Van Gaal berates 'fat man' in Man Utd press conference

Louis van Gaal is no stranger to making controversial remarks in his press conferences but even he might admit that he overstepped the mark by calling a journalist "fat man" following Tuesday's draw at Newcastle.

The Dutchman responded in typically prickly fashion to the media's criticism of Wayne Rooney, who returned to something like his best form against Steve McClaren's side with two goals and an assist.

"You have criticised him, I don't," Van Gaal said before walking away, pointing to a journalist and adding "You too. Fat man. There."

Obama, Cameron, others praise Buhari, Jonathan, Jega

GLOBAL leaders and organisations have congratulated Nigerians, especially the President-elect, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the successful conduct of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls.

They said in separate statements on Wednesday that the orderly conduct of Nigerians during the elections and the acceptance of defeat by Jonathan were remarkable.

The leaders and organisations are the United States President Barack Obama; the United Kingdom Prime Minister, David Cameron; French President, Francois Hollande; South African President Jacob Zuma; United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the European Union,   the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission,   the African Union and the Commonwealth.

Obama, in a statement by the White House, said that INEC and Jega deserved a special recognition, both nationally and internationally.

Commending Jonathan for conceding defeat and Buhari for emerging victorious, he urged them to ensure a peaceful transition.

Obama said,   “The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles. By turning out in large numbers and sometimes waiting all day to cast their votes, Nigerians came together to decide the future of their country peacefully.

“I commend President   Jonathan and the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for their public commitments to non-violence throughout the campaign.”

Obama noted that Jonathan placed Nigeria’s interests first by conceding the election and congratulating the President-elect on his victory.

He added, “I urge President-elect Buhari and President Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the election outcomes, focus on unifying the country, and together lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition.”

Concerning the efforts of Jega in keeping the poll free, fair and credible, Obama said, “Nigeria’s INEC and its Chairman, Attahiru Jega, deserve special recognition for what independent international observers have deemed a largely peaceful and orderly vote.

“I commend INEC for its extensive efforts to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.”

However, the US president urged Jega and INEC to improve its performance ahead of April 11 elections.

Obama said, “Looking ahead to the governorship elections on April 11, it is imperative that national attention turn to ensuring isolated logistical challenges are overcome and peace is protected, even in the most hotly contested races.

“On behalf of the American people, I extend congratulations to the people of Nigeria and to President-elect Buhari and look forward to continuing to work with the newly-elected government on our many shared priorities.”

Also,   Cameron     in a statement on www.gov.uk said, ‘‘I send my warmest congratulations to General Buhari on being elected as Nigeria’s next President.

“This election has been a credit to the Nigerian people and a truly historic moment for Nigerian democracy.

“The UK remains a steadfast partner for Nigeria as it realises its potential as Africa’s economic powerhouse and works to tackle terrorism in the region.”

President Hollande on his part welcomed the commitment of Nigerians and the quality of work of INEC towards the success of the polls.

A statement from the French Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, said that Hollande would speak with Buhari on Thursday(today), adding that he intended to establish with Buhari the trustful relations France had with   Jonathan.

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma,   congratulated   Buhari on his emergence as the President-elect and   Jonathan for his leadership and commitment to “consolidating democracy, peace and stability in Nigeria.”

To Zuma, Jonathan’s action was indicative of his readiness and commitment to ensuring a smooth transfer of power with a view to ensuring that Nigeria did not experience violence.

The UN Secretary-General,   Ki-moon, congratulated Buhari     and called on all Nigerians to accept the outcome of the elections.

A statement   by the UN said, “The Secretary-General talked to President   Jonathan and Maj. Gen. Buhari.

“He congratulated President-elect Buhari and commended President Jonathan for his leadership throughout the electoral process and his statesmanship in upholding the democratic process.

“The Secretary-General believes the successful conduct of these polls is a testament to the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy.”

Ban hoped that the same democratic spirit will prevail in the conduct of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on April 11.

Also, the Head of ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, former Ghanaian President John Kuffuor , and   the African Union and the Commonwealth congratulated Nigeria’s National Peace Committee for its work.

They called on Nigerians to carry through the entire electoral process the maturity and discipline displayed during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

At a meeting in Abuja, Kuffuor and the AU Observer Mission Chief, former Liberian leader, Prof. Amos Sawyer, and head of the Commonwealth poll observers,   Bakili Muluzi,   advised the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led committee to continue to build trust and confidence for peaceful coexistence during the post-election period.

They said, “Elections are about governance and our prayer is that Nigerian political parties, their candidates and teeming supporters will accept the results of the elections, with the winner showing magnanimity and the runner-up showing cooperation.”

The EU High Representative and Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, in a statement thanked   Jonathan for his contribution to consolidating Nigeria’s democracy over the past five years.

APC supporters celebrate with PDP ‘coffin’

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State on Wednesday trooped out to celebrate the victory of the party’s candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in Saturday’s poll.

Some of the APC supporters were sighted at Gbogan/Osogbo Road carrying a casket draped in Peoples Democratic Party’s colour and logo.

The supporters, accompanied by trumpeters, danced through Odi Olowo Street and some other streets in the Osun State capital, rendering victory songs and mocking the PDP, whose candidate, President Goodluck Jonatha, lost to Buhari.

An APC member of the House of Representatives from Osogbo/Olorunda/ Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency, Mr. Lasun Yusuf, described the action of his party’s supporters as abominable.

Yusuf, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, said the supporters’ mode of celebration was not acceptable to the party.

“That is over zealousness on the part of people you cannot control. It is bad and should be not be encouraged by anybody. It is abominable but you should know that these are the people you cannot control,” he said.

Yusuf lamented the defeat of two members of the House of Representatives from the state by the PDP, saying it would affect the joint projects being undertaken by all the National Assembly members from the state.

PDP vows to challenge Buhari’s ‎victory at tribunal

The  Peoples Democratic Party has said it will challenge the outcome of the March 28 presidential election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, through its Chairman and Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday morning, declared  Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.)‎ of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.

The PDP through its agent at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, when the final result was declared, had refused to sign the result sheet despite its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, having earlier conceded defeat.

‎The agent of the PDP, Bello Fadile, who was in attendance when parties were being called upon to sign the result sheet, told journalists shortly after the result was declared that the party was not satisfied with the outcome of the election and had decided to challenge it at the election tribunal.

“Whether I sign it (the result sheet) or I don’t sign it,  does not make any difference. It doesn’t invalidate the result‎. When we go to court, then we can challenge the result,” Fadile said.

When asked to confirm if the PDP will challenge the result at the presidential election petitions tribunal, Fadile added, “Sure! The party petitioned. Don’t forget. So the party will follow through the petition. There are rules for this. The law is there.

“The result was declared on the 1st of April, I think. We will follow the due process. Like the president (Jonathan) said, ‘If you have any grievances, follow due process and the due process in this instance is to go to the tribunal.”

My victory, not a surprise – Buhari

The President-elect Muhammadu Buhari,says he is not surprised that he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls in the March 28 presidential election.
Buhari, who defeated Jonathan by over two million votes, said this during an interview with CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, on Wednesday.
He said the successful merger of the All Progressives Congress in 2013 signalled the beginning of the end of Jonathan’s administration.
He said, “I am not surprised because of how we came into the merger. The main opposition parties in Nigeria decided to come together to face the ruling party. That means we had an additional spread and politicians across the length and breadth of the country; so, I was not surprised.”
Buhari said immediately after he was sworn in, he would begin a process of national reconciliation, especially in the violence-prone areas of the Niger Delta and the North-East.
He said, “The actual division that is worth bothering about in terms of social instability and insecurity are in the North-East and the in the NigerDelta, which I think have been with this country long enough that we know how they started and what stage they are in now and we are confident that we will rapidly give attention to the insecurity in the country and I believe that we will deal with them within a few months in office.”

Not yet time to celebrate Buhari, NLC cautions

The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has congratulated Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory at the presidential election but the labour union warns that the time for celebration is not now.

The Chairman of the Oyo NLC chapter, Bashir Olanrewaju, who spoke at an event organised by human rights group, Amilcar Cabral Ideological School, in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the President-elect was surrounded by corrupt personalities.

Olanrewaju said that Buhari’s personality as an upright person and fighter of corruption, was what endeared him to the voters but that the President-elect had around him people who acquired wealth through corrupt means.

According to Olanrewaju said such people could erase the gains expected from Buhari’s victory.

Also, human rights crusader, Femi Aborisade, who was also at the event, said he had studied the manifesto of Buhari’s All Progressives Congress but spotted no difference between the party and the defeated Peoples Democratic Party.

He added that in an attempt to actualise governance in his own way, Buhari might encounter problems with the party and some of the people who spearheaded his campaign and emergence.

Olanrewaju reminded Nigerians that some of the challenges that Buhari would face included a deeply-rooted corrupt system, dwindling national income and an economy hinged on dictation from the western powers.

He said, “We congratulate Buhari on his victory at the poll but we are not sure that there is much hope to celebrate by the masses. Buhari told Nigerians that he had no money to buy form but have we forgotten that those who bought his form and funded his campaign will be around him when he begins his rule? They will demand for a return.

“Despite the dwindling oil price, there is evidence of stealing of petroleum products. This is a system that Buhari will inherit. Did we ask him during his campaign if he will increase civil servants’ wages or reduce the work force? Did we put ourselves in a good bargaining position when he was canvassing for our votes? We did not ask those questions, we only wanted change.”

WE MAY RETURN TO MILITANCY

A former Niger-Delta militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, says with the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan, he and other militants may be forced to return to the creeks.

Asari-Dokubo, who hails from the same state as Jonathan, said the voting pattern showed that the South-West and the North ganged up against the South-South and South-East geo-political zones.

The ex-militant said in a statement by his spokesperson, Rex Anighoro, that it was unfair that the minorities were being emasculated by the majority ethnic groups.

He said he feared that the government of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would be vicious.

Asari-Dokubo said, “The conditions that advanced the need to embrace the creeks have been sadly re-energised. It is clear that a vicious government who may maim and murder the voice of the so-called minorities may have just been birthed.

“Indeed integration is non-existent as regional gang-ups and supremacy is symbolic with this victory.”

The ex-militant, who had in January said he and his colleagues would wreak havoc if Jonathan lost the election, praised the President for being a true statesman.

He said it was the struggle of the militants that led to the Jonathan presidency.

Asari-Dokubo said since the South-South had lost the presidency, ex-militants would meet to decide the next line of action.

He said, “While President Jonathan enjoys his moments and basks in the euphoria of a new world-renowned statesman having congratulated Muhammadu Buhari, we must quickly be reminded that our struggle was never about Jonathan or about the presidency.

“President Jonathan is an establishment beneficiary of our struggle, our sweat and blood that many bled and died for. He was never in the struggle and he can never wish away our collective march for statesmanship.

“Yes indeed, to an extent, he was a mitigating factor in self-determination pursuit as we went on sabbatical. This mitigation he seems to have willingly repudiated. The days coming will be critical. We shall study all the conditions and consult widely before determining the way forward for our collective existence and survival as a people. The days coming shall either drive the quest of integration or further separate us.”