Forbes lists Messi second footballer to earn $1 billion

 

Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi has been named the second professional footballer to earn $1 billion in his career.

This is after his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo  was listed the first footballer to hit that hallmark. Ronaldo marked then as the third athlete to earn $1 billion in his career after professional golfer Tiger Woods and professional boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Forbes named Messi the highest-earning footballer in 2020 as the Argentine raked $126m ($92m in salary and $34m in endorsements) tipping him into the $1 billion mark.

Ronaldo came second in the list of highest-earning footballers for the year 2020 according to Forbes with his total earning $117 million ($70 million in salary and $47 million endorsements).

- PM NEWS

Fuel price hike: CNPP, TUC, NLC set to shut down Nigeria

 

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that all is ready for a mass action against the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

The CNPP said it has mobilised a coalition of civil society groups to join labour movements such as the Trade Union Congress, TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to join the protest against the recent hike in patrol pump price and electricity tariff.

The CNPP, being the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria, said this in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and made available to DAILY POST on Monday.

It said it was high time it told the Nigerian government that the people have ran out of patience after five years of experiments with the current administration.

CNPP maintained that the Federal Government is now taking the citizens for a ride.

“First the government increased the fuel pump price to N145 per litre, and Nigerians were told that the government has deregulated the petroleum sector to allow the market forces to determine the price of patrol,” the statement said.

The political parties lamented that the government, instead of allowing the market forces to determine the price of patrol, has been fixing the price of fuel for marketers.

“As if that was not bad enough, the federal government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) and in the midst of the hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, electricity tariff was also increased at a time Nigerians were demanding that the federal government should, as part of the pandemic palliative, give free electricity to citizens,” it added.

It noted that every government in the world is subsidizing one sector or the other to better the lives if its citizens.

- DAILY POST

Jega, Onaiyekan to Buhari: Nigerians battling with double sufferings

 

The Nigerian Working Group on Peacebuilding and Governance has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate dialogue at the national and sub-national levels to address the country’s security challenges.

In a statement on Sunday, the group said Nigerians are suffering from rising insecurity to lives and properties, as well as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their standards of living.

The statement was signed by Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC); John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic archbishop of Abuja; Martin Luther Agwai, a retired military general; Jibrin Ibrahim, a professor; Aisha Mohammed-Oyebode, chief executive officer, Murtala Muhammed Foundation, among others, who are all members of the group.

The position of the group comes after ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo accused Buhari of driving Nigeria into becoming a “failed and divided” state.

The group said Nigeria is rapidly approaching a tipping point, adding that there is an urgent need for Buhari and state governors to commence a dialogue process to address the rising insecurity in the country.

“Nigeria, like the rest of the world is battling the coronavirus pandemic. However, citizens in Nigeria are facing double the suffering because they also have to contend with rising insecurity and violence across the country,” the statement read.

“The Nigerian government must immediately address the rising insecurity if it is to succeed in the fight against the pandemic. A recent USIP-commissioned survey in Nigeria found new linkages between COVID-19, instability, and conflict.

“In particular, the survey found that victims of recent violence are less likely to trust the government’s coronavirus response measures compared to those who have not experienced violence.”

The group said it engaged in series of consultations with a diverse group of stakeholders and policymakers between May and July.

It said this is the time to offer its key observations and recommendations on how the government can strengthen its efforts to manage the coronavirus pandemic by addressing the rising insecurity across the country.

The members recommended that the national council of state should initiate a dialogue process at the national level while the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) would ensure it reaches the grassroots.

“A government strategy to address the coronavirus pandemic without sustainable strategies to also confront rising insecurity and violence poses a significant threat to the democratic development of our country, and could potentially undermine the government’s efforts to address the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria now, and in the future,” it said.

“Kidnapping for ransom is an acute concern across Nigeria. The North East is witnessing a resurgence in Boko Haram activity, and thousands of people are internally displaced by banditry across rural communities in the North West.

“Criminality in rural areas further complicates the situation by undermining food security, as many farmers have been unable to go to their farms for months for fear of losing their lives.”

The group asked Buhari to direct more training and re-orientation of the police force towards building community partnerships and promoting durable peace in the conduct of their duties.

It said the government should sack the service chiefs if it would ensure an improvement in the security situation.

- THECABLE

Growing insecurity, hardship threatening Nigeria’s unity – Bishop Nkwagu

 The Anglican Bishop of Abakaliki, Diocese, Rt. Rev Chukwuma Nkwagu, has tasked the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhuri to urgently fix the growing insecurity and hardship in the country to avert a situation where the people can challenge the government in power.

Nkwagu made this known while addressing newsmen during the visit of the national executives of the Women Wing of the Christian Council of Nigeria, WWCAN, in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

He lamented that the increase in the prices of fuel and electricity as well as insecurity in the nation have made Nigerians to lose hope in the capacity of the government to protect their lives.

According to him: “Nobody is comfortable with what is happening in Nigeria, whether church or no church. Nobody is happy about the level of insecurity in the nation. Nobody is happy that the price of fuel has risen so high and it is affecting everybody. Hardship is getting tougher all over the nation and nobody is happy about it.

“We are only appealing to the government to look into it critically because when insecurity grows uncontrollably, then, it is threatening the existence of the entire nation and the unity of the country, so, the government should look at it critically.

“They should remove anything religious or ethnicity, they should go straight into the real matter and be able to minimize or stop the growing insecurity in the nation, but if it continues this way, those in the east, north or south cannot be safe.

“We ask the federal government to think critically, the security agencies should look at it critically. Something should be done urgently to sustain the unity of this country, and bring everybody together as one nation.

“I know they are afraid. They know the reason they removed subsidy, and the increase in the prices of fuel and electricity because of COVID-19. The government should take it gradually until the economy is stabilized.

“People are not happy and that’s why different groups want to demonstrate and tell the government that they are not happy.

“I appeal to the government to think about it, we know that everybody is suffering because of COVID-19 that ravaged other countries of the world, but it is better for the government to take it gradually so that Nigerians will not be brought to their knees to the extent that they will think of taken laws into their own hands.

“The society is expecting reduction in the prices of fuel and electricity but instead, it was increased beyond expectation. Sufferings are on the increase and it will get to the level that people can no longer bear it, they will begin to revolt and then it will look like the people are challenging the government,” he stated.

- DAILY POST

EFCC arrests two lecturers ‘involved in internet fraud’

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Abdulahi Opashola and Adebisi Ademola, identified as lecturers at the Kwara state college of health technology, Offa, over their alleged involvement in internet fraud.

In a statement by the commission on Monday, Gbenga Adewoye, EFCC zonal public relations officer, said the lecturers were arrested alongside 28 other suspects at different locations in Kwara state.

The other suspects are Kingsley Essien, Tobiloba Adenuga, Tope Ayodele, Rasheed Mujib, Oladipo Opeyemi, Saadu Muktar, Oladejo Hammed, Hammed Tope, Ameachi Umenyi, Salauden Adam, Afolabi Gafar, Oladimeji Timi, Remilekun Adeolu and Audu John

Others are, David Momodu, Abdulkareem Samad, Adebiyi Sodiq, Dawodu Olusoji, Yusuf Amoo, Kehinde Olarenwaju, Philip Mike, Ademola Adebukola, Adeniyi Olamilekan, Adeyemi Adedeji, Ajayi Teslem, Olawale Oladayo, Olasunkanmi Olawale and Adeleke Damilola.

“The suspects were arrested at different locations within Kwara State, following intelligence gathered by operatives of the anti-graft agency over their alleged involvement in the offence,” Adewoye said.

He also stated that the commission is yet to analyse categories of internet fraud engaged in by the suspects.

Cars, phones and laptops are some of the items recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, the commission said it is making efforts to apprehend a herbalist linked with the alleged offence.

- THECABLE

US imposes visa ban on unidentified Nigerian election riggers

 

The United States on Monday announced the imposition of visa ban on some unidentified Nigerians, that it extra-judicially accused of undermining the democratic process.

According to the U.S. State Department, the restrictions were imposed on the individuals “for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections”.

Curiously, the US also said it is imposing visa restrictions on those individuals in the elections that are yet to take place, this week’s Edo election and 10 October Ondo State election

“These individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in the statement.

In 2019, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians it said had undermined elections in February and March of that year.

The State Department said it warned in a statement last year that it would consider consequences, including visa restrictions, on those responsible for organising election-related violence or undermining the Nigerian democratic process.

- PM NEWS

Fuel price hike: CNPP, TUC, NLC set to shut down Nigeria

 

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that all is ready for a mass action against the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

The CNPP said it has mobilised a coalition of civil society groups to join labour movements such as the Trade Union Congress, TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to join the protest against the recent hike in patrol pump price and electricity tariff.

The CNPP, being the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria, said this in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and made available to DAILY POST on Monday.

It said it was high time it told the Nigerian government that the people have ran out of patience after five years of experiments with the current administration.

CNPP maintained that the Federal Government is now taking the citizens for a ride.

“First the government increased the fuel pump price to N145 per litre, and Nigerians were told that the government has deregulated the petroleum sector to allow the market forces to determine the price of patrol,” the statement said.

The political parties lamented that the government, instead of allowing the market forces to determine the price of patrol, has been fixing the price of fuel for marketers.

“As if that was not bad enough, the federal government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) and in the midst of the hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, electricity tariff was also increased at a time Nigerians were demanding that the federal government should, as part of the pandemic palliative, give free electricity to citizens,” it added.

It noted that every government in the world is subsidizing one sector or the other to better the lives if its citizens.

- DAILY POST

Six arrested for allegedly shooting man to death in Lagos

 

The Lagos State Police Command said it has arrested six suspects, who it claimed have questions to answer for the shooting and killing of one 35-year-old Kayode Olorunroba on Friday, at AVID Sharwama spots, Alagbado area of Lagos.

Police identified the suspects as: Okikiola Kazeem – the deceased’s friend and suspect; Olayinka Oyedokun – the Manager of AVID bar; Chimezie Amaechi – the owner of the Sharwama Spot; Femi Victor, Taiwo Morokola, and Omole Wasiu.

The deceased, DAILY POST learnt, was a resident of 3, Werewere Street, Alagbado.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, has it that the incident occurred at about 9.30pm when the deceased had an altercation at the spot with another customer, who is now at large.

After the shooting, Adejobi revealed that Kayode’s friend and witness, Okikiola Kazeem, who had called him (Kayode) to join him at the Sharwama spot, refused to report the incident to the police.

Instead, he was said to have taken the deceased to a herbalist in Ogun State where they extracted the pellets.

“He later took Kayode to his brother’s house at Ipaja Area, Lagos State, where he gave up the ghost,” Adejobi hinted.

“As a follow up to the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, directed that police detectives be mobilized and hunt for the suspects who were linked to the killing.

In the course of the investigation, the PPRO informed that the suspects were arrested, adding that they are giving useful information that can assist the police in the investigation.

- DAILY POST

FULL LIST: Here are the 28 states that ‘will experience heavy rainfall’ before the end of 2020

 

The federal government says 28 states will experience heavy rainfall before the year ends.

In a statement, Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, asked state governments to implement measures that will address the impact of the heavy rainfall and flooding.

She said the 2020 Annual Flood Outlook forecasts that 102 local government areas (LGAs) in 28 states will have heavy rainfall, while 275 local government areas (LGAs) in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja will experience moderate flooding.

The minister called on state emergency management agencies, frontline local government authorities and other response agencies to adopt precautionary actions by carrying out public enlightenment and ensuring the dredging of river channels and canals.

She identified the following as states that will experience heavy rainfall and possible flooding

• Borno
• Yobe
• Gombe
• Adamawa
• Taraba
• Bauchi
• Plateau
• Nasarawa
• Benue
• Niger
• Kogi
• Enugu
• Anambra
• Imo
• Abia
• Rivers
• Akwa Ibom
• Delta
• Edo
• Ekiti
• Osun
• Kwara
• Zamfara
• Sokoto
• Lagos
• Ondo
• Bayelsa
• Kaduna

- THECABLE

Why Lagos deserved Special Status – Abiru

 

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos East Senatorial candidate, Tokunbo Abiru has explained why Lagos deserved a Special Status.

Abiru, who spoke in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos on Saturday when he met with newsmen, said pushing for Lagos to be accorded Special Status would be one of his priorities if elected senator in next month’s by-election.

According to him, Special Status is a necessity for Lagos having become the nation’s former federal capital.

He said being Nigeria’s former capital, there were several investments, such as the seaports and other infrastructure to cater for which the state would not be able to fund alone.

“There is need for the Federal Government to enhance the environment. We only can continue to champion special status for Lagos. I will join hands with others to champion for a special status for Lagos,” he said.

Abiru, a former Managing Director, Polaris Bank, said he would bring his 30 years experience in the banking sector to bear in fighting for the right of Lagos and his senatorial district at the senate if elected.

He also said Lagos East had lots of comparative advantages that could be enhanced through collaboration with the government in terms of ideal policy formulations.

Abiru, who said he was impressed by what the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had done for his constituency through poverty alleviation, said he would certainly impact on the lives of people in Lagos East if elected.

He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for doing a great job in terms of infrastructure development, especially during this rainy season, as well as tackling COVID-19 pandemic, saying that he would push for infrastructure development of Lagos East.

Abiru also advised those who had spend several years and made it in the banking sector to leave the scene for the younger ones and only take on advisory roles.

“They should allow the younger people to come in because they are full of ideas,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Secondus to presidency: Stop insulting OBJ… accept his words of wisdom

 Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked the presidency to take ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism as words of wisdom.

During an interactive session with some socio-cultural groups in Abuja on Friday, the ex-president accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of mismanaging the country’s socio-economic development.

He also said Nigeria is drifting towards a failed state under Buhari.

Reacting to his allegations, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, described Obasanjo as Nigeria’s “divider-in-chief.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, also hit Obasanjo whom he said has no genuine love for Nigeria.

But Secondus said the elder statesman deserves commendation “for standing up to save the country at its worst time in history”.

He accused the presidency of playing to the gallery, instead of “embracing the words of wisdom from patriotic elders”.

According to Ike Abonyi, spokesman of Secondus, the opposition leader commended Obasanjo for “always exhibiting exceptional patriotism whenever the challenge in the country overwhelms as its in the country today”.

“Prince Secondus then charged President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling All Progress Congress, APC, to dispose themselves to absorbing the words of wisdom and stop grandstanding even as the nation under their watch is going down,” the statement read.

“He also warned the Presidency against abusing and disrespecting nationalists who fought for the unity of this country.”

The statement also quoted Secondus as calling on the federal government to ensure that the Edo gubernatorial election is free and fair.

He alleged that “the needless tension in Edo is being orchestrated by the APC, to establish a basis to invite the security agencies to intervene unduly in the electoral process”.

“Democracy strives well under rule of law and this is all the people of Edo state are asking for, to let their will prevail on September 19, 2020,” the statement quoted Secondus as saying.

“To deploy military and other security agencies to do election duties outside the one statutorily assigned to them as was witnessed in 2019 general election and the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa and Kogi state clearly undermines democracy

“We saw and witnessed the gimmick in Osun, Bayelsa, Kano states where security operatives were used to disrupt polls at PDP strong areas leading to cancellation and the so called inconclusive elections.”

- THECABLE

Popular porn star arrested for filming ‘sex movie’ inside Osun grove

 

Popular Nigerian adult entertainer, Tobiloba Jolaosho also known as Kingtblakhoc has been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly recording a ‘sex movie’ inside the Osun Osogbo grove.

Jolaosho, who allegedly dressed like an Osun adherent with a completely naked woman, shot a ‘sex movie’ at Osun grove in July this year and shared the clip on social media.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, Yemisi Opalola, Jolaosho was arrested based on a complaint by a member of Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun State, Amoo Awosunwon, that Jolaosho’s conduct was likely to cause a breach of public peace.

“Awosunwon of Idinleke Temple, Osogbo, reported to the police that he sighted Tobiloba Isaac Jolaosho dressed in Osun traditional attire in a sex movie with a completely naked young lady shared on the social media,” the PPRO said.

She added that the scene of the crime had been visited by policemen and gave assurance that if the suspect was found wanting after investigation, he would be arraigned in court.

- PM NEWS

Soldier ‘kills nine-year-old boy’ during celebratory gunfire for friend contesting election

 

A soldier in the Nigerian army’s operation Lafiya Dole in Borno state has allegedly killed a nine-year-old boy in Shehuri area of Maiduguri, the state capital. 

The soldier, residents told TheCable, was shooting sporadically in celebration of one of his friends who had just obtained a form to contest for councillor in the coming council election in the state. 

The nine-year-old, identified as Abdu Tijjani was hit by a bullet and he died immediately, while two other children sustained injuries.

“The soldier opened fire on three children around the palace of the Shehu of Borno on September 2, while celebrating his friend, Ba’a Shehu, a member of  Civilian JTF who obtained a form to contest for a councillor position in the upcoming local government election in the state,” a resident said. 

“The reckless shootings resulted in the death of the identified as Abdu Tijjani while two other children sustained gunshot injuries.

“The two children who sustained injuries were taken to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unit of the Borno state specialist hospital in Maiduguri for treatment.”

Mele Tujja, another resident, said immediately after the incident was reported, a team of military police arrived at the scene to arrest the soldier who already fled.

He was, however, arrested later at his unit at Chabbal IDPs, along Muna general area.

“Unfortunately, 11 days later, we were told that the soldier was released by the military and posted back to his duty post without pressing any charges against him,” Tujja said.  

“This is a clear case of extrajudicial killing and injustice of the highest order. The military is refusing to take full responsibility for prosecuting the killer when everyone knows that he killed an innocent child.”

Residents accused the military of not conducting a transparent investigation into the incident, as the army team did not speak with locals to know what exactly happened.

Alhaji Grema, a resident, said the soldier was known for reckless shootings in Shehuri environs and had been warned many times by Digima Zubairu, the village head of Shehuri north.

The residents called on Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and relevant security agencies to ensure justice is served. 

Sagir Musa, army’s spokesperson, was not immediately available to comment on the matter.

- THECABLE

SOUTH WEST SHEKAU !!! Southern Kaduna: MURIC raises alarm over alleged killing of Fulani, Muslims in fresh attacks

 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned what it described as the guerilla-style of killing of Muslims and Fulanis in Zangon Kataf of Kaduna State.

According to MURIC, the killings which happened on 8th and 9th September, 2020, were in violation of the peace pact of 22nd August, 2020.

MURIC’s position was contained in a statement issued to DAILY POST on Monday, 14th September, 2020 and signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“Christian youths of Zangon Kataf have violated the 22nd August, 2020 peace pact initiated by the Agwa Atyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya between the Atyap and Hausa/Fulani. The breach occurred on Tuesday, 8th September, 2020 when they launched guerrilla-like attacks on Muslims and Fulanis.

“The attacks resulted in the killing of three unarmed and defenseless Fulani near Gora Gan. Those killed were Abdullahi Hassan, Yusuf Hassan Sogiji and Abubakar Hassan. Two other Fulani men, Musa Hassan and his father, Malam Hassan are still being treated in Jama’a Clinic in Zonkwa after sustaining various degrees of injuries during the attack.

“Another Fulani Muslim, AbdulRashid Lawal Malan was killed by the Christian Kataf militia the following day, Wednesday, 9th September, 2020 in Kurmin Masara, near Bakin Kogi bridge. Maitalata Idris Narutu, a Fulani and native of Zango urban, who lives in Dokan Lere narrowly escaped being killed when his car was stopped at an illegal roadblock mounted by Atyap youth militia.

“The setting up of roadblocks by the youth militia contravenes the terms of the peace pact entered on 22nd August, 2020. Both local and international stakeholders must hold the Christian Atyap militia of Southern Kaduna responsible for starting the vicious cycle of bloodshedding after the recent peace pact.

“MURIC strongly condemns these killings and attacks on law-abiding Muslims. We call for stronger presence of security agents. It is high time soldiers are drafted to Southern Kaduna to enforce law and order. We advocate long term military presence until the inhabitants of Southern Kaduna learn how to peacefully coexist.

“As an organization whose motto is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’, we frown at violence in all its ramifications. We are fully committed to a peaceful approach to the Southern Kaduna crisis. We, therefore, call on both parties to sheathe their swords.”

- DAILY POST