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Ambassador Ashraf Salama is the new Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria. He previously worked in the United States of America, Denmark, Jordan and Senegal. In this interview with RALIAT AHMED-YUSUF, he speaks on Egypt’s new democracy, his perception o...
Rafael Benitez finally enjoyed some home comfort as Chelsea avoided throwing away another two-goal lead by clinging on to beat Arsenal. It was very nearly Groundhog Day at snowy Stamford Bridge, with the Gunners making amends for an appalling first-hal...
FIFA Assistant referee, Peter Egan Edibi has debunked media reports accredited indicating that he is angry with the leadership of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, for abandoning him insisting that he never granted such interview.
The report which emanated from Supersport.com stated that Edibi, who is the only Nigerian referee officiating at the ongoing 2013 AFCON in South Africa had been abandoned by the NRA even as his appearance at the tournament will boost the image of the referees association and Nigeria.
However Edibi who has featured at AFCON 2008, 2010 and 2012 said the report is nothing but the figment of the writer’s imagination.
He said he has not been abandoned by the NRA and even if there was such thing, he knows the right channel to follow in addressing it.
Edibi explained that he has a cordial relationship with his association and was shocked to his marrows when he was quoted as saying he has been abandoned by the NRA.
Edibi said apart from causing him very serious embarrassment, the said report was capable of tampering with his concentration on the crucial assignment on ground.
“ I was shocked to read in the media that I said I have been abandoned by the NRA. The report is false in its entirety for I have not granted such interview to anyone. It is a product of the writer’s imagination.
“ I have a very cordial relationship with my association and the football federation. Even if I have issues with any of the bodies, I know how and where to channel such concerns.
“ At my level, I know what to say and what not to say. I am truly shocked by the report and I feel it has been written in bad taste”.
Edibi expatiated that the aspect of the report which embarrassed him most is where he was quoted as praying for the Super Eagles to win in South Africa.
“ As an experienced FIFA graded referee, I don’t need anybody to remind that I must remain impartial at all times. So you can only imagine my shock when I read in that same report that I prayed that Eagles should win the championship. This is not possible”.
The Cross River State born referee who is on the FIFA preliminary list for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil therefore called on all those concerned to disregard the report in its entirety.
“ I urge everyone to disregard the report which has truly traumatized me. I have continued to receive calls and messages from concerned people who want to know if actually I granted such interview”, he said
Barcelona’s first defeat in La Liga this season should serve to remind people they are not invincible, coach Tito Vilanova said after their surprise 3-2 loss at Real Sociedad on Saturday. Barca’s record-breaking start to the first half of t...
Democratic Republic of Congo recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with title favourites Ghana as the African Cup of Nations burst into life on Sunday after two goalless draws on Saturday’s rain-sodden opening day. Ghana scored the first ...
Preparation is in top gear for a befitting outing for Nigeria at this year’s annual tourism, hospitality ant travel fair known as FITUR holding in Madrid Spain at the end of January to early February. In a press release issued in Abuja at the wee...
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has described urban renewal as one of the greatest challenges facing governors in Nigeria, even as he justified the demolition of illegal structures in the state. The Governor dropped this hint at the wee...
No fewer than 13 police recruits were burnt to death while six others were critically injured in an auto accident on Sunday in Omu-Aran, Kwara. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly posted recruits were said to be on...
Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun says his administration will continue to improve on the standard of education in the state. Amosun stated this during the cententary celebration of Ijebu-Ode Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode. The governor, who noted that educati...
Seventy Special Marshalls of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) serving in Kogi State have been sacked for non-performance and other acts of indiscipline. The outgoing State Coordinator of the Special Marshall Command of the FRSC, Mr Joseph Solo...
The new project of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), will address duplication of biometrics by different government agencies in Nigeria, its Director-General, Mr Chris Onyemenam has said. Onyemenam said on Sunday at the forum of the N...
President Goodluck Jonathan will on Monday embark on a working visit to Switzerland and Ethiopia, Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati has disclosed. Abati, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, said the President’s engagements in Geneva and D...
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has worked out plans to enroll Nigerians living abroad in its new identity management project. The Director-General of the commission, Mr Chris Onyemenam, made this known in Abuja on Sunday at the foru...
Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has described Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, as an `` impeccable public officer and astute diplomat’’.
Annan stated this on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration organised for the former Commonwealth scribe on Saturday in London.
He said in an interview with the Western Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that ``the celebrant has done a lot for the world and the Commonwealth of Nations where he gave his best for 34 years’’.
``This is a wonderful celebration for a man who has done so much for his country and the world.
``I am personally happy to be here to honour him, celebrate him, and to wish him another 30 years.
`` He is so youthful. I have never seen a younger 80-year-old man like him and I wish him sound health because the world still needs him,’’ Annan said.
Annan urged young Africans to aspire for greatness by emulating Anyaoku’s exemplary leadership.
`` I encourage young people to begin to assume responsibility, they do not have to be old to be responsible and assume leadership,'' Annan said.
``We are moving on and the next generation should be taking over.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, on Sunday said he would spearhead a nationwide protest to resist moves by State Governors to oppose local governments’ autonomy. He said it was unconstitutional for the governors not to...