I got only 198,000 votes from south-east, yet they have four senior ministers. I am not tribalistic'' President Buhari

President Buharihas reacted to claims that his government is ruled based on tribe and ethnicity. Many Nigerians have openly criticized the Buhari-led government, accusing it of appointing only Nigerians from the North in key positions.

President Buhari during his dinner with APCchieftains on Thursday January 18th, said even though the South Easterns gave him the lowest of votes during the 2015 election, he has appointed four persons from thatregion into very key positions. Heappealed to the APC chieftains to go back and help him correct the notion that the appointments made by his administration is based on ethnicity.

Speaking at the dinner, President Buhari said ''There is something that hit me very hard and I am happy I hit it back at somebody. Seven states of the north are onlyrepresented in my cabinet by junior ministers, ministers of state. In south-east, I got 198,000 votes but I have four substantive ministers and seven junior ministers from there. You are closer to the people than myself now that I have been locked up here, don’t allow anybody to talk of ethnicity. It is not true''.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claims stars would never ditch him like Alexis Sanchez

While he Liverpool boss sanctioned the £142 million sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, he is sure his players will not do what Alexis Sanchez is doing by leaving Arsenal for Manchester United

.“No Liverpool player would leave. But not because we say it, no, only because of their commitment to the club, would leave to anyother Premier League club during the season,” vowed Klopp.

"It’s just impossible. I can not see that situation. I know now that Alexis Sanchez maybe moves from one club to the other. That was not what I thought about. But I can’t see any player at this moment in this moment who would do it.

” Liverpool go to Swansea on Monday, without Coutinho but with Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain vying for one position and spots in England’s World Cup squad.

Klopp said he is certain Lallana will regain his place in Gareth Southgate’s side – “for sure” – as he laughed off a suggestion the midfielder may struggle to get in the 23-man party for Russia after a long lay-off.

“Wow,” he added. “If Mr Southgate can leave Adam Lallana out of his squad, then really I congratulate you already for winning the World Cup. Because then it is a squad like I can’t imagine how strong.

” Lallana could make just his second league start of the season against Swansea.

Klopp added: “It is not that Adam Lallana is the replacement for Philippe Coutinho but he is back. Cool.

"It is another wonderful, creative, offensive midfield player.

"Does he have the same free kick as Philippe Coutinho? No, but there are a lot ofthings he can do.

”Oxlade-Chamberlain was not called up for the November internationals and Klopp added: “When Gareth Southgate didn’t nominate Oxlade-Chamberlain, there was a moment when I thought: ‘Oh, wow.’”

Aubameyang to Arsenal: Andre Schurrle reveals unrest in Borussia Dortmund camp

The Gabon international was left out of the squad which drew 1-1 with Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga last night.

Schurrle filled into Aubameyang’s regular No9 spot but admitted that there were problems in the squad because of the recent transfer speculation.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the 28-year-old as they search to replace Alexis Sanchez, who is set to join Man Utd.


It was reported that Dortmund are demanding a £60million fee for his services, which is stalling the deal.

                  It's caused unrest, and left us
                   shaking our heads.
             
                 Andre Schurrle speaking about
                  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

And former Chelsea attacker Schurrle insisted that the rumours are affecting the team’s performances.

“It's been a big issue in the team,” Schurrle said.

“It's caused unrest, and left us shaking our heads.

It hasn't been easy to concentrate on football because there's only been one topic off the pitch.

Meanwhile, Arsenal supporters could see Sanchez say his farewell to the club this afternoon.

The Gunners face Crystal Palace at 3pm and Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Chilean may be available for selection.

     SOURCE : EXPRESS UK

Antonio Conte blasts Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata ‘stupid’ ahead of Brighton match

The Chelsea manager was as tight-lipped asever about transfers in his press conference but did let slip his frustration atthe “stupid” lapse on Wednesday night that has left him without his star striker for tomorrow’s trip to Brighton.

Links with Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch suggest he is looking for a robust presence as a Plan B for the second half of the season.

But if 6ft 3in Morata had not gone down quite so easily under challenge from Norwich’s Timm Klose – and then moaned about it – perhaps Conte would not appearquite so desperate.

The booking for simulation was unnecessary in the eyes of Conte but the fact it was followed by the second for dissent was inexcusable.

      He has to overcome this
.      problem because this is a
.      stupid problem. You have to
       work for the team and
       not lose confidence.

         Antonio Conte on Alvaro Morata.


Subsequently, he is in no mood to mince his words when telling the former Real Madrid bench-warmer to man up now he has been brought to the Premier League as his main striker“

If the referee doesn't want to give the penalty, in this situation it's still not right tobook him,” he said. “But, at the same time, you must learn to control yourself. The second yellow card was for dissent.

“I agree with the player for the first yellow card, but I don't agree with the player for the second yellow card. He has to check himself in future.

“For Alvaro, this is the first season that he'sbeen having a full season. Maybe, for him, this is the first time to face this type of problems.

But, he has to overcome this problem because this is a stupid problem. You have to work for the team and not lose confidence.

“But this is the first time Morata has faced this situation. Before, if you stay on the bench, you don't have this type of pressure.So now he has to learn to face this type of situation, move forward and go on. Everyone in Chelsea trusts him.

”“The coach trusts him, the team-mates trusthim, the clubs trust him, the fans trust him. I don't see a problem.”

   SOURCE : EXPRESS UK

2 years after suffering partial stroke, Nollywood actress Iyabo Oko returns from India

Veteran Yoruba actress,Kudirat Odukanmi Eluyemiotherwise known as Iyabo Okohas finally returned to Nigeria 2 years after she was diagnosed with partial stroke and flown abroad by her eldest son for treatment.

According to Yoruba movie gist, Iyabo Oko left India to recuperatein London for a while before she returned to Nigeria at the end of December 2017 after spending almost 2years out of the country.

The Oyo State based actress is currently spending time with her family and yet to get back to active work since her return.

Alexis Sanchez says goodbye to Arsenal team-mates ahead of Man Utd switch

The Chilean was withArsenalin their team hotel as they prepared for this afternoon’s clash with Crystal Palace (3pm).

However, Sanchez received a phone call shortly before 11pm last night and said his farewells before leaving

.The 29-year-old had been called up to the squad to face the Eagles as the 19th man and there was a possibility Arsene Wenger could have named him on the bench.

But all signs now point to a deal being completed over the weekend, especially after Henrikh Mkhitaryan appeared to have cleared out hisMan Utdlocker yesterday

The Armenian is being used as a makeweight in the deal, which now appears to be all-but completed.

TheMirror report that the two clubs are preparing to do two separate deals.

Sanchez is set to move for £35million, with Express Sport understanding that he will earn £500,000-a-week in wages.

Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan’s fee is yet to be revealed.

             

          If you have the chance to buy a 

          special player in special

           circumstances – a player who .   

           you would try to buy in the 

           summer anyway – then that’s

           a special situation and you try

           to do it.

Jose Mourinho speaking about signing Alexis Sanchez.

The deal had slowed down in recent days as the 28-year-old negotiated his wage with the Gunners.

But it now seems that everything has been ticked off, pending an official announcement.

United boss Jose Mourinho has defended his approach for Sanchez, which was criticised by ManchesterCity boss Pep Guardiola earlier this week.

“The team is lacking nothing,” Mourinho said.

“It is not the point that we are lacking something or we desperately need something. It is just thinking about the improvement of the team in the future.“

Normally I say the idea of the mid-season transfer market is to help clubs that didn’t work well in the previous summer. 

“That’s why we don’t like to do business in January, because it shows we didn’t give our best, we didn’t try our best. That is not the case.

“But if you have the chance to buy a special player in special circumstances – a player who you would try to buy in the summer anyway – then that’s a special situation andyou try to do it.

If it happens, we are sure it is good for thefuture of the team.

”Meanwhile, Arsenal are also edging closer to signing Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international was left out of the squad which drew 1-1 with Hertha Berlin last night and he looks highly likely to move to the Emirates Stadium.

  SOURCE : EXPRESS

Kim K and Kanye West's baby's name decoded: Find out the special meaning behind baby Chicago's name

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have named their third child Chicago West, E! News reported, and the reason behind the name has been revealed.

Chicago is Kanye's hometown butasides that, there is another reason why the couple chose that name.

A source told E! News:"Kanye came up with the name and Kim loved the significance behind the name. It was a mutual decision, which they discussed and agreed upon together.

"Another insider explained Kanye wanted to pay homage to his hometown and his late mother, who died in 2007.

"Kim loves the nickname, and North is already calling her Chi. It's super cute," the source said.This isn't the first member of the Kardashian-West family member to have a unique name.

A source said their son was named Saint because of Kim's highly publicized, rocky pregnancy. The insider said Saint was picked as a way of saying he is "a blessing," especially"because she had such a difficult pregnancy.

"The reason why their first daughter was named North West was explained by Kim and Kanye to Kris Jenner who in turn explained it to the ladies of The View.

Kris said:"I love the name North — I'm pro North, absolutely. The way [Kim] explained it to me was that North means highest power and she says that North is theirhighest point together. I thought that was very sweet."

Tuface Pays Courtesy Visits To Inspector General Of Police Over Benue Killing

Nigeria’s music sensation Mr. Innocent Idibia AKA Tuface on Thursday visited the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, at his office in Abuja.

2face Idibia paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to appeal to the force to help stop the killings in his homestate, Benue state.

Recall that 2face paid a visit to the governor of his state, Governor Samuel Ortom, over the recent killings in the state.

He also recently publicly appealed to the government to help stop the herdsmen killings in Benue.

Here are some photos from his visit to the police boss:

VP Osinbajo to head panel to unravel the causes of Herdsmen/farmers clashes

The Federal Government yesterday constituted a nine-man committee to look at the root causes of the various farmers.herdsmen clashes and come up with lasting solutions to the problem. The committe will be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and will the governors of Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi and Oyo states as members.

Ibrahim Ganduje, Kano State governor, who told State House correspondents about the committee, after the National Economic Council NEC meeting, said

“On the farmers and herdsmen crisis, NEC constituted a working group to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the issues of impunity regarding killings and violence. The committee is consisting of nine governors under the chairmanship of the vice president, they will work in accordance with commensurate commitment to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book”,

Recall that there have been unprecedented killings in some parts of the country with Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states being the worst hit.
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