Inter, Roma agreed to fair play fines

Inter Milan, Monaco and AS Roma have all agreed to pay fines and reduce the size of their squads in European competition after breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Uefa said on Friday.

The trio also agreed to limit the number of new players they could register in European competition, European soccer's governing body said in a statement following a decision by its financial control watchdog.

They were among 10 clubs, also including Sporting Lisbon, who came to settlements with Uefa after falling foul of the rules designed to stop clubs overspending.

Inter would pay "a total amount up to 20 million euros ($22.46 million)", Monaco up to 13 million and Roma up to six million, the exact amounts depending on a number of conditions, Uefa said in a statement.

In Inter's case, six million euros would be paid in full, to be deducted from the club's European competition revenue starting from the current season, while payment of the remaining 14 million was conditional.

Uefa said Inter would be allowed only 21 players, instead of 25, in their squad if they qualify for European competition next season, rising to 22 in the 2016/17 season.

Roma and Monaco would be allowed 22 players in their squads next season.

Sporting, Besiktas, FC Krasnodar and fellow Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow also came to similar settlements with Uefa.

CSKA Sofia, Kardemir Karabukspor and FC Rostov, who were guilty of minor infringements, were fined $200 000 each and agreed to meet break-even requirements by next season.

FFP rules, which limit club spending in relation to revenue, were introduced to prevent rich owners from pumping unlimited amounts of cash into teams and distorting the market.

Critics, however, say the new regulations have cut off any opportunity for smaller clubs to challenge the established teams for European dominance.

Last year, Manchester City and Paris St Germain, two of the newly rich clubs in European soccer, were fined up to 60 million euros and had their squads capped for this season's Champions League

They also pledged to curb transfer spending over two seasons.

La Liga to shut down in TV rights row

The race for Spain's La Liga title faces a chaotic conclusion after the country's football federation said Wednesday it would cancel all domestic matches in a row over TV rights.

The proposed shutdown called by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will first affect the penultimate round of fixtures due to take place on May 17.

The RFEF said in a statement it will "suspend competitions of all categories starting from May 16 indefinitely".

"At the same time, once more we reiterate the RFEF is open to dialogue with the Spanish government."

If there is no resolution to the dispute, the key May 17 title clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid would fall victim to the stoppage as would the concluding weekend.

The Spanish Cup final, set for May 30 between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, would also not take place.

The new TV deal signed into law on April 30 by the Spanish government was seen as a means of helping loosen the financial stranglehold of Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two giants of the Spanish game.

Under the new government plan, announced last week, the tradition of clubs being allowed to negotiate their own TV deals would end.

Instead, the rights would be auctioned just as they are in England's lucrative Premier League.

The RFEF said it was unhappy over the partition of the money as well as the reduction of revenue from betting streams.

The federation added that it denounced "the continued interference" of government bodies in football.

Sports minister Jose Ignacio Wert said the new deal meant a fairer distribution ofFINANCESaround the league including clubs who struggle in the shadows of Real and Barcelona, two of the richest clubs in the world.

Wert said that the Premier League in England generated 1.8 billion euros in 2013-2014 from TV deals compared to 800 million in Spain.

La Liga chiefs were hoping to claim a billion euros in the new system.

The English Premier League's last TV deal was believed to have generated an astronomical 6.9 billion euros for the 2016-2019.

The RFEF accused the government of having a "disrespectful attitude" towards them.

"Our proposals, if they had been listened to, would have brought benefits and improvements to Spanish football.

"In exchange for our co-operation and selfless help, certain basic rights have been expropriated, including the right to broadcasting," added the RFEF statement.

In another twist earlier this week, the AFE players union threatened strike action in protest at being excluded from the negotiations.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi had even added his voice to supporting industrial action.

"The AFE have met with us. The players are with them in what they say," said Messi.

Meanwhile, the legitimacy of the RFEF decision was questioned by the Spanish Professional Football League (LFP) who considered the suspension of matches to be "null and void".

"The decision of the RFEF is null and void ....because the Sports Act and the existing Coordination Agreement give authority to the LFP to organise professional competitions and the sporting calendar," said the LFP in a statement.

Real Madrid and Barcelona can't afford a Champions League hangover as their La Liga title hopes will again be on the line on Saturday as they host Valencia and Real Sociedad respectively. However, the title race has been overshadowed by the threat of possible shutdown of the league season next weekend due to an ongoing row between the Spanish Football Federation, the players' union and the league over the distribution of funds from a new law passed allowing the centralised selling of television rights. Senior players from both Real and Barca, including club captains Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez, were present at a press conference on Thursday that backed the players' union's stance unless a solution is found before next weekend. Madrid trail Barca by two points at the top of the table with three games to play and face the significantly tougher task this weekend against a Valencia side looking to seal their place in next season's Champions League with a fourth-place finish. Valencia ended the European champions' 22-game winning streak when the sides met back in January and Madrid could also pay for their efforts in losing 2-1 to Juventus in the first-leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday. "It has an influence, but they have great players and a very good technical staff that know how to manage the players," Valencia striker Paco Alcacer said on Thursday. "However, we can only look after ourselves. It is important that Valencia are in the Champions League and that is all we are focusing on." "It is clear we can beat Madrid. We go there with the mentality that we can take the three points and keep going towards our objectives." Madrid could have striker Karim Benzema back as he returned to training on Thursday having missed the last six games due to a knee injury. Valencia will be without former Madrid forward Rodrigo through suspension, but Jose Luis Gaya is expected to start despite continued interest from Real in signing him come the end of the season. Barca could move five points clear at the top before Madrid kick-off at the Bernabeu as they host David Moyes's Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou. A 1-0 defeat to Sociedad in January proved to be the turning point in Barca's season as coach Luis Enrique controversially left Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench after they arrived back from their Christmas break in South America later than the rest of their teammates. Both men were on target as the Catalans all but booked their place in the Champions League final with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday to register their 27th win in 29 games since that reverse in San Sebastian to remain on course for a treble. "It was our objective since the start of the season and we are getting closer all the time," said Neymar. "In La Liga we have a very difficult game this weekend and we need to fight until the end." Should Valencia lose to Real, Atletico Madrid can mathematically seal third place and an automatic return to the Champions League next season when they travel to Levante on Sunday. Levante are one of six sides still fighting for survival and Granada look the most likely to boost their chances of beating the drop this weekend when they host already relegated Cordoba. A Valencia defeat could also open the door to Sevilla in the fight for fourth place as they would move level on points with Los Che with a win at Celta Vigo on Sunday. Fixtures Friday Eibar v Espanyol (1845) Saturday Granada v Cordoba Barcelona v Real Sociedad Real Madrid v Valencia Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo la Coruna Sunday Levante v Atletico Madrid Villarreal v Elche Almeria v Malaga Celta Vigo v Sevilla Monday Rayo Vallecano v Getafe

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said on Friday he had been "forced" to sign PSV Eindhoven's Memphis Depay now because otherwise he risked losing the Dutch starlet to Paris Saint-Germain.

Depay joined United from Dutch champions PSV in a £25 million transfer on Thursday on a reported four-year contract.

Van Gaal said he broke with his own usual transfer protocol to conclude the deal, which will be formally completed when Depay undergoes a medical next week, in order to head off interest from PSG.

"I have been forced to sign him before the end of this season," Van Gaal told a news conference on Friday.

"We have to focus on the remaining games but when you sign a new player you can disturb the focus of the current ones," the Dutch manager added.

"But because of the market, we had to handle this because otherwise he would have signed for Paris Saint-Germain," he added.

"At that time he was not reached by me. But because of the club's relationship with PSV, I could handle it," the former Netherlands national team boss explained, with United having signed Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy from the Dutch giants in the past.

Meanwhile United's hopes of securing a top-four finish and Champions League football were dealt a blow when Van Gaal said influential midfielder Michael Carrick will not play again this season.

As recently as last week, Van Gaal was claiming he fully expected the England international to play a part in the closing stages of a campaign which could yet result in frustration were his team to lose out to bitter rivals Liverpool in the chase for a top-four place.

But Van Gaal revealed on Friday that Carrick's calf injury, sustained in the derby victory over Manchester City last month, was worse than first thought.

"Carrick is not available, it was more serious than we thought," Van Gaal told a news conference.

"We tried everything but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it's better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start."

SELECTION NOT BALANCED

The United manager, whose side are away to Crystal Palace on Saturday, said Carrick's absence would hurt his side.

"When you see the stats, it's clear that he's very important but that's also because we have only right-sided holding midfielders.

"That's what I have been saying already in the whole of the season, that our selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period," he added.

"Life is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it's close by. That's why I have to handle again in that position," Van Gaal explained.

The value of the 33-year-old Carrick to United has been particularly evident in the games since the derby win which have seen United lose consecutive matches to Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion without him in the line-up.

Van Gaal, meanwhile, congratulated Chelsea and their manager, Jose Mourinho, for winning the Premier League title and refuted the claim from some quarters that the wealthy London club were not worthy champions.

"I have sent him (Mourinho) a message but I don't know if he has received it because he is always changing his number," joked Van Gaal, who had Mourinho as a member of his staff when he was coach of Barcelona.

"But I want to wish Jose Mourinho my congratulations for winning the championship.

"It is well deserved, I think. When you look at the statistics, you cannot doubt that they are deserved champions," he insisted.

No let up for Real, Barca as strike looms

Real Madrid and Barcelona can't afford a Champions League hangover as their La Liga title hopes will again be on the line on Saturday as they host Valencia and Real Sociedad respectively.

However, the title race

 has been overshadowed by the threat of possible shutdown of the league season next weekend due to an ongoing row between the Spanish Football Federation, the players' union and the league over the distribution of funds from a new law passed allowing the centralised selling of television rights.

Senior players from both Real and Barca, including club captains Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez, were present at a press conference on Thursday that backed the players' union's stance unless a solution is found before next weekend.

Madrid trail Barca by two points at the top of the table with three games to play and face the significantly tougher task this weekend against a Valencia side looking to seal their place in next season's Champions League with a fourth-place finish.

Valencia ended the European champions' 22-game winning streak when the sides met back in January and Madrid could also pay for their efforts in losing 2-1 to Juventus in the first-leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.

"It has an influence, but they have great players and a very good technical staff that know how to manage the players," Valencia striker Paco Alcacer said on Thursday.

"However, we can only look after ourselves. It is important that Valencia are in the Champions League and that is all we are focusing on."

"It is clear we can beat Madrid. We go there with the mentality that we can take the three points and keep going towards our objectives."

Madrid could have striker Karim Benzema back as he returned to training on Thursday having missed the last six games due to a knee injury.

Valencia will be without former Madrid forward Rodrigo through suspension, but Jose Luis Gaya is expected to start despite continued interest from Real in signing him come the end of the season.

Barca could move five points clear at the top before Madrid kick-off at the Bernabeu as they host David Moyes's Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou.

A 1-0 defeat to Sociedad in January proved to be the turning point in Barca's season as coach Luis Enrique controversially left Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench after they arrived back from their Christmas break in South America later than the rest of their teammates.

Both men were on target as the Catalans all but booked their place in the Champions League final with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday to register their 27th win in 29 games since that reverse in San Sebastian to remain on course for a treble.

"It was our objective since the start of the season and we are getting closer all the time," said Neymar.

"In La Liga we have a very difficult game this weekend and we need to fight until the end."

Should Valencia lose to Real, Atletico Madrid can mathematically seal third place and an automatic return to the Champions League next season when they travel to Levante on Sunday.

Levante are one of six sides still fighting for survival and Granada look the most likely to boost their chances of beating the drop this weekend when they host already relegated Cordoba.

A Valencia defeat could also open the door to Sevilla in the fight for fourth place as they would move level on points with Los Che with a win at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Fixtures

Friday

Eibar v Espanyol (1845)

Saturday

Granada v Cordoba
Barcelona v Real Sociedad
Real Madrid v Valencia
Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo la Coruna

Sunday

Levante v Atletico Madrid
Villarreal v Elche
Almeria v Malaga
Celta Vigo v Sevilla

Monday

Rayo Vallecano v Getafe

New season, same problems

Brazil's Serie A kicks off this weekend with teams from Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre the favourites for the title amid familiar worries over fan violence, low crowds and chronic disorganisation.

Brazilian football has lost much of its magic, with its best players in Europe and the standard lower than ever.

The 2014 World Cup hosts' 7-1 semifinal loss to Germany deepened fears about the domestic game's future.

The average attendance in Brazil is lower than in the United States and Japan with fans scared off by high ticket prices and crowd violence.

The league is not even a priority for many clubs this season.

Atletico Mineiro, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Internacional, and Sao Paulo are in the Libertadores Cup knockout stages and likely to field under-strength teams in league games before crunch fixtures.

The Brazilian Cup, with a place in next year's Libertadores for the winners, is another distraction for many teams.

Organisers are experimenting with games on Sunday mornings, while other matches finish so late because of TV commitments that public transport has stopped.

The league will also be disrupted for the third consecutive season because of international commitments.

The Copa America takes place in Chile in June and Corinthians, Gremio, and Santos are among the teams that will lose key players for a month.

The upside is that the title race could be the most competitive for years.

"There are lots of favourites," said Palmeiras centre half Victor Ramos. "We are doing very well and we have everything we need to fight for the title. PalmeirasINVESTED, it's a big club, we're challenging, and that's our aim."

MAIN CONTENDERS

Palmeiras could be one of the dark horses.

They narrowly avoided relegation last year but have a new manager, a new stadium and a host of new signings.

Palmeiras reached the Paulista state championship final last weekend where they lost to Santos on penalties.

Santos also look strong – losing two of their 19 games so far this season – but there are questions marks over whether veterans such as Elano, Ricardo Oliveira and Renato have the legs for a punishing season.

European clubs could come calling for impressive youngsters such as Lucas Lima when the transfer window opens in August.

State rivals Corinthians were unbeatable for most of this year under coach Tite but have won once in their last seven games.

Reigning champions Cruzeiro have lost the backbone of the squads that won the title in 2013 and 2014 and, although Leandro Damiao, Chilean full back Eugenio Mena and Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta have come in, they look less commanding.

Rivals Atletico Mineiro knocked them out in the Minas Gerais state league on their way to a 43rd title last Sunday and they will again fancy a crack at Serie A which they last won in 1971.

The other main contenders are from Porto Alegre.

Gremio and Internacional are two of the best run clubs in the country and, although their involvement in the Libertadores will test their resources, they are always dangerous.

Unusually, the Rio teams are not among the favourites.

Vasco da Gama will aim to consolidate after a year in Serie B and Fluminense are struggling after losing their main sponsor. Flamengo, in constant crisis, could be the side to watch.

Pep hails Bayern's 'super season'

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola shrugged off criticism following their 3-0 loss toBarcelona in their Champions League semifinal, first leg this week, saying the German champions had played an outstanding season.

Guardiola was brought in two years ago to keep them in Europe's elite following their 2013 treble-winning season under then coach Jupp Heynckes.

But the Spaniard, who won 14 titles in four seasons at Barcelona, saw his team lose in the last four to Real Madrid last season.

Another likely semifinal exit this year, with Barcelona going into Tuesday's return leg with a clear advantage, has taken some of the shine off Guardiola's image as a winner, especially after Bayern reached three finals in four Champions League seasons before him.

"Super season, super season," Guardiola snapped on Friday, when asked how he would rate the current campaign, with Bayern likely to end up just with the championship, the second under the coach.

"If a team chase three titles, win the league... reach the German Cup semifinal and the Champions League semifinal then it is a super, super season," he said ahead of Saturday's league game against Augsburg.

"How many times did Bayern win a treble? How many?," he asked reporters. "One time? One time, okay. Of course we wanted to win the treble but it is still an amazing season."

Bayern secured the German title with four games to spare last month.

But it is exactly the treble that Guardiola had been hired to deliver, with the coach himself only weeks ago saying that he was aware the league title was not enough for Bayern and only a treble would do.

Their loss in Spain on Wednesday, with Barca striking three times in 17 minutes in the second half, was their third consecutive defeat in all competitions, after their German Cup exit on penalties to Borussia Dortmund and their league loss to Bayer Leverkusen last week.

Guardiola's tactics, including the substitution of in-form Thomas Mueller in Barcelona, were questioned more than ever before while his limited use of Mario Goetze has also raised eyebrows this season, especially give the string of injuries in recent months.

Guardiola said while the 3-0 deficit against Barca made things extremely hard for Bayern, chasing a sixth European crown, they still had a small chance.

"We played okay in Barcelona, but not perfect. We want to play our best on Tuesday so that we have the best possible chance," he said. There are still 90 minutes left and in football a lot can happen."

As for any talks regarding a contract extension past 2016, Guardiola said: "It is still too early."

Okocha inspires Wolves

Former Nigeria captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has been identified as one of the driving forces behind the impressive run of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Warri Wolves this season.

Wolves are the only Nigerian club still in the running for continental success this season.

Victories over RC Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), FC Dedebit (Ethiopia) and FK Étanchéité (Congo DR) have seen Wolves reach the play-off rounds of the competition.

They will now face Congo DR club, AC Leopards for the right to play in the group stages of the competition and Wolves captain, Goodluck Onamado has now identified Okocha’s contributions as one of the positive influences to the clubs positive run thus far.

“Jay Jay has been great to us. Since he became the Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, he has not stopped helping us, the players.

“He encourages us all the time, tells us to play for our country and plan for life after football,” Onamado told supersport.com.

Onamado’s position was buttressed by the club’s head coach, Paul Aigbogun.

“I was with Okocha in the UK for an NFF programme recently and I can tell you that he’s a top top man.

“He’s held in great esteem by even men like (Arsenal manager), Arsene Wenger because he’s a great world star.

“Okocha regularly takes time to speak to the boys and it has really encouraged them a great deal.

“Hopefully, this will help us in becoming the first Nigerian club to win the Caf Confederation Cup this season,” he said.

ele to be released Saturday

Brazilian football legend Pele will leave hospital on Saturday after recovering well from prostate surgery, doctors said, following his latest health scare.

The 74-year-old underwent surgery Tuesday at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, the same facility that treated him last year for a severe urinary tract infection.

"His release is scheduled for tomorrow but there is no specific time," the hospital said in a statement Friday, stressing Pele was making a "good recovery" and tests showed no signs of cancerous tumors.

A close friend and advisor, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, told AFP that his surgery – a transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP – "was a very simple procedure."

"Everything is going well with Pele, he is resting," the aide said.

Media reports said the surgery for an enlarged prostate – a common condition in aging men – was aimed at preventing a repeat of the urinary infection that sent Pele to the hospital last year.

The global sports icon has suffered a number of health crises in recent months.

He underwent surgery for kidney stones in November, and then came down with an infection that required treatment in a hospital intensive care unit for several days.

His one remaining kidney – the other was removed following a rib injury during his playing days – stopped working and had to be treated with dialysis.

The only player to win three World Cup titles, Pele was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.

The athlete, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time

South African Man Raped at Gunpoint by 3 Women

A 33-year-old South African man was raped at gunpoint by three women, who subsequently collected his semen, stored it in a cooler and fled with it. Afterwards, they abandoned their victim.

The man gave the women directions when they pulled up in a black BMW. Suddenly, one of the women armed with a gun got out and forced him into the back of the car at gunpoint.

The trio then drove him 500km away and fondled him in the back of the car but he did not become aroused, so they forced him to drink an ‘unknown substance’ from a bottle to aid him.

They then raped the man repeatedly and collected his semen in plastic bags, placing them in a cooler box.

The man was then kicked out of the car, 500 km away from where they picked him up in the Kwazakhele township, Port Elizabeth, and made off with the stolen sperm.

The exact same method is being used by women in Gauteng, who are also forcing men to drink from a bottle and stealing their semen but no arrests have been made.

Abuja Salesgirl in Court for Misappropriating N262,000 from Sale of Sweets & Biscuits

The police on Friday arraigned a 24-year-old salesgirl, Victoria Abah, in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for alleged criminal misappropriation of N262,000 realised from sales of sweets and biscuits.

Abah, a resident of Masaka, Nasarawa State, is standing trial on a two-count charge of breach of trust and criminal misappropriation.

The prosecutor, Shedrack Dauda told the court that one Olusolo Agbochi of Garki International Market, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on April 29.

Dauda said that the accused is the complainant’s salesgirl, while the money was realised from the sales of biscuits and sweets.
He said that the accused, who was supposed to remit the sales money to the complainant, however, criminally converted the money to her personal use.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko granted the accused bail in the sum of N300, 000 with a reliable in like sum and adjourned the case till June 8 for hearing

Photos: Khloe Kardashian gets cellulite lasered off her butt

When you have money, you can do whatever you like. Like getting cellulite lasered off your butt. In an upcoming episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Khloe was shown getting the cellulite on her butt lasered off. Her sisters, Kim and Kendall were there to watch her get the cosmetic work done. See more pics after the cut..

Father & Son in Arraigned at Ibadan Court for Allegedly Biting Off Neighbour’s Earlobe

A 65-year-old man, Johnson Akindehinde, and his son, Olusegun, 35, were on Friday arraigned in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly biting off a neighbour’s earlobe. They were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and grievous harm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Akindehindes are neighbours to the complainant, Kemi Olaitan; and they had an argument with the accused over a heap of sand. Father and son quarreled with the complainant when she asked them to stop scooping sand from the front of her house.

The prosecutor, Folake Ewe, told the court that father and son allegedly committed the offence on May 7, at about 7. 30 a.m. at Aba Opa village, Odo-Ona kekere, Ibadan.

Ewe alleged that the accused persons caused bodily injury to Olaitan by biting off her right earlobe.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 335 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap.38, Vol. 11, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Alhaja Fatima Badrudeen granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till June 11 for mention.

Practical Advice & Cutting-Edge Solutions! LEAP Africa Presents 10th Annual CEO’S Forum on Business Sustainability | Tuesday, 9th June

Calling all CEOs and SME owners! Get the information you need to stay ahead in your business by maximizing profits and mitigating risks. LEAP Africa’s CEOs Forum is the place for you to be.

It is a platform for interaction, knowledge sharing and partnerships between Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and leading private and public sector organizations who offer cutting-edge solutions, support and services that aid growth, development and sustainability of businesses in Nigeria. This year’s theme “Staying Ahead: Maximizing Profits and Mitigating Risks” is timely given the political and economic reality in Nigeria.

The CEOs Forum is a one day event that consists of practical discussions on risk management by established CEOs of reputable companies in Nigeria.

Date: Tuesday 9th June, 2015

Time: 10 AM

Venue: Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos

Registration: N5,500

Contact: For more information on how to register and also get exhibition spaces, contact: 01-2706542 | info@leapafrica.org | uejibe@leapafrica.org | Visit www.leapafrica.org | #LEAPCEOsForum2015

Zoning Formulas & Our Polity - By Charly Boy

Article written by Charly Boy. Read below and share your thoughts

Really been thinking about this zoning thing since this APC drama on it and wondering why we have allowed this to eat so deep into our system that at every quarter, it always raises its head. To think that the Change agents everyone has been clamoring about are back to the same issue of zoning formulas and reports have it that it is fast wreaking havoc is a high. It makes me wonder why zone in the first place?

The 360 states in the house of assembly, is it not enough representation for any quarter of the nation. Why do we need to complicate issues further because one would have thought the primary concern when it comes to appointment should be competence? We have tried this zoning thing over and again but what better has it done us because I hear someone say it helps to foster unity and participation.

I think the divides are more obvious now with this whole zoning thingy than it was with our founding fathers. I'm probably going to rest this argument by drawing this analogy; Take a look at our team called Super Eagles! Has anybody ever asked that positions in our football team be distributed across zones, or that the position of the captain, or coach for that matter, be rotated between North and South, etc? That I think is clearly because everyone is more interested in the team winning. I ask myself why do we want this win so badly? What is the price at stake? A piece of metal called trophy I suppose.

How about the Struggle to alleviate poverty staring at our face? How about the fight to educate millions of Almajiri? How about the fight to eradicate polio and reduce maternal mortality to negligible numbers? How about the fight to increase power generation seven fold by 2020? We have so much more at stake in these fights that the Super Eagle will ever have yet we let something as flippant as zoning take the Centre stage over competence. So, how is it we can demand that the coach pick out best 23 for the World Cup, and yet tolerate less in our Government? I hope posterity does not judge us for our lack of objectivity and sentiments instead

Lol. Amber Rose comes for Kanye's neck, says he doesn't write his songs

Looks like Amber Rose is not done taking digs at her ex, Kanye West. At recent club event where she was the host, the former stripper and mother of one exposed Kanye's ghost writer. Amber stopped the music at Supper Club in LA, took the mic and told the DJ,

“Stop playing n*ggas I used to f***, stop. Why don’t we play the n*gga who writes the songs for the other n*gga, Travis Scott!”

Ouch! See the video after the cut...

Photo: Wizkid shares lovely new pic with Tania Omotayo

Nice looking couple!

Fun Moments! Tonto Dikeh Goes on Vacation with BFF to Dubai

Tonto Dikeh is currently living the life and she is not letting a little money scandal keep her down as she is currently on vacation in the beautiful city of Dubai with her friend, Aiworia.

The Nollywood actress posted photos from her trip on Instagram, keeping her fans and followers updated.

From her airplane selfie to kissing a dolphin in Atlantis, Tonto Dikeh is definitely having fun.

She also posted a photo with her boyfriend, Mr. X, in what looks like a shot from another vacation as they took a picture in front of the Adomi Bridge in Ghana.

Tonto Dikeh shares new photo with her man, Mr X

Late Classic FM OAP Slyvester 'Sly' Ojigbede buried

Late Classic FM 97.3 presenter Slyvester Ojigbede popularly known as Sly, who was the host of the ‘Morning Show’ and Saturday morning show ‘Saturday Express’, was buried this afternoon at Ikoyi Cemetery.

Sly passed away on Sunday the 3rd of May after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife and and children. May his soul rest in peace.

Friends and colleagues at his burial this afternoon. (Osam left and Emmanuel Ugolee centre)