Niger APC urges state government to relocate Madalla market in Suleja
Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger has called on the state government to look for an alternative place for the relocation of the Madalla market along Abuja to Kaduna Road.
The call was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the party's Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Jonathan Vatsa.
The party noted that the present location of the market close to a highway, had led to loss of lives and property.
“We are worried that despite collecting N1.8 billion loan to build the ultra-modern market, the government of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu in Niger state has refused to understand the danger of the market still being located along the high way.
“There is no gain saying that the market has witnessed fatal accidents, ranging from tankers veering into the market and most times, setting people and their wares ablaze,” it said.
The party then challenged the state Development Company to explain the delay in re-locating the market, in spite of the huge resources collected for the purpose.
In its reaction, the state government, through Mr Israel Ebije, denied collecting any loan for the purpose of relocating the market.
“There was a consortium that indicated interest in contracting the Madalla new market, which was relocated across the road.
“The stake of Niger state government was the land, which was provided, with a Certificate of Occupancy.
“Niger APC should provide papers indicating that Niger State government, under Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, collected N1.8bn for the market," said Ebije, in a statement issued on the matter.
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Prostitutes study law to help others in trouble
FILE PHOTO: Prostitutes
Cony’s usual work clothes are tight-fitting outfits that show off her curves as she waits for clients at the bar.
But today she has put on a modest flower-print dress to attend her first law class, one of 60 sex workers who are training to become volunteer “facilitators” in the Nicaraguan justice system.
Cony — short for Concepcion Jarquin — learned early on to survive in a hostile world, and now hopes to use her street sense to help others defend themselves.
Raped by a neighbor at age six, she dropped out of school in shame and left home to escape the rebukes of her mother, who blamed her for what happened.
Forty years and countless humiliations later, this lively, smiling woman is studying part-time in a conference room at the Supreme Court to learn the basics of the Nicaraguan civil and criminal codes.
She will then be sworn in to act as a liaison between residents of her impoverished neighborhood and an often inaccessible justice system.
The free, year-long course, which meets once every two months, was organized by the Sunflowers Sex Workers’ Association, a group set up three years ago to help prostitutes get medical care and professional training.
It is part of a broader initiative that has trained 4,300 facilitators across Nicaragua in the past 17 years to mediate in neighborhood conflicts — arguments between neighbors, disputes over money, etc. — or get help from support groups or the police in more serious cases.
The program has been so successful at reducing the caseload of the overburdened court system that eight other Latin American countries have adopted it.
But this is the first time sex workers are taking part.
Maria Davila, the head of the Sunflowers association, said prostitutes are ideal for the job.
“We are fighters who know how to overcome and find bread to feed our families,” she said at the inauguration of the program.
“We are women with rights and abilities… capable of helping our sisters and their families.”
– Helping others escape abuse –
For Cony, it is a chance to serve her community and regain some of the dignity lost doing her other job.
“Seeing a stranger on top of you is horrible. It’s not a dignified job. It’s disgusting. But that’s how we feed our children,” she told AFP at the small shack made of scrap wood and plastic where she lives in the city of Matagalpa.
Cony, who has light brown skin and delicate features, turned to prostitution to raise her two children, and continues working to support her three grandchildren.
She has slept with men of nearly every kind imaginable, she said: “Farmers, office workers, college graduates, pastors, priests, politicians….”
Nicaragua, a country of six million people, has some 14,000 prostitutes.
Often they are abused by clients, targeted for rapes and muggings, have no health care and face discrimination by the police.
Another woman taking part in the course, Alondra — her name has been changed at her request — described the horrors sex workers can face.
“I was raped twice. Once by a gang of 10 people in Managua. I nearly lost my mind,” she said.
The 36-year-old, who does not earn enough to make ends meet in her day job as a housekeeper, said she hopes to help others escape the abuse she has faced.
“I’m going to enrich myself more, empower myself more and use what I learn to help people,” she said.
There is no shortage of conflicts to resolve in these women’s neighborhoods.
In Cony’s, for example — a slum called Sor Maria — neighbors live practically on top of each other in tiny shacks made of plastic and scrap metal. The only source of water is a truck that passes every two days selling it in jugs.
Disputes, fights and domestic violence are a daily reality.
Yesenia Alston, a 35-year-old participant in the program, said she is “proud to be a sex worker” but also looking forward to doing more in her community.
The course “is an opportunity to help our families and our fellow sex workers, to use the knowledge we’re acquiring to defend our rights,” she said.
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Rodgers wants FA Cup glory to erase EPL pain
Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to avoid an FA Cup upset at Blackburn on Wednesday as his side try to ease the disappointment of their fading challenge for a place in the Champions League.
A run of eight wins from nine Premier League games up to the middle of March had put Liverpool in a strong position to secure a top four finish.
But successive defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal either side of the international break have left Liverpool in fifth place, well adrift of the top four.
Rodgers’s team were out-played in both games and their sudden downturn in fortunes has been compounded by suspensions to Emre Can, who was sent off in last Saturday’s crushing 4-1 loss at Arsenal, as well as captain Steven Gerrard and defender Martin Skrtel.
The fall-out from Raheem Sterling’s decision to halt contract negotiations has also proved a distraction.
Yet Rodgers is still hoping to finish the season on a high by bringing silverware back to Anfield for the first time since Liverpool won the League Cup in 2012.
If the Reds can see off Championship club Blackburn in their quarter-final replay at Ewood Park, they will be through to a semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley later this month.
But Rodgers won’t underestimate Gary Bowyer’s team, who have already knocked out top-flight sides Swansea and Stoke this season.
“There’s no doubt there is disappointment at losing those games having put ourselves in a great position. We’d worked very hard to get ourselves into the position we were in before the Manchester United game,” Rodgers said.
“We’re honest enough as a group to focus and analyse that we did not perform well enough, and when you don’t against top-quality squads then unfortunately you can lose. But it’s gone now. We need to focus on doing the very best we can.
“The group is very committed to winning this trophy, but in order to do that you have to qualify and we know Blackburn will be a difficult game for us.
“It’s something we want to do as a group. We’ve made steady progress over a couple of seasons and arrived in a Champions League place last year and nearly won the league.
“A trophy this season will mark another step forward for us. Of course, it’s a difficult game for us but getting to a final and winning a trophy is what we want.
“We made that a real strong objective for us this season, to do well in the cups, and this is an opportunity to get to another semi-final.”
– Make amends –
Like Rodgers, Liverpool’s Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho stressed the need to make amends by going all the way in the FA Cup, with either Arsenal or Reading waiting as potential final opponents.
“Winning the cup would save our season. It is very important for us to have that as an objective,” Coutinho said.
Blackburn held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first meeting at Anfield last month.
Rovers famously won the Premier League title at Anfield 20 years ago and after recent troubled times, including relegation in 2012 and the imposition of a transfer embargo due to financial issues, manager Bowyer is delighted to be giving the club’s supporters another glimpse of glory.
“I am really pleased for them more than anybody else to have that opportunity to bring Liverpool back to Ewood Park and get Ewood Park rocking and remind us of the Premier League days,” Bowyer said.
“It will bring back fond memories, it’s where everybody wants to be, and this will be a little taster for us.
“You’ve only got to look at our home form against Premier League teams in the FA Cup and we’ve done particularly well.”
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Russian-born Melissa makes winning debut for Nigeria in Cairo
Melissa Ifidzhen
Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen began her debut for Nigeria on a winning note on Monday as she paired Elizabeth Garos-Pam to beat Algerian duo of Saadia Belhadj and Sihem Sahli in the girls doubles of the 38th ITF/CAT African Closed Junior Championship holding in Cairo, Egypt.
The 16-year old, who was accompanied by her dad to the clay-court tournament, showed great composure and understanding with her London-based partner, Garos-Pam, who is also enjoying the support of her dad at the tournament featuring about 80 players from over 20 countries.
They dispatched their North African opponents 6-0, 6-3 in less than an hour in the first round tie.
However, both players recorded mixed fortunes in their match for glory in the singles as Garos-Pam lost to Mariam Mujawimana of Burundi 7-6 (6), 6-3in a close contest while Ifidzhen, due to her point haul on the ITF junior rankings was drawn bye to the second round.
Ifidzhen now faces a tough battle as she confronts Lee Barnard of South Africa for a place in the third round. The seventh-seeded Barnard did not drop a sweat as she was also drawn bye.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has written to the ITF to effect the country of representation for Melissa as the Muscovite is still using her Russian identity.
President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Sani Ndanusa stated that "Melissa is still being referred to as a Russian player but we have written to the ITF through her father to effect the change which should be done soon.
“We experienced the same problem when Garos-Pam started playing for us as she is seen as a British player but it was rectified later.”
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Tiger excites with impressive Masters practice round
Tiger Woods impressed with practice round
Tiger Woods thrilled Masters fans with a strong practice round Monday at Augusta National, solid chips and approach shots signaling a return to form by the 14-time major champion.
Woods, who missed last year’s Masters due to back surgery, excited spectators with a late-afternoon practice round alongside long-time pal Mark O’Meara.
“I felt good and it was nice to get out here,” Woods said. “But the course was a little bit faster than when we played last week.”
Woods, who has sunk to 111th in the world rankings, made his first public shotmaking display since withdrawing from Torrey Pines after only 11 holes in February with back issues and a woeful short game.
“The last two months has been a process for me but I’m in a good place now,” Woods said. “It’s progression. I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament and it is finally there.”
Woods arrived by plane Monday afternoon from Florida and went directly to Augusta National’s practice chipping area, where he hit about 70 shots with no sign of the prior horrid form, and driving range, where he spent slightly under an hour.
During the workout, comfortable-looking Woods appeared to be listening to music, dancing at times, and was smiling and relaxed, sharing hugs with former swing coach Sean Foley, past British Open winner Darren Clarke and O’Meara.
“It was good to catch up with Mark again,” Woods said. “We text each other all the time, so it felt like old times out there. I miss him.”
Woods’ casual manner and successful shotmaking harkened back to the form that made Woods a four-time Masters winner, his most recent green jacket victory coming 10 years ago.
He has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open as he chases the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus.
His manner was a sharp contrast to recent struggles in a 13-month span where he has managed only three 72-hole finishes.
After sending his first tee shot well left into pine trees near the adjacent ninth fairway, Woods blasted over the trees to five feet from the cup for a birdie and practiced his chipping on the hole as well.
“My chipping is fine and today was good as I wanted to test out some wedges,” Woods said. “That was why I was chipping a little bit more.”
Woods put his approach at the par-5 second 30 feet from the cup but missed an eagle putt. At the third he chipped within inches of the cup. At the par-3 fourth his stopped his tee shot 10 feet from the cup.
At the seventh Woods put his approach three feet from the cup. At nine, he chipped to 20 feet and sank the long par putt.
“Don’t ever underestimate Tiger Woods,” O’Meara said. “I saw some good signs out there.”
World number one Rory McIlroy, who would complete a career Grand Slam and win his third major in a row by capturing his first green jacket on Sunday, practiced Monday alongside two amateur debutantes, reigning British Amateur champion Bradley Neil of Scotland and American Byron Meth, the US Public Links champion.
– Rivals watch Tiger too –
But as excited as people are about McIlroy’s run at history, curiosity over Woods stole the show Monday.
“There’s always a buzz when he’s in the field,” Sweden’s second-ranked Henrik Stenson said. “It’s good to see him back in action and see where his game is at.”
“We want him back. We need him back,” said American Brandt Snedeker. “He brings a lot of drama. I would love to see him in it on Sunday.”
Australia’s fifth-ranked Jason Day hopes to stay under the radar with the most attention on McIlroy, US star Jordan Spieth and especially Woods.
“Everyone’s excited and interested to see how he performs this week, what the state of the game is for him, because he’s such a huge part of golf,” Day said.
Reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, who has endured a comeback of his own, said Woods must have a mental fight as well as a physical one with all the attention on his game.
“Mentally, it must be quite exhausting and we know how important the mental part is in golf,” Kaymer said.
“Hopefully he’s strong enough, he has people to talk to, and he finds a way to compete as good as he can. Because we all know when he’s around, somehow it does make us play better, as well.
“I never experienced someone who played better than him in my era… for me, what I have seen and what I have experienced, he’s the man.”
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Wike, PDP attack on APC members worries party
Lai Mohammed, APC National Publicity Secretary
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday raised alarm about the increasing violent acts against its members and supporters in Rivers state as the governorship election counts down.
At a news conference in Abuja, Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the party recounted violent attacks on some of its members and further raised concerns that the nation's security outfits were becoming a tool in the hands of some privileged Nigerians.
He noted that the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate in Rivers state Nyesom Wike are guilty of going after its members while being aided by the nation's security agencies.
Read full statement below:
Let me give you some instances.
1. Last week, nine members of our party were killed in cold blood, while many others were injured, when armed PDP thugs invaded Obrikom and Obor communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government of Rivers state.
These same thugs set ablaze the residence of Vincent Ogbagu, our candidate for the House of Assembly elections.
2. Dozens of our members have been arrested on frivolous charges, just to put them away.
3. At least four persons were arrested just because they defected to our party.
4. APC members have been subjected to persistent harassment and intimidation across the state, using the Police in Rivers and the Zone 6 in Calabar. Over 150 prominent members have been victims of this unprovoked persecution.
5. And just today, we received another sad news from Rivers. An APC chieftain, Christopher Adube, was reportedly shot dead over the weekend. Adube, who hails from the Egbema Local Government Area, was said to have been shot dead at his residence
These are just some of the instances of what APC members and supporters in Rivers State have been subjected to in recent days.
THE ROLE OF THE SECURITY AGENCIES
It is very sad indeed that the terrorizing of APC members and supporters in Rivers State has been carried out despite the presence of the police and other security agencies in the state.
In fact, most of the attacks were carried out with the collusion of the security agencies, who have exchanged the garb of partisanship for that of professionalism. Elements of the security agencies have also participated directly in the targeted harassment and intimidation of our members. Even when our members have run to the police for succour, they have found none.
The case of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, of the Gokana Local Government Area, Mr. Kadilo Kabari, was particularly astonishing. He and Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, were attacked by PDP thugs right inside the Divisional Police Headquarters at Kpor.
Their offence was that they dared to challenge PDP thugs, dressed in INEC kits, who were engaged in massive rigging during last week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state
That these PDP thugs could use a police station for rigging speaks volumes about the role of the security agencies in that election.
THE ROLE OF INEC
Unfortunately, the violence targeted at APC members in Rivers, especially during the last elections, was carried out in the full glare, and in most cases with the connivance of INEC officials in the state.
Of course, it is needless to say that the collusion of INEC with the PDP and the police to pave the way for unbridled violence against APC members and supporters, and the subsequent rigging of the elections, was spearheaded by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Rivers, Ms. Gesilia Khan. This issue is already the subject of a very strong petition which our party has written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
CONCLUSION
We have decided to give the details of the relentless killing, maiming, harassment and intimidation of our members and supporters in Rivers State before, during and after the Presidential and National Assembly elections so that Nigerians can see that everything has been done, and is still being done, to make sure that free, fair and peaceful elections do not hold in the state
The attacks, arrests and intimidation targeted at APC members and supporters in Rivers have become even more widespread in the run up to the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
We are very concerned that the prevailing atmosphere of mindless violence and brigandage does not augur well for a free, fair and credible elections in the state.
We are worried that no one has been held responsible even where our members have been killed, and that the police and other security agencies, as well as INEC, have turned themselves to appendages of the PDP, in what is nothing but the height of impunity.
We are therefore using this opportunity to call on local and international observers, as well as the Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of The Situation Room, to pay a close attention to Rivers State – as well as other states considered to be flash points – during the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
In particular, they should beam their searchlight on the role of the security agencies and INEC officials in Rivers, who have decided to jettison their neutrality and join the fray.
To prevent the security agencies from becoming the tools of harassment and intimidation in the hands of PDP members and officials, we are opposed to the attachment of security personnel to PDP officials during the elections. This will go a long way in reducing cases of persecution of our members.
The hierarchies of the security agencies, especially the police and the DSS, as well as INEC, must read the riot act to their members posted to Rivers State for election duties. The kind of mindless collusion with the PDP by the same officials mandated to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful polls – which was witnessed in Rivers during the Presidential elections – will not be tolerated this time.
We appeal to our members and supporters in Rivers State to continue to conduct themselves peacefully, while making sure they document every case of killing, maiming, harassment and intimidation targeted at them, as well as all instances of election malpractice. In the fullness of time, no one who has engaged in this untoward actions will go scot-free as they will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
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PDP BoT member campaigns for APGA’s Otti
Dr Alex Otti: APGA’s governorship candidate and former Diamond Bank MD
Chief Tony Ukasanya, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Eastern Nigeria has urged the electorate to vote massively for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Alex Otti, in the 11 April poll in the state.
Ukasanya made the call on Monday at Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, during a reception in honour of Otti by an Abuja-based business woman, Mrs Josephine Nwaeze.
Ukasanya, a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, described the APGA candidate as the only one in Abia with the capacity to transform the state.
He said Otti had excelled in the banking industry as Diamond Bank's chief executive officer and had the requisite experience, exposure and network to attract local and international investors to the state.
Ukasanya said: "He knows where all the financial grants and aids are domiciled in the world and he will access them for the development of Abia.
“Besides, Otti is humane and will touch people's lives positively, if elected.
“This is a man that is accomplished and during his school days, he always came top in class and he graduated with First Class in Economics and I am sure that he will be a first class governor in Nigeria.
“We do not want a governorship candidate that is being sponsored and cannot exercise self-independence which has been the hallmark exhibited by past administrations in the under development of the state due to their poor background.”
In her speech, Nwaeze described Otti's emergence as a new dawn for Abia, saying that God had finally beamed his light on the state for its success and prosperity.
She said that women in the locality resolved on the candidacy of Otti due to his sterling qualities and would vote massively for the APGA gubernatorial candidate in the April 11 elections.
She, however, appealed to Otti to remember women when he becomes the governor.
Otti, in his remarks, said he decided to join the race out of a strong desire to rescue the people from penury and abject poverty.
“I have come to fix our state and save our people from further impoverishment by heartless and wicked leaders, who are insensitive to the plight of the people,” he said.
He assured the people that he would deploy the state resources to the development of all sectors of the state economy, if voted into office.
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Ex-security adviser urges Niger-Delta youths against militancy
FILE PHOTO: Militants on Nigerian waters
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, Senior Special Adviser on Security to former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, on Monday urged youths in the Niger Delta to shun any act of violence and militancy.
Sara-Igbe, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that youths should resist any attempt to lure them to go back to the creeks.
He said any attempt to resort to militancy would be crushed by the Federal government.
Sara-Igbe, a security expert, said Niger Delta people should learn from the way the government was dealing with Boko Haram and shun any plan to return to militancy.
According to him, any attempt to return to militancy in the Niger Delta, will be crushed by the Federal Government.
"So, the best we can do is to embrace the new government diplomatically, so that we can be part of it and have a voice," he said.
Sara-Igbe commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, fulfilling a promise to conduct a free and fair election, and congratulating the president-elect.
He urged the Chairman of INEC to redeploy some of the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the states because they had been compromised.
He said there was need to reshuffle them to avoid the experience in some states during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
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Turkey lifts ban on Twitter
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey
Turkey on Monday blocked access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube over the publication of images of a Turkish prosecutor killed by leftist militants during a hostage standoff last week.
The online sites were inaccessible for many users in Turkey, with the Hurriyet newspaper saying that service providers received an order from prosecutors to block those three internet giants as well as other websites.
The authorities set a deadline of four hours for Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to remove the offending content.
Facebook was initially the only one to comply with the deadline and access to the social network was restored accordingly, Tayfur Acarer, head of country’s telecommunications authority (TIB), told Hurriyet.
The ban on Twitter was also lifted later after it also gave in to Turkey’s demand, said Bulent Kentles, the secretary general of the union of Internet service providers (BSE).
However a Twitter source, who did not confirm that the social media platform had complied with Turkey’s demand, said the company planned to appeal the Turkish court order.
Discussions with YouTube were ongoing, Hurriyet quoted Kentles as saying.
YouTube.com ran the text of a court ruling on its site saying an “administration measure” had been implemented by TIB.
– 166 websites blocked –
Hurriyet said the order blocked a total of 166 websites which published the images, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Publication of any material related to the hostage standoff amounted to “terrorist propaganda” inciting people to “hatred and violence” and disturbing the public order, the court ruling read.
The ban was widely circumvented as well as mocked by many of Turkey’s almost 12 million Twitter users, with one user named @BinaShah writing: “Come to Turkey and disconnect (possible new tourism slogan).”
The hashtag #TwitterisblockedinTurkey quickly made it to Twitter’s top world trending topics.
Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz and his two captors linked to the Marxist Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party–Front (DHKP-C) were killed after a shootout at a courthouse in Istanbul last Tuesday.
The DHKP-C had published pictures showing one of the militants — his face concealed by a scarf with the group’s red and yellow insignia — holding a gun to the hostage’s head in the prosecutor’s offices.
The images were circulated on social media while the siege was going on and were published by several Turkish newspapers as well as news websites.
A day after the standoff, Turkish prosecutors launched a probe into four newspapers for disseminating “terrorist propaganda” after they published the controversial images.
– No such freedom anywhere in the world –
Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday that the bans were “to do with the publishing of the prosecutor’s picture”, describing it as “unacceptable”.
“What happened in the aftermath is as sad as the incident itself… There is no such freedom anywhere in the world,” he told a news conference in Ankara.
European Parliament member Marietje Schaake of the Netherlands took to Twitter to condemn the ban as “another disproportionate response restricting press freedom.”
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had caused controversy after he revealed he had personally denied accreditation to the funeral of Kiraz for media organisations who had used the image of the captive prosecutor.
“Freedom of the press is as important as mourning and respect. Freedom of the press is as important as not playing into the hands of terrorist propaganda,” Davutoglu said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been repeatedly criticised for using court orders to block critical websites, topping a Google table for content removal requests.
Last year the search engine also accused Turkey of intercepting its Internet domain, redirecting users to other sites.
The government blocked Twitter and YouTube in March 2014 after they were used to spread a torrent of audio recordings implicating Erdogan — then premier — and his inner circle in an alleged corruption scandal.
Turkey’s parliament last month approved legislation to tighten the government’s control over the Internet by allowing it to block websites without prior judicial authorisation, sparking outrage both at home and abroad.
Erdogan has also made no secret of his disdain for social networks, comparing them to a “murderer’s knife” and once famously vowing to “eradicate” Twitter.
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C.Palace leave Man City’s title bid in tatters
Manchester City players leave the pitch dejected
Manchester City’s Premier League title defence is in tatters after a surprise 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace left the champions nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea on Monday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were rocked as Glenn Murray’s first half goal and Jason Puncheon’s excellent free kick immediately after the restart gave Palace the cushion they needed to withstand late pressure after Yaya Toure had given City hope with a 78th minute strike.
City’s third successive away league defeat, their fifth loss in their last seven games in all competitions, leaves them languishing in fourth place with Chelsea also having a game in hand on them.
Their predicament was simply summed up by Pellegrini before this game when City’s manager admitted his side needed a perfect end to the season and a Chelsea stumble to regain pole position.
Yet while Pellegrini has had his eyes set on tracking down the leaders, the weekend victories for Arsenal and Manchester United confirmed City are now in a testing battle to finish in the top three, which guarantees a place in next season’s Champions League group stage
In the circumstances, next weekend’s Manchester derby has assumed even more significance than usual.
“For today I’m very happy with the way the team played, but I’m very disappointed with the score,” Pellegrini said.
“All we can do is try to add the most amount of points we can and we will see who is first, second, third and fourth.”
If City were to avoid becoming the latest side to fall victim to Alan Pardew’s rejuvenated Palace team, they would have to maintain high standards at both ends of the pitch.
Sergio Aguero’s first half display suggested he was more than capable of providing a cutting edge in front of goal but it was at the back where Pellegrini’s side were found wanting.
City have made a habit of conceding costly goals this season with Pellegrini failing to settle on a convincing and consistent back-four.
Jason Puncheon’s curling free-kick delivered the sucker punch
– In control –
There was an early sign Palace were capable of troubling the visitors when Martin Kelly’s low cross should have been met with a better finish than Wilfried Zaha’s skied effort after just two minutes.
But much worse was to come 10 minutes before the end of the first half when Murray made the breakthrough while the visitors appealed for offside.
Prior to that moment, Pellegrini’s team had looked in control, with Aguero striking the woodwork with a smart snapshot after creating space on the edge of the Palace area.
That came after the Argentina forward’s pace had allowed him to collect Joe Hart’s long clearance and set up David Silva, who was denied only by Julian Speroni’s excellent save.
But those efforts counted for nothing in the 34th minute when City failed to deal with a clipped ball into the box from Joel Ward after a harmless looking corner had been cleared.
The visitors were convinced first that Scott Dann was offside as he moved onto Ward’s ball in and fired a volley that deflected off Hart, and then questioned whether Murray had strayed beyond the defence as he followed in to score from close range.
Referee Michael Oliver and his assistants were unmoved by the protests that continued at the break, with City captain Vincent Kompany continuing to make his feelings known.
It did mean, however, that Palace had a foothold in the game and they have demonstrated impressive tenacity in recent weeks.
It was clear City faced a testing challenge to get back into the game but the task facing them grew even more daunting when Puncheon added the second goal three minutes after the restart.
Once again the visitors did themselves no favours with Fernandinho producing an unnecessary foul to halt Murray just outside his own area, handing Puncheon the opportunity to lift an excellent free-kick over the defensive wall and beyond Hart.
City were convinced they should have had a penalty when Murray appeared to handle and Toure’s powerful shot provided them with a late lift but they were unable to find an equaliser.
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Make education priority, SSANU tells Buhari
General Muhammadu Buhari
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) on Monday called on the president-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari to make education his major focus.
The National Vice President (West), Mr Alfred Jimoh made the call in a telephone interview with NAN in Lagos.
Jimoh said that having been a one-time president of the country, Buhari was in a position to have a better understanding of the needs of the sector and its strategic place in national development.
According to him, for a nation to attain its dreams of becoming a top economy as well as be respected among comity of nations, it must have a sound education sector that will enhance human capital development.
“Gen. Buhari seems to understand the system and that education, among other key sectors, is one of the areas he would strive to turnaround, when he takes over the mantle of leadership.
“Currently there are many challenges bedeviling the sector which need urgent intervention.
“We congratulate him on his victory as the incoming president of our great country but having said this, we would like him to, on getting into office, to quickly settle down to work.
“We actually want a situation where he would quickly convene a meeting of stakeholders in the sector, in order to bring to the table all burning issues and come out with a lasting solution.
“Such meeting will in no small measure bring about the desired change that has been long expected in the entire sector and therefore the long expected national transformation and development attained,” he said.
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Ambode: All ethnic groups will be safe in my hands
Akinwunmi Ambode: promises to protect all ethnic groups
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode, on Monday said if elected, he would promote the interest of every ethnic groups within the state.Ambode spoke in the wake of the social media stir created following the comment of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu that Igbos in Lagos would perish in the lagoon should they fail to vote for Mr. Ambode, his choice for Lagos governorship.
In a statement on Monday Ambode said every group and ethnic is important to build Lagos.
"Every group in Lagos will be safe in my hands as governor. "will not discriminate against any religious or ethnic group. It is our Lagos and we must build it together," he said.
"In my acceptance speech after the primaries I made this note that I will be a governor for all and Lagos is safe in my hands. I want to build on the foundation of unity, peace and progress and development laid by my predecessors.
"And though tongue and tribe may differ, we stand in brotherhood in Lagos from the smallest ethnic groups to the major ones. We are all stakeholders," the APC candidate said.
The APC candidate faces a tough race with Jimi Agbaje of the PDP.
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8 political parties back Gov Ahmed for re-election
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State: gets backing of eight political parties
Eight political parties in Kwara, under the aegis of Congress of Nigeria's Political Party (CNPP) have declared their support for the re-election of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Alhaji Adebayo Lawal, CNPP Chairman in Kwara, told journalists at a news conference on Monday in Ilorin, that the political parties have resolved to garner votes for Gov. Ahmed.
Lawal listed the political parties as Action Alliance (AA), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), United Progressives Party (UNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Others are United Democratic Party (UNP), Citizen Popular Party (CPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and African Congress of Democrats (ACD).
Lawal, State Chairman of AA, was joined by the governorship candidates of the other political parties to declare their support for the APC in the forth coming elections.
He said the support of the CNPP for the APC candidate was informed by the outcome of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly polls in which APC emerged victorious.
"It is no longer news that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari won the general elections held on Saturday March 28.
"The incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan had taken courageous decision to congratulate him hours before INEC declared Buhari the winner," Lawal said.
He described APC and its candidates as those to beat in the coming elections by virtue of trend of the previous ones.
Lawal said the CNPP was taking the step in order to be in the mainstream of the nation's politics by ensuring that Gov. Ahmed of the APC was re-elected.
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Police place politicians under surveillance
Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba
Kogi Police Command said on Monday that it had placed certain categories of politicians in the state under surveillance, as part of efforts to ensure peaceful conduct of April 11 elections.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Shola Adebayo who announced this to newsmen in Lokoja, said that the move was in response to reports reaching the police that some politicians were planning to attack INEC staff on the day of the election.
He said that the police had since closely monitored activities of politicians with a view to curtailing their excesses before, during and after the elections.
Adebayo said that the state Police Commissioner, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, had already held a meeting with leaders of political parties on the development.
He said they were all advised against embarking on any action that might breach the peace of the state.
“The commissioner has warned all of them to abide by the peace accord they signed before the election,” he said.
He said that the commissioner had directed all police formations in the state to deal decisively with any act of violence, saying that any politician caught formenting trouble would have himself to blame.
While assuring that the police had put in place strategies to achieve peace before, during and after the elections, Adebayo listed Ayangba, Aiyetoro-Gbede, Odolu, Ebiya and Ajaka as some of the crisis prone areas.
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Adesina wants Nigerians abroad to vote
INEC officials with ballots paper
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye
A Nigerian Security Expert based in South Africa, Prince Debo Adesina, on Monday called for the enactment of a law that would allow Nigerians abroad vote in elections.
Adesina told NAN in Port Harcourt that Nigerians in diaspora had been clamouring for an opportunity to participate in electing their leaders in the country.
He urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to assist in seeing to the enactment of a law that would allowfor Diaspora voting.
“We congratulate the president-elect on his victory.
“We appeal to him to use his goodwill in facilitating the enactment of a law that will allow Nigerians living abroad to vote in future elections. This will give us a sense of belonging.
“Nigerians in Diaspora are tired of being disenfranchised. We want the President-elect to see to it that Nigerians abroad are allowed to vote in future," he pleaded.
Adesina also urged the President-elect to make Nigerians feel the impact of the Nigeria-South Africa bilateral relationship.
He said the relationship should create jobs and opportunities for Nigerians at home and in South Africa.
“We have many Nigerians living in South Africa. MTN, a South African owned company, makes so much money in Nigeria.
“The bilateral relationship should also allow GLO to make an in-road into South Africa to create jobs for our people and also make money.
“At the moment, the bilateral relationship is lop-sided because South African is benefitting more,” he said.
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INEC reschedules cancelled Edo NASS election
Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo, Mike Igini, said on Monday that the National Assembly election for Orhionmwon which was cancelled would hold on Saturday, April 11.
He announced the new date in Benin while addressing newsmen.
It should be recalled that the March 28 National Assembly election was cancelled due to non-availability of electoral materials including result sheets.
“Quite a number of challenges which arose during the March 28 elections and were brought to our attention by the public have been acknowledged.
“I will be meeting with electoral officers after this conference to review the outcome of the March 28 polls.
“Lessons learnt will be used in planning for Saturday’s State House of Assembly elections,” he said.
Igini warned electoral officers against violating the commission's electoral procedure.
“The April 11 election is going to be more challenging because it involves representation at the grass root level.
“As such a breach of electoral procedures would not be tolerated; reactions would be swift and immediate if there are any,” he stressed.
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Ex-minister calls for massive votes for APC candidates on April 11
Chris Ogiewonyi: urges massive support for APC candidates
Former Minister of State for Works Chris Ogiewonyi has appealed to voters in Edo to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls.
He said at a news conference on Monday in Benin that a vote for the APC would translate to more development in the state.
He said being in the opposition had not actually worked in favour of the state and urged the people to vote for the APC now that the party controlled the center.
He stressed the need for the people to continuously support Gov. Adams Oshiomhole by casting their votes for all candidates of the APC.
“What Edo people want is development; more modern schools, increased economic stability for job creation in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
“We must reject the toga of opposition and reject the persuasion of those who seek to use an expected numerical edge in the state House of Assembly to instigate instability and chaos in Edo.
“The argument that an opposition-controlled legislature acts as checks on the excesses of the executive is tenable only in a healthy political development,” he stated.
Ogiewonyi, who said the politics of inclusion was a panacea for attaining sustainable development globally,
added that “our interest as Edo people will be better served within the framework of the APC”.
He said “with an Illustrious son of the state as the National Chairman of the APC, Edo must vote APC so that as minority, the people can get the necessary leverage to secure appointive positions at the national level”.
It would be recalled that Ogiewonyi served as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but recently defected to the APC.
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PDP condemns political tension in Lagos, Ekiti
Adamu Mu’azu, PDP national chairman
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it termed as emerging “height of political tension'' in Lagos and Ekiti states, ahead of the April 11 elections.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary.
He urged the president-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to call his members and supporters, particularly in Lagos and Ekiti, to order.
Metuh noted that it was the peaceful atmosphere and level playing ground nurtured by the PDP-led administration that ensured Buhari's emergence at the March 28 presidential polls.
“Our country cannot at this moment afford to slide into anarchy, reign of terror and deliberate schemes to divide the people for selfish political reasons,” the statement quoted Metuh as saying.
He described as senseless and unpatriotic, the impeachment move against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, by out-going APC legislators in the state.
He also decried the alleged death threats on non-indigenes of Lagos State by a prominent Oba if they voted for the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje come April 11.
Metuh maintained that it was most unfortunate that a royal father should attempt to drag the revered traditional institution into partisan politics, adding that this should not be accommodated.
“Our response to the Oba is that he cannot play God and can never be God.
“God owns the universe and every part of it and can never share His glory with any human no matter how highly placed,” Metuh said.
He, therefore, called on non-indigenes in Lagos State irrespective of religion to turn against this unpatriotic stance, by coming out en masse to vote for PDP candidates on April 11.
He said the PDP totally reject the flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations concocted by the APC legislators against Fayose.
“We state in very clear terms that we will stand with him and bear our full weight in defense of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Ekiti state.” he said.
Metuh called on all democrats and the international community to take note of the current happenings in the country.
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Israel to support Nigeria in fight against Boko Haram, corruption
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel has promised to assist Nigeria in fighting corruption and terrorism and also help to develop the the agriculture sector.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, on Monday in Abuja.
The statement said the pledge was contained in a congratulatory letter signed by the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, to the President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
“The two countries face similar dangers and challenges in the daily struggle against those who wanted to terrorise their citizens.
“The latest news regarding the Boko Haram-ISIS alliance underscores the need for like-minded countries to unite in the fight against such radical terrorist organisations.
“I assure you that in this important campaign, Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Nigeria,” the statement quoted the Israeli leader as saying.
It expressed the hope that under Buhari’s leadership, the ties between both countries would become stronger.
“I wish you every success in the challenging task ahead and trust that under your presidency, the relationship, friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Israel will continue to expand and strengthen,” it said.
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We’ll defeat Amaechi hands down, says Wike
Nyesom Wike: PDP governorship candidate in Rivers
Nyesom Wike, the Rivers state governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party, PDP, has boasted that the victory recorded by the party during the presidential would not be repeated during the Saturday April 11, Governorship and State Assembly elections by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Wike who made this declaration at a PDP campaign rally today in Port Harcourt, the state capital lashed at Governor Chibuike Amaechi of River state for betraying President Goodluck Jonathan and is now campaigning that the state cannot afford to be in opposition to the APC-led Federal government at the centre. He said he has no regrets in supporting President Goodluck Jonathan and if another opportunity to do that comes he will do that many times over.
“Has Lagos state not been in opposition? Which state is as developed as Lagos state? Did Amaechi not take the state to opposition?"
On the governorship election, Wike said he learnt that the governor has been calling for the removal the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan accusing her of conniving with PDP to rig the March 28. “Let them bring Jega, President of United Nations to conduct the elections, we will win them again, and we'll start from Ikwerre local Government, his own local Government and beat him hands down.”
The PDP Governorship candidate warned that Governor Amaechi has been scheming to ensure that there would not be elections so that after May 29, the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari rted would supervise the election.
Reacting to the public protests of APC members to the INEC headquarters over the result of the election, he said they protested and the PDP supporters never reacted.
“But I must sound a note of warning that if they do it again, we will mobilize and chase them out. Enough is a enough. We are ready to meet them. They are planning to challenge us at the tribunal and we will meet them there,” Wike said.
The former Minister of State for Education assured the PDP supporters to get prepared for a victory party.
Also speaking at the PDP rally, Tele Ikuru, the deputy governor who defected to PDP few days to the presidential election said that as an engineer the projects executed by the state government were hanging.
He also said he had critically perused the manifestos of APC and PDP governorship candidates and found out that that of PDP is more realizable.
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