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Ruggedman Voices Doubts: Predicts Nigeria Won’t Win AFCON 2023
Nivonews reports that the AFCON tournament commenced on Saturday, January 13, 2024, with the inaugural match featuring the host country Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) against Guinea Bissau at Alassane Ouattara stadium….CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Nigeria is expected to play their first match of the tournament at 3 PM today against Equatorial Guinea.
However, Ruggedman has expressed doubt about the Super Eagles winning their fourth AFCON title this year.
The 50-year-old entertainer poured out his heart while speaking about his admiration for football, Super Eagles, Manchester United, Victor Osimhen, and more, during a recent interview with The PUNCH.
Speaking on his favourite sport growing up as a child, Ruggedman said: “Growing up, like most young kids across Nigeria, I enjoyed and still enjoy football. I love playing football. I also represented my secondary school in a relay race once but it obviously was not my calling.”
On whether his parents were a discouraging factor from pursuing a career in sports, Ruggedman said: “They did not need to discourage me because I did not take up any sport as a career.
“I was and I still am very passionate about football. I grew up reading football comic books like Roy Of The Rovers. I became a football lover in the early 1980s from watching “Big League Soccer.
Speaking on his journey into the entertainment industry, he said: “From a very young age, I just loved music. Growing up, I was more into music shows on TV like Top of The Pops, Soul Train and Kessingsheen Hit Show.”
I Hope They Do But I Doubt Super Eagles Winning AFCON
When asked whether he is a fan of the Nigerian National Football team, Ruggedman answered in the affirmative.
However, he downplayed their possibility of winning the tournament, saying: “As a Nigerian, yes I think they can win it but realistically and with the way we seem to have lost a couple of warm-up matches towards the competition, coupled with the history of politics being played in players selection, I do not see us winning it. I hope we do, but we all know games are not won by hoping.”
Announcing his pick on best African player of all time, the singer said: “I know some will argue that I might be choosing him because he is Nigerian. Some will say he did not win much during his time playing, but I choose Jay Jay Okocha any time, any day. To me, he is the most naturally skilled footballer I have ever seen.”
Osimhen Is My Favourite
Ruggedman, during the interview, picked Napoli’s striker as his favourite player in the Super Eagles squad, Nivo News reports.
Social media personality and Oyo-based herbal vendor, Eniola Fagbemi, widely known as Sisi Alagbo, has issued a public apology following the circulation of a private video online.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that she reacted to the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, where she admitted responsibility and expressed regret over the controversy.
Sisi Alagbo said she was deeply sorry to anyone who felt hurt or disappointed by the video.
In her words, “I own my mistakes, and I apologise with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me.”
She also disclosed that the backlash has had a serious impact on her emotional health, saying she has been unable to eat or sleep properly since the video went viral.
“I am already passing through a lot. I can’t eat or sleep for days. Even sleeping medicines aren’t working for me any longer,” she said.
Appealing for forgiveness and understanding, she added, “Please forgive me. I don’t want to injure myself. I only have a little strength left.”
The incident adds to a growing trend of leaked private videos involving public figures in Nigeria, with personalities such as Tiwa Savage and Moyo Lawal previously facing similar situations.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, alongside the National Publicity Secretary of the Obi–Kwankwaso Movement, Justin Ijeh, has called for adherence to Nigeria’s informal zoning practice, saying it promotes fairness, equity, and national stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Tanko maintained that the idea of a southern presidential ticket is based on fairness and political balance, noting that the current presidency is already held by the South.
He explained that Peter Obi had aligned with this position by agreeing to serve only one term of four years if elected.
Tanko said: “Yes, we are concerned about zoning. That was why we’ve been asking the ADC to zone the presidency to the southern part of this country, considering the simple fact that the Presidency has been zoned to the South.
“As you speak right now, what we have is a southern presidency. So, once you have a southern president, it simply means that even if there is going to be a replacement for the existing president, it should come from the South for them to complete their tenure.
“I think it is only fair to do that. And that was why Mr Peter Obi has also agreed that he’s going to do only four years.”
Tanko further expressed optimism that Obi would emerge as the consensus candidate of the opposition if a unified arrangement is reached, adding that his popularity—especially among young Nigerians—remains strong.
He said Obi enjoys massive public support across the country, describing moments of public reception during recent travels as overwhelming and emotional.
According to him, “That is because he’s the most popular candidate in the country at the moment… especially among the youth. Anywhere he goes, he is adored.”
Tanko added that large crowds and emotional displays of support reflect the level of trust Nigerians have in Obi’s leadership potential.
Similarly, Justin Ijeh noted that while zoning is not provided for in the constitution, it has become a political tradition that helps maintain inclusiveness in Nigeria’s diverse society.
He argued that, in the current political climate, it would be appropriate for the presidency to remain in the South in line with existing convention, warning that deviating from it could create avoidable political tension.
Ijeh said zoning, though informal, remains a stabilising mechanism that helps balance representation in the country’s power structure.
The Ugandan government has detained 62 Nigerian nationals over allegations of illegally running a church in the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The development was confirmed in a statement posted on the government’s account on Wednesday. According to the Ugandan National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC), the suspects were also found to be living and working in the country without valid permits. The agency said the arrests followed an intelligence tip-off indicating that the individuals were operating unlawfully without the necessary documentation. “Following a tip-off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits). The group, primarily found operating a church among other things, is now being processed for prosecution under Uganda’s immigration laws,” the statement read. The spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Peter Mundeyi, said the suspects often present themselves as gospel preachers while allegedly engaging in other unlawful activities. He added that they are currently being held at the ministry’s Namanve facility, where they are undergoing legal processing that could lead to deportation, fines, or blacklisting. “They often pose as gospel preachers while engaging in other irregular activities. Acting on intelligence, we moved in and apprehended them,” Mundeyi said. He further disclosed that preliminary investigations showed conflicting accounts from the suspects, with some claiming they were deceived into coming to Uganda with fake job offers, while others are being investigated over alleged involvement in cyber-related fraud and other offences.
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