Ogbonna: Champions League vital to Juventus move

 

The defender says that a switch to the Bianconeri made perfect sense and hopes that the transfer will boost his Italy national team hopes

Angelo Ogbonna revealed the promise of Champions League football was key in him signing for Juventus.
The Serie A champions parted with €13 million to sign the Italy international from local rivals Torino last week, with Ogbonna penning a five-year deal at the Juventus Stadium.
The Old Lady secured their second straight league title last season meaning they will once more feature in the Champions League, something Ogbonna labelled crucial in his decision to join the club.
"Playing in the Champions League is the ambition of every youngster. I hope I'll be able to have the opportunity," he told reporters.
"There are great teams in the Champions League and we'll work hard to prepare ourselves for that particular challenge."
The 25-year-old revealed his move was motivated by ambitions of improving his career both domestically and on the international stage, and said he has been well received by the supporters.
"Moving here fits in perfectly with my ambitions," he continued. "The only team who really wanted me was Juventus, no one else.
"I've joined a great team comprised of many champions. I'll look to do my best and find a place in the side.
"Playing alongside my new team-mates could also help me as far as my progress with the national team is concerned."

Mikel Obi: How to strike a balance for Chelsea and Nigeria

 

The midfielder needs to find a balance between being an attacking player for his country and a defensive Trojan for the Blues

ANALYSIS
By Babajide Alaka | Deputy Editor
Mikel Obi can be described as a player with multiple personalities. He performs as one kind of midfielder for Chelsea and a totally different kind for the Super Eagles.
As club and country are miles apart in their physical locations, so the performance of Mikel is widely different when he is in the blue of his club and when he is adorning the green of his fatherland.
You can see Mikel the introvert at Stamford Bridge and the extrovert when he plays for Nigeria. But why is he so different?

At Chelsea, it has been ingrained in him to win the ball and release it, but under Stephen Keshi, he has been given the freedom to assert and make the plays for his team.

Mikel has helped Chelsea win major trophies in the last six seasons

He confirmed this in a recent interview where he said he has to find a balance for his future: "I always try to do what my coaches tell me. At Chelsea, I have to play for the team and be more defensive but in Nigeria, the coach allows me to express myself and I enjoy myself.
"Now, I have to find a balance between the two because it is important for my future,” Mikel added.
But it all could have been so different. At the time when the ownership tussle raged in 2006 between Chelsea and Manchester United, little could we see into the future that the attacking gem would be turned into a defensive stalwart.
Jose Mourinho was just into the Chelsea saddle and was building an all-conquering side that did more than win – they tried to pulverize opponents which meant that there was no need for more than five passes from one end of the pitch to the other. Then there was the enigmatic Claude Makelele (who gave his name to the position in defensive midfield) from whom Mikel was supposed to take over.
That in itself was the start of a downward spiral in the offensive abilities of the spindly young man that had wowed the fans and Nigerians at the 2005 U20 Fifa World Cup in the Netherlands.
At that championship, he was second only to the inimitable Lionel Messi, who has gone on to win four consecutive World Player of the Year awards while Mikel has never been nominated for that exalted award.

Mikel at the Confederations Cup was a sheer delight to behold

Though there is no denying the fact that no one can say for sure what he would have transformed into at United because there is the example of Anderson, hailed as the next Ronaldinho when he was in Portugal but his career has been stifled at Old Trafford where he has been turned from a purely offensive player into one whose attacking qualities have been nullified.
For Chelsea, the midfield has been built around Frank Lampard – a player that scores like a striker and in the event that he is to do what he does, there will always be pockets of space that can be exploited by opponents in the midfield when he goes forward so the likes of Mikel have to keep the shape and that takes away any offensive traits.
Though he has been widely acknowledged as a player that plays well in the big games – Mikel showed in Brazil that he just needs the conducive environment to show off his attacking nous as the goal against Uruguay had him doing a Kanuesque dribble on Diego Lugano while the left-footed curler was simply sublime.
But what stands out in his performances for Nigeria in Brazil was the fact that he was getting near and into opponents’ boxes which almost never happens when he is playing for Chelsea. He again showed this in the game against Spain in which he almost scored but his shot was blocked.

The difference really is in meters – Mikel needs to add more meters to his mileage when he plays for Chelsea in the Premiership – if he stays, and then he will be become the same kind of player for club and country.

Chelsea miss out in transfer pursuit

Speculation has been rife in the Football Transfer Tavern all summer about the possible destination of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani with Chelsea though to be major contenders for the Uruguayan’s signature.
But in recent weeks it has become increasingly unlikely and today’s edition of The Express confirms that Cavani will instead join Paris Saint-Germain after he passed a medical ahead of a whopping £55 million switch.
The highly coveted striker, 26, has undertaken a medical with the Parisian club and will be unveiled as a PSG player at a press conference tomorrow after the French club decided to pay him a massive £8.5 million-a-season.
This news comes as another blow for Chelsea and returning boss Jose Mourinho who had outlined a move for Cavani this summer  as he seeks to find a keynote signing to add more goals to his current strikeforce of Demba Ba and Fernando Torres.
Mourinho is also likely to lose out on the signing of Borussia Dortmund ace Robert Lewandowski who looks set to join Bayern Munich next summer while another target, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has already joined Monaco.
This leaves the Blues without the top class striker Mourinho craves and that could see the club moving for Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke, 22, who could be available for around £25 million this summer.

Diary: Oneal wants Elikem out of the House

Can you feel the burn? Things are heating up in the Ruby House. Today crafty Tswana fellow, Oneal shared his game plan with Biggie and Elikem is at the centre of it all.
Just yesterday the self-proclaimed deep thinker told Biggie that he can easily ”out smart and out think” the Ghanaian and today he echoed those same sentiments and elaborated a bit more on his plans for the young actor.
“My plan is to get rid of him from the House,” confessed the Ruby lad during his Diary session this afternoon. The radio personality was quick to clarify that he has nothing personal against Elikem or his girl Pokello.
But as he put it, he just refuses to be intimidated by people because of the region that they come from. The talkative Ruby also shared that him saving Elikem from Evictions last week was all part of his master plan. He said: “I wanted to keep him in the House and I wanted him to know that I am keeping him in the House so that he lets his guard down. As soon as he lets his guard down that is when I will strike.” Woo child!
During his Diary session yesterday, he said that the 24 year old Accra guy had gone around saying that he is the smartest person in The Chase and that he will be smarter than the 33 year old when he is that age, which is what started this whole plot against Elikem. Today he revealed that it was his woman Feza that Elikem had apparently said this too.
Are you excited to see where Oneal’s plot will lead; Yes or No

Kcee Finally Reveals The Meaning Of ‘Limpopo’

For those of you trying to decode the mystery of ‘Limpopo’, the stylish artiste finally revealed the meaning during the live chat, “Limpopo just means ‘Lets have fun’, he said. “It's a ‘feel good song’ and I really appreciate how my fans have so quickly taken to it.”
Did you guess it right? I "thought" it meant ... to do badt thing!!!

Timaya Blasts OAP On Air

The Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa might like his music fast paced and energetic but when he talks, he wants you to listen, and listen carefully.

So, while trying to explain the finer points of his argument during a live programme at Blaze FM Nnewi , he was rushed off a question one time too many-the artiste wasn't having any part of it! 

Timaya made sure to make his feelings known right on air!


“Why do you journalists (OAPs) always cut people off”, he demanded, “You ask one question and won’t allow people to ‘land’ before asking another? 

Suitably chastised, his host JJ, graciously allowed the artiste to have the ‘mic’, leading to fifteen hilarious minutes as the jovial artiste and Kcee, took their fans on a quick rundown of StarMusic Trek’s 10 city 10 week concert currently touring round the country.

Timaya and Kcee made a brief stop at top radio station BlazeFM, before heading to Beverly Hills Resort Nnewi to perform at the 6th leg of the on going Star Music Trek nationwide concert.

Nigeria under fire for hosting al-Bashir

Posted by: Yusuf Alli in Featured, News 15 hours ago 33 Comments

•Govt: he’s AU’s guest
THERE was outrage yesterday over Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir’s presence in Nigeria. al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague is in Abuja attending the Africa Union (AU) summit on HIV/AIDS.
International and local organisations are calling on the Federal Government to arrest him in Abuja.
The United Kingdom (UK) also berated the Federal Government for hosting him.
But the government has said it will not order al-Bashir’s arrest because he is a guest of the AU and not that of the government.
The UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds, expressed disappointment that Nigeria chose to allow al-Bashir to attend the summit.
The Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court (NCICC) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek arrest warrant against al-Bashir.
Mark Simmonds said: “The UK has a strong and abiding bilateral relationship with Nigeria. I am therefore disappointed that Nigeria has chosen to host President al-Bashir of Sudan at an African Union event, despite International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
“This undermines the work of the ICC and sends the victims a dismaying message that the accountability they are waiting for will be delayed further.
“The British Government takes seriously its obligations as a State Party to the Rome Statute and consistently urges other State Parties in all parts of the world to do the same.”
The NCICC called for al-Bashir’s “immediate arrest and surrender to the trial chambers of the International Criminal Court in The Hague for atrocity crimes in Darfur with which he is charged.”
The coalition made the demands in a statement in Abuja by its Steering committee Chairman Chino Obiagwu; Vice Chair Dr Abiola Akiyode and Treasurer Mrs. Oby Nwankwo.
“The judiciary in this country has the responsibility to implement legal obligations created by treaties undertaken by Nigeria. As a state party to the Rome statute of the ICC, Nigeria is under legal obligation to execute within its national jurisdiction the arrest warrants issued by the trial chamber of the ICC against Mr. al-Bashir while in its national territory.
“It is not an excuse that African Union is calling its members not to cooperate with the ICC. The obligation of State Parties to the ICC, who have ratified the treaty, is stronger and legally binding than mere resolution of the African Union. Moreso, a Nigerian judge is in the chambers of the ICC.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent urgent request to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Ms Fatou Bensouda, requesting her to “use your good offices and position to urgently refer the Nigerian government to the UN Security Council for failing to arrest President Omar Al-Bashir and surrender him to the International Criminal Court to face fair trial on the charges against him.”
In the petition dated 15 July 2013 and signed by Solicitor to SERAP Femi Falana, SAN, the organisation stated: “Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, having ratified the Statute in September 2001. Under Article 87, the ICC Prosecutor can refer a state party that refuses to cooperate with a request from the ICC to the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court as in this case, to the Security Council.”
The organization said: “President Omar Al-Bashir is currently in Abuja attending a conference. SERAP notes that the International Criminal Court already issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.”
But Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday said al-Bashir is in Nigeria at the instance of the AU.
He said Nigeria has no choice than to remain committed to the decision of the AU.
Ashiru, who spoke with our correspondent from Brazil, said: “Remember AU in 2009 passed a resolution not to cooperate with the ICC on indictment of President Al Bashir.
“He is therefore not in Nigeria at our instance. Nigeria’s commitment to AU remains firm.”
The 2009 Resolution of the AU reads: “[The AU] decides that in view of the fact that a request of the African Union [to defer al-Bashir’s indictment] has never been acted upon, the AU member states shall not co-operate pursuant to the provisions of Article 98 of the Rome Statute of the ICC relating to immunities for the arrest and surrender of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to the ICC.”

NDLEA Transferred N93bn, 70 Cases Seized From Traffickers to EFCC – Mr. Ahmadu Giade

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, on Monday said the agency transferred over N93.1bn it seized from traffickers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from 2006 to date.
Giade, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes in Abuja, told the lawmakers that the anti-graft agency handed over 70 case files to the EFCC for prosecution.
He, however, said only three of the cases had been successfully concluded by the EFCC to the knowledge of the NDLEA.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Adams Jagaba, is investigating the status of assets seized or recovered by the EFCC till date.
A breakdown of the money the NDLEA handed over to the EFCC included N27.8m; $2.8m; $7.1m (fake); £20.3m; £188m (fake); €11,266; €6,400 (fake); and CFA93.7m. The total money is about N93.1bn.
Giade informed the committee that by procedure, the NDLEA was required to transfer all seized assets and suspects’ case files to the EFCC for prosecution.
He explained that the role of the NDLEA ended at this point.
Giade said, “We normally send our returns with a covering letters and the case files, which are stamped ‘received’ and we keep our copies.”

He gave the breakdown of the cases as follows: 2006 (12); 2007 (14); 2008 (21); 2009 (12); 2010 (3); 2011 (4); and January 2013 to date (1).
However, the EFCC’s Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, failed to turn up at the sitting of the committee on Monday.
He wrote the committee, saying he would not be available, a decision that members of the committee frowned on.
Speaking for the committee, Jagaba said Lamorde was taking lawmakers for a ride and did not seem to appreciate the importance of the investigation.
The committee summoned Lamorde to appear before it unfailingly on Wednesday (tomorrow).
His predecessors, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu and Mrs. Farida Waziri, also shunned the committee’s sitting.

Mba finally returned to Warri Wolves

Afcon 2013 hero, Sunday Mba has finally returned to Warri Wolves. In a landmark meeting between the player and representatives of the Warri-based club in Lagos yesterday, the following terms were reached.
1) MBA accepts fully the ruling of the NFF and that Warri Wolves have full control of his contractual rights.
2) Despite the NFF ruling over two months ago Rangers international FC have not been unable to meet the terms of transfer requested by Warri Wolves.

3) Realising that the player needs to continue to play at the highest possible level and in the highest profile competitions and in keeping with Warri Wolves policy to encourage to the best of their ability the career paths of their players and in order not to jeopardize the international career of the player the club have agreed to allow the player to continue to play for Rangers pending his inevitable move to a club abroad.
The loan move to Rangers International does not have any financial obligation attached to it.

Mourinho gunning for victory in all four competitions this season

BANGKOK – Jose Mourinho said Tuesday Chelsea would be gunning for victory in all four competitions this season as he prepared to kick off his second spell in charge with a friendly in Bangkok.
The 50-year-old Portuguese said there were “no priorities” for Chelsea as they tackle the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, following their pre-season tour of Asia and the United States.
“The next match is the important one. If our next match is the Champions League, the Champions League is our competition,” Mourinho told a press conference.
“And the same with the Cups because we know what the English Cups mean, especially the FA. And we want to play every competition with this mentality — so for us, no priorities.”
Mourinho won back-to-back Premier League trophies, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his first time in London. But the Champions League, which he has lifted with Porto and Inter Milan, remained elusive.
He named Manchester United and Manchester City, the two most recent winners of the Premier League and both also under new management, as his main competition in England.
“In European football we have more candidates (to win the Champions League) and because of that it’s more difficult to win, but we want to be there and we will be fighting for it,” Mourinho added.
Mourinho said he would try to instill a winning culture from his very first game on Wednesday — against the Singha All-Star XI, who shocked Manchester United 1-0 last week in David Moyes’s debut game in charge.

The Portuguese, known for his meticulous attention to detail, said he had sent his assistant to scout Saturday’s game and give him a tactical blueprint of the opponents, whom he rated as dangerous.
“I don’t like to lose, the players don’t like to lose… for sure, tomorrow my boys will try to get a result,” he said. “Losing is not a drama, losing doesn’t change anything in the team. But it’s not nice, we don’t like it.
“Winning is part of the culture and if you can do that even in friendly matches, you have to do it.”
Mourinho also deflected the latest transfer speculation, which includes links with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke and even former Chelsea ace Didier Drogba, 35.
“Managers of big clubs are connected with everybody until August 31,” he said, referring to the end of the July-August transfer window.
“That’s the old story in football: rumours and rumours and rumours, and at the end of the day after so many rumours, something becomes true.
“But in this moment I’m so happy with the people I have here that I’m not thinking about other players.” AFP

After 81 days of inactivity, polytechnic students across the country are expected to return to their classrooms as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspends its strike today.

Protest: Polytechnic students protesting against ongoing nationwide strike, on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday.

The ASUP Chairman, Dr. Chibuzor Asumogba, told Vanguard in a phone interview that the decision was made by the National Executive Committee of the Union as a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representative on Education.
He said the union gave the government representatives one month to accede to their demands and release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics.
The ASUP Chairman however, called on all lecturers to go back to work. “All lecturers are to resume work at their various institutions today”, He said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/asup-suspends-strike/#sthash.6Mxl2Ewr.dpuf

After 81 days of inactivity, polytechnic students across the country are expected to return to their classrooms as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspends its strike today.

Protest: Polytechnic students protesting against ongoing nationwide strike, on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday.

The ASUP Chairman, Dr. Chibuzor Asumogba, told Vanguard in a phone interview that the decision was made by the National Executive Committee of the Union as a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representative on Education.
He said the union gave the government representatives one month to accede to their demands and release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics.
The ASUP Chairman however, called on all lecturers to go back to work. “All lecturers are to resume work at their various institutions today”, He said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/asup-suspends-strike/#sthash.6Mxl2Ewr.dpuf

North Korea, Cuba linked to weapons found on ship

 
(CNN) -- A mystery with potential international ramifications is unfolding in Panama, where authorities discovered military equipment hidden inside a North Korean-bound ship that originated in Cuba.

Cuba has long been at odds with the United States, and North Korea is banned by the United Nations from importing and exporting most weapons because of its nuclear ambitions.

Suspicions were further raised when the ship's captain suffered an apparent heart attack and then tried to commit suicide, Panama's president said.

These facts were sufficiently intriguing for President Ricardo Martinelli to travel to the port and examine the ship himself.

The president tweeted a photo of what he saw: a green octagon-shaped tube with a cone at its end and another similar-looking piece of equipment behind it.

Is it a missile? a reporter asked.

"Maybe," Martinelli said. "I am not familiar with that, but it would be good if such things didn't pass through Panama, which is a country that loves peace and not war."

The North Korean vessel is docked at the Manzanillo Port in Panama on Tuesday, July 16.

The president said he did not examine all of the containers but assumes that there are similar weapons in the others, hidden under a cargo of brown sugar.

Authorities seized the vessel and the undeclared haul of weaponry in the Panamanian port of Manzanillo on Monday night.

Panama's security minister, Jose Raul Mulino, said the ship had arrived from Cuba.

Cuban officials have not responded to requests for comment.

Weapons seized from North Korean ship

Cuban state media reported late last month that North Korean army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Kyok Sik visited the island and had high-level meetings, including one with Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Panamanian authorities received intelligence the ship was carrying drugs, but the search turned up the military equipment instead.

Mulino added that the North Korean crew of 35 resisted arrest, and during the struggle with Panamanian authorities, the ship's captain attempted to commit suicide.

Panama will ask a United Nations technical support team to inspect the cargo to determine what type of weaponry it is.

"Honestly, this kind of military equipment can't go through the country while declaring that it is something else, especially hiding it as you can see here," Martinelli said. "We will continue to empty the entire ship to see what's in it, and the relevant authorities will determine what exactly is on this ship."

North and South Korea inch toward reopening joint complex

This isn't the first time North Korea has been linked to shipping suspected of transporting weapons materials.

In 2011, the U.S. Navy tried -- and failed -- to gain permission to board a ship in the South China Sea suspected of carrying illicit weapons technology to Myanmar, the Pentagon said. The Belize-flagged MV Light was believed to have been manned by a North Korean crew, the Pentagon said. Under U.S. Navy surveillance, the vessel eventually turned around and headed to North Korea.

In 2007, the Pentagon confirmed that several shipments of suspected weapons technology had left North Korea destined for Syria. The Pentagon said some of the material was believed to have been high-grade metals that could be used to build missiles or solid-fuel rockets.

Rio Ferdinand: Manchester United 2013-14 Player Profile

 

Rio Ferdinand has embraced his role as one of Manchester United's elder statesmen in recent years.

The 34-year-old is about to enter his 12th season playing for the Red Devils. He has shown remarkable loyalty to the club and consistency at the top of his game.
There was, however, brief talk of retirement last season. But rather than prolong the hope of resurrecting his England career, the defender chose to give up international football altogether.

"There comes a time when your body tells you what you’ve got to do, and as much as I was trying to steer away from it, my body was a telling factor," he told reporters (via Daily Mail).
"If I want to carry on playing consistently at the top level something had to give, and international football was it," he said.

 
But United boss David Moyes is currently in the market for a replacement for Rio, if the latest tabloid speculation is to be believed.
According to The Mirror, Benfica centre-back Ezequiel Garay is on his transfer wishlist.

"Moyes wants a new centre-half, despite having a handful of options and he will be given the money to land his target, but sources in Lisbon suggest a second Premier League club is interested in Garay and may pounce once the price is set," the report claims.

Whether Garay comes or not, Rio is right to suggest he still has plenty to give.
This article will profile the United veteran, looking back at his previous campaign, and predicting what could lie ahead.

How He Fared Last Season
After a rocky start, Rio Ferdinand bounced back terrifically in the second half of last season.
The Red Devils were very poor in the opening months of the campaign, shipping goals to the likes of Reading, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hostpur.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Against the latter, it was Gareth Bale who gave Rio an absolutely torrid time, blitzing past the static defender with the greatest of ease.
This was undoubtedly the lowest point of his season.
But with his usual partner at the back Nemanja Vidic returning to action at the end of 2012, Rio's improvement was marked.
He looked his comfortable, commanding self again. He was key to the Red Devils charging to Premier League glory with weeks to spare.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3O3Q9H8i3lU


By May, former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was hailing the 2012/13 campaign as a landmark one for the 34-year-old.

"Rio Ferdinand has had his best season at the club," he told reporters (via BBC).
"We have had continual problems with the centre-backs being fit. Nemanja Vidic has missed half a season, Chris Smalling has missed most of the season, Phil Jones missed a good bit and Jonny Evans missed parts but Rio has managed his situation very well."

As reward for his fine efforts, he was included in the PFA's Team of the Year alongside fellow Reds David de Gea, Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie.

What He Still Has to Offer
The most significant restriction to Rio Ferdinand's game is his lack of mobility.
Regular back problems coupled with a natural consequence of age means he is no longer able to keep up with the quick players in the Premier League.
But for the most part, he has been able to cover this, masking it with an uncanny mix of experience and footballing intelligence.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

His positioning is exemplary—there are few in the game with a better understanding of where to be at the right time.
The five goals conceded by the defensive partnership of Phil Jones and Jonny Evans against West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the season only highlighted how important Rio remains to the team.
He is still world class. To think Paolo Maldini played at the highest level until he was 41 should give Rio plenty of optimism.
He may not replicate the longevity of the Italian legend, but he still has at least two more seasons left in him.

His Place in the Squad
Equally important is the voice Rio Ferdinand provides in the dressing room.
The departure of Sir Alex and his coaching team, as well as Paul Scholes' second retirement, means that there are a decreasing number of old United heads around to support the less experienced players.
Rio is a fine role model for the likes of Jones, Evans and Chris Smalling. Say what you want about his twitter habits, he has a genuine love for the club.
Even if Garay were to move to Manchester this summer, Rio has done enough to justify being the side's first choice partner of captain Nemanja Vidic.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

If Garay is signed, Moyes would clearly be planning on transitioning between the two next term.
In 2011/12, Rio played 38 total games for the Red Devils. Last season the count was 32. If I were to hazard a guess, the defender still has close to 30 games in him.
The biggest difficulty for Moyes next term will be keeping his vast collection of defenders happy.
Based on his contributions last season, Rio Ferdinand does not deserve to see his playing time drastically diminish.

Manchester United Bid for Cesc Fabregas Could Be Big Splash for David Moyes

 

Manchester United will bid £35 million for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, according to a Sky Sports report citing unnamed sources. As ever, with any transfer news, many details and potential problems would have to be worked out before a deal could be completed. With that being said, if it does happen, the signing would represent a pressure-easing coup for new United manager David Moyes.

Let's not underestimate the obstacles, though. They could be formidable.
 
As Sky Sports reports, Cesc is keen to stay in Catalonia and is contracted to Barcelona until June 2016, per TransferMarkt. He came through the ranks of Barcelona's youth system and made a tearful return to the club two years ago after leaving Arsenal.
Then there's the Arsenal question. Multiple reports, including this 2011 item from the Telegraph, claim that Arsenal have first option on re-signing Cesc. In addition, the Gunners would receive 50 percent of the fee if Barcelona do sell.
Meanwhile, according to The Independent, the Gunners could lodge a £25 million bid for the midfielder after he endured a frustrating 2012-13 season at Barcelona.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

In addition, Fabregas likely is not United's top target, as a separate article from The Independent suggests. Having missed out on Barcelona's Thiago Alcantara, who has signed instead with Bayern Munich, United are now turning to Fabregas.
Fabregas will likely know that, but it's unclear whether that would matter to him. What's more clear is that, as second choices go, Cesc is an outstanding one.
Thiago might have been United's first choice, but Cesc's previous experience in the Premier League might make him the better choice. The midfielder made more than 200 appearances for Arsenal from 2003 to 2011, ascending to captain before his departure. While last season was a frustrating one for Fabregas at Barca, he still managed 11 goals and 11 assists in league play

Moving to United would probably mean more starts and playing time for Cesc, who would also reunite with former teammate Robin van Persie (another former Arsenal captain). For United, meanwhile, it would mean a marquee signing for Moyes as he begins the impossible task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.
No matter how Moyes fares in his tenure at Old Trafford, he will almost certainly accomplish less than Ferguson. Signing a player like Fabregas, who has succeeded in the Premier League, would ease some of the pressure Moyes will inevitably face.
It would be a bold move, and a positive one at that. With Wayne Rooney's future uncertain, most of the recent transfer news surrounding United has struck a negative note. A successful move for Cesc would change all that.

Moving to United would probably mean more starts and playing time for Cesc, who would also reunite with former teammate Robin van Persie (another former Arsenal captain). For United, meanwhile, it would mean a marquee signing for Moyes as he begins the impossible task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as manager.
No matter how Moyes fares in his tenure at Old Trafford, he will almost certainly accomplish less than Ferguson. Signing a player like Fabregas, who has succeeded in the Premier League, would ease some of the pressure Moyes will inevitably face.
It would be a bold move, and a positive one at that. With Wayne Rooney's future uncertain, most of the recent transfer news surrounding United has struck a negative note. A successful move for Cesc would change all that.

See The Bitter Truth About Sugar: How It Affects You

 
Sugar is sweet, and that’s an obvious statement! Yet, researchers say its consumption is fraught with health problems.

Researchers describe sugar in unsavory words as “a drug that has no nutritional value and an addictive chemical.” They argue that eating sugar puts you at a higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and weight gain — whichever comes first. That is not all. Here’s how sugar affects your body…

Sugar is colourless or white when pure, and brown when less refined. It is obtained commercially from sugarcane or sugar beet and less extensively from sorghum, maples, and palms.

Sugar comes in granules, cubes, and all the various mixes of glucose, fructose and sucrose, not forgetting the so-called high fructose corn syrup found in many salad dressings, ketchup, coffee creamers, etc.
Of course, there is natural sugar in fruits, but they are also rich in fibre, which slows down the release of the sugar molecules. When consumed, fruits nourish the body — as opposed to the way prolonged and excessive use of processed sugars destroy health.
Meanwhile, do you know any processed food that does not have sugar at its centre? I doubt it. From confections to canned foods and fruit juices, the ubiquitous presence of sugar cannot be overlooked. Food manufacturing companies court it like a beautiful bride, as they use it generally as sweeteners and also as preservatives.
Indeed, modern diet is hardly complete without intake of something sugary along the line. Perhaps this is why scientists are sounding relentless warnings about the health implications of this sweet stuff.
The brain
A neuroscientist at the National Institutes for Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volker, used brain imaging to prove that sugar has the same effects that abusive drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine have on the brain.
The report, published in Psychology Today, states, “Sugar leads to dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens — an area of the brain associated with motivation, novelty, and reward.” This is the same brain region implicated in response to cocaine and heroin.
Instructively, scientists say heroin addicts show increased cravings for sweets at the initial stages of withdrawal.
“This effect, known as cross-tolerance, shows that addiction to one substance makes it easier to become addicted to another substance that may use the same brain chemistry,” says Princeton researcher, Dr. Nicole Avena.
And when you see someone who seems unable to get enough sugar in his food, you might as well be looking at someone who is already addicted to sugar!
Eyes
A research done by scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center, Tufts University, Boston, and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that eating excessively sugary or starchy foods may make eyes more vulnerable to age-related macular degeneration — a top cause of vision loss. They note that AMD typically starts late in life, and affects the retina.
Teeth
Generally, sugar corrodes teeth enamel, causing cavities. Scientists say when sugar is present, the bacteria that are naturally found in the mouth multiply faster, making the plaque to grow in size and thickness. “Some of the bacteria turn the sugar into a kind of glue that they use to stick themselves to the tooth surface. This makes it harder for the bacteria to get washed away with your saliva,” they warn.
The heart
Another scientific research done by a registered nurse at Emory University, Jean Welsh, describes sugar as “heart-stopper.” A research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that adults who eat plenty sugar are at risk for the cholesterol problems that can lead to heart disease.
Bones
Sugar damages the cartilage tissues, scientists warn. Cartilage is what gives bones their solid structure, and to maintain healthy bones, physicians say you must maintain cartilage health.
According to evolvingwellness.com, when we eat too much sugar, we need calcium, an alkaline mineral that is highly abundant in the bone, to neutralise the acidic effects. “This negatively impacts mineral balance, weakening the bones and making them porous. Eventually, it leads to osteoporosis,” the online portal deposes.
The immune system
Regarded as immune buster, scientists say sugar suppresses immune system cells responsible for attacking bacteria, reducing the ability of white blood cells to overpower and destroy them.
“Eating sugar makes your immune system slow down to a crawl. In fact, sugar has been found to almost paralyse the white blood cells responsible for engulfing harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria for up to five hours, while it also reduces their ability to work properly by up to 40 per cent,” researcher say.
Low libido, infertility, menopause
According to reproductive endocrinologist and gynaecologist, Dr. Deborah Metzger, eating too many sweets and simple carbohydrates forces your body to produce excessive insulin.
“In the female body, this spells trouble for reproductive health, as large amounts of insulin overwhelm a woman’s ovaries and can make her stop producing progesterone —the hormone required to prepare the uterus for pregnancy — and throw off the hormonal balance.
“Besides contributing to a number of serious female problems — including infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, polycystic ovary syndrome and even fibromyalgia — a high-sugar diet also could be connected to chronic fatigue and recurring yeast infections,” Metzger says.
Severe PMS
Eating too many sweets makes women feel worse right before their menstrual cycles. Researchers at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say 85 per cent of women who menstruate report one or more Pre-Menstrual Syndrome symptoms, and that managing sugar intake could be one of the most powerful and effective ways to curtail PMS-related symptoms.
Insomnia
Sugar may be keeping you up at night, says Dr. Fred Pescatore, former associate medical director for the Atkins Center. He says sugar affects insulin levels, and insulin levels affect cortisol levels. When cortisol levels increase, it can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
“If you’re one of the people who wake up at two or three in the morning, try decreasing the amount of sugar you eat and you’ll stay asleep,” says Pescatore,
The stripper
Finally, scientists say as your body digests sugar, it strips it of valuable nutrients. This is because sugar digestion requires many vitamins, minerals and enzymes to be stripped from healthy cells. This tasks the system, and the situation is worse for those already used to poor diet.
Way out
Does this mean we should stop eating sugar altogether? Scientists answer: “You’ll find added sugar in foods we know are bad for us — such as soft drinks, lollies, cakes, biscuits, pies and pastries.
“Sugars found in nutrient-poor foods are the ones that are increasing our waistlines and therefore, increasing our health risks. Remember that sugar isn’t the only ingredient that you need to avoid. If avoiding sugar means you eat less processed foods and more whole foods — fruit, vegetables and whole grains — then that’s a good thing. But if you’re swapping sweet treats for fatty or salty ones then you’re not doing yourself any favours.”
The bottom line: It is possible to maintain a healthy diet and enjoy the occasional treat

I Can't Date A Man That Doesn't Have Money - Chindima

Chidinma Ekile 'Miss Kedike' when asked the type of man she would love to marry she said she wants a man that can take care of her needs and not the one she would feed.

According to her: “never, I can't date a man that doesn't have money, I can't feed a man.”

The singer also disclosed that she is not in a hurry to get married but that she is not in a relationship at the moment.

Lazy Diamonds Punished

   Biggie is not about that life!
This morning, the Diamonds bore the full brunt of the big boss’ anger when they, as usual, decided to dedicate their time to sleeping and scratching themselves, instead of throwing their weight into this week’s Circus Task.
Not even the colourful costumes nor the anticipation of learning new magic tricks could excite the Diamond Chasemates enough to prod them to move to the garden to start the Task.
The only Diamond who had sense enough to follow the Task Brief is Bassey, who stuck out like a sore thumb in a colourful circus Ring Master outfit, complete with dark glasses and bedazzled hat. When the Housemates, still clad in their casuals, were summoned to the living room, there was a lot of speculation about what might go down. “I have a feeling we will be joined by the Emeralds”, Bassey said. Clearly, no one had an idea what was to come.
“Big Brother expects Housemates to start their Tasks as soon as they receive the Task Briefs. A warning Housemates. Any further lack of participation will result in a loss of Wager”, Biggie said. As soon as the announcement was made Bassey, who was already in character, screamed ‘I told you guys and you didn’t want to listen”. The Diamonds, including the Head of House, Bimp looked around sheepishly and then made a beeline for the garb to be used for the Circus Task.

Car Makers Shrug Off New China Sale Restrictions

 

General Motors Co

(Reuters)

China plans to restrict vehicle sales in eight more cities to curb traffic congestion and pollution, but car manufacturers are not worried, since they expect organic growth in the world's biggest auto market to outweigh any restrictions.

And, environmentalists say, any such measures are unlikely to make much of a dent in air pollution.
New car sales are already restricted in four Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Guiyang - by limiting the number of license plates and selling them to consumers through auctions and lotteris.

Last week, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said eight more cities, such as Chengdu, Chongqing and Wuhan, might soon join Beijing and Shanghai in restricting new car purchases. Government officials have still not spelled out the policy.
Shi Jianhua, the auto association's deputy secretary general, warned that such restrictions, if implemented, could cut sales by 400,000 vehicles, equivalent to 2 percent of domestic sales in 2012.

Industry insiders and experts say the additional restrictions, also likely to be implemented by limiting license plates, will not depress overall sales in China, reports Reuters.

"We expect licensing restrictions to have limited impact on new car sales," Bob Socia, head of China operations for General Motors Co.(GM.N), said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters, referring to such fears.

Experts say any dent the curbs are likely to deal on sales would be more than made up by growth elsewhere in China's vast market, as wealth spreads to smaller, so-called lower-tier cities.

Those cities are smaller compared to Beijing, which has 20 million people, but are still populous by standards in Europe and North America. For example, Wuxi, just west of Shanghai, has a population of around five million people.

In places like Beijing and Shanghai, GM's Socia said new car sales are going to become increasingly less important, as the market begin to mature. More important will likely be replacement sales by consumers buying new cars using existing license plates, he said.
"If all 25 cities with severe traffic situations in China were all to implement restrictions in 2015, we estimate that the impact to GM car sales would only be about 2-3 percent," Socia said.

SMALLER CITIES
According to a report published last week by marketing research firm Nielsen, nearly 70 percent of China's prospective automobile buyers in the next 12 months are likely to come from Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities, which are home to roughly half of China's total number of car buyers today.

"The major demand for passenger cars is transferring from coastal areas to central and western China and to lower-tier cities," the report said.

Nielsen said Tier-1 cities are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu and defines Tier-2 cities as provincial capitals, as well as economically developed cities including Qingdao, Dalian and Shenzhen.

It defines Tier-3 cities as "prefectural level" cities and Tier-4 cities as "country-level" cities.
Three of the four cities where restrictions are already in place are Tier 1 cities, while the new restrictions will mostly be in Tier-2 cities.
Carmakers, from GM to Volkswagen AG(VOWG_p.DE) to Toyota Motor Corp.(7203.T), as well as indigenous Chinese auto makers, are all shifting their attention to lower-tier cities.

"New customers will come from (lower-tier) cities, and we see great potential there," Christoph Ludewig, spokesman for Volkswagen Group China, said. "Main growth will come from (that) area."

Ford Motor Co.(F.N) , for instance, is increasing the number of dealers in China to more than 700 from about 500 stores it operates today. "The vast majority of (those) new dealers will be in those cities," Trevor Hale, a Shanghai-based company spokesman, said referring to lower-tier cities, which he said are likely to become the engine of growth in China's auto sector for the rest of the current decade.
And the restrictive auto purchase policies may end up being as ineffective in solving air quality and congestion problems as they are in stemming overall sales.

One reason is passenger car emissions, sizable as they might be, are a much smaller contributor to harmful substances in the air, compared with heavy commercial trucks, especially diesel-fueled heavy ones.

Moreover, according to a recent report by the China Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a main source of air pollution in most Chinese cities is industrial production, rather than vehicle emissions.
"In the long run, the real solution (to pollution from automobiles) should be to improve the qualities of engines and petroleum, and establish higher standards for vehicle emissions," said Pan Xiaochuan, deputy head of the School of Public and Environmental Health at the Peking University.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said that 70-80 percent of China's air pollution comes from coal consumption and factory emissions, so the curbs won't help reduce pollution unless joined by other measures.

Fasehun Wants Amaechi’s Security Restored

 

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Sheriff Balogun

The Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has called on federal government to restore the security officers attached to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Fasehun, in a statement made available to THISDAY Monday in Abeokuta, stated that the security of the governor should remain sacrosanct, wondering “what could be the reason for withdrawing the governor’s security personnel and unduly exposing him to danger?”

According to him, “Why should a governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state be helpless in instructing the Commissioner of Police to
enforce law and order, simply because of the break-down in the personal relationship of the two gentlemen?”

Fasehun, however, asked militants in the Niger Delta region, as well as security agencies, to steer clear of the political crisis in the state to allow politicians resolve their own problems.

The OPC leader, who endorsed the resolution of the House of Representatives to take over the legislative functions of the state House of Assembly, insisted that  Amaechi should accord due honour to the president, despite their personal differences, saying: “What you sow, you reap.

“Sow respect and you reap respect; sow dishonour and you reap dishonour. Not only the Holy Books, even good home training teaches this and the governor ought to know this.”

Describing the move by the House to take over the functions of the state Assembly, Fasehun said it was a creative initiative that would guarantee that the state legislature was not hijacked by either opponents or proponents of the embattled governor.

According to him, the show of shame and violence that followed the purported impeachment of the Speaker on the floor of the Assembly clearly robbed the legislature of the power to continue in office.

“The House of Representatives could not have folded its arms while the legislature in one state in the federation got consumed by crisis,” Fasehun however warned that, the House of Representatives must play a neutral role throughout, and guarantee the quick return of full democracy to this otherwise peaceful state.

Recalling that police had in 2003 compromised its neutrality in the case of former Governor Chris Ngige, Fasehun lamented that history appeared to be repeating itself in Rivers State and it could endanger the nation’s democracy.

The OPC President similarly reacted to reports that Niger Delta militants and cultists had invaded Rivers State, pursuant to the launch of an onslaught against interests in the crisis, remarking that it would be a dangerous move.

He said: “Violence can only beget more violence. The intervention of militants will result in a vicious cycle of reprisal attacks. No matter how such a confrontation turns out, it will be a lose-lose situation for the peace-loving people of Rivers State, who stand to pay a heavy price for any breakdown in the society.” Lamenting that legislators charged with lawmaking resorted to championing a break-down of law and order in the state, the elder statesman said all those involved must face the full wrath of the law. “They should have taken their fighting to the streets instead of settling their personal scores in the hallowed chambers of the assembly,” he said.

The show-of-shame is an embarrassment to Nigerians. It amounts to promoting indiscipline. legislators must learn to react with dignity to issues easily ironed out through dialogue and compromise.”

According to the OPC founder, the situation in Rivers State justified calls for the convening of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC).

Kris Jenner Tricks Fans With A Fake Baby North West To Increase Talk Show Ratings

  Kim and Kanye made it clear they won't be revealing North West's identity on Kris Jenner's new talk show which premiered the day before yesterday.
However, she devices a means to get viewers watching when minutes before the premier of her talk show, she tweeted a picture of a dark haired baby with the caption " you never know who might stop by our show tonight# watch Kris.

This piqued the interest of many who felt Kimye's baby would be revealed on the show as she had desperately hoped.
However, at the end of the show, it was revealed the baby belonged to her stylist. She also joked she wouldn't be able to kidnap Kim's baby and that North West would be revealed in due time

Many feel she exploited the child's image already...smart woman

Jonathan Urges African Leaders to Find Local Solutions to HIV/AIDS

 

President Goodluck Jonathan

Patrick Ugeh and Muhammad Bello

President Goodluck Jonathan Monday appealed to his African colleagues to exploit  local means of tackling not only HIV but also tuberculosis, malaria and other related infectious diseases.
Jonathan made the appeal in Abuja at the opening of the Abuja+12, Special Summit of the African Union (AU) on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The two-day summit with the theme, "Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and Future”, is being attended by most African leaders.

Also at the occasion, United Nations Secretary-General, Mr.  Ban Ki-Moon, stressed the need for Africa to maintain its momentum in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, saying slowing down of the tempo would reverse the progress already made.

Jonathan, in his speech, urged African leaders to de-emphasise reliance on external  funding  and importation of essential medicines for the  treatment of the diseases.

"We must stand in solidarity with one another, be proactive to our health challenges and increase inter-continental scientific research partnerships and development efforts to complement the various national and regional plans already underway.

“Ownership and sustainability should form the basis of our next plan of actions. Our goal should be to find local solutions to our challenges, translate planning into implementation and develop our continent at the pace we desire,’’ he said.

To realise the laudable goals, Jonathan added that the leaders must show commitments by increased funding and synergy between government and other stakeholders.

Stressing that the HIV/AIDS and the other infectious diseases remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa, Jonathan said: "For too long, political instability, insecurity and infectious diseases have beclouded our efforts at rapid development and effective optimisation of the abundant potential  of our continent.

"However, today  there is renewed hope that together and with homegrown initiatives, we can systematically and comprehensively address these tough challenges.

"Our people are anxious for tangible results and concrete action to improve the quality of life. As we look forward to a productive summit, meeting the needs of our people by achieving these goals should be our collective resolve.’’
AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who spoke in a similar tone, said HIV/AIDS and the other infectious diseases had posed challenges to  the socio-economic development of Africa.

According to her,  the annual rate of infection of HIV/AIDS has fallen by 25 per cent, while death rate has reduced by 32 per cent since the Abuja Declaration of 2011.

She added that from 2001 to date, more than 30 million people have received tuberculosis treatment while malaria infection has reduced by one third.
In his contribution,   Ki-Moon  stressed the need for Africa to maintain its momentum in the fight against the dreaded HIV/AIDS epidemic so as not to reverse the progress already made.

According to him,  despite all efforts, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases still pose a significant threat to the wellbeing and development of sub-Saharan Africa.

Represented by Executive Director of UNFPA, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Ki-Moon said African leaders should show more political commitments to the fight against the diseases.

"Every minute, a child dies of malaria, one in 20 adults lives with HIV, TB infection rates are highest in the world, with more than 260 cases per 100,000 people in 2011, while many Africans endure the double burden of HIV and TB.

“This summit can provide a tipping point in Africa’s progress on health.  Let us place AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria at the centre of public health policy,’’ he added.

AU Chairman and  Ethiopia’s Prime Minister,  Hailemariam Desalegn, said the main objective of the summit as reflected in the theme, was to allow participants to review achievements and challenges in managing the diseases.

Citing a report jointly prepared by AU, UNDP and Africa Development Bank, he said: "For instance, about 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reduced new HIV infections by more than 25 per cent and made considerable reduction in AIDS’ mortality. In fact, some African countries, including Ethiopia, have reduced the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection by more than 50 per cent.”

Exiled General Sejusa Unlikely to Return to Uganda

  The Uganda army general who demanded an investigation into an assassination plot linked to President Yoweri Museveni’s alleged succession plan, says he is unlikely to return to the East African country anytime soon.

“There is no doubt that on the surface of it, everything points at something wrong with the way the president has been handling the issues of his son.  And therefore, the onus is on him to clarify these issues and not sweep them under the carpet,” said General David Sejusa.

“How can you blame someone who is performing his duties and demanding that you investigate specific allegations?  What is that logic? I don’t understand it that these are wild allegations so they should not be investigated.”

Until he went into exile, General Sejusa was coordinator for Uganda’s intelligence agencies at the president’s office.  Sejusa said it was his duty to call for the inquiry, since the succession plan could destabilize the country.

Sejusa petitioned the administration to investigate rumors of a plot to assassinate senior administration officials opposed to Mr. Museveni’s succession plan.

Sejusa says he did not return to Uganda after his life was threatened.

“The plan had been to arrest me at the tarmac, put me on a helicopter, fly me to a place called Nakasongola, the next day make a mock attack that I was going to be rescued by my rebels, then I’m killed in crossfire.  There was an elaborate plan to eliminate me in the process and cover up these serious issues which I had raised,” said Sejusa.

“As a matter of fact I can tell you that it is not only my life which is in danger, but [also] lives of many leaders because the political system has broken down, and the only way to reign in all these upcoming voices of dissent is through force and repression.”

The army rejected Sejusa’s claims and has accused him of breaching an official code of conduct.  Senior administration officials have accused Sejusa of harboring presidential ambitions and spreading rumors to create divisions within the army.

“For them to come and deny before any investigations are carried out and then try to cover up, by imputing wrong motives on me who was performing his duty, shows some culpability ... as far as I am concerned, that is merely diversionary,” said Sejusa.

He denied leaking his petition to the press after a newspaper published the contents of the letter demanding the inquiry.

“This was an internal correspondence between chiefs of intelligence.  The fact that it was leaked has nothing to with me,” said Sejusa.

President Museveni’s alleged plan is to step down and hand over power to his son, Brigadier Muhoozi Kainerugaba.  Critics say the sudden rise of Muhoozi, the first son of the president, to the position of the Special Forces Group commander in the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) forms part of the Museveni succession plan.  The government denies the existence of a succession plan.

In a recent press statement Special Forces spokesman Edson Kwesiga denied the existence of a succession plan to install Muhoozi as the country’s next leader.

“Uganda is not a monarchy where leadership is passed on from father to son.  This so-called (Muhoozi) project is a people’s creation,” said Kwesiga.                           

The Special Forces group is in charge of protecting the president, as well as the country’s oil installations and other institutions.

Sheath your swords, first lady tells Rivers politicians

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has called on politicians in Rivers state to embrace peace for the sustainable development of the state and its peoples, describing the conflicts and violence as the most lethal threats to peace and development.

In a statement by her media aide, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady urged all the warring politicians to spare a thought for the economic, social and political costs of the current crisis in the state.

The statement reads in part: “This office wishes to call on all feuding parties in Rivers State to spare a thought for the social, political and economic costs of the crisis, and consider an urgent way to resolve all political differences. It is our position that the greater consequences of the impasse is, as usual, reserved for the poor, the weak and the vulnerable, especially women and children, who are usually innocent bystanders in all these.

“This derives naturally from the saying that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. On a larger scale, we subscribe to the fact that conflicts and violence are the most lethal threats to peace, which itself is the irreducible minimum condition for development. The situation must therefore not be allowed to degenerate to a level that can be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums, thus exposing everyone to insecurity from which there may be no easy escape.”

EXCLUSIVE: Why Al-Mustapha ‘has to quit Army’

 

Al-Mustapha still in service– Army

Fasehun: Why I support him

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha would have to retire from the Army pretty soon if guidelines contained in the Nigerian Army’s Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) are applied to him, a Blueprint investigation has revealed.

There have been speculations over the future of the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha in the service of the Army ever since he was released from prison on Friday where he had spent over 14 years.

He had been sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court over his alleged complicity in the June 4, 1996 assassination of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a verdict that was overturned on Friday by the Appeal Court.

The Army authorities said yesterday that Al-Mustapha is still in active service.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brigadier General Attahiru Ibrahim, confirmed this while responding to questions on Al-Mustapha’s status during a Joint Security Committee briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

The director, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, DAPR, Colonel Agim, said: “Major Al-Mustapha is still in the army. His case will be looked at by Nigerian Army in line with the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS).”

However, Blueprint’s investigation indicated that Al-Mustapha cannot continue to serve in the army.

A source told our correspondent: “When an army officer has a case in court, he is placed on half-salary. That is what has happened to Al-Mustapha. Now that the case is in his favour, he will be paid arrears of his salary and other benefits for the years he has spent in prison, and then he will be expected to write for voluntary retirement. “

The source disclosed further that based on both the old and the new HTACOS, Al-Mustapha does not qualify to continue serving in the Army.

The source said: “Both the old and new HTACOS specify rules and regulations for Army, Navy and Air Force promotion and retirement. Al-Mustapha is a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular 28 course. All his mates in the Army, Navy and Air Force are Major-Generals and equivalent. Even some Course 29 members are Major-Generals. So, the first issue will be of discipline. It would look odd for a Major-General to salute a Major.

“The second issue is age and rank. In the career progression of officers, an officer is expected to be promoted to a particular rank at a particular age. Al-Mustapha is still a Major and   above the required age-ceiling.

“The third issue is courses. For an officer to progress to certain rank in the armed forces, there are prerequisite courses such as Junior Division (JD), Senior Division (SD) and National Defence College (NDC) or its equivalent.

“While JD is for Captains and equivalents, SD is for Majors, NDC is for Colonels and equivalents. For an officer to be promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel he must have done Senior Division. And also for a Colonel to progress to Brigadier-General he must have done strategic course.  Al-Mustapha has not done Senior Division and National Defence College.”

Details of the newly-signed HTACOS for personnel of the Nigerian military, which  was approved by the Armed Forces Council and  took effect  on July 10, 2012,   provide every officer of the military – Army, Navy and Air Force – with the specifics of the rules and regulations governing all issues, including recruitment, accommodation, promotion, retirements, resignations, death in active service, gratuities and benefits for dependants, burial benefits, child education (dead or active service), medical treatment, pension and allowances.

They also provide for what every officer should expect, whether the personnel joined the military as Regular Combatant Commission (joined as cadet through the Nigerian Defence Academy) or through Direct Regular Commission, Direct Short Service Commission, Short Service Combatant Commission or the Executive/Special Duty/Branch Commission.

Under the old TACOS, the ROD for a Regular Commissioned Lieutenant or its equivalent in the Navy (Sub-Lieutenant) or Air Force (Flying Officer) was 35 years, Captain/Lieutenant/Flight Lieutenant – 40, Major/Lieutenant Commander/Squadron Leader – 46, Lieutenant Colonel/Commander/Wing Commander – 49, Colonel/Captain/Group Captain – 52, Brigadier-General/Commodore/Air Commodore – 54, Major General/Rear Admiral/Air Vice Marshal – 56, Lieutenant-General/Vice Admiral/Air Marshal – 58 and General/Admiral/Air Chief Marshal – 60.

But under the new HTACOS, RODs were extended. Now, the ROD for Regular Commissioned Officers under the HTACOS for Lieutenant or its equivalent in the Navy and Air Force is 39 years, Captain or its equivalent – 46, Major or its equivalent – 50, Lieutenant Colonel or its equivalent – 53, Colonel or its equivalent – 54, Brigadier-General or its equivalent – 56, Major- General or its equivalent – 57, Lieutenant-General or its equivalent – 59 and General or its equivalent remains 60.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr.  Fredrick Fasehun, yesterday defended his support for Al-Mustapha, saying that he supported the freedom given to the former CSO because he was exonerated by a competent court of the land in the killing of  Kudirat Abiola.

He  added that all patriotic Yorubas should be grateful to God that throughout the period of Al-Mustapha’s incarceration nothing harmful had happened to him, noting that all he was doing was to demonstrate to the world that Yorubas are not detribalized and they always stand by justice and equal right.

The OPC leader noted that it was well known that Al-Mustapha did everything possible to save the life of Chief Abiola and that he also allowed  Kudirat to visit her husband when he was in detention. “How then can the same person kill Alhaja Abiola?”

He also disclosed that there was no  reasonable evidence to nail the former CSO on the killing of Kudirat.

“We all must fear God; that is why I decided to join people to support his freedom,” he said.

“Therefore, I  resolved to spearhead bringing Major Al-Mustapha to the ancient city of Kano, to let them know that though we lost our sons and daughter during the June 12, 1993 presidential election, but we still believe in the fact that since court has exonerated Major Al-Mustapha, we Yoruba have nothing against him.”

Fasehun, who made the assertion yesterday at the Yoruba Community Association (YCA) hall on Sanusi Road in Sabon Gari, Kano, where he was hosted by the community and the OPC Kano chapter, charged all Yoruba to always fight for their right.

Fasehun said: “The funny aspect was that the very judge that pronounced the verdict that Major Al-Mustapha should be hanged ran away to overseas because she was called to sign the court verdict, which the Appeal Court later discovered that it lacked transparency.”

Fasehun added that some people may be calling him a betrayer of the Yoruba because of the action he has taken, but posterity would never forget him if he kept quiet.

“Who knows what could have befallen you the Yoruba resident in the northern states of the country? We in the southern part of the country would not have had problem. What of all our people in the North?”

He stated that at his age of 78, he was not looking for anybody to give him money, but would always fight for the Yoruba’s freedom through always calling on the Yoruba to unite and fight a common cause.

He further disclosed that the legacy the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo left nobody among the so-called Yoruba leaders could replace him politically.

“It was Chief Awolowo that built a house for people and sold it at the rate of N3,000, built the first television in Africa and provided free education to the teeming masses in the South-west. Let those so-called Yoruba leaders in politics tell us what they have done. Rather, they were using their position to create enmity, rancour and acrimony among the Yoruba.”

This, he said, made him and other patriotic people to reform the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) so that those people who believe in the principles of Awolowo can still group together to form a party.

The Deputy President of the Yoruba Association in Kano, Chief Jerry Agunbiade, commended Fasehun for playing a noble role in escorting Al-Mustapha to Kano in the spirit of national reconciliation.