Australian Negotiator Names Ihejirika, Sheriff as Sponsors of Boko Haram, Articles | THISDAY LIVE

Australian Negotiator Names Ihejirika, Sheriff as Sponsors of Boko Haram, Articles | THISDAY LIVE

Another Exciting Weekend As The English Premiership Goes Day Three (3)

The English Premiership goes live again this weekend with matches scheduled for Saturday, 3oth of August and Sunday, 31st of August.

The Fixtures are given below

Saturday 30th August

• Burnley VS Manchester                                       12:45 WAT
• Manchester City VS Stoke City                           15:00 WAT
• Newcastle United VS Crystal Palace                   15:00 WAT
• Queen Park Rangers VS Sunderland                   15:00 WAT
• Swansea City VS West Bromwich Albiom         15:00 WAT
• West Ham United VS Southampton                    15:00 WAT 
• Everton VS Chelsea                                             17:30 WAT

Sunday 31st August

• Aston Villa VS Hull City                                     13:30 WAT
• Tottenham VS Liverpool                                     13:30 WAT
• Leicester City VS Arsenal                                   16:00 WAT

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Burnley VS Manchester

The Red devils are away to Burnley in a match they must win to redeem their image and keep their hope of returning to the champions league spot alive. The Luis Van Gaal led United lost their day 1 match opener at home  to Swansea City, followed by a draw away at Sunderland. They also crashed out of the Capital One cup to league 1 side MK Dons (4-0) over the weekend. Burnley however, needs to keep up their stay in the premiership as they have lost all games played.

Manchester City VS Stoke City

This match looks a done deal for the Noisy Neighbours of The Red Devil following their performances in match day1 and day 2. Man City were two goals better than their host Newcastle United in the league opener and Match day 2 was a better result when they hosted Liverpool in a 4 goals (Man City 3 - 1 Liverpool) thrilling encounter that saw them scoring all four goals. Stoke City however, needs to maintain the tempo of being in premiership as they lost their first game and drew the second.

 

  Newcastle United VS Crystal Palace

Newcastle United go head to head with Crystal palace at the St. James Park with just a point from the two games played. They lost their opening match to Man City and played a goalless draw with Aston Villa on match day 2. Crystal palace have lost both games played so far.

Queen Park Rangers VS Sunderland   

QPR have a daunting task to deal with as they play host to Sunderland. They lost their opening game by a lone goal at home to Hull City and suffered a 4 - 0 defeat away to Tottenham at White Hartlane. Sunderland have 2 points from two games having drawn both games played. They drew 2 all away at West Bromwich, and 1 all at Old Trafford.

 

  Swansea City VS West Bromwich Albiom   

Swansea city had a wonderful premiership opener winning (2 - 1) away at Old Trafford. They weer a goal better than Burnley at home as they have maximum points from games played so far. They come in as the better side in this game. West Bromwich Albiom were have 2 points from both games played as they drwe 2 all at home with Sunderland and gaol less away to Southampton.

West Ham United VS Southampton 

The hammers (West Ham) lost their opening game to Tottenham by a lone goal playing at home, they were 3 - 1 better away at Crystal Palace. Southampton lost their opening match to Liverpool by 2 - 1 and drew goal less when they hosted West Bromwich Albiom.

Everton VS Chelsea

Francesc Fabregas

Everton can prove to be a force to reckon with when they play host to Jose Mourinho boy's at the Goodison Park. They drew their opening match away at Leicester City and lost a 2 goals advantage when they hosted Arsenal. They have scored 4 goals and conceded same as they go head to head with Chelsea FC who have scored 5 and and conceded 1. Though Chelsea might not be with their new striker, Diego Costa but they can rely on the intelligence of Francesc Fabregas, Hazard and co.

Aston Villa VS Hull City

Both teams  won their first game away at Stoke and QPR respectively and drew when they hosted Newcastle and Stoke City Respectively. The game may however go either way but Hull have scored 1 goal more than Aston Villa, Villa can bank on the fact that they have kept clean sheet so far.

Tottenham VS Liverpool

The white Hartlane ground should seem comforting for Tottenham as they come into this game as table leaders on goal difference. They won 1 - 0 away to West Ham and defeated QPR by 4 goals to top the table. Liverpool won their opening match at home to Southampton but lost shockingly by 3 - 1 when they visited Ethihad stadium. 

Leicester City VS Arsenal

Arsene Wenger boys must get it right from start to convince themselves and their fans they are ready to keep the tide of winning trophies following their FA cup trophy last season and the community shield they won ahead of Man City. They won their opening game 2 -1 against Crystal palace but had to come from 2 goals down to record a draw against Everton. Premier league debutant Leicester City drew 2 all with Everton and lost 2 - 0 to Chelsea in their 1st and 2nd game respectively.

Arsene Wenger

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e-ID Card Ready for Distribution National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)

The NIMC was established by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007. It has the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria. It also has the following functions;

1. Register persons covered by the Act
2. Assign a unique National Identification Number (NIN) 
3. Issue General Multipurpose Cards (GMPC) to the registered individuals 
4. Harmonize and integrate existing identification database in Nigeria

Thus, providing an assured identity system in Nigeria through the concept of enrol once and be identified for life.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) unveiling the e-ID card charged the NIMC management to ensure swift delivery of the cards and ensure it gets to all registered persons.

He also, charged all head of ministries and parastatals to collaborate with the NIMC for seamless usage of the e-ID cards, noting that henceforth it would be used to process staff salaries. However, no date and methodology for delivery have yet been fixed.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan unveiling the new e-ID card

The NIMC management promises to ensure that all registered persons get their e-ID card as prompt as possible. Registration is still on-going at various locations across the country as well as mobile registration centres at strategic locations.

The NIMC management however advices innocent citizens that both the NIN and e-ID card is free.

WENGER SMILES AS ARSENAL MAKES 17 SUCCESSIVE APPEARANCE AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COMPETITION

It was a moment of scare for teeming Arsenal fans after the teams first leg goal less draw with Besiktas of Turkey (away at Turkey about a week ago) in a two legged play off qualifier for a spot in the prestigious UEFA champions league group stage. 

This meant that, any form of draw (apart from goal less) is enough for the Turkish team who showed a lot of brilliance in the first leg encounter (particularly through their new acquisition from Chelsea, striker "Demba Ba"). 

It was a night of anxiety (on Wednesday) at the Emirates Stadium as fans watched the first half of the game end goal less before Alexis Sanchez open his Gunners goal account at the close of the half.

Wenger's team missed a lot of chances (as usual), Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to score at close range. Tension was heightened at the second half when Mathieu Debuchy was sent off for collecting a second yellow card.

Arsenal almost paid the ultimate price as they were over-run time and again by Besiktas who sought the away goal that would secure a prized European scalp. Demba Ba crashed a great chance into the side netting,It was the best of Besiktas' opportunities, although their coach, Bilic was furious that a penalty was not awarded when Ramon Motta appeared to be clipped from behind by Jack Wilshere.

Sanchez's goal on the stroke off half time enabled Arsenal to progress into the Champions League proper for a 17th successive season.

Arsenal operated with a lone striker (Alexis Sanchez who was signed from Barcelona for a fee of  £35million during the summer transfer window) in the absence of Olivier Giroud, who is thought to have been ruled out until the New Year with a tibia injury.

Though Sanchez struck the all-important winner that guarantees Arsenal's presence in the draw for the group stage, he was also wasteful (guess he is learning the Arsenal way).

Debuchy received his marching orders, if a little unfairly as he won the ball in the tackle, and from then on Arsenal defended for their lives in a hair-raising finish.

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Time Table and Schedule of Activities for General Elections 2015

The tenure of office of the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors of all states of the Federation (except Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States) and the membership of the National and State Assemblies will expire on the 28th day of May, 2015 as announced by  the Secretary to the Independent  National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu in a release on the commission's website.

She stated further, that the earliest date for elections into the offices shall be 29th December, 2014 and the latest date for the elections shall be 28th day of April, 2015.

By virtue of the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), elections into the said offices shall hold not later than One Hundred and Fifty (150) days and not later than Thirty (30) days before the date of the election, she added.

Details of the Time Table and Schedule of Activities for General Elections, 2015 can be gotten from the link  2015 General-Elections Time Table

Reintroduction of ATM charges by Central Bank of Nigeria

The CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

The reintroduction of the ATM charges by the apex bank in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria recently was welcomed with mixed feelings.

Experts in the industry argued for the reintroduction (i do not expect them to do otherwise...anyway) noting that the banks all loosing their targeted revenue as a result of the money they had to pay other banks when their customers make use of ATM machines other than the bank their account is domiciled.

In view of the cashless policy introduced by the former CBN governor (Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi - now Emir of Kano), the withdrawal of the charges on ATM withdrawal was supposed to encourage customers in other to embrace the cashless policy (so is this a give and take back thing since the policy have been accepted). 

In a reaction to the reintroduction of the charges, a lot of Nigerians have come to condemn the policy, saying it is harsh on the customers of banks. The charges apply when a customer (say of Guaranty Trust Bank) uses the ATM machine of another bank (like Access Bank)  more than thrice. At the fourth withdrawal, the customer is charged #65 and so on. This withdrawal is spread over a month which implies that, if you need to make a withdrawal you had better find the location of the ATM machine for your bank or the entire money needed for the month must be withdrawn once, twice or just about thrice. I think this purpose defeats some issues the cashless policy was to address (just thinking aloud).

However, the CBN through its Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Ibrahim Mu'azu  in its press release cleared some grey issues on the reintroduction of the charges.

You can read the full version of the press release here CBN press release on ATM charges.

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2015 General Elections

If the recent elections are anything to go by, then it is a great indication that the masses are beginning to understand their real worth. More so, the politician's are beginning to understand that the people are getting wiser and smarter by the day and as such, only performance while in office coupled with character before getting to office would count in having the people's mandate.

But how well have the masses come to understand their real worth?

If stories and events from Ekiti state is anything to go by then it is a far cry. Where people are more concerned about what gets into their pocket and belly and rather the developments in the state. I begin to wonder, Ekiti state is said to be state in Nigeria with the highest number of professors yet the action of its people shows otherwise. Could it be that the scholars from Ekiti state are not giving back to their state, the vast knowledge they have come to acquire or could it be that there is a disconnect between the scholars and the grassroots people of the state. Questions begging for answers.

It is also a possibility that the Dr. Fayemi led administration might be involved in developmental projects, true, but those projects might not necessarily be the desires of the people of the state. I think every state has its peculiarity and as such state administrators needs to have a good understanding of the states they administer.

The stories in Osun state is a bit different. Goodies were distributed too but the masses still voted their choice (I assume), or how would we have described this. However, there is no ruling out the possibility that how well the aspirants are rooted in the affairs of their state politically may also have a role to play. 

But sincerely, I think there is need for massive orientation of the masses with respect to who they cast their votes for in the coming elections. What I found difficult to understand is if aspiring politicians (and even those in the game already) have any principle at all. It becomes absurd when someone who claims to be a progressive joins a party who is not...will he be working on his ideologies or that of the party (issues).

Let me take a pause for a while....

Yours sincerely,

Adebisi T. Y.

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