Mata: Torres is struggling to live up to ‘warrior’ Drogba

NO SUBSTITUTE ... Torres comes on for Drogba but has failed to adequately replace 

the Ivorian

FERNANDO TORRES is struggling to fill the boots of ‘warrior’ Didier Drogba.

That’s the honest verdict of Torres’ Chelsea and Spain team-mate Juan Mata.

The Blues playmaker said: “Drogba’s departure was like an electric shock for us. He was a 

warrior.

“We’ve had to learn to cope without him because for many long years he was Chelsea’s 

lightning conductor.

“With Drogba we were conditioned to play in a certain way.

“You gave him the ball and you knew that he would at least force the opponent into a foul.

“In a way we had a tendency to rely on him too much but it was a natural mechanism.

All the great players like getting the ball, Didier even more so.

“With Fernando it’s different. His runs aren’t the same. He’s not a funnel for our play like Drogba 

could be.

“He doesn’t like the holding-it-up role. He prefers finding space and facing the goal.”

Drogba, an all-time Chelsea hero with 157 goals in 342 games, moved to China in the summer 

leaving £50million Torres as the club’s sole striker.

Mata, talking to French magazine So Foot, added: “When someone pays that much for you and 

become the most expensive player in the Premier League, you are eager to please. Too eager, maybe.

“Especially Fernando, because he’s a very humble guy who knows where he comes from and 

understands the value of money.

“For me, he is still one of the best strikers in the world.”

INEC De-registers 28 political parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday Thursday December 6th announced the De-registration of 28 political parties.

Find the statement the agency released below...

"In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission has today, Thursday, December 6, 2012, de-registered the following political parties:

1.  African Liberation Party (ALP) 

2.  Action Party of Nigeria (APN)

3.  African Political System (APS)

4.   Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP)

5.  Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)

Why were these parties de-registered? INEC didn't say. See the remaining 23 parties after the cut...

Mr and Mrs Ekeinde at launch of Omotola's reality show

Omotola and her hubby pictured at the cocktail launch of her reality show - The Real Me, which held on Wednesday December 5th at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi. Hoping to bring you pictures from the launch party...

Iyanya's Kukere breaks record for downloads on callertunes in Africa

Kukere has broken the record for highest download for a single caller ringback tune. 3 million subscribers across Nigeria in just a few months....and counting! No Nigerian artist has hit one million, so this is a huge fit. Iyanya got a huge cheque from MTECH yesterday...

D’banj Announces Koko Concert With Idris Elba, Big Sean, Pusha T

Pusha T, Big Sean, D’banj

Despite the controversial Mo’Hits breakup, fans will be glad to know that the yearly Koko Concert will still be holding, thanks to D’banj.

The DB Records boss made the surprise announcement via social networking site Twitter on Sunday, December 3, 2012.

But this year’s concert proves to be even bigger as his G.O.O.D Music label mates rappers Big Sean andPusha T will also be performing!

The concert will be hosted by UK movie star Idris Elba and will hold on December 27 at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites.

And, no, Kanye West will not be performing.

Madcap Mario Balotelli’s baby joy

Mum ... Raffaella Fico and Mario Balotelli

ZANY footballer Mario Balotelli has become a father — to a girl called PIA.

Man City star’s ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico, 24, gave birth at a private clinic in Naples, Italy, on 

night.

had Pia — who weighed 8lb 4oz — almost three weeks early, but both are thought to be doing 

. Pia is a Latin term for devout or pious. Last night Italian ace Mario, 22, was at home in 

Cheshire.

A source close to the star said: “He is expected to fly out to see Pia in the next few days. He’s 

very excited.” Mario’s mum Rose Barwuah, who lives in Wythenshawe, Manchester, told The 

: “I’m really happy to be a grandma.”

Rihanna gets tattoo for boyfriend Chris Brown

It's all Breezy ... Rihanna shows support for Chris Brown with new inking

RIHANNA has had yet another inking.

The star’s had the word “Breezy” tattooed on her earlier this week.

It’s not her predicting the weather – boyfriend CHRIS BROWN calls his supporters Team 

Breezy.

source said: “She got it to symbolise her commitment to him. Now the world knows they’re back 

together, they’re determined to make it work.”

Imagine if the tattooist had missed off the B and the R.

Man accused of killing pregnant lover

From  PUNCH

The family of a lady, Gloria Akpan, has accused their daughter’s lover, Ita Eyo, of killing her in his residence in Ayobo area of Ogun State.

Gloria and Eyo both from Akwa Ibom State had been cohabiting since March 2012 before the sad incident occurred on November 3. The lady was six-month pregnant before she died.

A family source, who craved anonymity, said when he spoke to Gloria on Friday, a day before her death, she told him that all was well, adding that it was shocking to learn that she had died the next day.

The source said, “Without seeing any member of the family, that same Saturday, they hurriedly buried her.

“This is suspicious. The information we got was that she was strangled as she bled through her nose and mouth.”

Fred Amata finds love again

Years after ending his relationship with actress and current AGN president Ibinabo Fiberesima (they have a daughter together), Fred Amata has found love again. The actor is in a serious relationship with Mor Okonkwo, a single mother of two in her early thirties.

Fred and Mor met about a year ago in the US...but only started dating a few months ago. I hear they are already talking marriage.

Mor is a Soul/Jazz artiste who used to live in the UK and even contested in singing reality show - X Factor UK a few years back. She's currently a management consultant and also runs a catering company.

Tonto Dikeh kinda apologizes to Yvonne Nelson for stealing her man!

 These actresses and drama. Lol. See Tonto's full tweet.

Mikel signs new five-year deal with Chelsea

John Mike Obi has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, tying him to the club until 2017.

Abacha loot:Switzerland has returned $700m to Nigeria- Swiss envoy

Nearly 15 years after the death of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military ruler, the Swiss Government has said that it has so far returned to Nigeria the sum of $700 million stolen by the late dictator and deposited in several Swiss banks.

The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, announced the figure at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Hodel also hinted that his country had begun proceedings in Geneva against one of Abacha’s sons -Abba, for allegedly sponsoring a criminal organization but did not give further details.

Katy Perry does an Angelina Jolie as she attends Carole King fundraiser

Green goddess ... Katy Perry at the fundraiser

KATY Perry showed off her enviable figure by flaunting her svelte legs in a floor-

length green gown at a star-studded charity evening in Hollywood.

28-year-old Katy has clearly been taking red carpet tips from Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie 

as she made sure that she flaunted her long legs in the satin gown by posing accordingly.

Katy had joined veteran performer Carole King, 70, at the Carole King Music Celebration at the 

Dolby Theatre in New York last night.

Mike Adenuga donates N500 million to flood victims in Bayelsa state

Nigeria's second richest man, Dr Mike Adenuga yesterday Tuesday Dec 4th donated N500m to flood victims in Bayelsa State.

Yes, you read right. N500 million. And his son, Paddy, is still single. Just thought to put that info out there *cough*. So, anyway back to the report, the Globacom chairman gave the N500m draft cheque to a delegation that visited him at home yesterday, including the governor of the state, Seriake Dickson.

Dr Adenuga said he made the donation to support the on going effort to rehabiliate and resettle flood victims in the state. Our only hope is that the money is used for what it's meant to be used for. Bayelse government, we are watching in 3D glasses

Comic actor Victor Osuagwu set to wed longtime partner

Victor Osuagwu and Roseline have been together for 13 years and have four children together but they didn't really officially get married, though he paid her dowry a while back, and I hear there might have been a court wedding, (not really sure). But anyway, they've decided to make their union official, as they will be getting married this Saturday December 8th (white and traditional wedding) in the bride's home in Choba, Port Harcourt. The wedding will hold at St.Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt, while the reception party would hold at UPE primary school field, Choba, Rivers State. Congrats to them.

Vice President Namadi Sambo to get a N2billion home

Our Vice President is getting a home worth N2 billion from the government of Nigeria. There's a N50bn budget for the Federal Capital Territory and N2bn, according to the FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, is going into the construction of the official residence of Vice President Namadi Sambo, while N300 million is for the construction of the official residences of Senate president David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.

So my question is; if they are building new homes for these people, where were they living before now? First a N2bn 150-seater banquet hall, now a N2bn home for the VP. This is the priority of the Government of a country where more than half the population live on under $1 a day. #Standingovation

Oh and Julius Berger is handling the home construction, with 20 months as completion period.

Enebeli Elebuwa dies in Indian hospital

Former Actors' Guild President, Segun Arinze, has confirmed the passing away of veteran actor, Enebeli Elebuwa in a hospital in India.

Mr Elebuwa died in the early hours of today Wednesday December 5th in the hospital in India where he was flown to a few months ago by the Delta State government to receive treatment for an ailment. He was 65. Truly sad! May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

Men Are Funnier Than Women, According To This Poll

Nigerian comedians – Tee A and Princess

Vanity Fair’s January 2013 edition will mark its first-ever Comedy Issue, and as part of its coverage, the magazine teamed up with ‘60 Minutes’ to discover what Americans really think about comedy.

Some of the findings of their poll, which used a random sampling of 1,132 adults across the country, may be expected, while some may prove more controversial. For instance, 60 per cent of those polled said that men are the funnier sex, with only 22 per cent answering that women are funnier. (Fifteen per cent said there is no difference.)

Masturbation Contest: China Holds First Ever ‘Wankathon’ (NSFW)

The ‘Wakathon’ contestants…

China’s first ever ‘World AIDS Day Masturbation Contest’ took place on December 1, 2012.

Dubbed ‘Wankathon’, the idea of the contest was to celebrate ‘HIV risk-free sexual freedom’ and was sponsored by sex toy manufacturer Aihuirun.

The ten male participants wore masks and hid their genitals with orange buckets that would later reveal the ‘fruits of their labour’. There was however no full front nudity.

In the contest, everyone was a winner, no matter the position you came (no pun intended).

The current world record holder of the ‘Longest Time Spent Masturbating’ is Sonny Nash. The pornstar ‘pleasured himself’ for as long as 10 hours and 10 minutes in May, 2012.

Jonathan’s Spendthrift: Enough Is Enough

By Punch Editorial Board

NOTHING typifies the frivolous, insensitive and completely inept leadership troubling Nigeria currently than the recent approval o

Nappy & glorious Baby is destined to be monarch even if it's a girl

Joy ... Wills and Kate in Kuala Lumpur in September

Arthur Edwards

WILLIAM and Kate’s baby will be the first to automatically succeed to the throne — 

even if it is a girl.

A dramatic shake-up of ancient laws means male royals will no longer be able to leapfrog their 

older sisters to become the monarch.

So the child is guaranteed to remain third in line to the throne — after Prince Charles and Wills 

himself — even if Kate goes on to have sons.

The historic change to centuries-old succession laws was agreed just last year at a meeting 

of the 16 Commonwealth countries where The Queen is head of state.

And as PM David Cameron last night sent his congratulations to William and Kate, his deputy 

Nick Clegg said the Government was putting the final touches to the necessary legislation.

Mr Clegg said: “This is a very exciting day and brilliant news.

“And by happy coincidence we are working right now to put the finishing touches to laws that 

will update the very old-fashioned rules of succession and mean if they have a baby girl she will 

succeed to the throne.

“That is a big, big change and something the country thinks should have happened a long time 

ago.”

Chris and Rihanna Spending New Year in Barbados

According to The Sun, Chris Brown will be spending the New Year holiday in Barbados with Rihanna...

From The Sun 

“The more the public criticise Rihanna for getting back with Chris, the more determined she is to do whatever she wants. While no one else can understand it, she’s convinced that Chris is the love of her life and her soulmate and that they’re simply meant to be together."

“She’s booked him and his mum into a five-star villa in Barbados over New Year so they can all get some downtime with her family."

Jay-Z has DiCaprio movie The Great Gatsby all rapped up Star will oversee soundtrack

Great expectations ... film director Baz Luhrmann thinks Jay-Z is perfect man for the 

job

RAP superstar JAY-Z is undoubtedly one of the most influential men in the US at the 

moment.

His fingerprints are all over most of the best hip hop in the charts and he even helped his buddy 

BARACK OBAMA get re-elected last month.

But not content with his already considerable sway over the nation, he has now headed to 

Hollywood to have his say in the movie industry.

He is the musical supervisor on upcoming LEONARDO DICAPRIO flick The Great Gatsby – 

an adaptation of the 1925 F Scott Fitzgerald book to be released in the spring.

The movie is based in 1920s New York but director BAZ LUHRMANN wants to set it to great 

modern music – like he did when he teamed up with Leo on 1996 smash Romeo + Juliet.

So he has signed up Jay-Z to oversee the soundtrack to feature tunes from the New York 

rapper and other hot new talent chosen by the pair.

Perhaps we should start calling him The Great Jay-Z.

Kate on a drip Severely sick.. but Queen didn't know she was pregnant

Kate expectations ... Prince Williaw

 and the Duchess of CambridgeCambridge was on a drip in hospital last night as 

she battled an intense form of morning sickness.

Poorly Kate, 30, who has been suffering severe vomiting since the weekend, is likely to be kept 

in for several days as a precaution.

Doctors at central London’s King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone will replace lost fluids to 

keep dehydration at bay, boost her nutrition and monitor her progress.

Ojukwu’s firm rejects Bianca as director

A Director of Ojukwu Transport Company Limited has said the wife of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, has no place on the directorship or trusteeship of the company.

Director, Mr. Ifeukwu Ojukwu, said on Monday that since OTL was owned by the late Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the late Biafran warlord could not dictate who the trustees or directors of the company should be.

Bisi Ibidapo Obe gave birth 7months ago after meeting Dino - Friends argue

Bisi Ibidapo Obe claimed in an interview in October that Dino Melaye, a former Rep member and a married man was the person responsible for her pregnancy. In the interview, she said they met early April (See the interview HERE). 7 months later, on Friday November 30th she gave birth to a baby girl. Dino's friends are now pointing out the dates.

They said Bisi's delivery has further shown that the baby is not Dino Melaye's, that if she truly got pregnant for Melaye in April, she should not have given birth by now, going by her claims in the interview.

Meanwhile people close to Dino said he laughed when he heard about the delivery and also said he's standing by his previous statement. - "I am not distracted a bit about this joke and imaginary creation of a serial liar. Am not her 1st victim and may not be the last"

Get a DNA test and put an end to all this!

Prince William and Kate Middleton expecting their first child

St. James's Palace today issued a statement on behalf of the royals. It read:

"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news.

The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter."

Nice to know these two have sex. I always wondered! Hehe!!! Big congrats to them...