Monthly Archives: February 2013
WE REMAIN RESOLUTE ON POLIO ERADICATION – GOVS’ FORUM
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) yesterday condemned the recent killing of health workers administering the polio vaccines in Kano, vowing that such killings would not deter the resolve to eradicate the polio virus from the country.
Nine female polio vaccinators were last week killed in two shootings in Kano State. Nigeria is one of only three countries in the world where polio is still endemic.
Condemnation has since trailed the killings, underscoring the huge setback it poses to the resolve, especially by the NGF, to eradicate the virus.
Ondo Bows to Pressure, Suspends Monarch
Last August, his people rose up in arms against him to demonstrate that power, be it political or monarchical, truly derives from the people. They chased him out of the community after what they considered as “overflowing sins” of a traditional ruler. Oba Pius Akinfesola, the Akamuja of Igburowo in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, then left the community with his family believing that with time, the anger of the people would simmer and he would return to the throne. But that does not seem likely, as the Ondo State Government has approved his suspension from office until further notice.
The suspension was contained in a letter dated February 7, 2013 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. A.O Adeola
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi resigns after winning 2013 AFCON title
The Super Eagles won the continental title by beating Burkina Faso on Sunday, but their boss has promptly left his post, claiming he was doing what he felt was “right.”
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has announced his resignation from his post just a day after the Super Eagles’ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
The coach’s future had been subject to speculation throughout the tournament, and he has now revealed that he gave the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) his notice shortly after the 1-0 final win over Burkina Faso on Sunday.
“I did what I feel is right by resigning,” Keshi told Metro FM. “I gave the NFF a letter last night [Sunday] after the celebrations.”
The 51-year-old Keshi made 51 appearances for the Super Eagles as a player, and he has held coaching posts with the Togolese and Malian national teams. With Keshi stepping down, someone else will be charged with leading Nigeria at this summer’s FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament for which Nigeria qualified by virtue of winning the Cup of Nations.
The Walking Dead’ Recap: We’re All Mad, Here
Raise your hand if you thought that Daryl Dixon was going to die on last night’s episode of The Walking Dead. Good. Now, take that same hand and smack yourself with it — because that was a really dumb prediction. The gang behind TWD doesn’t know how to hold on to their showrunners, but they know to not kill the most popular character on their show. Also, biceps. Moving on.
Pope Benedict XVI Resignation
The 85-year-old leader of the Catholic church took on his role in 2005 and will step down at the end of the month.
The unexpected announcement that Pope Benedict XVI would step down at the end of the month has sent shockwaves across the world, immediately touching off a flurry of speculation who would succeed the first pontiff to step down in more than 700 years.
Nigeria’s win a triumph for Keshi
Nigeria’s third Africa Cup of Nations title, clinched on Sunday against Burkina Faso, was a huge personal triumph for coach Stephen Keshi –although the man himself would be loathe to admit it.
Big Boss, as the captain of the 1994 title-winning side is affectionately known, was hitting the continental jackpot as a coach at the third time of asking, after first-round knockouts with Togo in 2006 and Mali in 2010.
Part of the key to the Super Eagles’ 2013 success has been the 51-year-old’s bold yet heavily criticised gamble in calling up local-based players.
And, fittingly, it was one of this number, Sunday Mba, drawn from Nigerian league outfit Enugu Rangers, who got the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory to follow up his winner in the quarterfinal over Ivory Coast.
Keshi had described his players as ‘his Hollywood Stars’ after sending Didier Drogba and company packing – but he, too, deserves an Oscar for defying the tens of millions of ultra-critical wannabe national managers back home in Lagos.
At times charismatic, belligerent, terse and witty, but never dull, the former bull of a centre-back gained entry to an exclusive club of those to be crowned kings of Africa as both player and coach.
The only other man to accomplish that feat was the late Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary, who helped his country defeat Sudan 2-1 in the 1959 final and guided the Pharaohs to a 2-0 victory over South Africa 39 years later.
As a player, Keshi triumphed with a golden generation of Super Eagles in a 2-1 victory against a Zambia team rebuilt one year after the plane crash off Gabon that wiped out the national squad.
Reflecting on the differences between then and now, Keshi, who spent most of his playing career in Belgium, said: “The 1994 squad was unbelieveable.
“We were brothers, there was a great spirit in the team, now there is the talent, but we need a strong mentality and character.”
His band of brothers demonstrated plenty of that here on Sunday night.
This win also laid to rest the bitter memories of the 1996 Nations Cup, when Keshi and his fellow Eagles were denied a shot at defending their title on South African soil when a political spat between the South African and Nigerian goverments kept them at home.
Fast forward 17 years and the imposing figure of Keshi could be seen pacing the Soccer City touchline like a lion hunting its prey up at Kruger National Park – barking instructions, arms flailing, his shaven head glistening under the floodlights.
On 40 minutes he had his arms in the air celebrating Mba’s opener.
Mba it was who had scored the winner in the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Ivory Coast – after which Keshi, showing his caring gentler side, said “I want to kiss him!”
He has shown plenty of dignity, too, in South Africa.
On Saturday, at the eve-of-final press conference when he turned up looking like a Lagos street rapper, his baseball cap back to front, he warmly backed the decision to rescind the red card meted out to Burkina’s Jonathan Pitroipa.
When the final whistle sounded on Sunday, barely audible over the deafening din of 80 000 vuvuzelas (plastic trumpets), Keshi punched the air again, this time in a victory salute – before getting lost in a sea of embraces from his players and coaching staff.
President Jonathan Asked By Mark Zuckergerg To Quit Facebook
The CEO & Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has asked Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan to move his Facebook fanpage to either Myspace or Friendster, despite having over 700,000 fans on the world’s most popular social network.
In the video released recently, The President was seen in his office at the Villa opening his facebookpage only to discover about 32,000 curses placed on his wall.
Mr President: “Na-wa-ooo…why are these people just swearing curse on my page na?”
Mr President Contd: “Mark, my good friend”, but was cut short by an angry Mark Zuckerberg on the other half of the screen.
Mark Zuckerberg: “Sir, sir, I need you to move your page off Facebook, demanded Zuckerberg,“You can take it to Myspace,
Friendster…anywhere dude, just move it bro!”
Mr President: “But why?”
Mark Zuckerberg: “Like dude, the heavy curses on your page are melting our servers mehn! I don’t know what you did to piss those people off, but it’s totally uncool, bro.”
source: http://www.nigeriadailynews.com/general/40321-president-jonathan-asked-by-mark-zuckergerg-to-quit-facebook-video.html
Pastor Pulls Out Gun On Church Accountant In Benue State
The Benue State Police Command, yesterday, arrested the pastor of a new generation church in Katsina-Ala (names withheld) for illegal possession of fire arms and assault on the church’s accountant.
Vanguard gathered from sources that the pastor was apprehended with the firearm by men of the Benue State Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Katsina-Ala where he allegedly tried to kill the accountant of the church, Mr. Philip Toryila, during a serious disagreement over money.
Kwara Government Imposes 24 Hour Curfew Over Offa-Erin-Ile Communal Clash
The Kwara State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Offa and Erin-Ile towns in Offa and Oyun Local Government Councils with immediate effect. The curfew is to restore public order in both communities following recent disturbances. All human and vehicular movement is hereby barred in Offa and Erin-Ile.
Russia marks 70th anniversary of Stalingrad battle
VOLGOGRAD, Russia (AP) — An aged T-34 tank clattered into the center of the southern Russian city once known as Stalingrad and soldiers dressed in World War II-era uniforms marched solemnly as Russia marked the 70th anniversary of the end of one of modern warfare's bloodiest battles.
