Author: Chronicle Editor

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 33, contacted Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last week to tell him he wants to leave Barcelona. (Times – subscription required) Manchester City would be willing to use Spanish defenders Eric Garcia, 19, and Angelino, 23, as makeweights in a deal for Messi, if they cannot sign him on a free transfer. (Manchester Evening News) Manchester City are prepared to offer Barcelona £89.5m plus Garcia, Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 26, and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus, 23, for Messi. (Sport – in Spanish) Real Madrid are set to demand more than 20m euros for 23-year-old Spanish left-back Sergio Reguilon, who has attracted interest from Manchester United, Tottenham,…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has condemned the mindless and callous killings in Southern Kaduna and he explained the federal government’s interventions in Kaduna state. Osinbajo spoke on the State of the Nation at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association themed Step Forward on Thursday. The panel anchored by Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman of ThisDay newspaper also had the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila on it. “I want to say that the mindless, callous killings in Southern Kaduna are heartbreaking and again we must condole that who have lost loved ones, those injured or those…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as interim administrator (Amnesty Programme) with effect from August 21, 2020. This followed the President’s approval of the disengagement of Prof. Charles Quarker Dokubo from Office as the Coordinator, Amnesty Programme with immediate effect. Prof. Dokubo has been directed to hand over all official matters to the most senior officer of the Programme. Buhari suspends coordinator of Amnesty Programme President Buhari appreciated the services of Prof. Dokubo to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Dr Akinwunmi Adesina on his re-election for a second term in office as President of African Development Bank (AfDB). President Buhari described his appointment as “deserved”, urging him to carry on with his reforms at the AFDB. “On behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians in general, President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates with President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, on his re-election for a second term in office,” a statement by his spokesperson Femi Adesina said. News of the victory came during the Council of State meeting, which was attended by former…

The Attah of Igala, Chairman, Kogi State traditional council, Dr Micheal Ameh Oboni is dead. The 72-year-old Kogi state paramount ruler was said to have had a stroke which complicated the procedure. He died in the early hours of Thursday and his body was moved to the National Hospital, also in Abuja, for embalming while traditional rites are observed. Before his death, he was the chairman, Kogi State traditional council. When Ameh ascended the throne in 2012, he might have thought his reign would be as long as his predecessor. However, that was not the case. Aliyu Obaje, the 26th…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said he is more focused on providing solutions to the job at hand, adding that, the country is still battling COVID-19. Osinbajo who spoke on a number of national issues on the Day Two of the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association themed Step Forward, said he is not concentrating on politics. The panel anchored by Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman of ThisDay newspaper also had the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila on it. Asked by Obaigbena if he will succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, “Well, let me…

Chelsea have signed ex-Nice defender Malang Sarr on a five-year deal. The 21-year-old Frenchman became a free agent when his Nice contract expired on 30 June and Chelsea have said he will spend the 2020-21 season out on loan. Sarr is a France Under-21 international and made 119 appearances for Nice, scoring three goals. He is Chelsea’s fourth signing of the summer and their second in two days after the arrival of left-back Ben Chilwell, 23, from Leicester. Earlier in the year, the Blues signed winger Hakim Ziyech, 27, from Ajax and striker Timo Werner, 24, from RB Leipzig. Chelsea director…

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for coronavirus, says France manager Didier Deschamps. The 27-year-old will have to self-isolate for 14 days. He will miss France’s Nations League game in Sweden on Saturday, 5 September and the home game against Croatia three days later. However, Pogba could be eligible for selection for United’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 19 September. His club said: “Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery ahead of the new season.” Harry Maguire found guilty of assault and attempted bribery Pogba will be replaced in the France squad…

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on Thursday was re-elected as the President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). Adesina was re-elected by the Board of Governors of the Bank at the ongoing AfDB’s virtual annual meeting in Abidjan on Thursday. President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie confirmed the development while congratulating Adesina on her Twitter page. Onochie wrote, “Our very own Akinwumi Akin Adesina has been reaffirmed as the President of the African Development Bank. “Thank you to our supportive President @MBuhari who mobilized support for our own Adesina and why not! Adesina has been proven to be…

TikTok chief executive Kevin Mayer has quit after just two months in the job ahead of an impending ban by US President Donald Trump. The Chinese-owned firm has been accused of being a threat to US national security by the Trump administration. Mr Mayer joined TikTok in June after leaving his role as Disney’s head of streaming services. The social media platform was given 90 days to be sold to an American firm or face a ban in the US. “In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural…