Other News
Assessing Buhari, Expectations From Tinubu: Sports Enthusiasts Speak
On May 29, 2023, Muhammadu Buhari concluded his tenure as the President of Nigeria.
Throughout his two terms in office, Buhari’s administration faced criticism for various missteps and controversial appointments.
One noteworthy appointment that received scrutiny was the selection of Sunday Dare as the Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
As he neared the end of his term, Sunday Dare made a significant decision to partially close the Lagos National Stadium.
This dilapidated structure had not hosted a major event since the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Nigeria co-hosted with Ghana.
Critics and observers of Dare’s tenure often expressed the view that he displayed limited interest in his role and tended to react hastily to situations.
Tosin Abayomi, the Editor for Nigerian Sports at Pulse, acknowledged that in comparison to Solomon Dalung’s tenure under the previous administration led by Jonathan, Sunday Dare represented an improvement.
Tosin said “To be fair, Dare was an upgrade on Solomon Dalung under Jonathan. However, grassroots sports development was not a priority.
“Football suffered. We failed on multiple occasions at the AFCON, AWCON and did not partake at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Basketball was a mess in the end, as FIBA disqualified D’Tigress from competing at the World Cup due to political tussles between administrators.
“The World Athletics Championships spearheaded by Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume provided some joy. But in general, sports during the Buhari regime was at the back burner.”
Following Muhammadu Buhari’s departure from office, Bola Tinubu has been inaugurated as his successor.
However, Tinubu’s recent decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has resulted in widespread chaos and confusion across the country.
Despite not making an official declaration, fuel stations throughout Nigeria promptly closed, leading to allegations of hoarding which sparked immediate criticism of the new administration, with many expressing concerns about inadequate or ambiguous communication from the government’s leadership.
With regards to the sports sector, Abayomi believes that transitioning to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot result in a worse outcome.
Abayomi emphasizes that in order to uplift the sector, significant investments need to be made at the grassroots level.
Abayomi said “The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot do any worse in truth. To elevate the sector, there has to be critical investment at the grassroots level.
“Football is the joy of Nigerians. However, other sports with potential must not be neglected.
“Tinubu is a businessman and knowing the opportunity for foreign investment, Sports is a tool he must take advantage of to resuscitate an economy that is failing,” he added
Other News
Music Icon Quincy Jones Passes Away At 91
Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, composer, and cultural icon whose career spanned over seven decades, has passed away at the age of 91.
Jones died peacefully on Sunday night at his Bel Air home, surrounded by family, according to his publicist, Arnold Robinson.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Renowned for his unmatched versatility, Jones collaborated with some of the greatest musical talents of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Will Smith. He played an integral role in producing Jackson’s groundbreaking albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, which catapulted the pop star to global superstardom and earned Jones worldwide acclaim.
READ MORE: JUST IN: Tinubu Swears In Seven Newly-Appointed Ministers
Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ journey into music began early. His childhood introduction came from a neighbor’s piano playing and his mother’s singing. After moving to Washington state following his parents’ divorce, he honed his skills in his high school band and began playing with a young Ray Charles in Seattle’s vibrant club scene.
Jones’ career took off in New York, where he played trumpet in Elvis Presley’s early TV performances and worked with bebop legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. By 1958, he was working with Frank Sinatra, arranging for the singer’s band at the request of Princess Grace Kelly. Their partnership flourished, spanning several projects including Sinatra’s final album LA Is My Lady in 1984.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Jones’ talents extended into film and television scores, composing music for films such as The Italian Job, In the Heat of the Night, and the acclaimed The Color Purple, for which he earned three Oscar nominations. He also scored hit TV shows including The Bill Cosby Show and Roots.
In 1985, Jones produced and co-conducted the charity anthem “We Are the World” alongside Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raising millions for Ethiopian famine relief. Despite personal and professional challenges—including surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1974—Jones’s career continued to thrive.
Jones’ influence wasn’t limited to music. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, the company behind the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which launched the career of Will Smith. His media ventures also included the creation of Qwest TV, an on-demand music streaming service, and the magazine Vibe, which celebrated Black music and culture.
Over his career, Jones earned 80 Grammy nominations, winning 28—making him one of the most decorated artists in the award’s history. Tributes poured in following news of his death. Actor Michael Caine, who shared Jones’ birthdate, called him “a wonderful and unique human being.” Music artists such as LL Cool J expressed gratitude, saying, “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed one. Music would not be music without you.”
Jones is survived by his seven children, leaving behind an indelible legacy that will resonate through generations to come. His life’s work transformed music, television, and culture, proving that there truly was no limit to what Quincy Jones could accomplish.
Other News
Prayers Won’t Build Roads, Fund Children’s Education – Jesse Jagz To Nigerians
Singer and rapper Jesse Jagz has called on Nigerians to rethink their approach to religion.
Jagz suggested that African traditional religious gods have become ineffective, attributing this to the excessive alcohol given to them during rituals, which, according to him, has made them obese, diabetic, and unable to aid their worshipers.
Speaking on the ‘Big Talk’ podcast, the rapper also criticized followers of foreign religions for relying solely on prayer and expecting miracles without putting in the necessary effort. He stressed that prayers alone cannot provide essential social services or infrastructure.
READ MORE: SERAP Issues Tinubu 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Detained Minors
“When you go to a shrine and you see the priest pouring gin on the gods, Google how much a bottle of gin was in slavery. 40 slaves.
“Our gods are drunk on alcohol and meat. They are obese and diabetic.
“They can’t help us do anything. Prayers do not build roads or buy books for children. We have forgotten humanity,” he said.
Other News
Presidents Invite Me To Dinner Wherever I Go – Davido Boasts
Renowned Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, known by his stage name Davido, has stated that he receives special treatment globally due to his celebrity status.
The Afrobeats sensation mentioned that he is frequently invited to presidential dinners in nearly every country he visits, with the exception of the United States and the United Kingdom.
In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh London, Davido confidently shared that his fanbase includes influential figures such as the World Bank president, presidents of powerful nations, and other notable personalities.
READ MORE: Sanwo-Olu, Dignitaries Set To Attend Lagos Social Media Hangout
“Every country we go to, the President invites us for dinner except London [United Kingdom] and the United States of America.
“It’s beautiful to see. I mean, leaving my country, Nigeria, and people welcoming me like the president in other countries, shows how well Nigeria is doing around the world in terms of music and cultural impacts,” he said.
Davido has expressed that he feels most respected in Africa, which is why he cherishes his African tours more than those in Europe and America, even though the latter bring him greater financial rewards.
He shared that his Jamaican collaborator, YG Marley, was astonished by the immense admiration from fans when he visited Nigeria for the video shoot of their joint hit, ‘Awuke.’