The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Balogun

  • I feel at home in England, says Balogun

    Super Eagles’ and new Brighton and Hove Albion defender, Leon Balogun has said he is at home following the reception he got on his arrival at the team’s training camp in the United Kingdom (UK), adding that he is eager to get to work ahead of the new season, AOIFootball.com reports.

    The former Mainz O5 player, who was given an extended break due to Nigeria’s participation at the just concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, told the club’s website that he hopes to adapt quickly and contribute his quota to the team’s development.

    “It’s my first day and I’ve just finished. I was really warmly received and it’s a nice group. My first impressions were very positive, and I feel very comfortable within the group – they all made me feel welcome.

    “The league starts very soon and between now and then it’s about getting up to speed with everyone else as soon as possible. Then I want to take it from there, but I’ll give everything I can to improve what this group already has and play the biggest role that I can for the team,” Balogun noted.

  • Balogun eager to kickoff new EPL campaign with Brighton

    Super Eagles and Brighton & Hove Albion new defender, Leon Balogun, on Thursday said he was looking forward to the start of the English Premier League (EPL) with his new club.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2018/2019 EPL season is expected to kickoff on Aug. 10.

    Balogun said he was beaming with enthusiasm after joining his new teammates for the pre-season programme, adding that he was looking forward to play a big role to bolster the strength of the team.

    Balogun, who joined the Seagulls on a free from German Bundesliga side, FSV 05 Mainz, represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where the Super Eagles failed to reach the Round of 16.

    The 30-year-old played in all three group D games against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

    “The EPL league starts very soon and between now and then, it’s about getting up to speed with everyone else as soon as possible,” Balogun was quoted as saying on the club’s official website.

    “Then, I want to take it from there, but I’ll give everything I can to improve what this group already has and play the biggest role that I can for the team.

    “I was really warmly received on my first day at the club and it’s a nice group.

    “My first impressions were very positive, and I feel very comfortable within the group — they all made me feel welcome,” he said.

    Brighton face Watford away in their opening game of the new Premier League campaign and Balogun is eager to step up his level of preparedness for the upcoming weeks.

  • Mpn: Balogun is not our candidate

    The Ekiti State Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) has urged the Police and the Department of State Services to stop the winner of the May 12 primary, Dr. Sunday Balogun, from parading himself as the candidate.

    The party in separate petitions to the two security agencies dated June 2, maintained that Chief Adebisi Omoyeni is its authentic candidate for the July 14 governorship election.

    Omoyeni has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti to challenge the substitution of his name with that of Omoyeni which he said violated the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 and the 1999 Constitution.

    The petition signed by the MPN Chairman, Chief Dare Adekolu, and Secretary, Prince Adekunle Aladesanmi, accused Balogun of impersonation.

    In the petition titled: “Misrepresentation of MPN Gubernatorial Candidate in the July 14 Gubernatorial Election,” the party sought the urgent intervention of the police and DSS to “call Balogun to order and stop him from further acts of impersonation which can lead to confrontation and breakdown of law and order”.

    The petition reads: “We wish to draw your attention to the ongoing act of impersonation, brazen disregard to lawful order of the court and public peace by one Sunday Balogun who has been going round the state parading himself as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in contravention of lawful court orders.

    “As a reminder, you will recall the order of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti (Suit No: FHC/AD/CS/11/2018) of 2nd May, 2018 which ordered the faction of the MPN which Sunday Balogun belonged should not conduct any primary and INEC should not witness or entertain outcome of such illegal gubernatorial primary in the event of conduct against lawful order of the court,” it stated.

    Adekolu and Aladesanmi, who said the party had briefed INEC, police force headquarters, Abuja and DSS headquarters Abuja about his action, stated:

    “It is therefore a dangerous contravention by Sunday Balogun to be parading himself even after INEC has published the final list of all the 35 accredited gubernatorial candidates in Ekiti State as can be seen in the INEC list, Chief Adebisi Omoyeni is our authentic candidate in the election.”

  • Balogun of Ibadan hosts Omoloju Okugbaja masquerader

    The Oyo State government yesterday hailed Ibadan obas for the peaceful conduct of the traditional homage by masqueraders in the city.

    The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations, Alhaji Bidemi Siyanbade, said the peaceful conduct of the masqueraders during the traditional homage to the chiefs, as preached by the government, upheld the traditions and norms of this year’s Egungun Festival in the state.

    The government said the resilience of the Ibadan monarchs to pay homage by masqueraders, despite the heavy rain on June 20 and 23 at Alli Iwo and Ita Baale Olugbode, was worthy of commendation.

    It said the conduct of the masqueraders exemplified the commitment of the traditional institution to the preservation of our culture and tradition.

    The government assured the residents that it would continue to preserve the culture, norms and traditions of the people.

    As this year’s Egungun Festival gathered momentum in Ibadan, some masqueraders have paid traditional homage to various obas in the city.

    The Balogun of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, received some masqueraders at his Labiran Ita Baale compound amidst singing, drumming and high-level festivities.

    The leading masquerader, Omoloju Okugbaja, from Okugbaja family in Ibadan, arrived the Ita Baale compound around 2.15 p.m, despite the downpour.

    Oba Olakulehin urged Ibadan sons and daughters to always live in peace and harmony, irrespective of their religious and political differences.

    He said: “I express our appreciation to God for the peaceful conduct of the 2018 Egungun Festival. I implore our people to uphold the tradition and cultural values of the founding fathers of Ibadan and thank them for their support.”

    The Balogun was accompanied by the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Eekerin Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi; the Asipa Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; the Eekarun Olubadan, Oba Amidu Ajibade and the Eekarun Balogun Olubadan, Oba Kola Adegbola.

    They were joined by notable mogajis (family heads) in Ibadan, led by their Chairman, Mogaji Ariori and the Secretary, Mogaji Isiaka Raji.

    Oba Balogun and Oba Ajibade prayed for the continued development and unity of Ibadan as well as the peaceful conduct of next year’s general elections across Nigeria.

  • Masqueraders: Olubadan, Obas row deepens

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, and the Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, yesterday quarrelled over the foremost monarch’s directive that no masquerade should dance in the home of any high chief, now beaded crown-wearing obas.

    It was learnt that though the Olubadan expressed satisfaction with the compliance of his directive banning masquerade dance in the family compound of his estranged high chiefs until further notice, he was said to have accused Oba Balogun of violating the order.

    The foremost monarch in Ibadan said he had no regret issuing the royal directive.

    Oba Balogun had described the monarch’s directive as misuse of power.

    He also threatened to have a masquerade dance in his compound, contrary to Olubadan’s directive.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by his Personal Assistant/Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan described Oba Balogun’s claim that he (Oba Balogun) hosted a masquerade show in his compound as empty and deceitful.

    The foremost oba said the Egungun Festival purportedly staged at a location in Alli Iwo (Oba Balogun’s compound) was not authentic.

    He urged the residents to beware of falsehood.

    According to him, when some masqueraders paid homage to him at his palace last Monday, there were photographs that could be verified in the papers and the names of those at the outing were there.

    Oba Adetunji said: “Where are their photographs? What are the names of the masqueraders?

    “Even Atipako, the leading masquerade, who was reported to have honoured High Chief Lekan Balogun, was not there as the Atipako family of Kobomoje in Ibadan had issued a disclaimer.

    “Part of the text, dated June 21, addressed to the Olubadan and signed by Tajudeen Oladimeji and Kazim Atipako, the Abe’ja and Eleru Atipako, reads: ‘We, the undersigned and entire members of Atipako family, did not in any way disobey the directive of the Olubadan. We did not attend a masquerade dance nor performed any ritual for the Otun Olubadan, as reported in some quarters. One woman, Rashidat, who is claiming to be one of us, is not a member of our family and was not sent to anybody. Therefore, as a woman, she is not permitted to perform any ritual.’”

    Expressing appreciation to the masqueraders for carrying out the royal directive to the letter, the Olubadan said the make-belief being created was a price for rebellion.

    The eminent monarch said the people of Ibadan had spoken.

  • Balogun undergoes late fitness test

    Brighton & Hove new signing Leon Balogun will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability for tonight’s World Cup opener against Croatia.

    The central defender did not take part in the team’s final workout in Essentuki on Thursday morning before the trip to Kaliningrad, but manager Gernot Rohr has refused to rule him out of the game, saying he’ll wait until the last minute before making a decision.

    ”We have 23 players who are now very fit,” Rohr said at the pre-match press conference.

    “When we started our preparations three weeks ago against Congo in Nigeria, it was hard work to do, we made some tests, we saw that we had to work very hard, some of our players didn’t play so much, some of them didn’t have any rest in the winter time because they were playing in England.

    ”So it was not easy to find a good programme for everybody. But our physical coaches had a good programme, everybody is fit now.”

    Rohr added: ”We had a little injury, this is Leon Balogun. We will try tonight in the training session to see if he is able to play or not.

    ”He’s 50-50 for the moment, we will decide perhaps only tomorrow because we have to wait, the training and his reaction to tomorrow.”

    The Super Eagles will watch the opening match in Group D between Argentina and Iceland and Rohr disclosed that he will send a scout to also monitor proceedings at Otkritie Arena in Moscow.

  • Balogun takes oath at Lagos APC secretariat

    The newly elected Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, assumed office yesterday at the party’s secretariat on ACME Road in Ikeja, the state capital.

    He and the other members of the executive took the oaths office administered on them by the party’s Legal Adviser, Ademola Sadiq.

    The brief and colourful ceremony was witnessed by the former Chairman Henry Ajomale, former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, a party chieftain, Senator Muniru Muse, and House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who was represented by another lawmaker, Muftau Egberongbe.

    The hall was filled to capacity by enthusiastic party members and families of the new officers.

    Balogun promised to take Lagos APC to greater heights, saying: “We have a formidable team. I have no doubt about the capacity of the new executive committee in making Lagos APC chapter a pace setter.”

    The new chairman, who hailed Ajomale for his pragmatic leadership, said: “It gives me a great delight to appreciate Ajomale for his tenure in the past 12 years. He worked tirelessly to ensure that APC won all elections throughout his tenure. He did not let us down. He deserves all the accolades.”

    He paid tributes to APC stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who he said is gifted for creating leaders from his followership.

    Balogun noted that Asiwaju Tinubu had raised governors and was instrumental to the election of the Vice President and the President of the country.

    Promising not to let down the party’s leadership, the chairman said we would continue to lead in Lagos politics and we would continue to overwhelm the opposition in the state.

    He thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his superb performance, which he said was making Lagos State a reference point in the country.

    According to him, apart from being a visionary leader, Ambode is also endowed with abundant energy with which he has been monitoring projects across the state.

    Addressing reporters after the oath of office, Ajomale urged the new executives to focus on youth and women development.

    The former chairman said: “The older generation is dying; we have to start to involve the younger ones and train them so that when they take over, they will not have problems. We have to constantly develop new talents and new orientation so that the youth and women would have a role to play in party development.”

    On why he did not stay in office till June, Ajomale said: “I want the new administration to start in earnest. We have held an election and a new executive committee has emerged. What will I be doing in office again? Remember, the new executives have to prepare for the 2019 general elections. The earlier they start the better.”

    The former chairman described last Saturday’s gathering of some party members, led by former Vice Chairman (Lagos West) Mr Fouad Oki in Ikeja, the state capital, as a protest and not a parallel congress.

    He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not at the congres.

    According to him, those participants in the “parallel congress” just wanted to be noticed.

     

  • Balogun, Ighalo join Eagles in Uyo

    Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that former Watford star Odion Ighalo and Brighton & Hove new signing Leon Balogun are set to participate in the Super Eagles next training session ahead of their friendly with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Ighalo and Balogun flew together to Uyo this morning from Lagos and are expected to arrive at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort any moment from now.

    While the Changchun Yatai striker is in tip-top condition, the former Mainz defender is lacking match fitness but the good news is that he passed a traditional medical prior to his unveiling by The Seagulls on Tuesday.

    Oghenekaro Etebo, who was one of the last players to join the team on Tuesday evening, took part in full training this morning, amid concerns that he is struggling with a muscle injury.

    Brian Idowu, Shehu Abdullahi, John Obi Mikel, John Ogu, Victor Moses, Mikel Agu, Uche Agbo, Moses Simon, Simeon Nwankwo, Joel Obi and Ahmed Musa were still being awaited as at the time of this report.

    The Super Eagles trained for approximately one hour and forty minutes in their first workout on Wednesday, May 23.

  • Lagos: Balogun emerges chairman

    Chairman of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Election Organising Committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife yesterday linked the massive infrastructural renewal across the state to political stability being enjoyed in the state, saying it was time for such to be replicated nationwide to facilitate growth and development.

    Speaking at the well-attended congress of the party held at the party’s secretariat, Acme Road, Ikeja, Ekwunife particularly commended the seamless political transition and the peaceful conduct of members of the party throughout the congress, saying such political maturity was rare in the country.

    “Without having political stability, you can’t have massive infrastructure anywhere. So, when you are outside Lagos and you are hearing that Lagos is performing; Lagos is growing; Lagos is expanding in terms of infrastructure, it is just about political stability. And it is only in Lagos that you see a chairman of a political party that has been chairman for the past years and there is so much joy in him handing over.

    “So, Lagos State is not just having smooth transition in governance, it is also having smooth transition in the political party, which is rare anywhere in the states,” Ekwunife said.

    The congress, which was attended by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, among others, produced Alhaji Tunde Balogun as the new State Chairman of the party.

    In his acceptance speech, the new chairman commended the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ambode for the political stability and development of the state.

     

  • Balogun begins light training

    Super Eagles’ defender, Leon Balogun, has handed Coach Gernot Rohr a major injury boost as the Mainz 05 player returned to light training ahead of his side’s penultimate game of the season, AOIFootball.com reports.

    The 29-year-old, who missed their last two games against Augsburg and RB Leipzig, returned to light training on Thursday but will almost certainly not be risked for the weekend fixture against Dortmund.

    He is, however, expected to lead the Super Eagles’ defence in Russia when the World cup starts in 41 days’ time.

    Balogun has had an impressive season so far, with a game rating of 7.0, completing 75% of his passes, making three interceptions per game, three tackles, four clearances, winning six duels, while he’s also yet to commit a single error leading to a goal.