Articles by Abubakar Ibrahim,Rayo Vallecano

Entertainment

Enemy of progress – The prophecy of Regina’s father

(A Dispatch from The Republic of Uncommon Sense - Naija Province) Once upon a time in Nollywood, a father cried, “Don’t marry him!” But love — or perhaps lifestyle — had already boarded a private jet. Regina Daniels was the golden girl of Nigerian cinema — fresh-faced, social-media adored, and barely 20 when she fell in love with a billionaire whose pockets were deep enough to echo. The man, Prince Ned Nwoko, wasn’t just rich; he was a London-trained lawyer, politician, and serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — the kind of rich and powerful that makes ordinary wealth look shy. A philanthropist and polygamist with estates large enough to confuse a census officer, Ned embodied both influence and indulgence. Her father, Jude Ojegwu, saw the storm before the rainbow. “My daughter,” he warned, “there’s more to life than wealth.” But in the Republic of Social Media, warnings sound like jealousy and wisdom is often mistaken for witchcraft. Her mother, Rita Daniels — herself an actress and the family’s matriarch-in-chief — called him an enemy of progress. And the internet joined the chorus. “Abeg, leave them. Age is just a number when the account balance has commas!” – Netizen #1 “The man is just bitter he couldn’t attract a billionaire son-in-law like that!” – Netizen #2 And so, against her father’s wishes, Regina walked down the aisle to join a household that already had wives old enough to supervise her homework. Cameras flashed, blogs rejoiced, and hashtags rained blessings: #LoveBeyondAge #Forever18 #WhenDestinyCalls The wedding wasn’t just a ceremony — it was a parade of power, the kind of union where champagne costs more than advice. The father refused to attend, not out of malice, but because the music was too loud for his conscience. He watched from afar as his daughter became Mrs Billionaire, crowned by luxury and protected by bodyguards. But heaven, as experience teaches, sometimes sublets space to hell. THE RETURN OF THE ORACLE Fast-forward a few years. The same marriage that once glittered like Dubai at night began to flicker like Ghana’s national grid in the rainy season. Rumours of loneliness, silence, and “emotional relocation” began to trend. The fairy-tale glow dimmed under the harsh light of reality — and the father’s old warning began to sound less like bitterness and more like prophecy. “I knew this marriage would bring problems,” Jude Ojegwu said recently, his voice carrying the calm of a man proven right too late. “Even I, in my late fifties, cannot imagine marrying a twenty-year-old. I felt ashamed watching my own child get married to a man older than me.” And suddenly, the internet — our ever-fickle jury — changed its verdict. “Enemy of progress has become prophet of progress!” – Netizen #3 “He saw the trailer before we watched the movie.” – Netizen #4 It’s amazing how truth gains followers only after the drama ends. The same people who mocked him now call him Daddy Nostradamus of Delta State. THE COST OF PROGRESS Let’s not pretend the story is unique. In this part of the world, when money enters the conversation, wisdom quietly leaves through the window. Parents are told to mind their business — as long as the suitor arrives in a convoy. A father’s concern becomes backwardness; a mother’s ambition becomes empowerment. As the proverb says: “When a goat insists on dancing in the lion’s den, you don’t argue — you sharpen your camera.” Love was blind, yes — but Instagram had 20/20 vision. The pictures were flawless. The captions are poetic. The lifestyle is enviable: exotic vacations, luxury cars, designer gowns, and a mansion with more marble than sense. For a while, the world believed the fairy tale — until “progress” began trending with tears. Now, the same social media that crowned the couple "goals" has rebranded them as "lessons". “The same people who said ‘love wins’ are now shouting ‘Daddy was right!’” – Netizen #5 THE LESSON IN THE MIRROR This isn’t just Regina’s story — it’s a mirror held up to a continent obsessed with shortcuts to success. We marry status, not soul. We confuse exposure with experience, and mistake trending for triumph. In the Republic of Uncommon Sense, we say: Progress without peace is just stress wearing designer sunglasses. Maybe it’s time we asked ourselves what “progress” really means. Because sometimes, the person blocking your way isn’t an enemy of progress — they’re the traffic warden saving you from an accident ahead. So here’s to Jude Ojegwu — the father who saw the potholes while others admired the paintwork. In a society where silence often passes for support, he dared to speak truth, and time has vindicated him. Before you call someone an enemy of progress, pause and check whether your “progress” is heading toward peace — or just toward problems with Wi-Fi. Join the Conversation: Was Regina’s father right to warn her? Or should parents stay out of grown-up love stories?

6 hours ago

Sports

‘Motivated’ Alcaraz beats De Minaur at ATP Finals

Carlos Alcaraz says he has entered the ATP Finals "with motivation" as he moved a step closer to the year-end world number one ranking with victory over Alex de Minaur. The 22-year-old Spaniard won his opening Jimmy Connors Group match 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 in one hour and 40 minutes in Turin, Italy. Alcaraz is making his third appearance at the season-ending tournament but has never reached the final before. He withdrew injured in 2022, lost in the semi-finals on debut a year later and failed to qualify from the group last year. Alcaraz is battling rival Jannik Sinner for the top ranking, with the Italian moving back to the top spot after his victory at the Paris Masters last week. "I've been struggling in the past three years to come to the end of the year with energy and motivation. This year is a little bit different," Alcaraz said. "I'm really proud about the way I've been doing things to come here with motivation. "I'm really excited and looking forward to playing great tennis, and giving myself a shot to try to win this tournament." In the Bjorn Borg Group, two-time winner Alexander Zverev produced a serving masterclass to beat American debutant Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6 (8-6). The 28-year-old German lost only one of 17 points on serve in the first set and 10 of 54 across the match, finishing with a 81% first-serve percentage. Australian Open finalist Zverev did not face a break point in the match but had to rally from 6-3 down in the second-set tie-break to advance. He also pounced on Shelton's second serve, winning 16 of 21 points off the return. "I knew against Ben that I had to have a very high first-serve percentage, because he's so aggressive on the second serve," Zverev said. "I knew that would be one of the key factors today and I'm super pleased with this win." Alcaraz edges closer to number one spot World number two Alcaraz provided his usual moments of shot-making brilliance against De Minaur, hitting a total of 32 winners, but he was scrappy at times in the first set. Alcaraz raced to an early lead but missed three break points for a 5-1 advantage - and then found himself two points from losing the opener in the tie-break. De Minaur's trademark fight took him to the brink of winning the set but, leading 5-3 in the breaker, lost the next four points to concede it. Set two began with three consecutive breaks of serve, two of them in favour of Alcaraz, before a run of three sensational winners in a row put Alcaraz firmly in charge. Despite defeat for De Minaur - who has not beaten Alcaraz in five attempts - the 26-year-old Australian should take confidence from his performance against the six-time Grand Slam champion. Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, a late replacement for Novak Djokovic following the Serb's decision to withdraw on Saturday, are the other two players in the Jimmy Connors Group. Alcaraz and defending champion Sinner have split the four Grand Slam titles between them this year. They are in different groups and are widely tipped to meet in the final on Sunday, 16 November. This is what each has to do to end 2025 as world number one: Alcaraz will secure top spot by reaching the final, or winning all three of his group matches. Sinner must defend his title to stand any chance, while also requiring Alcaraz to lose a group match and not reach the final. In the doubles, British top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool - who won the Wimbledon title in July - lost 7-5 6-3 to Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Spain's Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina earlier beat Germany's defending champions Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4 4-6 10-6.

6 hours ago

Sports

Djokovic out of ATP Finals after winning 101st title

Novak Djokovic secured the 101st title of his career with victory at the Hellenic Championships - but then had to withdraw from the ATP Finals because of injury. The Serb came through a gruelling encounter against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in Saturday's final in Athens, fighting back from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 7-5. But the 24-time Grand Slam champion's victory came at a price, with Djokovic exacerbating an "ongoing" shoulder injury that will keep him out of the ATP Finals in Turin, which begin on 9 November. "I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after today's final in Athens, I'm sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury," Djokovic wrote on social media. "I'm truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play - your support means so much. I wish all the players an amazing tournament, and I can't wait to be back on the court with you all soon." Djokovic, 38, will be replaced in the finals by Musetti - who thought his chance of featuring in Turin had gone following his defeat. On a day of thrilling tennis on the ATP tour, Great Britain's Cameron Norrie missed out on a sixth career title as American teenager Learner Tien roared back to claim his first via a deciding set tie-break at the Moselle Open in France. Norrie, 30, who was aiming for his first title in more than two years, produced a gutsy display to battle from a set down, then a break down in the deciding set. And he led 5-1 in the tie-break before letting 19-year-old Tien back into it with a series of unforced errors, eventually losing 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6). 'An incredible battle, super demanding' Djokovic is one of just three men to have racked up a century of titles. The Serb still needs two to equal Roger Federer's 103, while Jimmy Connors heads the list with 109. It looked unlikely he would add to his tally as 23-year-old Musetti's tireless running and accurate serving helped him to the opening set. But after recovering to force a decider, Djokovic toughed out the victory, trading service breaks in the 10th and 11th games of the final set before closing it out with a love hold. "It was an incredible battle - I don't know [how I won it]," said the top seed who, at 38 years and five months, became the oldest tournament winner since Australia's Ken Rosewall won in Hong Kong in 1977 aged 43. "Three hours. [It was] a gruelling match physically, super demanding. Lorenzo played really well. "It could have been anybody's match so congrats to him for an amazing performance and I just feel very proud of myself to get through this one." It was Djokovic's second title of 2025, having won on the clay of Geneva in May, while Musetti continues his wait for a maiden title after losing in six finals over the past two seasons. Musetti needed a victory to reach the ATP Finals, but Djokovic's withdrawal means he will feature at the tournament regardless.

6 hours ago

Sports

Real Madrid held by Rayo Vallecano in drab draw

Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga is down to five points after Xabi Alonso's side were held by local rivals Rayo Vallecano. The 36-time league winners were seeking to restore their seven-point lead at the top of the table after Villarreal moved into second with a 2-0 win away at Espanyol on Saturday. But Vallecano, who had won three of their last five going into the match, proved stubborn opposition. Defender Raul Asencio came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, but the Spaniard could not direct his header goalwards, having been left unmarked in the box. Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold came on for the final stages, but Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham squandering the side's best sights at goal. Barcelona cut Madrid's lead at the top to three points later on Sunday when they beat Celta Vigo 4-2.

7 hours ago

Sports

Man City make ominous statement on chastening night for Liverpool

Manchester City delivered a deafening statement of intent to celebrate Pep Guardiola's landmark 1,000th match in management as Liverpool were dismissed out of hand at Etihad Stadium. City's 3-0 win carried an ominous warning for Premier League leaders Arsenal, whose advantage at the top was cut to four points, while it inflicted a grievous wound on Liverpool and their hopes of back-to-back titles. Guardiola had to navigate City through troubled waters last season as their historic run of four successive titles ended, with questions raised about the 54-year-old Spaniard's ability to rebuild. After years of almost unbroken success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, was Guardiola still eager enough to create another team of champions? This was the most emphatic answer from Guardiola and his players, a performance that was at once dazzling, dangerous and full of the power and tempo that suggests City are very much back in shape to challenge for the Premier League trophy. If Guardiola had asked for a gift from City's players to commemorate their inspirational manager on his big day, this was the perfect present. Guardiola saw it that way, saying: "I just want to say thank you to the players and, backroom staff to give me that present. I'm proud to do it here in Manchester with my City." The spectacle would have been the opposite of celebratory for Arsenal and, very painfully here, Liverpool. Arsenal are still in pole position, but this is only after 11 games and City have proved in the past they enjoy making opponents feel their breath on their shoulders. After Arsenal dropped two points late on at Sunderland on Saturday, the door was suddenly ajar. City burst through in spectacular fashion. For Liverpool, this was a sobering, chastening experience. It was here at Etihad Stadium last February that Liverpool's 2-0 win completed the double over City, also effectively settling the title chase. This game, both in result and performance, was a complete contrast. Liverpool were overrun by a revitalised City. It is not a defeat that ends their hopes of keeping hold of their crown - we are only 11 games into the season, after all. However, it is increasingly difficult to see how Liverpool can present a serious challenge in their current shape after a fifth loss in six league games. 'A brutal lesson for Liverpool' City preyed on Liverpool's vulnerable midfield and defence throughout, as others have done this season. Slot was unhappy that Virgil van Dijk's header, which would have made it 1-1 before half-time, was disallowed for offside. Defender Andy Robertson, who was certainly in an offside position, ducked in front of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to allow the ball to drift in. Many felt Robertson's presence was inconsequential and that the goal should have stood, but ultimately the Reds were given a brutal lesson. Once Nico Gonzalez's deflected shot made it 2-0 just before half-time, the contest was effectively over. Guardiola seems re-energised by the task of putting City right after a poor campaign by their standards last time out, assembling a range of attacking weapons capable of winning any game - led by the remarkable spearhead of Haaland. The first goal on Sunday was rich in the creativity that is Guardiola's hallmark, a magical moment that was a fitting way to mark his big day. It was a masterpiece that will live long in the memory. City weaved their way out from facing Liverpool pressure near their own corner flag with a glorious sequence of passes from back to front. This symphony of Guardiola's style ended in a familiar crescendo as Haaland soared above Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate to meet Matheus Nunes' cross and send a header past keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Nunes' cross that set up Haaland's header was the 19th pass in the move that simply cut through Liverpool until it reached its final flourish. It could be used as a monument to Guardiola's footballing philosophy. Haaland had already uncharacteristically wasted a chance to put City ahead as his penalty was saved by Mamardashvili after the keeper was penalised for upending Jeremy Doku, but it was not long before the remarkable striker scored his 99th Premier League goal. Doku is a transformative symbol of this new City. The 23-year-old has gone from being an unquestionably talented winger, but sometimes maddeningly inconsistent, to the brilliant catalyst behind so much of their best moments this season. He gave Conor Bradley, outstanding in Liverpool's win against Real Madrid in the Champions League, a horrible time. Bradley was run ragged by the pace and physical presence of Doku - although surely no-one could cope with the Belgian in this form. Doku was simply unstoppable, a player now in full flower after finally becoming accustomed to Guardiola's high demands following a £55.4m move from Rennes in August 2023. Rayan Cherki adds subtlety in midfield, while Phil Foden is back to his best and Bernardo Silva still has all the old guile to keep City moving with his prompting. It was a resounding win in every way, giving Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta - formerly Guardiola's assistant - a hefty helping of food for thought over the international break. For Liverpool, this was a return to earth with a resounding thud after their recent upturn. They now languish in eighth place, eight points behind Arsenal and four adrift of City, but with momentum stalled. Liverpool's tally of five defeats this season now eclipses the four they suffered when they won the title. And there are still disturbing signs that Liverpool have yet to adapt to the summer influx of almost £450m worth of new talent. Hugo Ekitike, one of the successes, was subdued here while £125m fellow striker Alexander Isak was an unused substitute after three weeks out with a groin injury. It was another day of suffering and disappointment for £116m playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose struggles were made worse by the taunts of City's fans, remembering how he turned down a move to Etihad Stadium in order to join Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz, at this stage, clearly struggles with the physicality of the Premier League. The talent is clearly there, but too often he is shrugged off easily in possession. It is something he will have to get used to and counter-act. Inevitable barracking came Wirtz's way with a chant of "what a waste of money" from jubilant home fans when he was replaced by Federico Chiesa seven minutes from time. Guardiola, meanwhile, revelled in the victory but looked forward to the games that will follow the international break. "Now rest and come back with the energy," he said, before reflecting on the pathway that brought him to this stage of a remarkable coaching life. "I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise that I was able to do it and learn a lot. "I will never forget the guys in that first season. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool. I have a huge respect for that club." This was Guardiola's day of celebration. And City made it an occasion to remember.

7 hours ago

Politics

Shutdown could reduce US flights ‘to a trickle’, transport secretary warns

Flight delays and cancellations continue to snarl US air travel for a third day as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned air traffic will be "reduced to a trickle" if the US government shutdown continues. More than 2,900 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled and8,600delayed by late afternoon on Sunday, according to flight tracker FlightAware. The longest delays were reported in Newark, New Jersey, with more than two hours on average. In a hopeful sign, lawmakers are working on a possible deal to reach a compromise on government funding and end the shutdown, according to US media reports. The Senate was scheduled to convene on Sunday in a rare weekend session. Duffy warned that the impacts on air travel will grow dire if they do not break the stalemate soon. "You're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle," he said on CNN on Sunday. He added that travellers trying to fly home for the Thanksgiving holiday later this month may not be able to get there. "Many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn't open back up," he said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week that it would be reducing air travel capacity by up to 6% this weekend and 10% by next weekend at 40 of the nation's busiest airports. The cuts do not apply to international flights, but some airlines may choose to also cancel some of those flights, the FAA said. Air traffic controllers, who are not being paid during the shutdown, are reportedly fatigued and not coming to work, triggering the reductions in air traffic allowances. Duffy said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth offered to have military air traffic controllers step in to help but he declined the offer because they are not certified to direct air traffic at the civilian airports. Altogether, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are not being paid since the Government ran out of money on 1 October. Food assistance for low-income Americans also has been in limbo, with the administration agreeing to pay only half of the monthly benefits. Sunday marked the 40th day of the longest shutdown in history, as Republicans and Democrats still have not agreed on a funding resolution to reopen the government. The two parties have blamed each other for causing the impasse and for the travel disruptions. The White House said on Friday that Democrats were "inflicting their man-made catastrophe on Americans just trying to make life-saving medical trips or get home for Thanksgiving". Meanwhile, on Saturday, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of "playing games with people's livelihoods". Democrats have refused to back any Republican spending plan unless money for health insurance subsidies is included, while Republicans want to provide funding for the government without anything else attached. US President Donald Trump suggested over the weekend that money should be sent directly to Americans to buy health insurance rather than to insurance companies. Republican senators are working on a compromise package that could end the impasse with a vote to advance legislation, possibly coming on Sunday.

7 hours ago

Sports

Lewandowski hits hat-trick as Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2

Robert Lewandowski scored a brilliant hat-trick to help Barcelona move within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a victory at Celta Vigo. The Polish striker gave the Spanish champions a ninth-minute lead from the penalty spot after Marcos Alonso had handled Fermin Lopez's shot in the area. Celta Vigo immediately responded as Sergio Carreira finished off a counter-attack 22 seconds after Barcelona's Marcus Rashford had a one-on-one chance saved. Rashford made up for his miss in the 36th minute when his cross found Lewandowski, who restored the visitors' lead with a volleyed finish. But mid-table Celta Vigo hit back again in a frantic first half through Borja Iglesias' curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the box. Teenager Lamine Yamal then gave his side the lead for a third time in first-half stoppage time as he dispatched Rashford's deflected cross at the back post. And in the 73rd minute Lewandowski completed his hat-trick by heading in Rashford's corner at the near post. The 37-year-old now has three La Liga hat-tricks, to add to his tally of 16 in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona had to play the final four minutes of stoppage time with 10 men after midfielder Frenkie de Jong received a second yellow card for tripping Iago Aspas. The win ensured Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid dropping points earlier on Sunday as Xabi Alonso's side played out a drab draw with city rivals Rayo Vallecano.

10 hours ago

Politics

Trump administration tells states to stop paying full food aid benefits

The Trump administration is ordering US states to stop paying full food aid benefits to low-income American families, saying they are "unauthorised". A memo from the US Department of Agriculture, which runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), said states can deliver just 65% of benefits after the Supreme Court allowed the administration to withhold some funding pending further legal hearings. More than 42 million Americans who rely on the food aid began receiving only partial benefits this month due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Some states had been issuing full benefits after a federal judge last week ordered the Trump administration to fully fund the programme. The USDA memo directs states, which administer the programme that relies on federal funds, to stop paying out 100% of November's benefits and to claw back any funds they have already distributed above the 65% threshold. "States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025," the USDA said in its Saturday memo. If states don't comply with the latest guidance, the agency warned it may cancel federal funding for state administrative costs, and hold states "liable for any overissuances". The BBC has contacted the White House and the USDA for comment. The latest memo comes after the USDA told states on Friday that it is working towards issuing full benefits as it sought to comply with a lower court order requiring it to do so using emergency funds. The Supreme Court later paused that lower court order. New York, Massachusetts, California, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are among the states who had begun paying out full benefits to Snap recipients. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, wrote in a Sunday post on X that his response to the request to return the benefits was a simple "no". Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said in a statement that if "President Trump wants to penalize states for preventing Americans from going hungry, we will see him in court". The Democratic governor said the funds had already been sent to recipients late last week in accordance with the earlier guidance received from the USDA. The clawback request is the Trump administration's latest move in the funding battle over Snap, also known as food stamps, as the longest government shutdown in US history drags on. The legal saga was spurred after the USDA announced benefits would be halted in November due to the lack of funding over the shutdown. On Friday night, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order temporarily allowing the Trump administration to temporarily withhold $4bn (£3.04bn) of funding for the benefits while it appeals the lower court's order. The Snap programme is used by around one in eight Americans and costs almost $9bn (£6.9bn) a month. A family of four on average receives $715 per month, which breaks down to a little less than $6 per day, per person.

11 hours ago

Health

Three dead and 15 injured in Tenerife tidal surge

Three people died and 15 more were injured after powerful waves battered the popular Spanish holiday island of Tenerife. A woman died after being pulled into the ocean near the Puerto de la Cruz resort, and a man died at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, emergency services said on Sunday. A third man was found dead in the ocean near a beach in Granadilla. Emergency services have told the public to stay away from coastal paths and to avoid taking pictures and videos of the rough seas, as the turbulent weather continues. Rescue services said they airlifted a man who fell into water at La Guancha in the north of the island, but that he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. They said another man died after he was found floating near a beach at El Cabezo in the south, with lifeguards and medical staff unable to resuscitate him. At Puerto de la Cruz, a holiday resort in northern Tenerife, one woman died of a heart attack, and another 10 people were swept out to sea. Three of those were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. A local waiter, who gave his name only as Pedro, told the Reuters news agency that he jumped into the water in an attempt to save people being swept out. "As soon as I saw a man waving at me, I took my clothes off, jumped into the water, and managed to grab three of them and save them. I couldn't save the woman because she passed away at that moment," he said. Eyewitness Carlos said he warned people taking photos to move away from the waves, but "they did not pay attention". Officials say the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago Tenerife belongs, are on alert for coastal hazards. They warned sea conditions are expected to worsen with swells reaching two-to-four metres, and tourists and locals should exercise "extreme caution".

11 hours ago