Obasanjo finally reveals why he wrote 'controversial' letter to Buhari

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that his recent open letter to PresidentMuhammadu Buhari was not borne out malice or‘bad belle’but out of his deep concern for the situation in the country.

Punch reports that he said this on Thursday, February 1, at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oke Ilewo area of Abeokuta, shortly after the Coalition for Nigeria Movement was inaugurated in Ogun state, and he was registered as a member of the movement, after formally filling the registration form.

Obasanjo arrived the venue at exactly 12.44pm in company with former governors of Cross River and Osun states, Donald Duke and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola respectively, among others.

The former president while addressing scores of potential members who had gathered at the venue, said he was surprised that many Nigerians were worried that he had exchange pleasantries with President Buhari at the African Unity summit at Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, few days after he wrote the open letter to him (Buhari).

He noted that he never condemned the Buhari-led administration in totality, as he explained he gave him commendation in areas where it had performed well.

Obasanjo, however, spoke in parable, hinting that big masquerades have taken thecentre stage, and the small masquerades must quit the stage.

He said:“Last week, I issued a statement which I did not do lightly or frivolously but out of deep concern for the situation of our country.

“I wonder why some Nigerians were worried why I had to pay respect to the Nigerian President at Addis Ababa. That’s my own upbringing as a well-born and bred Yoruba boy.

“That doesn’t mean that what I have said about the President, which I did not say out of bitterness and hatred. It is evident that the President has performed in some areas, good enough

."In other areas not good and a proper advice which he may take and he may not take.

“I didn’t do that out of malice or out of ‘bad belle’; I did it out of my respect for that office and my interest and I hope in your interest and the interest of Buhari in Nigeria.”

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with girlfriend and his twin children in a pool (photo)

The Real Madrid striker and father of four shared this cute photo of himself and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez including his twin children, Eva Maria Dos Santos and Mateo Ronaldo relaxing at their pool in Madrid

Lassa fever confirmed in Taraba state with three deaths as national death toll hits 21

The dreaded lassa fever which poses the treat of a public health epidemic has continued to spreadacross the country with three confirmed fatalities in Taraba state. This was confirmed by the World Health Organisation who also disclosed that several suspected cases are under quarantine in the state capital, Jalingo.

Surveillance Officer of WHO, Dr. Bello Ahmed, disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop on Lassa Fever, organised by the state’s Ministry of Health. He made it known that 12 cases have been reported, three confirmed dead, while three positive cases have been placed under close monitoring.

He said: “We are planning collaboration with the Federal Government to develop a test kit for rapid diagnosis to complement the diagnosis centre at Irrua Specialist Hospital. We want to call on the Federal Government to consider the establishment of, at least, one diagnostic and treatment centre in each of the zones across the country to effectively tackle the spread of the disease.

”Meanwhile, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu,National Coordinator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said 21 deaths have been recorded from 77 confirmed cases in the current outbreak of Lassa Fever in the country. Of the 77 confirmed cases, 10 were health workers. Dr. Sylvanus Okogbeni, Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo confirmed that two of the health workers affected were discharged. It was not confirmed if the discharged health workers were successfully treated.

Nigeria beat Sudan to qualify for the CHAN final

The Super Eagles team B have qualified for the final of the 2018 CHAN championship going on in Morocco after beating Sudan 1-0 in their semi final game played on Wednesday night, January 31

.Nigeria started the match impressive with the duo of Kano Pillars' star Rabiu Ali and Ekundayo Ojo in their best form in the midfield.

Super Eagles eventually got their goal in the 16th minute when Rabiu Ali and Anthony Okpotu combined well to set up Gabriel Okechukwu who wasted no time to score.

Nigerian goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa made lots of saves for the Eagles, but he later got injured and was replaced by Dele Ajiboye.

The first half however ended with the SuperEagles leading 1-0.

Sudan came strong in the second half, but they could not break the defense of the Super Eagles who were very strong in the match.

Nigeria were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Ifeanyi Ifeanyi was red carded for a bad tackle, but the Super Eagles held on for a victory as the match ended 1-0.Super Eagles will now face hosts Morocco in the final of the 2018 CHAN. Morocco beat Libya 3-1 in their own semi final game.

5 killed as Boko Haram attacks Borno IDP camp

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said that five people were killed in the suicide bomb attack at Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, Maiduguri on Wednesday, January 31.

SEMA also confirmed that 39 others sustained various degrees of injuries in thesuicide bomb attack at Dalori IDP camp, Maiduguri.

NAN reports that SEMA’s chairman, Satomi Ahmad, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Maiduguri.

Satomi said that a female suicide bomber infiltrated the IDPs camp and detonated explosive killing herself and five other people, while 39 others were wounded.

He said the second suicide bomber detonated improvised explosive device at the entrance of Dalori residential quarters and blew herself to pieces.According to him, there is no casualty in the second attack.

The chairman added that those wounded had been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

Premium Times, citing local residents reports that the insurgents retreated to their base after launching the attack on the village.

The rampaging Boko Haram attacked Kaya village, at about 10 pm and had a field day for almost three hours, no response,"a fleeing resident, Baba David, said.

The APC's national chairman, John Oyegun, said Nigeria must work towards practising to become a true federalism state

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Nigeria is practising a bastardised federal system of government tilted toward a unitary system.

The national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun while speaking at the party's public presentation on Wednesday, January 31, in Abuja said Nigeria must work towards practising to become a true federalism state.

Oyegun said true federalism involves the devolution of power to the federating units,while states are allowed to determine the nature of local government they want.

Also speaking the spokesperson of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party has spent about N150 million to fund the activities of the committee on true federalism.

Abdullahi said the money came from the party coffers and not from the government.

“This is going to be the beginning of a historic event for this nation. It is historic because we have not been at this point before. We have held series of conferences before on how to restructure this country and each time, we always end up with nothing," Abdullahi said.

“Today, we have moved from show piece ofthese conferences to the beginning of a newNigeria. Today, we are going to be partners to the construction of the basic fundamental foundation of where this country truly belongs.

“There is no doubt at all that where we were and where we are today is basically a bastardized kind of federal structure, morelike a unitary system. What we are going to present to the nation today are the considered views of the critical mass of this nation who participated strongly in the results that is being presented today.

“When the issue of restructuring cropped into the public domain last year, the main reason being one more issue with which to trash the Buhari administration. At that point, it was clear that this nation was facing a major issue that needed to be straightened out and we need to find a new reality.

“For President Buhari, the reality was the economic wellbeing of this nation based in the strength of our people and what we canproduce and based on the productivity of Nigerians themselves. Right now, work on that very foundation is virtually complete and this nation is now set on the part of gradual growth,"Abdullahi added.

Jose Mourinho slams 'ridiculous' defending after Manchester United's horror start in Tottenham defeat: 'On this occasion we were very bad'

Jose Mourinhofumed at his team's 'ridiculous'defending last night afterManchester United conceded inside just 11 seconds at Wembley.

United were left shell-shocked by Christian Eriksen's quick opener - the fastest Premier Leaguegoal conceded by the Red Devils - and failed to recover as Tottenham secured a vital victory.

Spurs added a second courtesy of Phil Jones' comical 28th minute own goal and Mourinho blasted his team for their shocking start to the game, saying: 'I don't think it's normal to concede a goal like we did after 15 seconds.

'Straight from kick off is ridiculous. That goal after a few seconds has a big influence in the game because Tottenham can play the way they like to play.

'Both goals were ridiculous goals. The first goal is an accumulation of mistakes in spite ofthe fact that everything happened so fast.

'My players have watched the Tottenham kick-off many, many times.

Antonio Conte admits Chelsea could struggle to finish in top four after shock home defeat by Bournemouth

Antonio Conteconfessed he feared sliding out of the top-four and missing the Champions Leagueafter Chelsea were crushed by Bournemouth

.'We must be worried,' fumed Conte. 'It won't beeasy and we must be prepared to fight and ready to do this.

'I am ready and I think the players are startingto understand that this season, we have to struggle for a position in the Champions League.

'They knowthe danger and they understand our situation.'Their commitment and their behaviour is great and if they hadn't done that, our place in the table would be worse

.'Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and Nathan Ake scored Bournemouth's goals in a 16-minute spell at the start of the second half and the champions slipped into fourth.'

If we want to dream I can tell you now we can fight to win the title this season,' said Conte. 'But it is important to look at the reality and know that if we reach a place in the Champions League it will be a great success for us.'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praises club for walking away from Riyad Mahrez deal after Leicester demanded £95m for him

Pep Guardiolahas praised Manchester City for sticking to their guns and walking away from talks over Riyad Mahrez after Leicester demanded £95million for the Algeria star.

City pulled the plug on Wednesday afternoon because their final offer was a package totalling £65m and they refused to go higher.'

I admire the club for having parameters,' said Guardiola. 'Maybe in the future we can buy players for £100m but it will be for a special player and at the moment we cannot afford it.

'When a player doesn't come it's because it's not possible. I understand completely. We make an offer and the clubs and the manager swant more. Sometimes the deal is done, sometimes not. It's not a problem, believe me.

'People say that only we have money. We are not the richest club in the world. We have passion, always have amazing workers, a clubwith an amazing structure.

'It's at that level of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and an amazing CEO (Ferran Soriano) who sees the level and what we can do in the future.

'I say that because I follow the club. We boughta lot of players, not just one, two or three. If you want to play this way, I'm not a magician.

'I have good players, amazing players. The club has provided me with them. To compete, you need good players, and they are so expensive. We have a level and we cannot go above it

.'All the players we bought, it was £40m, £50m, £55m. It's a lot of money but the big differenceis that we need to buy a lot.'