Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the immediate past US president, Barack Obama, desperately wanted him removed from office. Jonathan said Obama made it clear that the US wanted a change of government in Nigeria. The Obama administration was unsatisfied with the way Jonathan handled the fight against corruption, Boko Haram insurgency and the rescue of the kidnapped Chibok school girls, it was learnt. It is believed that it was based on these reasons that the US at the time placed an arms embargo on Nigeria. Although the US cited gross abuse of human rights by the Nigerian army…
Author: David Folami
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo says that he warned ex-president Goodluck Jonathan not to appoint Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke as Nigeria’s petroleum minister. Obasanjo also said that Jonathan lost in 2015 because he thought he could buy the election. Obasanjo’s revelations were contained in a book and titled “Against the Run of Play,” which was written by former presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi. “I saw the emergence of Jonathan as an opportunity to solve the problem of minority agitation. The three majority ethnic groups in Nigeria can always sort themselves out but not so for the minority. A good example is my state…
When the PFA Team of the Year, containing four Chelsea players, was revealed last week, it omitted the Premier League leaders’ best defender: Cesar Azpilicueta. Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante were shoo-ins, but the other two Blues to make the XI play at the other end of the pitch. Gary Cahill has captained Chelsea with poise this season, providing a different brand of leadership to John Terry, though his goal in Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat of Southampton replicated his erstwhile partner’s taste for the big occasion. Meanwhile, David Luiz, the central man in Antonio Conte’s core defensive trio, has been able…
Real Madrid’s bid for a first La Liga title in five years will be put to test on Saturday when they host Valencia, who won their earlier meeting in the season. A Cristiano Ronaldo double saw Madrid squeak past them 3-2 on the penultimate day of last season, but that was Real’s first victory over Valencia either home or away in the league since 2013. A largely second-string Madrid side, missing the rested Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and without the suspended Sergio Ramos, recorded an impressive 6-2 victory away to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday. Coach Zinedine Zidane admitted…
After a season that promised so much, Bayern Munich have been sent packing from two Cup competitions in the space of eight days and Carlo Ancelotti’s side are determined to take a step closer to the league title when they travel to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. A Bayern win combined with defeat for second-placed RB Leipzig against relegation candidates Ingolstadt would give them an unassailable 11-point lead with three games remaining. After crashing out of the Champions League quarterfinals to Real Madrid and then losing to Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday’s German Cup last four, the feel-good factor from Ancelotti’s first…
Former manager of the Psquare duo, Jude Okoye, is also a year older! The father of one took to Instagram to wish himself a happy birthday. “Happy birthday to me. I thank God for life,” he wrote
Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the Real Madrid squad for Wednesday’s trip to Deportivo la Coruna as coach Zinedine Zidane maintained his rotation policy despite defeat by Barcelona on Sunday. It is the third consecutive La Liga away game Ronaldo has not been included in the Real squad. However, the European champions have recorded victories at Leganes and Sporting Gijon without the World Player of the Year. Gareth Bale and captain Sergio Ramos are unavailable through injury and suspension respectively. Meanwhile, midfielder Toni Kroos is also rested. Raphael Varane returns from nearly a month out with a hamstring problem…
More excerpts have been scooped from the yet-to-be-launched book which chronicles the rise of Muhammadu Buhari and the fall of Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. In the book titled “Against The Run of Play,” written by the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Jonathan revealed how he was betrayed by his party members. He also said that his family is being hounded by the Buhari administration in the name of the anti-corruption fight. “I feel sad about the way my family is being hounded,” he said. “Society is like a building. You build it one block…
Going by the number of billboards in Abia State that carries her name and a strong message for those going abroad to buy things that are produced in Aba as well, we can safely say that she has become an ambassador for the state or the message. The billboard that has littered almost every street in Abia State has her picture and these words inscribed on them, “I am proudly made in Aba. Aba can make everything you travel abroad to buy” – Uche Jombo Feeler from her camp is that she is currently working on a project with the…
NO SHOW on air can hold a candle to Game of Thrones right now. The production value and devoted audience sets the fantasy drama leagues above anything else and now, the show is forging another record for itself — specifically how much they’re going to pay their cast. The show’s ‘Big Five’ are about to be rewarded generously for making Game of Thrones the biggest show on television by reportedly making more than A$3 million an episode after the program airs internationally. According to The Daily Express, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have signed…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra says it has deployed 105 trained personnel for the nationwide continuous voter registration in the state. The new Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr Thomas Ongele, made the disclosure in during a news conference in Awka on Wednesday. Ongele also said INEC was well equipped to inaugurate the exercise in the state and called on those who just turned 18 years from the period of last voter registration to participate in the exercise. He said that those that registered but their names were not on the voter register were eligible for the…
Governor-members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said that it is not compulsory for President Muhammadu Buhari to preside over Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. The governors made the comment on Wednesday, April 26, following the president’s absence from the FEC meeting of the day. Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who spoke on behalf of the governors, also said that there were no worries over the president’s health. “We are not worried yet and have no reason to be worried, but we however, urge Nigerians to continue to pray for the president to be in good health,” El-Rufai said.…
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has revealed how some members of the party worked against him in the build-up to the 2015 elections. He said the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State frustrated the plan to make him (Tinubu) President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the presidential election. Tinubu said other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, who had defected to the APC, were also part of the gang that pressured Buhari not to pick him. The ex-governor of Lagos State disclosed this in a book titled ‘Against the Run…
Pep Guardiola says he has “no regrets” about his first season in England, even though his Manchester City side face the prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League. Guardiola is set to finish a campaign without a trophy for the first time in a managerial career dating back to 2008 after City were beaten by Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals last Sunday. City will cede fourth place to Manchester United if they lose Thursday’s derby, but Guardiola said he will be prepared for a Europa League campaign if his side finish outside the top four. “I think…
Real Madrid again made light of the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as they crushed Deportivo la Coruna 6-2 to maintain the upper hand in the La Liga title race on Wednesday. Madrid and Barcelona are locked on 78 points at the top of the table, but Real have a game in hand over their title rivals. Barca remain top thanks to their better head-to-head record as Lionel Messi struck twice to relegate Osasuna in a 7-1 thrashing. Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane made nine changes in all from the side that lost 3-2 to Barca on Sunday to reignite the title…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday signed a five-year deal worth $8.2 million (7.5 million euros) with an oil and gas firm to pay its national team coaches. The contract with energy conglomerate Aiteo is worth 500 million naira ($1.6 million, 1.5 million euros) a year with an option of a year’s extension, the parties disclosed at an event in Lagos. NFF communications chief Ademola Olajire called the deal the “long-awaited injection of funds the NFF has earnestly yearned for” and said it marked “a new chapter” in the national game. Non-payment of salaries has been a repeated problem…
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has taken it upon herself to plead with Nigerians and her fans not to ruin women and great relationships on the account of social media comparisons. The thespian reacted to a photo of Nollywood’s fantastic four which comprises of Uche Jombo, Chioma Chukwuka, Ufuoma Mcdermott and Omoni Oboli, that was posted on Instagram and fans were asked to choose their favorite amongst the four women.
She is an A-list actress who even has an Oscar win under her belt. So it comes as no surprise that Angelina Jolie encourages and supports her children to follow in their artistic endeavors. The 41-year-old star was spotted taking Shiloh out for some one-on-one bonding time in Los Angeles on Monday. Her third youngest was in for a treat as Angelina appeared to buy an acoustic ukulele as they exited a Guitar Center store. Shiloh, 10, looked pleased with the brand new musical instrument and strummed it while walking to their vehicle. Angelina donned her signature all-black look which…
Beyoncé and Jay Z are moving on up! As the A-list couple prepares to welcome twins, word on the street is they’re eyeing a jaw-dropping mansion perched atop a secluded hill in Bel Air. Page Six reports the Lemonade artist and her rapper hubby put in a $120 million bid to call the sprawling mansion their home, which no surprise here, is all kinds of extravagant. Newly remodeled from the ground up, Bey and Jay’s potential residence is spread across two acres of land and more than 30,000-square-feet. With 11 bedrooms, four pools and a 15-car garage, there’s no question…
Nollywood actress, Lola Alao has just cleared the air over an alleged animosity between herself and Bukky Wright over a man. The rumour mill was agog with news that the newly converted actress and her ‘bestie’ Bukky were at war over an Austria-based prince known as Abbey whom Lola was reportedly close to getting married to. Lola Alao has however debunked such claims calling it rumours. According to her latest post on Instagram the pair’s friendship is still intact. She shared a photo on her Instagram page yesterday, July 28, 2016, writing, “Ajoke my bestie for life, they Said we…