Fayose is the main problem of PDD - Sheriff

The National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, has singled out the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, as the main cause of the crisis currently rocking the party.

Sheriff, who was on a working visit to the Cross River State chapter of the party, said among the 12 PDP governors, Fayose was working seriously at ensuring that the party remained in fragments.

Sheriff, who stated this on Wednesday evening, told journalists in Calabar at the state secretariat of the PDP, after meeting with the state party leaders that he enjoyed the support of 29 state chapters of the party, including Ekiti State, out of the 36 state chapters in the country.

Commending the South-west party chairmen and their members for rallying behind his leadership, Sheriff declared that Fayose was free to leave the PDP.

He described the Ekiti State governor as a “loner” whom he accused of  acting a script of his benefactor to wreck PDP.

Details later…

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NNPC Staff Involved in N11bn Petrol Theft confirm sacked

By Chineme Okafor in Abuja

Following its conclusion of investigations into the sale without appropriate authorisation of 82 million litres of petrol valued at N11 billion by Capital Oil and Gas, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday confirmed the sack of some of its staff found culpable in the act.

The corporation said in a statement from its Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja, that sack and deployment were in line with the ongoing reforms it initiated to cleanse it of corrupt practices.

Ughamadu explained that the affected staff were Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, who was the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Ltd, before her dismissal from the corporation’s services; Mr. Alpha Mamza, who was Executive Director, Operations at NNPC Retail Ltd; and Mr. Oluwa Kayode Erinoso, who was also Manager of Distribution at NNPC Retail Ltd.

He noted the trio of Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji, Lawal Bello, and Mrs. Affiong Akpasubi, have also been appointed to replace the sacked staff as Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Executive Director of Operations NNPC Retail Ltd and Executive Director of Services NNPC Retail Ltd respectively.

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Two Soldiers Killed, Three Injured in Gun Duel with Pirates

By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The Nigerian military on Thursday suffered yet another loss in its fight against criminalities in the oil-rich Niger Delta, following the killing of two of its soldiers in the creeks around the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa States.

During the exchange of gunfire, it was learnt that three soldiers also sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Military authorities operating under the Joint Task Force , Operation Delta Safe, disclosed that the deceased operatives were responding to a distress call that pirates were raiding commuters along the waterways of Ijawkiri, a community bordering both states.

They reportedly came under heavy fire during a rescue operation to free the traders from the pirates, resulting in the death of the two soldiers and injuries to three others.

Spokesman of the JTF in the region, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, stated in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that an intense manhunt had begun to apprehend the fleeing pirates.

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Ronaldo Hits Century Goal Mark as Madrid Edge Bayern in Munich

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 100th European goal wednesday to give defending champions Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback win at 10-man Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg.

Chilean international, Arturo Vidal headed Bayern into a first-half lead, but then skied a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time before Ronaldo volleyed the defending champions’ level.

Bayern played the last half an hour a man down after centre-back Javi Martinez was sent off for two fouls on Ronaldo within three minutes of each other.

Four-time world player of the year Ronaldo then slotted in the winner between goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s legs for the winner 13 minutes from time.

Security was tight at the Allianz Arena in the wake of Tuesday’s attacks on the Borussia Dortmund team bus and both teams arrived with a heavy police escort.

There was a large police presence and inside the stadium there was polite applause before kick-off when the announcer made reference to Dortmund’s ordeal in the preceeding 24 hours.

Bayern suffered a blow before kick-off when top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 38 goals this season, dropped out with a bruised shoulder and Thomas Muller deputised as striker.

Bayern were also missing injured Germany defender Mats Hummels against Real’s formidable BBC attack – Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo.

Bayern went ahead on 25 minutes when playmaker Thiago Alcantara swung in a corner from the right which Vidal powered through Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas’s hands.

The Chile midfielder could have added a second when he headed Arjen Robben’s cross wide of the post soon after.

Real made a poor start, rarely threatening Germany’s goalkeeper Neuer, back after minor foot surgery a fortnight ago.

A strong drive from Ronaldo on 41 minutes which Neuer blocked having palmed a Benzema header onto the woodwork with 18 minutes played were their best first-half chances.

Vidal could have finished with a first-half hat-trick when he stepped up to take a penalty after Dani Carvajal’s handball from a Franck Ribery shot.

However, the Chilean smashed the spot-kick high over the crossbar.

It was a miss Bayern were soon to regret.

Real were level two minutes after the break when Carvajal found space on the right and fired in a cross which Ronaldo volleyed past Neuer.

Bale, who has laboured with an ankle injury recently, came off on 58 minutes and Real raised the tempo after he trudged off.

Having already picked up a yellow card for pulling Ronaldo back on 58 minutes, Martinez was shown a red for again fouling the Portugal captain just three minutes later.

Real’s superstar then hit the winner as substitute Marco Asensio, on for Bale, put in a low pass for Ronaldo to tap the ball home between Neuer’s legs.

Real defender Sergio Ramos had the ball in the Bayern net with time running out, but the goal was ruled offside but the Spaniards have the upper hand for the second leg at home next Tuesday.

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