THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Mallam Lamido Sanusi said yesterday that all the banks that were rescued in a bailout two years ago will find new investors, with four of them already agreed in principle on mergers.

Nigerian fans waiting for the historic match between Nigeria and Argentina can now heave a sigh of relief as the organisers of the match, Guinness has announced sales of ticket for the encounter beginning May 11 even as the first 10,000 winners of tickets have emerged through the under the crown national consumer promotion, currently running across the country.

THE road to President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in the presidential election of April 16, 2011, although divinely scripted, was littered with obstacles, dangerous precipices and, even, minefields. Indeed, from the controversy over his acting presidency, Jonathan’s political route had been a very bumpy one, dotted by intrigues, manoeuvres and conspiracies.

Some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, serving in Imo State have been suspended from office and others charged to court for alleged complicity in the political stalemate in the state.

The boys celebrated to high heavens when their officials handed them a gold wrist watch each. They were junior players and in many parts of the world it is wrong to reward junior players with monetary incentives. In fact, in tennis the International Tennis Federation rules against cash prizes in junior events.

Nigeria’s Amos Adamu has appealed to sport’s highest court to overturn his three-year ban from football.

Tears flowed freely as remains of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, member, Engr. Anslem Chukwunonyerem Nkwazema, who was murdered in cold blood in Bauchi State during the post- presidential election riot, was brought to the Multi-Purpose Hall of Government House, Owerri, yesterday.

BARELY 24 hours after Vanguard reported the meeting of security chiefs over threats by groups of persons to use the killing of Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden as a smokescreen to unleash mayhem in the country, Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, yesterday, directed the deployment of Anti-Riot police officers to provide security at all major religious places including mosque and churches to forestall any attacks or public disorder.

Ahead of the June 7, 2011, election of the new helmsmen for the National Assembly, governors of the South East geo-political zone will meet this weekend, in Enugu, to map out strategies on how the zone will clinch juicy positions in the National Assembly.

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has worsened as the party and Minister of Defence, Prince Tokunbo Kayode, SAN, have been trading words over the purported suspension of the minister for anti party activities

HEAD, Observer team for the 2011 general elections in Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Opia, yesterday called for lasting peace in the state, just as he said the call for mass action against the elected government negated what democracy stood for.

Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Benue State, yesterday raised alarm over an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to destroy electoral materials used at the governorship polls in order to obliterate evidence of its alleged rigging.

FOR describing votes from the riverine areas of Delta State as “toxic votes” and “riverine magic” in the just concluded April 26, gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls, Ijaw youth leader, Mr. Greg Afoegba and Itsekiri youth leader, Mr. Omolubi Newuwumi, have asked the gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in the state, to apologise publicly, describing the statement as reckless.

The lingering controversy over who the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should hand the certificate of returns for Imo West senatorial district was finally laid to rest by the Supreme Court, yesterday, as it pronounced that Chief Hope Uzodinma was the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the recently concluded National Assembly elections in Imo State.

The Federal Government has vowed to safeguard the nation’s pension assets put at N2 trillion with a view to ensuring an efficient system under the National Pension scheme which is being supervised by the National Pension Commission, PenCom.