http://www.turenchi.com/ Nigerian News. en-us Big-spending Real Madrid failed to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals for the sixth straight season when Olympique Lyon dumped the Spaniards out 2-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.Real’s dream of winning a 10th European title at their Bernabeu stadium in May was shattered by Miralem Pjanic’s 75th-minute strike, which secured a 1-1 draw for visiting Lyon in the last 16 second leg after Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal in the sixth minute. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:09:29 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29509-Lyon-dump-Real-Madrid-out-of-Champions-League?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29509-Lyon-dump-Real-Madrid-out-of-Champions-League?dest=out In its drive to be self-sustaining and independent in the area of funding, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has thrown open 18 sponsorship categories to local and international sponsors for leveraging.The categories were arrived at after a high-level meeting between the NFF board led by Sanni Lulu Abdullahi, head of marketing Idris Adama, and marketing consultant Mike Itemuagbor. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:09:27 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29508-Football-Federation-woos-sponsors?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29508-Football-Federation-woos-sponsors?dest=out Media reports that Tiger Woods is working with his swing coach Hank Haney have leading golfers talking of a possible return to action for the world number one.The websites of the Golf Channel and Golf Digest have both reported that Woods was seen working with Haney on a driving range in Florida over the weekend, which has led to speculation that his return could be on the horizon. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:09:25 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29507-Woods-practice-reports-set-tongues-wagging?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29507-Woods-practice-reports-set-tongues-wagging?dest=out Twenty-five players will move into the camp of the national women football team, the Super Falcons, ahead of the qualifiers for this year’s African Women Championship, AWC which takes place in South Africa later this year.Falcons coach, Eucharia Uche said the players will be strictly those playing in Nigeria’s domestic league. The ex-national team striker also said the camping exercise will commence in Abuja in the second week of April. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:09:24 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29506-Falcons-coach-invites-players-for-African-women-qualifiers?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29506-Falcons-coach-invites-players-for-African-women-qualifiers?dest=out Nigeria’s top athletes will boycott the IAAF World Indoor Championship which is to be held in Doha, Qatar this weekend. This is due to the debt owed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).Athletes like Nurudeen Selim and Ajoke Odumosu, who are currently running well, sent e-mails to the federation’s Secretary General, Maria Wophill, saying that while they appreciated the AFN’s invitation, they cannot honour it until the federation pays their outstanding allowances, bonus and ticket refunds. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:09:22 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29505-Athletes-shun-World-Indoor-Championship-over-debt?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29505-Athletes-shun-World-Indoor-Championship-over-debt?dest=out * Results negatively impacted by movements in exchange rates www.reuters.com Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:02:38 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29504-UPDATE-1-S-Africa-s-MTN-posts-lower-FY-profit-users-up-28-pct?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29504-UPDATE-1-S-Africa-s-MTN-posts-lower-FY-profit-users-up-28-pct?dest=out March 11 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday. www.reuters.com Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:03:30 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29503-African-Markets-Factors-to-watch-on-March-11?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29503-African-Markets-Factors-to-watch-on-March-11?dest=out Religious leaders, including the Pope and the Sultan of Sokoto, on Wednesday condemned last Sunday’s massacre of hundreds of villagers in Jos and asked the government to make sure it prosecutes those responsible.The catholic pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, yesterday condemned the “atrocious violence” that caused “bloodshed in Nigeria.” 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:43 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29502-Religious-leaders-denounce-Jos-violence?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29502-Religious-leaders-denounce-Jos-violence?dest=out Wayne Rooney scored twice again as Manchester United cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 4-0 win over a feeble AC Milan sent them through 7-2 on aggregate Wednesday.Rooney, who scored twice in the 3-2 San Siro win, was on target with a 13th-minute header that broke the hearts of the seven-times winners. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:39 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29501-Rooney-hits-double-as-Man-Utd-crush-Milan-4-0?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29501-Rooney-hits-double-as-Man-Utd-crush-Milan-4-0?dest=out Do you support Goodluck Jonathan's removal of Aondoakaa? Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Thursday, 11 March 2010 06:07 daily trust Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:37 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29500-Uwais-panel-report-Jonathan-throws-out-Yar-adua-s-review?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29500-Uwais-panel-report-Jonathan-throws-out-Yar-adua-s-review?dest=out Do you support Goodluck Jonathan's removal of Aondoakaa? Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Thursday, 11 March 2010 06:05 daily trust Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:34 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29499-FEC-meeting-aborted-at-last-minute?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29499-FEC-meeting-aborted-at-last-minute?dest=out Do you support Goodluck Jonathan's removal of Aondoakaa? Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Thursday, 11 March 2010 06:04 daily trust Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:31 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29498-Jang-warns-against-reprisals?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29498-Jang-warns-against-reprisals?dest=out Do you support Goodluck Jonathan's removal of Aondoakaa? Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Web Daily Trust Weekly Trust Sunday Trust Thursday, 11 March 2010 06:03 daily trust Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:03:27 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29497-Jos-Police-govt-disagree-over-casualty-figures?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29497-Jos-Police-govt-disagree-over-casualty-figures?dest=out * Coming up: Weekly U.S. jobless claims (1330 GMT) (Adds dollar gains, updates prices) www.reuters.com Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:02:36 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29496-UPDATE-1-Oil-slips-below-82-OPEC-expected-to-maintain-output?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29496-UPDATE-1-Oil-slips-below-82-OPEC-expected-to-maintain-output?dest=out Thousands of Nigerians who joined the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) to protest the continued absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua were stopped by the police from taking their protest to the Presidential Villa yesterday in Abuja. This is the second protest organised by group in Abuja,“Section 144 must be invoked,” Yinka Odumakin, the group’s spokesperson, said. “We are tired of a president we cannot see. We need a president we can see, who can talk to us, who can govern. Not one they will be telling us that he said; somebody saw him drinking tea, somebody saw him playing with his grand children. We want to see him and if we cannot see him, we want a functional president. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:03:25 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29495-Police-bar-protesters-from-going-to-Aso-Rock?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29495-Police-bar-protesters-from-going-to-Aso-Rock?dest=out Northern lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday asked Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to apply the same ‘economic package’, which helped arrest violence in the Niger Delta, to Jos, Plateau State.The Northern Caucus said in a statement yesterday that the problems that have promoted bloodletting in Plateau State are more economic than religious or tribal. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:03:24 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29494-Northern-Reps-want-Niger-Delta-option-for-Jos?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29494-Northern-Reps-want-Niger-Delta-option-for-Jos?dest=out The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) appears to be on a collision course with lawmakers over allegations of abuse of budget processes enshrined in the constitution.Specifically, the RMAFC is against the practice where ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are invited by the lawmakers to defend, before the various committees of the National, State and Local Government assemblies, budget proposals already presented for appropriation by the president, governors and local council chairmen. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:03:23 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29493-Revenue-commission-dares-lawmakers?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29493-Revenue-commission-dares-lawmakers?dest=out A coalition of youth groups from across the country on Wednesday announced plans for a protest rally to the National Assembly, Abuja on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, under the name ENOUGHISENOUGH Nigeria.The rally will include young professionals, celebrities, activists, students and others. The protesters will gather at the Eagles Square at 11am and march to the National Assembly. 234Next Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:03:22 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29492-Nigerian-youth-plan-march-to-National-Assembly?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29492-Nigerian-youth-plan-march-to-National-Assembly?dest=out L-R: Obasanjo, SoyinkaFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Wednesday disagreed sharply on the cause of the recurring crisis in Jos, Plateau State.Speaking in separate interviews on Cable News Network, Obasanjo and Soyinka proferred different reasons for the killings.While the former president said the crisis was caused by ethnic, economic and social factors, Soyinka said it was the result of impunity and the refusal of successive governments to punish perpetrators.According to Obasanjo, “Well, our religious leaders, Christians and Muslims, have come together, have deliberated and reflected on these problems in Jos, the violence and the conflict, and have come to say that it is not basically a religious problem. Basically, it‘s an ethnic problem. Basically, it‘’ a social problem. Basically, it’s an economic problem.”Asked to explain the economic angle, he said, “Economic problem, for instance, if you have one group or a community, or a settlement has land and that land has been encroached upon by another community or even by itinerant cattle farmers, then the people who lay claim to the land will fight back. And we have always had that problem here; that is economy.“If there are job opportunities in an area and persons believe that they are indigenes of that area, not getting enough out of the jobs that are available, they will fight those who are getting the jobs. That’s part of the economic (problem). Basically, it’s an ethnic problem. Basically, it’s a social problem. Basically, it’s an economic problem.”When the CNN correspondent asked for Obasanjo’s comments on the inabililty of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to meet ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua since the latter’s return to the country last month, the former president replied, “I think the entire Mr. Yar’Adua saga is strange. I think the entire episode of Yar’Adua’s illness and the way it was handled by his handlers and the way that it’s been couched in secrecy and shrouded in mystery is strange. And somebody said it can only happen in wonderland Nigeria.”But, Soyinka said the recurring violence had been sustained by “a culture of impunity. This is not the first of such riots. The failure to punish and intervene very, very forcefully in such clashes in the past. This is what has resulted in this very latest event.“We have opportunism, I am talking about politicians, including the head of state, who have deliberately refrained from acting firmly simply because of political reasons; making political alliances, not wanting to offend those who, in fact, have committed the most egregious offences, because of where they come from. All this has created a culture of impunity which, of course, results in what we just witnessed lately.”Asked if it was possible for religious and civil leaders to erach a consensus on ending the crisis, Soyinka replied, “It is possible, but it has to be in a very large context. What is happening, what has happened is that, for instance, there have been clashes of that nature even further south. I’m glad that the former president, Obasanjo, mentioned the economic aspect, but it’s really in the sense not going down.“There has also been a question of authoritarianism; we’ve had clashes in Oyo State, which is down south, between herdsmen and farmers, where the herdsmen have insisted on having their cattle (inaudible).”Asked how the situation would affect the 2011 elections, Soyinka replied, “Yes. I was coming to that. This nation, the people have been demanding a Sovereign National Conference. The election is a step(inaudible) towards emplacing the right people to enable the country to restructure itself.“And the elections are crucial. They are very crucial. But believe me, until the various component units of this nation fit together, as what we have called a Sovereign National Conference, re-organise, reconstitute themselves in... (inaudible) not along the (inaudible) which has been handed down first by the colonial past, and then next by the internal colonial past, which is the military.“Right now, what we’re running is a constitution which has been imposed on the people themselves; a Sovereign National Conference which cuts across all ethnic units, the various nationalities that make up the union, in which the protocols of association are renegotiated (something) governments have been running away from.” Punch Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:03:08 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29491-Jos-Obasanjo-Soyinka-disagree-on-cause-of-crisis?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29491-Jos-Obasanjo-Soyinka-disagree-on-cause-of-crisis?dest=out ecretary-General of the NationThe Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on Wednesday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspected perpetrators of last Sunday’s killings in Jos South Local Government Area.A statement by the NSCIA Secretary-General, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, said the organisation was stunned by the latest killings and the loss of lives. The statement titled, “Time for decisive action against the evil ones,” the NSCIA said it gathered that Sunday’s attacks were “a reprisal by those who felt aggrieved at the massacre of over 150 persons at a spot during the immediate past Jos disturbances. It was a wrong reaction, for vengeance belongs to Allah. We must respect the sanity of life in all situations.”The organisation pleaded that the “seemingly unending cycle of violence in Jos must stop. We call on the authorities to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly killings and bring them to book without delay. It is sad that ethnic rivalry in Plateau State has degenerated into deep ethnic hatred.”This dangerous trend must be arrested forthwith. The people should learn to live together in harmony, embracing one another for the sake of themselves and to ensure peace and stability without which meaningful progress would be unattainable.”It advised the Plateau State Government to “seriously review its position and evolve a policy of accommodation that would give every citizen and resident a sense of belonging. The government must be of and for all, regardless of ethnic origin or belief.” Punch Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:03:07 +0000 http://turenchi.com/links/29490--culprits-must-be-punished-NSCIA?dest=out http://turenchi.com/links/29490--culprits-must-be-punished-NSCIA?dest=out