As a man of faith, I see 2015 election as a turning point – Oritsejafor

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Nigerians of all tribes and religions to unite against challenges in 2015.

He said Nigerians should approach 2015 with a renewed sense of vigour and the understanding for the development of the country.

Oritsejafor made the call in a New Year message, he said Nigerians should approach 2015 by inviting God’s presence to lead the country in everything and approach issues with a positive mind.

“If we want peace and prosperity then we must work for it and not lament over challenges; this is the spirit that will lead Nigeria to the promise land,’’ he said.

According to Oritsejafor, Nigerians must learn to support their leaders in prayers and physical support in the New Year.

He said Nigerians should show love and make sacrifices for the nation collectively, in a quest for a better Nigeria in 2015.

“Despite the daunting challenges in 2014, we were able to weather the storm and have emerged even stronger and can be counted among people of strong character and unwavering faith.

“ We have come to the end of another eventful year that truly tested our strengths and weaknesses; measured our faith in God and stretched our limits beyond what we all could have imagined.

“ As we reflect on the events of the past year and look forward to the times ahead, I want us to concentrate on the issue of overcoming all challenges,’’ he said.

Oritsejafor allayed fears among many Nigerians that the 2015 general elections would throw the country into chaos.

“As a man of faith, I see the election as Nigeria’s turning point.’’

He urged leaders in the country to be wise and courageous in their decisions in the coming year.

“It has already been known that the challenges are becoming multifaceted from insecurity to crashing oil prices and many others.

“ I see a lot of positives and opportunities in the midst of these challenges and that is what I want Nigerians to absorb in their hearts.

“The year 2015 may seem quite challenging for Nigeria, but it is one that equally holds a lot of hope and promise that could lead to the fulfillment that we have all yearned for.

“ I believe that 2015 might just be that year in which Nigeria’s socio-economic revolution will be actualised,’’ he said.

Oritsejafor commended the gallant men and women in the battle against insurgents and wished Nigerians well in the New Year.

I support the creation of a new state, says Sambo

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday said he was personally in support of the creation of New Gurara State out of the present Kaduna State.

Sambo, who made his position known at the annual Afan Festival held at Kagoro, Kaduna State, said the demand for Gurara state was a positive agitation aimed at uplifting the quality of lives of the people.

According to him, the Federal Government recognises the inalienable rights of the citizens to operate within the confines of the law for self-determination, promotion and harnessing the potential of its people.

“Therefore, the socio-political emancipation of a people lies in their conscious effort to champion a cause that will progressively move them to the next level,” he noted.

The vice-president expressed Federal Government’s sympathy over the loss of lives and property in the Southern part of Kaduna State, saying government was committed to setting up a military formation that
would ensure adequate security in the area.

He said “we shall defeat the evil of this insurgency and terrorist acts. God willing, we shall have peace and development in our dear country.”

While congratulating the people for the New Year, Sambo emphasised that the year was an important year, being an election year, stressing that government was committed to delivering free and fair elections.

He, therefore, urged the people to be peaceful during and after the elections, saying “no ambition of any politician is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

“I want to draw our attention to the fact that this time around, no act of violence shall be tolerated.”

He warned that decisive actions would be taken against any person participating in any violent act before, during and after the elections.

On the festival, Sambo said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was committed to revamping Nigeria’s tourism potential to make it a more viable venture, which would create employment and increase wealth for the people.

He added that the Afan festival had not only assisted in unifying the people of Kagoro but had further promoted the nation’s rich cultural heritage in the eyes of the world.

He said government had opened the frontiers for effective utilisation of the huge mineral deposits in the area through the Public Private Partnership policy.

Sambo then announced the two Kagoro erosion projects at Kajimi were nearing completion.

In his remark, Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, said the Kagoro people provided an example of how diverse groups should live together peacefully.

He said that the state government recognised that culture and tourism were important sources of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He added that his administration was doing everything possible to ensure the provision of adequate security in the area.

On the agitation for the creation of Gurara State, Yero said the executive and legislative arm of the state government were all in support of the creation of the new state.

The Chairman of the occasion and the President of Kagoro Development Association, Mr Andrew Yakubu, former GMD of NNPC and Mr Paul Abiyong, respectively, noted the importance of the day to the people of Kagoro.

Mourinho tells Abramovich: We MUST make Reus a Chelsea player

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is keen to bring Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus to London.

The Daily Star says according to reports in France Mourinho has told Roman Abramovich to get the Germany winger.

Reus is the hottest property in Europe right now and is wanted by the Premier League leaders, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old is likely to leave Borussia Dortmund after their awful start to the season.
The Champions League regulars find themselves second bottom in the Bundesliga.

We deserve top spot – Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he is delighted with how his team have performed over the first half of the season. Sky-Sports reports.

The Premier League sides have all now played each other once and the first return fixtures of the season will be on New Year’s Day, when Chelsea travel to Tottenham.

The Blues have set the pace over the first half of the campaign and, although what was once an eight-point lead has been trimmed to three by Manchester City, Mourinho is happy with how things are going.

“Everybody starts with the same points and, if we have one more point than them, we did well,” he said.

“We are top of the league at the end of the first round because we deserve it and because it is a consequence of what we did.

“Chelsea is playing very well since the beginning of the season. That’s the only thing we work at, the only thing we concentrate on.

“And, in the second part of the season, we are going to try to do exactly the same thing.

“Against Tottenham, we will be there again trying to get a good result.”

Chelsea’s lead has been cut due to their failure to take maximum points from three of their last four away games, although they only lost one of those fixtures (at Newcastle).

But Mourinho said: “We had very difficult fixtures away from home.

“We lost one game that we didn’t deserve to lose and we are doing well.”

Why I dumped Switzerland for Nigeria – Ukoh

Steven Ukoh says playing for Nigeria will be “a dream come true”, explaining why he has chosen to represent the Super Eagles instead of Switzerland.

The former Switzerland youth international was able to switch allegiances under Fifa rules because he has not yet played for a country’s senior national team.

“I know that the Super Eagles is the pride of African football, so it was an easy decision,” the 23-year-old told BBC Sport.

“No one from Nigeria or Switzerland influenced my decision. I have wonderful parents who simply let me decide on my own and they’ve supported me.

“I took my time and saw that it was right and best to play for Nigeria.”

The midfielder, who plays for FC Biel-Bienne in the Swiss second-tier, played for Switzerland at U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels between 2006 and 2010.

But he jumped at the chance to be included in the Nigeria squad for their double-header friendly against Ivory Coast and Sudan in the United Arab Emirates next month.

“This is a dream come true for me because every footballer dreams of playing at senior international level,” he said.

“Few people can fulfil this dream, actually I just want to play football and give my best.

“The country has great players but I’ll try to take advantage of this great opportunity.

“It’s an honour for me to play for my homeland and I am looking forward to visiting my extended family in Nigeria.”

Ukoh becomes the latest player to switch allegiance to Nigeria at senior international level following in the footsteps of former England youth internationals Sone Aluko, Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses.

Lampard to remain with Manchester City

Manchester City have extended Frank Lampard’s contract until the end of the season.

The 36-year-old has made a big impact at City since joining the club in August, mainly with the intention to maintain his fitness before linking up with New York City for the Major League Soccer season which begins in March.

Lampard has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Premier League champions, although he has only started three league games.

His initial short-term contract at the Etihad was due to expire on January 1, but an agreement has now been reached for him to remain with City until May.

Lampard, who left Chelsea at the end of last season, will now be available for City’s Premier League game against Sunderland on New Year’s Day and he will continue to be available for all domestic and European games for the remainder of the campaign.

His extended stay with City has added value with Yaya Toure set to go to the Africa Cup of Nations in January, while forwards Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are both currently injured.

New York have given the move their blessing with director of football Claudio Reyna saying: “Frank is a star and it is no surprise that Manchester City is rewarded by his contributions on the field every single day.

“He is eager to get to New York once his commitment ends in England and will be available to play on arrival as a permanent member of the squad given he will come to us having played at the highest level.

“We are all committed to making sure we build a winning team and that our fans get to enjoy great soccer at every single game.

“The opportunities open in the immediate transfer window combined with our recent successful draft ensure that we can continue to assemble a world class team that will make New York City soccer fans proud.”

Jonathan has run out of ideas – Buhari

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 presidential election, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party have run out of ideas.

He also noted that the administration had equally run out of excuses for its inability to provide quality leadership for Nigerians.

Buhari said this in a New Year message to Nigerians on Wednesday.

He noted that announcements made by the Presidency and its agencies over the last one month, had 

dampened the morale of many Nigerians.

According to him, President Jonathan and the ruling party have devalued the Naira which means that the price of goods and services will rise thus increasing the burden of ordinary Nigerians.

In the statement signed on his behalf by the Director, Communications of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dele Alake, Buhari said by Presidency’s own admission, he was promising Nigerians a tougher 2015.

Buhari was quoted as saying, “Our opponents have not only run out of ideas, they have run out of excuses for failure.

He said, “Indeed, the Presidency has declared a regime of austerity that will be executed in 2015. To quote the press reports, the President himself has declared that year 2015 shall be “tough” on our people.

“Against this season of despair foisted on our people, I bring to you, a New Year Message of hope and optimism. I share the anxiety of the middle class and the poor who have borne the brunt of the policies of this government for so long with increasing burden.

“I share the fear of the unemployed whose hopes for new jobs in the New Year is being dashed because companies will cut jobs to escape spiral inflation. I share the concerns of the manufacturers whose import-dominated production will be challenged by the austerity measures.”

Buhari urged leaders to eschew the cynical habit of wishing Nigerians a happy New Year when their actions were calculated to undermine their happiness.

He pointed out that it was impossible for the vast majority of Nigerians to enjoy happiness given the scale of corruption, impunity and indiscipline that currently incapacitated the Nigerian state from fulfilling its obligations to the Nigerian people.

He said the country desperately needed a disciplined and visionary leadership that had the capacity to fight corruption.

“It is only some Nigerians who have access to the corridors of power and benefit from the monumental graft that characterises governance in the country today that can enjoy their perverse and ultimately futile form of happiness,” Buhari said.

Buhari called on Nigerians to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, promising that his administration would ensure “cheaper electricity, food security, accelerated power supply, integrated transport network, free education, affordable health care service and effective security of life and property.”

According to him, Nigerians cannot enjoy the dividends of democracy owing to corruption, impunity and indiscipline that currently incapacitate the country.

He added, “Nigerians must be the sole object and focus of government. Man must be the pivot around which governance revolves. The more the potential of citizens are maximised within any nation, the higher will be the prospects of that nation for attaining greatness. The first great task facing Nigeria today, therefore, is to put in place a government that can guarantee the safety and security of Nigerians throughout the length and breadth of our country. This is because Nigerians must first of all be alive, safe and free from fear before they can exercise and utilise their talents for the benefit of their nation.

“I declare, that, collectively, we can bring an end to this season of despair; we can bring an end to this avoidable fear; we can bring an end to this needless anxiety. On February 14, 2014, the Almighty offers us a historic opportunity to chart a new course out of the tragedy that we have found ourselves; History offers us a chance to correct the errors of the past. Great Nigerian people! This is our chance!

“…My message to you is to use your voter card on February 14, 2015 to liberate our country by voting for a real happy new year for yourselves.

“This is the type of leadership I offer and for which I humbly seek the mandate of Nigerians at the polls this New Year. I am confident that great days are ahead of Nigerians. I therefore enjoin us all to keep hope alive. 

The glory and pride of Nigeria will be restored both internally and externally this New Year. Renew your faith that, for Nigeria, the best is on the way and by the grace of the Almighty, I shall meet you there. Happy New Year!”