IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

A frontline politician and notable son of Mbaise nation, Chief Chidi Ibe has taken former Deputy Speaker of House of Representative, Chief Emeka Ihedioha to the cleaner over his ambition to be Governor, describing his third term bid as wicked and uncalled for.

He said that anyone still believing that Ihedioha will continue to hold onto PDP ticket every four years is not only dreaming but suffering from hallucination.

“Between Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Hon Ihedioha, SamDaddy is a virgin who has a human heart. PDP cannot dream of making another mistake by giving Ihedioha with vindictive tendencies it’s ticket. This mistake if made again will be the end of PDP in Imo state.”

Chief Ibe gave this warning Tuesday during the “iriji” Mbaise festival at the country home of an erstwhile PDP Senatorial aspirant for Imo East, Sir Basil Maduka.

In his remarks, Chairman of Divine Mandate Movement (DMM), Evang. Mike Ikeokwu applauded the people of Mbaise for preserving Igbo culture and tradition, appealing to them not to allow the Igbo identity to go into extinction.

According to him, Mbaise nation is where 90 percent of his wealth is spent because of the love he has for them as an in-law, urging them not to relent in supporting the host, Sir Maduka whom he described as an asset.

He charged Mbaise people to wake up from slumber and take destiny in their hands, wondering how any sane person would ever allow one person to continue to hold them to ransom.

Evang. Ikeokwu regretted that despite the potentials inherent in the Mbaise youths, the continued political hegemony of an individual has not allowed an average Mbaise youth to showcase his political relevance.

Contributing, Director General of DMM, Hon Ngozi Ogbu described the new yam festival as one of the age long traditions in Igbo land, urging everyone to keep it sacrosanct.

Hon Ogbu assured them that the next festival for Mbaise nation would be taken beyond the shores of the state, if the DMM Movement is supported to thrive.

He warned against any act capable of making PDP lose the 2023 elections if an individual is allowed to continue to hold onto the party’s ticket, advising them to do their best to preserve the party.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, operating in the North-East region, have rescued another Chibok girl and three others, abducted by Boko Haram terrorists over eight years ago.

Boko Haram terrorists had in April 2014 kidnapped 276 female students mostly Christians aged from 16 to 18 from the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State.

In a statement on Saturday on its Facebook page, the army said the victims were rescued by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) at Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State. Aisha Grema, the Chibok girl, was received by the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA).

NAOWA President, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, donated relief materials and financial support to a newly rescued abducted Chibok, a statement by the group said.

“Aisha was rescued yesterday, 12 August 2022 with her four (4) years old child by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) at Bama Local Government Area (LGA) while the three other girls were rescued by troops of 242 Battalion, Sector 3 OPHK at Mongonu LGA of Borno State,” the statement said.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club "needs quality players" after conceding the standard of the squad is not good enough. United were thumped 4-0 at Brentford - conceding four in the first 35 minutes - and have no points after two Premier League games.

Dutchman Ten Hag, who took over at Old Trafford in May, told Sky Sports the situation is a "difficult process". "We have to provide higher standards than what we did today," he said. "We are, as a team, in a difficult process. You expect a different start. It's not what we expected. "We need new players. We need quality players. We are working on that and we'll do everything to convince them to come."

United have been involved in a long-running hunt for fresh recruits since the transfer window opened, following a disappointing campaign last year and a shock defeat at home to Brighton last Sunday.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been the main target for Ten Hag but the 25-year-old has reportedly indicated he would prefer to join Chelsea if he left the Nou Camp.

A group within the Peoples Democratic Party operating under the aegis of PDP ACTION 2023, has declared that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu's presidency would simply amount to third term for President Muhammadu Buhari. The group, in a statement by its Chairman, Hon. (Dr) Rufus Omeire, categorically declared that APC represents an existential threat to Nigeria in all critical areas of the nation. The group pointed out that the APC presidential ticket for the next year's general elections is an attempt to give President Buhari a third term in office.

The PDP Action 2023 expressed surprise at the recent efforts by a former APC National Chairman and ex-Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, to distance Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, from the government of the incumbent General Muhammadu Buhari, saying "this is most disingenuous for many reasons". According to the group, "The APC Presidential ticket for 2023 general elections is an attempt to give President Muhammadu Buhari a third term in office.

"Recently, a former APC Chairman and ex-Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, sought to distance Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential candidate, from the disastrous government of the incumbent President, General Muhammadu Buhari. "This is most disingenuous for many reasons. "In the first place, by the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, it is a political party that sponsors a candidate for Presidential election. "In this case, Tinubu is being sponsored by the ruling APC.

Secondly, for practical reasons, it is the name of the political party that will be on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s ballot paper during elections and so, APC will be on the ballot, not even Tinubu. "Thirdly, Tinubu is the acknowledged and recognized National Leader of the APC, a position he shares with President Buhari. Indeed, by Tinubu's own admission, he was largely instrumental in foisting President Buhari on Nigeria. "He has given crucial support to the APC government of President Buhari and repeatedly publicly praised the policies and direction of the APC government. He is the philosopher king of APC's misrule in Nigeria.

"Fourthly, during the APC primaries, he was massively endorsed by the party to continue from where Buhari will stop. The word in the APC is continuity. "The fulcrum of the APC campaign has been a firm promise to replicate the sterling performance of the APC government of Buhari, if Tinubu happens to win in 2023. "Make no mistake about it, a Tinubu presidency would be just another term for Buhari. Note that Tinubu and Buhari have the same divisive streak, the same arrogance and contempt for peoples' views and feelings. 

"Tinubu is even a worse version, as Buhari at least, resisted the divisive Muslim - Muslim ticket in 2015. "Notwithstanding, they subscribe to the same policies and programmes. Tinubu is Buhari and Buhari is Tinubu", the group argued".

The FA will investigate Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel following Sunday's post-match comments about referee Anthony Taylor. Tuchel was angry after Harry Kane's equaliser six minutes into stoppage time earned Tottenham a dramatic 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. 

The German suggested that Taylor should not referee Chelsea matches in future. "I can assure you that the whole dressing room of us, every person thinks that," he said. The Blues were furious that Taylor failed to penalise Rodrigo Bentancur for a challenge on fellow midfielder Kai Havertz in the build-up to Spurs' first equaliser. 

The resulting melee led to face-to-face fury between the two managers which ended with Tuchel and his opposite number Antonio Conte receiving yellow cards. But with tempers still running high, both men got involved in another spat at full-time and were sent off. However, the red cards do not trigger an automatic suspension, meaning both are almost certain to be in the dug-out for next weekend's games.

The FA will review the video footage of the incident and look at the referee's match report before deciding on any charges. There is also a right to reply for both managers before it finally goes to a commission.

Deputy President William Ruto has won Kenya's presidential election, the electoral commission chairman has said, amid dramatic scenes.

He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.4% of the vote.

The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga's campaign.

Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the announcement, saying the results were "opaque". "We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election," said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

"We are going to give a comprehensive statement... and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm. There is an open door that people can go to court and the rule of law will prevail," she said.