NFF Begs Super Falcons, Says They Will Get Their Entitlements Soon

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pledged to pay players and officials of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons all their entitlements for winning the Women Africa Cup of Nations for the eighth time.

The federation craved the understanding of the team, noting that the money was not readily available at the moment.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who met with the players and officials at the Agura Hotel on Tuesday, said the Federation was not happy owing players and coaches.

“There is no gainsaying that there is severe economic challenges and all organizations, whether government or private, are feeling the pinch. It is not Government’s doing; it is not anybody’s doing,” he said. “We know we have financial commitment to you [players and officials of Super Falcons] and we have not at anytime stated otherwise. But the money is not readily available at the moment.”

Sanusi said: “I have come to appeal to you, to understand the situation of the Federation, to understand the situation of the country at the present and exercise patience. We will pay you all monies you are being owed as soon as we receive same from the Government, just as we paid the U17 boys who won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile last year, after the tournament. And just as we sorted out Coach Samson Siasia’s wages as soon as we had the funds, after the Olympics.”

Credit: dailytrust

Pope Francis Begs For Immediate Ceasefire In Syria

Pope Francis appealed on Wednesday for an immediate ceasefire in Syria, calling for “at least” a truce enabling civilians, especially children, to be evacuated, after Aleppo came under fierce air assault.

“I want to underline and reiterate my closeness to all the victims of the inhumane conflict in Syria,” he said at his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

“It is with a sense of urgency that I renew my appeal, begging those responsible, with all my strength, for an immediate ceasefire to be imposed and respected at least long enough to consent the evacuation of civilians, especially children, who are still trapped under the ferocious bombardments,” he said.

On Tuesday, regime ally Russia carried out its heaviest air strikes in days on Aleppo, killing 25 civilians including four children according to a monitor, and causing massive damage in several residential areas of the city’s rebel-held east.

Syria’s army announced a bid last month to retake the city, which has been divided since mid-2012.

The assault began after the collapse of a short-lived truce negotiated by Washington and Moscow, and has seen the besieged east of Aleppo come under fierce aerial assault.

Read More:

http://guardian.ng/news/pope-francis-begs-for-immediate-ceasefire-in-syria/

Be Patient, Osinbajo Begs Nigerians Over Economic Hardship

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, pleaded for greater understanding and patience of Nigerians in the face of biting economic headship in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, is aware of the economic hardship facing the people, and he feels “the pains that you feel, and has asked me to reassure you that a glorious dawn awaits. Osinbajo disclosed this in his goodwill message at the South West Conference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan yesterday.
“We seek your continued trust and ask you all to join hands with the government as we tackle the challenges ahead. Change is not easy, but, we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians. The change that we advocate will be irrevocable when we are finally done,” he said.
Osinbajo, who was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, admitted that  just a little over a year ago that the present administration came to power, majority of Nigerians are already fed up with the direction that the seemingly rudderless ship of the Nigerian state was headed.
He continued: “Nigerians who desired the needed change that we promised voted for our great party in their millions. That confidence reposed in us by millions of Nigerians is what we have come to renew.
“Since we have savoured the sweetness of that electoral victory, we cannot afford to betray the trust that paved the way to usher in change from the ineptness of the past. When we took over the reins of governance, we knew things were bad. What we did not realise, however, was just how bad they really were. Now we know better!
“We have since been working extremely hard to remedy the rot and malaise that pervaded our dear country. The current pains and suuferings that our people are feeling today are the results of yesterday’s mismanagement of the commonwealth of our great country.”
“Every day, as I travel round the country to meet our people, I see on their faces evidence of pains and trauma they are going through. I have heard the anguish and cries of our people in various town meetings that I have addressed. As you all may well know, the darkest part of the night is the period before the dawn. Nigeria’s dawn is about to break. We are determined to turn things around, so that, once more, our people will begin the real impact of government in their lives.
“Our plea to our people is for greater understanding and patience even as we forge ahead to continue the work of making the lives of all Nigerians better again. We seek your continued trust and ask you all to join hands with the government as we tackle and surmount the challenges ahead. Change is not easy, but we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians…”

Read More:

http://sunnewsonline.com/economic-hardship-osinbajo-begs-nigerians-for-patience/

Ijaw Youth Group Begs Agitators To Embrace Peace

A group under the aegis of Ijaw Community Association has called on the various Niger Delta militant groups to embrace peace and dialogue with the federal government, saying renewed agitation in the region has added more difficulty to the already ailing economy.

It said the activities of various militant groups who have been destroying oil facilities were disrupting economic activities in the region, stressing that they had caused the Nigerian economy to go into recession.

This call was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary General of the Abuja Chapter of the group, Comrade Bidi Christopher, who noted that the renewed agitation has further aggravated the situation as investors are now moving out to safer grounds.

According to him, “?the Ijaw community Association  in Abuja {IJCA} is using the medium to call these sets of youths under the aegis of various fronts to stop further endangering and hampering the already harsh economy in the region.?

“This is a call for all present and ex-agitators that there is no need for attacking and destroying oil facilities in the country, making the already dwindling economy more difficult. This has further aggravated the situation making investors leaving the country for safer grounds.”

Read More: thisdaylive

Argentina Begs Messi Not To Quit

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and the country’s President Mauricio Macri urged Lionel Messi on Monday not to leave the national team despite his vow to quit after a humiliating defeat.

The Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday.

He promptly told reporters he was quitting, throwing Argentine football into turmoil ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him,” Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online.

“He will go to Russia in form to be world champion.”

Messi, 29, is widely rated as the best player in the world, but Sunday’s loss was his fourth defeat in an international final for Argentina.

After an outpouring of disappointment by fans online, Macri joined the calls for the Barcelona superstar to stay with Argentina.

“He called him and told him how proud he feels of the national team’s performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism,” a spokesman for Macri told AFP by telephone.

Credit: Guardian

APC Begs Fayose To Pay Workers’ Salaries

Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to Governor Ayodele Fayose to pay Ekiti workers to stop untimely deaths among them.

The party said it was saddened that the governor who brands himself the friend of workers to justify and blame his inability to pay five months salaries owed the state civil servants on the state debts profile.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party claimed that six workers in the state were reported dead in recent times over their inability to pay their medical bills.

He said in a statement that the sad development was avoidable if the governor had made the welfare of workers a priority of his administration as promised during campaign.

Accusing the governor of employing misinformation and deceits to manipulate the people, Olatubosun said all the points raised in his allegations against Dr Kayode Fayemi were not new, arguing that, that would not vitiate workers’ demand for their wages after collecting 20 months federal allocations, including local government allocations and  N9.6billion bailout cash.

“We have read time and again all the allegations the governor raised through his media aide and we have not found any merit that can mitigate the feeling among Ekiti people that Governor Fayose has a clear agenda to enrich himself while Ekiti people suffer.

“With all the allegations that the governor raised through his media aide, can he say he did not collect 20 months federal allocations, including N9.6billion bailout cash, refunds on federal roads, Ecological Fund, micro credit cash, banks’ community social responsibility charges, suffocating taxes and the fresh N21.6billion loan the governor took that cannot be traced to any government’s account?

“Again, with all the manipulation of figures, do Fayose’s lies change the DMO’s figure putting Ekiti State’s debts at N18billion under Fayemi’s administration?

Credit: Leadership

Fashola Begs Nigerians To Accept Hike In Electricity Tariff, Faults Jonathan’s Privatization Of Power Sector

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has noted that the increase in electricity tariffs is the first major policy the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is coming up with, describing same as “a painful pill,” which consumers have to “swallow.”Fashola disclosed this Monday during the second monthly meeting with stakeholders in the power sector in Lagos, where he also inspected some projects at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex.

Fashola’s comments came at a time Nigerian workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, joined by Civil Society Organizations embarked on peaceful protests against the policy which has grounded commercial activities in several cities in the country.

His words, “Importantly, I understand that people who have been disappointed over a long time will feel a sense of concern that again tariffs have gone up. But the truth is that these tariffs ought to have been there from day one. I don’t know why the government of yesterday was not courageous enough to tell us this was the price.

“It is a painful pill that I must appeal that we swallow. It is like quinine and malaria. It’s painful; it’s not sweet, I know that, but I do it because we are not left with many choices. This is the first major decision in power that this administration has taken. There are other problems.

“I can only appeal for some understanding and some trust that we do this in the best interest of our country. It is a hard decision, but I think down the line, we will have cause to look…”

The minister, who faulted the way the privatisation of the power sector carried out by the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan, said the sector was being plagued by several problems including gas supply shortfall and transmission issue.

Credit: Vanguard

Lawmaker Begs Kidnappers To Release His 78 Year Old Mother

Lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency and son of Madam Mabel Dagomie Abiante, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has pleaded with the abductors of his mother, kidnapped at Ngo Town, Andoni local government, Rivers State, three weeks ago, to release her unconditionally owing to her deteriorating health condition.

Ma Abiante was kidnapped on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at about 8:30pm from her residence, at Ngo town headquarters of Andoni local Government area of Rivers state.

Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante whose his seat at national assembly was nullified by the Appeal Court made the passionate appeal to the kidnappers today in Port Harcourt.

The abductors have turned down all entreaties by the family of 78-year old woman, insisting that a ransom of N50 Million be paid or she would be killed even as her health worsens.

Before she was kidnapped, the septuagenarian was recuperating from a major surgical operation.

The kidnappers, who shot their way to the victim’s house, made their first contact with the family on Friday December 4, 2015, demanding N50m.

Credit: Vanguard

Nick Cannon Begs Mariah Carey Not To Marry James Packer

The 35-year-old doesn’t want his ex-wife Mariah Carey to marry her new boyfriend James Packer – so much so that he begged her not to.

“Nick is begging Mariah not to marry James,” an insider tells In Touch Weekly. “He loves the co-parenting [to twins Moroccan and Monroe, 4] groove they’ve been in and he’s worried that might change if she gets married to someone else.”

Read More: intouchweekly

Tweep Begs Nigerians To Stop Mentioning @NASS

Man with the twitter handle @Nass, has pleaded with  Nigerians to stop mentioning him through various reactions by Nigerians for an open National Assembly.

The trending @Nass is coincidentally the real twitter handle of one Nasser Al-Saadi, a Senior Executive at Al Jazeera Media Network. See tweets below:

Ramadan: Buhari Begs Boko Haram To Embrace Peace

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged those who perpetrate violence and destruction in the name of Islam all over the world to desist from tarnishing the name of the religion.

In his message to Muslims Thursday as they started the 2015 Ramadan fast, the president called on Nigerians to pray for peace, love and prosperity throughout the country.

In a congratulatory message released on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, President Buhari implored Muslims to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period “by being helpful to all manner of people, learning and following the true message of the religion as taught by the Holy Prophet”.

The president in his message directed an appeal to the perpetrators of violence and destruction in the name of Islam all over the world to desist from tarnishing the name of the religion.

“As we make collective efforts to bring to a permanent end the menace of the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin countries, let me use this auspicious occasion to appeal to our misguided brothers to drop their arms, embrace peace and seek a better understanding of Islam during this Holy period and beyond,” Mr. Buhari said.

The president prayed to God to bring peace and harmony to all parts of the country and the world at large.

“I wish all our citizens a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem Mubarak,” the statement concluded.

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APC Chieftain Begs Party Leadership To Pardon Saraki, Dogara

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Francis Onabis has appealed to the leadership of the party to support Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Onabis in a statement signed in Lagos by his Media Officer, Ayokunle Oloye, said it will be undemocratic for the party not to recognize the leadership of the National Assembly who are its members.

“Their emergence is good for democracy in Nigeria. In an as much they are our party members, they were free to contest for the post of the president of the senate and Speaker,” Onabis said.

Onabis warned that the party leadership may be overheating the polity if Saraki and Dogara are sanctioned over the manner they emerged as Senate President and Speaker respectively.

Onabis said while the party leadership must not condone indiscipline of its members, it must also provide a level playing ground for all members at all time.

Onabis urged the leadership of both assemblies to work in line with the APC manifestos, stressing that it’s unhealthy if they form an opposition against the Buhari led administration.

“In as much as they are prepared to make the necessary change in the senate and work with both executive and judicial arm of government for the betterment of the Nation in line with our party blueprint for a new Nigeria, APC leadership must give them total support.”

He warned that the overall goal of the APC to bring positive change must not be traded on the alter of internal rancor, saying all arms of government have roles to play to make the APC-led Federal Government succeed.

Creditvanguardngr

Fani-Kayode Begs PDP Lawmakers To Vote Gbajabiamila For Speaker

 Former Director of Media and Publicity of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general elections, Femi Fani- Kayode has urged the PDP members in the House of Representative to vote for Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House.

Gbajabiamila is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position. Fani- Kayode described Gbajabiamila’s emergence as  the APC consensus candidate for the post as a welcome development.

Gbajabiamila polled 154 votes out of 182 votes to beat Yakubu Dogara in a primary conducted by the APC in Abuja on Saturday.

Read More: DailyPost

Gov. Suswam Begs Civil Servants, Family Members For Forgiveness

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue on Sunday pleaded with the civil expectations.

Suswam made the plea at the inter-denominational valedictory thanksgiving service in his honour at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi. “Please forgive me for my inability to meet up with your expectations as the governor of Benue State.

“But always remember that I had good intentions for civil servants in the state as shown in the 100 per cent salary increment I approved when I took over in 2007.

“It is not my making to owe staff salaries but due to the economic challenges in the country, I have no option but to leave behind a lot of challenges for the new government.

“However, when the new governor takes over, you will clearly understand that the financial challenges does not end with me,” he said.

He further pleaded with his family members for the actions and inactions he might have taken against their will, explaining that he was only carrying out his duties as the governor of the state.

The governor commended the state legislature and the judiciary for their support and the cordial relationship that existed between them.

Suswam commended the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for providing the needed platform for him to actualise his political ambition starting from the House of Representatives and as a governor.

He denied media publications that the party lost elections due to bad leadership, explaining that it was only natural for a party to rest after 16 years of being in power.

The governor commended his deputy for his loyalty and the government house staff for their support throughout his administration.

Earlier in his sermon, the President of NKST, Dr Ayohor Ateh, urged the people not to be afraid of the incoming administration for fear of being sacked or punished but have faith and trust in God.

Ateh charged the congregation to always rely on God, adding that many people were unnecessarily unrealistic.

Reading from Psalm 124 in the Holy Bible, the cleric urged the people to continue to pray for the governor and the state.

Credit: NAN

Patience Jonathan Begs Nigerians Not To Weep For Jonathan

The First Lady, Patience Jonathan on Thursday called on Nigerians not to weep for her and President Goodluck Jonathan over the loss of March 28, 2015 presidential election.

Rather, she urged Nigerians to thank God on their behalf for seeing them through throughout their years in Aso Rock.

Patience Jonathan, who was speaking at a farewell/award ceremony organised for her by the National Council of Women Societies, (NCWS) noted that President Jonathan has achieved what no Nigerian has accomplished.

She said there is nothing her husband was looking for having been deputy-governor, a governor, vice-president, acting-president and president. She stated that not all Presidents and their wives, who entered Aso Rock came out together.

Read More: NewMail

Mu’azu Begs IBB, Abdusalami To Intervene

The embattled Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has prevailed on former military President General Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar to save him from the threat to impeach him from office.

The governor decided to seek the intervention of the two elder statesmen from the state after attempts to pacify the lawmakers failed.

The governor has equally reached out to the state traditional council led by its chairman, Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar to save him from the imminent disgrace.

The state House of Assembly has issued a notice of impeachment on the governor for not carrying the lawmakers along in the running of the state.

Read MoreNewMail

Yoruba Group Begs Buhari Not To Scrap Amnesty Programme

The National Committee of Yoruba Youths on Thursday urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to continue with the amnesty programme for ex-militants in the Niger Delta Region.

This was contained in a statement issued by the President of the group, Oladimeji Odeyemi, in Ibadan. The statement said calls for the discontinuation of the programme were unfortunate.

Mr. Odeyemi said dozens of youth from the region had been transformed through the amnesty programme and were doing well in the society.

Mr. Odeyemi urged Mr. Buhari to sustain the tempo? of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and continue with its funding to avoid another youth restiveness.

According to him, with the successful implementation of the amnesty programme, Nigeria’s crude oil production hovers between 2.2 million barrels and 2.4million barrels per day. “We call on the incoming administration to sustain the tempo of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and continue with its funding.

“The outgoing Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, and his team have turned the amnesty programme into a model to evaluate performance and service delivery.

“The amnesty programme in just four years has succeeded in training both locally and offshore, about 20,000 youths out of the 30,000 beneficiaries enlisted in the scheme,’’ he said.

Mr. Odeyemi said the feat had produced trained manpower to provide services in the oil and gas, power, maritime, agro-allied and the aviation industries in the country.

“As at today, almost 20,000 of these beneficiaries are in various institutions abroad while significant numbers are schooling in some of our best private universities in the country.

“When these youths are fortified with skills, the Niger Delta and, indeed, Nigeria will not depend on crude oil alone as its source of income,’’ Mr. Odeyemi said.

Credit: NAN

Senator Begs Jonathan To Forgive Suspended Permanent Secretary

The senator representing Bauchi central, Abdul Ningi, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to forgive the Foreign Affairs ministry’s permanent secretary, who was sanctioned last week for recalling Nigeria’s envoys to South Africa without authorisation.

Mr. Sheni was suspended for recalling the diplomats in protest of the xenophobia in South Africa, a move criticized by the South African government.

Mr. Ningi criticised Mr. Sheni for his action, but urged the Senate on Tuesday to intervene and plead with the president to tamper justice with mercy.

“I am aware that the president and Commander-in-Chief is responsible for such a call and also aware that the permanent secretary has no power whatsoever to recall an ambassador without a clear directive by the government,” he said.

“Knowing the anger and the mood of this country and believing that the Senate and indeed the National Assembly did the right thing in suggesting and urging for the executive to recall the ambassador.

“I therefore want this Senate not to look the other way and the president, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to tamper justice with mercy.

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APGA Guber Candidate In Abia Crashes APC Caucus Meeting

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Alex Otti shocked many as he attended the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. He attended the meeting to solicit for the party’s support in Saturday’s re- run election in the state.

Otti held a closed- door meeting with some leaders of the APC before the caucus meeting started. Although the APC has a candidate in the re-run election, the race is between Otti and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okezie Ikpeazu.

Read More: DailyTrust

Don’t Forget Me When You Assume Office, Suswam Begs Governor Elect

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, yesterday pleaded with  the Governor-elect, Chief Samuel Ortom, not to forget him when he assumes office on May 29 2015.  Suswam, who congratulated Ortom on his victory at the polls  begged the governor-elect to look after him after his exit from office next month.

According to Nigeria Pilot, the governor stated this yesterday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, when he played host to Ortom.

He said, “When I leave (office), I will be a burden on you and you must take care of  me.” Suswam also said his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would not challenge Ortom’s victory in court, stressing that litigation would be an unnecessary distraction for the incoming government.

Earlier, Ortom, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he was overwhelmed when the governor called him on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory at the polls. He noted that the governor’s attitude signified a new dawn for the state and commended him for displaying “sound maturity” on the outcome of the election. He also praised his PDP opponent, Terhemen Tarzoor, who he said, had called to congratulate him. Meanwhile, Suswam said he had started a peaceful transition to enable the governor-elect to take over from him.

Read  Morenaij

Fani Kayode Reportedly Sneaks Into Tinubu’s House At Midnight To Beg For Mercy

While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) other members were probably sleeping or engaging in meetings aimed at curtailing the rising profile of the opposition candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, one of their top men was romancing them.

Our source revealed that the loquacious director of media and publicity of the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign, Fani Kayode was sighted sneaking into Bola Tinubu’s mansion in Bourdillion, Ikoyi, Lagos State last night.

Read More: abusidiqu.com