President Buhari Congratulates Victorious Super Falcons

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Super Falcons of Nigeria on their victory over the Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Saturday in the final match of the 11thAfrica Women Cup of Nations (AWCON), Ghana 2018.

The President, in a congratulatory message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday, expressed delight at the discipline and commitment exhibited by the country’s senior women football team despite the stiff resistance of their South African counterparts.

While noting that the Super Falcons had earlier qualified to represent Nigeria at the FIFA Women World Cup tournament in France next year, President Buhari described winning the AWCON for the third consecutive time and ninth overall, as the “icing on the cake.”

He, therefore, saluted the country’s female football ambassadors for doing their fatherland proud and showing clear dominance on the African continent.

President Buhari urged them to approach the France 2019 competition with clear focus and determination to excel on the global stage.

He also commended the team’s coaching crew, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Supporters Club and all football-loving citizens for adequately preparing and supporting the players.

The president enjoined all stakeholders not to relent in rallying round the country’s football representatives going forward.

“I have never doubted the capacity of Nigerians to excel when given the right support,” he noted

President Buhari reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to sports development as a unifying force.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Falcons won their 9th African title on Saturday after beating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 4-3 on penalties at the 11th AWCON in Ghana.

The penalty kicks came after an all-action 0-0 draw following extra time play in the tension soaked match. 

- PM News

G20: US, China agree to suspend new trade tariffs

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to halt new trade tariffs for 90 days to allow for talks, the US says.

The two men met in Buenos Aires after the G20 summit for their first talks since a trade war erupted this year.

China says they agreed not to impose any new trade tariffs after 1 January.

At the summit earlier on Saturday, the G20 leaders agreed a joint declaration that notes divisions over trade but does not criticise protectionism.

Ahead of the G20, Mr Trump had told US media he expected to go ahead with plans to raise tariffs on $200bn (£157bn) of Chinese goods – first introduced in September – from 10% to 25%, starting in January.

The White House says this move is now suspended for 90 days but adds, “If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10 percent tariffs will be raised to 25 percent.”

In return, the White House adds, China agreed to buy an unspecified but “very substantial” amount of agricultural, energy, industrial and other products.

Chinese state TV said earlier: “No additional tariffs will be imposed after January 1, and negotiations between the two sides will continue.”

Both sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods. The US has hit $250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products.

Mr Trump had also said that if talks in Argentina were unsuccessful, he would carry out a threat to hit the remaining $267bn of annual Chinese exports to the US with tariffs of 10-25%.

US-China trade divisions meant an Asian economic summit earlier this month was unable to agree a formal leaders’ statement for the first time in its history, BBC reports.

- PM News

Ronaldo scores as Juventus go 11-point clear at the top

Unbeaten Serie A leaders Juventus went 11 points clear at the top of the table by beating Fiorentina, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a penalty.

The champions led through Rodrigo Bentancur’s excellent 18-yard strike after a one-two with Paulo Dybala.

Giorgio Chiellini scored his first goal in 18 months – a fortunate effort which keeper Alban Lafont pushed into the air, before it landed in his net.

And Ronaldo scored his 10th Serie A goal with a penalty after a handball.

The £99m summer signing from Real Madrid is the joint top scorer in the Italian top flight with Genoa’s Krzysztof Piatek.

The last Juventus player to score 10 goals in the first 14 games of his maiden Serie A season was Wales’ John Charles in 1957.

Juve, who are going for their eighth consecutive Italian title, have won 13 of their 14 league games.

Second-placed Napoli visit Atalanta on Monday, BBC reports.

- PM News

2019: Real reason Buhari will never sign amended Electoral Act – Buba Galadima

Alhaji Buba Galadima, estranged political ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has said the President would never sign the amended Electoral Act because of the influence some elements bent on rigging the 2019 election have on him.

Galadima stated this on Friday night when he appeared on Politics Today, a flagship programme on Channels TV.

He said the scenario playing out in which the President will fail to assent the amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the coming general elections was unacceptable to Nigerians.

According to him, signing the amended electoral laws was morally binding on the President since he was a beneficiary of some lacunas in the Act which the amendments sought to address and legalise.

His words: “The Electoral Act is not about Buhari. It is not about Atiku. It is about Nigeria. Why is the President and the APC afraid to sign the amended Electoral Act to law?

“Since 2010 when the Act was signed into law, there are a lot of developments and observations in the political system that needs to be addressed in this election.

“We know for a fact that I have spoken in the last one year that the President will not sign the amended Electoral Act not because he is not ready to do it but because he is forced by those who want to rig the (2019) election not to do it.

“This is not acceptable to the majority of Nigerians. We know that the President benefited from certain elements of the Electoral Act which are not justifiable in law. It is now morally binding on him to sign the Electoral Act.”

- Daily Post

Boko Haram terrorists reportedly lay siege to Borno, Yobe communities

Reports from Borno and Yobe states Saturday evening have it that Malumfatori in Abadam local government area of Borno state, Buni Gari in Yobe state, and Muna garage within Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, came under attacks by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

Although there is yet to be official confirmation of the attacks, residents and security sources in Yobe state have confirmed the attack in Buni Gari, saying that the terrorists laid siege to the town since 5:30pm this evening (Saturday).

It was not clear whether or not the terrorists have been repelled as text message to military platforms requesting confirmation to claims by residents and other sources was not officially communicated back as requested.

While some residents are saying that the siege is still on as Boko Haram militants have taken control of the town of Buni Gari, other sources said Nigerian Air Force fighter jets have arrived the town and with the combined ground troops disband the siege and repelled the insurgents who arrived in large number.

For the attack in Malumfatori, DAILY POST gathered that due to lack of network in the area efforts towards communication are on to get facts on ground from the military through other means.

A source in the Barracks told our correspondent that there was no report available yet on the attack.

Speaking on the attack on Muna Garage in Maiduguri, residents of the area said two female human bombs attempted to make an inroad to detonate their vests, but while they were sighted and security forces ordered them to stop, one of the girls detonated her vest killing herself while the other disappeared and is being hunted by security operatives within the city of Maiduguri.

Meanwhile, several calls made to the Yobe state Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdulmalik Sunmonu on his mobile phone for confirmation of the reports did not yield result as the calls could not connect as at the time of this report.

- Daily Post

New minimum wage: Bishop Onaiyekan makes fresh revelation about proposed N30,000

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has identified a big problem with the agitation for a new minimum wage.

The cleric said the agitation may not yield its desired result because some people are benefitting from the present situation.

Onaiyekan spoke to reporters in Abuja at the First National Catechetical Summit organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.

The theme of the event was ‘Revamping the Catechetical Apostolate in Nigeria.’

According to him, “The whole issue about minimum wage is very problematic in Nigeria.

“I hope you all know that whenever there is increase in minimum wage, it is the poorest and lowest wage earners who don’t gain.

“If the government, for instance, agree on a minimum wage of N30,000, I’m told that when that happens, many people on grade levels 12, 13, 14 and 15 could get an increase of N200,000. Is it true? If it is true, then, there is something wrong.

“The agitation for minimum wage should be worked out in such a way that it really targets those who need it.

“Minimum wage should not be used as an excuse to increase the wages of those who are not even within the minimum wage bracket.

“What we understand by minimum wage is that nobody should be given a wage that is below the living wage.”

- Daily Post

OPC founder, Frederick Fasehun, is dead

The founder of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, is dead.

Fasehun passed away in the early hours of Saturday, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos state.

The octogenarian, it was learnt, was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on Tuesday, where he remained until his demise.

Fasehun’s death was confirmed by his spokesman, Adeoye Jolaosho.

“It is true, Baba died this morning at the ICU in LASUTH, Ikeja,” he said.

Fasehun was born in Ondo Town, Ondo State in 1938.

- Daily Post