Headlines
Messi Shows Class as Barcelona Demolish Liverpool in UCL Semi-Final
Lionel Messi scored his 600th goal for Barcelona with a stunning free-kick as the Catalan giants beat Liverpool 3-0 in their Champions League first leg semi-final tie at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The Argentine began the night on 598 goals for the club across all competitions and brought up the unprecedented landmark figure with a crucial brace at the Camp Nou.
Messi is the first player in history to reach that figure for Barcelona and only the seventh player to have achieved the feat at club level.
The 31-year-old follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Romario, Josef Bican, Gerd Muller and Ferenc Puskas in scoring 600 goals in their club career.
Before the Messi magic, ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the first half to end his unbelievable drought in the Champions League
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who were beaten finalists last year, will attempt to overturn their three-goal deficit at home next Tuesday.
Liverpool, who knocked out Porto in the quarter-finals, started the fixture well but fell behind after Suarez directed Jordi Alba’s inviting cross past Alisson.
The Reds pressed for an equaliser but Barcelona, now unbeaten in their last 32 Champions League home fixtures, stood firm.
And just when it looked as if the Reds were getting on top, Messi doubled Barcelona’s advantage after Suarez’s shot rebounded off the bar.
Messi added his second and Barca’s third with eight minutes remaining, beating Alisson with a stunning free-kick.
Barcelona looked set to score a fourth late on as they counter-attacked from a Liverpool corner but Ousmane Dembele fluffed the chance.
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Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
