IBADAN—FORMER Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state yesterday were in the Ikolaba residence of late Dr. Dejo Raimi to give him a befitting burial.

Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Phillip Shaibu, has alleged that the lingering crisis in the Assembly had persisted because some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders “are deriving financial benefits from same.”

The people of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State, have insisted that their demand for governorship in 2015 is justified, while they commend the leadership and developmental strides of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Ogoniland.

THE National leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday in Benin City, Edo State, warned that the activities of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Edo States were capable of destroying the nation’s democracy.

As the zero hour approaches swiftly for Nigeria to reinstate the Aminu Maigari-led NFF board today or risk an indefinite ban from FIFA, the Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Dr.Tamuno Danagogo is expected to hold a crucial meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, where a decision on whether to reinstate the Maigari board would be made to forestall a worldwide clampdown on Nigeria.

I have known and have been observing Professor Wole Soyinka since 1962 (52 years), but from a distance. I do not have the privilege of having been one of his former students or a close personal friend. Nevertheless, I have been an avid admirer of the man throughout this period.

FIFA yesterday cleared the air on the World Cup prize money that accrues to each participating federation at the World Cup finals.

FOLLOWING the free-for-all at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, secretariat in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, during which the state party Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi was assaulted, Senior Political Adviser to Governor Emmamuel Uduaghan, Chief Ighoyota Amori, has said that same could have been avoided if protocol was respected.

Going by the wave of divestments in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, half of the domestic gas market will be in the hands of Nigerians by 2018, Mr. Austin Avuru, Managing Director, Seplat Petroleum has said.

THE Lagos State government, yesterday, accused Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of vandalising infrastructural and recreational facilities provided by the state government at the Gani Fawahinmi Park, Ojota, during a rally it held recently.