PDP govt responsible for Nigeria’s woes —Okorocha

The Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said the mismanagement of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government was responsible for the sufferings experienced in the nation, assuring that the All Progressives Congress, APC government would address all the challenges facing Nigeria.
He said the APC was a masses oriented party created to touch the lives of the ordinary man in the country.
According to him, APC government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has all it takes to fix the problems of the country.

Okorocha, who stated this yesterday while giving a brief remark at the opening ceremony of the APC governors progressive meeting at the Yankari Game Reserve in
Bauchi, said the aim of the APC governor’s meeting was to address critical issues affecting the ordinary man, pointing out that the nation was going through a very difficult moment.

“This meeting will also avail the governors the opportunity to look at the upcoming election in Kogi and Balyelsa states because we want the wind of change to blow across these states in the next election .
“We will also discuss with APC state leaders and national chairman  of the party on how to the strengthen the APC because this is a party for today and tomorrow,” he said
Okorocha commended the judiciary in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states over the outcome of the sitting of the tribunal, saying it met the expectations of Nigerians.
In his address, Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, told the governors that since the revenue from the federal account was dwindling, they should should look inwards by improving the internally generated revenue in their states to maintain a vibrant economy.

Governor Abubakar said he decided to host the APC progressive governors meeting in Bauchi to showcase the tourism potentialities of the state.
The meeting was attended by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, governors of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Simon Dalong of Plateau State, Mallam El’ Rufai of Kaduna State and deputy governors of Jigawa, Borno, Yobe and Benue states, among other APC leaders in the country.

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Nigeria, Africa need more political stability, security – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said Nigeria and other African countries must work harder to achieve greater political stability and security before they can enjoy the full benefits of partnership arrangements such as the India-Africa Forum.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President made his position known while addressing the plenary session of the forum’s third summit in New Delhi, India.
The summit was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and African Heads of State and Government.
Buhari was of the view that to attract the massive investment in-flows which they need to overcome the challenges of unemployment and wealth creation, Nigeria and other African countries must also establish policy environments that guaranteed the sanctity of contracts on the basis of the rule of law.

He recalled that since he took the oath of office on May 29, his administration had been working with determination to establish these preconditions for rapid socio-economic development and re-focus governance on the real needs of ordinary Nigerians.
“As a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance.
“We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the discharge of the mandate entrusted to us by our people,” the President said.
Buhari also expressed the hope that the India-Africa Forum would deepen, in practical terms, the South-South Cooperation that countries of the South had desired for so long.
He said, “The current international economic and political environment is far from being favourable, particularly for developing countries. Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms.
“Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cybercrimes have all added to the new global threats that demand our collective action.

“Furthermore, the world is facing the challenge of Climate Change in which Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability.
“From the West to the East, North to South, virtually every country in our respective regions is faced with unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and a youth bulge.
“India and Africa must develop a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation and partnership to confront these emerging threats. We must recognise that, in this globalised age, we all live interconnected lives in a fragile planet. We must therefore work together to uplift the lives of our people in a manner that preserves the sustainability of our living environment.
“These challenges call for a renewed sense of urgency among African countries for economic development. It is an open secret that Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth region of the world.
“There is therefore the need for India and Africa to strive together to build a virile framework for partnership and cooperation in order to address common challenges in key areas including health, education, interconnectivity, power and employment generation as well as the strengthening of institutions of governance and democracy.”

The President said although African countries had a number of partnership arrangements with other countries of the world, the India-Africa Forum promises to be different “as it was not only a partnership between friends, but between countries and peoples who had had similar historical experiences of colonial rule.”
He noted that the immense potential of the forum was already evident in the growing volume and improved terms of trade between Africa and India as well as the increasing presence of several Indian enterprises in Africa.

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Eaglets in make or mar clash with Australia

In continuation of their defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup which they won 2 years ago, the  Golden Eaglets will test their might against Australia in a winner takes all encounter billed to kick off midnight in Chile.

The coach Emmanuel Amuneke tutored team know that a loss in this encounter will see them take the next available flight home.

The Eaglets are said to be in high spirits after shrugging off their defeat to Croatia in their final group match Saturday morning.
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has said the boys have since put that defeat behind them and are  ready to play.

There are  no injury worries and motivated by the fact that they emerged top of their group. The Eaglets will also be boosted by the return of Bamgboye who served a one-match suspension following the red card he received in their second group match against host country, Chile.

Speaking yesterday from the team’s camp in Chile, Coach Amuneke said the tournament’s top scorer, Victor Osimhen was a marked man and as a result, the technical crew had evolved a method of play that would put every player in the hunt for goals.


“Osimhen has really played himself to reckoning and now he is a marked man. We have noticed this and we have told the players to move as a team. Gone are the days a team was built around individual players we are all ready for the game.”

Amuneke said his players cannot contemplate another loss because the loss to Croatia was a wake-up call. “They now know that they too can be beaten so we will all work for victory.”

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