Tears as Obama delivers farewell speech

President Barack Obama wiped away tears as he paid tribute to his teenage daughters and to Michelle Obama, his “best friend,” at the emotional close of a farewell address in his adoptive city of Chicago Tuesday.

“Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the south side, for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend,” Obama told the first lady, seated before him dressed all in black.

“You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor,” he told her, at one point pulling out a handkerchief to dab away tears — as the crowd of 18,000 cheered wildly.

“A new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You’ve made me proud. You’ve made the country proud.”

It was in Chicago that the Obamas met, that their daughters were born, and as the president put it in a Facebook post ahead of the speech, “for Michelle and me, Chicago is where it all started.”

While 18-year-old Malia was there to hear her father’s farewell speech, her 15-year-old sister Sasha was not — the most notable of a series of public absences by the teen that prompted a flurry of good natured chatter on social media, and a hashtag #SashaObama.

A White House official said Sasha stayed back in the capital Washington to prepare for a school exam in the morning.

But Obama addressed both girls in praising the “two amazing young women” they had become, during the family’s eight years in the White House.

“Of all that I have done in my life, I am most proud to be your dad,” he said — as Malia, dressed in black-and-white, shed a few tears with her mother’s arm around her.

“You are smart, and you are beautiful, but more importantly, you are kind, and you are thoughtful, and you are full of passion,” Obama told them. “And you bore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily.”

And finally, the 55-year-old president turned to Joe Biden — who along with his wife Jill he described as a second “family,” drawing yet another standing ovation for the vice-president.

“You were the first decision I made as a nominee, and it was the best,” Obama told Biden. “Not just because you have been a great vice president, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother.”

After the president’s speech drew to a close, the Obamas and their daughter came together on stage for a warm embrace.

I’m part of football’s history – Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo believes his bulging trophy haul is proof that he is one of the greatest footballers of all time, Goal reports.

On Monday, the Real Madrid and Portugal star added The Best FIFA Men’s Player award for 2016 to the Ballon d’Or that he won last month, capping a stellar 12 months with club and country.

Ronaldo ended the year with Champions League and Euro 2016 winner’s medals, as well as one for the Club World Cup, prompting a string of year-end accolades.

Despite an era-defining row over his or Lionel Messi’s dominance of the period that they have shared, Ronaldo’s legacy as one of the game’s greats has long been secured, a fact not lost on him.

“I have no doubt that I am already a part of football’s history,” he told FIFA’s official website.

“This has always been my major goal, since I started playing: not only to become a player, but to be a star and to constantly strive to be the best.

“And I did it: the trophies speak for themselves – both the titles, the individual awards, and the records.

“It is a source of great pride and it motivates me to keep on working the same way I have been doing so far.”

Reflecting on a glittering year with club and country, Ronaldo said: “I have said it a few times: this has probably been the best year of my career.

“Having won the trophy with the national team obviously plays a big part in it as it was a first for Portugal and this makes 2016 a very special year.

“But there is also Real Madrid winning the Champions League and then the Club World Cup to finish the year in the best possible manner.”

I didn’t send anybody to receive bribe – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said he did not send the Chairman of AA Oil, Abubakar Aliyu, or any other person to collect bribe   in the $1.3bn Malabu oil deal.
Jonathan, who stated this in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said that the negotiations and transactions for the $1.3bn oil  deal involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell,  predated his Presidency,  which began on  May 6, 2010.
He stated, “We make bold to point out that the former President never sent any Abubakar Aliyu, as the innuendoes in the false report suggest, to ENI, the IOCs or any indigenous operator to seek favour or collect any gratification on his behalf.”
Jonathan faulted  news reports, which indicated that   he  received kickbacks in the $1.3bn oil block deal involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell.
He stated, “We wish to make it clear that former President Jonathan was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any money as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had a few weeks ago filed seven counts bordering on the Malabu scam against nine defendants, including the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
Other accused persons named in the charges, filed by the EFCC, are Etete, Aliyu Abubakar, Malabu Oil & Gas Limited, Rocky Top Resources Limited, Imperial Union Ltd., Novel Properties & Development Company Ltd., Group Construction Ltd. and Megatech Engineering Ltd.
The Malabu oil scam, which has been under investigation for over four years, relates to the billions of dollars paid by oil giants, Shell and ENI, into a Federal Government account, for OPL 245, considered the richest oil block in Africa.
The money was allegedly diverted by Adoke and paid into private accounts
Details later

Who Do Abians Stand With?

WE STAND WITH GOVERNOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU

Our Sincere Prayer is that our dear state Abia will have unprecedented Peace and for the state to progress with the speed of light.

We pray the state Governor will have no further distractions from the courts or anywhere to deal with after tomorrow.

Our prayer is that henceforth, people will see reasons to join forces with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to ensure Abia Develops rapidly.

Our prayer is for our people to realize that if you are not Governor today, you can become Governor tomorrow(if you are destined to).

All of us cannot be Governor at the same time.

Our prayer is that we realize that power belongs to God, and he chooses who to place in position of trust without consultations.

Our prayer is that we begin to play politics by it rules, devoid of rancor and bitterness, exhibiting sportsmanship and accommodating one another.

Abia must move forward.

Federal High Court redeploys Justices Liman, Abang, nine others

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has redeployed 11 judges in different divisions of the court.

Two prominent judges of the court, Justice Mohammed Liman of Port Harcourt Division and Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division, are affected by the posting.

The Chief Judge, in a circular dated December 21, 2016 and addressed to “All Judges of Federal High Court,” redeployed Justice Liman from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division, and Justice Abang redeployed from Abuja to Asaba Division, Delta State.

The circular obtained from a lawyer close to the Chief Judge’s office directed the affected judges to resume at their new stations by January 30.

The Chief Judge gave “the recent developments in the court” as the reason for the posting.

Details of the said “recent developments” were not stated in the circular.

According to the circular, the posting would not affect the criminal cases the affected judges are currently handling.

It read in part, “In view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court, it has become necessary to take urgent steps to fill in existing vacancies.

“Affected judges are expected to resume in their new divisions by January 30, 2017.

“The judges shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them, as well as at least two witnesses have testified.”

Others affected include Justice S. Saidu (moved from Lagos to Port Harcourt); Justice A.O. Faji (from Asaba to Lagos); Justice R. M. Aikawa (from Sokoto to Lagos); Justice B.O. Quadri (from Port Harcourt to Abuja); and Justice Mallong Hoommuk (from Port Harcourt to Lafia).

Others are, Justice K.K. Dagat (from Lagos to Kano); Justice Saleh Idrissa (Kano to Sokoto); Justice H.I.O. Oshomah (from Lafia to Port Harcourt) and Justice J.K. Omotosho) from Kano to Port Harcourt.