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•Shehu: President committed to peace in legislature The process of healing the wounds inflicted on the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the recent emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as House of Representatives Speaker may have been set in motion by President Muhammadu Buhari. The President plans to meet Dr. Saraki, Dogara and the aggrieved members of the Unity Forum, supporters of Senator Ahmed Lawan, who was the APC’s official candidate for the Senate Presidency. The meeting may come up this week, The Nation gathered last night. Dogara already has an appointment with the President, sources said. The Lawan group is awaiting confirmation of its appointment with the President. A source familiar with the development said the President is desirous of getting the crisis resolved once and for all. “The President intends to appeal to all parties to bury the hatchets in order to move forward,” the source said. “The President will meet formally and informally with all parties to the crisis in the new week (this week). He is neither shunning Saraki nor Dogara as being insinuated. But the President is trying to ensure peace and reconciliation. “Buhari is disturbed that the take-off of the 8th National Assembly was not smooth as anticipated. Rather than blame any party, he wants an end to the crisis without interference in the internal affairs of the Senate or House of Representatives.” Another source said: “The President might meet with members of the Unity Forum of Senator Ahmed Lawan on how the National Assembly can move forward. “The meeting was slated for last week but most members of the forum were out of Abuja and it had to be postponed at the last minute.” The Lawan group had presented six demands to APC leadership for a sustainable reconciliation. The demands are as follows: o APC leadership should instil discipline and intervene in the choice of some principal officers in the Senate. o It is better to leave the choice of some principal officers to APC than zonal caucuses in order not to further divide the governing party o Ranking must be considered in the selection of principal officers. o Concession of some principal offices to the Unity Forum including Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader); George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Senate Whip); and Abu Ibrahim (Deputy Whip). o Reconciliation is possible if Saraki group does not play the politics of winner- takes- all o PDP should not be allowed to produce any principal officer except those due to it as the minority party in the Senate When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “I am aware that the President is already scheduled to receive the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara in the week. “The President believes in institutional respect, there is no way he will shun the leaders of the National Assembly. He is not avoiding Saraki or Dogara. ” On Friday, Dr. Saraki, accompanied by some Senators and former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, met former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence on the National Assembly crisis. Saraki, emerging from the two hour meeting told reporters that he was at Obasanjo’s residence to “see the former President, as one of our fathers and former President, to pay our homage and visit to him, get his advice, get his blessing and also to consult. “We all know President Obasanjo’s value to this country and we are here to tap from that wisdom and that knowledge and experience. “I think as you can see, things are moving smoothly definitely. You should rest assured that all that would be put behind us shortly; we are very confident about that.” He expressed optimism that that crisis sparked by his emergence as Senate president would soon be resolved. It was gathered yesterday that Chief Obasanjo made no commitment to Saraki during the visit. A source at the session said: “Obasanjo noted the issues raised and avoided any commitment for strategic reasons. He was careful not to be misrepresented by some members of the delegation. “I think he opted for a middle course approach because his loyalists are also divided along pro and anti-Saraki. “Although Obasanjo congratulated Saraki, his body language suggested that he might, however, wade in the crisis in the National Assembly and resolve it.”

Liverpool’s busy transfer is set to continue with some more activity in the coming days. After signing Danny Ings, James Milner and Adam Bogdan, the Reds are set to keep long-standing centre-back Martin Skrtel at the club after the Slovakian agreed a new deal. On the other hand, striker Fabio Borini could be set to leave for Bologna in his homeland Italy. Skrtel, as reported here by The Times, was being targeted by Inter Milan and it looked like he would be leaving Anfield. Liverpool were initially offering him a deal based on appearances, and the defender vented his frustration in public. But now a three-year deal has been agreed, and the 30 year-old will continue as a part of Brendan Rodgers’ side next season. Skrtel’s agent had this to say after the agreement was reached: “I confess that there were not mere rumours, the interest from Inter was real.” “The player had been thinking about his future and eventually opted to remain at Liverpool. As this time I can say that it is likely [he will sign a new contract].” Skrtel has been at the club since 2008 and has made close to 300 appearances in all competitions. He has been a regular in the heart of the Reds’ defence under Rodgers, even when the manager has opted to go for a system with three at the back. In other news, Italian website Tutto Mercato Web has reported that Fabio Borini could be set for an exit from Liverpool, after it emerged that the player’s agent met with representatives from Bologna to discuss a potential move. Borini was at the youth academy at the Seria A club for six years between 2001 and 2007, before being signed by Chelsea. Notwithstanding brief stints at Parma and Roma, he has spent most of his career in the Premier League, but has failed to make his mark at any of the clubs. Liverpool transfer news Borini was Rodgers first signing at Liverpool back in 2012, but after a lukewarm first season, a loan move to Sunderland was agreed. He returned to Anfield last year, but only managed to score 1 goal in all competitions.

French club Lyon’s transfer policy in the summer transfer window will be to keep hold of their star players. Club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has repeatedly said that he wishes to keep hold of Lacazette and Fekir, two of his best players in the summer, despite strong interests from big Premier League clubs. In order to do so, Lyon might have to part ways with few players to balance the club’s financial account. Le10Sport speculates that Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti could be one of the players who could leave the club next summer. 1948751_w2 Lyon have recruited Jeremy Morel and the club therefore are ready to cash in on Umtiti. The 21-year-old has already played over 100 games for his club after graduating from the club’s youth academy and has represented France national team at various youth levels. Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the player. The Chelsea boss wants him to form a central defensive partnership with Kurt Zouma. Le10 claim that Lyon are expecting a bid from Chelsea, with an offer anything between €10-15m would be enough to lure him away. La Liga giants Real Madrid are also thought to be interested. Meanwhile, Chelsea are also looking to sign Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld and could send Kurt Zouma

Nicolas Otamendi Manchester United have received a massive boost in signing Nicolas Otamendi after the defender hinted that he is open to leaving Valencia in the summer transfer window. The Argentine international’s no-nonsense defending and his rise in form during the 2014-15 season has seen him attract interest from the Premier League giants. Louis van Gaal wants the South American defender to join him at Old Trafford. Otamendi has €50m release clause and his agent has already admitted the strong centre-back will leave the La Liga outfit this summer. The 27-year-old said he has authorised his representative to talk on his behalf and could leave his current employers. “Valencia know very well what I want. From there, every word my agent says is obviously with my authorisation,” Otamendi told ESPN. “(My agent) fully has my authorisation to speak with whoever he needs to. I’ve had a talk with the president and my agent, and he knows very well what my wish is, but for now I’ve told my agent that my head is here and I’m leaving it in his hands, to do what he needs to do.” The defender is currently on national duty as Argentina are taking part in the 2015 Copa America in Chile. United need to sign a central defender as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager wants to strengthen his back four for the next season. Otamendi’s experience and strong defensive capabilities will only bolster United’s heart of the defence Van Gaal targets to win the league title.

Joe Gomez Liverpool have completed the signing of young defender Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic on Sunday. The 18-year-old has signed a long-term deal with the Merseyside club as he becomes the fourth recruit of the summer transfer window. Brendan Rodgers has already added midfielder James Milner, striker Danny Ings and goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. The trio arrived at Anfield on a free transfer and Gomez becomes the Merseyside club’s latest acquisition. “Liverpool FC have today completed the permanent signing of England U19 international Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic,” a statement read on Liverpool’s summer signing. “The 18-year-old defender has penned a long-term deal with the Reds to seal a switch to Anfield from the Championship side. Gomez made 24 appearances in all competitions for Charlton last season as he made an assured step up to senior football.” Gomez can either play as a central defender or as a full-back. The teenagers versatile style of play will give the Northern Irishman more options during his team selection, if he breaks into Liverpool’s first team next season. The young player has expressed his delight after agreeing a deal with the 18-times English champions. “It’s a dream come true. It’s a bit surreal and it hasn’t really hit me yet. But I’m buzzing and just excited to get started,” Gomez said. “The club has got great history and it’s a great club, and one that I’ve always been following from when I was young. “The style of football and the top players here was somewhere that I wanted to go and get better and learn, and play good football. It was an easy decision.”

The Chicago Blackhawks overcame a slow start to race past the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Trailing 1-0 deep into the third period, Tuevo Teravainen tied the contest with a wrist shot at 13:28 before Antoine Vermette came through with the game-winner with less than five minutes to play.
With the game looking like it would head to overtime, Chicago put pressure on the Lightning and when the puck came loose in their zone Vermette gathered and fired it past goaltender Ben Bishop to complete the comeback.
"We just had to stay patient and not get frustrated," Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford told reporters after making 22 saves.
Crawford made a stop on a Ryan Callahan shot just before Chicago's equaliser to keep his tem alive.
"I was a little more aggressive than usual. I just tried to take away any net he may have."
Chicago's outburst ended a shutout streak for Bishop who had held opponents scoreless for a total of 113:28, dating back to Game Six of the Eastern Conference final.
Bishop finished with 19 stops but the Lightning would lament their lost opportunity.
Both teams needed Game Seven wins in their conference final battles, but Tampa Bay's playoff road has been particularly tough.
They needed seven games to take down Detroit in the opening series and six to beat Montreal before their seven-game thriller with the New York Rangers.
Game Two of the best-of-seven series is on Saturday in Tampa Bay.