₦airaland Forum

RuuDie:
I think we should try and get Javier mascherano... The dude is just getting better by the game even though he rarely plays DM for FCB.

Which Javier? Abi another one?


He is not for sale...


We don't mind Alex Song...

adebayo201:
I ever imagine how sport section will be without Manchester United thread!

Relaxation center to bad

Wicked...

I hope this won't be the venue for this Weekend party...


Honestly, I am tired of this place...

fredoooooo:
So proudly is still a gunner , wetin oga wenger go cause ehn

Wicked...

Controversial actor, Benson Okonkwo, speaks with CHUX OHAI about his career and unfulfilled dreams

Unknown to many movie fans, controversial Nollywood actor, Benson Okonkwo, started his career in the entertainment industry as a commercial model at the age of 16. And just to correct the impression that he dropped the vocation for film acting, he says he is still an active model.

“I am a full time commercial model, not a runway model. I have done a lot of modelling jobs till date. I have modelled for Zain, Wema Bank, Nestle Plc, Orange Drugs and Gold Circle. My images have appeared on billboards, in TV commercials and many others,” he says, in an interview with our correspondent.

Benson would probably not be in Nollywood today and at the receiving end of ‘homophobic’ critics, if he had not listened to his mother’s advice to build a career in film acting.

“My mum actually advised me to embrace film acting. Besides, when I was still in secondary school I did a bit of acting. Being a Roman Catholic, I always acted the role of Jesus Christ during every Station of the Cross event that took place in my church on Good Friday,” he notes.

The light-skinned and soft-spoken actor, who is rumoured to be a gay, got his first role in a Nollywood movie in 2008. He played the lead role in ‘Koko Master’ and also appeared in ‘No Man’s Land’ alongside Jim Iyke and Chiwetalu Agu. But the going, he says, has not been all that smooth.

While admitting that at different times in his career he found himself acting really controversial roles, he wonders why this should be misinterpreted as evidence that he is a homosexual.

He says, “Most times, when I grant interviews to blogs, the subject is always twisted out of context. Most of those commenting on those blogs would say that I am gay. Maybe, it is because of the roles I have played in some movies.”

Some of the Nollywood movies, in which Benson has been casted for such controversial roles, include ‘The Pregnant Hawker’, ‘One Dollar’ and ‘Strippers in Love’. But they are just a few out of over 40 movies that he has appeared in.

Upset that Nigerians are still unable to draw a line between fiction and reality, he continues, “They should understand that I am only acting and the roles have nothing to do with my personality. I get embarrassed when people mistake the part I play in a movie for reality and call me a gay. And to think that I have always said that I am not gay! It really hurts.”

The actor is aware that his good looks and peculiar dress sense may have put him in ‘trouble’ with millions of movie fans. To make matters worse for him, he has been voted Sexiest Actor in Nollywood for the second time running. But he thinks the title and the fact he is a dandy dresser should not be misconstrued by the public.

In spite of the raging controversy, Benson appears determined to move on without losing focus. “I am not bothered by what people are saying about me. To be honest with you, if I felt that the comments were a big problem to me, I would have stopped granting interviews long ago. What my critics don’t know is that I have a steady girlfriend. But I won’t talk about her. I don’t like to talk about my private life,” he says.

However, for someone who says he is been such a committed Catholic, one would have expected him to have opted for priesthood. But Benson did not end up a priest because his father kicked against the idea.

The actor says he really wanted to train as a Catholic priest and he told his father about it. But the latter refused on the grounds that he wanted him to get married and produce grandchildren for him.

“I wanted to become a priest. It was my childhood ambition. I was a mass server for six years and I partook in the traditional feet washing ritual for about four years. Naturally, I would have taken the necessary step to fulfil my ambition of becoming a priest but for my father’s objection to the idea,” he says.

Not even the intervention of Benson’s mum could make his father change his mind. Eventually yielding to his mother’s advice, Benson found himself gravitating towards Nollywood.

Although he has had his fair share of criticism so far, he has no regrets for making the decision to join Nollywood. “Nollywood is cool and I am passionate about acting. I hope to make it to Hollywood some day. That shows how far I want to go as an actor. I may not be making a lot of money or getting endorsements, but I know I am going to be very successful,” he says.

http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/it-hurts-when-people-call-me-gay-okonkwo/

There was commotion at the National Assembly on Thursday as a plot to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, from entering the assembly complex failed.

Riot policemen tear-gassed angry lawmakers, who were protesting against the development.

Although the general belief was that the security operatives were deployed in the assembly to prevent Tambuwal from presiding over Thursday’s “special plenary,” The PUNCH gathered that it was to stop some lawmakers, especially those in the All Progressives Congress Caucus, from tabling a motion for President Goodluck Jonathan’s impeachment.

The drama started as early as 6am when heavily armed policemen and hooded Department of State Service operatives blocked all the gates to the National Assembly.

They conducted searches on the vehicles of Senators, House members, workers and visitors to the complex, all in a bid to stop the speaker from entering the premises.

Tambuwal arrived around 10.47am to meet the blockade. He managed to pass through the first gate after the security personnel asked for his identification.

But, on reaching the main entrance gate, he was stopped by the policemen who were led by a top officer from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

Angered by the police action, many APC lawmakers in the speaker’s company became agitated and demanded explanations from the police.

At this point, Tambuwal stepped out of his car and introduced himself to the officer as “Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the speaker of the House of Representatives.”

But the officer, who kept pressing his mobile telephone buttons, replied, “wait, wait, wait for me.”

He eventually made a call and later allowed the speaker to be sneaked in through a side gate.

However, the gate remained shut against all other members, most of whom were APC members.

This further infuriated the lawmakers, who began to shake the gate violently in a move to pull it down.

Realising it would be a Herculean task, they resorted to scaling the gate to the main complex.

Among those who scaled the gate were the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulrahman Kawu; the Chairman, House Committee on Public. Accounts, Solomon Olamilekan ; the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Victor Ogene; Bimbo Daramola and Babatunde Adejare.

When the policemen realised that locking the gate yielded no results, they started throwing tear gas canisters at the lawmakers, including Tambuwal.

Twice, canisters landed right in front of the Speaker as he walked, shielded by his colleagues to the entrance of the lobby.

At the lobby, the enraged lawmakers, practically pulled down its doors down as they forcibly guarded Tambuwal into the House for proceedings to begin.

They chanted, “Make way for the Speaker, ” make way for the Speaker,” as the police threw more tear gas canisters right inside the lobby.

Many people ran for their lives, struggling to breathe.

Reps harass, accuse Mark, Ihedioha of conspiracy

Earlier, the Senate President David Mark and many senators had been stopped for about 30 minutes at the Presidential Gate to the National Assembly before being allowed to enter the complex.

When Mark heard that the speaker had entered, he went to the House to discuss with him in what appeared like a show of solidarity.

But, his entry into the House chambers infuriated many APC lawmakers, who asked him to leave.

The lawmakers harassed Mark, accusing him of being part of the conspiracy to stop the speaker from presiding over the House.

One member, Abdulmalik Cheche, held him by the shoulders and shook him violently, almost removing his cap.

“You know we served in the army together, you know we served in the army together,” he shouted, still shaking Mark’s shoulders.

Ironically, Chehe, like the Senate President, is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Another member, Shehu ABG, shouted at Mark, saying “Go back to your chambers. Where were you when they threw tear gas at us?”

One other lawmaker , Aliyu Gelbi, made to hit Mark, but for members who held him tightly.

Tambuwal intervened to stop the protesting lawmakers and later spoke briefly with Mark before the Senate President exited the chambers.

A visibly angry Kawu also tried to attack the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, accusing him of being part of the “conspiracy to stop the speaker.”

“This is a shameful act; we won’t take it; we won’t allow it”, he shouted and pointed angrily at Ihedioha before he was held by some members.

The House later sat successfully with Tambuwal presiding.

Members went into an executive session and discussed President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

At the session, the members reportedly rejected Jonathan’s request outright.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of the session, the House spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, said members resolved that extending the emergency rule for another six months was unnecessary because it was not working.

He said, “We didn’t approve the President’s request because the emergency rule is not working.

“If we had approved this one today (Thursday), it would have been the fourth, yet it is not yielding results.

“If you are using a particular strategy that is not working, you have to change it.”

He added that the House advised the President to rely on Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act and the 1999 Constitution to deploy troops for operational purposes.

“Our resolution is no more extension; he should deploy the armed forces for operational purposes as he is empowered by relevant laws to do so,” Mohammed stated.

He said the motion to consider the President’s request was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.

Mohammed added that the House “condemned” the move by the police and other security agents to stop the speaker from entering the House.

He said, “This action by the police is condemnable. Members expressed dismay over this drama but we thank God that we forced our way in and held our sitting.

“Mr. President wrote us to extend emergency rule, yet we were barred from entering the House.

“Did they expect us to sit on the streets of Abuja to approve the emergency extension?”

Ogor later apologised profusely on behalf of the House for the actions of some members, particularly the attack on Mark.

“I apologise to the Nigerian people and especially, the Senate President, who came to ensure that there was peace in the House”, Ogor said.

The House later adjourned sitting till December 3.

Tambuwal led a delegation of members soon after House rose to Mark’s office, but the latter was said to have shunned the group.

There has been crisis in the House since Tambuwal defected from the PDP to the APC on October 28.

The PDP has since declared that he should vacate his seat for a PDP member, since he had left the party on which platform he became the speaker.

The Inspector-General, Mr. Suleiman Abba, had also withdrawn Tambuwal’s police security personnel.

The matter is pending before an Abuja Federal High Court.

113 Reps begin impeachment move against Jonathan

The PUNCH however gathered that about 113 members of the House had as of Thursday signed to remove Jonathan.

Investigations revealed that the lawmakers actually wanted to table a motion for Jonathan’s impeachment on Thursday, using the opportunity of the reconvening of the House .

A National Assembly source, who confided in one of our correspondents, explained that the counter-plot(deployment of security operatives) explained why Ihedioha and many PDP members were allowed unhindered access into the House.

The source said, “The motion for the impeachment of the President was to have been moved today (Thursday). Somehow, the plot leaked and the PDP members were allowed easy entry into the chambers so that in connivance with the police, they could stop it (impeachment motion).

“In doing so, they would have passed the extension of state of emergency and go ahead to pronounce the speaker removed.

“It was also part of their counter plan to declare the seats of the 37 PDP members who earlier defected to the APC vacant and thereby strengthen the PDP.

“When the APC members got to know that this was the reason for the action of the police, they became like wounded lions.”

The PUNCH gathered that even after the House settled down for business on Thursday, some members still insisted on moving the motion for Jonathan’s removal.

It was gathered Tambuwal prevailed upon them not to go ahead as it would further aggravate an already charged atmosphere.

Another source added, “We still wanted to move the motion but the speaker pleaded with us. However, when we resume on December 3, we will still come up with that motion.”

When contacted for comments, the House spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said impeachment was not the “official purpose for our sitting.”

“Notice of impeachment was not an item on our agenda today (Thursday). So, I won’t talk on that one.

“There are 360 of us and our official duty for today(Thursday) was state of emergency extension.”

Mark shuts N’Assembly, Senate summons IG

Mark, whose convoy was briefly stopped at the gate that links the National Assembly from the State House, openly confronted the Chief Security Officer of the National Assembly to explain who invited the policemen. He argued that he, as the Chairman of the assembly, reserved the right to make such request.

Mark later met with the principal officers of the Senate and Ihedioha, who visited him over the development.

He left with Ihedioha to the lower chamber when they were informed that Tambuwal had also entered.

On his return, Mark met his colleagues who were already protesting their maltreatment by the security operatives.

Most of them said they were forced to trek a distance of about 200 metres from the main gate to their offices because they were not allowed to enter the premises with their vehicles.

Mark, at the resumption of plenary, ordered the shutdown of the National Assembly over the incident.

He said, “Because of the very unfortunate incident in the National Assembly , I have decided to shut down both the Senate and House of Representatives until Tuesday next week.

“We will also invite the IG to appear before us here on Tuesday. There will be no business in the National Assembly today it remains shut till Tuesday (next week).’’

He condemned the use of force on parliamentarians and civil servants who were on their way to their offices to carry out their duties.

Mark also hinted that the Senate had asked the service chiefs billed to appear before it on Thursday (yesterday) to do so on Tuesday.

Presidency, IG defend deployment of policemen

While the Senators and House members fumed, the Presidency and Abba justified the deployment of security operatives, saying it was to defend the 1999 Constitution and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Abba, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the police action followed an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House by thugs.

He claimed that in the course of screening the House members and visitors, Tambuwal arrived with “a motley crowd and assaulted the Police operatives on duty.”

The IG cautioned politicians and their followers to respect constituted authorities and follow due process in the pursuit of their agenda.

He warned that the Police “shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.”

To the Presidency, there was no need to castigate the action of the police, which it said, was aimed at making sure that the laws of the land were obeyed.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told journalists at a news conference in Abuja that it would be wrong to assume that the IG was acting on orders from the Presidency.

Okupe said, “Assumption (on whether the police boss was acting on instruction from the President) should stop. The IG is a very senior officer of the government and his duties are to enforce the law.

“He doesn’t need to get the Villa to enforce the law. Though he works under the government, he is expected to defend the law. The IG has the duty to enforce the law.

“He acted in the discharge of his duty. The IG didn’t invade the assembly. It is wrong to assume that.”

Nevertheless, Okupe described the commotion in the National Assembly as unfortunate and appealed to politicians to always put the interest of the nation first in their actions.

He appealed to the members of the House to urgently resolve the crisis before Tuesday to enable them to act on the President’s request for the extension of emergency rule in North-East.


http://www.punchng.com/news/commotion-at-national-assembly/

Where is the Passion?


Keshi's advocates! Where are they now?

EXCLUSIVE: The former Super Eagles star has told Goal that the current national crop need to convince the public that they care about playing for their national team

Jay-Jay Okocha says that questions will be asked about the passion of Nigeria’s players following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The reigning champions failed to qualify for the 2015 finals after drawing 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday, marking a second exit before the tournament proper in three editions.

And while Stephen Keshi’s future has already been called into question, Okocha believes the players have to take some of the responsibility too.

“I think, to be honest, we will always produce talented players. But perhaps the question is whether they have the same passion that they used to have,” Okocha told Goal. “People are pressuring them about that, you know, because sometimes it seems as if they don’t really care much about the result.”

Wednesday’s result combined with Congo’s 1-0 win in Sudan to extinguish Nigeria’s final hopes, but the 41-year-old said they had made it very difficult for themselves earlier in the campaign.

“Of course it was down to our bad spot, even if we were still in with a chance,” he added. “I think sometimes players must have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football. They left themselves get into a difficult position.”

Ironically, Okocha – who won 75 caps for his country – believes the Super Eagles could have gone on to perform very well again in the finals in Equatorial Guinea had the qualified amongst the final 16 teams.

“I have no doubt that had we managed to qualify we would have had a good tournament, because you have to play really well once it comes to the tournament itself. The qualifiers are sometimes a bit tricky here in Africa, so I think if they had qualified they would have had a good tournament.”

Okocha is currently acting as an ambassador for Western Union’s ‘Pass for School’ programme which will see funding made towards better education every time somebody posts an old photograph of themselves in a childhood sports photo to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #PassForSchool.

He explained: “It is a great initiative, especially since it helps the less privileged children because we all know how vital education is. So I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4065/africa/2014/11/20/6329531/okocha-questions-nigeria-players-passion-following-afcon?ICID=HP_HN_1

dmcdad:
I just can't get why he is so obsessed with that boi. Sandro is even more mature as a player than Munir. But whoosai, Lucho no send.

I agree...

dmcdad:
I am a die-hard Messi fan. But it gets to a point whereby we all have to face the realities that befall us. I am yet to see a player I loved as much as I did to Ronaldinho. I still love him until he retires. But even that too didn't mean I shouldn't move on when he left Barca. And I am only transferring the same love I had for him and still have to Neymar. I guess because they play similar style, plus they are my fellow country-men .

I hear u...

elampiro:
Keshi fell our hand. He should be sacked. His style is too slow for my liking. He approaches matches with too much patience thereby causing less pressure to the opponents in the early part of matches. How does he usually intend to recover the wasted time playing slowly in the midfield? A similar approach almost cost us in group stage of the nations cup against Ethiopia. We have Victor Moses to thank for that qualification into quarter final.

Who is sacking who? They all should go...


All I know is the NFF, Coaching crew & Players should be disbanded and get the f. out...


How can anyone explain Suu-dannn beating us not forgetting connn-goooo flogging us @ our backyard... , imagine soutie dey commot us for qualification 4 our soil...

dmcdad:
There were times in the past that he should have left but didn't. Infact, the board contemplated selling him this summer. Why do you think they purchased Suarez against the odds? Why do you think Neymar's contract is to be extended to 2020? I think they are already planning for life after the diminutive attacker.

The harsh reality is that, at some point or the other, every player would have to leave while the club remains. If we coped without Ronaldinho, then we would without Messi, although it's gonna take time for sure.

Although, I am not like some die-hard messi fans that will also defend him no matter how bad things are... but I will miss him if he leaves, infact, imagining it is almost making me ...

dmcdad:
Thanks. And you too.

Amen oh!

Thanks...

dmcdad:
For Nigeria? So you sef support the hiring of a foreign manager like me?

Abi na! See ya mouth like foreigner own...

The Argentine attacker is far from happy at the Catalan club and was only convinced to stay last season by former coach Tito Vilanova

Amid the criticism under compatriot Gerardo Martino, Messi contemplated leaving Barca last season and even expressed his concerns to former coach Tito Vilanova in a visit to the former Blaugrana boss before his death in April.

Vilanova convinced Messi to stay less than a week prior to his passing, but the player and his team still studied an offer from Paris Saint-Germain and would now be open to considering a move next summer or in the near future.

The forward fell out with Guardiola toward the end of the Catalan's four-year reign after a heated discussion over the coach's team selection for the 2-1 Clasico defeat at home to Real Madrid in April 2012 but has endured many more troubled times since Pep's departure two months later.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2014/11/19/6302181/leos-last-season-why-messi-is-considering-barcelona-exit?ICID=HP_HN_2


How true is the words in bold?


For real, Messi 4 leave last season?


Afterall, Messi isn't saint!!!

dmcdad:
Lol... Thanks brah. I'm grateful.

You welcome scorpio!!!


Wishing you many happy & prosperous years...

dmcdad:
My country? My country win yesternight na. Abi you mean Super Chicken your country? I know say you love them die! Sorry my broda. It is well. E go beta na poor man praya.

I don't understand why Keshi was appointed in the 1st place when we have someone like dmcdad...

dmcdad:
Happy birthday to me (Mcdad).

Happy birthday...

Okocha! Kai! see where you left us oh!


Gone were the days, this won't happen...

African football legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has given the greatest hints that he may soon bounce back to the sport that brought him fame and fortune to help in discovering young creative midfielders.
Okocha whose magical displays gladdened many souls has decried the lack of creative midfielders as presently obtained in the Super Eagles and promised to offer his wealth of experience to the nation in discovering such talents “when the time is right”.

Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha,
The ex Super Eagles captain who is an Ambassador to Western Union as a way to help vulnerable children get the education they deserve, however, said that he would wait until such a time that Nigerian football administration is “clean” before he ventures into discovering gifted players in mould.
“It’s a gradual thing. I hope you know that I am the Vice Chairman of Delta State Football Association”, he reminded the Reporter stressing that by the virtue of the Chairman’s election as President of Nigeria Football Federation(Pinnick), he now assumes the responsibility of running the sport.
“It’s a gradual process. For now, I’m working in the state until such a time that I’ll step up into the national scene”, he volunteered.
With his now famous toothpaste smile, Okocha who played for a catalogue of teams like Borussia Neunkirchen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bolton Wanderers, Fernabache, Paris St Germain refused to entertain questions on the national team and coach Stephen Keshi but preferred to focus on his Ambassadorial works with Wester Union on the PASS-project that has supported UNICEF secondary education programmes in Jamaica, Nigeria and Turkey.
“It’s a laudable programme that has opened the window of opportunities for young people around the world into support for access for quality education. One needs to help the younger ones carve a niche in education. That is a sure way of producing better youths who indeed will be leaders of tomorrow”.
The midfield maestro whose dribbles and sublime passes and free kicks set apart as a genius confessed that life outside the game has not been that easy.
“Initially, it’s like a fish out of water situation. But one has integrated well”.
However, if there is one thing that Okocha would not find a solution to is the massive fans who still flock around him.
“It’s amazing”, he said and has cut out certain areas as no-go areas. “There are so many ares that as a matter of fact that I cannot go to because of the massive scramble of fans”.
And how rich is the former mercurial player? He smiled and said “I’m good like every other person”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/dont-creative-midfielders-okocha/

Naija is an embarrassment...

nickxtra:
I think its worth it

Worth it

afolag:
NEVER SAY NEVER....if the ref never blow

Naija disqualified...

Wetin na Elampiro?


Naija dey f.up big time, imagine Soutie dey waya Naija 4 our soil...


Pls, Naija case won bi like....

Dmcdad, your country dey f.up big time...

afolag:
NEVER SAY NEVER....if the ref never blow

For this match?


Guy, i know you are just being too patriotic but honestly, we are not used to this mess abeg...

AceOfDiamonds:
ROTFL!!! Boss calm down naa...

Egbon ti binu taan

Enough is Enough..


We are Football loving people & the tension is three-much...

afolag:
chill guys keep on watching the game is a riddle.

What game are we still watching?

Must we keep deceiving ourselves?

Imagine ordinary suu-dann dey beat Naija, next; con-gooo dey come our backyard dey flog Naija, then dat one never do, Soutie sef dey flex on top our soil...

Based on the recent embarrassments we have been facing with congo, sudan & now south Africa is so unacceptable...


The whole NFF or whatever they call themselves should peacefully resign & the Coaching crew as well vacate their positions with immediate effect...


Enough is Enough!!!

barcanista:
I gentle baba

See attache!

barcanista:
guy how far na? Longest tym

I dey oh! U?

barcanista:
Hi Cules its been long since I hit here... So sad neither Argentina nor Spain won last night games. Anyway, I hope Laporta is elected Presido. Though I like and admired Rosell but the Neymar deal controversy caused a lot of damage to the team. This incumbent President need to consider farming and Laporta needs to review his economic policies if he's to return. All the same, Viscal elBarca

Wicked...