Arsenal beat Crystal Palace to pick first points of campaign

Arsenal recovered from their opening-day defeat by West Ham to record a hard-fought victory at Crystal Palace.

Alexis Sanchez had three shots blocked as the Gunners began aggressively before Olivier Giroud got the opener.

The Frenchman’s superb scissor kick put away a Mesut Ozil cross but the lead lasted 12 minutes until Joel Ward’s driven shot drew Palace level.

Connor Wickham hit the post on his home debut before Damian Delaney sliced a Sanchez header into his own net.

Jordon Mutch almost inadvertently grabbed a late equaliser when the ball struck his head and went over from a corner, while Petr Cech held a Ward header in a frantic finish.

But despite Palace’s combative display, Arsene Wenger’s side ultimately deserved the three points for the quality of their movement and resilience in defence.

Man City thrash Chelsea 3-0 to go top of EPL

Manchester City went top of the Premier League table with a dominant victory over reigning champions Chelsea.

Sergio Aguero was denied three times by Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic before he marked his first game of the season with a goal after Yaya Toure’s pass.

City were dominant, Eden Hazard forcing Joe Hart into his only serious save.

Vincent Kompany made it 2-0 with a header from David Silva’s corner before Fernandinho fired home from 18 yards.

Here is what Mourinho said on Sky Sports that set twitter agog: “The best team in the first half won the game. The best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure. We had a difficult first half, we didn’t create a lot and our goalkeeper made a few important saves.

“Second half everything was different. If the 1-0 was a doubtful result at minute 70, 3-0 is completely fake. At 1-0 Chelsea were the best team for the whole second half.

“They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble.”

Fayose to Buhari: I can’t be intimidated

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has urged President Mohammadu
Buhari to tread cautiously and be mindful of the body language of those hailing him today, saying; “the president should be cautious enough to know that the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami
Abubakar led National Peace Committee tactically told him to tread cautiously and be mindful of the fact that he is not heading a military government.”

The governor, who said he was not unaware of the sinister plot to destabilise his government because of his strong and truthful stands on national issues, vowed not to be cowed by threat from any quarter.

According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said: “opposition is one of the roots on which democracy stands and any President or Governor that does not want opposition will eventually
become a dictator.

“I want to state without fear or favour that I will continue to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one can intimidate me or the good people of Ekiti State who freely and overwhelmingly gave me their mandate.

“Democracy as a form of government thrives on our ability to ask questions and get answers from leaders,” he said.

He urged the President to listen to wise counsel from the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee saying, “the Peace Committee has reminded the president that he is not heading a military government and with the calibre of Nigerians in the Committee, their wise counsel should not be ignored.

“These are Nigerians who don’t need personal favours from the President and he should get the message very clearly that he is being told not to act as a dictator.”

Governor Fayose said the President should also know that Nigerians are
not interested in any honeymoon, but their well-being.

His words: “rather than concentrate and make a difference within his 100 days in office, the president’s greatest achievement so far is harassment of PDP leaders, appointment of his in-law and kinsmen into sensitive positions, selective fight against corruption and arrest and
detention of INEC officials who worked in States won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

While declaring support for the fight against corruption, Governor Fayose however said “fighting corruption should not be synonymous with convicting Nigerians on pages of newspapers. Rather, the judiciary and other relevant agencies should be allowed to do their
jobs without any direct or indirect interference from the President
and his party.

“Corruption must be fought in accordance with the laws of the land because going against the laws of the land and the oath taken by the President to respect the constitution in itself is corruption.”

Fayose to Buhari: I can’t be intimidated

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has urged President Mohammadu
Buhari to tread cautiously and be mindful of the body language of those hailing him today, saying; “the president should be cautious enough to know that the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami
Abubakar led National Peace Committee tactically told him to tread cautiously and be mindful of the fact that he is not heading a military government.”

The governor, who said he was not unaware of the sinister plot to destabilise his government because of his strong and truthful stands on national issues, vowed not to be cowed by threat from any quarter.

According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said: “opposition is one of the roots on which democracy stands and any President or Governor that does not want opposition will eventually
become a dictator.

“I want to state without fear or favour that I will continue to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one can intimidate me or the good people of Ekiti State who freely and overwhelmingly gave me their mandate.

“Democracy as a form of government thrives on our ability to ask questions and get answers from leaders,” he said.

He urged the President to listen to wise counsel from the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee saying, “the Peace Committee has reminded the president that he is not heading a military government and with the calibre of Nigerians in the Committee, their wise counsel should not be ignored.

“These are Nigerians who don’t need personal favours from the President and he should get the message very clearly that he is being told not to act as a dictator.”

Governor Fayose said the President should also know that Nigerians are
not interested in any honeymoon, but their well-being.

His words: “rather than concentrate and make a difference within his 100 days in office, the president’s greatest achievement so far is harassment of PDP leaders, appointment of his in-law and kinsmen into sensitive positions, selective fight against corruption and arrest and
detention of INEC officials who worked in States won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

While declaring support for the fight against corruption, Governor Fayose however said “fighting corruption should not be synonymous with convicting Nigerians on pages of newspapers. Rather, the judiciary and other relevant agencies should be allowed to do their
jobs without any direct or indirect interference from the President
and his party.

“Corruption must be fought in accordance with the laws of the land because going against the laws of the land and the oath taken by the President to respect the constitution in itself is corruption.”

NSCDC Denies Withdrawing From War Front In Sambisa

Adamawa State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Muhammadu Durumin Iya has debunked a media report suggesting that the corps had withdrawn from counter insurgency operations against Boko Haram insurgents maintaining that they remained part of the forces fighting the Boko Haram sect.

Durumin-Iya noted that at no point did he ever make any remark that NSCDC had withdrawn from the battle front, adding that the said media report was laced with falsehood.

He reiterated the resolve of the corps ‎to discharge its responsibilities in line with its mandate, calling on the media to support the activities of the corps.

He appreciated the synergy between NSCDC and forces in the war zone, adding that his men would remain part of the war against insurgency until Boko Haram was defeated.

He said the media can play a leading role in assisting the country to overcome its current security and economic challenges‎, adding that the NSCDC will always partner with the media to enlighten the public about its activities.

“The publication is false and misleading and is against the ethics of journalism”, he said.

I know where the APC 83,000 21st June 2014 deficit votes are- Ekiti Ex Speaker

An Ex-speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and stalwart of the APC has said that he is ready to help APC find the missing over 80,000 votes it lost in the June 21st 2014 Governorship Election, claiming that the party has learnt her lessons in governance and politics of Ekiti.

Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile, speaking with bloggers at various functions in Usi and Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, said he knows where the 83,000 deficit votes of the APC which accounted for Dr. Fayemi's defeat are.

Quoting Bamisile,

"I have taken the bold step to rally men and women of my party together through wide consultations and visitations before and after my declaration of interest to aspire as next Governor of Ekiti, under the APC platform. The party must be united firstly and good we have bounced back in unity and learnt our lessons in governance and politics of Ekiti.

Asked about pronounced factions within the APC,

Bamisile said " We don't have factions in Ekiti APC, we only have groupings and caucuses which are the major ingredients in party building and mobilization. What they have in PDP is what is called factions and factional leadership. Or do we have different party executives in APC?"

On his hope that there won't be a repetition of the 21st June 2014 if he is eventually elected as the party's flag bearer, the Governorship hopeful said jokingly that

"I know where the votes and the voters are, they are on the streets of the 132 towns, villages and hamlets of Ekiti State.

" It may surprise you that I am preparing as if the election is next week. It's simply because 83,000 people aren't what you can find within 6months."