Buhari: no pressure will derail war against corruption

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that no amount of pressure will make him give up on the war against corruption.

He spoke through an address delivered by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, to a group of Nigerians under the aegies of “Nigerians March Against Corruption,” who were at the gate of the Presidential Villa.

Members of the group came on a solidiarity visit to pledge their support for the Buhari administration’s  anti-corruption campaign.

The President promised a relentless prosecution of the war with due regard for the rule of law.

According to him, all persons charged with stealing the nation’s resources will have their day in court and that, upon conviction, their ill-gotten wealth will be seized and returned to government coffers.

He said: “I believe it is time for Nigeria to change course. That is why I sought  election as President and got elected. As President, I am determined that Nigeria must move away from a course of endemic corruption that was leading us to perdition.

“There can be no question of our willfully allowing anyone to get away with corruption. No matter the pressure and entreaties, the anti-corruption war will continue and all accused persons will have their day in court.”

Describing the group’s support as encouraging, the President reaffirmed his commitment to curbing insecurity in the country and boosting employment opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youth.

He called for the continued support and solidarity of Nigerians as his administration works to correct the wrongs of the past.

The Nigerians March Against Corruption group led by Aisha Yesufu had condemned recent statements by some individuals against the President’s anti-corruption posture.

They assured the President that the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians fully supported his ongoing efforts to curb corruption and urged him not to be deterred by the antics of those who do not share in his laudable vision of a fairer, more equitable, corruption-free and progressive nation.

Among the inscriptions on the placards displayed by the protesters include: ”I voted Buhari to fight corruption” and “NASS, epitome of corruption”.

Time for Rooney to step up as Manchester United's main man

The Red Devils skipper has struggled in the opening two games of the season and with a crucial campaign ahead, and records in sight, he needs to get back on track.
This should be the happiest of times for Wayne Rooney. This is the year England's record goalscorer should establish himself as the most prolific player in Manchester United's history. The probable conqueror of Sir Bobby Charlton has seen off 21st-century challenges, in the shape of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, for the striking spot.

He is the great survivor. The times when Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to exile him are fading into the past. He ought to reign unchallenged at Old Trafford, installed as captain and centre-forward by Louis van Gaal. The only alternatives are obvious understudies, whether the youngsters Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson or the perennial substitute Javier Hernandez.

And yet, two games into the season, Rooney finds himself in a familiar position. There are suggestions his career is at a crossroads. Again. He is now in his 12th season at Old Trafford but has contrived to remain on the same path despite taking many an unexpected turn.

The teenage tearaway will turn 30 in October. After 663 games for club and country, he may have too many miles on the clock. Now Rooney has to stave off suggestions his best days are behind him: some way behind him, some might say. He scored 34 goals for United in 2009-10, his finest campaign, and a further 34 in 2011-12. Hampered by being fielded in midfield and with his appearances limited by United's absence from Europe, he mustered a mere 14 last season.

This year, he argued, will be his first full campaign as an out-and-out striker since then. Yet two games in, Rooney has only had two shots. Both were off target. Kyle Walker has registered more efforts on target for United than Rooney this season. Tottenham and Aston Villa tended to be favourite opponents of his in the past. Rooney was mediocre against both.

He lacked the pace to stretch either defence. Van Gaal noted that he conceded possession unnecessarily at Villa Park. Truth be told, Rooney always has. Even when he was reinvented as a Paul Scholes-style central midfielder, he was never a byword for metronomic passing.



Van Gaal has been touchy, too. He spent Monday's press conference complaining that he was being criticised for not selecting Rooney as a striker last season and is now being asked about fielding him in attack. Yet that missed the point. The question was why Rooney was so ineffective, not where he played.

One answer lies in a disjointed supply line. Of the four men who have started in the three creative roles – Januzaj, Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and Juan Mata – only the Spaniard has begun the season in particularly inventive style. Yet a glimpse of Sergio Aguero on Sunday showed that Rooney lacks the sharpness, the elusiveness and the ruthlessness of the very finest strikers. He has not carved out chances for himself.

One argument is that he should be a No.10, not a No.9. He likes to be involved. He tends to drop deeper. Yet, given the composition of United's squad, that is unlikely. In any case, Rooney has spent much of his United career to a backdrop of his advocates arguing he is being played out of position. A dozen seasons in, the debate really should have been resolved by now.


Van Gaal has stated that the captaincy gives Rooney "privileges" when it comes to selection. It was why he was crowbarred into the team in a variety of roles last season. Now his versatility is less of an issue. It is more a question of his ability: to lead the line, to threaten, to score.

It is dangerous to dismiss him. He has an increasing habit that, when he is not at his best, he appears out of sorts. Such spells can precede a goalscoring run, often without warning. It may be the case, too, that he is easing his way into the campaign. Ferguson always argued he needed plenty of first-team football to be fighting fit. The Club Brugge game will be just his third meaningful match of the season. Rooney was United's last player to score in a Champions League final. Now the task is to find the net in a Champions League qualifier.

Such matches were never required in the golden days. The captaincy came Rooney's way when United were at the lowest of ebbs. They were the side that had slumped to seventh. Van Gaal feels they are in process of returning to the top. Yet if they are to do so, it would help to have the finest forward in the league. Five years ago, after his stellar 2009-10 season, Rooney could claim that title. Not any more. Having overcome Falcao and Van Persie, his next, and biggest, battle is with Aguero and Diego Costa.

Ronaldo back in Real Madrid squad as Benzema misses out

The Portugal international is raring to go again after a brief injury layoff, but the former Lyon striker is still being plagued by physical problems.

Cristiano Ronaldo is back in Real Madrid's squad for Tuesday's Santiago Bernabeu Trophy clash with Galatasaray, but the injured Karim Benzema remains absent.

The pair missed Real's Audi Cup matches in Munich earlier this month as Ronaldo was suffering a back problem while Benzema injured his thigh.

The Portugal international already returned to training last week and is now raring to go again as Madrid prepare for their La Liga opener against Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

However, Benzema's thigh problem appears more troublesome as he will not feature against Galatasaray and is in danger for the match versus Gijon, too.

The France international's ongoing fitness issue will be a cause for concern for head coach Rafa Benitez as he lacks any genuine alternatives for the No.9 position following Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez's return to Manchester United after his loan spell.

Promising youngster Borja Mayoral, 18, is set to take advantage of Benzema's absence as he has been given the nod for Tuesday's encounter.

Meanwhile, Raphael Varane is unavailable due to muscular problems, while a leg injury is keeping Pepe out of the match versus the Istanbul giants.

Gossip: Chelsea eye three new signings

Chelsea will sign three players including John Stones and Antoine Griezmann, while Man United watched Aymeric Laporte, say Tuesday's headlines.

STONES THE FIRST OF THREE FOR CHELSEA

Roman Abramovich is ready to give Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho approval to make three more signings after the club's slow start to their Premier League title defence.

The Daily Mirror says Abramovich's decision is likely to mean an improved bid for Everton defender John Stones, possibly as much as £34m - which would be a British record fee for a defender - with Mourinho also looking for a central midfielder and another attacking option.

The Sun claims Atletico Madrid's French winger Antoine Griezmann is likely to be targeted in a deal of arpund £25million, but there's no word on which midfielder they claim Mourinho wants, although we wouldn't be hugely surprised if Zenit's Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel is once again linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Either way, it seems Mourinho and Abramovich are not resting on their laurels and want a swift reaction to the poor start to their Premier League title defence.

UNITED MAKE LAPORTE CHECK

Manchester United supremo Ed Woodward checked on Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte on Monday night, claims the Daily Mail.

Woodward, in Catalonia to push through a deal for Pedro and also used the trip to scout Bilbao centre-half Laporte.

He took in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Barca and Bilbao at the Nou Camp - a 1-1 draw ensured the Basque side were shock 5-1 winners on aggregate.

A centre-back is not a priority for Louis van Gaal but Laporte, 21, has been on United's radar for a while since establishing himself as a Bilbao regular in 2013.

He put speculation over his future to bed in June by signing a new contract to remain with the La Liga club until 2019.

The fresh terms include a £36.5m release clause but United have retained their long-term interest.

VERRATTI OPEN TO LIVERPOOL MOVE

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has admitted he is open to a move Liverpool or Barcelona, despite insisting he is 'happy' in the French capital.

The 12-capped Italy international has made it clear he intends to stay in Paris, but admits he would 'consider his options' on a move to Spain or England if PSG decided to cash in.

Verratti is wanted by Liverpool now and Barcelona in January 2016, when their transfer embargo is lifted, after several scintillating displays for Laurent Blanc's Ligue 1 champions.

AND THE REST

- Adnan Januzaj has vowed to build on his match-winning display at Aston Villa and prove he has a long-term future with Manchester United (Daily Mirror)

- Sunderland are set to offer Aston Villa defender Kieran Richardson the chance of a return to the Stadium of Light - the 30-year-old could be available for around £2m (Daily Mirror)

- Juventus are mulling over a move for Tottenham forward Erik Lamela as they are struggling to finalise a deal with Schalke for Julian Draxler (Daily Mirror)

- Marseille want Remy Cabella from Newcastle as part of the £12m deal to sell winger Florent Thauvin (various)

- Manchester City are poised to sign Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi for a cut-price fee - because the Spanish club still owe them £23.8m from their purchase of Alvaro Negredo (Daily Mirror)

- Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has flown to Barcelona to complete a deal to bring Spain forward Pedro to Old Trafford (various)

- Kevin De Bruyne has rejected a move to Manchester City (various)

- Norwich City will let Gary Hooper out on loan but they want his £32,000-a-week salary paid in full (The Sun)

- Southampton are set to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly (The Sun)

- Everton have made a £14m bid for Dynamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko (various)

- Tottenham have rejected a £13m bid from Juventus for Christian Eriksen (The Sun)

- Watford have been offered France midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, who is available after leaving Lyon in the summer (The Sun)

- Newcastle have been told to forget about a cut-price swoop for Marseille winger Florian Thauvin (Daily Star)

- Philippe Senderos is set to leave Aston Villa, with Turkish sides Rizespor and Antalyaspor reported to have an interest (Daily Star)

- QPR director of football Les Ferdinand says the club have received "two firm bids" for £15m-rated striker Charlie Austin (Daily Star)

- Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been told he can leave PSG for a cut-price fee, which could spark interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as former club AC Milan (Daily Mail)

- Manchester City are no longer interested in Tottenham target Saido Berahino, whose future at West Brom remains in doubt (Daily Mail)

- Palermo are refusing to give up on signing Arsenal forward Joel Campbell, who is rated at £6m by the Gunners (Daily Mail)

- West Ham have made a loan enquiry for Napoli striker Eduardo Vargas, who was on loan at QPR last season (Daily Mail)

- Bournemouth are continuing to push for a deal for Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray (Daily Mail)

- John Terry feared being completely left out of Chelsea's side against Manchester City, with Kurt Zouma partnering Gary Cahill in training as they looked to nullify the pace of Sergio Aguero (Daily Mail)

- AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi wants to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Daily Express)

- Jermain Defoe has leapt to the defence of under-fire Sunderland new-boy Younes Kaboul (Daily Express)

- Manchester City's £28.5m move for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi will not include Eliaquim Mangala as part of the deal (Daily Telegraph)

- West Brom want Tottenham's £5m-rated centre-back Fazio (Daily Telegraph)

- Juventus are interested in Spurs forward Erik Lamela and Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado (The Times)

- Norwich City are on the verge of a deal to sign Mattia Destro on loan from Roma (The Times)

- Manchester City are braced for interest in Samir Nasri from Inter Milan, if they fail to sign Ivan Perisic from Wolfsburg (The Times)

- Brighton manager Chris Hughton insists Newcastle target Lewis Dunk will be in the club's squad for their game at Huddersfield on Tuesday (The Independent)

- West Ham striker Elliot Lee will go on loan until Christmas to gain first-team experience (The Independent)

[UPDATED] Baba Sala’s health worsens, rushed to UCH

There are fears in family circle on Tuesday concerning the health of popular Yoruba actor, Moses Olaiya, popularly known as Baba Sala.

Sources in the family said the aged actor was rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan on Monday night after his health deteriorated in his Ilesa, Osun State, residence.

One of his sons confirmed to one of our correspondents that his father was rushed to UCH on Monday.

He, however, denied that his father had died as being speculated in some quarters.

Details later…