Leicester City hitman Jamie Vardy has joined the league of football club owners after investing in US-based team Rochester Rhinos according to the club.
The 34-year old striker purchased a minority stake in the New York-based club, which has not played a competitive game for four years.
The club statement said: “The Rochester Rhinos are delighted to announce that Premier League star Jamie Vardy has become a co-owner of the club.
“The Leicester City striker has bought a minority stake and is excited by the prospect of being part of a journey that puts the Rhinos and Rochester back on the map after a four-year hiatus.
“This is a huge coup for Rochester and the Rhinos. Jamie is known throughout the soccer world and we are delighted that he has chosen to join us as a co-owner.
“Hopefully this fantastic news will give everyone connected with the club the belief that there are good times ahead.”
Rhinos, the only non-Major League Soccer club to have won the US Open Cup, announced in November 2017 they would go on hiatus as they sought extra funding.
Rochester Rhinos in 2017 announced the club will go into hiatus as they sought extra funding. The New York-based club plans to resume competing in the USL League One in 2022, the third tier competition on the American football pyramid.
The Rochester Rhinos hold the enviable record of being the only non-Major League Soccer club to win the US Open.
Vardy also joins a select few active footballers with stakes in football clubs around the world, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic who owns a 23.5% in Swedish club Hammarby IF, Thomas Partey with CD Paracuellos Antamira in Spain, Demba Ba, Eden Hazard, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sow co-own US-based San Diego 1904 FC and Gerard Pique who owns third-tier Andorra FC based in Spain.
The Lagos Assembly on Tuesday called on the federal government to engage agitators across the country rather than employ the use of force.
This is as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, argued that the use of the military in an attempt to quell agitations for secession would not yield the desired result since it is part of democracy for a people to speak out concerning how they are governed.
Obasa, who noted that the 22 years of unbroken democracy being enjoyed by Nigeria is worthy of celebration, however, said there many things yet to be done after so long adding that these had led to the tension in the country.
The Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, who made the comment during the debate on a motion about the 22 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria raised by Hon. Setonji David, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing an executive order granting autonomy to state legislatures and judiciary and for honouring the late MKO Abiola with the declaration of June 12 as democracy day.
Noting that democracy is a wholesome package, he added: “It is not about electing us alone. Those that elected us also have freedom, they have the right to protest where they think things are not working.
“The right to protest should not be taken away from them as long as such right is not taken for granted.
“There is no crime in seeking for separate nations within an existing nation,” he said as he mentioned some countries where the citizens have called for disintegration.
“Those representing the people through the ideology of social contract must listen to the people,” he said urging the government to engage the groups and calling on the National Assembly members to go beyond weeping on the floor of the House and truly rejig the constitution.
“For the southern governors, having stated their position, they should not go to sleep. They should follow it through,” he urged.
Concerning the issues of insecurity, the Lagos Assembly Speaker said: “We will continue to cry that we have state police and devolution of power.”
He said restructuring, which he described as part of the solutions and not a problem, should have addressed economic challenges and poverty level just as he lamented that the Naira has continued to fall against the Dollar.
He praised Lagos as the true example of democracy and promised that the state would continue to lead in this area.
The House observed a minute silence in honour of the late MKO Abiola and all those who lost their lives in the course of the struggle for democracy.
Earlier in his contribution, Hon. Rotimi Olowo described the current constitution as fraud.
“This 1999 constitution amended so many times can no longer be embellished. It is fraud,” he said as he called for the semblance of regionalism where the interest of the minority is taken care of.
To him, the current amendment is another effort in futility and a new constitution reflecting the will of the people has to be produced.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu suggested an overhaul of the constitution while noting that some items on the exclusive list be devolved.
On his part, Hon. Bisi Yusuff noted that Nigeria’s democracy is not a true reflection of the will of the people adding that the constitution was promulgated through a decree.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot said Nigeria will not progress more than it is now if the constitution is not overhauled.
Other lawmakers of the Lagos Assembly who spoke concerning the motion include Hon. Tobun Abiodun, who complained that states are not allowed to manage their resources, and Hon. Kehinde Joseph, who noted the high level of insecurity in the country.
The Lagos Assembly also called on the National Assembly to ensure true federalism while it urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the government to engage in enlightenment of the people on security consciousness.
President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to come under attack since his statement that state governors should take responsibility of security in their states.
Responding to the president’s statement, governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said it is unconstitutional for President Buhari to shift the power of securing lives and property of Nigerians to state governors.
According to Governor Wike, president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and cannot declare that governors are in charge of security in their respective states.
Governor Wike, while speaking at the commissioning of the 21 kilometers Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in Etche Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, said such position suggests that the APC led Federal Government has lost grip of strategy on how to tackle the troubling security issues, and make the country safe for Nigerians.
“Mr. President, you’re the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector-General of Police, you appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Director of Department of State Services (DSS) and other heads of security. Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr. President be under me?” Wike queried.
He said: “It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must, also, be in charge in other things including security. Who signed Order 10? Is it the governors? It is not when things are going bad concerning security, and you say you’re not in charge, and it becomes governors’ responsibility.”
Governor Wike admonished the Federal Government to own up that it can no longer fulfil promises made to Nigerians, and also lead the country out of its present predicament.
According to Governor Wike, when there is a failure, what makes leadership respectable is that such leader is able to accept his weakness publicly.
The governor pointed out that it was time Nigerians began to compare the performances of PDP and APC governors in office.
He said Mr. President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people.
“Mr. President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.
“Thank God, Mr. President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”
Former Senate President David Mark, who performed the commissioning of the 21 kilometers Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road, noted the excitement expressed on the faces of the locals who are directly impacted by the project.
He noted that even those in opposition in the state have become so weak to have anything more to say against Governor Wike who is not only performing, but has remained as a strong pillar of the PDP.
“I told him I’ll be here because he loves his people. Politics and democracy is not about enriching one or two persons within a community. The Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road is project that will outlive everybody in this place. The legacy you’re leaving behind, Rivers people will not forget you. They will defend you, they’ll protect you and they will stand by you always.
“That is why you can walk tall. That is why you can jump into your car and go anywhere because you’ve shown them love. You’ve brought democracy to the people. PDP as a party is happy to have you. You’re one of the pillars of our great party”, he said.
The Federal Government has said that Twitter rejected its demand to delete the account of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, made this known on “Politics Nationwide,’’ a Radio Nigeria call-in programme.
He said it was unfair to conclude that Twitter was suspended in the country because President Muhammadu Buhari’s message was deleted.
He accused Twitter of consistently offering its platform to promote agenda that were inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria, adding that the government was unambiguous that the action was taken because the platform was being used to promote the views of those who wanted to destabilise the clime.
“Twitter has become a platform of choice for a particular separatist promoter.
“The promoter consistently used the platform to direct his loyalists to kill Nigerian soldiers and policemen, run-down INEC offices and destroy all symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Every attempt to persuade Twitter to deny its platform to this separatist leader was not taken serious,’’ he said.
Recall that Twitter had last week deleted a tweet by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Nnamdi Kanu had vowed that any soldier sent to the Southeast by the Nigerian Government will die.
Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has said no president would tolerate what Nigerians are throwing at President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ngige said Nigerians see Buhari as a “willing horse” to be ridden to death.
Speaking on Channels Television, the Minister claimed that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan would not tolerate some of the criticisms thrown at Buhari.
Buhari tolerating rubbish from Nigerians, hasn’t failed – Gov Masari
He also dismissed claims that Buhari was fond of flouting the rule of law.
Ngige said the President was afraid of breaching any of Nigeria’s laws.
He said: “If a government has done well; if a president has done well, give him accolades there. Areas he has not done well, point them out and discuss.
“Buhari is a democrat and is so afraid of a breach of the constitution or any law. I am even stronger than him in terms of that.
Biafra agitation: Shehu Sani hails Ngige over support for united Nigeria
”Even President Obasanjo, can he give you people this latitude? He will not. I know him. Even ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will not allow such.
“They will not grant you people that. So, Buhari is a willing horse and Nigerians want to ride him to death.”
The Oyo State Government on Tuesday said it has commenced evacuation of beggars in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital.
The government noted that the evacuation of the beggars from the Jemibewon area to a resettlement facility in Akinyele started on Tuesday.
Our correspondent learnt that beggars had over the years been living around shanties on Jemibewon Road in the Sabo area of Ibadan.
The government, however, on Tuesday said that it has commenced evacuation of the beggars to the newly built Akinyele Resettlement Centre.
Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the evacuation process commenced at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
The evacuation followed a tour of the site by Arewa community leaders and representatives of the beggars on Saturday.
Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Idowu Oyeleke, who led the first set of evacuees to Akinyele, said that the new site is fitted with social amenities.
Other ministries involved in the exercise according to him include Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Information, Culture and Tourism, Local and Chieftaincy Matters.
Popular Nigerian playwright and renowned nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria may not celebrates another Democracy Day, if the system of government is not decentralised by providing leadership that addresses the agitations and grievances of various groups of Nigerians.
Soyinka who stated this while speaking on Arise Television Programme on Monday lamented that the country is on a suicide slide, adding that Buhari should listen and take action against the challenges which are causing people to demonstrate.
Speaking while featuring on the programme, Soyinka described the recent interviews and press statements by Buhari as tantamount to threatening, bullying and intimidating the people.
He, however called on the president to address the nation like a leader awake to the realities of the situation while being seen to be taking actions.
He said, “And that is what’s happening to people in the streets. That’s why they are moving, that’s why they are demonstrating; that’s why they are defying even threats from the police and the government.
“If you demonstrate, we will do this, if you do this, we will deal with you, we will talk to you in language which you understand – it does not wash with anybody any longer.
“Because if a nation is on a suicide slide, the people who feel that they do not deserve that kind of suicidal plunge have a right to say they are getting off this plane before it nosedives,” he said.
When asked if Nigeria can continue as one, Soyinka said, “Not if it continues this way. Not if it fails to decentralise. If Nigeria fails to decentralise, and I mean to decentralise as fast as possible, manifestly and not as rhetoric, then Nigeria cannot stay together.
“Again, it is not Wole Soyinka saying this. Everybody has said it: ex-heads of state have said it; politicians have said it; analysts have said it; economists have said it, and sometimes we get tired.
“I am saying this whole nation is about to self-destruct and I am not the only one saying it, except Buhari and his government listen and take action, we would not celebrate another Democracy Day come next year.
“Take for instance the position of the Southern governors on open grazing, at least 50 per cent of a nation are saying that within this democratic dispensation we are operating, we are saying on behalf of our people, we do not want open grazing anymore and then somebody sits in Aso Rock and says to them, I am instructing my Attorney-General to dig up some kind of colonial law, which arbitrated between farmers and herders.
“This means that he is not listening to what the people are saying, he is not listening to what the government representing them is saying. When I listen to things like that, I really despair. His last interview was instructive, not that there was anything new in it, one was just hoping that this government has transcended that kind of partisan thinking.”
During the commissioning of the 157 kilometers Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway for commercial operations at the Mobolaji Johnson Station in Ebute Metta and the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure in Nigeria (also called the Deep Blue Project) at the ENL Terminal, Apapa Port, the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress and the Jagaban of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was notably absent at the event.
Sahara Reporters gathered that before the event, the Presidency did not send an official invitation to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which sent a signal of a proposed misunderstanding between the two Party Leaders.
During an interview with Arise TV hours before the President went for the commissioning, President Muhammadu Buhari made a statement that indirectly shades Bola Tinubu. According to Mr. President, he said: “You cannot seat in Lagos and decide the zoning of APC.”
Although, the spokesman to the President, Garba Shehu cleared that the statement was not directed to Bola Tinubu but the fact remains that something is going on between Tinubu and Buhari.
Since Tinubu was not officially invited to the event, he had to avoid public humiliation by jetting out to an undisclosed destination.
Why are the two Party Leaders playing hide and seek? You can take to the comment section to share your thoughts about this. Also, share this article so others can contribute as well.
Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi has said no better youth to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari than Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Mikel, who currently plies his trade with Stoke City, England made the remark during a courtesy call on the governor.
The former Chelsea star said Nigeria has come of age to produce a youthful leadership.
Mikel also pledged to support Bello’s political ambition ahead of 2023.
He said youths should be given the chance to get the much-desired change.
“What better person to lead the youths than him, because he has been doing all these good works and that is why I am here to see whatever way I can come in.”
To get the youths together to know and see how we can make things better for our country and how we can align to achieve all that,” he said.
Banky W says the youth in Nigeria can’t possibly protest all the problems in the country.
In an interview with HipTV, the actor and musician spoke of the backlash that trailed the government’s Twitter ban.
“It’s a shame that despite all the issues we’re facing as a nation, Twitter deleted a tweet of the president and the best course they thought up is to ban a service young Nigerians use in expressing themselves and in business,” he said.
“We’re as unsafe as we’ve never been. Kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and robbery are on the rise. Our educational system is in tatters; healthcare is nothing to write home about. Everywhere you turn in Nigeria, there are issues.
“It’s sad leaders lose all sense of empathy to dialogue and the automatic reaction is ‘ban’. There were [EndSARS] protests. But, instead of a dialogue where they do what the youth were asking, they started looking for scapegoats.
“CBN froze people’s accounts. FG seized passports. It’s almost like young people are in an abusive relationship with our country.”
Banky W said he hopes the Twitter and #EndSARS situations would push the youth into action.
“I hope actions that like this push us to the wall, where we decide to speak up, stand up, push back, and fight for this democracy,” he said.
“Not in a violent way but that we stand up for democracy; move from protest to power. Honestly, we can’t protest about every problem we have. But we can focus on power and those we allow to get into positions of power.
“I mean, all of this is going on and where are our elected representatives? Where our senators? Where are those supposed to be speaking for us and fighting on our behalf? Surprisingly enough, everybody’s quiet.
“Young people in Nigeria and outside need to use this as motivation, as fuel. Let’s organise. 2023 is really not that far away.
“Let’s start from the ground up. The problem is from the top down, but we can start lower and push back. We can organise ourselves and vote. It’s time to take a stand. We have to be the generation all of this nonsense stops with.”
