APC Members Vow No Retreat No Surrender

The tsunami rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not seem like lessening anytime soon as some members of the party in the House of Representatives have vowed to resist any decision that violates the choice of their party on the position of principal officers in the House.

The rowdy session witnessed in the House of Reps on Thursday, June 25

Speaking on behalf of lawmaker after the fracas following the disagreement over the election of principal officers, hon Nasiru Zango Daura, according to Premium Times,  said they will ensure that the position of the party prevails regarding the principal officers.

READ ALSO: Why We Fought in Today’s Plenary – Reps Member

In the same vein, the APC has released a statement condemning the row that erupted in the House, its National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, said the party will meet to discuss the developments in the National assembly in the coming days. He also reinstated that the party was adamant on its position regarding the list it sent to Saraki and Dogara.

READ ALSO: PDP Accuses Buhari Of Partiality In House Fracas

The National Assembly has witnessed crises following the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Guerrero hat trick powers Peru past Bolivia, into Copa America semis

Paolo Guerrero scored his first three goals of the tournament Thursday against Bolivia.

Paolo Guerrero scored a hat trick to hand Peru a 3-1 win against Bolivia and send them into the Copa America semifinals.

Two goals in three first-half minutes set Peru on their way and Guerrero grabbed his third after the break following a howler from Danny Bejarano in his own half.

Marcelo Martins Moreno scored a late penalty for Bolivia but it was mere consolation and Ricardo, Gareca's men will now face hosts Chile on Monday in Santiago in the final four.

Peru enjoyed the better of the opening stages and Guerrero tried his luck after 10 minutes but cleared the bar after cutting in from the left.

Los Incas continued to dominate and Claudio Pizarro fired over the bar after a corner caused chaos in the Bolivian area and Peru soon had their opener in the 20th minute.

The ball was threaded to Juan Manuel Vargas on the left and he sent over an inviting cross which looked to go in off the newly-signed Flamengo man's shoulder as he went for the header on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was no more than Peru deserved and just three minutes later they made it 2-0.

Bolivia won a free-kick in a dangerous position but when that was cleared as far as Christian Cueva, he played a quick one-two and sent a beautiful ball over the top of the defence which Guerrero latched onto and slotted home.

Alejandro Morales fired an effort over the bar from distance at the other end as Bolivia looked desperate but they had a better chance when Martins Moreno's header was stopped by Pedro Gallese.

Some slick passing on the edge of the box from Cueva and Guerrero then set Jefferson Farfran free in the box but he hit the outside of the post and he found the woodwork again, sending a free-kick onto the bar in first-half stoppage-time.

Bolivia made two changes at the break and looked more of a threat in the early stages of the second half but it was Peru who continued to have the chances with Pizarro bringing a save from Romel Quinonez and Farfan blazing a shot off target.

The Schalke forward had a better chance just after the hour as Yoshimar Yotun released him but he fired his shot wide of the far post.

Ricardo Pedriel was brought on by Bolivia and almost instantly in the thick of the action as he went down in a heap under Gallese's challenge but the claims for a penalty were waved away.

The game was over as a contest 16 minutes from time as Bejarano's error gifted Guerrero his hat-trick when the midfielder played a pass straight into the path of the striker who bore down on goal and slotted home.

Bolivia had their consolation with six minutes to play as Martins Moreno netted from the spot after Luis Advincula had felled Damian Lizio in the box, but it was too little too late.

Roberto Firmino will need a well-defined role at Liverpool to succeed

Roberto Firmino is a classic Liverpool signing, at least in the Brendan Rodgers era. He's a young, talented, technical attacker with room to develop further into a genuinely world-class footballer, and capable of being moulded into the particular type of player Rodgers desires. That assumes, however, that Rodgers knows exactly what he wants from Firmino.

Firmino's position has been the subject of debate. Some English newspapers reported Liverpool had signed a new forward, others described him instead as a midfielder. In truth, the Brazilian is one of those in-between players it's difficult to categorise as either, and his versatility means that while he was generally played as an attacking midfielder for Hoffenheim, he's recently been used up front for his national side. That versatility is one of his great assets, but it can sometimes be a problem for young, developing footballers -- especially when managers shift them around too frequently.

In general, top-level modern attackers are more versatile than their equivalents from a decade ago, largely because the demands of the game has changed, skills have become more universal and therefore players are more interchangeable. Traditionally you'd have wingers playing on the side of their strongest foot and bulky centre-forwards who belonged in the penalty box. Now, with all attackers expected to be capable of passing, moving and chipping in with goals, sometimes teams play attacking quartets that could, in theory, all switch positions.

Liverpool have arguably reached that point with the signing of Firmino. He, like Raheem Sterling -- who Firmino could replace, although it's not unthinkable Sterling and his agent will perform a U-turn and remain at Anfield -- can play anywhere across the front line.

Lazar Markovic has played on both flanks and as a wing-back. Adam Lallana is a different type of player, more about guile than pace, but he's also played in all three channels. Philippe Coutinho initially played on the left but now prefers a No. 10 role, although he also starred when in a deeper midfield position. Jordan Henderson played in various positions last season, while Emre Can is probably the most confusing of the lot -- a fascinating bundle of attributes that hasn't yet been channeled into expertise in any one position.

Rodgers must be somewhat relieved that he no longer has to determine Steven Gerrard's optimum position at this stage. It often felt like Gerrard was struggling to find his best role, and everyone else was having to shift accordingly. Meanwhile, however, James Milner, the ultimate jack of all trades, has replaced him. All the while, Inter's Mateo Kovacic -- who can't work out whether he's a No. 10 or an Andrea Pirlo-like figure -- is still being linked with the club.

Some degree of versatility is useful, unquestionably, but too much causes problems, especially when a manager like Rodgers tinkers with his formation so much. Arsene Wenger, for example, has a similar number of versatile attackers, and certainly switches formation throughout a season. But he generally likes familiarity, which means that when the team was playing well last season and Aaron Ramsey was on the right, a position he dislikes, Wenger didn't change things to bring him inside and put Mesut Ozil or Santi Cazorla wide, even when Arsenal found themselves behind.

Rodgers, however, would have tinkered. At Liverpool he's struggled to settle upon a definitive formation. The chopping and changing has occasionally worked well, particularly in the 2013-14 campaign, when he had plenty of preparation time for matches and the players looked well-drilled in various shapes.

Even then, though, there were uneasy compromises. Gerrard wasn't great defensively in his deep-lying role, while Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge both wanted to play up front but sometimes Rodgers shifted one wide. By and large, top teams have a definite Plan A in terms of formation, then usually a couple of variations on that, or a clear Plan B. Rodgers has constantly been improvising.

Roberto Firmino's flexibility will suit him well in Liverpool's fluid attack, but he'll need some stability to truly succeed.

The key to good attacking play is familiarity between players. Very, very rarely -- Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, for example -- do you discover teams that boast good relationships between almost every player. But by and large, it's about partnerships and trios that work together in certain areas of the field.

The title-winning Chelsea side of last season was a good example. Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa formed a brilliant relationship in the first half of the season because they were always in similar zones and always doing roughly the same thing. Fabregas wouldn't find Hazard anywhere but the left, for example, despite the fact the Belgian can play on the right or through the centre, too. They developed a great understanding that maximised their individual qualities.

The six Liverpool midfielders and forwards most likely to start regularly next season are probably Milner, Henderson, Coutinho, Lallana, Firmino and Sturridge. Some will be fighting for their place, and it's debatable whether these six can work without a more defensive midfielder somewhere, but as things stand, they are the six most important players. And from those six, Rodgers could play almost any system he likes, from a diamond midfield to a 4-4-2, from a standard 4-2-3-1 to a Christmas tree. The danger, of course, is that he simply varies things too much and is unable to develop harmony in the final third.

The opening to the 2015-16 campaign is crucial for Rodgers. A couple of poor results and he'll be under immediate pressure from supporters and the local press. More significantly, a couple of defeats mean he'll inevitably change system and shift key players into different roles, which will make it more difficult for the likes of Milner and Firmino to settle. Hopefully, Rodgers already has a clear plan in his head about Liverpool's best lineup and, barring a truly disastrous run, will commit to it for the first couple of months.

Firmino, meanwhile, is a fascinating signing -- Liverpool's most intriguing purchase for many years. To shine, though, he'll need a defined role.

Kids also have cancer, watch out for symptoms

Did you know that children also have cancer? The disease is no respecter of innocent kids or adults.

According to statistics by the International Agency for Cancer Research, United States, in developed countries, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children younger than 15, after accidents.

Unlike in adults, cancer is often detected late in kids, as it may be symptomatic or asymptomatic.

It is also often misdiagnosed because when care givers, health care professionals and parents see its signs and symptoms in these children, they think it is a growth or phase that the children will outgrow.

But this is often not the case; nobody outgrows cancer growth. Rather, it should be taken out as soon as it is detected. In fact, experts say that children have a better survival and recovery rate, compared to adults.

Head, Paediatric Oncology Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Prof . Adebola Akinsuile, says children develop cancer but if detected and treated early, they have 80 per cent chance of surviving it than do adults.

Akinsuile, who spoke at an awareness programme organised by Help to Heal/Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with Golden Tulip Hotels in Lagos on Thursday, notes that even though it’s curable, many Nigerian children die from cancer due to various challenges.

One of them is late detection and misdiagnosis. According to the paediatric oncologist, many children have died of various cancers because of ignorance on the part of the parents and caregivers such as nurses and doctors.

He says because the nature and type of cancers that develop in children are different from those that develop in adults, they are not easy to spot.

Akinsuile adds that cancers in children are hard to recognise because its symptoms mimic those of common illnesses such as malaria, bumps and bruises, all of which can mask the early warning signs.

He states, “Cancer in children is not as a result of the lifestyle or environmental risk factors like smoking, pollution and drinking. Instead, it’s usually the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life, even from the womb. This is difficult for many to accept.

“Cancer can happen to anybody, including babies. When its symptoms start, most mothers think it is malaria or measles. It is only when they see the right doctor that they can know that it is cancer,” the expert stresses.

He pleads with parents to stop treating their children personally. Rather, he urges them to take the children to the doctor or specialist any time they notice an usual growth or when the children fall ill frequently.

Akinsuile notes, “It is parents that can help us fight cancer in children because they are the first to see it. They are the ones that will bring the child to the hospital. Children don’t go to see the doctor on their own.

“Don’t be scared to take your child to a doctor if you notice that he/she has an unusual growth in any part of the body. It could be cancerous and we may need to remove it early. Today, up to 70 per cent of all cases of cancer in children can be cured; but you cannot say that for adults. It is not a verdict that your child will die.”

To shed more light on cancer in children and to encourage early detection, experts at the online portal, kidshealth.com, take a closer look at the top five cancers found in children and their warning signs.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow. It is the most common childhood cancer and accounts for about 34 per cent of all cancers in children. All cases occur between the ages of two and four and this cancer is more common in males than females.

Symptoms

Leukemia starts with bone and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, bleeding, fever and weight loss.  Brain tumours and other nervous system tumours make up about 27 per cent of childhood cancers. Most brain tumours in children start in the lower parts of the brain, such as the cerebellum or brain stem. Although brain tumours are typically different in children as opposed to adults, many of the symptoms remain the same.

They include headache, dizziness, balance problems, vision, hearing or speech problems and frequent vomiting.

Neuroblastoma

It arises from immature nerve cells in infants and young children. Primarily found in children younger than five, this disease often begins in the adrenal glands and makes up seven per cent of childhood cancers in the United States. It’s more common in males than females, and only aboout two per cent of children with this disease have a family history of it.

Symptoms

Impaired ability to walk and changes in eyes (bulging, dark circles, droopy eyelids). Pain in various locations of the body, diarrhoea and high blood pressure are other symptoms.

Wilms tumour

It starts in the kidneys and is the most common type of paediatric kidney cancer. Usually, Wilms tumour only forms in one kidney, but sometimes in both – only in small cases – and accounts for about five per cent of all paediatric cancers. This disease is typically found in very young children – three to four-year olds – and is not common in children over six. When it happens, about nine out of 10 children are cured.

Symptoms

Swelling or lump in the belly, fever, pain, nausea and poor appetite.

Lymphoma

It starts in certain cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. These cancers affect lymph nodes and other lymph tissues such as the tonsils or thymus. They can also affect the bone marrow and other organs, and can cause different symptoms, depending on where the cancer is growing.

Symptoms

Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, unexplained weight loss, fever, sweats and weakness.

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Why are the world's best goalkeepers seemingly so affordable to buy?

Every once in a while, a transfer comes along that works for everyone: the buying club, the selling club and the player himself. It does not normally work like that, of course. Ordinarily, there is at least one winner and at least one loser. The case of Petr Cech is different. It seems everyone's a winner here.

The player, first: he gets to join a team in the Champions League and with genuine aspirations of challenging for the Premier League title for the first time in a decade. He will be a first choice, too, possibly for the next five or six years as long as he can stay away from injury and, given the sort of issues that generally afflict Arsenal goalkeepers, smoking in the shower.

For Arsenal, the benefits are obvious. For just £11 million they get a goalkeeper who remains one of the finest in England, a player of proven quality and vast experience. They strengthen a position in which they have been suspect for quite some time on the pitch while off it, Cech equips them with the sort of characteristics they have long seemed to lack: an iron mentality and a taste for trophies.

It is hard for everyone in football to get away from the traditional narrative around transfers, but the perception that Arsenal have won and therefore Chelsea have lost is, in this case, wrong.

Petr Cech's transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal is a rare example of a transfer working out well for everyone involved.

The Premier League champions have sold their reserve goalkeeper at a profit after 10 years of service. They have a goalkeeper who is already Cech's superior in Thibaut Courtois. They can expect the Belgian to improve over the coming years, too. There is no reason to believe that in a strictly football sense, they will miss Cech.

It is easy to understand why Jose Mourinho might have preferred to sell him to a foreign side, of course, but as he saw with David Luiz this season, even shipping a player to the continent does not mean they cannot come back to haunt you. The only clubs who can afford Cech are Chelsea's rivals for either the Premier League or the Champions League. They are going to strengthen someone somewhere either way.

Interestingly, Cech's move across London will most likely be the first of three transfers involving some of the world's best goalkeepers this summer. The second, whenever Real Madrid deign to lodge a serious offer (they tend to behave very badly when they know a player wants to sign for them), will see David De Gea return to the Spanish capital from Manchester United.

De Gea has just a year left on his contract and if you believe the reports in the newspapers in both Spain and England, he appears to have told his teammates on no fewer than a dozen occasions that he is departing. This must be very tiring for the rest of United's players. "Oh, it's just another Whatsapp from David, saying he's going. That's the third this week. We get it, mate, you get to go and we have to stay here with Phil Jones."

The third deal will come when that sale has been completed. That will be the point when United try to persuade Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to sell them Hugo Lloris. If that does not work, they may be forced to turn toward Jasper Cillessen, the blond ghost who plays in goal for Ajax.

David De Gea is also set to move this summer, for a price far lower than what he might be worth to Real Madrid.

Two things catch the eye about all of this activity and both are related to cost. Or, rather, the lack of it: Cech cost £11 million; because of his contractual situation, De Gea might be a little more than twice that, though it will be hard to discern an actual price for him if he's included as part of a swap deal for Sergio Ramos. Meanwhile with his value inflated by United's need, Lloris could hit around £25 million, too.

In football's absurdly inflated market, though, these are surprisingly modest prices: £11 million is what a mid-table team in the Premier League pays for an over-the-hill midfielder and £25 million is what Chelsea give Fiorentina for a player they don't need or seemingly even want.

To get a player of the quality of De Gea, Lloris or Cech for those sorts of fees is quite staggering in the modern age. Particularly because, as John Terry said on Monday, these players are essentially guarantors of points. The Chelsea captain believes Cech is worth "12 or 15 points" a season to Arsenal. It is hard to quantify quite how many points Manchester United earned last season because they had De Gea in goal and not someone even marginally inferior. It's certainly not much of a stretch to suggest he got Louis van Gaal's team into the Champions League.

In other words, goalkeepers remain chronically undervalued to such an extent that even the very finest in the world are traded for the sort of sums that would barely register in the market for strikers. (This was echoed in Gabriele Marcotti's recent analysis of transfers by position.)

They are not the only ones, either. Part of the problem that may result in Sergio Ramos leaving Real Madrid is that the club will not offer him wage parity with the rest of the best centre-backs in the world. He wants to earn as much as Thiago Silva at Paris Saint-Germain because he believes (wrongly) that he is in the Brazilian's class. Silva earns £140,000-a-week. A forward as good at scoring goals as he is at stopping them would expect to command at least twice that. Like its approach to goalkeepers, football's attitude to defenders is deeply irrational.

Gianluigi Buffon is held up as the ultimate 'value' signing given his length of quality service for Juventus.

There is one exception to this rule, and this was the second eye-catching thing about the Cech deal. In 2001, Juventus paid Parma £32.6 million for Gianluigi Buffon. That deal is perhaps the only time a goalkeeper has commanded a truly premium fee. £32.6 million was a lot of money in 2001. Adjusted for inflation, it is somewhere in the region of ££50 million now.

That remains the world record fee for a goalkeeper. Given how little worth they are afforded in the transfer market, it seems unlikely it will be beaten; it may well stand forever, like the athletics records set by East German women in the 1980s, a remnant of an age now long past.

And yet more than anyone, Buffon proves just how valuable an truly world-class goalkeeper is. He has been Juventus's first choice for 14 years. He has played 535 times for the club. If we assume he has earned an average of £100,000-a-week since joining Juventus (which is generous in the extreme), each of those matches has cost the club a little under £200,000. How many points has he won them? How many titles and trophies could not have been secured without him?

Buffon intends to carry on playing until the 2018 World Cup, by which time he will be 40. Consider that his homage to Dino Zoff. He is already by far the country's most capped player (148, 12 ahead of Fabio Cannavaro) and if he can achieve his aim of playing in Russia, then he will doubtless have set a record that will never be broken.

There have been players that have been cheaper than Buffon, of course, players that stand out more as bargain buys than market-busting purchases. Football is obsessed with such deals and trying to exact as much value as possible from every penny by shopping in the right places and for the right people. It dresses this up as its own version of Moneyball. Everyone in football thinks they're playing Moneyball.

They aren't. They are ignoring two of the key tenets of Moneyball. One: there is value in undervalued positions. There is no position more undervalued than that of the goalkeeper. Two: the most expensive deals can sometimes work out the cheapest. That is the case with Buffon. Buffon was a Moneyball signing. He may be the best Moneyball signing there has ever been in football. The game, though, has not learned its lesson. It has not learned where value truly lies.