Breaking News:Osinbajo, Completes List Of Incompetent Ministers To Be Sacked

Mercy Lank

POLITICAL NEWS – It is clear that the presidency has officially confirmed that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has already compiled the list of names of Ministers, to be sacked, any time from now.
Base on report this came based on the fallout of Tuesday’s London meeting, between President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo. We gathered that the looming massive sack and shake-up, has caused anxiety among members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. According to top sources, the need to reshuffle the cabinet for “efficiency”, was one of the key issues discussed between the President and the Acting President.
A source who spoke in full confidence, said: “There is a likely shake-up of the cabinet, in line with the new fast-pace focus of the Buhari administration. Some of the Ministers cannot cope with the portfolios assigned to them. “Some Ministers, were also found to be behind the crisis of confidence between the Executive and the National Assembly.
“So, apart from dropping some, others may swap portfolios for efficiency. It is just some restructuring of the Cabinet, to ensure efficiency. “Obviously, there is disquiet in the Cabinet on this latest development. I think the likely changes in the Cabinet, accounted for the delay in inaugurating two Ministers-designate. “I cannot tell you when the changes will be effected, but the Cabinet shake-up came up as an item between the two leaders”, the source said.

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Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Bakayoko set for medical, Morata blow, Matic keen on Man Utd

Mercy Lank

Chelsea transfer news LIVE updates: Follow below for the latest news

22:40: Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah has joined Watford on a permanent deal. The England U21 international has signed a five-year deal with the Hornets, who are set to pay an initial £5m fee for the player that could rise to £7m. 20.55: Chelsea do not look like they will be signing players which will improve the quality of their squad, according to pundit Steve Nicol. Champions Chelsea have made just two additions so far this summer, with defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma and goalkeeper Willy Caballero from Manchester City coming in. But Nicol says the Blues must not be static in the transfer market to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Nicol said on ESPN FC: "When you're as strong as they were (last season), you know that the opposition are going to try and catch up with you. That means you have to stay one step ahead. "Staying one step ahead means that when you're at your best, you add quality. "They haven't done that, they don't look as if they're going to." 18:30: Chelsea have reportedly offered Nathaniel Chalobah a bumper new contract. Chalobah has been heavily linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer in search of first-team football, with Swansea and Watford both said to be interested. The 22-year-old midfielder was limited to just 10 Premier League appearances last season - starting just one of those - as Chelsea clinched the title. But The Mirror claim Chelsea have offered the England Under-21 international a five-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The new deal would take his wages from £45,000 to £65,000 a week, which would see him earn £17million over the five years. 17:05: Any remaining hopes Antonio Conte has of landing Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci appear to be over. The experienced defender has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the past but CalcioMercato now claim he is set to complete a switch to AC Milan within the next 48 hours. 13.55: Nemanja Matic is keen to force through a move from Chelsea to Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail. The report says the Serbia international wants to make the switch to Old Trafford due to the imminent arrival of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The France international is expected to pair up with N'Golo Kante in the heart of the Blues midfielder, leaving no room for Matic. His representatives are said to be in talks with Chelsea in an attempt to force through a deal by the weekend, although he could be offered a new two-year deal by the Blues. Nemanja MaticGETTY Nemanja Matic is keen on a move to Manchester United 12.25: Chelsea have won the race to sign Real Madrid star Danilo. The full back is expected to make the £28m move to west London. Antonio Conte is ramping up his recruitment drive after finally agreeing a fee with Monaco for Tiemoue Bakayoko. Last week Chelsea completed the signing of Antonio Rudiger from Roma. Bakayoko should be next in and is scheduled for a medical tomorrow. And Danilo could be next after submitting a £28m bid to Real Madrid. The Daily Mirror report that Conte wants the deal done by next week so he can join the players on their tour of Asia.

11.40: Jurgen Klopp has already been impressed with former Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke. Solanke made his first Liverpool appearance in the friendly with Tranmere last night. And Klopp thinks he will develop into a top player after joining from Chelsea. “I saw a few wonderful signs tonight,” he said. “Everybody in England watched the U20 World Cup – that was fantastic football. He is an offensive player, a really skilled boy. He has to improve, of course, but a lot of things are already really good: first touch, movement, a lot of things. “So it’s about him, if you want, and the situation. But I will not avoid his development, so the moment he is strong enough he is there. “Where he is training isn’t already decided because I didn’t decide for all of the team, but he will train with us as often as makes sense and is possible. And where he will play, we will see.” 10.30: Stoke manager Mark Hughes has confirmed his interest in signing Kurt Zouma and is "very hopeful" about agreeing a loan deal for the Chelsea defender. It has been reported that Zouma will sign a new contract with his parent club before immediately being sent out on loan, with Blues boss Antonio Conte eager for the 22-year-old to get more Premier League experience under his belt. Hughes acknowledges that Stoke face competition to sign the centre-back, Press Association Sport understands that West Brom are also keen, but he is confident of bringing Zouma to the bet365 Stadium on a season-long deal.

"There is genuine interest. We'd like to make it happen if we can," Hughes told the Sentinel following Wednesday night's pre-season friendly against Young Boys in Switzerland. "The boy himself has to make a decision. We are one of many interested parties but we're very hopeful. We're still doing a number of deals." 09:10: Chelsea have agreed a fee with Monaco for Tiemoue Bakayoko. The Monaco midfielder will now undergo a medical and complete the transfer. According to the Times the fee will be £39.8m plus add ons. Bakayoko will now fly to England to do his medical tomorrow. 08.40: Tiemoue Bakayoko's brother seems to have confirmed the Monaco star's move to Chelsea on Snapchat. Abdoulaye Bakayoko posted an image of a black background along with the caption CFC, accompanied by the blue dot and strong arm emojis.

Chelsea and Monaco are believed to have reached an agreement for the France international in the region of £40million. And fans have already been bombarding the Blues twitter account, demanding the 22-year-old's signing be announced by the club.

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Game of Thrones premiere: Cast 'emotional' as they head for finale

Mercy Lank

Stars including Sophie Turner and Kit Harington traded Westeros for LA, as the seventh season of Game Of Thrones received a gala premiere on Wednesday. Phones were banned as the first episode of the penultimate series was screened at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, said the cast felt "very emotional" at the prospect of the show ending. "It feels like a death in the family [but] it's also exciting, and liberating," said the British star.

Emilia Clarke - who was absent from the premiere, due to filming commitments on the forthcoming Han Solo film - has also talked about the stress of concluding the series. "I get sleepless nights over it," she recently told Elle Magazine. "The higher everyone places the mantle, the bigger the fall. I don't want to disappoint anyone."

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WH aides exposed to scrutiny over Russia meeting response

Mercy Lank

A scramble by White House aides to respond to the brewing controversy over Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer may have exposed those aides to special counsel scrutiny. They can now be called on by investigators led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller to explain what they may have learned about the meeting that the President's eldest son, Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had with the Russian lawyer during the 2016 campaign. White House aides and Kushner's legal team began strategizing in late June over how to manage the disclosure of newly discovered emails setting up that meeting, according to sources close to Kushner's legal team. Their public relations efforts culminated in a series of stumbles over the weekend in response to inquiries from The New York Times, which was working to publish a story about the meeting. Initial statements by Trump Jr., who organized the meeting, were undermined by more reporting from the paper. Some of the President's closest aides, who were traveling with him back from Europe, then helped strategize about a response for Trump Jr., according to people briefed on the matter. The Times first reported on the crafting of the statement. Trump team met with Russian lawyer during campaign Trump team met with Russian lawyer during campaign A sensitive legal matter such as this would normally have been handled by the attorneys, given that it was about the Russia investigation.

But the President's lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, who is designated to handle personal legal issues, was not traveling with the President and was largely uninvolved, according to the people familiar with the matter. The Times reported Wednesday that the President himself approved the statement, raising the possibility the President may have opened himself up to new legal issues not covered by attorney-client privilege. Jay Sekulow, the President's attorney, denied that Trump was involved. "I wasn't involved in the statement drafting at all, nor was the President. I'm assuming that was between Mr. Donald Trump Jr., between Don Jr. and his lawyer. I'm sure his lawyer was involved, that's how you do it," said Sekulow in an interview on CNN's New Day.

Kasowitz's hiring was specifically intended to help shield White House aides from having to become witnesses in the ongoing investigation. As government employees, they aren't supposed to be involved in the President's personal matters. The White House and lawyers for Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. did not comment for this story. Multiple changing explanations for the meeting attributed to Donald Trump Jr. made a complex set of events spiral. "It was a public relations disaster," one person close to Kushner's team told CNN

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Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic keen to force through Manchester United move – report

Mercy Lank

Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic will attempt to force through a move to Manchester United in the wake of AS Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko’s move to Stamford Bridge, according to reports. The 28-year-old was seemingly set for a move to Old Trafford last month after reports claimed that a £40m fee had been agreed between the two clubs. owever, with Man United snatching Romelu Lukaku from under Chelsea’s nose and Antonio Conte wary of Bakayoko missing the start of the season, the move has been blocked by the champions. But with Bakayoko set to complete his medical with Chelsea, Matic and his representatives have held talks with the club’s hierarchy in an attempt to force through a move to Old Trafford. Every fibre in Conte’s body will detest the idea of doing Mourinho any more favours this summer, but when the Italian calms down from the whole Lukaku ordeal and looks at things more broadly, he will realise that, actually, in the long term, selling Matic to United is the best thing he can do. The Serbian, after all, only has two years left on his contract and will not receive the same offer currently on the table next year, especially if Matic endures a season wanting to be somewhere else and largely on the sidelines. £40m for a 28-year-old with little time left at Stamford Bridge is an attractive deal, and one that will help Conte look for another midfielder – possibly Alex Sandro – before the 2017/18 campaign begins.

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APC reacts to Supreme Court declaration of Makarfi as PDP chairman

Mercy Lank

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says that the party is not bothered by the declaration of Ahmed Makarfi as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary, spoke in Abuja while reacting to Supreme Court judgment on the PDP leadership crisis.

Abdullahi said there ought not to be reaction from the APC because it was not a party to the legal suit, adding that it was not be bothered by the court judgment. “Whichever way you want to look at it, the ruling has no direct consequence on APC whichever faction the pendulum swings to”, he said.Abdullahi added that it would be wrong for anyone to insinuate that the unity of the PDP was a threat to the APC, especially as it had nothing to do with the case. Similarly, North-East National Vice Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Mustapha Salihu said the party was not threatened by who became PDP Chairman. He said the PDP failed when it was in power and had the opportunity in government, stressing that the APC was looking at institution not individuals. “Makarfi or Ali-Modu Sheriff is no threat to us; we are looking at the institution and not the person’’‎, he said.

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Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu reveals states he will claim if referendum is granted

Mercy Lank

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has revealed the states he will claim should Federal Government grant his call for referendum. Featuring on Channels television, the IPOB leader disclosed that he would claim, Rivers state, Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom respectively, should Federal Government grant the call for referendum. On using war to achieve his aim, Kanu said, “No because truth is a far more potent and deadlier weapon than bullets. No war. When I say Biafra or death, I mean I will keep pushing, either I am Alive or I die in the process. I wouldn’t stop. “Had sovereign National conference been convened by the powers that be, where every ethnic Nationality comes together to say what type of country do we want? Sit down, discuss and agree. I can begin to perhaps submit to the opposition. It is way too late. They have killed so many people. They have ruined too many lives. They have wasted too many souls. How do we bring those people back.”

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