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Olympics’ Disqualification: Angry Fans Want Sports Minister Sacked

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Many Nigerian sports lovers have expressed anger and disappointment over the disqualification of 10 Nigerian athletes at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

It was yesterday reported that ten Nigerian athletes were disqualified for not meeting the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 governing National Anti-Doping Federation.

While some of them called for the sacking of the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, others asked him to resign.

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They recalled how Dare sacked a former Technical Director of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Sunday Adeleye, for registering two Nigerian top athletes, Blessing Okagbare and Divine Oduduru, under “wrong” categories at the World Athletics Championships, held in Doha in September 2020.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Olympics: Ten Nigerian Athletes Banned From Tokyo

During the championships, Okagbare and Oduduru faced disqualification scare for not partaking in the men’s and women’s 100m race.

Some of the fans, who called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to sack the Minister, described the disqualification of Nigerian athletes as embarrassing.

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Abiola Fakoyede said, “No thanks to our Minister of sports and his ministry. Next time appoint professionals to manage our sports ministries and not politicians who are good at not following rules.”

The minister should resign with immediate effect,” Awotunya Aderemi added.

Tunde Stephen also said, “Their handlers and the Minister of Sports should have done the needful by now and that is to resign.”

READ ALSO: Japan Opens Mass Vaccine Centers Two Months Before Olympics

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Ajanson Peter lamented that “We should not have wasted our time to go in the first place. This is a total disgrace, I am shocked that simple testing requirement, we couldn’t meet up to.

“What were they expecting, for the IOC to allow them to compete after not meeting the minimum standard for testing? They must be jokers.

“Table tennis, we didn’t pass the three rounds in both male and female categories. Football, we didn’t qualify. Basketball, we have lost two matches. Taekwando, we didn’t qualify.

“Our only hope was in athletics, even this one too, we couldn’t do the right thing to enable us to compete. Our sports ministry is in total shamble.”

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Sunday Dare must go,” Babanginda Kubura posted while reacting to the news of the athletes’ disqualification on Facebook.

Olawale Adigun requested that “When is Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, and Athletics Federation of Nigeria President going to resign after this national disgrace.”

On Twitter, KPK @kpumpin0007 said, “Sunday Dare should be receiving his sack letter this morning.”

READ ALSO: US Soccer Council Member Removed After Controversial Speech

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William @_SirWilliam_ wondered if “Sunday Dare will still have a job after this.”

@InnieNuell said, “It’s bad. Shameful! And to make it worse when these men make atrocious mistakes nobody is sacking them, nobody is coming for their heads.”

@Abu “Buhari, it is getting too late to sack Sunday Dare,” another fan, identified as Abu, posted.

(PUNCH)

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PHOTOS: NECO Releases 2024 Internal Exam Timetable

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The 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal Examinations timetable has been released, the release marked the commencement of a crucial period for secondary school students across Nigeria.

With the release of the schedule, candidates and educators alike are gearing up for the rigorous assessments ahead.

This is disclosed in a Monday post on its X platform, @Neconigeria.

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READ ALSO: NECO Postpones 2024 Staff Promotion Examination Indefinitely

The indigenous examination body disclosed that the exam begins Wednesday, June 19, 2024, and ends Friday, July 26, 2024.

Here are the photos of the NECO 2024 timetable below:

 

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VIDEO: Lady Laments As Lagos Issues Demolition Notice Two Months After Property Purchase

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A viral video circulating on social media shows a woman lamenting the demolition notice served on her property in Lagos State allegedly just two months after moving in.

In the video that surfaced online on Monday, the yet-to-be-identified woman cried as she recounted the ordeal. A picture of a demolition notice dated May 7, 2024, was also attached to the video.

She said, “We bought that property in February, and we’ve only been there for two months. All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything… If you’re in Lagos, you’ll know how much property in Eti Osa costs.

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“Each time my son sees me crying, he will always ask me why I am crying. How do I explain this to our son? What do I tell my children? I’m trying so hard to be strong, but this is very painful.

READ ALSO: Viral Video: Bullied Student Sues Abuja School For N500m, Public Apology

“I don’t wish for anybody to work so hard and face something like this. I don’t.”

The video, which was shared on X.com on Monday by Spotlight Abby, tweeting with the handle #Spotlight_Abby, has garnered reactions from netizens, with some sympathising with the couple and others criticising the decision to invest in Lagos real estate citing recent incidents of demolitions.

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It also raised concerns about the need for thorough due diligence before investing in real estate in the state.

One Nneka Busy Body tweeting as #Nnekabusybody wrote, “While this is sad I’m a bit confused. With the uncertain investment landscape of Lagos and everything we see and read about, you still went and bought property in Lagos in 2024? How? Why?”

READ ALSO: American Comedian, James Gregory Is Dead

Another user tweeting anonymously as #ideniyor wrote, “She and her husband deserve it. They bought a land without lawyers and due diligence. Cry me a river. The seller landed a fast one on them.”

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This is not the first time property demolitions in Lagos have sparked controversy.

PUNCH reported last week that residents of Mende Estate Villa in the Maryland area of Lagos State decried the demolition of their multimillion-naira houses in the area by the state government while seeking compensation for a new shelter.

Speaking on the incident, the state commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that the government issued the residents of Mende Villa Estate two demolition notices in 2021 and 2023.

On Wednesday, Wahab, in a post on X.com, also hinted that illegal builders whose houses are demolished may soon be asked to pay for the demolition.

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Watch video courtesy The PUNCH

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Edo PDP Crisis: Orbih Opens Up On Purported Reconciliation Talks

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Following the crisis in the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Legacy Group has challenged the reconciliation talks said to be ongoing in the state, saying it was not involved.

The Legacy Group is being led by the PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Dan Orbih.

Leading up to the PDP governorship primary election on February 22 and following the victory of Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate, supported by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, internal conflict had plagued the state chapter of the party.

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In response, the PDP appointed the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emmanuel Enoidem, to head an 11-member committee tasked to reconcile the disgruntled members.

The committee was unable to foster reconciliation, with the latest development being the ouster of the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who contested against Ighodalo, as he was impeached by the lawmakers.

The Edo PDP, thereafter, split into factions, a group led by Orbih and another by Obaseki, with members opposing and campaigning against Ighodalo ahead of the governorship election slated for September 21, 2024.

In the past two weeks, certain PDP members had switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress in the state, while others expressed intentions to oppose the party’s candidate in the forthcoming election.

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Additionally, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, has urged the National Working Committee to suspend Orbih, citing alleged anti-party activities.

Responding to the development, the PDP released a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, last week, urging the people of Edo State to continue showing support and solidarity for the party and its governorship candidate, Ighodalo.

Following the statement, supporters of the Obaseki faction claimed to have engaged in discussions with the Orbih-led Legacy Group in a bid to resolve internal conflicts among PDP members in Edo State.

Responding to the claim, Orbih refuted the alleged meeting, labelling it as misinformation.

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The PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, questioned whether reconciliation could occur without the involvement of his group, the Legacy Group.

He stated, “Watching as the PDP council celebrated the falsehood of a non-existent settlement, can one person settle in the absence of the second person?

“I was not consulted. Legacy Group is not a party to this. This is a big lie from the pit of hell. Whoever orchestrated this propaganda is from the woods. So, Dan Orbih is important like this and they have been insulting me daily?”

When reached for comment, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader and a staunch supporter of Governor Obaseki, Timothy Osadolor, remarked that Orbih found himself at a crossroads and encouraged him to step down from his position.

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In an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, Osadolor stated that Orbih could not undermine Ighodalo’s chances in the election.

He stated, “Dan Orbih finds himself at a crossroads, having garnered considerable attention from members of the Legacy Group. He has led some into politically damaging conflicts, not only with the governor but also with the state.

“During the last NWC meeting, Orbih appealed against sanctions, citing past grievances and pledging future support for the party’s governorship candidate. While he’s entitled to his decisions, he must remember that holding a party leadership position entails loyalty to the party. I urge him to consider resigning honourably.

“Orbih cannot undermine the PDP’s candidate in Edo. He has never successfully fielded a councillor in his ward through fair elections, let alone jeopardise the PDP’s chances in Edo. Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, will emerge victorious.”

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Attempts to obtain a response from the PDP NWC regarding the development were unsuccessful, as Ologunagba did not answer calls or respond to messages sent to him.

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