Virgil van Dijk won’t be moving to Manchester City when the January transfer window opens, according to Pep Guardiola. Van Dijk, 25, has impressed since he moved to Southampton 18 months ago and has been linked with a £50 million move to the Etihad. The Netherlands international was even pictured in a City shirt this week after being gifted the jersey by a “Secret Santa” teammate at St Mary’s. City have struggled defensively so far but Guardiola says the only time he will see Van Dijk this season is when his side faces Southampton on April 15. “Next month, Van…
Author: David Folami
Jose Mourinho has said David Moyes paid the price for taking charge at Manchester United just as the Premier League was becoming ultra-competitive, but added that he would have relished the chance to take over the team Moyes inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson. Sunderland manager Moyes returns to Old Trafford on Boxing Day for the first time since being sacked by United in April 2014 after just 10 months in charge. The Scot has since said he was not given the time to rebuild the squad left by Ferguson — a team that won the Premier League title in Ferguson’s…
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri insists 2016 was the best year of his career after claiming the Premier League title. The Foxes shocked the world by picking up the trophy last season and, although their title defence has stuttered as they sit in 15th place with only four wins from 17 games so far, the Italian coach is still on a high from their success. “I never won a [league] title before, so for this reason it’s the best [year],” he told Sky Sports. “But I also can’t forget where I started from, like Jamie Vardy [who began in non-league] and…
Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, Nigeria’s immediate past Foreign Affairs Minister, who was also a senior cabinet member in the Jonathan’s administration in a media conversation with Desmond Mgboh of The Sun News stated that Buhari’s anti-graft crusade should begin from within his government. When responding to the question “whether Buhari’s anti-graft fight should also target APC State governors and government that had supported the APC Presidential bid in 2015”, Alhaji Wali said that, “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. “The administration is fighting but within its fold, there are those that are believed to be corrupt…
Mavin star Reekado Banks has held his highly anticipated ‘Thank You’ concert. The event which took place at the New Afrika Shrine on December 21, 2016 saw Reekado perform hit songs off “The Spotlight” album – ‘Oluwa ni’, ‘Problem’, ‘Standard’ among others. And it was lit! Although full of your usual street urchins, Afrika shrine was full to the brim, with fans unable to get into the venue. Reekado with a fan base of young adults filled the hall to its capacity with fans overflowing through the venue into the adjoining streets. The star began the show with a number…
It’s the holiday season and everyone is out shopping for gifts. Even if you are a successful rapper like Young Thug. So when the ‘Pick Up The Phone’ rapper was shopping in a mall in Atlanta, the last hing he expected was to be arrested. Police officers, who were patrolling the mall, however spotted the rapper who has an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. The officers placed Young Thug under arrest and he was taken to jail, though, the 25-year-old was later released on bail. This wouldn’t be the first time the rapper is getting into trouble…
Davido is one of the busiest Nigerian artistes in December 2016 and you can’t deny. The singer may have survived the first and second quarter of the year with music collaborations, but he’s on top of his game as we approach 2017. Davido – who released his Son of Mercy EP in November – recently toured London and Amsterdam before arriving Nigeria for Christmas, last weekend. He also staged a show at Bataclan – one of the scenes of the Paris attack – during the tour. Since arriving Nigeria, the ‘Coolest Kid in Africa’ has performed at almost all the…
Singers Simi and Shaydee have just won their first ever major awards at the 2016 Headies. E.M.E signee Shaydee won the Best Male Vocal Performance award for ‘Smile’, beating Brymo, Wande Coal, Ric Hassani, and the people’s favourite, Darey – who was nominated for ‘Pray for Me’. Simi’s ‘Love Don’t Care’ won her the Best Female Vocal Performance award ahead of Seyi Shay, Aramide and Omawumi. The duo are the happiest Nigerian artistes right now. Congrats!!!
Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufia has raised alarm that suspected Niger Delta militants are planning to foment trouble in Southern Kaduna. According to reports from Daily Trust, Governor El Rufai claimed that investigations have revealed that some Niger Delta militants disguised as Fulani herdsmen are planning to attack people in Kaduna. The governor alleged that some ruthless politicians were sponsoring the miscreants and were benefitting from the crisis in Kaduna. El Rufai vowed to arrest and prosecute the culprits and their syndicate in order to serve as a deterrent to others. In the meantime, the governor said that security…
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his government plans to quickly stimulate the economy in the new year as his immediate is to alleviate poverty in the country. He stated this on Saturday, December 24, in his Christmas message to Nigerians. He said the Federal Government is doing its best to make life easier for all citizens. The statement reads: I heartily rejoice with all Nigerians, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, on this year’s celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. As we celebrate this year’s Christmas, I believe that it is very appropriate for us to reflect…
President Muhammadu Buhari is already shopping for a replacement for the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, Daily Post reports. The report, which cited a government source, said the president is not likely to further push the Senate for Magu’s confirmation as the substantive EFCC Chairman. It was learnt that Buhari is uncomfortable with allowing someone that has been indicted in questionable dealings to lead his anti-corruption war. According to the source, a replacement may be named in January. “Anyone who knows PMB knows he highly regards DG of the DSS (Lawal Daura) and…
Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has described missing the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as a ‘sad chapter for Nigerian football’. The Super Eagles failed to qualify from their qualifying group, losing the only spot to Egypt. That was the second consecutive miss the Super Eagles will be missing since winning the 2013 Afcon. Ighalo believes it will be more painful when the tournament kicks off on Saturday, January 14. “I felt bad – not just me but Nigerians as a whole are not happy,” the Watford striker to BBC Sport. “Seeing teams playing in the Nations Cup and you…
Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola are among the Premier League managers who will sample England’s Boxing Day football extravaganza for the first time on Monday. While the rest of the population gorges on Christmas turkey dinners and knocks back festive drinks, 16 teams will be gearing up for matches as part of a custom that stretches back over 150 years. With Chelsea six points clear at the summit and chasing a 12th consecutive win, which would set a new club record, Conte is approaching the visit of Bournemouth with a spring in his step. “This…
Arsene Wenger knows Arsenal have no margin for error when they attempt to revive their Premier League title challenge against West Bromwich Albion on Monday. The visit of Tony Pulis’ side to the Emirates Stadium presents the Gunners with an opportunity to bounce back after successive defeats to Everton and Manchester City that have undermined their claim to be genuine challengers this season. It wasn’t simply the defeats, but the manner of the losses in games when Wenger’s side led on both occasions only to be overwhelmed by their opponents’ greater strength. The performances led to accusations that, despite a…
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in his Christmas goodwill message made available to newsmen on Saturday 24 of December 2016, stated that his administration would continue to ensure that the welfare and standard of living of Lagosians are of utmost priority. In the goodwill message which was signed by Habib Haruna, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, He said: “The season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence. We must continue to extend hand of love, benevolence and live as one family irrespective of our creed or colour. We must also continue…
On Friday, December 23, 2016, the Lagos State Government presented retirement benefit bond certificates to 495 pensioners. The total of N1.9bn was paid as their pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The bond certificates were issued by Akintola Benson Oke, the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension at the 34th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation organised by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC). According to Oke, this demonstrates the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workers that were out of service. Commenting on the essence of the pension deductions, the Commissioner stated that “The state government is…
Fifteen years after his father was assassinated, late Bola Ige’s son, Muyiwa, on Friday, December 23, said Nigeria is not worth dying for. Muyiwa stated this during a service held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Bola Ige, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He said the family has handed over the masterminds and killers of his father to God for punishment. The former Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning in Osun State said his father died for democracy to thrive, but noted that losing one’s life for Nigeria is a waste. He said: “We…
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has urged residents of the state to show greater love to one another as they commemorated the birth of Jesus Christ. The Governor gave the advice in his Christmas broadcast to the people of the state in Uyo on Saturday night. He advised Christians not to indulge in negative tendencies during the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. “As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us not give in to the negative impulse of anger and animosity. “Let us conduct ourselves in ways that appeal to the…
The Federal Government will formally re-open two major roads in Borno later today following the total defeat of Boko Haram in the North-East by the Nigerian military. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in a statement issued in Abuja. The roads are the Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak and the Maiduguri-Mungono-Baga. Mohammed said that he and the Minister of Defence, Brig.-General Mansir Dan-Ali (Rtd), Service Chiefs, Governor Kashim Shetimma of Borno State and other dignitaries will grace the occasion. He said the two major roads, which were earlier closed due to the activities of the insurgents in the area,…
Bank accounts belonging to Patience Jonathan, the former first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, have been frozen by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, and presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola. Asides the former first lady’s Skye Bank Plc. account with a balance of $5,316.66, the court also froze the accounts of five companies namely: Finchley Top Homes Limited, Aribawa Aruera, Magel Resort Limited, AM -PM Global Network Limited Pansy Oil and Gas Limited. The said companies have a total of N7, 418,829,290.94. A certain Esther Oba who has a balance of $429,381.87 with Diamond Bank Plc.…