People like Blatter deserve Nobel prize, Putin tells Swiss TV

Sepp Blatter deserves a Nobel Prize for his stewardship of soccer's governing body, Russian PresidentVladimir Putin said in an interview aired by Swiss broadcaster RTS on Monday.

On Saturday, at a meeting with Putin in St Petersburg, Blatter said that FIFA, facing a major bribery scandal, had passed a resolution offering full support for holding the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"We all know the situation developing around Mr Blatter right now. I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being inolved in corruption personally," he said.

"I think people like Mr Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it's those people.”

Blatter announced he was quitting in June over a bribery scandal being investigated by U.S., Swiss and other law enforcement agencies that plunged FIFA into the worst crisis in its 111-year history. Officials have been indicted though Blatter himself has not and he denies any misconduct.

The scandal has cast a cloud over the forthcoming World Cupsin Russia and Qatar, but Russian officials have dismissed any suggestion Russia could be stripped of the contest.

In May, when the scandal broke, Putin harshly criticised the U.S. investigation into FIFA as meddling in matters that were outside its jurisdiction.

He rekindled that criticism in the interview broadcast on Monday, and widened it to include Britain, noting that those two countries had bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"The way there is this fight against corrpution makes me wonder if it isn't a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022."

An economic crisis has forced cut-backs in Russia's World Cup preparations, but Putin and FIFA officials have said this will not affect Russia's ability to host the championship.

#Boko Haram# Presidency reportedly begins negotiating with terrorists

The Nigerian government has reportedly begun talks with leaders of terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
The negotiations are said to be currently ongoing between some confidants of the Presidency and some insurgent leaders, according to The Nation.
President Muhammadu Buhari is however said to be hesitant about the talks due to the “costly mistakes of the past administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to The Nation, Buhari has asked security officials to “screen or certify” those involved in the new negotiation to ensure that the government is dealing with the right Boko Haram leaders.

A source said:

“The President’s appeal for peace in the Northeast is yielding dividends because a fresh facilitation of talks between the Presidency and Boko Haram has started.”

“This latest negotiation, which is at the preliminary stage, is being promoted by some mutual confidants of the Presidency and Boko Haram. The new deal may lead to the release of some Chibok girls to set the tone for a comprehensive negotiation by both sides.”

 “The President is extremely cautious on this offer of negotiation. Buhari has ordered security agencies to screen or certify those Boko Haram commanders interested in facilitating this latest negotiation to ensure that they are bonafide leaders of the sect. The position of the President is that why he is not averse to a peace deal, the Federal Government must avoid  the costly mistakes of the past which led to a waste of time and huge resources.”

“The President wants the release of the Chibok girls and quick restoration of peace to the Northeast; he is ready to negotiate with the right people for sustainable results.”

The Presidency had earlier said, through Buhari’s media aide,Femi Adesina, that it would be willing to negotiate with the terrorists from a position of strength.

#Breaking News# Ooni of Ife is dead

Multiple sources, including The Nation newspaper online andWikipedia, have confirmed that the the Ooni of Ife, ObaOkunade Sijuade is dead.

He was 85 years old.

Details are still scanty as at press time, but according to his Wikipedia page, which was just updated, the monarch died today, July 28, 2015.

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born January 1, 1930 and became the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife in 1980, taking the regnal name Olubuse II.

Ife is a traditional Yoruba town  in Osun State, Nigeria.

Story developing.

UPDATE:

It has emerged that the late Ooni of Ife died in the United Kingdom on Tuesday evening, at about 5pm.

A traditional ruler in Osun State, who pleaded anonymity confirmed Oba Sijuwade's demise to Punch.

He said, “the Ooni is dead. It is true. He died about two hours ago in the UK. His two oloris (wives) – Olori Moni and Olori Odun – were with him in the UK.

“He travelled out for treatment anytime he fell ill but he couldn’t make it this time. It is sad but I believe it is God’s time. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

“Tokunbo, his eldest child, will probably leave for the UK this evening. There is nothing we can do but we take solace in the fact that he lived well. The proper announcement will be done later.”

Another traditional ruler affirmed the account, explaining that the monarch was flown out of the country five days ago in an air ambulance after he slumped.

It was gathered that there has been tension over the monarch's health since a 2013 critical illness which left him hospitalised abroad for over one month.