Omimi.com: Gov. Fayose spits fire

Omimi.com: Gov. Fayose spits fire: The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday said that the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was the on...

Gov. Fayose spits fire

The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday said that the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was the one funding the Indigenous People of Biafra cannot cow him.

He insisted that the alleged killing of IPOB supporters in the South East by the military was wrong.
The Ekiti State chapter of the APC had in a statement on Sunday accused Governor Fayose of funding Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB and his group in their agitation for self-determination.

But responding in a statement he released through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said that the blackmail by APC leaders in Ekiti State cannot cow him to stop his criticism of the bad policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Part of the statement read, “We cannot all be cowed. The militarization of Nigeria, being witnessed now can only be likened to 1984 when General Muhammadu Buhari was military Head of State.

“Killing people in the Southeast just because some people are agitating is wrong and I wonder why none of our so called human rights activists is talking.

“Herdsmen have sacked a whole community in this country, has anyone been arrested for all the killings by herdsmen?

Read also: IPOB: Southeast govs’, Military’s actions unconstitutional- Senate

“If because I am speaking against the wanton killings being done by the military in the Southeast, the APC is saying that I’m funding IPOB, was I the one funding the people of Southern Kaduna when I condemned the killings there? Was I funding the Agatus in Benue State when I condemned their killings by Fulani herdsmen?

“Was I funding the Shiite Muslims when I condemned the killings of El-Zakzaky followers in Zaria?”
There have been divergent views over the tension in the Southeast resulting from the military exercise in the region code-named “Operation Python Dance 11.”

Many Nigerians have condemned the loss of lives in the region due to clashes between the Nigerian Army and IPOB members, while some others have commended the military for clamping down on the unarmed agitators.

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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
BARCELONA VS JUVENTUS: TV CHANNEL, STREAM, KICK-OFF TIME
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Ernesto Valverde leads the Catalan outfit into Champions League battle for the first time and they come up against a formidable opponent

Barcelona and Juventus lock horns at Camp Nou on Tuesday as they get their Champions League campaigns under way.
The teams have developed somewhat of a rivalry in recent years and they have already met this season in the International Champions Cup, with Barca winning 2-1 thanks to a Neymar double.
The pair met in the 2015 Champions League final, which Barca won, but Juve had their revenge when they met at the quarter-final stage last season, triumphing 3-0 on aggregate on their run to the final.
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Game Barcelona vs Juventus
Date Tuesday, September 12
Time 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET
TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM


In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on BT Sport Extra 2 as well as being available to stream online via the BT Sport app.
UK TV channel Online stream
BT Sport Extra 2 BT Sport app
In the US, viewers can tune in to FS2 to watch the game live, or else they can stream the game live online using Fox Sports GO.
US TV channel Online stream
FS2 Fox Sports GO
SQUADS & TEAM NEWS

Position Barcelona players
Goalkeepers Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Ortola
Defenders Semedo, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Digne, Vidal, Umtiti, Vermaelen, Palencia, Morer, Tarin, Cucu
Midfielders Rakitic, S. Busquets, Arda, D. Suarez, Iniesta, Rafinha, Paulinho, Roberto, Gomes, Alena, Sarsanedas, O. Busquets
Forwards Messi, L. Suarez, Dembele, Deulofeu, Alcacer, Perez, Ruiz
New signing Ousmane Dembele will hope to make his first start for Barca after making his debut from the bench in last weekend's 5-0 win over Espanyol.
Rafinha will miss out as he continues to recover from injury as will Arda Turan, but Ivan Rakitic managed to play the full game against Espanyol and should be fit.
Potential starting XI: Ter Stegen; Alba, Umtiti, Pique, Semedo; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Dembele, Messi, L. Suarez.
Position Juventus players
Goalkeepers Buffon, Pinsoglio, Szczesny
Defenders De Sciglio, Benatia, Chiellini, Sandro, Barzagli, Howedes, Rugani
Midfielders Pjanic, Khedira, Marchisio, Matuidi, Asamoah, Sturaro, Bentancur, Bernardeschi, Costa
Forwards Higuain, Dybala, Mandzukic
Gianluigi Buffon dropped to the bench for the 3-0 victory over Chievo on Saturday, with Wojciech Szczesny taking his place, but the Italy goalkeeper is likely to return to the starting XI.
Giorgio Chiellini is expected to miss out with a calf injury despite returning to training on Sunday, while Claudio Marchisio and Marko Pjaca are long-term absentees. Juan Cuadrado is suspended, while Alex Sandro and Sami Khedira are doubts.
Potential starting XI: Buffon; De Sciglio, Benatia, Rugani, Asamoah; Pjanic, Matuidi, Costa, Dybala; Mandzukic, Higuain.
BETTING & MATCH ODDS

OPERATION PYTHON DANCE

September 10, 2017

By Chidi Chinedu

There was tension in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, Sunday when personnel of the Nigerian Army reportedly clashed with some pro-Biafra agitators allegedly leading to three people being shot.

The army had been accused by some of the people of being the aggressor as they embarked on a promised show of force in line with the recently announced new phase of Operation Python Dance in the South East region of the country.

Some had accused the military personnel of attempting to force their way into the residential premises of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, but were met with stiff resistance by members of the group.

Speaking to journalists following the incident, Kanu had said, “I was sleeping this evening (Sunday) when suddenly I was woken up by the blaring of sirens. Initially, I thought it was the Commissioner of Police who lives in the neighborhood that was returning home. But the blaring persisted and was followed up by sporadic gun shots.

“The soldiers wanted to bulldoze their way into the palace but IPOB members formed a human shield and resisted them. They wanted to break the shield and fired at three persons and wounded others before leaving. Everybody including children was running away in confusion”.

But the army dispelled the claims in its own reaction.

In a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, it described the claims that troops invaded the home of Kanu and killed three persons as “fictitious”.

It stated that contrary to claims of it being the aggressor, “IPOB militants” initiated the clash by attempting to prevent their free movement within the state capital.

The army went ahead to release pictures of injured ‘passersby’ it said were proof of its claims of IPOB aggression.

The statement read, “The attention of 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, has been drawn to fictitious news going round especially on the social media that troops have invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu and killed 3 persons.

“This is far from the truth. Rather, it was a group of suspected IPOB militants that blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, today. They insisted that the military vehicles would not pass and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles to the point of injuring an innocent female passerby and a soldier, Corporal Kolawole Mathew.

“The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlooms dispersed. No life was lost.

“Therefore the public are kindly enjoined to disregard the rumours going round and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of attack. Both the soldier and the innocent female passerby have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment.

“We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood such as above.

“Members of the public are please requested to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or security outfit”.

Read also: QUIT NOTICE: Igbo group drags Arewa youths, Northern leaders to ICC

Meanwhile, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) had reacted to the announced military operation in the South East via a press statement, describing it as an invasion of Igboland and calling for drastic counter-actions.

In a statement signed by Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala, its president, Prof Nath Aniekwu, its secretary, and
Dr Dozie Ikedife, the chairman of its board of trustees, it stated in part as follows:

“A few days ago the social media was awash with display of movement of tanks and other heavy military equipment into the South-East, the heartland of Alaigbo.

“This has been followed up and confirmed by the Press Briefing by the Chief of Training and Operations, Army Major General DD Ahmadu on what he calls Exercise Egwu Eke (Operation Python Dance)

“According to him, the operation involves the deployment of a whole Division of the Nigerian Army, composed of five Brigades based in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, all in the South Eastern States.

“The operation is being conducted with the involvement of other security agencies such as Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, all of whom are to engage in raids, cordon and search operations, anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points and show of force, etc.

“ It will be recalled that on his return from sick leave, President Muhammadu Buhari had declared war on all those demanding Restructuring and Self-determination, with his main focus on the self-determination movements in the Alaigbo terrotories. The Arewa Youth and some of their elders had gone from their Quit Notice to Ndigbo to circulating hate speeches aimed at inciting their people to another orgy of pogrom against Ndigbo. They had also called President Buhari to declare war against all those seeking, justice, equality and freedom.

“Hundreds of Igbo farmers and their children have been killed, their women and daughters raped not only in Alaigbo but in several other non-Fulani areas of Nigeria. In all these the Nigerian Police and other security forces had looked elsewhere while those atrocities have been committed against them by Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated weapons.

“This is Military Invasion and Occupation of Alaigbo, nay, Declaration of War against peaceful citizens of Alaigbo!”.

On its planned counter-measures, ADF said, “Since the planned invasion clearly infringes on the powers of the National Assembly, ADF shall call on the National Assembly to stand up and defend her Constitutional authority and integrity. And if the invasion and occupation proceeds as planned, the National Assembly shall be called upon to commence impeachment proceedings against Mr. President.

“Call on civil societies, women and youth in Alaigbo to engage in civil and peaceful demonstrations throughout Alaigbo in protest against the invasion.

“Call on various Igbo groups, the traditional institution, the church and other elders of Igboland including Ohanaeze Ndigbo to raise their voices against the invasion of Alaigbo.

“Send further protest representations to the International Community on the latest attack and occupation of Alaigbo.

“Call on other patriotic and well-meaning citizens and nationalities in Nigeria to come to the aid of the Igbo nation at this time of another planned pogrom against Ndigbo. What else can we call this except FASCISM enveloping the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The elders of Alaigbo and all patriotic Pan-Igbo organisations should liaise with the Governors in Alaigbo in spearheading an Emergency Political Conference of Ndigbo to holistically address the future of Alaigbo and deliberate on the continued threat and assault on our fundamental rights of self-determination and peaceful existence as a freedom-loving people

“Meanwhile, all Igbo groups worldwide should device means of continuing to inform the International Community about what is happening to their people at home and thereby seek their sympathy and intervention, where necessary and possible, to help save Ndigbo against another looming genocide in Nigeria”.