Global Naija Info

Late MKO Abiola This day, June 12 will always be remembered by those who have defied the culture of silence and conspiracy against a significant moment in Nigerian history, to remind us of how today, 23 years ago, the battle against the exit of the military from power was fought at the ballot by a determined Nigerian people. It is indeed sad that apart from the South West states of Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Osun which have doggedly continued to celebrate the hero, and later martyr of that battle, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, there has been studied indifference to the June 12 phenomenon by the Federal Government and remarkably, the rest of Nigeria. This is sadder still because MKO Abiola was not an ethnic champion: he was a man of pan-Nigerian vision and ambition, who went into politics to give the people hope, to unite them and lead them out of poverty. His campaign manifesto was instructively titled “Hope 93- Farewell to Poverty: How to make Nigeria a better place for

Yahaya Bello, Kogi State governor Still basking in his victories at the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has called on the people, whether in the APC, PDP, LP, APGA, PPA, etc who have found themselves on one side or the other in the fallout from the last governorship elections to put aside all bitterness and rancour and join hands with him to develop the state. In a statement after his victories at the tribunal, Bello urged the people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. He warned trouble makers who may wish to use the failure of the petitions at the tribunal or any other reason for that matter, as a ruse to foment trouble anywhere within Kogi State to have a rethink. ”The Security Agencies have been placed on Red Alert, and you can rest assured that all troublemakers will be apprehended, and they will face the full wrath of the Law. This is the full statement: BEING AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF KOGI STATE BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR YAHAY

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the news of the death of the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and former coach of the Super Eagles, Amodu Shaibu, as shocking. Osinbajo in a statement released in Abuja’on Saturday said Nigeria has lost yet another dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly to bring honor to our country. ”He led the national team to two World Cup Tournaments and answered the call to serve as National Coach on a number of occasions. ”In deed his life was dedicated to finding and grooming some of Nigeria’s best soccer talents and providing them the leadership and guidance that enabled them to excel. ”Amodu Shaibu’s work as National Coach of Nigeria’s national team brought gladness to the nation and fulfillment to many. His legacy is secured in the memories of Nigerians who will forever recall the exploits his teams recorded across the African continent and around the world. ”His dutiful service spanned many years and our country is

Emmanuel Amuneke Emmanuel Amuneke, Coach of the National U-20 team has dedicated the team`s victory over Burundi, to Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaibu, former Super Eagles coaches who passed on recently. Amuneke disclosed this to sportswriters on Saturday after the team, also known as the Flying Eagles, beat the Burundi U-20 team, 2-1 at the U.J Esuene stadium, Calabar. The Flying Eagles won with a 3-1 aggregate having defeated the Burundians 1-0 two weeks ago. The match is the second round qualifier for the African U-20 championship scheduled for Zambia in 2017. “I am dedicating this victory to the late coaches of Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu. “It’s a pity that we lost our finest coaches and masters of the game, may their souls rest in peace’’, he said. Amuneke also said the Flying Eagles played very well and deserved the win. “Playing at home gives you an opportunity to excel,” he said. Victor Osimhen scored the first goal when he converted a penalty in the 72

Nigerian soldiers on the move The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed the killing of 10 suspected Boko Haram fighters after a clearance operation in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno. Col. Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, revealed this in a statement in Maiduguri. Usman said that two other suspects were captured alive by the troops during the operation. He said based on information received that the terrorists earlier dislodged at Chukungudu and Hausari villages were migrating towards Muska village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade, conducted operations in the area. “During the encounter, the troops killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists, captured two alive and rescued a woman with her baby held hostage by the terrorists,” Usman said. He said that the troops also recovered arms and ammunition during the exercise. The army spokesman said items recovered included six AK-47 rifle magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62m (special) rou

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday expressed sadness and shock over the death of the former coach of the Super Eagles, Amodu Shuaibu. The president, in a twitter message, lamented that “it is heartbreaking to lose two of the finest and most accomplished members of our football family at the same time.’’ “This is indeed a sad week for Nigerian football, and Nigerian sports in general. “May the soul of Amodu Shuaibu rest in peace. Ameen,” the president added. Shuaibu, who died at 58 in his sleep on Friday, was buried at his hometown, Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo on Saturday.

Ogun Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta Applicants for the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Police Force in Ogun State have been charged to report any person or official that demands for any bribe or reward, in cash or kind. The Ogun Command also appealed to those who have no business at the screening centre at Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta to steer clear of the premises. In a statement released from the Command and signed by the Police spokesman, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, applicants were asked to report such erring officials to either the State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the screening exercise in the state, CP David Folawiyo or any senior officer of the command. The command announced that those who applied for recruitment, especially, Ogun indigenes, to report at the screening centre for the screening exercise according to their groups and schedules. “Applicants in group A and B,

Amodu’s son, Abdulaziz being interviewed by reporters Jethro Ibileke/Okpella‎ Abdul-Aziz Amodu, eldest son of the late Shuaibu Amodu, said the news of the death of his father came to him the day he was to depart for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC.) The 26-year old who just graduated from Igbinedion University, Okada, added that the last time he spoke with his father was on Friday and that the late Amodu “was not “particularly sick before” his death Saturday morning. “I just woke up this morning and saw someone rushed to the house to say that Shuaibu Amodu was dead. The person said I should tell my uncle. I asked if the person was talking about my father and he said yes; that it happened this morning. “My last conversation with him was yesterday (Friday) morning. I was supposed to depart (for NYSC) this morning, so I called him over that night. He didn’t pick my calls, but he later called back. He said he was busy and that I should calm down. “He said he would be in Okpella t

Remains of the Late Shuaibu Amodu being laid to rest in Okpella Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State The late former Chief Coach of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Shuaibu Amodu was laid to rest amidst tears in Okpella, Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday evening.

Remains of the Late Shuaibu Amodu being laid to rest in Okpella Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State Jethro Ibileke/Okpella The remains of the late former Super Eagles Chief Coach, Shuaibu Amodu, were laid to rest Saturday evening at his country home in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, amidst tears and wailings. Amodu’s body, that had earlier been brought to Okpella from Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin at about 12.30p.m., was brought out from the inner chambers of his house for internment at about 5.07 pm. Some family members and neighbours could not hold their emotions as they cried and wailed uncontrollably. At about 4 p.m, Amodu’s mother who had earlier been taken to the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji A.Y.E. Dirisu, was returned to the compound after she had been informed of her son’s death. Special prayers, led by Ustaz Ahmed Shehu, was offered for the repose of the soul of the late coach of the defunct BCC Lions of Gboko.

Akinwunmi Ambode Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday approved the appointment of new Sole Administrators to oversee the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the State. The governor had two days ago sacked the 57 Executive Secretaries of LGs and LCDAs in the state. A statement issued on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, said Ambode would on Monday swear-in the new appointees at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Among those to be sworn-in include: Ayeni A. Babatunde; Adebayo Taoheed; Adekunle Julius; Samuel Ojo; Jacob Kent; Mrs. Bashorun Bolanle A.; Gbenga Abiola; Olumide Olayomi; Mrs. Yeyintola D. Agaba; Isa Abiola Jubril; Yusuf Temitope; Alh. Musa Nasir A.; Ogunleye Gbolahon; Babatunde Adetunji; Olu Ogunniyi; Sola Akande; Alh. Wasiu Sanni; Abiola Kolawole Esrom; Muyiwa Okesanya and Shukura Okeowo. Others are: William Lawanson; Label Raji; Ibrahim Adigun; Mrs. Samiat O.

Milling material laying for diversion at KM 98 + 300 at the rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of Lagos – Ibadan dual carriageway section II (Shagamu -Ibadan) by the Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited on Friday in fulfillment of the commitment given to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN that they would mobilize back to site latest by Monday Two construction giants, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) have returned to site to resume work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Reconstruction and rehabilitation works on the highway were suspended due to some issues with the Federal Government which include funding. A correspondent, who took a trip on the highway on Saturday, reports that officials of both Julius Berger and RCC were seen moving heavy equipment to sites with their men already mobilised to work on the various sections. Investigations revealed that Julius Berger began work on Friday, while RCC mo

File photo showing scene of accident at Ojuelegba, Lagos, where a container fell off a truck and killed three persons Some road users on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway escaped death when an articulated vehicle carrying a 40ft container skidded off the highway and fell on a parked truck. The accident occurred Friday on the road where the popular Kara Cattle Market is located. The articulated vehicle with registration number FST 477 XS carrying the container had lost two rear tyres which made it to skid of the road. In the process its load destroyed front part of the other trailer marked XF 711 KTN, leaving the windscreen, steering and engine mangled. Some eyewitnesses disclosed that it was a miracle that no life was lost in the incidence as people were standing at the spot when the accident occurred. A trader at Kara Market, Malam Mohammed Rabiu, said that some passengers waiting for commercial vehicles at the spot scampered for safety as the driver lost control of the vehicle. Another

C Don Adinuba By C. Don Adinuba Bayelsa State is a quintessence of how crisis of social values is at the root of the economic under performance of societies and nations. Speaking on television networks in the first week of this month, Governor Seriake Dickson ascribed his inability to pay the workforce in almost half a year to humongous debts accumulated by his predecessors. Many governors borrow massively from banks and issue to the accountant general of the federation an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO) to deduct the loans from source and pay creditors. “I did not see what they did with all the monies they borrowed”, Dickson bemoaned. Though he did not reveal his predecessors who put Bayelsa in peonage, the list may include Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. If the list does indeed include Alamieyeseigha, then Dickson must accept responsibility for the state’s economic mess. Only last April, he organized a high profile state executive council meeting in honour of Alamieyeseigha, a

Segun Odegbami Nigerians have again been thrown into mourning with the death early on Saturday of a four-time former Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu Amodu. Reacting to Amodu’s demise, ex-international, Segun Odegbami, said that such death in quick succession was a shock and had negative implications. “It is sad to be hearing the news of things happening in this manner; I think something really needs to be done, and something we need to know. “I think the people put in charge of sports don’t know anything about it. They don’t understand the pressure under which the real sportsmen work. “The players and coaches are dying slowly by the nature of their profession but those at the helm of administration do not seem to know. “We have so many of them on their sick bed with no help going to them,’’ he disclosed in Lagos on Saturday. Odegbami urged the Federal Government to do something urgently about the welfare of sportsmen. Adegboye Onigbinde, who had also coached the senior national t

The Late Shuaibu Amodu Jethro Ibileke/Benin Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has disclosed how the former Super Eagles Coach, Shuaibu Amodu died in Benin. Afegbua said Amodu was discovered dead in his room on Saturday morning at his house, located at Delta Crescent, GRA, Benin. Afegbua, a cousin of the late coach, also confirmed that the corpse has been deposited at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin, awaiting autopsy. “We were together yesterday. He came to my house in the morning and we were discussing the death of Keshi. He told me he would be travelling to Okpella this morning (Saturday.) Later in the day, he was at the police station to see one of the family members who was arrested. “Later in the night, he complained of chest pain, and we called a doctor to check his blood pressure and it was 140 over 100. He was advised to take his drugs and also stop participation in the Ramadan fasting. “He later led the Tarawih (Muslim fa

Rasak Fadipe, Director, Lagos State Fire Service The Lagos State Fire Service said a six-year-old girl was burnt to death in a church in the early hours of Saturday in Egbeda area of the state. The Director of the service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, disclosed that the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. at Faith Revival Church. Fadipe said that the inferno affected the boys’ quarters of the church while a vigil was going on at the main auditorium. “We met the fire raging when we arrived. It was after the fire was put out that we discovered the little girl’s burnt body in one of the rooms. “The church authority was yet to ascertain the cause of the fire. We finally put out the fire at about 5 a. m,” he said.

Mike Tyson front and center is seen above smiling with some of_the pall bearers at Ali’s funeral. Daily Mail of London Picture It was a rousing day on Friday as thousands paid tributes to boxing legend Muhammad Ali at a memorial service in his home city of Louisville, Kentucky in the U.S. Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other speakers spoke of Ali’s fight for civil rights, while a message from President Barack Obama praised his originality. The interfaith event took place hours after thousands said farewell as his coffin passed through city streets. Ali was buried in a private ceremony attended by friends and family. The former heavyweight champion and rights activist died on June 3 at the age of 74. The burial service, attended by dignitaries and by several thousand people who acquired free tickets, was held at the KFC Yum! Centre. It started with a Koran reading in Arabic, with Imam Hamzah Abdul Malik reciting Sura Fosselat, Prostration chapter 41 verses 30-35. The recitation

Players in action during a quarter final match of the 2016 GTBank Lagos Principals’ Cup Competition Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege, has won this year’s Lagos Principals’ Cup. The school on Friday in Lagos whitewashed Ejigbo Senior Secondary School 5-1 to win the boys’ category of the 7th Annual GTBank Principals’ Cup. Ikotun Secondary School also clinched the title in the female category having defeated CMS Grammar School 2-1. The competition, for secondary schools in Lagos State, started in January with schools being drawn into groups for the male and female categories. It is noteworthy that the winners of both male and female categories have each won it three times. Dairy Farm Senior Secondary school, winners of 2016 edition, was the defending champion and also won it in 2012. Ikotun Senior Secondary School, defending champions of the female category also won the female category. Sanya Senior Secondary School, Surulere, emerged third place winners in the female ca

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Nigerian Army has confirmed the retirement of some senior officers from service following the approval of the Army Council. A statement issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, on Saturday, said the approval was confirmed at the meeting of the council on Thursday. Although Usman did not disclose the number of officers affected, he said their retirement was based on service exigencies. “The Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday. “Those retired were mainly some major-generals, brigadiers-general, colonels, lieutenant-colonels and a major. “Their retirement was based on service exigencies,’’ the statement said. It recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for partisanship during the 2015 general elections. Usman further said the retirements were connected with the investiga

Taribo West (l) and Shuaibu Amodu at Joseph Yobo Centennary Game launch The Nigerian Football Federation has announced the death of its technical director, Amodu Shuaibu. Shuaib was a former coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The NFF broke the news of his death this morning on its twitter handle. Shuaibu was just 58. NFF Technical Director, Amodu Shuaibu has died at the age of 58. — The NFF (@thenff) June 11, 2016 According to the NFF, Amodu complained of chest pain on Friday night and died in his sleep. Amodu’s death represents another great blow for Nigerian football, coming just few days after the death of Coach Stephen Keshi, who died 8 June.