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Barcelona sporting director Deco has explained why the club preferred Anthony Gordon to Marcus Rashford when strengthening their squad during the summer transfer window.

Rashford scored 14 goals in all competitions during his 12-month loan spell at Barcelona last season, helping the club win La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona had an option to sign the Manchester United forward permanently for £30.3 million (35 million euros), but decided against extending his stay.

The 28-year-old subsequently returned to Old Trafford.

Rashford’s England team-mate Gordon and Manchester City midfielder Rodri were..

READ MORE: Why Barcelona preferred Gordon to Rashford – Deco – Sporting Tribune

No, you are not in any danger and there’s no need to panic. It is said that dense breast tissue-roughly half of women over the age of 40 have it-can make it more difficult to detect cancer on a mammogram. Women with extremely dense breasts are at increased risk for breast cancer, though scientists are not sure why.

If your doctor says you have dense breasts (it’s not something you’ll be able to feel yourself), he or she may recommend additional imaging with an ultrasound or MRI at your routine breast cancer screenings.

And remember: Dense breast tissue is just one breast cancer risk factor on a list of several. Age, family history, physical inactivity and alcohol use play a role in the risk as well. Knowing all your risk factors ‘is a really important step forward for patients to be proactive’ in their breast health care.

Osun State Government has defended the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), challenging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to point to any law breached by the decision.

The government maintained that the extension was carried out in accordance with the law establishing the institution, stressing that UNIOSUN, as a state-owned university, is governed by the Osun State University Establishment Law.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the Osun government also highlighted its implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement at the university.

It said UNIOSUN began implementing the agreement before the Federal Government, with payment of the applicable arrears also ongoing.

According to the government, Governor Ademola Adeleke became the second governor, after his Ekiti State counterpart, to approve implementation of the salary component of the agreement.

It described ASUU’s failure to acknowledge the development as surprising, insisting that the state’s record on staff welfare did not support allegations that the government had neglected university lecturers.

On the VC’s tenure, the government rejected ASUU’s description of the extension as arbitrary, saying the process followed the appropriate executive and legislative procedures.

It particularly faulted the union’s reliance on the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, arguing that the law applies to federal universities and cannot be used as the governing framework for UNIOSUN.

The government said UNIOSUN derives its legal existence and governance structure from the Osun State University Establishment Law.

It further stated that after the Visitor exercised his powers regarding the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure, the Osun State House of Assembly amended relevant provisions of the university’s establishment law.

The state government therefore argued that the tenure extension was not a unilateral decision by the governor but one backed by the applicable legal framework.

ASUU had earlier opposed the extension and the subsequent amendment of the university’s establishment law, warning that the move could set a precedent for governors to interfere in succession arrangements in state-owned universities.

The union also expressed concern that such interventions could undermine institutional autonomy and create avoidable leadership crises in state universities.

The Osun government, however, maintained that the controversy should be examined within the specific law establishing UNIOSUN, rather than legislation governing federal universities.

Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential campaign council has said its candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, will transform Nigeria within four years if elected in the 2027 general elections.

The Chief Communications Adviser to the Adewole Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council, Mark Adebayo, stated this on Saturday at a press conference in Abuja.

He said Adebayo’s ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity’ blueprint contained measurable plans to address poverty, insecurity, unemployment, hunger, electricity, housing and infrastructure.

Mark said the campaign was offering Nigerians an alternative to what he described as the familiar political promises ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the blueprint included a four-year roadmap covering security, energy, agriculture, housing, education, healthcare and other sectors.

According to him, an Adebayo administration would invest heavily in solar power, establish modular refineries across the states and introduce a national programme aimed at delivering at least three million affordable housing units within four years.

On security, he said the SDP candidate would establish a national anti-kidnapping and banditry command to coordinate intelligence, tactical operations, financial investigations and prosecution.

He also said agriculture would be repositioned as a key driver of economic recovery, with production strategies tailored to the comparative advantages of different regions.

The campaign adviser urged Nigerians to assess the presidential candidates based on their policy proposals and preparedness rather than political rallies and sentiments.

The campaign said Tinubu would not face Nigerians and the cameras in a presidential debate ahead of the 2027 election.

He alleged that, as in 2023, he would ‘run into hiding’ because he could not withstand the pressure of open scrutiny.

‘He has too many skeletons in his closet and can’t risk being publicly held accountable. There are too many questions that he cannot answer,’ he said.

He, however, said Adebayo was prepared to debate any presidential candidate at a moment’s notice on the economy, technology, agriculture, security, constitutionalism, aviation, education, international diplomacy, oil and gas, and personal integrity.

‘My principal, Adewole Adebayo is ready to debate any presidential candidate even at a moment’s notice in the areas of economy, technology, agriculture, security, constitutionalism, aviation, education, international diplomacy, oil and gas, personal integrity, and all debatables.

‘There are no no-go areas for my principal and he will defeat them all with his sophisticated intellect and native intelligence enriched over the years by global knowledge and addiction to research and reading.’

He also called on voters to participate actively in the 2027 elections and remain vigilant in protecting their votes.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of presidential candidates and

running mates for the January 2027 general elections.

The ????????list, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, released on Saturday in Abuja, featured candidates sponsored by 18 political parties competing for the office.

The gender distribution of the list showed that out of the 18 presidential flag bearers, 16 are male, representing 88.9 per cent, while two are female.

NAN also reports that the male contenders on the list include: Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and Abubakar Atiku of African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Others are: Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oluseyi Makinde of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Donald Duke of People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Chibuzor Okereke of Labour Party (LP), and Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress (AAC).

The only two female presidential candidates, which constitute 11.1 per cent of the number, are: Okwori Fredrick of National Democratic Party (NDP) and Dr Esther Okereke of National Redemption Party (NRM).

The gender statistics of the vice-presidential candidates also show that a total of 14 running mates are male, representing 77.8 per cent, while only four, representing 22.2 per cent, are female.

The female vice-presidential candidates are: Ofordile Egobia (APP), Abubakar Usaku (DLA), Konto Bintu (LP) and Patience Ndidi (YPP).

NAN reports that the commission also released the final list of candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives.

There are several medical conditions that are associated with decreased tear production or collection. Infants can become dehydrated when they are unable to feed well or are losing body fluids due to an illness. The first sign of dehydration is a reduced number of wet (urine) diapers. If ongoing fluid losses are not replaced, dry lips and an absence of tears while crying may be evident.

Sunken eyes, lethargy, or increased irritability are signs of severe dehydration that require emergency medical treatment. It is common for newborns to have a temporary obstruction of the duct that drains tears from the eyes into the nose. In most cases, the lacrimal duct is blocked by a membrane at birth that takes a few days to open. In other cases, there is a problem with the duct itself, usually due to immature development. This causes pooling of tears at the inner corner of the eye. At times, a white mucous may form that can be easily wiped away.

This differs from the kind of mucous that forms during an eye infection which is typically yellow or green. When the lacrimal gland fails to develop during fetal life, this can result in the absence of tears. This very rare occurrence can be an isolated finding or one component of another genetic disorder. Because of there is no lubrication from tears, the eye is prone to dryness and inflammation.

Other common causes of childhood dry eye are medications such as for acne or allergies and contact lens use. Some studies have shown that environmental allergens and pollutants can alter the amount of mucous or fatty acids in tears Most babies produce tears.

Look closely the next time your baby cries. If the eyes appear dry and irritated, contact your pediatrician. There are medical conditions associated with a lack of or a reduced amount of tears, but they are very rare. If you are concerned that something may not be right about your baby’s eyes, it is best to have them checked by a doctor.

Following the death of about 30 people in the Odigbo area of Ondo State linked to the consumption of alcohol, the state government has ordered the immediate ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances, whether in sachets or bottles.

The commissioner for information and orientation, Honourable Idowu Ajanaku said the ban became necessary to prevent further loss of lives and ensure that the incident in Odigbo does not spread to other parts of the state.

According to the commissioner, anyone found violating this directive will face the full wrath of the law.

‘The government has mandated the security agencies to swiftly swing into action against the distribution and sale of illegal and unapproved products across the state,’ he emphasised.

Ajanaku explained that the Ministry of Health has taken proactive steps to investigate the substance suspected to be responsible for the deaths.

He added that scientific officers from the ministry have been deployed to the affected areas to conduct investigations and determine the exact substance involved.

Under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the government is leaving no stone unturned in the efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, protect the lives of our people and prevent further casualties, Ajanaku stressed.

He urged residents of state to stop purchasing or consuming unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances, particularly products in sachets or bottles that do not have National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approval.

The government strongly advised sellers and distributors to desist from purchasing, selling or making available for public consumption any substance whose source, content or regulatory status cannot be verified.

He appealed to the people to remain vigilant and cooperate with the relevant authorities by reporting suspicious products and activities.

The protection of lives and the health of our people remains our collective responsibility, Ajanaku stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mourned the death of its former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Mahmud Tukur, describing him as an ‘irreplaceable loss’ to the party and the nation.

Tukur died in his residence in Abuja on Saturday.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed, conveyed its sympathies in a message issued in Abuja on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed.

The party described the deceased as a distinguished statesman, elder, administrator, businessman and committed member of the PDP, whose remarkable public service career spanned several decades.

According to the statement, Tukur served as Governor of the defunct Gongola State from October to December 1983, before subsequently serving the nation as Minister of Industries and Chief Executive/General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) during the military era.

The PDP also noted his contributions to the private sector and international business community, including his service as President of the Africa Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, among other responsibilities.

Tukur was elected National Chairman of the PDP in 2012 and led the party until his resignation in January 2014.

The party said his tenure came at a significant period in its political history and that of the nation, adding that he brought to the leadership of the PDP ‘his wealth of experience, institutional knowledge and longstanding commitment to public service and democratic development.’

It said Tukur played significant roles in the affairs and development of the party, while recognising his contributions to democratic governance and the development of Nigeria.

‘The PDP deeply mourns his passing and recognises his contributions to the growth of the party, the strengthening of democratic governance and the development of Nigeria,’ the statement said.

The party described his death as ‘a profound loss to the nation,’ given his decades of service and contributions to Nigeria’s political, economic and democratic development.

The PDP extended its condolences to Tukur’s family, relatives, friends, associates, the people of Adamawa State and the entire PDP family across the country.

On its part, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP led by Dr Tanimu Turaki, recalled that Tukur never lost faith in the party as the only umbrella that could provide solutions to Nigeria’s myriads of challenges.

It also said Tukur shaped policies and projects in key sectors of the country that had remained endearing.

‘In his lifetime, Alhaji Tukur played prominent roles in shaping policies and projects in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly ports administration, international trade and industries.

‘He was a man of many parts whose political profile was as rich as his professional record. He served as Governor of the old Gongola State, in addition to holding several other high-ranking political and public offices’, the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said.

President Bola Tinubu has edged Peter Obi by 1,067 responses, representing 1.55% points in the Oxford-Metro Analytics’ National Trust Poll ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Oxford-Metro poll, which closed on September 7, recorded 69,110 approved and unflagged responses in its final analytical dataset.

Tinubu polled 24,469 responses, representing 35.41 per cent of the total, while Obi received 23,402 responses, accounting for 33.86 per cent.

The figures placed Tinubu 1.55 percentage points ahead of Obi.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar came third with 18,430 responses, representing 26.67 per cent of the total participation.

The poll’s regional breakdown, however, showed a different picture from the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, with Tinubu recording leads in 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Obi and Atiku, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of responses in eight states each.

Tinubu’s strongest gains were recorded in parts of Northern Nigeria, where he led in Kaduna, Katsina and Gombe, states won by Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.

He also led in Kano, where New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso won the 2023 presidential election.

At the geopolitical zone level, Tinubu led in the South-West, North-West and North-Central, while Obi dominated the South-East and South-South. Atiku recorded his strongest showing in the North-East.

In the South-West, Tinubu polled 10,968 responses, representing 43.53 per cent of the zone’s total participation.

He also led in the North-West with 4,129 responses, accounting for 43.10 per cent, while his 6,370 responses in the North-Central represented 36.97 per cent of the zone’s participation.

Obi recorded his strongest regional performance in the South-East, where he secured 5,796 responses, representing 63.97 per cent.

He also led in the South-South with 2,389 responses, accounting for 41.48 per cent of the region’s total.

Atiku dominated the North-East with 1,235 responses, representing 55.46 per cent of participation in the zone.

Despite Tinubu’s wider geographical spread, the national figures showed a close contest between the three leading candidates.

Some state-level results also recorded narrow margins. In Kogi, for instance, Tinubu received 39 responses, compared with 38 for Atiku and 33 for Obi, out of 110 responses recorded.

In the FCT, Tinubu polled 5,599 responses against Obi’s 5,278, giving him a margin of 321 responses, while Atiku received 3,954.

Tinubu also led Obi in Rivers, where he received 975 responses against Obi’s 892, while Atiku polled 568.

Beyond the three leading contenders, Omoyele Sowore received 1,016 responses, followed by Seyi Makinde with 519 and former President Goodluck Jonathan with 284.

Anita Zugwai-Chukwu received 18 responses, Sandy Onor six, and Prince Kennedy Ahanotu two.

A total of 638 participants selected ‘I Do Not Trust Any Candidate Yet’, while 204 were undecided and 122 selected ‘Other Candidate’.

The poll also showed significant geographical concentration in participation, with Lagos and the FCT accounting for 54.44 per cent of all responses.

The final dataset contained 56 diaspora responses, which were excluded from the six domestic geopolitical-zone tallies.

A commercial bus driver in Abia, Mr Onyekachi Ikpendu, on Friday, exhibited an uncommon trait when he returned more than N400,000 forgotten in his vehicle by a passenger.

The passenger, Mrs Nkechi John, had boarded the bus at Uzuakoli, heading for Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, Umuahia, but alighted at Ubani Market.

John, a petty trader, unknowingly left her bag containing the cash and other personal belongings in the vehicle.

Upon realising what happened, she immediately proceeded to the terminal, where Ikpendu had secured the bag and its contents.

Narrating his experience to newsmen, the driver said he had no intention of holding back the money because he was content with earning a living through honest labour.

‘I am grateful and content with what I have, therefore, no amount of money I see now will move me to take what does not belong to me,’ he said.

According to him, returning the money to the owner was important to him because he believes that God rewards honesty and good deeds.

On her own, John expressed gratitude to the Abia bus driver for his honesty and thanked Gov. Alex Otti for constructing the terminal.

She said that the terminal made it easier for her to trace the vehicle and recover her belongings, adding that the money was meant for her business.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, commended Ikpendu for displaying integrity and sincerity.

Ukaegbu described the driver’s action as a positive example worthy of emulation by other residents.

He said that the incident demonstrated a positive change in the mindset of Abia citizens.

‘Our people are showing gratitude to His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, for his good work and exemplary leadership in the state.

‘Honestly, the mindset of the people is changing towards doing the right thing even without being compelled,’ the commissioner said.

He urged residents to continue to demonstrate honesty and integrity in their daily life, describing Ikpendu’s action as an example of responsible citizenship.