FRESH 4RM GIM

THE leadership crisis in the Senate re-echoed at the weekend as some senators opposed to the Senate Presidency of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (the Unity Group) vowed to prevent its spokesman, Kabiru Marafa, from being suspended from the Senate. The Senate had last week Tuesday mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Marafa’s alleged offensive remarks against the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly. In the said remarks, Marafa, among others, kicked against the N4.7 billion car purchase plan of the Eighth Senate and alleged secrecy of accounts of the entire National Assembly.

  The 2015/2016 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), kicked off with champions Enyimba losing 1-0 to Rivers United in Port Harcourt. Frederick Obomate’s 64th minute free kick, ensured the hosts recorded their second win against the Peoples Elephants in seven years. Newcomers, MFM FC shocked Nasarawa United 1-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Markudi. Musa Newman and Chukwuka Emmanuel gave the debutants a two-goal lead, before Ifeanyi Nweke pulled one back.

  The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has congratulated former Senate President, Senator David Mark for emerging victorious in last Saturday’s re-run polls. Mark ,a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated his closest rival, Mr. Daniel Onjeh of All Progressives Congress (APC) after winning in five of the nine local government areas of Benue South Senatorial district. According to the results announced by the INEC Returning Officer, Professor Isiaka Eneji, Mark had 18,468 votes in Otukpo, his native local government, while Onjeh polled 12,203. In Obadigbo LGA, Mark scored 6,844 while Onjeh scored 8,882. Others are Ado LGA, Mark 6,513, Onjeh 6,370; Agatu LGA, Mark 7,986, Onjeh 3,456; Okpokwu LGA, Mark 11,935, Onjeh 6,830; Apa LGA – Mark 9,191, Onjeh 4,942.

• Wenger wary of Suárez in Tuesday’s Champions League visit of Barcelona • Hull City’s Steve Bruce says promotion is priority despite 0-0 FA Cup draw   Hull City’s Eldin Jakupovic saves a shot from Danny Welbeck of Arsenal in the FA Cup. Photograph: Jason Dawson/Rex/Shutterstock Understandably, there have been times when Arsène Wenger has allowed the “what if” scenario to play out in his mind. What if that infamous £40m plus £1 bid for Luis Suárez had been accepted by Liverpool? “It happened to me before but not now,” the Arsenal manager mused.