Author: Daily Post Nigeria

The stage is set for the UEFA Europa League final between Aston Villa and Freiburg on Wednesday night in Turkey.

DAILY POST reports that Aston Villa ⁠will look to end a 44-year wait for major European silverware when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final at Tüpraş Stadium, Istanbul.

On paper, Aston Villa are favourites against the German Bundesliga side, who are playing the biggest match in their history.

The last time Aston Villa won a major trophy in Europe was in 1982 when they won the European Cup, the first in their history, after beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the final in Rotterdam

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has experience in the Europa League. The Spaniard has been in the Europa League final on six occasions.

The 54-year-old won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, while finishing runner-up with Arsenal in a 2019 defeat by Chelsea.

Emery’s side head to the game following a  4-1 aggregate win against Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals earlier this month.

They also defeated Liverpool 4-2 in the Premier League in their last game last Friday.

Aston Villa currently occupies the fourth position on the Premier League table behind Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Freiburg, on the other hand, defeated Braga 4-3 on aggregate in the last-4 stage to advance to the final, their first in the club’s history.

Julian Schuster’s side head to the game after thrashing RB Leipzig 4-1 in the Bundesliga last Saturday.

Freiburg currently sits in the seventh position on the Bundesliga table behind Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim, Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Speaking with DAILY POST ahead of the encounter on Wednesday, Saheed Afolabi, who works at Clear TV, gave his view on the Europa League final.

“It’s going to be a big encounter between Aston Villa and Freiburg because Freiburg are in seventh position in the Bundesliga table, while Aston Villa is in fourth position at the table in the Premier League,” Affolabi said.

“I will be tipping Aston Villa to go through and win the Europa League because of the calibre of players they have and their recent big win against Liverpool.

“For me, the win against Liverpool in the Premier League is a big statement that they will give their all against Freiburg.

“So, I expect Aston Villa to win the Europa League final,” he said.

Europa League final: Aston Villa seek to end 44-year European drought against history-making Freiburg

In this piece, JOHN AMEH of our Abuja Bureau, takes a look at the emerging list of senators who may not return to the upper legislative chamber in the 11th Senate, in the light of the outcome of the ongoing primaries by political parties. IN the next few days, the fate of all of the […]

The post Senators bidding goodbye to Senate appeared first on Tribune Online.

 

 Ahead of 2027 Presidential and general elections, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, ADC has screened Peter Obi, as the only presidential aspirant for the forthcoming election.

Obi arrived at the party’s national secretariat shortly after the chairman of the screening committee and former governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu entered the venue for the exercise.

Speaking with Journalists after the screening, which lasted for more than two hours, the former Anambra State Governor who dismissed speculations that he had emerged as the party’s consensus presidential candidate, insisted that the process remained open and democratic, said, “How can it be based on consensus? The party opened up the expression of interest forms for people to buy. I bought the form. As the party said, I’m the only one who expressed interest. That’s it.”

The former Anambra State governor who commended the NDC for conducting what he described as a transparent screening process, said, “At NDC, we are choosing to do things properly. When we say there is going to be a screening, there is going to be a screening. That is democracy in action.”

Reacting to insinuations that former President Goodluck Jonathan may join the presidential race, Obi who noted that he was not preoccupied with potential opponents but focused on rebuilding the country, said, “Democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for. I’m not in any way going around looking for who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria.”

Obi said his priority ahead of the 2027 general elections was to build a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria through inclusive governance anchored on the constitutional principle of federal character.

According to him, Nigeria must become secure enough for citizens to move freely without fear, while families should no longer live in anxiety over insecurity and killings.

“We want to see a country where mothers no longer fear when their children go to school. We want Nigerians to travel all over the country without fear,” he said.

The former governor also stressed the need to address hunger, poverty and corruption, noting that public resources must work for the benefit of all Nigerians rather than a privileged few.

“So many Nigerians go to bed not knowing where the next meal will come from. That must change. We must stop turning public assets into private wealth,” Obi added.

Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, has congratulated the Premier League club for winning the title again.

Wenger was the last manager to win it for the Gunners, after going unbeaten in the 2003/2004 campaign.

The Frenchman was featured in a celebratory post from Arsenal’s verified X account on Tuesday night.

“You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment,” Wenger said.

Arsenal have won the title with Mikel Arteta was their manager.

Arteta is one of the signings Wenger made on deadline day in August 2011.

EPL: You did it – Wenger reacts as Arteta wins title with Arsenal

THE South-West Development Commission (SWDC) has clarified that its rail licence is for operation on existing rail tracks, not to construct new ones in South-West Nigeria. Some Nigerians had misinterpreted the licence to be an approval to build new rail tracks across the South-West. The commission, in a statement on Tuesday, acknowledged the public interest […]

The post SWDC clarifies misconceptions about rail project appeared first on Tribune Online.

Arsenal ended their 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday after Manchester City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth.

City had to win to take the title fight to the final day, but the Cherries extended their unbeaten streak to 17 league games, a run which has secured European football for the first time in the club’s history.

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have finally made it over the line to end a six-year trophy drought.

Arsenal edged to the brink of the title with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley on Monday, which took them five points clear of City.

The Gunners, who have set the pace for most of the season, have bounced back impressively since losing to City last month, winning four straight league matches without conceding a goal.

On Monday, just 48 hours after completing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, City were rocked by widespread reports that manager Pep Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge at the end of the season.

Victory at Wembley on Saturday secured a 20th trophy of Guardiola’s glorious reign.

But he cannot add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday for what is expected to be his final match in charge.

Guardiola had warned that fatigue could cost City against a highly motivated Bournemouth, who still have Champions League qualification in their sights for next season.

As it stands, Bournemouth will be in the Europa League after ensuring they will finish no lower than seventh.

Sixth could be good enough for a place in the Champions League if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday’s Europa League final.

After winning what was billed a title decider against Arsenal last month, City put the destiny of the title back in their rivals’ hands by drawing 3-3 at Everton.

Guardiola looks set to depart having failed to win the league for two consecutive seasons for the first time in his coaching career.

Rayan and David Brooks hit the post as Bournemouth should have secured victory in Andoni Iraola’s final home game in charge.

Erling Haaland’s equaliser deep into stoppage time came too little, too late to save City’s title challenge.

But it was a big goal for Liverpool, who now have a three-point cushion over Bournemouth and a goal difference advantage of six heading into the final day battle to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice were among the first to react on social media after the Gunners ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title on Tuesday.

This follows Manchester City’s Premier League 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

The outcome of the match ensured Mikel Arteta’s side are champions with a game to spare.

Reacting, Starmer, an Arsenal fan, wrote on X: “22 long years for Arsenal. But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!”

Similarly, Rice wrote on Instagram, “I told you all… It’s done!”

On his part, Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber also took to X, writing: “How good is God, man?”

Also, former Arsenal midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, wrote on X: “I can’t describe my feelings right now.

“Football always gives back to those who keep believing. To the fans who kept believing, you deserve this. Arsenal, the club that will stay in my heart forever, you deserve this…

“The players and everyone at the club who made it happen, you deserve this. Congratulations to the best club in the world.”

Also, former Arsenal goalkeeper, David Seaman, wrote: “Longest 22 years (and three minutes) of MY LIFE…”

EPL: ‘Finally, it’s done’ – Starmer, Rice, others react as Arsenal end 22-year title drought

Inter Milan captain, Lautaro Martinez, has named Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane as the best striker in the world at the moment.

The Argentine striker believes Kane is ahead of Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland because of his ball control, link-up play, and reading of the game.

“Harry Kane,” Martinez told Gazzetta dello Sport when asked to name the best striker in the world.

“I put him ahead of Haaland for the way he controls the ball, links up and reads the game, and also his headers. He’s a phenomenon.”

Kane has netted 58 goals this season across all competitions for Bayern.

The England skipper recently led Vincent Kompany’s side to the Bundesliga title.

He could yet seal a domestic double when Bayern clash with Stuttgart in Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final.

He’s ahead of Haaland – Martinez names world’s best striker

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday revealed that barely three months after President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office, some people from Borno State visited the President and warned him to stop wearing the traditional attire he had given him during the 2023 campaign.

He said they alleged the garments had been used to charm the President and would lead to his death.

Shettima, however, said Tinubu not only rejected the claim but responded by deliberately wearing the clothing for an entire week as a public rebuke to what he called a story that “did not add up.”

The Vice President disclosed this in his address at the public presentation of the autobiography of the former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd), titled “My Life of Duty and Allegiance,” in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shettima, who represented the President at the event, used the incident to illustrate what he described as the dangerous spread of suspicion in Nigerian public life.

He also compared the rising spate of suspicion with the Sultan of Sokoto’s account of how Gowon would receive gallons of fura sent weekly from the Sultan’s family in Sokoto to Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

He noted that Gowon accepted the gesture without any suspicion, in a spirit of trust that he said has since been eroded.

The VP said, “His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto had been narrating the story of the family of the Sultan sending gallons of fura every week to Gen Yakubu Gowon in Dodan Barracks, because of the trust and confidence Gen Gowon was willingly receiving it without any suspicion.

“But now the game is different. Suspicion smears our relationships, and it ought not to be. We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny.”

Narrating his personal story involving Tinubu, Shettima recalled that in the lead-up to the 2023 presidential primaries, as the President canvassed support across the North, he sourced traditional Borno attire and a cap for him to wear at campaign events, so the candidate could blend in with the northern crowd.

He said positive feedback from Tinubu’s aides proved that the clothing fitted well, and Tinubu wore it repeatedly in the campaign.

However, the confrontation came just months after the victory.

Shettima said he had travelled to Beijing, China, in October 2023 to represent Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative Forum, held from October 16 to 18, one of his early high-profile foreign assignments as Vice President.

When he returned from China, Tinubu summoned him and delivered a message from a group of people about the clothes.

He narrated, “When I came back from China, where I had represented him at the Belt and Road Initiative Conference, he said: ‘Sit down. Your people came to me and said I should stop wearing those dresses you gave me. They said I must have been charmed, and that I am going to die and you will become the president.’”

Shettima noted that Tinubu dismantled the accusation because it did not add up.

According to Shettima, he responded, “Their story did not add up, because when you gave me those dresses, I was an aspirant. I wasn’t even the candidate. Neither were you the vice presidential candidate.”

However, he said the President proceeded to wear the dresses for a week.

“For one week, to prove to them that he is not a fetish, he wore those dresses.

“These are some of the gimmicks taking place in power circles in Nigeria nowadays,” Shettima told the audience.

Shettima poured encomiums on Gowon, saying his life embodied the opposite of sectarian suspicion.

Shettima cited Gowon’s establishment of the National Youth Service Corps as a reconciliation instrument, his legacy in the Economic Community of West African States, and the urgent need for Nigerians to confront divisive forces that seek to undermine unity.

He referenced Plateau State, whose governor, Caleb Mutfwang, was present, and urged an end to the cycles of violence by highlighting the linguistic, genealogical and historical ties among communities currently divided by bloodshed on the Plateau.

On Gowon, whom he called “the last man standing” among Nigeria’s post-independence military generation, Shettima said the autobiography is “a bottom of memory at a time when our country needs a discipline of remembrance.”

He said, “There are people who are remembered before they leave office.

“There are others whose memory endures because the office became, in their hands, an instrument of national meaning. General Gowon belongs to the second company.”

He also quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in closing, calling on Nigerians to either unite or face collective ruin.

“Let us learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools,” he stated.

Punch

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the education sector, describing it as an indispensable bedrock for sustainable development and societal growth. Governor Fubara stated this during the 44th convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt. The governor, who spoke through his deputy, […]

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