PHOTO: Wayne Rooney Reveals Head Injury

England forward Wayne Rooney has posted a picture online of the head injury that has ruled him out of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Rooney fumed after supporters questioned his withdrawal from Roy Hodgson's squad at the start of the week.
The 27-year-old missed Manchester United's 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday after manager David Moyes revealed he suffered a severe gash on his head following an accidental collision with team-mate Phil Jones in training.
Moyes also stated his belief that Rooney would not be recovered in time to join up with his England colleagues ahead of the qualifying double-header against Moldova and Ukraine.
Rooney posted a picture of his injury on his official Facebook page on Wednesday evening with a comment defending his decision to withdraw from the crucial fixtures.
"Some people seem to be questioning my commitment to the England squad and the fact I had to pull out of the two games," he wrote.
"There's nothing I would like more than to be helping the lads in the qualifiers. I'm sure people will see from these images the reason why I won't be able to play."
England team-mate Theo Walcott had yesterday described the wound as "like something out of a horror film".
England go into the clashes with Moldova and Ukraine currently two points behind group-leaders Montenegro but with a game in hand.
Rooney, the subject of bids from Chelsea in the transfer window, remained a United player when the window closed.
But the injury means Rooney, who has scored 36 goals in 84 England caps, will be missing for up to a month with the onus on goals in the qualifiers falling on the likes of team-mate Danny Welbeck and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.
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INEC Should De-Register Tukur’s PDP – Aggrieved Govs, Others

The parallel Peoples Democratic Party led by Abubakar Baraje has said the faction of the party led by Dr. Bamanga Tukur should be deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It hinged its position on what it described as the failure of the faction to complying with Section 222(D) of the 1999 Constitution which requires a political party to notify INEC of any  alteration of its constitution.
The position of the faction known as the ‘New PDP’ is part of the statement of claims before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. The faction is also seeking the declaration of Tukur as illegal chairman of the PDP on the grounds  that he was not properly accepted as a member of the PDP after his expulsion by the National Executive Council  of the party  in 2001.
According to the statement of claims, “It will be recalled that the 2009 PDP Constitution was amended which brought about the 2012 PDP constitution.
“Evidence has surfaced to prove that strange clauses which were not part of the proposed amendment to the 2009 Constitution  was inserted into the originally  produced version of the 2012 Constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party’s  convention and the NEC, thereby making the document a forged document which is invalid.
“The forged 2012 Constitution was not equally filed before INEC as required by the  1999 Constitution, thereby making the PDP constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held an invalid document and the outcome of that convention invalid, as it was held with no valid constitution.
“The proof  of these evidences can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in the 2012 and the original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC will as well prove these violations.”
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Jonathan In Secret Meeting With "Loyal" PDP Governors

President Goodluck Jonathan splashed further out in the muddy waters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, holding a meeting at the presidential villa with some of the governors elected on the platform of the party after majority of them rejected his overtures.

Those he met with were described as those who are close and loyal to him.
They included Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Idris Wada (Kogi) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).
The six governors who walked out of the party's convention on Saturday to form a parallel PDP were invited to the meeting but declined asking to be given more time to respond to such invitation.
Those governors are Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara ) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rabiu Kwankwanso(Kano).
The Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, with whom Jonathan has one of the fierce battles that have exposed him politically, was not at the villa meeting.
At the meeting, which started at 9.10 pm at the First Lady conference room were Vice President Namadi Sambo; PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak; and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Journalists were asked to leave the venue of the meeting under the pretext that it was a private meeting.
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Military In Serious Search For Boko Haram Members

Following the strategy of soft and isolated attacks on innocent citizens in villages in the North by Boko Haram terrorists, the military has launched a manhunt for remnants of the terrorist group.

It was gathered that the seventh division of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Maiduguri is spearheading the manhunt with headquarters at Mongonu, Yola, and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Baga, as well as the battalion in Yobe, all working in synergy to stop the isolated attacks.
Sources revealed that among the tactics to be employed in dealing with the menace of the terrorists, said to be leader-less at present, is to lay siege for them.
It would be recalled that Boko Haram terrorists have carried out isolated attacks on unsuspecting villagers, despite the demise of its top two top leaders.
A security source speaking under condition of anonymity said the unco-ordinated attacks was on-going as there was no longer a central command for the terrorists, adding that the problem of vacuum created by the deaths of their leaders was beginning to manifest.
The source said: “The lack of a succession plan, owing to the fact that troops of the Nigerian military have either snuffed life out of their next generation leaders during the dislodgement of the camps in the Sambisa Forests and Gwozar Hills, among other hideouts, is a pointer to disintegration of the group.”
Consequently, the source said a directive had been issued from the Presidency that the military should go all out for the remnant and leader-less members going about attacking, killing and robbing isolated villages and hamlets to try to paint a picture that Boko Haram was still a force to reckon with.
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Fashola To Sue NSCDC

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Tuesday gave a marching order to the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, to take legal action against the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, for allegedly arresting eight residents of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area LCDA, whose wells were found to have been polluted by oil spill from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC pipeline in the area.

It would be recalled that NSCDC officials, last week, allegedly invaded the buildings at No.17 and 30 Aminatu Ilo Street, in Ejigbo LCDA, and arrested eight persons, including a landlord and his wife, a pregnant woman on the suspicion that they dug their well to the level of oil pipeline which runs through the area.
The governor through the Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, had, weekend, condemned the alleged unwarranted arrest and urged the victims to institute legal action against NSCDC.
He noted that the “illegal arrest” was carried out without proper investigation.
However, Fashola, who frowned seriously at what he termed “indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens.”
A team of the OPD, led by its Director, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, visited the affected area on Monday to interact with the people arrested by NSCDC.
She also faulted the arrest, disclosing that the governor had directed OPD to take up legal action against the NSCDC, explaining that OPD had since secured the release of the arrested persons, but would be suing for damages.
The OPD director spoke with the owners of the two houses who claimed that they informed Ejigbo Police Station when they first noticed that substance suspected to be fuel was coming out of their wells instead of water.
They claimed the Police took them to NNPC office to make an official report, stressing that NNPC officials came to take samples from the well and sealed it off with the promise that they would return on Monday, August 26, 2013.
But on Saturday, August 24,according to them, NSCDC came to arrest them and all pleas to them that the matter had been officially reported to the appropriate quarters fell on deaf ears.
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Human Heads, Armed Robberies: Why These Nigerian Hotels Are Deadly

Barely one month after human heads were found in an Onitsha hotel room, Anambra State Police Command has alleged increased heinous crimes in the hospitality industry, especially hotels in the state. 

Consequently, it has commenced a partnership with hoteliers to awaken the consciousness of hotel workers through a security awareness workshop for them.
Addressing participants at the workshop, which held at Cana House in Awka, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Ballah Nassarawa, said for sometime the hotel sector had been a source of worry.
Nassarawa, who was represented by ACP Joseph Agugoesi, said past incidences, which included the fresh human heads discovered in a hotel in Onitsha, the use of hotels for armed robberies and the reported cases of deaths at swimming pools in some hotels called for concerns.
He said as service industry, hotels should ensure security of its premises, adding that a hotel with the best service but poor security would expose guests to crime risks and compromise reputation and goodwill.
The police boss further said: “Hoteliers are responsible for the protection of property and well being of their guests and so should not lower their guard against crime or be lulled into complacency in their hotels because security is an essential investment and not an optional expenditure.
“With the existence and increase of crime in our society and the use of hotels as hideout for these criminals, partnership with the police is greatly needed. Much as police are always here to protect us, the police cannot do it alone without your cooperation and partnership. Partnering with the police will require new commitment from everyone. All elements of society must pull together as never before to deal effectively with the unacceptable level of crime in Anambra State.
The police commissioner warmed the hoteliers against engagement of armed guards for their security without recourse to the police, saying such flagrant disregard of the law and others observed insecurity in the hotel sector was what the command intended to address, adding: “All hotel armed security will henceforth be documented by the police consultant.”
In his speech, the Police Consultant, who organised the workshop, Mr. Chris Udeze, said the workshop was targeted at hotel owners, managers, receptionists and supervisors.
He said a data base had been developed for the hotels in the state and urged them to cue into the new innovation in crime fighting.
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I Didn’t Have Ancelotti’s Trust – Ozil

Mesut Ozil quit Real Madrid to join Arsenal because he realised he no longer had the confidence of Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Germany playmaker said.

The Premier League club smashed their transfer record to sign Ozil for £42.5m on Monday, days after he said he would stay with the nine-times European champions for a fourth season.
Ozil sulked after Ancelotti substituted him in last month’s La Liga match at Granada and the Italian then left him on the bench for Sunday’s 3-1 victory at home to Athletic Bilbao.
“I was certain…that I would stay at Real Madrid,” Ozil said in an interview published on the German soccer federation’s website on Tuesday.
“Then I realised that I didn’t have the confidence of the coach and the officials after all,” added the 24-year-old of Turkish origin.
Ozil’s departure, which followed Real’s purchase of winger Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a world-record fee of €100m, prompted head-scratching in Spain as he was one of Real’s most creative squad members.
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Mikel Obi, Victor Moses Arrive At Eagles Camp

The preparation for the Nigeria game against Malawi on Saturday is taking a full swing with the arrival of some key players of the Super Eagles in Calabar.


Some of those who trained in Calabar on Tuesday were Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi; new Liverpool player Victor Moses, Efe Ambrose, Sunday Mba, Ahmed Musa and Obinna Nsofor and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.
In camp also are Lazio midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, Uche Nwofor, Godfrey Oboabona, James Okwuosa, who came in on Monday, Brown Ideye, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis and Azubuike Egwuekwue. In all, 12 of the players trained on Tuesday evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Coach Stephen Keshi said he was happy with the response of the players and expects a good game against Malawi on Saturday.
Just as Eagles troop in, Osaze Odemwingie has confessed that he missed football following a long layoff. The estranged Eagles attacker said he was eager to prove his worth to Cardiff after signing from West Bromwich Albion for £2.5m.
The 32-year-old Nigeria international became surplus to requirements at the Hawthorns after the striker’s infamous drive to London in a bid to engineer a move to Queens Park Rangers at the end of the January transfer window.
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Nigerian Army Retires 10 Generals

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have retired some top generals of the Army. It was gathered that those retired were ten in number.

 Among those affected were the former Director of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngugbane, the former Commander of Training, Doctrine and Command, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mungonu, and the former Chief of Research and Development, Maj.-Gen. Obinali Ariahu.
A top military source said on Wednesday that the generals were retired because they had put in the maximum years in service.
The source said that the retirement exercise was routine and not punitive. The source added that the retirement exercise was expected to take place every quarter of the year.
The source couldn’t give the names of the others affected in the exercise.
“It is true that some of our generals have been retired. The exercise is a routine one. It is not a punitive retirement, they have reached their terminal level.
“Some of them were asked to proceed on the compulsory terminal leave in June this year,” the source said.
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I’m Afraid Of Not Making Heaven And Getting Old To Live Alone- Cossy Orjiakor

At the recent V-Channel's Celeb's guest gathering in lagos, they had an interactive session with Cossy Orjiakor and the audience where privileged to ask her their choice questions.

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Her most embarrassing moment, "… I was driving and in the traffic, the guy walked up to me and grabbed my boobs and walked away."
Why she thrives on scandals? "…don’t love scandals. I don’t like to be in the news too. I just love to be myself. I don’t try to be any other person but me. I’m a good girl."
On her dress sense: …"I wear 4DD. I’m so blessed. It’s not that I’m out to flaunt it, but it’s just that clothes don’t get to cover it all. It’s not really my fault."
On her fears, "…I’m afraid of not making heaven and getting old to live alone"
Her marital status? ... "I’m single, not engaged and I’m waiting for the diamond ring.
When she was asked to pray, Cossy declined. She said, "…I’m a sinner."
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Move Had To Be Made - Victor Moses

Victor Moses feels his career could have been damaged had he not completed a season-long loan move to Liverpool.

With it clear that he did not figure in Jose Mourinho's immediate plans at Chelsea - following summer deals for the likes of Andre Schurrle and Willian - Moses jumped at the chance to head for Anfield on deadline day.

He will spend the remainder of the 2013/14 campaign on Merseyside and hopes he will be given the regular opportunities he craves by Brendan Rodgers.
Moses was restricted to just 12 Premier League starts after signing for Chelsea last summer and admits his game would have suffered had he remained on the fringes of the fold at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old winger told the Reds' official website: "As a young footballer coming up, I just want to play games.
"Not playing can really damage your career. Liverpool is a massive club and I just want to enjoy my football and try to help my team-mates.
"The move to Chelsea was a massive step for me. I just wanted to go there, express myself and enjoy my football. Coming to Liverpool is another step for me."
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Obama Gets Syria Strike Support From Key Figures In Congress

A US Senate panel has reached a deal on draft authorization for the use of military force in Syria, which is to be voted on Wednesday. President Barack Obama has gained support of key figures in the US Congress, including Republicans, in his call for a limited military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians.

Following a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday, the panel reached an agreement on a draft authorization to use military force in Syria in response to a suspected chemicals weapons attack.
However, the draft is much narrower than the request made by Obama and includes a provision barring the use of US troops on the ground.
Among other provisions, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee draft, which was obtained by Reuters, sets a 60-day limit on US military action in Syria, with a possibility of a single 30-day extension subject to conditions.

The draft document is to be voted on by the committee on Wednesday.

Speaking after the United Nations reported that two million Syrians had fled their country that posed the greatest threat to world peace since the Vietnam war, Obama said on Tuesday the US also has a broader plan to help rebels defeat Assad's forces.
"What we are envisioning is something limited. It is something proportional. It will degrade Assad's capabilities," Obama said. "At the same time we have a broader strategy that will allow us to upgrade the capabilities of the opposition."
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ASUU STRIKE: FG Claims It Met 'Almost’ All Union's Demands After Releasing Additional N30bn

 

Chairman of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment implementation committee for universities, Gabriel Suswam, dislclosed the the funds, which are the payment of lecturers’ allowances, would be disbursed between various universities by that the Ministry of Education.
While appealing to ASUU to end the strike, Suswam frowned at the union’s claims that the previous disbursement of N100 billion by the government for infrastructures in the universities was done without consultations.
This is"N500 billion, not N100 billion"
Last week, the ASUU leadership expressed concerns that a clear procedure for assessing the funds by the universities is yet to be defined.
Nasir Fagge, ASUU President, had insisted that only the provision of N500 billion would meet the immediate needs of the universities.
“We observe that the Committee is so far mentioning only N100 billion. If the implementation is to be related to the funding requirements in the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement and the January 2012 MoU, what is due for 2012 and 2013 is N500 billion, not N100 billion,” Fagge claimed.
Suswam, however, said ASUU was carried along in the entire process where N100 billion was agreed:
“ASUU participated in all the meetings where it was agreed to raise N100 billion, which has already been distributed to all the universities.” “In fact, the president of ASUU nominated one Dr. Baffa, who is very resourceful. He did all the work, and presented the criteria for distribution of the money which is based on the population of each university,” he added.
Suswam also said that after drawing up the draft, the Committee sent the document to ASUU for their perusal.
“Instead, they wrote me a letter accusing the committee of insincerity. The councils are the ones that would verify what we are owing, go and ask them, ASUU said no, that unless we put N92 billion on the table.”
He addedthat governing councils, and not his committee, would be responsible for awarding contracts in the universities, adding that the lecturers’ strike has assumed a political dimension.
It will be reminded that ASUU has been on a indefinite strike nationwide since 1 July 2013. The Union stated that the FG has not been following the law that entered into force in 2009 that guarantees a N12,500 monthly allowance to each lecturer.
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