishers (if you still have any) urgently need to rescue you from this self-destructive voyage of hate, bitterness, anger and misplaced vengeance against Rotimi Amaechi, before it is too late.”

David Iyofor wrote from Abuja

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MSMEs: Osinbajo commends Ikpeazu’s drive, says Nigeria has no business with China if Aba is developed-Osinbajo

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*as NAFDAC, SON agree to give business approvals within 90 days

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the economic drive of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu in the buy Made-in-Nigeria goods campaigns, saying that Nigeria had no business with China if Aba was generally developed.

Osinbajo also said Aba was “very strategic and important to the country in terms of manufacturing and production.”

The Acting President spoke while receiving a delegation of some top functionaries of Abia State Government, Aba businessmen and industrialists led by Ikpeazu and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Okey Enalemah at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting which dealt on the measures to fully realize the potentials of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs in the country was a follow up to the launch of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs in Abuja and Aba, Abia State on January 24 and 26 respectively by the Acting President.

Osinbajo also directed the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC and Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON to ensure that registration of SMEs would not be cumbersome for business owners and operatives to which the agencies agreed to work within 60 and 90 days respectively.

While commending Governor Ikpeazu’s “smart business approach to governance”, Osinbajo said “Nigeria has no business with China if all hands are on deck to develop Aba as a major industrial Base.”

Speaking, Abia Governor stated that “If Aba is giving the needed and adequate attention, which include infrastructural and human capacity development, it has the potential and capacity as the SME capital of Nigeria, to position Nigeria as truly the giant of Africa.

“Our government is doing all we can do ensure the infrastructural turnaround of Aba, but we can’t do it alone, that is why we are thankful to the Federal Government for showing very strong interest in partnering with us to development Aba as the SME capital of our dear country-Nigeria.”

On the campaign for made-in-Aba goods, Ikpeazu said: “it is our collective resolve to promote goods and services made in Aba, and we will not relent in the campaign. We call on Federal Government and multinational companies and individuals to, not only join us in the campaigns, but to also patronize made-in-Aba goods.”

The governor also told State House Correspondents that the meeting was a follow to the SMEs lauch.

He said: “This is a follow up to the MSME clinic which Mr. Acting President led to Abia state. In this meeting, all the stake holders regulatory agencies, the minister and the minister of state, including Bank of Industry, Export Promotion Council were present. The whole idea is to see how far we have gone from that day uptil now so that we can cross
the Ts and dot the i’s and the outcome is very straightforward and gladdening. The regulatory agencies are committed now to specific days or time frame between which more businesses can register and get certification for their products.

“We have received additional advice of what we need to do in Abia state to create the environment for federal government to step in to make us acquire equipments and machineries to drive the automation of our products going forward”.

Also speaking, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Enalemah said that NAFDAC and SON have agreed to work with the specific period of 60 and 90 days respectively.

“As you know Aba is a place well known for its products, industry and entrepreneurship. It is a very good example of how partnership can happen within the private sector and the government. Between states and federal government and between funding agencies and enterprise.

“So with specific reference to MSME, we have received commitments to some of our key agencies like NAFDAC that they will do everything possible to give any approvals that they need to give within 90 days, which as you know is quite ambitious and is something that we welcome very much. We received similar assurances from Standard Organizations of Nigeria, SON, that where they need to give certifications or set standards or whatever approvals that MSMEs will need from them, that they will work with 60 days time frame from start to finish, including testings and all the other things.

“The important thing about this is the commitment of working with them to get the solutions or services from government speedily, transparently and readily”, Enalemah said.

The meeting also attracted the presence of Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, the Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industries (BoI), Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Director General of Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission CAC, and Director General DG, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mrs Kate Nwosu and Commissioner for Industry, Chief Henry Ikoh.

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Varun Dhawan Was Turned Away From The Polling Booth – Here’s Why…Read full details

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections 2017 are taking place today all over Maharashtra – and a bunch of Bollywood celebs turned up to exercise their right. Varun Dhawan was one of those responsible citizens, but unfortunately, he was not able to vote.

The actor reached the polling booth in Juhu accompanied by his brother, Rohit Dhawan. When Varun’s turn to vote came, he was reportedly told that his name was not on the list. He tried to find his name on the list and even made a few calls to resolve the issue, but in vain. He eventually walked out without casting his vote.

But hey, at least you tried. Next time, Varun!

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Source: Miss Malini

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Hriday Gattani’s New Song ‘Sun Re Sajna’ Will Make You Fall In Love All Over Again!…Read full details

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The super talented Hriday Gattani has just come out with his new song Sun Re Sajna and it is amazingly beautiful! Of course we all know he’s got a great voice but after hearing this song, we’ve fallen in love with him all over again! Check it out and let us know what you think in comments below.

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We chatted with him about his new song and he gave us the low-down. You catch it all here.

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P.S. – Stay tuned for a super entertaining episode of #SwagSessions to know more about his music and his life.

So talented!

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Arsenal vs Bayern: Germany hails Ancelotti’s ‘sensational’

Environmentalist advises govts to develop forestry

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An Environmentalist, Mr Habib Omotosho has advised government at all levels and relevant stakeholders to develop forestry being part of the initiatives to controlling soil temperature.

Omotosho, the National Coordinator of Environmental Advancement Initiatives, an NGO, gave the advice in an interview in Abuja On Thursday.

According to him, forests usually reduce the maximum soil temperature and increase the minimum soil temperature with the depth of the soil.

“The influence of the forest in reducing the maximum soil temperature result partly from the shade of the crowns and partly from the insulation of the forest floor.

“The influences of forest vegetation on freezing of soil are of great importance. Soil under a forest usually remains soft when that in the open is frozen to considerable depth,’’ he said.

Omotosho said forests modified physical and chemical properties of soil through addition of organic matter, decomposition of leaves and other plant parts, root penetration and activity of other animals inhabiting the forest.

According to him, the forest is more than a defence against erosion.

“Forest influence upon water production is a controversial subject.

“Some attribute all the desirable qualities of streams which issue from forest land to climate and geology.

“Some, on the other hand, are so certain that the forest alone is responsible for good water supplies.’’

Omotosho urged Nigerians, particularly rural women, to plant more trees to reduce carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

He said trees were imperative as they absorb gases and smokes polluted into the atmosphere.

The environmentalist said trees also absorb carbon dioxide breathed out by human beings and released oxygen for human beings to breathe in.

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Plateau State University suspends SSANU chairman, secretary

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Dos – The Plateau State University, Bokkos has suspended the Chairman and Secretary of the varsity’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Messrs Timnan Rimdap and Dusu Sambo Yaro.

The suspension letters, dated Jan. 27 and signed by Mr Amos Mallo, the university’s Registrar, indicated that the suspension was for three months during which they would receive only half of their basic salaries.

Timnan is the Head of the ICT unit, while Yaro is in the academic planning unit.

The letters barred them from entering the university’s premises during the period “except with the express permission of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar or Acting Chief Security Officer”.

The officers were directed to hand over their duties and Identity Cards to the most senior officers in their departments.

A copy of Timnan’s suspension letter indicated that he was fired after management felt dissatisfied with his response to queries bordering on SSANU issues and alleged absence from duty.

The letter accused him of “insubordination, lack of respect to constituted authority and attempting to tarnish the image of the university through falsehood and misrepresentation of facts”.

Sources from the Registry traced the development to the inauguration, on Nov. 23, of the school’s chapter of SSANU, by the union’s national body, and the subsequent request for members’ check-off dues by the Timnan-led interrim executive committee.

The Vice Chancellor declined the request for the dues, and insisted that he would only recognise the body after it had been registered by the school.

Copies of numerous letters, between the management and SSANU, showed that while the former insisted on registering, before recognising every trade union, the later argued that the registration of trade unions was the sole responsibility of the Registrar of Trade Unions.

In one of such letters, SSANU quoted section 3 (1) of the Trade Unions Act 2004, as conferring that privilege only on the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity.

“The National President of SSANU – a registered trade union – has granted approval for the establishment of a branch thereof in Plateau State University and the recognition of the union by an employer is obligatory,” SSANU argued.

SSANU, therefore, declared that it was “unnecessary and unconstitutional to have another registration with the university”.

But management, in a memo dated Jan. 10, insisted on the registration of all trade unions so as to monitor their activities, and directed unions, intending to operate in the school, to forward a list of officials, constitution and current membership list, for registration with the university.

It followed that up by specifically requesting minutes of the meeting where SSANU members agreed to the 2 per deduction on their salaries as check-off dues, and finally ruled that only individuals could write, granting permission to management, to tamper with their wages.

The university management, meanwhile, frowned at the tone of letters to it, and direct text messages to the Vice Chancellor, which it considered disrespectful, and accused Timnan and the union of using unpalatable language.

Contacted, Prof. Doknan Sheni, the university’s Vice Chancellor, said that the suspension had nothing to do with SSANU or a desire to stiffle the union.

“No one will refuse to pay check-off dues; but we wanted to be sure that he (Timnan) was representing the union and had members’ mandate to deduct the check-off dues.

“We asked him to produce minutes of congress meetings and, specifically, where they agreed that monies be deducted. We also wanted to know if SSANU mandated all the write-ups sent to management.

“Instead of providing the information, Timnan was blackmailing the management and the Vice Chancellor.

“The Registrar of the school is a senior member of SSANU; he has denied ever attending any congress meeting where deductions were endorsed,” Sheni said.

Sheni also accused Timnan of “just disappearing from school without permission”, and described that as a “grievous offence”.

Reacting to his suspension, Timnan expressed shock over management’s action, and wondered why he would be suspended without any prior warning, as stipulated in the university’s conditions of service.

“The law says that one can only be suspended after two warnings; in my case, I have never been given a verbal, much less written warning,” he said.

He said that the suspension was a “gross violation of our rights to freedom of association,” and opined that the intention was to “intimidate members of SSANU”.

“There is nothing in the trade union act that makes it mandatory for the union to submit its minutes to any employer because the union is an independent body, but SSANU has submitted minutes of four congress meetings to the management,” he added.

According to him, the minutes confirmed that members indeed gave their consent to the deduction of dues.

“Such deductions are even a requirement of both SSANU constitution and the trade union act 2004,” he said.

On allegations that he absented himself from duty without permission, Timnan said that he was sick for three days, and later had to write his examinations at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

“I applied for annual leave so as to use the time to attend to my health and write the examinations, but the leave was not approved,” he said.

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China jails former Supreme court judge for life in graft case

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Beijing – A Chinese court on Thursday jailed for life Xi Xiaoming, a former senior judge Supreme People’s Court, after finding him guilty of corruption, state media said.

According to the report, Xi, is the latest official to fall foul of a sweeping crackdown on graft.

A former vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, was put under investigation in 2015.

He was one of the most senior judicial officials ousted by President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign since the downfall of Zhou Yongkang, the former domestic security chief whose brief included law enforcement and courts.

Zhou was jailed for life in 2015.

State television said a court in the northern city of Tianjin found Xi Xiaoming guilty of accepting 115 million yuan (16.78 million dollars) in bribes between 1996 and 2015.

Xi admitted his guilt and has repented and so received a lighter sentence, the report said, probably meaning he avoided a death sentence.

It was not possible to reach a legal or family representative for comment.

The judge, a member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party for 40 years, was also accused by the party in 2015 of breaching confidentiality rules and leaking secrets related to judicial work.

He was the number four official in the Supreme People’s Court, where he specialised in economic law cases.

A native of eastern Jiangsu province, he rose from working as a policeman in the city of Shenyang in the 1970s to the highest echelon of the judiciary, where he was also a member of the court’s leading Party members’ group, according to his official biography.

China’s leaders have pledged to continue combating graft, seen as crucial to the party’s survival, and have vowed to go after “tigers” in senior positions as well as lowly “flies”.

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Legislator calls for anti-kidnapping squad

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Lagos – A Lagos State legislator, Mr Tunde Braimoh, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to establish an anti-kidnapping squad to tackle the crime.

Braimoh, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly committee on Information, Strategy and Security, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He made the call following the abduction of two security guards and five farmers in Epe, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The chairman urged the police urgently rescue the victims and arrest their abductors.

“I call on the government to dedicate a special squad of specialised law enforcement agents and intelligence personnel to the debilitating scourge of kidnapping.
“The latest incident of kidnapping that occurred on an Epe farmland is callous, crude and cruel. This is especially so as the victims are poor peasants struggling for survival.

“It is most disheartening that people labouring and striving for their daily bread in accordance with the commandment of God and charter of the United Nations could be so savagely kidnapped by unscrupulous elements.

“To visit such act of mindlessness and wickedness on some people who believe in the dignity of labour is the very definition of man’s inhumanity to man,’’ he said.

The lawmaker said that activities of kidnappers on Lagos waterways and coastal areas had become a source of worry, especially for the governor and the Assembly.

“Crime does not pay; every criminal will have a date with the law. Braimoh said.

According to him, no criminal has ever operated unchecked for more than five years.

“These criminals must halt this unacceptable spate of kidnapping so as to allow the performing Gov. Akinwummi Ambode to retain his tempo and focus for the benefit of all.”

NAN reports that the kidnapping of the guards and farmers in a farm at Igbodu area of Epe by gunmen in military camouflage occurred barely two weeks after kidnappers invaded the same community and abducted four persons.

Kidnapping in Lagos State now attracts death sentence if the victims die in the hands of their abductors, while the act of kidnapping attracts life imprisonment.

The punishments were provided for by the state’s Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, 2016, which was signed into law by Ambode on Feb.1.

The state Assembly had passed the bill into law on Jan. 5.

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FIFA boss not worried about hooligans at Russia World Cup

Malaysia arrests 3rd suspect in Kim Jong Nam’s death

Arsenal nightmare is ’embarrassing’ for Wenger

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Former players were brutal in their criticism of manager Arsene Wenger following Arsenal’s latest Champions League humiliation.

And newspapers across Europe were no less scathing of Wednesday night’s “nightmare” 5-1 thrashing at Bayern Munich.

Just a few days after defending his former boss by saying it was “too soon” for Wenger to leave, Martin Keown, a centre-back in all three of Arsenal’s Premier League title triumphs under the Frenchman, pulled no punches this time, saying it had been a clash of “men against boys”.

“It’s almost embarrassing — outclassed, outplayed,” Keown, now a pundit, told BT Sport.

“This is his (Wenger’s) lowest point ever. Twenty years and Arsene must be considering his future now. Arsenal were bullied, weren’t they? Completely.”

Another former defender, Lee Dixon, said he felt Wenger’s demeanour has finally changed following years of belligerent defiance in the face of numerous failures.

“He just seems so low,” Dixon told ITV.

“I think he’s realising that with this team he’s getting no response from them. They’re not doing themselves justice or him.

“That is the first time where I’ve seen him where I’ve thought, ‘he thinks it’s time’.”

Ian Wright, a former striker, let the expletives flow in a foul-mouthed Twitter rant during the game.

“We are a ******g shambles,” he posted.

“At least let it go to the ******g home leg.

“**** it !!! Not watching anymore.”

Former goalkeeper Bob Wilson, who was a champion with Arsenal in 1971, pondered whether this result would “tip Arsene over the edge”.

“He can only take so much,” said Wilson on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Arsene, given the amount of headlines that are coming his way, might just look at that and say enough is enough.”

Barring a minor miracle in the second leg in three weeks’ time, it will be the seventh year in a row that Arsenal have been knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16, and the third time in five years by Bayern.

And that on top of their failure to win the Premier League since 2004 and last year’s abject challenge when Leicester City ran away to a shock triumph by 10 points.

“Spineless!” screamed Britain’s Dail Mail while The Times described Arsenal’s latest European chastisement as “Groundhog Day”.

The Sun, as ever, opted for a pun relating to Bayern while suggesting Wenger’s time was up with “Bay bye Arsene”.

“Always the same nightmare,” said France’s L’Equipe, a newspaper that usually waxes lyrical about Wenger’s teams.

La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy called it “a slap in Wenger’s face”.

In his first eight full seasons with Arsenal, Wenger won the Premier League three times and the FA Cup four times.

But in 11 seasons since he’s managed to add only two more FA Cup successes and Arsenal are currently fourth in the league, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.

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Fayose alleges plots by APC to seize Ekiti Fed allocation, make him lose 2018 election

Army recovers remains of soldier killed in Agatu

1.7million candidates expected to sit for 2017 JAMB – Oloyede

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By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA-Non fewer than 1.7million candidates are expected to sit for 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in April.

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this on Tuesday at Abeokuta at the sideline of the examination body’s Information and Communication Technology retreat involving civil society groups, students and other major stakeholders.

Oloyede said the JAMB also aimed at increasing the capacities of its Computer Based Test Centres in order to make the April examination seamless.

He said, “We are expecting 1.7million candidates to sit for JAMB this year and we want to make sure we satisfy these candidates within a week or thereabout.

“That is why we are increasing the capacity of the Computer-Based Test centres to be able to examine more candidates within a given date.”

Oloyede who said the body would not promise a hitch-free examination, noted that there were changes and innovations ongoing which would send some illegal operators who had defrauded candidates in the past, out of business.

The JAMB boss, however, said the examination body would not be deterred in its mission to serve its candidates better.

He said, “I must be frank with you, I cannot promise a hitch- free examination because we are testing certain things.

“We are changing certain things. We want to question the status quo and of course, we expect a fight back by interest that will be trampled upon.

“We are going to be as sincere as possible in the direction we are going. We are going to be as flexible as humanly possible. We are not promising hitch free examination.

“We envisaged that there will be hitches here and there, but they will not be insurmountable. Rather than promising the nation hitch free examination, we will be promising a direction we will all be pleased with.

“Initially there might be hiccups and of course one would not have been appointed if it is routine. I believe that I have been given a very difficult job and that is why I am not promising that all will be smooth.”

He argued that that was why JAMB invited stakeholders to critique its processes, because it would not want to continue in the wrong direction.

He said, “We are creating some ICT facilities and we want our stakeholders, prospective candidates, respected scholars, institutions, civil societies to come together and critique what we are doing, so that we can be sure, before we go too far in a wrong direction.

“This is a view of harvesting good ideas that could improve what we are doing.”

He said the CBT had come to stay, as four African countries had indicated interest to come over to Nigeria to understudy it.

“Of course, I believed that Nigeria is ripe for this (CBT). Nigeria is more advanced than some of these countries. At least, we have three or four countries that are observing our examination and they want to go the way of the conduct of the examination,”he said.

While he said the JAMB would soon commence the sale of its forms for the 2017 UTME, he added that the examination body was also working on the possibility of conducting a mock examination “for some people who just want to try on what we are doing.”

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Despite our efforts, nothing to show that S’East is part of Nigeria – Okorocha

Conte still wary of Chelsea’s pursuers…See full details

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Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte / AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL /

Antonio Conte believes any of six teams could still win the Premier League despite his Chelsea side moving 10 points clear at the summit after drawing 1-1 at Burnley.

Chelsea negotiated a potentially difficult visit to Turf Moor on Sunday, where Burnley have the third-best home record in the division, behind only Chelsea themselves and Tottenham Hotspur.

But despite the solid result, and commanding lead at the top of the table over second-place Tottenham, Conte refused to discuss his team’s increasingly strong chances of winning the championship.

“That’s normal. There are 13 games before the end,” said the Chelsea manager, whose side’s advantage will be cut to eight points if Manchester City win at Bournemouth on Monday.

“If someone thinks this league is finished, I can tell you now, no.

“There are six teams for me that can win the league and anything can happen. We must continue to work in this way.

“I am happy for the commitment and the will to win. You can only take one point, but I am sure of the commitment.

“We have to think only of ourselves, not the other teams. It is important to play your game, to think about your game and then you think about the other results.”

While Spurs are 10 points back, there are four teams — Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Manchester United — within two points of Mauricio Pochettino’s side and ready to pounce if Chelsea falter.

Pedro shot Chelsea into an early lead at Burnley, who were looking for a sixth consecutive top-flight home league victory for the first time in 56 years.

But Robbie Brady, the club-record £13 million ($16.2 million, 15.3 million euros) January signing from Norwich City, marked his home debut with a superb free-kick leveller mid-way through the first half.

“I am disappointed because our mentality must be that we have to try always to win and we did this today,” said Conte.

“But sometimes you must understand that there are tough games and this was very tough, but I am pleased we tried to win.

“I am disappointed for the result, not for the commitment and the will to win. I like to always to take three points.”

– ‘Sublime’ Brady –
Conte was also quizzed about comments made by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after his current club Manchester United beat Watford 24 hours earlier.

The Portuguese manager made a veiled reference to Chelsea’s style of play, labelling them “defensive”, but Conte laughed off the comments.

“I don’t like to reply to the other coaches,” Conte said. “I don’t like this. He is joking. I have experience to understand this.”

Burnley manager Sean Dyche was delighted with the attitude his team showed, especially having gone behind to such an early goal from a team who appear destined for the title.

“First of all, they are top-class, not just by the league table,” said Dyche.

“Pockets of their play are excellent and you can use it as a guideline to see we have moved forward.

“The team looks more assured. You are playing against the top end of the market. The mentality as well, we have plenty of that glue to hold a team together.”

Dyche paid tribute to Brady, who also scored against Conte the last time he faced the Chelsea manager, when he was playing for Ireland against Conte’s Italy at last year’s European Championship in France.

“It was a sublime free-kick against a top-class goalkeeper, a giant of a man,” said Dyche in reference to Chelsea number one Thibaut Courtois.

“To find that area of the goal was fantastic. To get put into that game was not easy for him.

“He’s just signed for a new club, he’s getting a feel for how the team works, but he held his own in a really tough game.”

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