Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma wins Championship Goal of the Month award for April; Blackpool winger Sullay Kaikai wins it in League One; Port Vale midfielder Tom Conlon wins it in League Two
Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma has won the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for April
Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for April, receiving 43 per cent of the public vote.
Not content with dancing along the touchline, dragging the ball past two defenders and then slicing infield, the Dutchman cut a perfectly struck shot back against his direction of travel.
Danjuma stated that : “I’m delighted to win this award and would like to thank everyone who voted for me.
Ifa Unity Conference on Thursday warned the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi to stop ridiculing the Yoruba deities and traditional worshippers with his utterances.
The warning was issued during a conference by Traditional Worshippers tagged, “Unity and Growth of Traditional Religion; Way Out”, held at Sadiat hotel, Osogbo, Osun State.
The Araba Agbaye Olu Isese, High Chief Awolabi Aworeni, while speaking during the event said, “Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi is ridiculing us, the traditional worshippers.
He has been making utterances to disrespect us. Unfortunately, someone on that stool doesn’t know the importance and the relationship that should exist between the stool and traditional worshippers.”
High Chief Aworeni noted that the traditional worshippers are kicking against the disrespectful actions of Oluwo, saying, “after he ridicules us, he will later come begging, at this point we want to state that, he should stop such actions.”
He added that he has reached out to the president of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Mr. Bolaji Amusan, to caution filmmakers to stop desecrating Traditional Religion.
“I have called the president of TAMPAN, Mr. Latin over misrepresentation of traditional religion and worshippers in films, I even made it known in the presence of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi when the theatre practitioners paid a courtesy visit to the monarch that we don’t want to fight other and that they should desist from desecrating our religion. Other religions are not exposed to such desecration.”
Earlier, the Guest Lecturer, a renowned Ifa priest, Chief Yemi Elebuigbon made a wake-up call to people to stop describing traditional worshippers as pagan or unbelievers noting that it is ridiculous.
On Oluwo of Iwo, he said, “there is no way a King will not be linked to tradition. Before a king is enthroned, Ifa will be consulted. But civilisation is changing thing in Yoruba land.
“Kingmakers and chiefs have converted to Islam and Christians and this is responsible for the backwardness in Yoruba land. There has been a lot of challenges with kingship and the palace since we embraced foreign religion. Some of the people whose duty it is to uphold culture have died and no replacement was made.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu, has reacted to the news by the Nigerian Army claiming that the second-in-command , Commander Ikonso has been arrested, describing it as “a blatant lie and a cheap propaganda to lay false claims to imaginary military prowess..”
This was contained in statement signed by IPOB’s publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, and made available to newsmen , declared that the said man was not an operative of ESN, adding that “Such a man is too old to be recruited into ESN let alone being Ikonso’s Second-in-Command.”
The statement reads in bits; “That you ambushed Ikonso with the help of some traitors did not mean you have crushed ESN. Stop claiming what you have not done in your bid to win public accolades. If you arrest or kill Ikonso’s Second-in-Command, we will not hesitate to admit it just the same way we did not deny the murder of Ikonso. We are not like Nigeria that lives in propaganda; we tell the truth always. So, stop harassing innocent Biafrans in the name of a manhunt for ESN personnel.
“The Nigeria security agents should stop making a mockery of themselves. The arrest of innocent Biafrans and labeling them ESN operatives cannot make you overpower our gallant ESN operatives.
“Our background check revealed that the said man had issues with his traditional ruler who gave his contact to the security agents alleging that he belongs to ESN. He is not our own.”
The statement further stated that “We are assuring them that whatever they do, they cannot win ESN in this fight for freedom. The secret killing and abduction can never make IPOB change our resolve towards restoring Biafra as an independent nation.”
The Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has asked the Southern governors to meet with their counterparts in the North to harmonise grey areas on the resolutions reached during their meeting in Asaba, Delta state.
He made this known in a statement he made available to newsmen in Akure saying, that the resolution of the southern governor’s forum was commendable and the next step is for them to meet with their Northern counterparts “to iron out what may just be minor areas of difference in substance and timelines.
According to him ” Timelines and details of these measures can be worked out amongst the governors.
The statement reads in parts, ” the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum, at the end of its meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on May 11 2021, is commendable.
“It is also salutary that members of the Southern Caucus of the National Assembly have weighed in.
” It’s all a reflection of the realization of the fact that the nation may be perching at the precipice, and of the urgent need to pull her back.
“The next step is for the Southern Governors to meet with their Northern counterparts to iron out what may just be minor areas of difference in substance and timelines.
“There cannot be any reasonable arguments against decentralization of policing to ensure the emergence of compact and efficient sub-national forces under State (sub-national government control).
“There surely cannot be any disagreement amongst the Governors on the issue of devolution of resources from the centre.
“As a matter of fact, the present Revenue Allocation formula has long been statutorily due for review.
“New sources of revenue will surely be needed for state policing, and to address ongoing security challenges in the state
” The Governors’ Forum also recently took a position on open grazing in its virtual meeting of February 2021.
“In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Forum had noted: “The current system of herding mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the country.”.
The statement continued; ” That position has now been reiterated at the Asaba meeting, underscoring the need for, and urgency of implementation of remedial measures.
“Timelines and details of these measures can be worked out amongst the governors.
“he truly is, we may actually be closer to a national consensus on short to medium term solutions to our present challenges than we imagine!
The former governor added that ” let us act while there is still time.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has hinted that the people of the South-East region are agents of development and not destruction.
Speaking on behalf of the group on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Marina, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor said agents of development and not destruction.
Obiozor also advised Sanwo-Olu to ignore the rumour that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra were plotting to attack Lagos, noting that it was a ploy to distract the governor and his administration from providing good governance for all residents of the state.
According to him, in an address titled, ‘Violence in any part of Lagos State is violence on all of us’, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide said Ndigbo cannot indulge in any act that would harm the harmonious peace and cordial relationship between Igbo and Yoruba, especially in Lagos, which he described as second home of several Ndigbo.
Obiozor said, “Today, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in the company of Igbo Elders and Leaders in Lagos, are here to pay you (Governor Sanwo-Olu) a solidarity visit and to further reassure you that Ndigbo are not violent in nature, neither are we known for acts of violence anywhere we live.
“The constant and periodic dangerous insinuations, rumour, gossips and callous statements that Ndigbo in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land contemplate or instigate violence in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land; we wish to state clearly that anywhere this dangerous rumour or statement is emanating from is aimed to cause division, crises and conflict amongst us.
Ohanaeze condemned attack on Uzodinma’s country home, warns Igbo youths “We think that this rumour is intended to distract the Lagos State Government from its efforts to provide good governance for all and cause disaffection between Ndigbo who live in Lagos and their host community which is the second home of several Ndigbo.
“The quick denial of this rumour by members of IPOB and Yoruba groups in Lagos and across the South West was a source of relief.”
“I am aware that the Government and good people of Lagos State under your able leadership, and through their hospitable gestures, have continually kept the trust and friendship between Ndigbo and our host communities in Lagos State alive.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo through this medium reiterates total support to the state government and the security agencies in their patriotic efforts to keep everyone safe in Lagos and throughout the country. The Igbo nation is renowned for being agents of development, not destruction. Ndigbo are builders and their contributions to the development of Lagos State are evident and exemplary,” he added.
While responding, Sanwo-Olu assured Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership of continuous good governance, security of lives and properties of all residents in Lagos.
The governor said he had no doubt that the Ndigbo are great people, noting that his administration would continue to foster harmonious relationships with all the different tribes and ethnic nationalities in the state.
The Oba of Benin, HRM Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II on Thursday called on governors of the 36 states of the federation through Nigeria’s Governors Forum to ensure autonomy for the judiciary in line with the constitution.
He stated this when the outgoing Chief Judge of Edo state, Hon Justice Esther Edigin led top members of the Bench alongside her husband to formerly informed the Oba of her disengagement from service.
The Oba said that no society would be corruption-free in the absence of financial freedom for the judicial arm of government.
The monarch, however, stressed that for equity and true justice to prevail in the country, “the judiciary should not be intimidated or subjected to all kinds of ill-treatment before approving fund for its operation” insisted that the country cannot move forward without full financial autonomy for the judicial arm of government.
Earlier, Justice Edigin had informed the monarch of her official disengagement from active service, attributing her success in office to the prayers of the Oba.
She hailed the Oba’s fatherly roles in repositioning the Benin kingdom
The Management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State has said that it will investigate the reason behind the death of one its students identified as Feranmi Fasunle.
Fasunle reportedly died as a result of the sniper she allegedly drank on Wednesday night.
Recall that the 200-level student of the Department of Political Science at the varsity drank the insecticide on Wednesday night in her room and was later rushed to the school’s health centre but was later referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo where she gave up the ghost early Thursday.
The reason for taking the action against herself was yet unknown. It was insinuated in some quarters that the deceased had relationship issue but some of her friends refuted this as they said she had no boyfriend.
The Head of Media and Protocols of institution, Victor Akinpelumi, speaking on the incident, described the student’s death as unfortunate, saying there was indication that Fasunle committed suicide for another reason and not on relationship matter.
According to him; “It is true that she committed suicide. We have not been officially briefed but the only details we have is that she took sniper and she was later rushed to the state health centre and from there she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.
“The bad incident happened on Wednesday and we have not carried out our findings to ascertain if she committed suicide over relationship issues but from what we gathered she had no boyfriend.
The doctor, who spoke with me, said those who brought her said they were close to her and that she was not involved in any relationship. So, why she did that to herself is what we are yet to know.
“We will further react if we later know why she took that decision to take her own life.”
The Senate President , Dr Ahmad Lawan on Thursday faulted Southern Governors Forum for calling for the restructuring of the country, while saying that it was wrong for an elected officials to lead such agitation.
Lawan also hinted that the worsening security situation in the country is as a result of a lack of a functional local government system.
This is as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has argued that the agitation for restructuring may be genuine but elected leaders and state governors should not be the ones to champion the movement for restructuring without first replicating the idea at the state level.
The Speaker further said that the present situation does not warrant name-calling, rather the coming together of all stakeholders to find solutions to it, admitting that everyone was complicit
The two spoke in an interview with State House correspondents after the Eid-Mubarak prayers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the Senate President, the security challenges in the country could be attributed to the absence of a functional local government system.
He stated that while the nation’s leaders seek solutions to the security crisis confronting the nation, the Local Government system should not be neglected.
He, however, explained further that the lack of autonomy potentially inhibits solutions as well as efforts by the Federal and state governments towards addressing the nation’s security challenge.
He said, “We are all leaders and we are in this together, the solutions must come from us regardless of what levels of leadership we are – whether at the Federal Level, State Level or even at the Local Government level.
“I also want to take this opportunity to say that we have diminished the local government system. I think we can attribute the security issues to the absence of a Functional Local Government System.
“I think the time has come for us to take up the challenge and ensure that the Local Government system functions. This is as we look for ways to curb the security challenge.
We must never neglect the local government system. We must go back to our local government system to ensure they are autonomous and functional.”
Speaking on the call by the Southern Governors Forum for the restructuring of the country, Lawan said, “I believe that as leaders, especially those of us who are elected into office should not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing.
“Because, even if you are a governor, you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level, you have done it in your state as well.
What you may accuse the Federal Government of, whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.
“So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government levels work for the people.
“We must allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any let or hindrance.”
Urging elected leaders to shun regionalism, Lawan added that “The President is reaching out to all the stakeholders. And I believe that as leaders, particularly those of us who were elected at all levels of government, we should avoid partisanship.
“We should avoid regionalism. We are all leaders and we are in this together.
“The solutions to our challenges must come from us regardless of what level of government we are.
“Whether at the federal, state or the local government level.
“I believe that Nigeria is going to come out of these challenges stronger.”
Lawan further advised Nigerians to support efforts at ensuring the desired autonomy for local governments in the country.
Also speaking, the Speaker said those championing the call for succession might be misguided and do not mean well for the country.
While speaking on the call for restructuring, he said there might be genuine agitations but explicitly states that elected leaders and state governors should particularly not champion the movement for restructuring without first replicating the idea at the state level.
He called for a national spirit of oneness, saying that “If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame for what’s happening today.
“Whatever challenges we have, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve these issues we’re facing.
We must imbibe that spirit of oneness, togetherness, unity and love that would take us through this.”
The Speaker said the Eid celebration should be a period of sacrifice, love, and worship amid the spate of insecurity in the country, adding that it was not the time for name-calling or trading blames as everyone is complicit.
The Federal Government on Thursday stated that it’s has reserved Two million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for the second dose in the first phase of vaccination.
Saying, with 1,748,242 Nigerians vaccinated as of May 12, 2021, the percentage targeted with the first jab is 86.9 percent.
Noting the vaccination with the second dose of the vaccine has started, it urged persons who have received their first dose of the vaccine to ensure they check their vaccination cards to know when they are due for their second jab.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, made these known during a virtual briefing organised by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) on covid-19 response.
According to him; “Vaccination is ongoing across all states. As of today 1,748,242 Nigerians have been vaccinated. This represents 86.9 percent of the number of Nigerians that have been targeted with the first those of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
“Due to the current increasing uncertainty in global vaccine supply which is facing our continents and most of the world, Nigeria’s Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) made a strategic choice to utilise our current covid-19 supply to administer double dose rather than single doses. This will ensure that every Nigerian who receives a vaccine from our present supply, receives their second dose before the recommended time span between doses passes, which is between 6 to 12 weeks.
“Administering these two doses of the vaccine within the recommended time frame is very important to ensure full inoculation benefits.
“This means that with the current supply, we will fully inoculate roughly 2 million Nigerians rather than partially inoculate 4 million Nigerians. We are removing an element of risk that is becoming too high.
He continued; “We have already started administering second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In addition to health workers, frontline workers aged 18 years and above, and persons aged 50 years and above are being advised to visit any designated vaccination site to receive their vaccine doses whether the first or the second dose
“We are also advising that people who have received their first dose should check their vaccination cards for the date of the second dose, and ensure that they receive their second dose to gain full protection against covid-19.”
“Concerning the number of doses that are left in Nigeria, what we did in Nigeria was to actually divide the four million doses into two compartments”,Shuaib added.
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has hinted that most of the banditry and kidnapping across the country are being perpetrated by Muslims.
Mohammed warned fellow Moslems to desist from harbouring bandits and kidnappers, saying they must be courageous to hand them over to security agencies.
He gave this hint on Thursday at the Government House shortly after performing the Eid prayers to mark the Sallah.
According to him; “We are grateful to Allah. Ramadan has been a period of prayers and devotion. As a nation we need to reflect deeply on our common existence because we are challenged by so many aspects of our misdemeanors, crime and criminality.
”As a Moslem, most of the criminality is coming from us as members of the Islamic faith. That’s the issue of banditry, kidnapping and the rest.
”However, we must be very courageous to say it. It’s not something acceptable in the tenet of Islam. We should fear God to make sure we don’t give ourselves, our community and even our religion a bad name. We must have to change as this is really escalating to other parts of the country.”
Mohammed also called on the Federal government to work towards improving the security architecture, stated that tackling insecurity is a collective effort.
According to him, political, traditional and religious leaders have major roles to play.
He added, ”We know these bandits. We know where they stay and what they do. Sometimes they are aided and abetted by us.
“We should fish them out because the police in their limited numbers are already overwhelmed due to insufficient human capital.
”Apparently, the FG security architecture has failed not because of any compromise but because the situation is overwhelming.”
