John Obi-Mikel hails Chelsea FC at 110

Super Eagles and Chelsea FC of England midfielder, John Obi Mikel has paid tribute to English Premiership club as they celebrated their 110th anniversay.

John Obi Mikel joined the English Premier League leaders in 2006 and has made 334 appearances and also won nine major titles including the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking to the club's official website, Mikel hailed the club and its supporters for their commitment and support over the years.

"I have always appreciated the Chelsea fans, they’ve been amazing. They’re always there to support the team week in, week out, which just shows how brilliant they are.

"It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. I’ve worked with some great people, great players from when I came to the ones that are here now. They’ve all been brilliant," Mikel told Chelsea’s official website.

The midfielder who is currently injured also took to his Instagram to celebrate the club's anniversary.

"Happy 110th birthday to Chelsea FC and all Chelsea fans," he writes.

Musiliu Obanikoro confirmed as minister

 

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Senator Musiliu Obanikoroas a federal minister.

Obanikoro was confirmed on Wednesday, March 11, despite a series of hurdles presented by All Progressives Congress(APC) legislators.

The APC lawmakers had opposed Obanikoro’s nomination due to current allegations of election rigging levelled against him.

The former Minister of State for Defence was accused of rigging the June 2014 election in Ekiti State to favour current Governor,Ayo Fayose.

The Senate however failed to question him on the allegations but instead allowed him “take a bow and go”, a privilege reserved for former federal lawmakers.

The APC lawmakers were said to have walked out of the house in protest after Obanikoro’s confirmation

In the US Senators move to legalise medical marijuana nationwide

United States senators are set to introduce a bill that will legalise medical marijuana under federal law.

Although several states in the US have legalised recreational marijuana in the last 2 years, this move will be the first attempt on a federal level.

The proposal called the "Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act" is being championed by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Rand Paul and Cory Booker and will attempt to reclassify marijuana from Schedule 1 (drugs which are considered dangerous with no medical value) to Schedule 2 classification (which would recognize marijuana's medical benefits).

The Verge reports that the bill will hit the floor with bipartisan support — Booker and Gillibrand are liberal Democrats while Paul is extremely conservative.

It however remains to be seen whether that support will translate to the rest of the Senate when the bill is officially announced.

President fires SURE-P Chairman for attending Obasanjo’s birthday event

President Goodluck Jonathan has fired the Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Martin-Luther Agwai.

The President’s decision was made known today, March 10, by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati.

Abati also announced, via a statement, that Jonathan had appointed Ishaya Dare Akau as the new head of SURE-P.

The statement reads:

“In furtherance of his efforts to continuously re-energize and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Mr. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, replaces Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.) who served as Chairman of the SURE-P until today.”

“The new SURE-P Chairman hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelors’ Degrees in the Arts and Law. Mr. Akau comes to the job with years of experience as a high-level administrator in the nation’s public service.”

“His record of service includes tenures as Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Education Board and Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission.”

“President Jonathan thanks the outgoing Chairman of SURE-P, Gen Agwai for his service to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

The Presidency did not offer an explanation for Agwai’s removal but according to Premium Times, the former SURE-P Chairman was relieved of his duties for disobeying a presidential directive that no government official or member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should attend the birthday event of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo which held on Thursday, March 5.

Agwai also spoke during the event on the need for the military to steer clear of partisan politics.

Goodluck Jonathan visits Ooni of Ife [PHOTOS]

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, March 7, paid a visit to the Ooni of Ife in Osun State.

The President was accompanied on the visit by Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Ooni is said to have endorsed the President for re-election and also demanded the creation of Oduduwa State

Yakubu Aiyegbeni named 'Richest Nigerian Player'

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has been named  the 'Richest Nigerian Player' by a new report.

According to findings from popular Nigerian sports journalist,Ephraim Nwosu, the Reading FC of England striker and Kalu Uche are Nigeria’s highest earners in Europe in the 2014/2015 season.

The the two Nigeria internationals who used to play for oil rich Qatari club Al Rayyan pocket over $2.5 million annually.

Chelsea FC milfielder Mikel Obi and Sounder Seattle striker,Obafemi Martins come next on the list with earnings of of $2 million per annum.

Fenerbahce striker, Emmanuel Emenike  is fifth on the list as a result of his 'tax free' contract at the Turkish club.

The sixth on the list is West Bromich Albion of England striker,Brown Ideye who recently signed a three-year deal with the  English Premier League club.

No Nigerian player made the annual rich list by Goal, which included other African players like Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure.

In mali, Rocket attack on UN base leaves 3 people dead

3 people have been killed with at least 21 people injured following a rocket attack on a United Nations base in the desert town ofKidal, northern Mali.

The BBC reports that about 30 rockets struck the base at about 6:00 GMT killing a peace keeper while some rockets missed their target, killing two civilians.

The attackers are currently unknown although Islamist activist are active in that region.

It would be recalled that a bar in the Malian capital, Bamako had been attacked on Saturday during which 5 people were killed including 3 expatriates.

Al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Murabitoun, which is an Islamist group led by Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, has since claimed responsibility for the bar attack saying it was a "revenge operation" against the "infidel West".

Northern Mali has been a hotbed of conflict since Mali's independence from French rule in 1960, with Tuareg rebels campaigning for independence.

To this end, Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants and Tuaregrebels have been fighting the army in northern Mali for several years now and 2 years ago, France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened to stop their advance south of Bamako.

The United Nations mission, Minusma, however took over security duties from France in 2013 and regularly comes under attack from militants.

on the marble

consider this........

As john paul11 lay dying, he sent for james ibori and Lucky Igbinedon. When they arrived at the Vatican City, they were ushered into the pope’s bedroom. As they entered, His Holiness held out his hands and motioned them to sit on each side of the bed. The pope grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For some time, no one said anything. Both Ibori and Igbinedon were touched and flattered that the old pope could ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were so puzzled because the pope never gave any indication that he liked either of them. Finally, ibori asked, “Fader which one? Wetin you ask the two of us come do here?”. The old pope mustered up some strength and said weakly, “Jesus died between two thieves ……. I will like to die like him.”

When you are rich and powerful, no one will challenge you to your face, or give you a chance to explain yourself. All the whispers are behind your back.you are left with ni means of clearing your own name. and after a while, you realize there is no point in even attempting to do so.”no one wants the truth . all anyone  wants is the chance to add more fuel to the fire of gossip.the whisper becomes so loud that sometimes you think you will drown in them”

“nobody escapes, and nobody how it will catch up with him. What is  the use of haggling over time? What is a long life, anyhow? A long past. And the the future always  extends only to the next breadth. Beyond that, we know nothing.