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The Governor of Imo State, who is also the Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okoracha, has attributed leakages in government as one of the reasons why resources are not enough to service the states. Also, the Governor of Zamfara State, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari, said the solution to the declining revenue facing most states lies in the diversification of the nation’s economy. Both governors spoke at the two-day Internally Generated Revenue workshop organised by the NGF in Abuja on Monday. Okorocha called for the fusion of culture into the nation’s political and economy lives, adding that “democracy which we don’t understand has further deepened our problem.” He said, “We have enough resources to run the states but there are so much leakages. There are cultural challenges, no nation can grow above its cultural resources. Culture has a lot to do in our politics and economy. Let us develop our land and be l

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh is very confident that his players will take on Swaziland on Tuesday after their lacklustre outing in the southern African country on Friday. The three-time African champions returned home after a goalless draw despite being pre-match favourites against hosts, who were ranked 134th in the last FIFA rankings. The players have been criticised for the level of their performance by fans who expected at least a win given their world ratings. On Monday Oliseh said, “It was a game that we went all out to win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that but we thank God that at least we have made everything open for ourselves to just win on Tuesday and qualify. We want to qualify and we will be going all out to win. So far, I have been impressed with the boys and the intensity of training. “Hopefully, we will get the win that we will be pushing for on Tuesday.” Swaziland coach Harris Bulunga had on Sunday told the Nigeria Football Federation official website t

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party were not mentally prepared for the defeat they suffered during the April general elections, Buhari said this in Abuja on Monday in a keynote address titled, the Challenges of Transition in Nigeria and the Imperatives for a New Framework, at an event on Strengthening Nigeria’s Transition Framework for Democratic Consolidation organised by the National Democratic Institute. The President, who was represented at the event by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said as a result of lack of mental preparation, the government of Jonathan could not put the structures necessary for transition in place and this nearly led to a national crisis. At the event, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Lalung, said the transition committee set up by Buhari was offered only N20m which was turned down because it was adequate to take care of its expenses.

French police have identified the first attacker involved in a series of assaults across Paris, which left at least 129 people dead and wounded hundreds more. Omar Ismail Mostefai was a 29-year-old Paris native whose detached finger was found overnight at the Bataclan concert hall, the scene of the bloodiest attack, the AFP news agency said. The French citizen had been known to police for his alleged links to armed groups but had not been previously linked to violent activities. French authorities believe the attacks were planned abroad by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, but have not yet confirmed the identities of others involved. ISIL purportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks shortly after the incident but has also not revealed the identities of the attackers. Investigators in France, Belgium, Greece and Germany are trying to identify the seven attackers and their accomplices. In Belgium, police arrested several people over their alleged links

The newly-appointed Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has been urged to maintain his uprightness and honesty by imbibing the fear of God and refusing gift offers from contractors, individuals and corporate firms. The Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, and the Chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are, gave the advice on Saturday during a reception organised for Shittu by friends at KICC, Ibadan. Among the dignitaries that attended the event were a former governor in the state, Omololu Olunloyo, Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Kola Daisi, Are Alasa of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Alabi, Are’s wife, Olabisi, the All Progressives Congress chairman in the state, Akin Oke, deputy governor of the state, Moses Alake, President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, monarchs from Oke-Ogun area of the state and a large number of APC supporters from the Oke-Ogun area and other zones in the state. Are, who was the chairm

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said in the face of the current economic challenges facing Nigeria, members of the State Executive Council must be ready to use the least resources available to achieve outstanding results in the state. He urged them to be prepared to make positive impacts despite the economic challenges facing the country. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the governor, Mr. Adejuwon Soyinka, quoted Amosun as saying this on Friday at a retreat organised for political appointees, permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals, directors and other top government officials in Ogun. Speaking at the retreat organised with the theme ‘Optimising Resources, Outstanding Results,’ Amosun noted that the retreat became necessary at a time when the nation was going through economic challenges. “Where we are in Nigeria, things are not so rosy. Yet, for us as a state, people’s expectations are high and we must work hard for it,” he state

Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson Simon Utebor Kinsmen of the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, have vowed to support the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress candidate, Timipre Sylva, in the December 5 governorship election. On Saturday, elderly men, women, young boys and girls trooped out to give a rousing welcome to Sylva in different communities that make up Sagbama, Dickson’s Local Government Area. They said they had found in Sylva, a former governor of the state, a good friend but in Dickson a bad brother, insisting that “a good friend is better than a bad brother.” The kinsmen alleged that their son and brother (Dickson) had abandoned them and failed to site developmental projects in their communities for over three years. In Toru-Ebeni community and other wards in Sagbama, they said they would gladly vote for the APC and Sylva against Dickson. They expressed disappointment with Dickson’s alleged failure to rehabilita

Davido Popular musician David Adeleke, also known as Davido, was robbed in the late hours of Friday, just as he landed in South Africa. Davido, who travelled in company with his manager, Kamal Ajiboye, took to Twitter to thank God and inform his fans of the incident shortly after it happened. The 22-year-old musician said all he could think of during the harrowing moment was his six-month old daughter, who had just begun learning how to sit. He tweeted, “Thank God for my life, if not for Him, it would have been a different story. My daughter’s face was flashing through my face the whole time. Never travelling without my gang again” The award-winning singer, lost $55,000 and two Rolex wristwatches to the incident which occurred at Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Still thankful to God, he tweeted again, “Still got love for South Africa. I’ll never go another morning without praying.” Copyright PUNCH Popular musician David Adeleke, also known

The singers who reigned in the early and mid 2000s were spotted at Lagos airport as they arrived in town for the Greatest Of All Times Concert, happening this weekend. More photos after the cut...

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Leke Baiyewu The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has sent the Employment Trust Fund Bill 2015 to the state’s House of Assembly for consideration and ratification. The bill aims to transform employment creation in the state, with N25bn proposed to be spent over four years as a support scheme for young entrepreneurs and small businesses. A statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, on Saturday said Ambode had also sent the Lagos State University (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the Assembly for ratification. The draft of the bills had earlier been approved by the State Executive Council at its meeting on Wednesday. The two bills were sent to the House as Executive Bills. The Employment Trust Fund Bill, according to the release, is in fulfilment of one of Ambode’s campaign promises, which aims to inject N25bn into job creation and employment opportunities over a period