President Goodluck Jonathan has begged to Nigerians to collectively defend and stand firm for democracy. The former president said democracy was not about conducting elections only but seeing that elections are free and fair. “We must collectively defend democracy in the country because no matter what you are, until you are able to elect your leader peacefully, the international community will not take you as developed society. “Where elections are manipulated, there is no election. “We use this opportunity to mobilise all Nigerians, especially the people of the state to stand firm for democracy and to do everything to protect…
Author: David Folami
Olusegun Obasanjo has advised politicians not to see politics as a matter of do-or-die affairs. “Politics Should Not Be About Life Or Death. Politicians should learn how to thread with caution as 2019 elections draw closer. “If you cannot be the chief servant you can be the assistant chief servant. This is because the chief servant cannot do it on his own; he has to work with others,” he said. Also, Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River said that politicians, who could not be in power should support those in power to ensure development. Ayade stressed the need for all…
Gianluigi Buffon is still recovering from Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup and won’t play for Juventus at Sampdoria on Sunday. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri announced on Saturday that defender Andrea Barzagli also won’t play for the same reason. Both Buffon and Barzagli announced after Italy’s playoff loss to Sweden on Monday that they were retiring from the national team. Allegri said: “They’re getting over the disappointment but after 15 days with the national team they spent a notable amount of physical and — above all — mental energy. “It would have been Buffon’s sixth World Cup and…
Luis Suarez ended a goalless drought with strikes either side of half-time as Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners against Leganes to provisionally extend their lead atop the La Liga table on Saturday. Suarez, who was an injury doubt leading up to the match after sitting out Uruguay’s friendlies last week, had been held without a goal in his last five games in all competitions, dating back to his late equaliser against Atletico Madrid on Oct. 14. But he tapped home from close range in the 28th minute after Ivan Cuellar spilled a save from a cross right into the Uruguayan’s…
For a fair while, Manchester United have been reported to be in the frame for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale — and the Mirror reports that they could finally land him in the summer. It says La Liga and Champions League winners Madrid “have grown tired of Bale’s ongoing injury problems and are believed to be ready to offload the Wales star.” Bale is sidelined because of a calf problem, but the Mirror reports that his injuries have not deterred United and they will make a third effort to sign him, having been keen to do so when he left Spurs…
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Augsburg. Arturo Vidal scored the opening goal on the half-hour before Lewandowski returned to torment his side’s Bavarian neighbours with a brace either side of half-time. Lewandowski’s goals mean he has now scored 18 times in 13 games against Augsburg, as well as maintaining his spectacular form this season with 22 goals in as many outings in all competitions. Mindful of last season’s thumping 6-0 defeat in the equivalent fixture, Augsburg started with a…
Nabil Fekir will remain at Lyon until the end of the season and possibly beyond despite claims he is close to a move to Arsenal, the French club’s president has told SFR Sport. Reports had it this week that Arsenal had all but closed a £60 million deal to reunite Fekir with his former Lyon teammate Alexandre Lacazette at the Emirates Stadium in January. Asked whether his sought-after attacking midfielder would remain at the club beyond the winter transfer window, Aulas said: “Of course, and nothing says he’ll leave at the end of the season. “He’s under contract, he’s happy…
Barcelona will be without Gerard Pique for next weekend’s top-of-the-table clash at Valencia after the defender picked up his fifth booking of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Leganes. They will also be without Javier Mascherano, who is sidelined for the next month with an injury, leaving them with just Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen for the clash. However, it could have been worse for coach Ernesto Valverde, with Umtiti also going into the Leganes game one booking away from a ban. Pique was booked after half an hour at Butarque following a rash challenge on the lively Nordin…
Rafael Benitez has admitted he can be not very nice when he is angry, but insists he has moved on from his feud with Jose Mourinho. The two men, who have both managed Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, go head-to-head on Saturday, this time when Benitez takes his Newcastle team to Old Trafford to face Mourinho’s high-flying Manchester United. Benitez said: “I think so. Older — that is obvious — and a lot calmer and more relaxed, because you have more experience. “You know what’s important. The main thing is the players. You have to concentrate on that. You…
Jose Mourinho says he is ready to play Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in tandem up front now that the Swedish striker is fit again. Ibrahimovic, who scored 28 goals last season, will return to the Manchester United squad against Newcastle on Saturday after seven months out with a knee injury. He told a news conference on Friday: “This season we played so many times with two strikers. “We played so many times, especially when we played three at the back and the wing backs we brought the second man to the centre so we can do it. “We are…
Paul Pogba is back in Manchester United’s starting line-up for their game against Newcastle while Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are on the bench. Pogba has missed United’s last 12 games after suffering a hamstring tear playing against Basel on Sept. 12. But 24-year-old is back after he took part in a session with some of the club’s young players on Wednesday. He is back in midfield alongside Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata, who was left out of the squad entirely against Chelsea. Rojo and Ibrahimovic will be hoping to feature for the first-team for the first time in seven…
John Stones is expected to be out for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury, manager Pep Guardiola has said. Stones pulled up just before the half hour of City’s 2-0 win at Leicester, and was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala. Guardiola said: “He will be out for a long time, four to six weeks I think.” Vincent Kompany started the match after being sidelined since August with a calf problem, while Nicolas Otamendi was suspended.
Rotimi Amaechi on Saturday said General Electric (GE) was investing 2.7 billion dollars on infrastructure, Operation and Maintenance (O and M) of the entire narrow gauge lines concession. According to him, GE is investing 700 million dollars on infrastructure, with two billion on O and M. “We are already in conversation with GE, we are negotiating with them, by Monday we will conclude agreement on the interim trade, which means that they will start working and functioning from this December. “But NRC will still be on the platform, till we conclude the proper negotiation agreement, which will likely be within…
A National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has described the Goodluck Jonathan administration as corruption squad that milked the country’s treasury dry. He said under the Jonathan government, money “ran away” faster than Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. He said, “The prior government used The Public Treasury As A Private Hedge Fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves. “So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush. “One minister and…
Just after the release of his hot new single, Iyanya has followed up with a spanking video for his recently released song, ‘Iyanu’. Shot in Rome by European-based Omar, the video is released by Temple Management Company (TMC) across all media platforms. The song is produced by Black Jersey and mastered by Black Jersey.
After winning the Best Artist in African Hip-Hop Award at AFRIMA Awards, Ycee has shocked his fans with a new thrilling single titled ‘I Wish’. We get to hear rapping Ycee again.
Award-winning singer, 9ice has united up with ace director, Clarence Peters for the video for his song, Basiri Mi. Produced by talented beat-maker, Tonywhy, the song is released by pan-African record label, Temple Music a sister company of foremost Lagos-based talent agency, Temple Management Company (TMC).
Toyin Aimakhu has once again talked about her past drug use. “You need to stop bad habits. I was involved in a lot of vices and it became worse last year,” Premium Times quoted her as telling the gathering. “I abused drugs and I am not ashamed to say it because it’s now a thing of the past. They say codeine makes you high; I took a lot. I smoked a lot and I didn’t even know I looked horrible because I was so skinny. “If you came to my house last year, you would meet a lot of people…
The singer’s song ‘Yeba’ is making the waves right now is in the news for leaving his record label G-Worldwide Entertainment. One of the main criticisms about Kiss Daniel when he was with the Emperor Geezy fronted label was that he wasn’t doing much to be a star or celeb. Kiss Daniel had the hits but it felt he was lacking in the celebrity department. For a singer with his number of hits, Kiss Daniel rarely made public appearances at events alongside his contemporaries. We only got to him on stage and after that he would disappear. His celeb game…
Shatta Wale has said that Nigerian pop star Wizkid is not special. “I will not see Wizkid and be stunned, I rather want him to see me and be amazed because I don’t see anything extraordinary about him, even though he claims to the best African artiste,” said Shatta Wale. He further said that Ghanaian artists should stop rating Nigerian artists above themselves. Wizkid wouldn’t pay too much attention about Shatta Wale’s comments. The Nigerian superstar is basking off his victory at AFRIMA. Wizzy took home three awards on the night.