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Ifeanyi Uba Please Keep Your Fuel | By: Joseph Edgar

Look, me and some very reasonable people are not being carried away by this Andy UBA’s hemlock. His decision to release 13 million liters of fuel is nothing but crass betrayal and a childish attempt at populism in the face of imminent disgrace by the incoming government.
We are tired of this kind of symbolism, this is what has put us in this place of global mockery and national helplessness. How many filling stations does Uba have, what is the national fuel usage, he releases 15 days worth of fuel to the Nation and after that what next, we are still faced with the same issues that led to the strike in the first place.
Has he resolved his wahala with AMCON? Has he cleared himself of the fuel subsidy mess? Has he paid back Coscharis and other investors he has been owing. Abeg he is part of this problem and should go sit down with the union to engage government in a bid to finding lasting solution to the issue of subsidy and fuel supply in the country.
What Uba is doing can lead to the inevitable destruction of the country. If unions decide to go on strike to bring to the fore the underlying and covered up issues of corruption, back handling, favoritism that has bedeviled not only the subsidy regiment but the whole gamut of the demystification of the petroleum industry and one person decides to break ranks and moves fuel, he should be arrested because he knows that by the time the country is on complete lockdown all the underground schemes would come up in the open.
To me, Uba’s move is aimed at scuttling the cleansing process this strike would have thrown up. He wants us to continue to be held to ransom by his ilk hence his decision to break rank so that the strike will collapse. This we must fight. We must reject his poisonous fuel. Let the strike continue. Let companies shut down, let there be no light, let there be no fuel, let schools, hospitals, radio stations all shut down. We are ready for the sacrifice, we will not die if the aim is to clean up the system and throw people like UBA who have held us in contempt by their nefarious activities in the downstream sector into the dustbin.
The incoming Government should immediately engage the unions and assure them of their genuine desire to look critically into all the issues with a view to bringing lasting solutions to this matter. The outgoing Government have given themselves the last disgrace with this show of shame. They have prefabricated and run into their holes, we no longer are interested in them. Let the probes start, let Uba come out and tell us how he got his 13 million liters.
We are tired. We are tired. I don’t want his fuel. He should go and dump them in the Lagoon.
  

Oil marketers reportedly agree to call off strike.

According to a report sent in few minutes ago, Oil marketers in Nigeria have reportedly agreed to call-off their strike with immediate effect. They have also agreed to commence the immediate lifting of petroleum products across Nigeria in the next six hours.

This was contained in an agreement brokered by the Nigerian Senate after a meeting between the oil marketers and the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream, Senator Magnus Abe announced this at the end of the meeting at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Monday. 
The agreement also states that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) should immediately revoke the license of any oil marketer that refuses to lift petroleum products across Nigeria. With this development, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, MOMAN, IPMAN and all other officials also addressed the press where they affirmed the resolutions and agreement.
The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was present at the hearing and endorsed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government. 

Teenage sprinter becomes the fastest British woman in history.

A 19 year-old teenage sprinter, Dina Asher-Smith yesterday became the fastest British woman in history after setting a British 100m record of 11.02 seconds at the World Challenge Meeting in the Netherlands.
The Londoner disclosed that she was initially disappointed in herself because she thought her efforts were poor.‎

I wasn’t completely happy with it because my start was only alright and at the end I felt like I tightened up and lost my form. ‎So at first I was a bit annoyed. I looked at Dafne’s time and I thought it was amazing but I didn’t think I was anywhere near her so I’d wasted the opportunity.

“But then my time flashed up and I was absolutely over the moon. I really wasn’t expecting to run that time with the kind of race that I ran. So I was really, really happy. I’ve got a few things to work on so I think that points to me being able to replicate and do a bit better later in the season.”She said.

Juan Mata pays tribute to Gerrard, Drogba , Lampard,others in new blog post

Manchester United player and blogger, Juan Mata has paid tribute to Premier League legends, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, some of whom bade farewell to their clubs after their gamed. He titled his blog post, ‘It’s over now… but we’ll be back stronger!’. Read below.

Hi everyone,

This is my last blog’s entry of the season and I say goodbye until the next one. I hope you have enjoyed this weekly encounter as much as I have. You know, in the good times… and in the bad ones too. 

This is the end of a season with mixed feelings. In some stages we played very good football, being very competitive especially against our main rivals, and we enjoyed some important wins; on the other hand, there were periods when we were not consistent enough to fight for the title, or suffered some painful defeats. 

In general terms, we reached the main goal of the club this season: to have the chance to play the Champions League (we still have to earn it in the play-off round), but this team has to fight for trophies, and we will put all our efforts to that after summer. That’s what you deserve.

We finished the season with a draw at Hull that also meant the local team was relegated. It’s not nice to experience something like that on-site, unfortunately this is not the first time I see it. As I said, we approached this game in the most professional way, trying to win. At the end, our draw, plus Newcastle’s victory, leave Hull in the relegation zone. 

My support to their fans, we hope to see you back in the Premier League soon. By the way, Jonás goal for Newcastle tells a lot about life and the way to overcome the real problems.

In our game, my friend Víctor Valdés appeared in United’s starting XI for the first time. It was a great experience for him and also a reward to his good job at the training ground every week. On top of that, he completed a great game with a few big saves.

From a personal point of view, according to the stats I have played 2,420 minutes, scoring 10 goals and giving 4 assists. They are good numbers but, as always, I’ll try to get better year after year ;-). I hope to keep contributing goals and assists to achieve big things with the team.

Being the last week of the Premier League, we have seen a few farewells and some of them very significant. Like Steven Gerrard’s, for instance. I mentioned him a week ago for his relevance and contribution to the history of football. 

The same thing can be said, of course, about Frank Lampard, one of the best team-mates I have ever had and someone I have learnt a lot from. A true legend in both English and world football. I wish him all the best in his new stage in the United States and I thank him for his treatment to me at all times. And I don’t forget another great player and former team-mate, Didier Drogba, one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen and a phenomenal guy in every sense. 

With so many legends leaving, a good part of football’s history in England is leaving too.

Since we played on Sunday, I had time on Saturday to watch the games in la Liga, where the last minutes were absolutely thrilling. All of us who have played there followed the end of the championship with a lot of interest. 

At the Camp Nou, Xavi, a fantastic player, said goodbye to la Liga in Spain. He still has to play the Cup final at the same stadium against Athletic, and that will be Iraola’s farewell too. The last game brought joy to Valencia and Granada. 

I’m happy especially for my friends from Valencia –you guys deserve to be in the Champions League always– and for Paco Alcácer in particular, a gem of their football academy, a great striker and a great guy. 

On the other hand, I feel sorry for Eibar’s relegation, a modest club but also an exemplary one. I hope they can enjoy good times soon.

And, of course, I hope Real Oviedo can certify their promotion to the Second Division against Cádiz the next weekend, after a draw in the first leg. 

The atmosphere in the Carlos Tartiere was simply amazing. The stadium was absolutely full of fans committed to make the dream come true. I hope we can make it this year.

I’m starting to say goodbye… Now it’s time to switch off, to rest and get our strength back with a view to the exciting next season. I’ll see you soon in the tour of the United States. We had a fantastic experience there last summer and we hope to repeat in a few months.

 Thank you very much for your support in each and every game, you make this sport big and make us feel very proud. We are looking forward to achieve big things all together. Have a great summer!

Hugs!

Juan

Real Madrid boss, Ancelotti knows fate today

Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti’s chances of managing the club next season are 50-50. Although the Italian hasn’t confirmed his departure but he’s decided to take a year out to focus on his health.
His second spell at the Spanish club has been quite disappointing and there are reports that would be replaced by Adriano Galliani or Raphael Benitez.
The former Chelsea handler who knows fate today disclosed that if he is shown the exit door at the Bernabeu, he won’t be taking any managerial role from any club for now.
“I said it in the press conference and I repeat: I will stop for a year. Also because I have a very serious reason for stopping. I have to have an operation because of my cervical stenosis. For some time, it has been affecting my hands and if I lose any more time, it could pass into legs, so I have an appointment for surgery. And, frankly, I do not know how long I have to be physically stopped, in terms of the post-operative phase and the subsequent rehabilitation.

He continued,”It will be a pleasure to host Galliani for dinner, but I cannot change my programme. I will have the operation in Vancouver, Canada, where I have already got a house with my wife. I will rest, between Madrid and Canada. Because the two years at Real have been very tough, believe me.

“Nobody can imagine how much training Real takes out of you, in terms of physical and nervous energy. Then, I will return home for another event: in a month, my grandson will be born. That’s something that I cannot and do not want to miss.” He stated.

This man won't come down from the tree until Buhari is sworn in.

‎More proofs that unemployment is rife in Nigeria or how do you explain this decision from a breadwinner? How am I even sure sef?

Mallam Kaura, has climbed a tree in Quan Pan LGA of Plateau state, and won’t be coming down till General Buhari is sworn in as President  on May 29. A husband of two and father of five, he climbed the tree at Kantoma in Kurgwi Quan Pan LGA on Friday 22nd May 2015.

"I will not pay oil marketers" -Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The current face off between the federal government and oil importers over subsidy payment isn’t ending anytime soon‎. According to TheNation, 
Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has accused marketers of submitting fraudulent payment claims of about N159billion in exchange rate differentials and she has vowed not to approve payment except they are verified by relevant authorities.

Speaking at a‎ farewell meeting in Abuja she said oil marketers are the ones inflicting sufferings on Nigerians and not the government.

“Marketers were asking for N159 billion for exchange rate differentials from the outstanding N200 billion. There has been so much fraud and scam so I have refused to sign for that money but have agreed that a committee be set up involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to verify marketers’ claims. Marketers just want to make Nigerians suffer.” she added

She also accused marketers of exploiting Nigerians. “They are making a lot of money from black market activities, people should rise up against the blackmail of oil marketers. ‎I will not pay the N159 billion without verification, Nigerians should not allow themselves to be blackmailed.”
She continued: “I cannot say that the problem is due to not paying marketers, the process of paying marketers is always a rolling process and there has never been a time government reduced its financial obligation to marketers to zero.

“In a year where so much effort has been made to pay marketers including prioritizing their payment as subsidy claims in favour of other financial obligation like paying contractors, yet fuel scarcity still persists at this  particular point in time suggests that something suspicious is happening.”

Credit: thenationonlineng

Photos: Chelsea celebrate title win +Drogba bids farewell to Stamford Bridge.

The legends keep leaving in droves. ‎Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba today bade farewell to Stamford Bridge after two spells at the club. The icing on the cake for the Ivorian was that ended his career at the club on a high note; a Premier League trophy.

He addressed Stamford Bridge after the presentation of the Premier League trophy. It’s a difficult moment for me. This one is really special because it’s going to be the last one as a player.

“I want to thank first of all Mr Abramovich, because people keep talking about the amount of money he put in this club but I think it’s a great investment looking on all the great years we’ve had and we’ve won everything.

“I want to say thank you also to Jose. You know how special he is for me. He gave me the chance to come back and the chance to come to this club.

“I want to say thank you to all my ex-team-mates, all the managers I played for under this shirt and a special thank you for this guy because without him and most of his assists there would not be the Didier Drogba celebration: Frank Lampard, thank you.”

Barcelona pay tribute to Xavi as they celebrate title win.

Barcelona midfield maestro, Xavi Hernandez bade an emotional farewell to Camp Nou today. It was the final game of the season and his last La Liga game at Barcelona FC (as he has two more to go). After the game ended, players took to the field to celebrate a well-deserved title win.

Moments before the kick-off, a huge banner of the legend was displayed by fans in the stadium.
The 35-year-old joined the Spanish club at age 11 in 1991 before making his debut in 1998. He has won 8 La Liga titles, 2 Spanish Cups and 3 Champions League trophies.
He will be joining Al-Sadd an Arabian club next season.

The Spaniard who was overwhelmed with tears gave a touching speech before joining the rest of his teammates in celebrating the title win.

 “Many thanks for everything. You’ve made me the proudest man in the world, today and in those 17 seasons. This is the best club in the world. This isn’t over yet. As the coach said, we want the Cup and the Champions League too.‎ I tried to control my emotions, but in the end it wasn’t possible. I’ll miss everything about Barça.‎” He said.

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