Lukaku Hails Osimhen Best Striker In Italy Now, Ahead Inter, Napoli Clash

 Inter striker, Romelu Lukaku, has hailed Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as the best striker now ahead of their clash in the Serie A on Wednesday.

The Nerazzurri take on Luciano Spalletti’s unbeaten side at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as they attempt to cut the deficit with Lukaku set to face the Nigerian striker, Osimhen.

In a lengthy interview broadcasted by Italian television channel Sky Sport Italia on Sunday, the Belgian international warned that the Nerazzurri had not given up hope of winning the league, but are anticipating a tough encounter.

“Until a team has lifted a trophy everything is possible in football, we play for that,”Lukaku said.

“We’ll see at the end of the season, whoever lifts the trophy is the champion. For now, we’re still there, the season ends in June and we’ll only see then,” the Chelsea loanee declared.


“Napoli have a really strong coach, they are doing a great job, they have a lot of great players. They are in a good moment, they have Osimhen who scores a lot of goals, (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia who is very strong.

“He (Osimhen) is really strong, he is the best now. We have to be honest, he’s doing really well and Napoli are first in the table. We have respect but not fear.”

The 23-year-old has become an important player in Spalletti’s side and his fine form has attracted interest from several top clubs in the Premier League with Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle linked with the Nigerian.

With nine Serie A goals and two assists in 11 appearances, Osimhen has been central to Napoli’s fantastic performance this season and quest for the Scudetto in three decades.

Japa: Canada Bans Foreigners Others From Buying Houses

 A ban on foreigners buying residential property in Canada took effect on Sunday, aiming to make more homes available to locals facing a housing crunch.

Several exceptions in the act allow individuals such as refugees and permanent residents who are not citizens to buy homes.

In late December, Ottawa also clarified that the ban would apply only to city dwellings and not to recreational properties such as summer cottages.

The temporary two-year measure was proposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 2021 election campaign when soaring prices put home ownership beyond the reach of many Canadians.

“The desirability of Canadian homes is attracting profiteers, wealthy corporations, and foreign investors,” his Liberal Party said in its election plank at the time.
This is leading to a real problem of underused and vacant housing, rampant speculation, and skyrocketing prices. Homes are for people, not investors.”

Following their 2021 election victory, the Liberals quietly introduced the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.

Major markets such as Vancouver and Toronto have also introduced taxes on non-residents and empty homes.

Despite a recent heyday, the country’s real estate market has cooled for sellers as mortgage rates followed the Bank of Canada’s aggressive monetary policy in a bid to rein in inflation.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, average home prices have fallen from a peak of more than Can$800,000 (US$590,000) at the start of 2022 to just over Can$630,000 (US$465,000) last month.

Nigeria Will Be In Trouble If Obi Is Not Elected President

 Leader of Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, says Nigeria will be in trouble if any candidate other than the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, is elected President.

Adebanjo also hailed Obi’s endorsement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He however said he was not surprised by Obasanjo’s action, saying the former President has always been in support of power shift to the South-East in the interest of equity, fairness and justice as well as keeping the country together.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Adebanjo said Nigeria would be in trouble if the people failed to vote for Obi.

He stated that the decision of Afenifere to support Obi was ideological and principled, saying other regions except the South-East had enjoyed the privilege of being in the saddle.

He stated that there was no justification for the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to contest when Obasanjo, from the South-West was President for eight years.

He said the same thing applies to the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, noting it was wrong for another Northerner to take over when a Northerner is exiting.

He said, “How are you going to justify Tinubu when Obasanjo had spent eight years? Or how do you justify Atiku when another Northerner is leaving the place? That’s the crux of the matter. The South-West has done, South-South has done, is South-East not part of Nigeria?

Asked if he and Obasanjo would be able to convince voters in the South-West to vote for Obi, he said those who believe in principle would support their position, adding, “Don’t bring in ethnicity. I said it in my statement. If it is about ethnicity, I should support Tinubu. I made him the governor but I am not supporting him as President. Yoruba people don’t cheat others.

“We cannot talk of a united Nigeria when the South-East has not had it. I am not like Atiku who said he wants to keep Nigeria. How can you do that when you are denying a part of Nigeria its right?”

Ahead of the election, Adebanjo urged Nigerians to vote the right people in the right places, saying, “If they vote outside Obi, Nigeria will be in trouble. Anything outside Obi, we are in trouble.”

Obasanjo Seeking Third Term Through Obi, Says PDP Campaign Council

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his endorsement of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP). 

On Sunday, Obasanjo, in a letter to Nigerians, declared his support for Obi ahead of the 2023 general election.

He advised Nigerians not to be “confused nor gullible” about who to vote for because Obi has what it takes to put Nigeria on the right path to progress.

Reacting in a statement, Daniel Bwala, spokesperson of the PDP presidential campaign council, said Obasanjo is “one man who believes his role also includes choosing and imposing presidents per time as if we run a monarchical system of 

“He believes he is the only former leader who knows what is right for Nigeria, and who has the celestial powers to predict the future of Nigeria and its leadership. He believes it is only his administration that has done well and hence the authority to choose the next leader or president. His way of choosing the next president is either to blackmail the incumbent or denigrate candidates in favour of his choices,” the statement reads.

“A cursory look at his letter released on this day, the 1st day of January 2023, one can’t help but draw a deduction of a man who believes so much in himself. His entire letter is riddled with me, my and I. Even when he made references to candidates, he assumed he is the source of their relevance and notoriety. First of all, history is replete with his bad decisions which time would not permit us to layout in this article, but suffice to say that his records and official acts were and still are antithetical to democratic ideals.

“The democracy we practice recognizes the participation of people in government and electioneering processes. He has the constitutional right to choose whoever he likes and support the candidacy of the person, but the right he doesn’t have is one that threatens, intimidates or harasses citizens to support any candidate as the only means to avert danger, secession or disintegration.

“One fact is clear, Nigerians would decide, and this they would do, not on the basis of a letter by a man seeking a third term by proxy, but by their own assessment of who amongst the candidates presents the case they believe warrant their votes. The letter is not new, and the content is not surprising, but it seems his legacy betrays his assertion in the letter. Baba OBJ Nigeria has moved on, please allow our democracy to grow and respect the will and wishes of the Nigerian people.”

The opposition party added that Nigerians won’t vote based on Obasanjo’s endorsement but for the candidate that can tackle the challenges confronting the country.

Blessing CEO Falls In Love With Late Bimbo's Husband, IVD Ikechukwu Ogbonna

 

Relationship expert, Blessing Okoro CEO, pours encomium on her man, IVD Ikechukwu Ogbonna, husband of late Bimbo Ogbonna, as he tattoos Blessing's name on his hand, IGBERETV reports.

Blessing shared photo of the tattoo on her Instagram handle with the caption;

"Never been so bold to post any MAN on my timeline on social media.
But I don’t know why you seem so right❤️.
Mixed feelings (fear and excitement)
I taught my feelings had died with my past, but you came and made it easy and effortless for me to bend almost all my rules and open all my boundaries.
You are strong because so many MEN tried even with money, but I did not bend,but you came and did noting and I have tumbled and falling for you …
Thank you boo boo .
And I am happy to say ❤️ you .
Happy new year …
I love the Tatooooo ❤️❤️❤️
It’s my wallpaper and screen saver."

Parents Of Chibok Girls Write Buhari To Bring Back Their Daughters Before May 29

 Parents of the remaining abducted Chibok school girls have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back their daughters before leaving office in May 2023.

On the night of April 14 to 15, 2014, 276 female students aged from 16 to 18 were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School, at Chibok town, Borno State.

At least, scores of the girls are still in the custodity of the religious bigots and have not been found eight years after.

However, the parents in a letter written to the president and obtained by newsmen dated December 30, 2022, lamented that many of the captured girls by Boko Haram have not still been released till now.

According to the letter titled: “Bring back our daughters before you leave office,” the parents said Buhari had promised to rescue all the girls as he took over power in 2015.

While wishing the president compliment of the season, and a more fulfilling New Year, the parents said as the New Year marked hope and redemption, it was their sincere hope and prayer that Nigeria be lifted out of its current challenges.

“Mr. President, we would like to remind you of the promises you made to us on the rescue of the remaining kidnapped daughters, as we acknowledge your efforts and express our sincere gratitude to your administration on your past effort. However, we request that you fulfill your promise and return our daughters back to us, even if this is going to be the last act of your presidency.

“During your inaugural speech on May 29, 2015, you said: “but we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents, this government will do all it can to rescue them alive.

“Recalling your words on April 14th, 2019, 5 years after the abduction of our daughters, you further promised and we quote: “We will not rest until all the remaining girls are back and reunited with their families. I made this promise when I became president, and I will keep it.

“Mr. President, you reassured us that our daughters would be reunited with us. On April 14, 2021, a statement titled: “Chibok Girls Still on Our Minds” was released and you further reminded us of your promise and reassured us that all our girls will be rescued and reintegrated back into their communities,” they said.

2023: It’s Wrong To Say ‘Emi Lokan’ – Obasanjo Drags Tinubu

 Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has condemned the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, for saying ’emi lokan’.

Tinubu, in the buildup to the APC presidential primary election, had claimed that he was the next person to become the President of Nigeria, saying, “It is my turn.”

In a letter on Sunday, Obasanjo said: “Let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now.”

Those claims, according to Obasanjo, “cannot form the new pedestal to reinvent and to invest in a new Nigeria based on an All-Nigeria Government for the liberation and restoration of Nigeria.”

Obasanjo said no individual can claim he has the absolute solutions to Nigeria’s problems, stating that “the solution should be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and not in ‘me’ and ‘I’.”