Ocholi's death shocks Gov. Bello

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has expressed shock over the sudden death of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, in a car crash on Kaduna-Abuja road on Sunday.

Bello in issued a statement in Lokoja on Sunday described the death of Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as a monumental loss for the state and the country at large.

The late minister hailed from Ogbabede/Abocho in Dekina local government area of Kogi state.

``Late Ocholi was a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and one of the most unswerving constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced,’’ the governor said of the late minister.

The statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, recalled how the late minister joined other progressive minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the statement, the governor regretted that Ocholi would surely be missed by all.

While condoling members of his immediately family, political associates, friends, colleagues and APC over his death, Bello said that the vacuum left behind by the deceased would be difficult to fill.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of Ocholi’s soul and urged all those he left behind to see his death as an act of God.

Also reacting, the state Treasurer of the APC, Mr Ismail Adesayo, described Ocholi’s death as very unfortunate.

He described the late minister as a fine leader who meant well for the people and development of Kogi state and Nigeria.

Adesayo lamented that Ocholi died when his service was most needed in the state, praying to God to grant him eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear irreparable loss.

He also prayed to God to have mercy on the state by putting a stop to sudden deaths of political headlights in the state.

NAN recalls that Ocholi was a governorship aspirant in PDP but later defected to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where he became the party’s governorship candidate in the Dec. 3, 2011, governorship election in the state.

(NAN)

Sam Sodje appointed Delta U-16 team manager

Former Nigeria international Sam Sodje has told AfricanFootball.com he has been appointed to produce the next generation of players as the CEO of Delta State U-16 Elite League.

“I have just been appointed by Delta State Sports Commission as the CEO of a new Delta State U16 Elite League and to oversee the welfare of players of Delta State-owned clubs,” he informed.

“I’m delighted with the appointment because giving back to the society has always been my goal in life.

“I have a great team working alongside me and we are looking to get the best talents and give them the platform to exhibit their talents to better their lives but the key to all this is to let them get the opportunity to do great in football and have their education.

“The aim is to produce next generation stars for Wolves and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny, hazy Monday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has predicted partly cloudy weather over the central states of the country on Monday.


The predictions are contained in the Weather Outlook issued by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office (CFO), in Abuja on Sunday.


It added that prospects of isolated thunderstorms would prevail over Southern-Kaduna, Southern-Jos, Abuja and Lafia during evening and night hours with night time temperatures of between 22 to 26 degrees Celsius.


NiMet predicted cloudy conditions over the Southern region of the country with prospects of localised thunderstorms over Akure, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Mambila Plateau, Obudu, Ikom, Calabar, Eket and Port Harcourt during the afternoon and evening period.


It predicted slim chances of localised rain showers over the Lagos axis in the evening hours with night time temperatures of between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius.


NiMet predicted that Northern states of Kano, Katsina, Yelwa and Maiduguri would experience sunny and hazy conditions in the morning with night time temperatures of 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.


According to the prediction, southern states have been relatively stable in the last 24 hours which is expected to break due to temperature increase, high moisture influx and some other factors.

 (NAN)

Former US First Lady, Nancy Reagan dies aged 94

                                                                                                                     AP

                                  Her husband Ronald Reagan died in 2004

Mrs Reagan, who had been living in Bel Air, Los Angeles, died of congestive heart failure, the Reagan library said.

Her 52-year marriage to Ronald Reagan was once described as the US presidency's greatest love affair.

From 1981-89 she was one of the most influential first ladies in US history; initially criticised for an expensive renovation of the White House, but later becoming a much-loved figure.

he will be buried next to her husband, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, the library said in a statement.

US President Barack Obama said Mrs Reagan "redefined the role" of First Lady.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama: "Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for living in the White House. She was right, of course. But we had a head start, because we were fortunate to benefit from her proud example, and her warm and generous advice. Our former first lady redefined the role in her time here."

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney tweeted that "with the passing of Nancy Reagan, God and Ronnie have finally welcomed a choice soul home".

Stepson Michael Reagan tweeted: "I am saddened by the passing of my stepmother Nancy Reagan... She is once again with the man she loved. God bless..."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "I remember Nancy as a noble woman who supported President Reagan and stood by his side. She will be remembered as a great friend of the State of Israel,"

Like Ronald, Nancy was a former Hollywood performer who made it all the way to the White House.

As Nancy Davis, she was an actress during the 1940s and 1950s and married Reagan, a prominent film actor, in 1952.

She served as first lady of California during her husband's stint as California governor from 1967 to 1975 before moving into the White House after his decisive victory over Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980.

As first lady, she sought to emulate the style of one of her predecessors, Jackie Kennedy.

To this end, she extensively redecorated the White House, and accepted designer dresses worth $1m (£600,000) and a 4,732-piece set of china worth $209,000.

But this spending spree provoked a huge outcry from people outraged by what they saw as profligacy and waste while millions of Americans were losing their jobs.

Public opinion was also swayed by accusations that Mrs Reagan had a frosty personality, often consulted astrologers, and ordered the dismissal of White House chief of staff Donald Regan in 1987.

"I see the first lady as another means to keep a president from becoming isolated," she once said.

"I talk to people. They tell me things. And if something is about to become a problem, I'm not above calling a staff person and asking about it. I'm a woman who loves her husband and I make no apologies for looking out for his personal and political welfare."

Nancy Reagan's best-known project as first lady was the anti-drugs "Just Say No" campaign.

After her husband died of Alzheimer's in 2004, she became a champion for Alzheimer's patients, raising millions of dollars for research and breaking with fellow conservative Republicans to argue for stem cell studies.

West Brom earned their first home league win against Manchester United for 32 years

West Brom earned their first home league win against Manchester United for 32 years as Salomon Rondon's low strike beat the 10-man visitors.

United played for more than an hour without Juan Mata, who received two bookings inside three minutes.

But Albion created little until Rondon found space to fire in Sebastien Pocognoli's dangerous left-wing cross.

United rarely looked like equalising as they lost ground on the top four.

The Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League table, failing to move back above West Ham and remaining three points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.

Victory moved Albion up to 11th, their tally of 39 points almost certainly securing top-flight survival for a sixth successive season.

Manchester United looked assured in the opening 25 minutes as they dominated possession against the Baggies, albeit without really troubling home keeper Ben Foster.

But the entire complexion of the match turned on the stupidity of the normally-intelligent Mata.

The Spain international was shown his first yellow card for rashly blocking Darren Fletcher's quick free-kick, then he was given a second when he needlessly clipped the heels of the former United midfielder within three minutes.

Within seconds of Mata's dismissal, Albion almost took the lead when Craig Dawson's ambitious 25-yard punt looped over David De Gea but dropped just past the wrong side of the left-hand post.

An Albion onslaught failed to materialise in a dour end to the first half, while United almost opened the scoring through Marcus Rashford's instinctive drilled shot and Jesse Lingard's dipping angled drive before the hour mark.

But the home side gradually grew in stature as United tired, finding the breakthrough through Rondon's smart finish.

"I thought we looked flat when they went to 10 men but the advantage of 11 v 10 seemed to get us through in the end," said Scotland midfielder Fletcher afterwards.

Many Albion supporters have not warmed to Tony Pulis since his arrival in January 2015, complaining about the style of football the ex-Stoke manager has brought to The Hawthorns.

But what they cannot dispute is the fact the Welshman has steered them away from a relegation scrap for the second successive season.

Pulis faced heavy criticism last month after a dire 1-0 defeat at Newcastle left them six points above the drop-zone and without a win in five games.

However, their fortunes have dramatically improved and they have now taken 10 points - three wins and a draw - from their past four matches.

In addition to almost securing survival, Pulis has also achieved something that no Albion manager has since March 1984 - a home win against the Red Devils.

Once the home side went ahead - with their only on-target shot of the second half - they did not look like relinquishing their slender lead.

United switched to a 4-4-1 formation after Mata's dismissal, leaving French youngster Martial as an isolated lone striker.

Despite a brief spell where United threatened through Martial and Lingard, the visitors failed to force Albion keeper Foster into a single save.

The Baggies are back in Premier League action on Saturday, travelling to title-chasing Arsenal knowing that a win could move them into the top half.

Meanwhile, Manchester United's attention switches to the Europa League and the home leg of their last-16 tie against Liverpool.

With BBC