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Jamie Carragher calls on Arsenal to end Arsene Wenger’s reign to ensure he gets ‘the send-off he deserves’

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has called on Arsenal to end Arsene Wenger’s reign in the summer to ensure he gets “the send-off he deserves”.

Wenger signed a new two-year deal at the end of last season but is under increasing pressure after a nightmare start to 2018.

Arsenal began the year with a shock FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest and remain 10 points adrift of the top four in the Premier League following the 3-0 loss to Manchester City, who beat the Gunners by the same scoreline in the Carabao Cup final just days earlier.

Many Arsenal fans stayed away on Thursday and Carragher believes a large section of the Emirates Stadium support are just waiting for Wenger to leave.

“Last season there was anger from supporters and marches against Arsene Wenger, which I thought were a disgrace,” pundit Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“But I think tonight was worse. The Arsenal fans are not actually interested. They didn’t turn up. There were a few boos at the end but it wasn’t the anger of last season. Now it’s almost like resignation, just waiting for the manager to go. How sad is that? That very few, if any, Arsenal fans want Arsene Wenger as the manager next season. This man is a legend in the English game. But they have to change it, it has to be done.

“There’s no way the end of this season should be about this man being hounded out and going through that in empty stadiums. Announce now that you’re going to change the manager for the start of next season and I’m sure everyone in this stadium will say give this man a send-off.

“Make the decision now and give this man the send-off he deserves for what he’s done over 20 years, not what he’s done over the last five, six, 10 years.”

Fellow pundit Thierry Henry, who won two Premier League titles under Wenger, expressed his sadness after Arsenal’s seventh defeat of 2018.

“The man has been more than magnificent for this club and everyone knows how magnificent he has been for me,” said the Frenchman.

“So it pains me to see this situation, for the man. I was expecting a response today – some pride and passion. But it didn’t happen. I feel sad because this is the club that I love and a man I have a lot of respect for. You’re kind of lost for words. You get upset and you have a go but tonight…”

Carragher interrupted: “It feel like an end. The supporters were tired and flat. It felt like a resignation that it was a parting of the ways.”

The APC and the frequency of bad stories.

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The best word to describe Nigeria at this moment in time is chaos.

Troubled by the surprise turn of events, the ongoing reconciliation efforts by the ruling All Progressive Congress is threatening to overwhelm the party and President Mohammadu Buhari’s presidency, and there’s every reason to believe things will get worse, not better, in the coming days.

The APC at the National level is plagued at all quarters by bad stories — Poor governance, lack of internal democracy, corruption, inadequate attention to the economy, political high-handedness, nepotism etc., etc. — but President Buhari’s perchance for surrounding himself with a group of cabal also forced these stories around him.

The storm is gathering and it does not look good for the party. The only leverage that they have is that the APC has little to no opposition to their plethora of bad stories.

The PDP which is supposed to checkmate the APC is still drooling from the defeat it earned itself in 2015. The party is yet to recover and assume its rightful position as opposition.

The signals coming from the chief reconciler himself over the past few days seem to paint a picture of a party too divided and too distinct to galvanize its members under one roof.

Hardly had Bola Tinubu settled for the daunting task of unifying aggrieved members of the party that no other person than his wife took to a national TV and declared that her husband was sidelined after the elections.

Few days after she spoke her mind and perhaps, that of her husband, the reconciler in chief wrote to Mr. President informing him of the role played by the National Chairman of the Party, John Oyegun, to scuttle the peace process initiated by the President.

During the same week, State Chairmen of the party endorsed the extension of the National Chairman’s tenure with a loud deafening statement.

The events of the past week have shown that the party is in a huge tumult — not uncommon for greedy power grabbers anyway– but it seems incredibly incapable of managing its internal affairs.

These sceneries are reminiscent of what transpired within the ranks of PDP in 2014. The then ruling party was engulfed in an internal struggle that the then National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, stated that time when others worked while the rest enjoyed the fruits of their labour was over.

President Jonathan did not get that signal. Those close to him kept assuring him that all was well and better without really doing their homework to ascertain where the party needs to make amends.

The people close to President Buhari are not doing him any favours by forcing such nonchalant attitude out of him.

In short, it is glaring that save for what they are getting from running round corridors of power, they do not proffer sound solutions to the storms threatening his presidency.

Even long-term loyalists of the party and President Buhari’s defenders are beginning to disassociate themselves from anything that has to do with him. The President is too preoccupied with misgoverning the country to see it.

What is important is not that the president thinks that he has done so well for the country to deserve praises that he is not getting at the material time. He thinks that all the time. What is perhaps different this time is that the biggest opposition to his government is within the levels of his own party and here is why:

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been at daggers drawn with the APC controlled National Assembly over the order of the 2019 general elections with many analysts saying that attempts by the National Assembly to effect the change is targeted at the president.

The legislators want their election to come before that of the president and state governors. INEC on its part has refused attempts by the National Assembly to change the election orders citing certain Electoral acts in the constitution.

In short, the commission took it a notch higher by arranging election orders for the next 30 years.

The National Assembly might attempt to veto the powers of the president in that regard and plunge the country and the party into deeper crisis.

However, the biggest chaos is reserved for the day that the ruling party will conduct its national convention. The times are changing.

Jonathan Adagogo Green; Nigeria’s first Master photographer.

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Jonathan Adagogo Green (1873—1905) was one of the first and best African photographers who also took advantage of his British sounding name and his wealthy father’s connection to obtain even more jobs especially from highly placed colonial officers.

As the first professional photographer of Nigerian birth, Jonathan Adagogo Green was one of the important voices for Nigeria’s early modernist art movement.

Moreover, his photographic work reveals that he was straddling two worlds; one, his own as an Ibani young man born into an elite trading family, and the other, as the chief photographer for the British as they lay the foundation for the newly formed colony of Nigeria.

Adagogo Green was of noble stock; son of a high Chief of a prominent House in Bonny, Rivers State. He was well-educated and socially very confident, all of which can be glimpsed from his body of work.

He was unquestionably Nigeria’s first Master Photographer and Artist Photographer. He definitely had a calling; which was, to properly document the whole spectrum of political, commercial/industrial and social life around him.

He used his medium and profession to the highest levels and responsibly, as a sensitive human being, to observe and document his environment, the people and their activities, for posterity.

He was indeed a pioneer in this genre and volume of documentation.

He was also responsible for the now very famous photograph of Oba Ovonramwen of Benin on the navy ship (SS Ivy) taking him into exile in 1897, while it was anchored off the Bonny River enroute Calabar.

At that time, the Ibani Ijaw town of Bonny was at the heart of maritime commerce, with the slave trade at its peak in the 18th Century and the palm oil trade dominating throughout the 19th Century.

Green’s photographic skills were in great demand and his business boomed at a time Bonny functioned as the administrative centre of the protectorate throughout the historical trajectory, putting him at the hub of British imperialist activity.

Nearly every album or collection of photographs from Nigeria dating to this period includes at least one of Green’s portraits of the late Oba of Benin.

Some of his works are on display in the British Museum to this day and without his prolific portfolio, there definitely would be huge gaps in Nigeria’s recorded history.

Seventy-six years after his death (2012), a new research on Green’s life and works entitled: The two worlds of artist/photographer J. A. Green, was conducted by a US-based scholar, Dr. Lisa Aronson of Skidmore College, New York, and was the topic of a lecture in Lagos organised by Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos,

Green died in 1905. He was 32. His remains lie in an all-marble tomb, imported from Belgium, in Bonny, Rivers State.

CBN warns against bitcoin investment.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday cautioned Nigerians to be wary of investments in cryptocurrencies, stating that virtual currencies were not legal tender in the country.

The apex bank said in a statement issued in Abuja that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin and Onecoin, and exchanges such as NairaEx, were not licensed or regulated by it.

The statement signed by the bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, explained that dealers and investors in any kind of cryptocurrency in the country were not protected by law.

It added that since they were not protected by law, such investors might not be able to seek legal redress in the event of failure or collapse of the business.

The apex bank warned Nigerians against investing in cryptocurrencies as doing so would be at their own risk.

The bank had on January 12, 2017, issued a circular to banks and other financial institutions on virtual currency operations in Nigeria.

In the circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Kevin Amugo, the CBN had, among other issues, noted that virtual currencies were traded on exchange platforms that were unregulated all over the world.

It noted that transactions in virtual currencies were largely untraceable and anonymous, thereby making them susceptible to abuse by criminals for money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Abia Warriors chose Krisdera Stadium as home ground

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Abia Warriors football club of Umuahia has chosen the Krisdera Hotel Stadium, Omoku, Rivers State as their temporary home ground in the on-going 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League Campaign.

The Umuahia based football club made this known through the club’s Twitter handle on Friday.

Although no reason was given for this, Krisdera Hotel Stadium is the home ground of the Omoku-based Go Round FC.

Abia Warriors currently sit at no 16 on the league table while Go Round sit at no 19.

First Maritime Engineering Center of excellence takes off.

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The Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Marine Engineering and OffshoreTechnology established by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC)-operated joint venture at the Rivers State University (RSU) is set to open its doors to the pioneer students who are currently being screened in an elaborate admission process, according to a Shell statement.

More than 100 candidates applied in response to newspaper advertisements, and the shortlisted ones are being screened and interviewed preparatory to commencement of studies in April.

“We continue to thank NNPC and SPDC for being part of our success story at the university,” RSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Blessing Didia, said at the start of the admission interviews.

“We are very happy that the centre has taken off, and we congratulate NNPC, SPDC and the other joint venture partners for what they have done for the university.”

Also speaking, the Head of University Relations, SPDC, Professor Edmond Allison-Oguru, expressed the hope that the Centre of Excellence would bring the much-needed improvement in marine engineering and offshore technology in the Niger Delta.

The company also said that the CoE in Marine Engineering and Offshore Technology, the first in Nigeria, will run 18-month Master’s and Diploma programmes, covering classroom lectures, practical sessions, term project modules and a six-month internship in the oil and gas industry.

The multi-million-naira facility was inaugurated in June 2017, during which SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, pledged that it would produce industry-ready Master’s degree graduates to further advancements in Nigeria’s offshore technology sector.

The SPDC JV had earlier established a CoE in Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences at the University of Benin, and endowed six professorial chairs in Nigerian universities as part of the support for the academia.

In 2016, a Chair in Light Weight Automobile Engine Development was established at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun, Delta State, which is expected to contribute to the growth of local content in Nigeria’s automobile industry.

Also, research at the Shell Professional Chair in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt in 2012 produced the Optiwell well-bore stability software. Use of the software has significantly reduced drilling time as well as costs associated with mud loss and other drilling challenges.

The support for universities is implemented along with other social investment schemes of the SPDC JV, which include the Shell Eco Marathon, the Sabbatical and Research Interns Scheme, Research and Development Grant for competitive proposals and Data support for academic activities from undergraduate to doctoral levels.

Chinese condoms too small for our men – Zimbabwe’s health minister.

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Zimbabwe’s minister for health has called on the county’s manufacturers to start producing condoms after claiming Chinese imports are too small for the local population.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa made the comments last week at an awareness event in the capital Harare, according to local media. Despite having one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world, most of the condoms in Zimbabwe are imported from China.

According to Parirenyatwa, the imported prophylactics are not fit for the task. “Youths now have a particular condom that they like, but we don’t manufacture them,” the minister said. “We import condoms from China and some men complain they are too small.”

The politician challenged local companies to start manufacturing indigenous condoms instead of relying on Chinese imports. “You need to be able to have your own condoms,” Parirenyatwa said. “If you want to be a big businessman, then manufacture them for the region.”

In response, one Chinese condom manufacturer announced that it is planning to produce condoms of different sizes to satisfy demand. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Zhao Chuan, chief executive of condom manufacturer Beijing Daxiang, said the company has “the ability and the obligation” to provide condoms of an appropriate size. “We have started to do some surveys on users’ data in the region to make preparations for future products,”he said.

Zimbabwe has some of the worst rates of HIV/AIDS infection among countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 13.5 percent of adults in the country infected with HIV. Condoms are a crucial factor in stopping the spread of infection. The country is one of the top five importers of the contraceptive in the world. According to UNAIDS, the number of new HIV infections has almost halved and AIDS-related deaths decreased by 45% since 2010.

Port Harcourt to host Energy and New Green Technology Conference

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Energy and Green Technology

The Garden City of Port Harcourt is set to host The Energy and New Green Technology Conference with the theme: ‘The Future of Hydrocarbon Industry in the New Age of Green Technology` at the Hotel Presidential.

The event will provide a platform for articulating a proactive response to the seemingly irreversible disruption to the hydrocarbon industry, according to Alfe City Company Ltd who are the organizers.

Among key speakers expected at the event that will attract major stakeholders in the economy are Prof. W.J. Okowa, Dr. Eddie Wikina, Prof. P. A. Olomola, Prof. R A. Olowe, Engr. Don Boham and Dr. Adebayo Adedokun.

The conference with provision for the exhibition of new green technology products and services and Regulators Clinic is targeted at participants from Oil & Gas Companies; Petrochemical Companies; Services Companies; Financial Institutions; Regulators; Federal Government; State Government; Oil Producing Areas Development Authorities; and Insurance Companies.

Among the sub-themes of the conference which industry experts will do justice to include: A perspective on the evolution of the hydrocarbon Industry and its role in the industrialised global economy; The recent emergence e of the new green technology and its potential impact on the future of the energy trade; The direct cost of the new green technology industry on economies like Nigeria that are almost wholly reliant on the hydrocarbon Industry; Managing the immediate to short term effects of the new green Technology on the economies of countries like Nigeria whose economic prospects are tied to the fate of the hydrocarbon Industry; The roles of government and regulators in managing the transition from a hydrocarbon based economy to a new green technology environment; Deciding on a new template and business module in a green technology economy.

According to Mr. Soji Adeleye, Chief Executive Officer, Alfe City Company, “one of the most important decisions being discussed right now at both the policy level and corporate headquarters across the Globe is what to make of the inevitability of the new green technology and potential demise of the energy trade as we know it.

“In the case of economies like Nigeria that hitherto had relied almost exclusively on hydrocarbon industry for their economic survival, the issue is existential.

“This conference will bring this existential discussion into focus for three days. Distinguished experts in the sector and renowned economists are scheduled to bring their considerable wealth of Industry experience to bear on the subject with a view to channeling a way forward.”

He listed other objectives of the conference to include, exploring the role hydrocarbon energy has played in the global economy industrialization; exploring the politics of oil and the emergence of the new green technology; channeling a path for a possible coexistence of hydrocarbon business and the new green technology; for bringing industry operators, regulators, government, and other industries together for a look at the future of the hydrocarbon Economy.

“The global collapse of the crude oil market in the recent time demands a rigorous analysis particularly in a place like Nigeria that derives almost all of her foreign exchange earnings exclusively from hydrocarbon, the Alfe City boss said.

“This specialist conference would attempt to put into focus the role hydrocarbon energy has played and continue to play in the world economy. It would also consider the critical circumstances of countries like Nigeria that did not leverage the considerable wealth accumulated from oil to diversify their economy.

“The technical content will be handled by seasoned international experts in the industry who are expected to proffer plausible solutions for industry operators, government, and regulators on how best to confront the inevitable transition to the new green technology.”

Diobu residents decry PHED’s inhumane treatment

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Residents of Diobu have cried out against management of Portharcourt Electric Distribution, PHED, for the company’s inability to provide the area with electricity.

The angry residents who spoke to a TPCN correspondent, stated that the area has not had electricity for two weeks.

The residents said that the inhumane treatment by the power distribution company has made life in the area unbearable and has affected businesses.

However, a representative of the power distribution company said that the company does not generate power but only distribute amounts allocated to it.

He maintained that the waves of protests against the company in Portharcourt is unnecessary as it is a national problem stating that the company has begun rationing power so that it will get to every household.

The residents threatened to protest to PHED office at D-Line if the company does not provide the area with electricity.

Payment of salaries is a priority – Wike

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Rivers State Governor, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has said that payment of salaries should be given maximum priority in the state.

Governor Wike said this during the swearing in of 15 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen who had been screened and confirmed by the State House of Assembly.

The Governor Wike charged the caretaker committee chairmen to pay the salaries of local Government workers for December 2017, January 2018 and February 2018.

He explained that the funds were not released to the immediate past council administrators because the tenures of the former councils had expired.

He said: “The payment of salaries of workers must be given priority attention. As you take over the councils , pay the outstanding three months salaries”

Governor Wike also charged the urban local government areas especially PHALGA and Obio Akpor to focus on sanitation of different suburbs. He urged the chairmen to engage youths to promote environmental sanitation.

He stated that any caretaker committee chairman involved in using council funds to service his political godfather will be sanctioned.

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