The Abia State’s One Day Teenage Governor, Her Excellency Miss Joy Chikamnayo, begun discharging her duties yesterday as she inspected the ongoing reconstruction of Aba Road In Umuahia.
The 14-year-old was conducted round with her team by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Mr. Nwala.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah calls on his allies to come up with a united strategy "in the field" in order to confront Israel.
World reacts to Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capitalClose
US President Donald Trump's bombshell to unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has forced the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, to shift focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict from the battleground of the conflict-torn Syria.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Shia organisation, addressed a massive rally via a video-link in Beirut on Monday, 11 December, during which thousands of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Trump's decision. Hezbollah's emphatic call comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow's troops are being withdrawn from Syria after a lengthy military campaign.
The Hezbollah supporters, with some estimates putting the numbers as tens of thousands, were chanting slogans "death to America" and "death to Israel" at the demonstrations. There were also banners which read "Jerusalem, Eternal Capital of Palestine" and "Jerusalem is Ours" at the rally in Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut. The demonstrations took place just a day after violent protests outside the American diplomatic mission in Lebanon.
"We will never abandon Jerusalem," declared Nasrallah as his face was beamed on massive screens in the Lebanese capital. He exhorted Hezbollah's allies to come up with a united strategy "in the field" in order to confront Israel.
Nasrallah said the Hezbollah's focus is now being sharpened towards Jerusalem in support of Palestine following its "victories" elsewhere in the region, meaning Syria. Hezbollah, a powerful Shia force in Lebanon which is also heavily armed, has been fighting in favour of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"All Arab peoples must repeat with the Palestinian people: 'We will be millions of martyrs to sacrifice for Jerusalem'," said the Hezbollah leader. "Trump's decision on al-Quds [Arabic name for Jerusalem] will be the beginning of the end of Israel."
Nasrallah went on: "If you hold on to al-Quds as the everlasting capital of Palestine, neither Trump nor anyone else can do anything other than that. The whole nation must stand in the face of this American threat."
The Iran-backed Hezbollah – considered a terrorist organisation by the US, Israel and several Sunni states – has been involved in armed conflict with Israel on more than one occasion in the past. Hezbollah was among several factions which immediately called for a Palestinian intifada, or uprising, soon after the Trump's announcement of formally recognising the ancient city of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks via a screen during a protest in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon
Nigerians are calling on the government to completely scrap the unit.
#EndSARS rally in Abuja on Monday, December 11, 2017
Hundreds of Nigerians have taken to the streets of major cities nationwide calling on the government to completely scrap the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for several alleged acts of misconducts.
#EndSARS rally in Abuja on Monday, December 11, 2017
In a coordinated #EndSARS protest currently taking place in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Warri, Ibadan, Akwa, Makurdi, Jos, Kaduna and Owerri on Monday, December 11, 2017, Nigerians protested against the alleged brutality of the unit.
#EndSARS rally in Abuja on Monday, December 11, 2017
Over the past week, the internet has been awash with a lot of anger directed towards one of the country's most notorious law enforcement units.
#EndSARS rally in Lagos on Monday, December 11, 2017
The outrage resulted in the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ordering for a reorganisation of the unit on Monday, December 4.
Under the new reform, state Commissioners of Police are now the overall heads of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide, meaning the unit now operates in the State and Zonal Commands with immediate effect.
#EndSARS rally in Lagos on Monday, December 11, 2017
The IGP also ordered for all SARS personnel nationwide to undergo a new training program to be organized in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations.
Nigerians have expressed very low confidence in the reorganisation of the unit and called on the government to put an end to it.
Port Harcourt Youths support SARS
Despite the public outrage against SARS, a group of youths in Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt to march in support of the unit and against the campaign targeted at eliminating them.
Port Harcourt youths march against #EndSARS campaign (Gidispot)
The group of youths campaigning for the unit to stay said they're very important for fighting violent crimes in the country.
Hundreds of Muslims in Nigeria took to the street to express their rejection of United States President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Muslims, who gathered at Mile 2 area of Lagos, carried placards with different inscriptions.
Some of them held large banners, wore branded outfits with Palestine inscribed on them, while others flew Palestine’s flag.
Organisers said they mobilised 3000 Muslims for the Sunday protest.
The protesters, it was gathered, were members of different Islamic organisations in Nigeria.
They accused the US president of violating international agreements and resolution with his declaration.
The protesters tackled former aide to the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode for supporting Trump’s position.
People have been talking on social media after a video showing Ali Modu Sheriff in an altercation with a crowd who nearly assaulted him.
An undated video has shown the moment a former governor of Borno, Ali Modu Sheriff was confronted by a hostile mob in Maiduguri. The ex- governor who was briefly the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party had finished praying before he was accosted by the angry crowd who pulled his dress and tried to physically assault him over an unknown reason.
It took the combined effort of armed police officers to push the crowd out of sight and secure the former Governor inside the house.
The video was shared by Sahara Reporters on social media.
Many people believe Sheriff might have lost the support of some northerners since he was defeated in court and ordered to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party.
L-R: Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, President Muhammadu Buhar and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, has expressed worries that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may oust the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progress Congress (APC) government from power in 2019.
Amaechi said unless relentless prayers are offered to God ahead of the next general elections, the APC may lose its grip on power at the poll.
“If we (APC) don’t pray, 2019 will be very far from us. If we don’t win 2019, it would be your fault, not anybody else. We go to God because he answers. We pray, and then go home and work,” the minister said in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the 10th-anniversary thanksgiving service of the Supreme Court judgement that declared him governor of Rivers State in 20o7.
Amaechi’s fears come on the heels of the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the APC.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Atiku had said at the just held National Convention of PDP that the Buhari administration was misgoverning the nation.
The former Vice President had equally said that the APC government was founded on lies and deceit, hence should be voted out.
There was enough drama in Nigerian politics in 2017 to last for decades.
President Muhammadu Buhari (Twitter/@Laurestar)
Nigerian politics is the gift that keeps on giving.
As a Nigerian, when you think you've seen it all, the cosmic political director laughs in your face, hands someone his beer and drags you back into the ring for another round.
2017 was a very eventful year in Nigerian politics, with at least half of its political actors serving us with a range of contentious, comical and controversial moments.
Here are some of the most noteworthy moments of Nigerian politics in 2017:
1. Buhari's medical trips
It's unsurprising that the country's commander-in-chief is its most prominent actor, and President Muhammadu Buhari did not fail to be the centre of attention for most of the year, half of it for the wrong reasons.
President Muhammadu Buhari arriving from London in March (Daily Post )
The president's two high profile trips to London to treat an undisclosed illness didn't help his stock much as it sent more than a few tongues wagging.
His absence resulted in Vice President Yemi Osinbajo celebrating a milestone 100 days as Acting President.
The president spent 154 days out of the country treating himself while remaining completely silent about the nature of his illness.
When he came back from his second trip that took 103 days, he assured Nigerians of the country's ironclad unity and rebuked social media comments that crossed the national red line.
Great times Mr President. More in 2018, please.
2. Senate vs Presidency
Part of the effects of President Buhari's absence from the seat of power for almost half of the year was a festering of hostilities between the executive and legislature that finally exploded in July.
After a perceived slight against their relevance by then-Acting President Osinbajo, lawmakers decided to stop considering or confirming any federal appointments sent to the parliament until they were made to feel important again.
This is because Osinbajo had stated that executive appointments did not require legislative approval based on Section 171 of the Nigerian constitution.
The Senate had been at odds with the presidency after it rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but the presidency still kept him on as acting chairman.
The tension eased after President Buhari's return in August, but Magu is still acting chairman.
Guess you can't win it all.
3. Ajekun Iya
Senator Dino Melaye has controversies as many as the exotic cars in the fleet that he parades on social media.
Unwilling to be outdone, the lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district was involved in two separate high profile controversies this year.
One of such controversies which brought his academic qualifications into question resulted in one of 2017's truly viral moment.
In a bid to rub his apparent vindication in the face of his nosy enemies, Melaye made a video where he broke into a song and dance that became a constant feature on social media for weeks.
The 'music video' was so successful that the Senator sort of made a music tour out of it, singing it with a band in his native Kogi, and all way to the Notting Hill Carnival in London where he was booed and called a thief by an unappreciative crowd.
4. Saraki's Acquittal
President Buhari's anti-corruption war remains without a notable conviction and this has created a huge PR problem for its image.
At some point, Senate President Bukola Saraki appeared to be the first potential scapegoat that'll help the administration issue a warning shot to corrupt government officials.
After accusations from the EFCC, the former governor of Kwara State was charged to court in 2015 with 13 counts of false declarations of assets when he was governor.
Saraki in the dock
In defiance, the Senate President filed a no-case submission before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on May 26, 2017 saying all evidence presented by the prosecution lacks merit.
The tribunal dismissed the case against Saraki in a ruling on June 14, 2017, due to the failure of the prosecution to prove he had a case to answer.
The ruling didn't go down well with the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, who publicly criticised the judgement and even sort of admitted that he tried to influence the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal.
Even though the Federal Government has tabled a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Saraki appears to have won 2017 already.
(Update (Plot Twist): On Tuesday, December 12, the Court of Appeal in Abuja asked Saraki to return to the CCT to face trial on three of the counts he was acquitted for.) Oh well.
5. Atiku's dumping of APC for PDP
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been a mainstay in Nigerian politics ever since he served as deputy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
After the relationship between the two soured over their contrasting ambitions, Atiku has been trying his best to rule the country from the highest political seat of the presidency.
As a candidate for Action Congress (AC), he lost the 2007 presidential election to the late former President Umaru Yar'Adua before rejoining the People's Democratic Party (PDP) only to lose the party's primary election for the 2011 presidential election to the eventual winner, Goodluck Jonathan.
Atiku Abubakar (The Nation)
Undeterred, he joined the All Progressives' Congress (APC) in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election before losing the party's ticket to another eventual winner, President Buhari.
While resigning from the APC on November 24, Atiku accused President Buhari of neglecting him and condemned the APC for "instituting a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy".
In a live Facebook video message on December 3, as expected, the former Vice President officially declared his return to the PDP.
The buy-back clause is strong with this one.
6. Mama Taraba's rebellion
Before Atiku's resignation, he already secured a very high profile endorsement from the unlikeliest place: a serving minister in President Buhari's cabinet.
Back in September, as part of a delegation paying a courtesy visit to Atiku, Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, declared her support for the former Vice President to become Nigeria's president in 2019.
The former Taraba state gubernatorial candidate said, "Your excellency, our father the next president come 2019, God willing. In your presence are your people, your supporters who will continue supporting you till forever."
Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (Metro Watch Online)
In a BBC Hausa interview that followed shortly after her endorsement of Atiku, she made a very bold promise, saying she was ready to put her money where her mouth is and quit Buhari's government if he makes her choose between him and Atiku.
She said, "Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that 'Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister but Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather' if Atiku said he is going to contest."
The minister even went one step further to dare a dismissal from the president for her comments, saying he is not naive enough to sack her.
"Baba is not a madman like those calling for my sack," she boasted.
Her comments didn't go down well with the party's leadership and Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, even revealed that the minister never voted for President Buhari during the party's primary election and has never subscribed to his vision.
While many called for her resignation or dismissal, the minister is still serving in the president's cabinet, refusing to comment on Atiku's resignation and what it means for her.
7. PDP vs PDP
For 16 years, the PDP was the law in Nigeria. The party won election after election without breaking much of a sweat.
When the party lost the 2015 presidential election to the APC, it couldn't decide how to be a viable opposition party, so it started fighting itself.
The party broke into factions in 2016 after its National Working Committee (NWC) chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, refused to step down for Ahmed Makarfi as acting chairman.
The protracted court battle that ensued wasn't resolved until July 12, 2017, when a five-man panel of the Supreme Court reached a unanimous decision that installed Makarfi as the party's interim leader before Uche Secondus was elected its chairman during the recent national convention.
8. MainaGate
The country's most high profile controversy happened at a time when public confidence in President Buhari's anti-corruption campaign was starting to erode.
While Nigerians slept, former chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms (PTTPR), Abdulrasheed Maina, was recalled and promoted to head the Ministry of Interior's human resource department, despite pending corruption charges against him.
Former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina (Premium Times)
This was after he was dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in 2013 following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.
In 2015, Maina was charged alongside former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence through the award of fraudulent biometric contracts.
After he was declared wanted over an alleged N2 billion pension fraud, he fled abroad to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), evading the capture of the EFCC.
The most astonishing part of the scandal is the involvement of top officials of President Buhari's administration.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji; and Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, have been reported to be instrumental to the process of Maina's recall.
The scandal has also beamed the spotlight on the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and acting EFCC chairman, Magu.
Despite a runaway Maina claiming the president himself had consented to his reinstatement, all the top officials that have been dragged before a House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the issue have employed the Shaggy defense: "It wasn't me".
9. Baru vs Kachikwu
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu (left) with Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru (right) (The Punch)
Before the overpowering shadow of Maina loomed large over Nigeria's political landscape, there was another corruption spectre that reigned supreme.
On October 3, a letter that was meant for the president's eyes only emerged in the one place it wasn't meant for: the internet.
In the letter, The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, expressed his frustration with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru to President Buhari.
In the letter dated August 30, the minister urged the president to take urgent actions on matters ranging from alleged illegal practices to insubordination.
Kachikwu said he had suffered "disrespectful and humiliating conducts" from Baru and accused the NNPC boss of bypassing procedures in the award of oil contracts without a review by the NNPC board which he chaired.
In a response issued by the NNPC, it said the minister's claims were baseless and that contracts are not necessarily supposed to be reviewed by the NNPC board, but by the NNPC Tenders Board, the president in his capacity as the Minister of Petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The statement also laid out the processes involved in reviewing the award of a contract by the NNPC, as well as list the procedures involved in the award of contracts specifically mentioned in Kachikwu's letter.
The NNPC review led to another unpleasant revelation that indicated two oil deals were signed by President Buhari while he was away on medical vacation in London.
Media reports indicated that President Buhari approved at least two separate oil contracts worth billions on July 10 and July 31 while Osinbajo was Acting President and should have been the one to make the approvals.
Even though Kachikwu and Baru were all smiles when they finally met in Abuja at the Nigerian Economic Summit on October 10, the scandal did not reach a satisfying conclusion until MainaGate swept us all off our feet.
10. IPOB vs Army
Armed with a radio channel and the privilege of residing in a foreign country, Nnamdi Kanu, dragged separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), into mainstream Nigerian consciousness.
Nnamdi Kanu
When he was arrested by the DSS for the crime of treason in 2015, many thought his end was near.
However, the year was 2017 when the powder keg really exploded.
After he was granted bail based on health reasons in April, Kanu brazenly violated the terms of his bail on several occasions without getting arrested.
Everything came to a head in September when his group became embroiled in public clashes with soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
The eventful week started with an alleged September 10 invasion of Kanu's father's compound in Afaraukwu, Umuahia by soldiers who also allegedly shot at IPOB members who formed a human shield to keep them out.
The army denied the claims and said the soldiers had been attacked with stones while passing through the residence in a new armoured carrier.
However, Kanu claimed the army was lying and accused them of trying to incite the group into arming themselves to deliberately provoke a war.
A war did break out that week as separate clashes happened in Aba and Umuahia with civil unrest claiming a few lives.
Since the army allegedly invaded Kanu's house again on September 14, he has not been seen in public and has missed two court appearances.
The activities of the group were also proscribed and it was branded a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government.
Could 2017 be the year that IPOB died?
Traditional wedding cakes are always you know, dramatic with the most common ones being the pillows, the bible and the jewellery box. We’ve put together more unique ideas you’ll definitely love!
Every bride looks forward to her Traditional wedding for more than just the Aso Ebi paparazzi..well that too.LOL. But beyond that, Traditional wedding (in some cultures) is actually more recognised than the white wedding as it at this event the bride price is paid and the family of the bride hand over the bride to her husband. So to some, the white wedding is just a plus.
One of the most significant things at the Traditional wedding is the cake as each cake design signifies something. Fruitfulness, wealth, Godliness, and so much more.
We have put together unique Traditional wedding cake designs you’ll absolutely love on your big day.
Fruit Basket
Source: Sweet Indulgence
2. Wedding Accessories
Source: Cakes by Ivy
3. Male Traditional Attire
Source: Cakes by La Fresh
4. Female Traditional Attire
Source: Cakes by Empress
5. Palm Wine, Calabash & Kolanut
Source: Cakes by La Fresh
Which of these cakes do you love the most? Tell us in the comment section below.
Here is what to expect on your Traditional wedding list: Eru Iyawo
-
The Future Awards Africa 2017 red carpet upped the ante with an endless array of custom-made dreamy dresses on display alongside high doses of fashion-forward risks to the mix.
So what if the theme of the night was Glam with a touch of culture? The full-on display of exquisite dresses was definitely enough to subdue our thirst for thematic ensembles.
From trends like sparkling silver to bold jewel tones and soft princess-esque pastels, Click through for the definitive best-dressed ladies list at #TFAA2017.
Mimi Onalaja in Fablane by Derin and TUBO
This red Fablane by Derin dress with its pleated top and thigh-high slit was a winning red carpet number.It’s off- the- shoulder mono strap detail was emphasised by a long fabric accent on the side. Mimi paired the look with strappy gold heels, a couple of rings for her fingers, a gold band and drop earrings. Her glowy makeup included bright red lips and smoky eyes.
As one of the hosts, her next outfit was equally glamorous. A puffy top white jumpsuit with metallic sandals and similar accessories. She switched bold lips for a glossy nude lipstick accentuated with pearl hoop earrings.
Anita Adetoye in TopeFnR
Certainly a daring look, the brown, black and gold sheer dress made by TopeFnR was glamorously fluid with its bell silhouette and Anita wowed us all with the grace and elegance with which she carried herself.
Ini Dima-Okojie in Toju Foyeh
It was a night of lace, velvet, and fun for Ini. She wore a forest green side slit dress with box pleat detail by one of our favourite designers Toju Foyeh. She had on minimal but bold accessories to compliment her subtle glam makeup and sleek pulled back hair.
Xabi Alonso.
Gary Lineker summed up the Champions League last-16 draw perfectly on Twitter.
“Real Madrid v PSG, Chelsea v Barcelona and Spurs v Juventus are mouth-watering ties in the last 16 of the Champions League. Ooooft!,” Lineker tweeted.
For the neutral, it was the perfect draw. Those three aforementioned matches should be enthralling.
Elsewhere, Manchester City will take on Basel, Manchester United go up against Sevilla, Liverpool face Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk will battle Roma for a place in the quarter-final and Bayern Munich take on Besiktas.
Toni Kroos also said what every football fan is saying.
So, barring Chelsea, some decent draws for the English sides. There’s a great deal of confidence that at least three Premier League sides will reach the quarter-final.
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp will be particularly happy. The Reds could have been drawn against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juventus, but they managed to avoid those three and got Portuguese outfit Porto instead.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet seems buoyed, calling it a “decent draw” on Twitter.
What Liverpool fans are saying on Twitter
And it’s left Liverpool fans thanking Xabi Alonso, who pulled their name out of the pot in Nyon.
Alonso was part of the team that won the Champions League in 2005. He scored the goal that made it 3-3 before Andriy Shevchenko missed the penalty that handed Liverpool the trophy.
Liverpool supporters feel that Alonso has helped them out once more by giving them a favourable draw.
Admiration for Xabi Alonso just grows and grows. He’s still assisting Liverpool even though he’s retired. Pleased with that draw!
— Amit Singh (@Amit_8_) December 11, 2017
Klopp’s side finished top of Group E, winning three and drawing three of their matches and scoring a whopping 23 goals in the process.
Yet the competition will only get tougher from here and Liverpool face a Porto side that defeated French champions Monaco 5-2 in their final group game.
Klopp believes his potent attack can trouble any defence in Europe.
“If we perform like this, if we are that clinical, then yes we can [strike fear into opponents],” he said after the 7-0 win over Maribor last week, per The Guardian.
“But we had the same players before and they didn’t score and then it is not that we talk like this.
“That is not a criticism of the past. If we perform like this then we are a threat, 100 per cent.
“And if you see how Dom Solanke performed at Stoke, how Daniel Sturridge performed when he came on tonight – he could have scored two or three and he made a goal for Sadio – that’s good.”
Liverpool are planning for life without Philippe Coutinho and are lining up his replacement, according to a report in France.
The Brazilian playmaker continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona with The Mirror yesterday claiming Coutinho will be allowed to leave Anfield for Barcelona in the summer.
The La Liga giants are expected to renew their interest in the 25-year-old next month, but yesterday’s report claimed Coutinho wants assurances he will be allowed to leave in the summer, and in turn he will then focus on his Anfield career until then.
Liverpool are though readying a January move for Monaco star Thomas Lemar, as they resign themselves to Coutinho leaving.
According to L’Equipe, Liverpool are ready to make an initial £79million offer for Lemar and they are prepared to go up to £88million.
Arsenal are also still in the hunt for the France winger, who pulled out of a move to The Emirates in the summer, causing Alexis Sanchez’s Man City move to collapse.
Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona are all tracking the 22-year-old, who has failed to hit the heights of last season.
Lemar helped Monaco win Ligue 1 and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, scoring 14 goals and grabbing 17 assists, but this season he has scored only once with Monaco nine points behind the leaders PSG.
Still, Liverpool believe Lemar is the man to step into the boots of Coutinho, who put in an official transfer request in the summer.
Liverpool rejected three bids from Barca, with the third offer believed to have been around £114million and when he was asked about his future last week he refused to rule out a move to Barcelona.
“I do not know how the future is going to be,” said Coutinho last week.
“What will happen in January, we will know it in January. I do not know if there will be an offer. I am at Liverpool and I always do my best when I have the opportunity to play, respecting the jersey and the supporters.
“Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it. Since I stayed, I have played with will and desire.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid will continue their bid for a first European Cup treble in 40 years against Neymar’s Paris Saint-Germain after the big-spending duo were on Monday drawn together in a mouth-watering Champions League last 16 clash.
No club has won the European title three years running since Bayern Munich in the mid-1970s, underlining how big an achievement it would be if Madrid — 12 times winners overall — won the trophy again in the final in Kiev in May.
They know exactly what it takes to be European champions, and in Ronaldo have the most prolific goal-scorer in the competition’s history.
Emilio Butragueno, a Real director and former striker, regretted that one of the favourites would be eliminated so soon in the competition.
“For the potential of the two teams, luck has worked out this way and one of the two teams will be out at the last 16 stage, which we think is a bit soon taking into account they are two of the contenders for the title,” Butragueno told BeIN Sports Spain.
PSG made waves in the transfer market in the close season when they signed Brazilian star Neymar for a world-record 222 million euros ($261.5 million), followed closely by great French hope Kylian Mbappe, who will cost 180m euros when his loan deal becomes permanent next summer.
“Every summer they have signed great players, they get stronger all the time and they have had a nearly impeccable group stage,” acknowledged Butragueno.
“With Neymar and Mbappe they have improved a lot up front, they are a very dangerous team who will demand the best of us. We need to face both games like finals and for the fans it will be a thrilling tie.
“Mbappe and Neymar are very dangerous. We need to play at our best, but we can’t forget this team has won the Champions League twice, we hope to have all the injured players back and the key is who has the luck over two games.”
– ‘Big tie of the round’ –
Butragueno added: “Of course it is the big tie of the round. Chelsea-Barca is important too, but I think for the players that will be on show, it is the most attractive of all the ties.”
PSG ambassador Maxwell said the Real tie threw up the chance for the Parisian club to atone for their 6-1 hammering by Barcelona that eliminated them in the last 16 last season.
“It’s a good draw, with two good games to play,” Maxwell said. “Our fans will like it after we were knocked out by Barcelona last season.
“It will be nice. It’s a beautiful challenge for the club. I think we’re ready for that.”
While Real’s La Liga rivals Barcelona were drawn against Chelsea, English Premier League leaders Manchester City play Basel, who have had some fine results against English sides in recent years.
Five-time winners and current Bundesliga table toppers Bayern Munich drew Turkish giants Besiktas, while last year’s beaten finalists Juventus take on Tottenham.
Bayern’s director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic said the Germans would not be underestimating Besiktas, who should enjoy some raucous support from the city’s Turkish community.
“We know how strong they are after we followed their games against Leipzig. It will be a difficult task, but we are looking forward to the unusual atmosphere in their stadium,” he said.
“One always says that it is a disadvantage to play at home in the first-leg, which is right – it certainly won’t be an advantage – but we are strong enough to accept that and we will give our all.”
With a record five English clubs in the draw, three-time champions Manchester United face Sevilla and Liverpool, five-time winners, will be up against two-time former champions Porto.
Unfancied Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will play Roma.
First legs will be played on February 13/14 and 20/21, with second legs on March 6/7 and 13/14.
Liverpool are planning for life without Philippe Coutinho and are lining up his replacement, according to a report in France.
The Brazilian playmaker continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona with The Mirror yesterday claiming Coutinho will be allowed to leave Anfield for Barcelona in the summer.
The La Liga giants are expected to renew their interest in the 25-year-old next month, but yesterday’s report claimed Coutinho wants assurances he will be allowed to leave in the summer, and in turn he will then focus on his Anfield career until then.
Liverpool are though readying a January move for Monaco star Thomas Lemar, as they resign themselves to Coutinho leaving.
According to L’Equipe, Liverpool are ready to make an initial £79million offer for Lemar and they are prepared to go up to £88million.
Arsenal are also still in the hunt for the France winger, who pulled out of a move to The Emirates in the summer, causing Alexis Sanchez’s Man City move to collapse.
Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona are all tracking the 22-year-old, who has failed to hit the heights of last season.
Lemar helped Monaco win Ligue 1 and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, scoring 14 goals and grabbing 17 assists, but this season he has scored only once with Monaco nine points behind the leaders PSG.
Still, Liverpool believe Lemar is the man to step into the boots of Coutinho, who put in an official transfer request in the summer.
Liverpool rejected three bids from Barca, with the third offer believed to have been around £114million and when he was asked about his future last week he refused to rule out a move to Barcelona.
“I do not know how the future is going to be,” said Coutinho last week.
“What will happen in January, we will know it in January. I do not know if there will be an offer. I am at Liverpool and I always do my best when I have the opportunity to play, respecting the jersey and the supporters.
“Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it. Since I stayed, I have played with will and desire.”
A speeding truck rams into a motorcycle in the early hours of today, four persons were involved in a fatal accident that claimed the life of one person, while another sustained various injuries.
The driver of the truck was speeding and heading towards Sango-Ota, but rammed into an oncoming motorcycle, as he tried to avoid potholes.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday confirmed one person dead and another injured in the road crash in Ota, Ogun State.
The Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, Mr Clement Oladele, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said that the crash occurred at Oju-Ore in Ota, at about 6.20 a.m today.
The corpse of the victim has been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Ota, while the survivor is receiving treatment at the same hospital,’’ he said.
According to Oladele “officials of the FRSC, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) and other traffic agencies, had been deployed to the scene of the accident to ensure free flow of traffic”
