PDP Governors to visit President in London today

The Presidency has reportedly selected six Governors, including those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

According to Punch, the Governors have been scheduled to depart Nigeria today, Tuesday, July 25.The six Governors were said to have been picked from  the six geo-political zones of the country.

It is, however, not clear if  the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd.), who is organising the trip, picked the Governors.The six selected Governors include, Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) andAbiola Ajimobi (Oyo)

Punch quoted a Governor, who is not part of the delegation, as saying that the Governors were selected outside the Nigeria Governors' Forum.

He said, "Our colleagues are going to London to see the President. But I’m not happy that someone like the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, or his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Nyesom Wike, is not on the delegation.

"Though there are PDP governors on the delegation, we know ourselves and also know those we know are truly part of the opposition and those close to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

"The governors had been directed to be at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, tomorrow (Tuesday). From there, they will fly to the United Kingdom."

This is coming 48 hours after Buhari had lunch with some Governors and Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in London, where he is on medical leave.

The PDP had criticised APC Governors for just going to London to have lunch with the President and not advising him to address Nigerians directly.

Nigeria must give Gernot Rohr breathing space

What has been a fine start for the Super Eagles boss has become a tense situation, but he needs to be given room to work

There was fear of the unknown when Gernot Rohr took over as head coach of the Super Eagles, replacing Sunday Oliseh last August, but a six-game unbeaten run, which included wins away at Zambia and at home to Algeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, had seen a renewed believe in the national team.

However, last month’s 2-0 home loss to South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was a reality check for the German tactician.

Rohr has come under heavy criticism for his team selection in Uyo, and with the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee set to come in between the former Burkina Faso gaffer’s squad selection criteria, reports are circulating that he is ready to quit just before the Super Eagles tackle reigning African champions Cameroon in a crunch double-header next month.

It's a match that could determine whether the West African giants make it to Russia in good time or not, but again, the fixture is in danger of being overshadowed by uncertainty at the Glass House.

Rohr has denied those resignation reports but such shouldn’t be surfacing at a time such as this.

The defeat to Bafana Bafana might have been an eyesore, particularly because it was Bafana Bafana's first competitive victory over Nigeria, but we need to be reminded that Rohr didn’t have his strongest squad available. There might have been suggestions on whom he should have started instead of the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejile, Chidozie Awaziem and Daniel Akpeyi, who were all below par that evening, but only the coach knows his best selection.

Chris Green's NFF technical committee, football enthusiasts and other stakeholders must ensure they don’t meddle in Rohr's the affairs, especially not at such a critical time. His immediate plan is to get the Super Eagles to the World Cup next year and that’s on the horizon as they top Group B of the qualifiers and lead Cameroon by four points.

Nigerian coaches have always had a history of their operations been interfered by the NFF and this has led to them not staying too long on the job but this shouldn’t be the same for Rohr. He might have a short-term objective but what he has laid down shows he’s building something for the future.

The German has gone for youth and blended them in with some experienced faces, and it’s an approach that could yield results if given time and space.

Pressure had been put on Rohr to include some players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in the Super Eagles squad. He has done that, but the truth is NPFL players are not yet ready to be blooded in these high-intensity qualifiers. The African Nations Championship is where that can be achieved.

This Is Where Evans The Kidnapper Held His Victims Captive

Located at House 21, Prophet Asaye Close, the bungalow sits at the end of a close facing the entrance to the street.

The compound has only a single bungalow. The compound is covered with interlocking stones. It is a study in irony because carved on the gate is the sentence ‘Jesus is Alive.’

According to TheNation, there is a doorbell on the left side of the gate. Observing the building closely, it is easy to see why the kidnappers settled for it.

It is a single bungalow, so no noisy neighbour or neighbours to snoop into their business. It has coconut trees at the back, but there were no high rise buildings from where anybody could monitor what they were doing.

Asked about the activities in the kidnap compound, a neighbour said:

“They (abductors) kept to themselves. The guy there, whenever he was driving in from outside, the gate would have been opened before he got to the gate.
In addition, loud music was always wafting from the bungalow. This always muffled every noise coming from there. This happened mostly in the day time.
In the night, of course, the generating set would take over. So, we (neighbours) could never have known what went on there”.

Here’s the photo:

'Don't spread sh*t!' - Dani Alves responds to transfer rumours as Man City close in

Pep Guardiola is hoping to sign the former Barcelona full-back, but the Brazilian has reacted angrily an Italian media outlet

Dani Alves has hit out at claims that he is on the verge of leaving Juventus.

The experienced full-back, 34, won Serie A and the Coppa Italia, as well as reaching the Champions League final, in his first season at Juve since completing a free transfer from Barcelona last year. 

Juve team-mate Gonzalo Higuain posted and then quickly deleted a video on Twitter in which he appeared to be saying goodbye to his team-mate.

But Alves appears to be unimpressed by the rumours, angrily responding to one Italian media company's speculative tweet.

The Brazil international wrote: "Don't spread sh*t, [Higuain] sent a video for me in a television programme. Don't do your job badly, please."

Ronaldo dodges press conference amid Madrid exit rumours

The forward was man of the match in Portugal's draw with Mexico, but skipped the post-game questions as he was 'undergoing treatment'

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to answer questions from the press at the Confederations Cup amid reports he wants to leave Real Madrid.

The Portugal captain was named Man of the Match as his side drew 2-2 with Mexico, meaning he is obliged to speak at the post-match press conference.

But reports have surfaced that he is "undergoing treatment", and as such will not be taking any questions either regarding the game or his future.

Have to be fair though, the magic sponge worked wonders - he's just positively bounded through the mixed zone.

Doubts over Ronaldo’s future emerged earlier in the week following accusations that the Madrid forward had concealed earnings and defrauded the Spanish tax authorities out of €14.7 million.

Prosecutors in Madrid had filed a complaint to a court in Pozuelo de Alarcon that accused the four-time Ballon d'Or winner of a "voluntary" and "conscious" breach of his tax obligations.

The complaint suggested Ronaldo had created a "business structure" in 2010 to conceal earnings from image rights between 2011 and 2014.

However, Gestifute – the company owned by the 32-year-old's agent Jorge Mendes – issued a statement detailing their client's arrangements for payments related to his image rights and insisted "there has never been concealment, or the slightest intention to conceal".

On Friday, reports emerged that Ronaldo had made an ‘irreversible’ decision to leave Madrid and no longer play in Spain as a result of the treatment he has received.

He was linked with a move to Paris Saint Germain and former club Manchester United, with speculation claiming Ronaldo’s agent Mendes has been tasked with securing a return to Old Trafford.

Cope subsequently reported that Ronaldo has spoken to Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane about the situation and confirmed to his club boss that he does want to quit La Liga.

Ronaldo and Zidane will reportedly hold further talks at the end of the Confederations Cup, but, for now, the player is keeping his own counsel after not appearing at the post-match press conference following Portugal’s opening game of the tournament.

The attacker had created the opening goal for Ricardo Quaresma and, after being named man of the match, FIFA asked for Twitter users to send in their questions for Ronaldo.

But, instead, Ronaldo was receiving treatment for an unspecified injury after the game and was not in a position to answer questions on any topic.

Kemen Spotted With Ini Edo And Vincent Enyeama At The Gym In Awka Ibom

TV reality star and fitness trainer, Ekemini Ekerette popularly known as Kemen, was in March disqualified after he was caught on tape fondling Tboss without her consent as she was asleep.

The former Big Brother Naija housemate was recently pictured with Nollywood actress, Ini Edo and former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, his wife, Promise and his brother at the gym at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Akwa Ibom state.

He wrote:

Basking in the beauty of living a fit life.

We can help u.

Here are the photos he shared:

Man Utd expected to confirm Ibrahimovic departure

The Red Devils will release their list of retained players on Friday morning, with the Swede set to leave the club

Manchester United are expected to confirm Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure on Friday when the club releases its annual player retention list, Goal understands.

United are believed to have decided against offering the Swedish striker an extension to his one-year deal at Old Trafford, which expires on June 30, despite his 28-goal debut campaign.

The 35-year-old is undergoing rehabilitation after a season-ending knee ligament injury suffered in the Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht in April. And with his recovery expected to continue for a number of months, United have begun to look for a replacement in the summer transfer market.

United will announce their list of retained players at 9am BST on Friday, with Ibrahimovic the only first-team fixture whose contract is due for renewal.

The former Sweden front man played 46 games under Jose Mourinho in 2016-17 but injury ruled him out of the final 10 matches of the season, including the Europa League final win against his former club Ajax in Stockholm.

Although there is no rule restricting a club from approaching a player excluded from their retained list at a later point regarding a new deal, the list will include details of any offers already made.

Ibrahimovic was understood to be in United’s plans for 2017-18 until his season-ending injury. But with his return date expected to be some time into the upcoming campaign and a new contract potentially costing the Red Devils many millions of pounds, the club has decided against offering him a second term at the Theatre of Dreams.