Author: Chief Editor

Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino said on Sunday that there would be “no problem” with Kylian Mbappe being affected by speculation over his future. Kylian Mbappe could be able to leave PSG on a free transfer this year. Photo/ FRANCK FIFE AFP/File The World Cup winner’s PSG deal ends in June, with the 23-year-old now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club. Mbappe will be able to leave on a free transfer before next season unless PSG can persuade him to sign a new contract at the Parc des Princes. “In football, a player can be affected by…

Romelu Lukaku has reportedly been dropped from Chelsea’s squad for Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool. Lukaku incurred the wrath of Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel after the Belgian striker said he was unhappy with the way he has been used this season. In an interview with Sky Italy, recorded several weeks ago but only aired days before the Liverpool match, the unsettled Lukaku also admitted he would like to return to Inter Milan in the near future. “Physically I am fine. But I’m not happy with the situation at Chelsea,” Lukaku said. “Tuchel has chosen to play with another…

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party stands a chance of winning the 2023 presidential election if his counterpart in Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, emerged the candidate of the party. Wike lamented that Nigeria was in a serious crisis as a result of insecurity, stating that it was time for the Peoples Democratic Party to return to power and save the country. The governor, who stated this while answering questions from journalists during a visit to Bauchi State on Saturday, said God would not forgive the PDP, if it failed to heed the yearnings of…

*May prevail on Atiku to accept BoT chairmanship *APC agreed after merger to rotate presidency, says Ngige Some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have embarked on fresh move to zone the presidential ticket of the party in the 2023 general election to the South, in line with the position of the 17 southern governors that power should shift to the South in 2023, THISDAY has learnt. Also, in a first major endorsement for power shift by a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has…

*Say internal rivalries in APC normal *Optimistic president will tackle insecurity *El-Rufai denies alleged pact to contest with Fayemi Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai have defended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to reject the direct primary clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021. Also, the governors have rejected the public perception that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fractured amid internal rivalries among the different power blocs ahead of its national convention in February 2022 and 2023 general elections. They made these clarifications yesterday in separate interviews on ARISE…

Lionel Messi has tested positive for Covid-19 and has entered self-isolation, his club Paris Saint-Germain announced on Sunday. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was one of four PSG players to test positive for the virus ahead of a French Cup match against Vannes. The Argentinian star has endured a difficult start to life in the French capital since an emotional exit from Barcelona last summer. Messi has scored only one goal in 11 league appearances for PSG, although he has netted five times in the Champions League. He will miss Monday’s cup tie and will likely also be sidelined for…

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his comment that Niger Delta oil belongs to Nigeria, saying the former president is only ‘being mischievous’. Obasanjo had in response to an open letter written by an elder statesman from the Niger Delta region, Chief Edwin Clark, said on Tuesday that contrary to claims that oil in Niger Delta is owned by people in the region, the oil belongs to the entire nation. In its reaction yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Ken Robinson, in Port Harcourt, said it was wrong for the former president…

Urges Wabara, Abaribe, others to withdraw support The South East Democratic Civil Society Coalition (SEDSOC), yesterday, rejected the purported endorsement of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, for the presidency in 2023. Former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara and Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, are among those said to be canvassing for Anyim to contest the presidency. But in a statement issued by National Convener of SEDSOC, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the coalition, which described Anyim’s endorsement as “hasty and self-serving,” demanded immediate withdrawal…

In our great country where the law hardly rules, there are numerous strong men that rule the vast weak institutions of governance. The office of the citizen always laments that if their country continues with only strong but lawless party men without strong institutions, then economic growth will continue to be a pipe dream. And so it is with quality of governance and justice, which has been elusive. In the most populous black nation on earth, people are beginning to perceive that corruption is fast becoming a ‘fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy’. The origin: For many years,…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced the appointment of Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro as new head coach of the Super Eagles. The NFF made the announcement in a communique issued at the end of its executive committee meeting on Wednesday. “After careful consideration of a memo presented by Chairman of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, the Executive Committee endorsed a proposal for the appointment of Mr Jose Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles,”reads the statement. ”However, the Committee resolved that Mr Augustine Eguavoen, named the interim Head Coach, will lead the Super…