The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, called for all northern people in the south west to return peacefully to their homes before deciding the next step.

The spokesperson for CNG, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, opined that the warning to herdsmen in the southwest was related to a grand design to destabilize Nigeria and, in particular, to push the North to its knees. The party warned that any violence or abuse would be returned. The enemies of the North sought to ensure that the region remained backward, fragmented, vulnerable, frustrated and bewildered by a multitude of challenges and problems.

In a statement, “We certainly don’t consider it an isolated incident but linked to a grand design to destabilize Nigeria and in particular bring the North to its knees by targeting a major component of its population, the Fulani and their livestock assets.”

“Today everyone can see a clear pattern drawn from the strategies employed to achieve these results; namely the diminishing of the Northern viability and in particular, bringing the Hausa/Fulani population down by direct annihilation or political and economic incapacitation.”

“We wonder how the Presidency and the National Assembly would have reacted, were the North to make such against other tribes and people that are non-indigenous but live and flourish in the North and actually carry out the threat,” the statement observed.

“No matter through which lenses we look, therefore, we only see in this fast-phased agenda a manifestation of a system that tends to deploy a warped application of the law solely for the protection of a certain category of citizens and endangering others.

“This manifestation of gross inequity is also one that portends the danger of even more grave conflicts,” explaining further.

The former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Joe Erico has died.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, confirmed Erico’s death on Thursday.

A statement from the NFF quoted Erico’s family members as saying that the former assistant coach of Super Eagles complained of body pain and was treated for malaria, “only to be found dead in his bed at dawn” on Thursday.

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“It is another sad day for Nigerian Football. Erico was among the very best of Nigeria’s international goalkeepers and also served the country with fervour and diligence as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles between 2001 and 2002.

“He will be sorely missed. We pray that Almighty God grant him eternal rest and also grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the big loss,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said.

Born Joseph Bassey Eric in the Odukpani local government area in what is today known as Cross River State, Erico belonged to the cast of the very best goalkeepers in the history of Nigeria’s senior team, and served at the same period as the revered Emmanuel Okala and Eyo Essien.

He made his debut for then Green Eagles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Zambia in Lagos in July 1973 (which Nigeria won 3-2), and then kept goal in all of Nigeria’s six matches at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia, where the Eagles finished third – the first time Nigeria would win a medal at the AFCON. Erico was also in goal in all of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendlies against Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania just before the team flew to Ethiopia.

Nicknamed ‘Jogo Bonito’(Beautiful Game) for his preference for fluency and expression in the rhythm of play of his teams as a coach, Erico was part of the triumvirate (alongside late Amodu Shaibu and late Stephen Keshi) who were shooed in to do a rescue job for Nigeria as the ship to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals tottered badly under Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere. With three matches left in the campaign and a must-win mandate for all, the trio got the job done and qualified Nigeria for Korea/Japan.

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They also led the team to a bronze-medal finish at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Mali early 2002.

With his death on Thursday morning, it means all members of that historic triumvirate have now passed on.

Outgoing President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has left the Presidential House, The White House, today, January 20, 2021.

Trump took off from the lawn of the White House accompanied by his wife Melania.

The helicopter which carried the recent ex-president took him around the surroundings of the White House to give him a final view before its arrival at Joint Base Andrews.

The event occurred ahead of the swearing in of incoming President Joe Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Biden who took the lead against Trump at the US Presidential election of November 3, 2020, will be sworn-in today at 17:00 GMT.

Trump will not grace the occasion as he has continually maintained his claim that the election was stolen from him.

The inauguration will, nonetheless, be graced by the outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP leaders.