Just before the season started, Arsène Wenger sent Owen Coyle a text that undoubtedly disappointed the Bolton manager.
Jack Wilshere had spent a successful sojourn at the Reebok Stadium at the end of the 2009/10 campaign. The midfielder had gathered valuable Premier League playing time that his Arsenal manager simply could not accommodate.
Therefore it was no surprise when Coyle enquired if the 18-year-old could come back this term for a longer spell. But, ironically enough, Wilshere's improvement - largely down to his spell in Lancashire - convinced Wenger to refuse.
The youngster backed up his manager's position by starting the first two games of the Premier League season and, before that, winning his first England cap.
Therefore when Coyle arrives with his team at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, he will know exactly what he is missing.
"Yes Bolton wanted to keep him this season that is true and I considered it," said Wenger. "I told Owen Coyle they could have him for another year if I felt he had no chance to play for us at all. But after pre-season I felt he had a chance to compete for a place in our team. That is why I texted him to say that I will keep him.
"For me he's the same player that went on loan last year. They didn't teach him to play football at Bolton, he was already a great player. But he has more power now and they continued his development.
"Coyle did a good job but Jack was already a very gifted player. Since going there he has grown physically and is stronger. He has gained also experience and he is more mature."
That maturity was under scrutiny during Wenger's pre-match media work. Wilshere made unwanted headlines recently following an incident outside a nightclub. Subsequently he was left of the first England Under-21 game during the break but came back to star in the second.
Wenger was pleased with that reaction adding that "this is part of his character".
He went on: "Jack is quite focused in training and wants to do well so I was surprised [at his omission] but maybe he was concerned that this story gets out of proportion - that he was involved. But from what I've heard he hasn't done a lot wrong."
While Wilshere recovered his poise on England duty overall the international break has come at a cost for Arsenal. Theo Walcott damaged his ankle in the build-up to the Three Lions' first goal on Tuesday night and will be missing for four to six weeks.
Thomas Vermaelen collected an Achilles problem while playing for Belgium but his absence is likely to extend to Saturday alone. That means Sebastien Squillaci will make his debut alongside Laurent Koscielny at centre back. The former Frenchman has had 90 minutes of Arsenal action for the Reserves, the latter has had 180 first-team minutes.
Their compatriot Samir Nasri is back in the Arsenal squad having returned early from knee surgery. Meanwhile Johan Djourou is likely to be involved for the first time this season.
This week the absence of Robin van Persie (ankle) was confirmed at "four to six weeks" while Nicklas Bendtner (groin) is estimated at "three to four".
Bolton have made an assured start to the campaign with a draw at home to Fulham and a win at West Ham. However they will probably take most pleasure from their last game when they had Jussi Jaaskelainen sent off then let-in two goals to Birmingham before storming back to draw in the final stages.
Coyle has been credited with changing Bolton's reputation as a bulldozering side. But for Wenger they are still a work in progress and therefore still retain much of their traditional power.
"I believe Bolton have a good mixture of a direct game and football on the ground," he said. "They have kept their strong assets up front with Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies. Also they have good crossers of the ball with Martin Petrov and Chung-Young Lee on the flanks. They can be a very dangerous side because they have a good mixture of a technical game and a direct game.
"We are a mixture of patience and the need to dictate the way we feel the game has to be played. So you have to adapt to what you have and make the changes slowly and I feel Owen has done that well."
Last season, this fixture was testament to Arsenal's mid-term transformation. Having trailed Chelsea by 11 points on November 29, they went into the match with Bolton on January 20 with the opportunity to go top. They trailed 2-0 early on before storming back to win 4-2.
"Bolton are a good side," said Wenger. "If you look at the players they have on the pitch but I believe we have enough quality on the pitch to beat them and that's what we want to show. We've had a satisfying start to the season with two difficult away games with Liverpool and Blackburn and we have done well so it is important we build on from that."
Wenger's last point is the most pertinent. Those Arsenal fans celebrating up at Ewood Park a fortnight ago were relieved as much as they were elated.
Their team withstood a barrage in the final minutes but came away with a win. They had also grabbed a last-gasp point at Liverpool on the opening day of the season.
Arsenal have seven points when they might have had four - a sizeable difference. There is a tendency to think September will be straightforward given that October starts with Chelsea away.
But reaction is crucial in any successful League campaign. The ‘game after' syndrome could be the single factor that derails your title chances. Champions League trips are one part of that equation, international breaks are another.
Losing a couple of key players will not have helped Arsenal's focus but it must return by 3pm on Saturday because, make no mistake, Coyle's Bolton are just the type of team to capitalise.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Arsenal bolton match preview
Arsenal v Bolton, Saturday, 11 September 2010, 15:00
Arsenal will be without defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) for tomorrow’s visit of Bolton, but will have midfielder Samir Nasri available again following knee surgery.
Forward Theo Walcott is out for up to six weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on duty for England in midweek, and Holland forward Robin van Persie (ankle) is still not fit.
Sebastien Squillaci is set for his debut in central defence, while midfielder Denilson returns after an abdominal injury. However, Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain out.
Team (from): Almunia, Clichy, Squillaci, Koscielny, Sagna, Rosicky, Song, Fabregas, Eboue, Arshavin, Chamakh, Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Diaby, Vela, Denilson, Nasri, Djourou.
ì
Arsenal v Bolton
î
Saturday, 11 September 2010, 15:00
Bolton manager Owen Coyle will hand goalkeeper Adam Bogdan his first Barclays Premier League start tomorrow when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Hungarian replaces Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is suspended after being sent off in the 2-2 draw against Birmingham.
Coyle will monitor the fitness of striker Ivan Klasnic, who missed that match because of a thigh strain.
Provisional squad: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov, Elmander, K Davies, Klasnic, Lainton, M Davies, Blake, Taylor, Ricketts, Alonso, A O’Brien, Moreno.
Arsenal will be without defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) for tomorrow’s visit of Bolton, but will have midfielder Samir Nasri available again following knee surgery.
Forward Theo Walcott is out for up to six weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on duty for England in midweek, and Holland forward Robin van Persie (ankle) is still not fit.
Sebastien Squillaci is set for his debut in central defence, while midfielder Denilson returns after an abdominal injury. However, Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain out.
Team (from): Almunia, Clichy, Squillaci, Koscielny, Sagna, Rosicky, Song, Fabregas, Eboue, Arshavin, Chamakh, Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Diaby, Vela, Denilson, Nasri, Djourou.
ì
Arsenal v Bolton
î
Saturday, 11 September 2010, 15:00
Bolton manager Owen Coyle will hand goalkeeper Adam Bogdan his first Barclays Premier League start tomorrow when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Hungarian replaces Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is suspended after being sent off in the 2-2 draw against Birmingham.
Coyle will monitor the fitness of striker Ivan Klasnic, who missed that match because of a thigh strain.
Provisional squad: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, Robinson, Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov, Elmander, K Davies, Klasnic, Lainton, M Davies, Blake, Taylor, Ricketts, Alonso, A O’Brien, Moreno.
gallas 2 become caaptain
HARRY REDKNAPP is ready to hand William Gallas and Rafael van der Vaart their Tottenham debuts at West Brom.
Redknapp, who is without injured duo Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson, admits he must make better use of his squad during the club's maiden Champions League campaign.
And that means he will turn to new signings Gallas and Van der Vaart as Spurs look to get back on track after losing to Wigan before the international break.
Redknapp said: "The one thing I did learn — a lesson — last week was maybe I should've changed the team that played against Wigan.
"We went to Stoke and had a great result on the Saturday, came back and won the Champions League qualifier with Young Boys.
"And then I really went with the same team, more or less, on the Saturday against Wigan.
"Maybe I should've rested one or two and changed a few around, then it might have worked better for us."
Redknapp, who is without injured duo Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson, admits he must make better use of his squad during the club's maiden Champions League campaign.
And that means he will turn to new signings Gallas and Van der Vaart as Spurs look to get back on track after losing to Wigan before the international break.
Redknapp said: "The one thing I did learn — a lesson — last week was maybe I should've changed the team that played against Wigan.
"We went to Stoke and had a great result on the Saturday, came back and won the Champions League qualifier with Young Boys.
"And then I really went with the same team, more or less, on the Saturday against Wigan.
"Maybe I should've rested one or two and changed a few around, then it might have worked better for us."
Nigeria arrests ex-NFF officials over World Cup money
Four Nigerian former football officials have been arrested amid accusations that some $8m (£5m) went missing during the World Cup finals in South Africa.
The four, who include former football federation head Sani Lulu Abdullahi, are due to appear in court in the capital Abuja shortly, an anti-corruption official told the BBC.
The four were sacked over Nigeria's poor performance at the finals.
They have not yet commented on the accusations.
Their passports were seized in July.
After the Super Eagles' failure to qualify from the group stages of the World Cup finals, President Goodluck Jonathan banned them from international competition for two years, before relenting under pressure from the sport's world governing body, Fifa.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman Femi Babafemi told the BBC that the four - Mr Lulu, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Amanze Uchegbulam - would face a number of charges.
These include making payments to unauthorised delegates, chartering an allegedly faulty aircraft and paying $400,000 to stage a friendly match against Colombia in London, shortly before the finals.
The four have already been interrogated on these matters.
"This is a serious case of national interest hence all four men have been detained and will be in court on Tuesday," he said.
Meanwhile, a judge has ordered that elections for a new Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership be annulled.
The four, who include former football federation head Sani Lulu Abdullahi, are due to appear in court in the capital Abuja shortly, an anti-corruption official told the BBC.
The four were sacked over Nigeria's poor performance at the finals.
They have not yet commented on the accusations.
Their passports were seized in July.
After the Super Eagles' failure to qualify from the group stages of the World Cup finals, President Goodluck Jonathan banned them from international competition for two years, before relenting under pressure from the sport's world governing body, Fifa.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesman Femi Babafemi told the BBC that the four - Mr Lulu, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, Taiwo Ogunjobi and Amanze Uchegbulam - would face a number of charges.
These include making payments to unauthorised delegates, chartering an allegedly faulty aircraft and paying $400,000 to stage a friendly match against Colombia in London, shortly before the finals.
The four have already been interrogated on these matters.
"This is a serious case of national interest hence all four men have been detained and will be in court on Tuesday," he said.
Meanwhile, a judge has ordered that elections for a new Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership be annulled.
wenger for englaand
ARSENE WENGER has stated once again that he believes England's next manager must be English.
With Fabio Capello set to leave the role when his contract expires after the 2012 European Championships, a number of potential replacements are already being touted.
Wenger was himself once top of the FA's wanted list, but firmly believes the next man in charge of the Three Lions must be home-grown.
He said: "I always come out with the same answer. Let the national team take somebody from England and that represents the country.
"That is the best way to do it."
With Fabio Capello set to leave the role when his contract expires after the 2012 European Championships, a number of potential replacements are already being touted.
Wenger was himself once top of the FA's wanted list, but firmly believes the next man in charge of the Three Lions must be home-grown.
He said: "I always come out with the same answer. Let the national team take somebody from England and that represents the country.
"That is the best way to do it."
Nigeria coaching job up for grabs as NFF advertise post Nigeria coaching job up for grabs as NFF advertise post
he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that it will advertise the vacant Super Eagles coaching post.
NFF board member Chris Green confirmed that after its executive committee's inaugural meeting, it was agreed the job would be open to applicants.
The new NFF executives said the move was taken in the interest of transparency.
Green also said that a new coach would be hired by 1 October, just days before an important qualifier away in Guinea.
The NFF announcement is a complete departure from earlier developments where the previous leadership of the football association had already opened discussions with former Olympic team coach, Samson Siasia.
Siasia's appointment stalled over his personal terms. The NFF offered him a monthly salary of $20,000, while the 42-year-old requested $100,000 and a signing-on fee.
Austin Eguavoen is currently in temporary charge of the national team, after Swedish coach Lars Lagerback vacated the position following Nigeria's disappointing World Cup showing.
I think things should be done properly and quickly to get things sorted, so we all know where we stand and [can] move forward from there
Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi
Earlier in the week, Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi demanded that the NFF put its house in order.
Mikel rebuked members of the NFF over the country's battered football image, following long-standing reports of internal feuding, which have overshadowed preparations for Sunday's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
"Nigeria football has been a laughing stock to be honest, but I always try to defend my country by insisting we are still the best and biggest," Mikel told Brila FM in Lagos.
NFF board member Chris Green confirmed that after its executive committee's inaugural meeting, it was agreed the job would be open to applicants.
The new NFF executives said the move was taken in the interest of transparency.
Green also said that a new coach would be hired by 1 October, just days before an important qualifier away in Guinea.
The NFF announcement is a complete departure from earlier developments where the previous leadership of the football association had already opened discussions with former Olympic team coach, Samson Siasia.
Siasia's appointment stalled over his personal terms. The NFF offered him a monthly salary of $20,000, while the 42-year-old requested $100,000 and a signing-on fee.
Austin Eguavoen is currently in temporary charge of the national team, after Swedish coach Lars Lagerback vacated the position following Nigeria's disappointing World Cup showing.
I think things should be done properly and quickly to get things sorted, so we all know where we stand and [can] move forward from there
Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi
Earlier in the week, Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi demanded that the NFF put its house in order.
Mikel rebuked members of the NFF over the country's battered football image, following long-standing reports of internal feuding, which have overshadowed preparations for Sunday's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
"Nigeria football has been a laughing stock to be honest, but I always try to defend my country by insisting we are still the best and biggest," Mikel told Brila FM in Lagos.
Osaze Odemwingie hits back at 'racist' Russian fans
Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie has hit out at fans of his former club in Russia, following apparently racist banners targeted at him last weekend.
Photographs showed Lokomotiv Moscow fans celebrating the sale of Odemwingie to West Bromwich Albion.
One (above) included the image of a banana and read "Thanks West Brom".
"It's a minority group but it's really sad - I have a good relationship with the club but this is a big disgrace," Odemwingie told BBC Sport.
The 29-year-old explained that black players are regularly subjected to insults in the Russian league but said the authorities do not act.
"Some fans treated me well at the club - only a group of supporters have shown how narrow minded they are to the world," Odemwingie said.
"Coloured players feel the open racism there and I recall a game against CSKA Moscow when their fans started the sick noises - I wouldn't have any of it and gave it back to them.
"This was widely publicised because photographers had shots of my protest but still nothing was done to curb it.
"Sadly, it's a picture of a minority group in Russia - it really makes you feel sick but that is what it is.
"You can't totally condemn the league or the people but I am a stronger individual, focusing on my career with Nigeria and West Brom now."
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has promised to write a protest letter to Fifa calling for disciplinary action to be taken following the incident.
"We condemn this act of racism aimed at Osaze Odemwingie, hence we are preparing a letter to Fifa to discipline racist incidents in accordance with the Fifa statutes and the Fifa disciplinary code," NFF spokesman Robinson Okosun told BBC Sport.
Photographs showed Lokomotiv Moscow fans celebrating the sale of Odemwingie to West Bromwich Albion.
One (above) included the image of a banana and read "Thanks West Brom".
"It's a minority group but it's really sad - I have a good relationship with the club but this is a big disgrace," Odemwingie told BBC Sport.
The 29-year-old explained that black players are regularly subjected to insults in the Russian league but said the authorities do not act.
"Some fans treated me well at the club - only a group of supporters have shown how narrow minded they are to the world," Odemwingie said.
"Coloured players feel the open racism there and I recall a game against CSKA Moscow when their fans started the sick noises - I wouldn't have any of it and gave it back to them.
"This was widely publicised because photographers had shots of my protest but still nothing was done to curb it.
"Sadly, it's a picture of a minority group in Russia - it really makes you feel sick but that is what it is.
"You can't totally condemn the league or the people but I am a stronger individual, focusing on my career with Nigeria and West Brom now."
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has promised to write a protest letter to Fifa calling for disciplinary action to be taken following the incident.
"We condemn this act of racism aimed at Osaze Odemwingie, hence we are preparing a letter to Fifa to discipline racist incidents in accordance with the Fifa statutes and the Fifa disciplinary code," NFF spokesman Robinson Okosun told BBC Sport.
Paul Scholes and Carlo Ancelotti pick up Barclays awards for August Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1310906/Paul-Scholes
Paul Scholes has been named Barclays Player of the Month for August with Carlo Ancelotti picking up the award for best boss.
Manchester United midfielder Scholes was outstanding in his side's opener against Newcastle, scored a superb goal in the draw at Fulham and was at his brilliant best in the 3-0 win over West Ham.
Class act: Scholes has been in superb form in the opening stages of the season
Rocket man: Scholes rifles one in from the edge of the box at Craven Cottage
Scholes, 35, has now received the award four times in his glittering career and is only one behind Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard in the all-time list.
He is tied with Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Top of the pile: Ancelotti is looking down on the rest of the Premier League
Top of the pile: Ancelotti is looking down on the rest of the Premier League
Chelsea manager Ancelotti was honoured for guiding his side to the top of the table with three straight wins.
The Blues his West Brom and Wigan for for six and beat Stoke 2-0. The stubborn champions have yet to concede a goal.
Italian Ancelotti has now won the monthly award twice.
Manchester United midfielder Scholes was outstanding in his side's opener against Newcastle, scored a superb goal in the draw at Fulham and was at his brilliant best in the 3-0 win over West Ham.
Class act: Scholes has been in superb form in the opening stages of the season
Rocket man: Scholes rifles one in from the edge of the box at Craven Cottage
Scholes, 35, has now received the award four times in his glittering career and is only one behind Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard in the all-time list.
He is tied with Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Top of the pile: Ancelotti is looking down on the rest of the Premier League
Top of the pile: Ancelotti is looking down on the rest of the Premier League
Chelsea manager Ancelotti was honoured for guiding his side to the top of the table with three straight wins.
The Blues his West Brom and Wigan for for six and beat Stoke 2-0. The stubborn champions have yet to concede a goal.
Italian Ancelotti has now won the monthly award twice.
Theo Walcott's injuries worry Arsene Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is concerned how Theo Walcott's latest injury setback will affect the England international on a mental level.
Walcott, 21, faces up to six weeks out after damaging his ankle in England's 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win over Switzerland on Tuesday.
Wenger said: "It is frustrating for him. You never know what kind of psychological impact it has."
"The mental side is always a question mark when a player gets injuries."
Walcott first suffered a lay-off in November 2008, when he dislocated a shoulder on England duty, ruling him out for six months.
A litany of further problems, including back, knee and hamstring injuries, marred his 2009-10 season - his stop-start availability for his club culminating in his controversial omission from England manager Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
And Wenger added: "When you are a manager and you see an injury doesn't harm the career of a player, you are happy.
"After that the only unknown quantity is how much it will damage his confidence in the box, on tackling and all that."
Walcott made no secret of his disappointment at Capello's summer snub but he began this season brightly for club and country.
He found the net three times in four games for the Gunners and impressed in his three international appearances - even catching the eye during the 10 minutes he was on the field in Basle before a challenge by Swiss defender Yves Oehri ended his night.
But, despite his bad luck, Wenger has backed the player he acquired for £5m from Southampton in 2006 to once again bounce back.
"Ideally, you do not want a player to be injured many times by bad tackles," added the Frenchman.
"However, I believe Theo will deal well with that because he has done it before."
Second-placed Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at home to Bolton on Saturday, with Wenger also without the talents of striker Robin van Persie, whose ankle knock carries approximately the same prognosis as Walcott's, and central defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles).
Winger Aaron Ramsey, meanwhile, is expected back in November as the Welshman continues his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered at Stoke last February.
Walcott, 21, faces up to six weeks out after damaging his ankle in England's 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win over Switzerland on Tuesday.
Wenger said: "It is frustrating for him. You never know what kind of psychological impact it has."
"The mental side is always a question mark when a player gets injuries."
Walcott first suffered a lay-off in November 2008, when he dislocated a shoulder on England duty, ruling him out for six months.
A litany of further problems, including back, knee and hamstring injuries, marred his 2009-10 season - his stop-start availability for his club culminating in his controversial omission from England manager Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
And Wenger added: "When you are a manager and you see an injury doesn't harm the career of a player, you are happy.
"After that the only unknown quantity is how much it will damage his confidence in the box, on tackling and all that."
Walcott made no secret of his disappointment at Capello's summer snub but he began this season brightly for club and country.
He found the net three times in four games for the Gunners and impressed in his three international appearances - even catching the eye during the 10 minutes he was on the field in Basle before a challenge by Swiss defender Yves Oehri ended his night.
But, despite his bad luck, Wenger has backed the player he acquired for £5m from Southampton in 2006 to once again bounce back.
"Ideally, you do not want a player to be injured many times by bad tackles," added the Frenchman.
"However, I believe Theo will deal well with that because he has done it before."
Second-placed Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at home to Bolton on Saturday, with Wenger also without the talents of striker Robin van Persie, whose ankle knock carries approximately the same prognosis as Walcott's, and central defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles).
Winger Aaron Ramsey, meanwhile, is expected back in November as the Welshman continues his rehabilitation from the broken leg he suffered at Stoke last February.
Fasuba will bounce back , Onyali
Former African queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi has backed African 100m record holder, Olusoji Fasuba to make a strong comeback to the tracks.
Fasubu has not featured in any race this season and he is not likely to do so due to loss of form.
But Onyali submitted that Fasuba still has some steam left to make a strong comeback.
She was speaking against the background of flagging performances recorded by Nigerian male sprinters at the African Championships.
AFasuba has been injured and I=m sure when he is fully fit he will make a comeback. We all know what he can do and so we need to give him a break to get himself back,@said Onyali.
Since running the African record of 9.85 in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and winning the World Indoor 2008 in Valencia, Spain, Fasuba has never been at his sprinting best.
His reign as Nigeria=s 100m champion was terminated in 2009 by Obinna Metu. Fasuba blamed his poor form on a career threatening ankle injury he sustained during training.
However, a member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Jide Josiah traced Fasuba=s plummeting form to his decision to marry when he was at the peak of his career.
AThis was a real big distraction to him. I remember quite well how former AFN president, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei pleaded with him to put his marriage on hold.
AShe really wanted him to make a strong impact after setting the African record but Fasuba still went ahead, since then he has not been his best,@he said.Former African queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi has backed African 100m record holder, Olusoji Fasuba to make a strong comeback to the tracks.
Fasubu has not featured in any race this season and he is not likely to do so due to loss of form.
But Onyali submitted that Fasuba still has some steam left to make a strong comeback.
She was speaking against the background of flagging performances recorded by Nigerian male sprinters at the African Championships.
AFasuba has been injured and I=m sure when he is fully fit he will make a comeback. We all know what he can do and so we need to give him a break to get himself back,@said Onyali.
Since running the African record of 9.85 in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and winning the World Indoor 2008 in Valencia, Spain, Fasuba has never been at his sprinting best.
His reign as Nigeria=s 100m champion was terminated in 2009 by Obinna Metu. Fasuba blamed his poor form on a career threatening ankle injury he sustained during training.
However, a member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Jide Josiah traced Fasuba=s plummeting form to his decision to marry when he was at the peak of his career.
AThis was a real big distraction to him. I remember quite well how former AFN president, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei pleaded with him to put his marriage on hold.
AShe really wanted him to make a strong impact after setting the African record but Fasuba still went ahead, since then he has not been his best,@he said.
Fasubu has not featured in any race this season and he is not likely to do so due to loss of form.
But Onyali submitted that Fasuba still has some steam left to make a strong comeback.
She was speaking against the background of flagging performances recorded by Nigerian male sprinters at the African Championships.
AFasuba has been injured and I=m sure when he is fully fit he will make a comeback. We all know what he can do and so we need to give him a break to get himself back,@said Onyali.
Since running the African record of 9.85 in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and winning the World Indoor 2008 in Valencia, Spain, Fasuba has never been at his sprinting best.
His reign as Nigeria=s 100m champion was terminated in 2009 by Obinna Metu. Fasuba blamed his poor form on a career threatening ankle injury he sustained during training.
However, a member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Jide Josiah traced Fasuba=s plummeting form to his decision to marry when he was at the peak of his career.
AThis was a real big distraction to him. I remember quite well how former AFN president, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei pleaded with him to put his marriage on hold.
AShe really wanted him to make a strong impact after setting the African record but Fasuba still went ahead, since then he has not been his best,@he said.Former African queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi has backed African 100m record holder, Olusoji Fasuba to make a strong comeback to the tracks.
Fasubu has not featured in any race this season and he is not likely to do so due to loss of form.
But Onyali submitted that Fasuba still has some steam left to make a strong comeback.
She was speaking against the background of flagging performances recorded by Nigerian male sprinters at the African Championships.
AFasuba has been injured and I=m sure when he is fully fit he will make a comeback. We all know what he can do and so we need to give him a break to get himself back,@said Onyali.
Since running the African record of 9.85 in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and winning the World Indoor 2008 in Valencia, Spain, Fasuba has never been at his sprinting best.
His reign as Nigeria=s 100m champion was terminated in 2009 by Obinna Metu. Fasuba blamed his poor form on a career threatening ankle injury he sustained during training.
However, a member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Jide Josiah traced Fasuba=s plummeting form to his decision to marry when he was at the peak of his career.
AThis was a real big distraction to him. I remember quite well how former AFN president, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei pleaded with him to put his marriage on hold.
AShe really wanted him to make a strong impact after setting the African record but Fasuba still went ahead, since then he has not been his best,@he said.
Jonathan sacks service chiefs, IG, D-G SSS
Forty years after the Nigeria-Biafra war, an Igbo man was yesterday named chief of Army staff. President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Major-General O. Azubuike Ihejirika as the new head of the Army. He takes over from Lt.-General Abdulrahaman Dambazau.
By the action, Major-General Ihejirika becomes the first Igbo man to occupy the office of chief of Army staff (COAS) since the end of the civil war in 1970.
However, it was not all too good for Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo who was removed and replaced with Assistant Inspector- General (AIG), Hafiz Ringim.
The changes were announced in a sweeping overhaul of the leadership of the forces and the State Security Services (SSS) where Ita Ekpeyong was appointed to replace Afarkiya Gadzama.
Other replacements announced yesterday by President Jonathan include that of chief of defence staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike who was replaced with Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, immediate past chief of the Air Force.
Also removed was chief of the Naval Staff with Rear Admiral Ola Sa�ad Ibrahim, formerly Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Apapa, appointed in his stead, while Air Vice Marshal Mohammed D. Umar was appointed chief of the Air Force. Before now, he was Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna.
A statement by the special adviser on media and communications to the President, Ima Niboro, said the changes became necessary as the tenure of the service chiefs lapsed in August.
Niboro said the appointments took immediate effect but subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, in line with the provision of the Armed Forces Act, section 18, Cap A20, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
�The President thanked the out-going service chiefs whose tenure expired in August for their loyalty and dedication to service. He specially commended them for defending the Nigerian Constitution at all times and for successful command of the Armed Forces during their tenure,� Niboro said.
He also said that �the President also thanked the out-going Inspector- General of Police and Director-General of the SSS for their dedication to service of the fatherland and wished them well in their future endeavours.�
General Ihejirika, prior to the appointment, was a director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja where he was in charge of logistics.
Earlier, he had served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, Lagos. He had also been chief of standards and evaluation at the Army headquarters.
The office of the COAS is at the apex of the Army structure. It exists under his command, to deter all forms of aggression. Section 18(3) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, saddles the COAS with the responsibility of command, direction and general superintendence of the Army.
By the action, Major-General Ihejirika becomes the first Igbo man to occupy the office of chief of Army staff (COAS) since the end of the civil war in 1970.
However, it was not all too good for Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo who was removed and replaced with Assistant Inspector- General (AIG), Hafiz Ringim.
The changes were announced in a sweeping overhaul of the leadership of the forces and the State Security Services (SSS) where Ita Ekpeyong was appointed to replace Afarkiya Gadzama.
Other replacements announced yesterday by President Jonathan include that of chief of defence staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike who was replaced with Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, immediate past chief of the Air Force.
Also removed was chief of the Naval Staff with Rear Admiral Ola Sa�ad Ibrahim, formerly Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Apapa, appointed in his stead, while Air Vice Marshal Mohammed D. Umar was appointed chief of the Air Force. Before now, he was Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna.
A statement by the special adviser on media and communications to the President, Ima Niboro, said the changes became necessary as the tenure of the service chiefs lapsed in August.
Niboro said the appointments took immediate effect but subject to confirmation by the National Assembly, in line with the provision of the Armed Forces Act, section 18, Cap A20, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
�The President thanked the out-going service chiefs whose tenure expired in August for their loyalty and dedication to service. He specially commended them for defending the Nigerian Constitution at all times and for successful command of the Armed Forces during their tenure,� Niboro said.
He also said that �the President also thanked the out-going Inspector- General of Police and Director-General of the SSS for their dedication to service of the fatherland and wished them well in their future endeavours.�
General Ihejirika, prior to the appointment, was a director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja where he was in charge of logistics.
Earlier, he had served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, Lagos. He had also been chief of standards and evaluation at the Army headquarters.
The office of the COAS is at the apex of the Army structure. It exists under his command, to deter all forms of aggression. Section 18(3) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, saddles the COAS with the responsibility of command, direction and general superintendence of the Army.
Glo to sponsor 202 for Man United games
Telecoms company Globacom has said it will sponsor over 200 of its subscribers on trips to the United Kingdom to watch Manchester United‘s live games at the Old Trafford.
The sponsorship is the second in its series after the company launched its Recharge and Go To Old Trafford Promo earlier in the year.
Globacom also said over 12,000 of its subscribers in Nigeria and Benin Republic will win N90m cash and free airtime in the promo.
In the Season I of the promo, the company sponsored over 70 subscribers on the network to Old Trafford.
The winners were picked from a pool of subscribers who qualified by recharging their Glo lines with a minimum of N500 weekly.
Globacom officials said the company had raised the stakes in the package targeted at rewarding existing and new subscribers on the GloMobile network.
To qualify for the weekly draw from which winners will be picked, GloMobile subscribers will need to recharge their lines with a minimum of N500 airtime.
The sponsorship is the second in its series after the company launched its Recharge and Go To Old Trafford Promo earlier in the year.
Globacom also said over 12,000 of its subscribers in Nigeria and Benin Republic will win N90m cash and free airtime in the promo.
In the Season I of the promo, the company sponsored over 70 subscribers on the network to Old Trafford.
The winners were picked from a pool of subscribers who qualified by recharging their Glo lines with a minimum of N500 weekly.
Globacom officials said the company had raised the stakes in the package targeted at rewarding existing and new subscribers on the GloMobile network.
To qualify for the weekly draw from which winners will be picked, GloMobile subscribers will need to recharge their lines with a minimum of N500 airtime.
Pepsi tourney will produce new talents –Nelson
Pepsi Football Academy‘s Consultant, Iain Nelson, has said that new soccer talents will emerge from all the teams participating in the on-going Pepsi Eight-Nation international tournament.
The championship entered its third day on Tuesday with two Pepsi Football Academy teams filing out against their respective opponents in what were generally considered explosive fixtures.
Speaking after the clash between LAFAD Academy of Cote d‘Ivoire and Dragon International of Republic Benin which ended 2-1 in favour of the former, Nelson said it was fulfilling watching West African youth footballers display their talents on the field of play.
He said, ”It is gratifying to note that new football talents will eventually be discovered from all the countries participating because the standard of play has been very high.
”Pepsi as a brand draws a lot of fulfilment from this and even the players themselves will forever be happy for having the opportunity to use this platform to unleash their talents.”
The PFA consultant described the tournament as a worthy investment in line with the corporate responsibility of the 7Up Bottling Company which is driven by the desire to give something back to the society.
The championship entered its third day on Tuesday with two Pepsi Football Academy teams filing out against their respective opponents in what were generally considered explosive fixtures.
Speaking after the clash between LAFAD Academy of Cote d‘Ivoire and Dragon International of Republic Benin which ended 2-1 in favour of the former, Nelson said it was fulfilling watching West African youth footballers display their talents on the field of play.
He said, ”It is gratifying to note that new football talents will eventually be discovered from all the countries participating because the standard of play has been very high.
”Pepsi as a brand draws a lot of fulfilment from this and even the players themselves will forever be happy for having the opportunity to use this platform to unleash their talents.”
The PFA consultant described the tournament as a worthy investment in line with the corporate responsibility of the 7Up Bottling Company which is driven by the desire to give something back to the society.
FIFA U-17 World Cup: Nigeria qualify for q’finals
Nigeria early on Thursday qualified for the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 Women‘s World Cup courtesy of a winner four minutes from time by Loveth Ayila against Trinidad and Tobago in Marabella.
Buoyed by a rousing home atmosphere and some inspirational goalkeeping from Linfah Jones, the locals appeared set to hang on for a crucial against-the-odds point until Ayila‘s late goal.
The 2-1 victory, combined with a 3-2 opening win against 2008 champions Korea DPR, sees the Flamingoes assured of their passage, and needing just a point from their final match against Chile to guarantee top spot in the group.
The late goal means T&T must defeat the Koreans in the final group encounter to avoid elimination.
Nigeria started positively and Halimatu Ayinde went close to opening the scoring on five minutes, before then setting up Sarah Nnodim soon after only for the latter to miscue her effort.
Nigeria continued in the same vein and Oluchi Ofoegbu rocked the crossbar with an effort from 25 metres as the Flamingoes inched closer to breaking the deadlock.
They finally did so on 28 minutes with a long ball from deep played into the path of Francisca Ordega who coolly lobbed the advancing Jones with a header.
Ayinde nearly doubled the advantage soon after, but her shot from near the penalty spot was blocked.
Nine minutes before the interval T&T, lifted by the relentless support of the home crowd‘s tuneful rhythm section, restored parity via the boot of Liana Hinds.
The provider of the winner three days earlier against Chile profited from the good lead-up work of Jonelle Warrick, whose solo run on the right flank ended with a shot that could only be blocked by Amina Abu directly into the path of Hinds.
Buoyed by a rousing home atmosphere and some inspirational goalkeeping from Linfah Jones, the locals appeared set to hang on for a crucial against-the-odds point until Ayila‘s late goal.
The 2-1 victory, combined with a 3-2 opening win against 2008 champions Korea DPR, sees the Flamingoes assured of their passage, and needing just a point from their final match against Chile to guarantee top spot in the group.
The late goal means T&T must defeat the Koreans in the final group encounter to avoid elimination.
Nigeria started positively and Halimatu Ayinde went close to opening the scoring on five minutes, before then setting up Sarah Nnodim soon after only for the latter to miscue her effort.
Nigeria continued in the same vein and Oluchi Ofoegbu rocked the crossbar with an effort from 25 metres as the Flamingoes inched closer to breaking the deadlock.
They finally did so on 28 minutes with a long ball from deep played into the path of Francisca Ordega who coolly lobbed the advancing Jones with a header.
Ayinde nearly doubled the advantage soon after, but her shot from near the penalty spot was blocked.
Nine minutes before the interval T&T, lifted by the relentless support of the home crowd‘s tuneful rhythm section, restored parity via the boot of Liana Hinds.
The provider of the winner three days earlier against Chile profited from the good lead-up work of Jonelle Warrick, whose solo run on the right flank ended with a shot that could only be blocked by Amina Abu directly into the path of Hinds.
West Brom to counter Russian racism toward striker
Lokomotic Moscow fans display a banner showing a banana and the words "Thanks West Brom"
West Brom fans will counter this banner with one of their own
West Brom fans will show solidarity with Osaze Odemwingie at Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham.
Fans will unfurl a banner to counter a racist one displayed at the Nigeria striker's former club Lokomotiv Moscow.
Last month, Russian fans displayed a banner emblazoned with 'Thanks West Brom' with a picture of a banana after the black player left the club.
Danny Lynch of anti-racism group, Kick It Out says that "the banner was overtly racist".
West Brom's banner, created with Kick It Out, reads "Thanks Lokomotiv" and is accompanied by a picture of Odemwingie celebrating his winner on his debut against Sunderland last month.
The banner will appear at Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham.
"To see messages coming from Lokomotiv fans that were the sort of messages hurled towards black players over here in the seventies just shows how developed we are as a footballing nation," said West Brom fan Martin Greenwood, who orchestrated the response.
The Nigerian was signed from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow three weeks ago.
West Brom fans will counter this banner with one of their own
West Brom fans will show solidarity with Osaze Odemwingie at Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham.
Fans will unfurl a banner to counter a racist one displayed at the Nigeria striker's former club Lokomotiv Moscow.
Last month, Russian fans displayed a banner emblazoned with 'Thanks West Brom' with a picture of a banana after the black player left the club.
Danny Lynch of anti-racism group, Kick It Out says that "the banner was overtly racist".
West Brom's banner, created with Kick It Out, reads "Thanks Lokomotiv" and is accompanied by a picture of Odemwingie celebrating his winner on his debut against Sunderland last month.
The banner will appear at Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham.
"To see messages coming from Lokomotiv fans that were the sort of messages hurled towards black players over here in the seventies just shows how developed we are as a footballing nation," said West Brom fan Martin Greenwood, who orchestrated the response.
The Nigerian was signed from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow three weeks ago.
My pact with Abacha, Obasanjo, by Gen. BabangidaMy pact with Abacha, Obasanjo, by Gen. Babangida
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday in Minna disclosed the pacts he had with two former heads of state Generals, Olusegun Obansanjo and Sani Abacha that enabled them to assume power at various periods in the history of the country, insisting that he was concerned with the future, security and unity of the nation.
Speaking in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger state, Babangida explained that General Abacha was spared from the mass retirement that hit senior military officers at the time he was stepping aside in 1994 based on the calculation that General Abacha would help to stabilise the Ernest Shonekan Interim Government and douse the political tension that had mounted over the June 12 annulment.
He explained that at the time he “stepped aside”, the situation was very fragile adding that if the military profession was left in the hands of the young inexperienced officers, they would have torn the nation apart with coup d’états
“When we were leaving, the situation was very fragile and if people who were not as mature and as old as we were stepped into our shoes there will be problem. From my calculations Abacha was a gentleman and experienced soldier who commanded respect in the military that could give the Shonekan administration backing”, he said.
“The Junior officers, we reasoned, would be very cautious of General Abacha who was a tough officer and was in the system from Army Chief of Staff to Defence Minister”, he said.
General Babangida said that he was however surprised that as soon as he stepped aside, the citizens of the country and the media began to castigate the Shonekan administration in bad light saying it was worst than a military regime.
He said prominent citizens began to demand for military intervention prompting General Abacha to take over the administration he was earlier mandated to protect.
On his relationship with former President Obasanjo, Babangida said that he had worked to make Obasanjo, his former military boss, a civilian President because of the conviction that he cannot be intimidated by the media or any other organisation.
Babangida said he did not feel betrayed by Obansanjo who is now believed to be working against his presidential ambition.
“I would not want to use the word betrayal on General Obasanjo. My relationship with Obasanjo, has to do with our military training that as a soldier we are very loyal to our superiors. He remained a guiding light when we were growing and when we grew up in the military the bond of relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.
“When we meet we still talk about the unity and stability of the nation. I think we have a common objective. There is no disaffection between us”, he said.
Babangida who said he stepped aside in 1994 in the interest of peace and stability of the nation added that he chose to use the phrase step aside to depict a soldier marching in a Column. He said that he would continue to endure the shouts about his being the problem of the nation.
“People were shouting that I was the problem of the nation and that Nigeria will tear apart because I was the embodiment of all that was bad. Then in the interest of peace, I said ‘I will step aside’”, he said.
It will be recalled that former President Ibrahim Babangida has declared his intention to contest the presidency in the next general elections.
The retired General has also declared his support for the for the continuation of the zoning arrangement in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. If the arrangement is sustained, President Goodluck Jonathan will not be eligible to contest in 2011, hence paving the way for a Northern candidate to take the PDP ticket.
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday in Minna disclosed the pacts he had with two former heads of state Generals, Olusegun Obansanjo and Sani Abacha that enabled them to assume power at various periods in the history of the country, insisting that he was concerned with the future, security and unity of the nation.
Speaking in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger state, Babangida explained that General Abacha was spared from the mass retirement that hit senior military officers at the time he was stepping aside in 1994 based on the calculation that General Abacha would help to stabilise the Ernest Shonekan Interim Government and douse the political tension that had mounted over the June 12 annulment.
He explained that at the time he “stepped aside”, the situation was very fragile adding that if the military profession was left in the hands of the young inexperienced officers, they would have torn the nation apart with coup d’états
“When we were leaving, the situation was very fragile and if people who were not as mature and as old as we were stepped into our shoes there will be problem. From my calculations Abacha was a gentleman and experienced soldier who commanded respect in the military that could give the Shonekan administration backing”, he said.
“The Junior officers, we reasoned, would be very cautious of General Abacha who was a tough officer and was in the system from Army Chief of Staff to Defence Minister”, he said.
General Babangida said that he was however surprised that as soon as he stepped aside, the citizens of the country and the media began to castigate the Shonekan administration in bad light saying it was worst than a military regime.
He said prominent citizens began to demand for military intervention prompting General Abacha to take over the administration he was earlier mandated to protect.
On his relationship with former President Obasanjo, Babangida said that he had worked to make Obasanjo, his former military boss, a civilian President because of the conviction that he cannot be intimidated by the media or any other organisation.
Babangida said he did not feel betrayed by Obansanjo who is now believed to be working against his presidential ambition.
“I would not want to use the word betrayal on General Obasanjo. My relationship with Obasanjo, has to do with our military training that as a soldier we are very loyal to our superiors. He remained a guiding light when we were growing and when we grew up in the military the bond of relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.
“When we meet we still talk about the unity and stability of the nation. I think we have a common objective. There is no disaffection between us”, he said.
Babangida who said he stepped aside in 1994 in the interest of peace and stability of the nation added that he chose to use the phrase step aside to depict a soldier marching in a Column. He said that he would continue to endure the shouts about his being the problem of the nation.
“People were shouting that I was the problem of the nation and that Nigeria will tear apart because I was the embodiment of all that was bad. Then in the interest of peace, I said ‘I will step aside’”, he said.
It will be recalled that former President Ibrahim Babangida has declared his intention to contest the presidency in the next general elections.
The retired General has also declared his support for the for the continuation of the zoning arrangement in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. If the arrangement is sustained, President Goodluck Jonathan will not be eligible to contest in 2011, hence paving the way for a Northern candidate to take the PDP ticket.
Speaking in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger state, Babangida explained that General Abacha was spared from the mass retirement that hit senior military officers at the time he was stepping aside in 1994 based on the calculation that General Abacha would help to stabilise the Ernest Shonekan Interim Government and douse the political tension that had mounted over the June 12 annulment.
He explained that at the time he “stepped aside”, the situation was very fragile adding that if the military profession was left in the hands of the young inexperienced officers, they would have torn the nation apart with coup d’états
“When we were leaving, the situation was very fragile and if people who were not as mature and as old as we were stepped into our shoes there will be problem. From my calculations Abacha was a gentleman and experienced soldier who commanded respect in the military that could give the Shonekan administration backing”, he said.
“The Junior officers, we reasoned, would be very cautious of General Abacha who was a tough officer and was in the system from Army Chief of Staff to Defence Minister”, he said.
General Babangida said that he was however surprised that as soon as he stepped aside, the citizens of the country and the media began to castigate the Shonekan administration in bad light saying it was worst than a military regime.
He said prominent citizens began to demand for military intervention prompting General Abacha to take over the administration he was earlier mandated to protect.
On his relationship with former President Obasanjo, Babangida said that he had worked to make Obasanjo, his former military boss, a civilian President because of the conviction that he cannot be intimidated by the media or any other organisation.
Babangida said he did not feel betrayed by Obansanjo who is now believed to be working against his presidential ambition.
“I would not want to use the word betrayal on General Obasanjo. My relationship with Obasanjo, has to do with our military training that as a soldier we are very loyal to our superiors. He remained a guiding light when we were growing and when we grew up in the military the bond of relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.
“When we meet we still talk about the unity and stability of the nation. I think we have a common objective. There is no disaffection between us”, he said.
Babangida who said he stepped aside in 1994 in the interest of peace and stability of the nation added that he chose to use the phrase step aside to depict a soldier marching in a Column. He said that he would continue to endure the shouts about his being the problem of the nation.
“People were shouting that I was the problem of the nation and that Nigeria will tear apart because I was the embodiment of all that was bad. Then in the interest of peace, I said ‘I will step aside’”, he said.
It will be recalled that former President Ibrahim Babangida has declared his intention to contest the presidency in the next general elections.
The retired General has also declared his support for the for the continuation of the zoning arrangement in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. If the arrangement is sustained, President Goodluck Jonathan will not be eligible to contest in 2011, hence paving the way for a Northern candidate to take the PDP ticket.
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday in Minna disclosed the pacts he had with two former heads of state Generals, Olusegun Obansanjo and Sani Abacha that enabled them to assume power at various periods in the history of the country, insisting that he was concerned with the future, security and unity of the nation.
Speaking in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger state, Babangida explained that General Abacha was spared from the mass retirement that hit senior military officers at the time he was stepping aside in 1994 based on the calculation that General Abacha would help to stabilise the Ernest Shonekan Interim Government and douse the political tension that had mounted over the June 12 annulment.
He explained that at the time he “stepped aside”, the situation was very fragile adding that if the military profession was left in the hands of the young inexperienced officers, they would have torn the nation apart with coup d’états
“When we were leaving, the situation was very fragile and if people who were not as mature and as old as we were stepped into our shoes there will be problem. From my calculations Abacha was a gentleman and experienced soldier who commanded respect in the military that could give the Shonekan administration backing”, he said.
“The Junior officers, we reasoned, would be very cautious of General Abacha who was a tough officer and was in the system from Army Chief of Staff to Defence Minister”, he said.
General Babangida said that he was however surprised that as soon as he stepped aside, the citizens of the country and the media began to castigate the Shonekan administration in bad light saying it was worst than a military regime.
He said prominent citizens began to demand for military intervention prompting General Abacha to take over the administration he was earlier mandated to protect.
On his relationship with former President Obasanjo, Babangida said that he had worked to make Obasanjo, his former military boss, a civilian President because of the conviction that he cannot be intimidated by the media or any other organisation.
Babangida said he did not feel betrayed by Obansanjo who is now believed to be working against his presidential ambition.
“I would not want to use the word betrayal on General Obasanjo. My relationship with Obasanjo, has to do with our military training that as a soldier we are very loyal to our superiors. He remained a guiding light when we were growing and when we grew up in the military the bond of relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.
“When we meet we still talk about the unity and stability of the nation. I think we have a common objective. There is no disaffection between us”, he said.
Babangida who said he stepped aside in 1994 in the interest of peace and stability of the nation added that he chose to use the phrase step aside to depict a soldier marching in a Column. He said that he would continue to endure the shouts about his being the problem of the nation.
“People were shouting that I was the problem of the nation and that Nigeria will tear apart because I was the embodiment of all that was bad. Then in the interest of peace, I said ‘I will step aside’”, he said.
It will be recalled that former President Ibrahim Babangida has declared his intention to contest the presidency in the next general elections.
The retired General has also declared his support for the for the continuation of the zoning arrangement in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. If the arrangement is sustained, President Goodluck Jonathan will not be eligible to contest in 2011, hence paving the way for a Northern candidate to take the PDP ticket.
Why we love to play for Siasia, reveals Onyekachi Apam
Samson Siasia has been a successful coach at youth and Olympic levels because of the bond between he and the players, according to one of his biggest discoveries Onyekachi Apam, who features for French club Rennes.
“Siasia is every player’s dream coach. He is very close to his players, very disciplined, hard working and always puts in his best at all times. The close relationship that exists between coach Siasia and his players makes the players want to die for him on the field of play and I believe he could bring such attitude to the senior national team,” Apam told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview.
“I will be very happy for him if he is eventually given the job to handle the senior national team because from the much I know of him, he can lead us to the Promised Land. I don’t choose who to play for but the style the coach introduces makes or mar my play. Coach Siasia’s style has been appealing to me right from the U-20 and U-23 days and it would be great to play under him at the senior level.”
The highly-rated central defender also said that he cannot wait to be declared fully fit after a long-term knee injury so as to make his debut for new club Rennes.
“I just can’t wait to make my debut with Rennes which I believe won’t be long because the doctors have given some assurances that before long I will be up and doing what I know best,” he revealed.
Congratulations once more on your transfer. However, you’re yet to make your Rennes debut. What is really the nature of your knee injury? It seems it’s a lot more serious than earlier thought.
I am really happy about my new club and I thank God for His mercies. I just can’t wait to make my debut for Rennes which I believe won’t be long because the doctors have given some assurances that before long I will be up and doing what I know best. All I know is that I feel some niggling pains around my right knee. It was a lot more serious than I had earlier thought.
Did you need surgery for this injury? Onyekachi Apam
Yes. The injury needed surgery and it was done immediately after the World Cup in the United Kingdom and it was a success and I give God all the glory.
Obviously, you must have been disappointed you did not make the final squad because of your injury. As you are still on the treatment table, it means Largerback was right to drop you on account of this injury.
I don’t have any regrets missing out on the World Cup partly due to the injury and Largerback was right to drop me on account of my injury and I believe that all things work out for good.
So, how soon will you now start playing again?
I am already itching for action but I must wait for the doctor to give me a clean bill before I start playing again. I really can’t wait for that day.
You have finally reunited with your former coach at Rennes. Were the transfer negotiations difficult and complicated knowing that Nice were never willing to let you go?
Re-uniting with my former coach at Rennes is a dream comes true. I am happy about the re-union because he is a good coach who I spent a lot of time with at OGC Nice.
So, I am happy for my transfer despite the fact that it was a bit difficult but I told them I wanted to leave so they had no choice than to let me go. I have been there for four and half years, which is a lot of time.
I spent a good time with them even going on to captain them and the fans of the club, I can’t forget in my entire career. They are a lovely set of people who are so committed to the cause of the club. I will miss them.
“Siasia is every player’s dream coach. He is very close to his players, very disciplined, hard working and always puts in his best at all times. The close relationship that exists between coach Siasia and his players makes the players want to die for him on the field of play and I believe he could bring such attitude to the senior national team,” Apam told MTNFootball.com in an exclusive interview.
“I will be very happy for him if he is eventually given the job to handle the senior national team because from the much I know of him, he can lead us to the Promised Land. I don’t choose who to play for but the style the coach introduces makes or mar my play. Coach Siasia’s style has been appealing to me right from the U-20 and U-23 days and it would be great to play under him at the senior level.”
The highly-rated central defender also said that he cannot wait to be declared fully fit after a long-term knee injury so as to make his debut for new club Rennes.
“I just can’t wait to make my debut with Rennes which I believe won’t be long because the doctors have given some assurances that before long I will be up and doing what I know best,” he revealed.
Congratulations once more on your transfer. However, you’re yet to make your Rennes debut. What is really the nature of your knee injury? It seems it’s a lot more serious than earlier thought.
I am really happy about my new club and I thank God for His mercies. I just can’t wait to make my debut for Rennes which I believe won’t be long because the doctors have given some assurances that before long I will be up and doing what I know best. All I know is that I feel some niggling pains around my right knee. It was a lot more serious than I had earlier thought.
Did you need surgery for this injury? Onyekachi Apam
Yes. The injury needed surgery and it was done immediately after the World Cup in the United Kingdom and it was a success and I give God all the glory.
Obviously, you must have been disappointed you did not make the final squad because of your injury. As you are still on the treatment table, it means Largerback was right to drop you on account of this injury.
I don’t have any regrets missing out on the World Cup partly due to the injury and Largerback was right to drop me on account of my injury and I believe that all things work out for good.
So, how soon will you now start playing again?
I am already itching for action but I must wait for the doctor to give me a clean bill before I start playing again. I really can’t wait for that day.
You have finally reunited with your former coach at Rennes. Were the transfer negotiations difficult and complicated knowing that Nice were never willing to let you go?
Re-uniting with my former coach at Rennes is a dream comes true. I am happy about the re-union because he is a good coach who I spent a lot of time with at OGC Nice.
So, I am happy for my transfer despite the fact that it was a bit difficult but I told them I wanted to leave so they had no choice than to let me go. I have been there for four and half years, which is a lot of time.
I spent a good time with them even going on to captain them and the fans of the club, I can’t forget in my entire career. They are a lovely set of people who are so committed to the cause of the club. I will miss them.
Secrets my wife kept from me, by IBB Secrets my wife kept from me, by IBB
Former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has revealed what he described as secrets that his late wife, Maryam, kept from him up to the time she died but which he had only recently discovered.
Maryam died on December 27, last year at the age of 61 while undergoing treatment for terminal cancer at the Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
In a recorded interview which he granted on the Hausa services of international broadcast organisations, including BBC, VOA and Radio France International, in his Minna country home Thursday night, which was made available to Peoples Daily Weekend yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Babangida said one of the secrets was that his late wife converted 5,000 people in her village to Islam. Late Mrs. Maryam Babangida
Mrs. Maryam Babangida who hailed from Asaba in Delta state, was herself converted from Christianity to Islam after she had married Babangida. According to her husband, she built mosques, schools, boreholes and provided other social services in many communities across the country without making any noise about them.
“Recently, 120 school children aged 10 and above whom my late wife took care of, including their education were brought to me and I was surprised about it,” the former president said.
He continued: “What she did that impressed me the most was her attempt to convert an 87-year-old man. However, the man told her that he was too old to abandon his ancestral religion but offered to allow his children and grand-children, numbering 52, to convert to Islam.”
On whether he would remarry, the former president said that as a Muslim he would have to marry again but would not say when. He said the same question was asked recently put to him and soon after he received a text message from an unknown lady who said that she was prepared to be his wife any time he decided to remarry.
The lady, he said, told him that she knew how to take good care of an old man like him.
Maryam died on December 27, last year at the age of 61 while undergoing treatment for terminal cancer at the Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
In a recorded interview which he granted on the Hausa services of international broadcast organisations, including BBC, VOA and Radio France International, in his Minna country home Thursday night, which was made available to Peoples Daily Weekend yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Babangida said one of the secrets was that his late wife converted 5,000 people in her village to Islam. Late Mrs. Maryam Babangida
Mrs. Maryam Babangida who hailed from Asaba in Delta state, was herself converted from Christianity to Islam after she had married Babangida. According to her husband, she built mosques, schools, boreholes and provided other social services in many communities across the country without making any noise about them.
“Recently, 120 school children aged 10 and above whom my late wife took care of, including their education were brought to me and I was surprised about it,” the former president said.
He continued: “What she did that impressed me the most was her attempt to convert an 87-year-old man. However, the man told her that he was too old to abandon his ancestral religion but offered to allow his children and grand-children, numbering 52, to convert to Islam.”
On whether he would remarry, the former president said that as a Muslim he would have to marry again but would not say when. He said the same question was asked recently put to him and soon after he received a text message from an unknown lady who said that she was prepared to be his wife any time he decided to remarry.
The lady, he said, told him that she knew how to take good care of an old man like him.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Akwa Ibom: The IBB testimony
resident, people lined the streets to welcome him; after all, he was seen as the father of the state which he created about four years earlier. That was about 17 years ago; now things have changed. About 30 per cent of the population now was not even born when the state was created 23 years ago; so they don’t really have much to do with a Babangida except as an historical figure.
Thus, when IBB visited again recently to inaugurate the advisory council of the Faculty Board of Initiatives, an agenda setting group in the House of Representatives, only a few people knew about it. So, the street was empty. But the Ibom Hall, the state’s makeshift auditorium was filled to the brim. Those who were not aware, or did not believe IBB would come in person, got to learn about his physical presence, rushed to the hall.
And there, he was sitting among the politicians. Many people did not even recognize him again. An elderly gentleman who rode to the hall on a bicycle, said, when Babangida stood up to address the audience: “Is that IBB? He doesn’t look like him again. O! owo idoho akaprawa ukpaiba (One is not a youth twice).
But when IBB started to speak, the old man said; “Yes! That is his voice.”
The voice might have reminded him of that broadcast on September 23, 1987, which resulted in what is today Akwa Ibom and Katsina states.
IBB himself didn’t forget that history. He saw his visit as home- coming “because this visit affords me the opportunity to re-assess the judgment I took some 23 years ago by creating the state, and providing the people the opportunity to fully utilize their potentials and natural endowments. I have no doubt in my mind that going by what I have set my eyes on, from the short distance from the airport to this hall in terms of infrastructural development, if given another opportunity, I will recreate Akwa Ibom State, in a manner of speaking.
“The state brings me a sense of nostalgia in several ways. I could recall vividly the circumstances that led to the abrogation of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy. If I may recall, perhaps, it was in this hall when the demand was made by one of your illustrious daughters and the golden voice of all times, Lady Christy Essien- Igbokwe, who pleaded with our government to drop the dichotomy issue to enable the state enjoy her natural resources. I’m proud to say that despite the criticisms against some of our initiatives, the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we took the right decision for the right people at the right time, to spread development across the land and make government closer to the people of common affinity and cultural heritage.”
IBB gave a list of prominent Akwa Ibom people, dead or alive, who had made tremendous contributions to the development of the nation, but zeroed in on Gov. Godswill Akpabio thus; “With due sense of responsibility, let me say without fear or favour that Akwa Ibom is lucky to have Dr Godswill Akpabio at the helm of affairs in the state. He is truly God’s will to be at the saddle at this critical time of developing the state. And the numerous infrastructural development I have seen, or read about are indices that further strengthened my earlier argument that the people of Akwa Ibom qualified for a state. Unlike other states where lamentation of poor revenue has taken primacy, Godswill Akpabio has been able to aggregate the collective aspirations of the people with programmes and policies that bear meaning and value to the ordinary people of the state. Without equivocation, Dr Godswill Akpabio deserves our standing ovation and a big pat on the back.”
Facing the business of the day which was the inauguration of the advisory board of the Initiatives, the former president said the goals and decisive attainment of good governance aspiration of the board members could not have been more apposite than now where good governance should be seen as essential ingredient of corporate governance with attributes of transparency, accountability, responsibility, responsiveness and diligence.
“As part of your mandate as initiatives, I hasten to suggest that it is high time the government at all levels had what I would call annual performance report showing how much revenue was generated and how it was expended. This will serve as a millennium antidote to corruption and of course, in graphic terms how the government has fared in relation to budget performance.
“I strongly believe that the masses that elected leaders and government deserve this form of feedback mechanism.”
He didn’t, however, forget to remind the people of his presidential aspiration which he promised would launch Nigeria unto the “global highway of possibility and abundant opportunities. I will not behave like the ubiquitous politician who gives promises and sets unachievable deadlines. I will concern myself with those plausible issues.”
When IBB was speaking, singing the praises of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, Gov. Akpabio was not there. He was at the stadium taking salute from kids as they celebrated the Children’s Day. It was his deputy, Obong Patrick Ekpotu, who stood in for him, and as usual, went into his didactics in socio-political developmental evolution, and concluded that the Initiatives as an offshoot of the legislature, has the responsibility of pioneering progressively realistic legislation. Were some people lost listening to him? Maybe not.
And then, the governor arrived, and the tempo changed. He stood by what the deputy said, probably not wanting to subject the people to another lecture. Akpabio just burst into songs; the kind of praise singing never heard from him to any man except God. First, he improvised a song on IBB which even caused the retired general to stand up and clap along though not understanding the wordings of the song rendered in Ibibio. He leaned over to the deputy governor, who must have given him the right interpretation.
Akpabio was not done yet; he sang IBB’s praises again and again and the crowd joined him. His gratitude first to God and then to IBB for creating the state which has now given the people the opportunity to experience unprecedented development like the construction of Nung Udoe Itak Use Ikot Amama Road, the Afaha Obon-Iwukem-Utu Etim Ekpo Road, the Etebi Enwang Road, the Enen Nsit Road and very may other roads in IKot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Eket and Oron or the completion of Ibom International Airport, the Ibom Power Company which the residents have been expecting to start generating the 191 megawatts of electricity and many other projects. All this could not have been possible if IBB did not create the state.
But Akpabio was careful. The euphoria did not leade him to make the mistake of endorsing IBB as the presidential candidate of the state. Maybe, being the father of the state as IBB was described at the event was more of spiritual antecedent than its temporal relevance in 2011.
To the dean of the Faculty Board of Initiatives, Mr Eseme Eyiboh, the Initiatives is a post-era and agenda-setting forum of a league of some cerebral legislators in the House of Representatives, who believe in the realization of Vision 2020, and who are passionately committed to good governance in Nigeria through proactive and people oriented legislation.
“As a group in the House of Representatives, we seek to achieve a generational shift in the country’s legislative processes. The Initiative is a selfless, non partisan project that aims to achieve good governance through informed, proactive and responsive legislation toward a better Nigeria. This is done through public consultation and mobilization strategy on the platform of the national roundtable for proactive laws and good governance.”
Eyiboh explained that the ideals of the national roundtable serves to present an effective and informed interface between the legislature and the public as well as draw the abundance of talents and resource persons outside the legislature with the aims to capture and incorporate diverse opinions in legislation against primordial considerations.
The advisory board has the former Chief Justice of Federation, Mohammadu Uwais as Chairman, former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, vice chairman, and many notable Nigerians as members.
Thus, when IBB visited again recently to inaugurate the advisory council of the Faculty Board of Initiatives, an agenda setting group in the House of Representatives, only a few people knew about it. So, the street was empty. But the Ibom Hall, the state’s makeshift auditorium was filled to the brim. Those who were not aware, or did not believe IBB would come in person, got to learn about his physical presence, rushed to the hall.
And there, he was sitting among the politicians. Many people did not even recognize him again. An elderly gentleman who rode to the hall on a bicycle, said, when Babangida stood up to address the audience: “Is that IBB? He doesn’t look like him again. O! owo idoho akaprawa ukpaiba (One is not a youth twice).
But when IBB started to speak, the old man said; “Yes! That is his voice.”
The voice might have reminded him of that broadcast on September 23, 1987, which resulted in what is today Akwa Ibom and Katsina states.
IBB himself didn’t forget that history. He saw his visit as home- coming “because this visit affords me the opportunity to re-assess the judgment I took some 23 years ago by creating the state, and providing the people the opportunity to fully utilize their potentials and natural endowments. I have no doubt in my mind that going by what I have set my eyes on, from the short distance from the airport to this hall in terms of infrastructural development, if given another opportunity, I will recreate Akwa Ibom State, in a manner of speaking.
“The state brings me a sense of nostalgia in several ways. I could recall vividly the circumstances that led to the abrogation of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy. If I may recall, perhaps, it was in this hall when the demand was made by one of your illustrious daughters and the golden voice of all times, Lady Christy Essien- Igbokwe, who pleaded with our government to drop the dichotomy issue to enable the state enjoy her natural resources. I’m proud to say that despite the criticisms against some of our initiatives, the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we took the right decision for the right people at the right time, to spread development across the land and make government closer to the people of common affinity and cultural heritage.”
IBB gave a list of prominent Akwa Ibom people, dead or alive, who had made tremendous contributions to the development of the nation, but zeroed in on Gov. Godswill Akpabio thus; “With due sense of responsibility, let me say without fear or favour that Akwa Ibom is lucky to have Dr Godswill Akpabio at the helm of affairs in the state. He is truly God’s will to be at the saddle at this critical time of developing the state. And the numerous infrastructural development I have seen, or read about are indices that further strengthened my earlier argument that the people of Akwa Ibom qualified for a state. Unlike other states where lamentation of poor revenue has taken primacy, Godswill Akpabio has been able to aggregate the collective aspirations of the people with programmes and policies that bear meaning and value to the ordinary people of the state. Without equivocation, Dr Godswill Akpabio deserves our standing ovation and a big pat on the back.”
Facing the business of the day which was the inauguration of the advisory board of the Initiatives, the former president said the goals and decisive attainment of good governance aspiration of the board members could not have been more apposite than now where good governance should be seen as essential ingredient of corporate governance with attributes of transparency, accountability, responsibility, responsiveness and diligence.
“As part of your mandate as initiatives, I hasten to suggest that it is high time the government at all levels had what I would call annual performance report showing how much revenue was generated and how it was expended. This will serve as a millennium antidote to corruption and of course, in graphic terms how the government has fared in relation to budget performance.
“I strongly believe that the masses that elected leaders and government deserve this form of feedback mechanism.”
He didn’t, however, forget to remind the people of his presidential aspiration which he promised would launch Nigeria unto the “global highway of possibility and abundant opportunities. I will not behave like the ubiquitous politician who gives promises and sets unachievable deadlines. I will concern myself with those plausible issues.”
When IBB was speaking, singing the praises of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, Gov. Akpabio was not there. He was at the stadium taking salute from kids as they celebrated the Children’s Day. It was his deputy, Obong Patrick Ekpotu, who stood in for him, and as usual, went into his didactics in socio-political developmental evolution, and concluded that the Initiatives as an offshoot of the legislature, has the responsibility of pioneering progressively realistic legislation. Were some people lost listening to him? Maybe not.
And then, the governor arrived, and the tempo changed. He stood by what the deputy said, probably not wanting to subject the people to another lecture. Akpabio just burst into songs; the kind of praise singing never heard from him to any man except God. First, he improvised a song on IBB which even caused the retired general to stand up and clap along though not understanding the wordings of the song rendered in Ibibio. He leaned over to the deputy governor, who must have given him the right interpretation.
Akpabio was not done yet; he sang IBB’s praises again and again and the crowd joined him. His gratitude first to God and then to IBB for creating the state which has now given the people the opportunity to experience unprecedented development like the construction of Nung Udoe Itak Use Ikot Amama Road, the Afaha Obon-Iwukem-Utu Etim Ekpo Road, the Etebi Enwang Road, the Enen Nsit Road and very may other roads in IKot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Eket and Oron or the completion of Ibom International Airport, the Ibom Power Company which the residents have been expecting to start generating the 191 megawatts of electricity and many other projects. All this could not have been possible if IBB did not create the state.
But Akpabio was careful. The euphoria did not leade him to make the mistake of endorsing IBB as the presidential candidate of the state. Maybe, being the father of the state as IBB was described at the event was more of spiritual antecedent than its temporal relevance in 2011.
To the dean of the Faculty Board of Initiatives, Mr Eseme Eyiboh, the Initiatives is a post-era and agenda-setting forum of a league of some cerebral legislators in the House of Representatives, who believe in the realization of Vision 2020, and who are passionately committed to good governance in Nigeria through proactive and people oriented legislation.
“As a group in the House of Representatives, we seek to achieve a generational shift in the country’s legislative processes. The Initiative is a selfless, non partisan project that aims to achieve good governance through informed, proactive and responsive legislation toward a better Nigeria. This is done through public consultation and mobilization strategy on the platform of the national roundtable for proactive laws and good governance.”
Eyiboh explained that the ideals of the national roundtable serves to present an effective and informed interface between the legislature and the public as well as draw the abundance of talents and resource persons outside the legislature with the aims to capture and incorporate diverse opinions in legislation against primordial considerations.
The advisory board has the former Chief Justice of Federation, Mohammadu Uwais as Chairman, former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, vice chairman, and many notable Nigerians as members.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
FIFA to meet over Nigeria’s pull-out from events
APPARENTLY shocked by Nigeria’s sudden pull-out from all its championships, the Federation of International Football (FIFA) yesterday said it would soon meet on the development.
The world soccer governing body, however, claimed ignorance of the Federal Government’s dissolution of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
FIFA said yesterday that it would only speak after official briefing on the development.
The world soccer governing body, however, claimed ignorance of the Federal Government’s dissolution of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
FIFA said yesterday that it would only speak after official briefing on the development.
Kadiri, Okocha, Ndanusa in football caretaker committee
The Federal Government yesterday named an 11 man Caretaker Committee that will restructure the administration and management of football following Nigeria’s voluntary withdrawal from CAF/FIFA competitions.
At the head of the 11 man committee is former Secretary General of the NFA, Mammud Kadiri. Other members include former broadcaster Danladi Bako, veteran sports journalist Mitchell Obi, Coach Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles star, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.
Also on the committee is former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha who is representing ex-internationals. The list also includes former minister of sports Engineer Sani Ndanusa, Mrs. Jamila Buhari, the first Nigerian female FIFA badged referee. Representative from the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and candidate from the North East Zone to be named later.
The Caretaker Committee according to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji, will be inaugurated on Monday at the media center of the National Stadium, Abuja.
At the head of the 11 man committee is former Secretary General of the NFA, Mammud Kadiri. Other members include former broadcaster Danladi Bako, veteran sports journalist Mitchell Obi, Coach Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles star, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi.
Also on the committee is former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha who is representing ex-internationals. The list also includes former minister of sports Engineer Sani Ndanusa, Mrs. Jamila Buhari, the first Nigerian female FIFA badged referee. Representative from the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and candidate from the North East Zone to be named later.
The Caretaker Committee according to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji, will be inaugurated on Monday at the media center of the National Stadium, Abuja.
Ken Saro-Wiwa
In Ken Saro-Wiwa’s best-known work, Sozaboy: A Novel in Rotten English, the narrator is so confounded by the horror of war that the words of his “rotten english” can barely describe it.
Mr Saro-Wiwa’s execution at the hands of Nigeria’s then government in 1995, aged 54, has become, for many, a symbol of the infliction of military might upon the innocent. His reported last words were: “Lord, take my soul but the struggle continues.”
His execution with a group of other environmental campaigners, on charges of murdering four rival leaders, caused international outrage and led to Nigeria being suspended from the Commonwealth.
A member of the Ogoni people, whose hometown in the Niger Delta has been used for crude oil extraction for over 50 years, Mr Saro-Wiwa was educated in an Anglican home, then Government College Umuahia and the University of Ibadan.
During the Nigerian Civil War, he held a government post as administrator for the port city of Bonny in the Niger Delta, and supported the Nigerian government against the seceding Biafrans. His diaries from this time, On a Darkling Plain, were published, and Sozaboy is set during this war.
After leaving the government’s service, he wrote Basi & Co, an sit com which was once one of Africa’s most popular shows, watched by over 30 million people. Set in Lagos, it often poked fun at Nigerian bureaucrats and the police.
He re-entered politics in the late 1980s when he was appointed by the newly-installed military dictator Ibrahim Babangida to help the country's transition to democracy.
However, he did not last long under the Babangida government and quit, claiming that it was not committed to democracy.
During this time, he helped found the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which campaigns for more power for the Ogoni people, a fair share of the proceeds of oil extraction, and repair of the damage to Ogoni lands inflicted by oil extraction. He was said to have been offered the post of oil minister in an attempt to get him to stay quiet.
MOSOP championed peaceful protest in the early 1990s, with one series of marches involving around 300,000 Ogoni - more than half the tribe’s entire population.
Yet the movement was not free from violence, and in May 1994, four Ogoni elders who disagreed with some of MOSOP’s ideas were killed at a rally by MOSOP supporters.
Although Mr Saro-Wiwa was not present at the killings – he had actually tried to attend but been turned away by the army – the father of four was tried and sentenced to death.
The execution caused an international outcry, but the military government continued in power for several more years.
Ken Wiwa, his son, a former journalist who now works as a special adviser to the Nigerian government on international affairs, has spearheaded the campaign to sue Shell over allegations that it was somehow complicit in his father’s death.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Shell allege that the company used its influence with the Nigerian government to target the MOSOP campaign and Mr Saro-Wiwa. Statements submitted to the court say that Brian Anderson, then managing director of Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, met with Owens Wiwa, Mr Saro-Wiwa’s brother, and said that he would be released in return for an end to the protests against the company.
Mr Saro-Wiwa’s execution at the hands of Nigeria’s then government in 1995, aged 54, has become, for many, a symbol of the infliction of military might upon the innocent. His reported last words were: “Lord, take my soul but the struggle continues.”
His execution with a group of other environmental campaigners, on charges of murdering four rival leaders, caused international outrage and led to Nigeria being suspended from the Commonwealth.
A member of the Ogoni people, whose hometown in the Niger Delta has been used for crude oil extraction for over 50 years, Mr Saro-Wiwa was educated in an Anglican home, then Government College Umuahia and the University of Ibadan.
During the Nigerian Civil War, he held a government post as administrator for the port city of Bonny in the Niger Delta, and supported the Nigerian government against the seceding Biafrans. His diaries from this time, On a Darkling Plain, were published, and Sozaboy is set during this war.
After leaving the government’s service, he wrote Basi & Co, an sit com which was once one of Africa’s most popular shows, watched by over 30 million people. Set in Lagos, it often poked fun at Nigerian bureaucrats and the police.
He re-entered politics in the late 1980s when he was appointed by the newly-installed military dictator Ibrahim Babangida to help the country's transition to democracy.
However, he did not last long under the Babangida government and quit, claiming that it was not committed to democracy.
During this time, he helped found the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), which campaigns for more power for the Ogoni people, a fair share of the proceeds of oil extraction, and repair of the damage to Ogoni lands inflicted by oil extraction. He was said to have been offered the post of oil minister in an attempt to get him to stay quiet.
MOSOP championed peaceful protest in the early 1990s, with one series of marches involving around 300,000 Ogoni - more than half the tribe’s entire population.
Yet the movement was not free from violence, and in May 1994, four Ogoni elders who disagreed with some of MOSOP’s ideas were killed at a rally by MOSOP supporters.
Although Mr Saro-Wiwa was not present at the killings – he had actually tried to attend but been turned away by the army – the father of four was tried and sentenced to death.
The execution caused an international outcry, but the military government continued in power for several more years.
Ken Wiwa, his son, a former journalist who now works as a special adviser to the Nigerian government on international affairs, has spearheaded the campaign to sue Shell over allegations that it was somehow complicit in his father’s death.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Shell allege that the company used its influence with the Nigerian government to target the MOSOP campaign and Mr Saro-Wiwa. Statements submitted to the court say that Brian Anderson, then managing director of Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, met with Owens Wiwa, Mr Saro-Wiwa’s brother, and said that he would be released in return for an end to the protests against the company.
Glenn Hoddle's corruption allegations over Nigeria job lead to inquiry
Glenn Hoddle's decision to walk away from a near-£1m contract to manage Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup has sparked a corruption investigation. Nigerian police are seeking statements from Hoddle and the agent who represented him, Olatunji John Shittu.
The police will also talk to Lars Lagerback, the former Sweden coach who took the job, and executives from the Nigeria Football Federation and the national sports commission.
Hoddle is believed to have claimed to the Nigerian state authorities that he came under pressure to arrange a bung for one of his new employers. Hoddle's allegation is said to be that, having agreed a US$1m (£650,000) short-term deal last month, an official told him it would be announced as US$1.5m.
Hoddle, who has not responded to attempts by the Guardian to contact him on the matter, was informed he would have to return the £325,000 difference as a kickback.
The former England manager is said to have refused. Dr Bukola Saraki, a Nigerian state governor, says Hoddle approached him to report the incident before returning to the UK from Abuja. "When we met, Hoddle complained that he was asked to part with US$500,000 out of his US$1.5m [the contract fee to be paid] and that was the only way to do business in Nigeria," Saraki said.
An investigation by the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup found no wrongdoing. But now, according to its spokesman Femi Babafemi, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a formal inquiry.
The police will also talk to Lars Lagerback, the former Sweden coach who took the job, and executives from the Nigeria Football Federation and the national sports commission.
Hoddle is believed to have claimed to the Nigerian state authorities that he came under pressure to arrange a bung for one of his new employers. Hoddle's allegation is said to be that, having agreed a US$1m (£650,000) short-term deal last month, an official told him it would be announced as US$1.5m.
Hoddle, who has not responded to attempts by the Guardian to contact him on the matter, was informed he would have to return the £325,000 difference as a kickback.
The former England manager is said to have refused. Dr Bukola Saraki, a Nigerian state governor, says Hoddle approached him to report the incident before returning to the UK from Abuja. "When we met, Hoddle complained that he was asked to part with US$500,000 out of his US$1.5m [the contract fee to be paid] and that was the only way to do business in Nigeria," Saraki said.
An investigation by the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup found no wrongdoing. But now, according to its spokesman Femi Babafemi, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a formal inquiry.
Jonathan slams two-year ban on foreign outings
Apparently angered by the Super Eagles’ dismal performance, which led to their early exit from the 2010 Football FIFA World Cup in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered Nigeria’s withdrawal from all international football competitions for the next two years.
Wielding the big stick, which also affects the Under 17 and Under 23 soccer competitions, the President said it was to enable the country to re-organise its football administration. Nigeria will officially inform the world football governing body of its decision to stay away for the next two years.
President Jonathan has also ordered a probe of the money spent on the world soccer fiesta by Nigeria.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting between President Jonathan and members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the 2010 World Cup, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Jonathan also approved the auditing of all the money spent during the ongoing World Cup. “President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country put its house in order.”
Niboro stated that the President also approved that an audit of the World Cup finances be looked into and bring whoever was culpable to book.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), said: “Our recommendation is based on what is on the ground. We went to the World Cup and found all sorts of problems and we felt we should sit back and look inward.” The governor who was joined by other members of the PTF, said: “We will formally write FIFA to say that Nigeria won’t engage in international football competitions.”
Amaechi explained that the government’s decision had nothing to do with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He, however, lamented that Nigeria had not done well in continental and intercontinental football competitions, stressing that “you cannot have tumour and continue to massage it with all the blood.”
Amaechi said Nigeria’s outing in South Africa was characterised by all sorts of maladministration and that the country had been punished enough as far as football was concerned. After playing three matches in the preliminary rounds of the ongoing soccer tournament, Super Eagles crashed out last week.
The national team’s performance in all their Group B matches was disappointing, as the Super Eagles finished at the bottom, with only one point. The result was not wholly unexpected. The Super Eagles’ best game was the match against South Korea, which they drew 2-2. They lost the other two games 0-1 to Argentina, and 1-2 to Greece.
President Jonathan was reported to have reacted to the Eagles’ early exit by telling a delegation of officials led by Sports Minister, Ibrahim Bio, that despite his personal support for them, the players lacked the commitment to fly Nigeria’s flag high in South Africa.
Despite the Super Eagles winning a bronze medal at the last African Nations Cup in Mali, the team’s performance was called into question even before the World Cup.
In the tournament, the Eagles were quite unimpressive. The team managed to beat Algeria by a goal, struggled for a draw with Mali and escaped with a goal victory over Liberia in the preliminary round. A slim quarter-final win of one nil over Ghana and a one to two loss to Lions of Senegal in the semi-final saw the team out of the final of the Nations Cup. The team subsequently defeated Mali, the host country, with a goal in the third place match.
Wielding the big stick, which also affects the Under 17 and Under 23 soccer competitions, the President said it was to enable the country to re-organise its football administration. Nigeria will officially inform the world football governing body of its decision to stay away for the next two years.
President Jonathan has also ordered a probe of the money spent on the world soccer fiesta by Nigeria.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting between President Jonathan and members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the 2010 World Cup, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Jonathan also approved the auditing of all the money spent during the ongoing World Cup. “President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country put its house in order.”
Niboro stated that the President also approved that an audit of the World Cup finances be looked into and bring whoever was culpable to book.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), said: “Our recommendation is based on what is on the ground. We went to the World Cup and found all sorts of problems and we felt we should sit back and look inward.” The governor who was joined by other members of the PTF, said: “We will formally write FIFA to say that Nigeria won’t engage in international football competitions.”
Amaechi explained that the government’s decision had nothing to do with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He, however, lamented that Nigeria had not done well in continental and intercontinental football competitions, stressing that “you cannot have tumour and continue to massage it with all the blood.”
Amaechi said Nigeria’s outing in South Africa was characterised by all sorts of maladministration and that the country had been punished enough as far as football was concerned. After playing three matches in the preliminary rounds of the ongoing soccer tournament, Super Eagles crashed out last week.
The national team’s performance in all their Group B matches was disappointing, as the Super Eagles finished at the bottom, with only one point. The result was not wholly unexpected. The Super Eagles’ best game was the match against South Korea, which they drew 2-2. They lost the other two games 0-1 to Argentina, and 1-2 to Greece.
President Jonathan was reported to have reacted to the Eagles’ early exit by telling a delegation of officials led by Sports Minister, Ibrahim Bio, that despite his personal support for them, the players lacked the commitment to fly Nigeria’s flag high in South Africa.
Despite the Super Eagles winning a bronze medal at the last African Nations Cup in Mali, the team’s performance was called into question even before the World Cup.
In the tournament, the Eagles were quite unimpressive. The team managed to beat Algeria by a goal, struggled for a draw with Mali and escaped with a goal victory over Liberia in the preliminary round. A slim quarter-final win of one nil over Ghana and a one to two loss to Lions of Senegal in the semi-final saw the team out of the final of the Nations Cup. The team subsequently defeated Mali, the host country, with a goal in the third place match.
FOR YOUR RECORD:More than just a game
Football in Africa has long provided much-needed relief from the socio-economic and political problems that plague many countries on the continent.
But the game has also been used as a political tool, and still continues to play a major role in helping to boost the popularity of some rulers or settle old scores with other governments.
The late Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha used the 1996 African Cup of Nations to express his anger over South Africa's condemnation of the decision to hang the human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa the previous year.
The Super Eagles were ordered not to travel to the tournament in South Africa because Nelson Mandela was seen as the leader of a campaign to isolate Abacha's regime.
Even in the best of times, football in Africa has never been insulated from political impact.
Indeed, there have always been political and nationalistic undercurrents whenever big tournaments like the Cup of Nations come around.
The latest example is Rwanda's president Paul Kagame, who is a high-profile supporter of his country's national team, the Wasps.
Kagame stands accused by his critics of using football as a vehicle to win public opinion by bankrolling the Wasps and rewarding players with handsome bonuses.
The Rwandese president also sponsors East and Central Africa's annual championship, now known as the Kagame Cup, but formerly called the Cecafa Challenge Cup.
Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe had been famously indifferent to the plight of his country's national team, preferring to spend his spare time watching cricket instead.
In fact, Mugabe - the patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - is responsible for uttering one of the most famous cricketing quotes in history.
"Cricket? It civilises people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket... I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen," said Mugabe when questioned about his love of what many of his people still regard as a colonial sport.
But since the Warriors' qualification for their first-ever Cup of Nations finals, Mugabe has been portrayed in the official media as a long-standing football fan.
"My wife knows and always complains that each time I watch soccer I make a lot of noise because I truly enjoy the game," Mugabe told one of the state-controlled newspapers recently.
Suddenly, years of official neglect of the Zimbabwe Football Association are over and the government is now funding the Warriors.
The information minister Jonathan Moyo even wrote a song for the team, which is given plenty of airtime on national radio.
Critics say it is no accident that Mugabe's sudden interest in football coincides with the worst period of his presidency, and Zimbabwe's maiden Cup of Nations appearance.
Indeed, Africa is awash with examples of autocratic regimes lacking tangible success stories who have hijacked the achievements of the national football team for their own agendas.
Cameroon's long-serving president Paul Biya always makes a point of aligning himself with the country's successful football teams, both senior and junior.
Biya's longevity in politics, according to the Cameroonian opposition, has had much to do with the success of the Indomitable Lions over the years.
In fact, Biya personally intervened and ordered Roger Milla's call-up for World Cup duty in 1990. And when Milla set Italia '90 on fire, the president took all the plaudits, naturally.
Observers in Zambia say it is no coincidence that the country's decline as an African superpower started soon after the end of Kenneth Kaunda's rule.
Kaunda's government allocated huge financial and material resources to the team, then known as the 'KK XI'.
In return, the football team became a potent symbol of national unity, as espoused in Kaunda's 'one Zambia, one nation' philosophy.
It just remains to be seen which political leader will be basking in the glory of cup success come 14 February.
But the game has also been used as a political tool, and still continues to play a major role in helping to boost the popularity of some rulers or settle old scores with other governments.
The late Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha used the 1996 African Cup of Nations to express his anger over South Africa's condemnation of the decision to hang the human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa the previous year.
The Super Eagles were ordered not to travel to the tournament in South Africa because Nelson Mandela was seen as the leader of a campaign to isolate Abacha's regime.
Even in the best of times, football in Africa has never been insulated from political impact.
Indeed, there have always been political and nationalistic undercurrents whenever big tournaments like the Cup of Nations come around.
The latest example is Rwanda's president Paul Kagame, who is a high-profile supporter of his country's national team, the Wasps.
Kagame stands accused by his critics of using football as a vehicle to win public opinion by bankrolling the Wasps and rewarding players with handsome bonuses.
The Rwandese president also sponsors East and Central Africa's annual championship, now known as the Kagame Cup, but formerly called the Cecafa Challenge Cup.
Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe had been famously indifferent to the plight of his country's national team, preferring to spend his spare time watching cricket instead.
In fact, Mugabe - the patron of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union - is responsible for uttering one of the most famous cricketing quotes in history.
"Cricket? It civilises people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket... I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen," said Mugabe when questioned about his love of what many of his people still regard as a colonial sport.
But since the Warriors' qualification for their first-ever Cup of Nations finals, Mugabe has been portrayed in the official media as a long-standing football fan.
"My wife knows and always complains that each time I watch soccer I make a lot of noise because I truly enjoy the game," Mugabe told one of the state-controlled newspapers recently.
Suddenly, years of official neglect of the Zimbabwe Football Association are over and the government is now funding the Warriors.
The information minister Jonathan Moyo even wrote a song for the team, which is given plenty of airtime on national radio.
Critics say it is no accident that Mugabe's sudden interest in football coincides with the worst period of his presidency, and Zimbabwe's maiden Cup of Nations appearance.
Indeed, Africa is awash with examples of autocratic regimes lacking tangible success stories who have hijacked the achievements of the national football team for their own agendas.
Cameroon's long-serving president Paul Biya always makes a point of aligning himself with the country's successful football teams, both senior and junior.
Biya's longevity in politics, according to the Cameroonian opposition, has had much to do with the success of the Indomitable Lions over the years.
In fact, Biya personally intervened and ordered Roger Milla's call-up for World Cup duty in 1990. And when Milla set Italia '90 on fire, the president took all the plaudits, naturally.
Observers in Zambia say it is no coincidence that the country's decline as an African superpower started soon after the end of Kenneth Kaunda's rule.
Kaunda's government allocated huge financial and material resources to the team, then known as the 'KK XI'.
In return, the football team became a potent symbol of national unity, as espoused in Kaunda's 'one Zambia, one nation' philosophy.
It just remains to be seen which political leader will be basking in the glory of cup success come 14 February.
Barca target Cesc Fabregas hints he may stay at Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas has hinted he could stay at Arsenal, despite continued interest from Spanish champions Barcelona.
The Gunners have already turned down a bid of about £30m from the Catalans and said they would not entertain further interest in their 23-year-old captain.
And Fabregas, in South Africa preparing for Spain's World Cup quarter-final tie against Paraguay, suggested he could stay at the Emirates next season.
"I haven't said that I will definitely leave Arsenal," he told Sky Sports.
"Everything is possible. Now I have my head and my focus on the World Cup.
"I am very proud to be captain of Arsenal and I love the club and have respect for them. It gave me such pride to be made captain."
Barcelona have made it clear they regard midfielder Fabregas, who played in the youth team at the Nou Camp before moving to north London seven years ago, as one of their chief transfer targets this summer.
New Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has already secured the services of striker David Villa for £35m and could have more funds available, with Yaya Toure linked with a big-money move to Manchester City.
Fabregas signed an eight-year contract with the Gunners in 2006 and has been quoted as saying he would only join Barcelona if he left the north London club.
He has featured twice in Spain's World Cup campaign, coming on as a substitute on both occasions.
The Gunners have already turned down a bid of about £30m from the Catalans and said they would not entertain further interest in their 23-year-old captain.
And Fabregas, in South Africa preparing for Spain's World Cup quarter-final tie against Paraguay, suggested he could stay at the Emirates next season.
"I haven't said that I will definitely leave Arsenal," he told Sky Sports.
"Everything is possible. Now I have my head and my focus on the World Cup.
"I am very proud to be captain of Arsenal and I love the club and have respect for them. It gave me such pride to be made captain."
Barcelona have made it clear they regard midfielder Fabregas, who played in the youth team at the Nou Camp before moving to north London seven years ago, as one of their chief transfer targets this summer.
New Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has already secured the services of striker David Villa for £35m and could have more funds available, with Yaya Toure linked with a big-money move to Manchester City.
Fabregas signed an eight-year contract with the Gunners in 2006 and has been quoted as saying he would only join Barcelona if he left the north London club.
He has featured twice in Spain's World Cup campaign, coming on as a substitute on both occasions.
Nigeria denied window to the world
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan must be a brave man. I've travelled to 80-odd countries and nowhere have I ever found such seething energy as in Nigeria - an electricity which translates into both rampant passion and expectation when applied to football.
While covering the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, I'll never forget the outrage of Nigerian fans who - infuriated by the hosts' failure to beat group rivals Congo - smashed the team bus and were only prevented from accessing the dressing rooms by volleys of tear gas.
Many Nigerians believe football to be the only area which ever unites their vastly disparate land of over 300 tribes and 150 million inhabitants.
Now though, the sport has been taken away from them.
For the government's dissolution of the national team for two years means - should it ever come to pass - that the Super Eagles, now dubbed the Super Chickens, will miss the 2012 Nations Cup. Perhaps Libya 2013 as well.
Well known for taking an exceedingly dim view of governmental interference in a national federation's affairs, football's world governing body Fifa may also threaten a ban.
But one wonders whether such a suspension - from the government or Fifa (although a Normalisation Committee may well be looming) - is the best way of getting Nigeria's football house in admittedly much-needed order. For this year's World Cup preparations were certainly bumpy.
Shortly after January's Nations Cup, coach Shaibu Amodu was fired despite achieving his NFF targets of a) qualifying for South Africa and b) reaching the Nations Cup in Angola, where Nigeria took third.
Lars Lagerback was appointed in February but only after Glenn Hoddle said he'd rejected the post after being told his short-term deal worth US$1m would be announced as US$1.5m by the NFF - and financial accountability is forming part of the government's ongoing investigation.
Nigeria then warmed up by having more friendlies cancelled than played while their World Cup base camp was changed at the last minute - costing the NFF a US$125,000 Fifa fine. But still the squad ended up at sea level in South Africa, which seemed strange when their first two matches were at altitude.
Player selection also had the Nigerian media speculating about favouritism, with Lagerback forced to deny he had selected Kanu under NFF pressure, and though coming within a whisker of qualifying, undone by Sani Keita's moment of madness, was it any surprise Group B didn't go to plan?
Nigeria suffered a continental ban in the nineties after being barred from the 1998 Nations Cup by Caf for withdrawing from South Africa 1996 following criticism from Nelson Mandela over the ruling military's hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other human rights activists.
That prevented one of Nigeria's, and Africa's, best ever sides from contesting the 2008 Nations Cup - just two years after the Okocha, Oliseh, Babangida, Kanu, Amuneke generation had proved truly golden when winning the 1996 Olympics.
Nigeria did reach the last 16 at France '98 - but the West Africans haven't won a World Cup game since and their 2002 and 2010 campaigns, either side of their failure to qualify for Germany, ended in the first round.
Given that this disappointing World Cup prompted the government's drastic move, one wonders whether they're prepared to sacrifice the 2014 campaign for the long-term future? Or this is simply a dramatic way of decapitating the current NFF board?
Meanwhile, the fans who've long bemoaned their federation's failures probably don't
know whether to laugh or cry.
"We are a rich nation but very poor, because we've made mistakes in many areas, but the one area where we've ever shown greatness is football," says Segun Odegbami, who won the 1980 Nations Cup, when explaining his compatriots' fervour.
"The players show our best side to the world and the whole nation unites behind them. Very simply, football is a reminder of our potential as a great country."
Not at the moment. Good luck Jonathan indeed.
While covering the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, I'll never forget the outrage of Nigerian fans who - infuriated by the hosts' failure to beat group rivals Congo - smashed the team bus and were only prevented from accessing the dressing rooms by volleys of tear gas.
Many Nigerians believe football to be the only area which ever unites their vastly disparate land of over 300 tribes and 150 million inhabitants.
Now though, the sport has been taken away from them.
For the government's dissolution of the national team for two years means - should it ever come to pass - that the Super Eagles, now dubbed the Super Chickens, will miss the 2012 Nations Cup. Perhaps Libya 2013 as well.
Well known for taking an exceedingly dim view of governmental interference in a national federation's affairs, football's world governing body Fifa may also threaten a ban.
But one wonders whether such a suspension - from the government or Fifa (although a Normalisation Committee may well be looming) - is the best way of getting Nigeria's football house in admittedly much-needed order. For this year's World Cup preparations were certainly bumpy.
Shortly after January's Nations Cup, coach Shaibu Amodu was fired despite achieving his NFF targets of a) qualifying for South Africa and b) reaching the Nations Cup in Angola, where Nigeria took third.
Lars Lagerback was appointed in February but only after Glenn Hoddle said he'd rejected the post after being told his short-term deal worth US$1m would be announced as US$1.5m by the NFF - and financial accountability is forming part of the government's ongoing investigation.
Nigeria then warmed up by having more friendlies cancelled than played while their World Cup base camp was changed at the last minute - costing the NFF a US$125,000 Fifa fine. But still the squad ended up at sea level in South Africa, which seemed strange when their first two matches were at altitude.
Player selection also had the Nigerian media speculating about favouritism, with Lagerback forced to deny he had selected Kanu under NFF pressure, and though coming within a whisker of qualifying, undone by Sani Keita's moment of madness, was it any surprise Group B didn't go to plan?
Nigeria suffered a continental ban in the nineties after being barred from the 1998 Nations Cup by Caf for withdrawing from South Africa 1996 following criticism from Nelson Mandela over the ruling military's hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other human rights activists.
That prevented one of Nigeria's, and Africa's, best ever sides from contesting the 2008 Nations Cup - just two years after the Okocha, Oliseh, Babangida, Kanu, Amuneke generation had proved truly golden when winning the 1996 Olympics.
Nigeria did reach the last 16 at France '98 - but the West Africans haven't won a World Cup game since and their 2002 and 2010 campaigns, either side of their failure to qualify for Germany, ended in the first round.
Given that this disappointing World Cup prompted the government's drastic move, one wonders whether they're prepared to sacrifice the 2014 campaign for the long-term future? Or this is simply a dramatic way of decapitating the current NFF board?
Meanwhile, the fans who've long bemoaned their federation's failures probably don't
know whether to laugh or cry.
"We are a rich nation but very poor, because we've made mistakes in many areas, but the one area where we've ever shown greatness is football," says Segun Odegbami, who won the 1980 Nations Cup, when explaining his compatriots' fervour.
"The players show our best side to the world and the whole nation unites behind them. Very simply, football is a reminder of our potential as a great country."
Not at the moment. Good luck Jonathan indeed.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Why I attacked Timaya in my song –Nico Gravity
Many may not know him as Paul Nnamdi Okpara as the name does not ring a bell. But as Nico Gravity, he is the musician who went off the music scene for many years and has now returned to re-establish his presence. He is also the singer who is trying to cut Timaya to size through his wave-making album, Scatter Timaya.
Here, Gravity opens up to Blockbuster on what he stands to gain by beefing Timaya. The ghetto boy also talks about his death rumour and relationship with women. Excerpts:
How it all started
I started music way back in1991 in Reggae Dub Chapel where we used to have the late Johnny Nab. It is a place where we used to gather and play instrumental on turn-table and boys used microphone to rap and to impress a very little crowd that had gathered. I used to go there everyday and at a point, I started staying there with a lot of guys like Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh and Marvellous Benjy.
It was like a training ground for those of us that did music in the ghetto. I started in 1991, then in 1993, I did a duet with Daddy Fresh in a song entitled, Clean Up, then in 1995 I also did a duet with him, Fakafikifaka. In 1996, I released my debut album, Story Teller under Felin Records and two years later, I did another song, This is Lagos. I have done other songs such as I Go Mortuary in 2000 but when it was about to be released, I left Lagos and got a job with the BBC as a Sound Engineer. I worked for three years and was away from Lagos for four years and when I came back I released Scatter Timaya.
Inspiration
Before I went into music, I was learning spare parts trade in Idumota and that was when I discovered that I was always listening to music, rapping, making songs and people were always commending and encouraging me to take it up as a career. I just love music. I love to make people laugh. That time, it was not about the money. If you sing and people clap, you are very happy for a whole week. It was just the love for music that made me go into it.
I’m teetotaler
I don’t smoke marijuana. I don’t drink alcohol but I just like making songs. If am in a club listening to music and I dance for too long, I can get a musical idea. I could just be strolling and get an idea. Basically the things that I see and the things that happen to me inspire me to make songs. It is just God.
Why I scattered Timaya
I came back from Abuja and needed to re-establish my relevance, to let people know that I am back, that was just apart. The major thing is that I listened to Timaya’s music, and I want to say that it’s very interesting. I saw a lot of loopholes in his lyrical reasoning. He makes 10 songs, nine and half are about himself and the things he has acquired and the money he has made. I remember that when we were learning how to play music, the first thing you try to make is sense.
As some people would ask you, what is the meaning of this song? I discovered that music was becoming more meaningless. Yes, self praise is an internationally acknowledged and accepted pattern of writing songs but an artiste’s lyrical range doesn’t have to be narrowed down completely to self-praise and I discovered that Timaya was mostly all about himself. I also saw that Timaya was making his songs as if he is quarelling with somebody and has problems with artistes who are based in Lagos.
Timaya’s music reflected a certain kind of disrespect or let me say anger for artistes in Lagos.
The ultimate reason I attacked Timaya was because of that line where he said, I broke into their Lagos market. Note the word, their, if it had been, I broke into the Lagos market, am very sure I wouldn’t have had any problem with that. But the word their sounded so direct and so personal as if he has been beefing Lagos artistes for a long time. I know artistes from Port Harcourt who came to Lagos and made a lot of waves, Etiene T Boy did it, Daniel Wilson also did it, but I saw all of that as fun. It was interesting and I saw the opportunity of making interesting music based on that topic.
There’s need to re-establish myself
They think I hate Timaya and want him to fall. No, I saw an opportunity of making a song that has the intention of becoming interesting based on the topic of Timaya’s kind of music. I am sure most artistes in Lagos didn’t do it because they were friends of Timaya, they didn’t want to get on his bad side or somehow they did not want Timaya’s fans to dislike them but I needed to re-establish my return and entertain people. It is basically entertainment.
On Timaya’s response
I have never seen Timaya face to face in my life. I only see him on TV and am sure he only sees me on TV too that is if he has ever seen me on TV. I am sure if he passes me, he might not recognise me but funny enough, most of his people are my people. Most of the people he rose with are my friends. We have never met. If I meet him one on one, it would be like guy, how far now, don’t take it personal, I hope you understand its entertainment. I have no beef whatsoever with Timaya.
Controversy and death rumour
I want to play down on the controversy because it has caused its own ugly side even if it has exposed me. It has also brought me a lot of things like the death rumour and people harassing me. I’ve gone to shows with so much security around me. You never can tell a crazy Timaya fan who is trying to hurt you. It has brought a lot of unpleasant things
On Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse is just a guy who is misunderstood and who also misunderstands himself. But he was like fighting against the album, “Scatter Timaya” at a point when it was becoming big. He was using his sound system and microphone to preach against the music and telling people not to play it. Recently, we spoke and we are doing a stuff on the computer.
Mighty Mouse is bigger than me. We are not fighting over supremacy. He is a big man in the music community in Ajegunle and he supports us a lot. I was just not happy with him but he is a man who I respect a lot and have supported in many ways. He is not the person that should be fighting me now that I am trying to break even.
Relationship with women
It’s a big problem. It is very hard to handle especially when they find out that you are not married. They all want commitment which is easy to promise but hard to deliver. My New Year resolution is to be very prayerful. I am praying to God to give me the wisdom to be able to juggle girls properly and eventually come to the one that I will settle down with. You can’t marry non-tested. If you want to buy a car, you have to test it to observe the engine noise and other things. I am just like test running, if things go well, I would get married before this year runs out.
Here, Gravity opens up to Blockbuster on what he stands to gain by beefing Timaya. The ghetto boy also talks about his death rumour and relationship with women. Excerpts:
How it all started
I started music way back in1991 in Reggae Dub Chapel where we used to have the late Johnny Nab. It is a place where we used to gather and play instrumental on turn-table and boys used microphone to rap and to impress a very little crowd that had gathered. I used to go there everyday and at a point, I started staying there with a lot of guys like Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh and Marvellous Benjy.
It was like a training ground for those of us that did music in the ghetto. I started in 1991, then in 1993, I did a duet with Daddy Fresh in a song entitled, Clean Up, then in 1995 I also did a duet with him, Fakafikifaka. In 1996, I released my debut album, Story Teller under Felin Records and two years later, I did another song, This is Lagos. I have done other songs such as I Go Mortuary in 2000 but when it was about to be released, I left Lagos and got a job with the BBC as a Sound Engineer. I worked for three years and was away from Lagos for four years and when I came back I released Scatter Timaya.
Inspiration
Before I went into music, I was learning spare parts trade in Idumota and that was when I discovered that I was always listening to music, rapping, making songs and people were always commending and encouraging me to take it up as a career. I just love music. I love to make people laugh. That time, it was not about the money. If you sing and people clap, you are very happy for a whole week. It was just the love for music that made me go into it.
I’m teetotaler
I don’t smoke marijuana. I don’t drink alcohol but I just like making songs. If am in a club listening to music and I dance for too long, I can get a musical idea. I could just be strolling and get an idea. Basically the things that I see and the things that happen to me inspire me to make songs. It is just God.
Why I scattered Timaya
I came back from Abuja and needed to re-establish my relevance, to let people know that I am back, that was just apart. The major thing is that I listened to Timaya’s music, and I want to say that it’s very interesting. I saw a lot of loopholes in his lyrical reasoning. He makes 10 songs, nine and half are about himself and the things he has acquired and the money he has made. I remember that when we were learning how to play music, the first thing you try to make is sense.
As some people would ask you, what is the meaning of this song? I discovered that music was becoming more meaningless. Yes, self praise is an internationally acknowledged and accepted pattern of writing songs but an artiste’s lyrical range doesn’t have to be narrowed down completely to self-praise and I discovered that Timaya was mostly all about himself. I also saw that Timaya was making his songs as if he is quarelling with somebody and has problems with artistes who are based in Lagos.
Timaya’s music reflected a certain kind of disrespect or let me say anger for artistes in Lagos.
The ultimate reason I attacked Timaya was because of that line where he said, I broke into their Lagos market. Note the word, their, if it had been, I broke into the Lagos market, am very sure I wouldn’t have had any problem with that. But the word their sounded so direct and so personal as if he has been beefing Lagos artistes for a long time. I know artistes from Port Harcourt who came to Lagos and made a lot of waves, Etiene T Boy did it, Daniel Wilson also did it, but I saw all of that as fun. It was interesting and I saw the opportunity of making interesting music based on that topic.
There’s need to re-establish myself
They think I hate Timaya and want him to fall. No, I saw an opportunity of making a song that has the intention of becoming interesting based on the topic of Timaya’s kind of music. I am sure most artistes in Lagos didn’t do it because they were friends of Timaya, they didn’t want to get on his bad side or somehow they did not want Timaya’s fans to dislike them but I needed to re-establish my return and entertain people. It is basically entertainment.
On Timaya’s response
I have never seen Timaya face to face in my life. I only see him on TV and am sure he only sees me on TV too that is if he has ever seen me on TV. I am sure if he passes me, he might not recognise me but funny enough, most of his people are my people. Most of the people he rose with are my friends. We have never met. If I meet him one on one, it would be like guy, how far now, don’t take it personal, I hope you understand its entertainment. I have no beef whatsoever with Timaya.
Controversy and death rumour
I want to play down on the controversy because it has caused its own ugly side even if it has exposed me. It has also brought me a lot of things like the death rumour and people harassing me. I’ve gone to shows with so much security around me. You never can tell a crazy Timaya fan who is trying to hurt you. It has brought a lot of unpleasant things
On Mighty Mouse
Mighty Mouse is just a guy who is misunderstood and who also misunderstands himself. But he was like fighting against the album, “Scatter Timaya” at a point when it was becoming big. He was using his sound system and microphone to preach against the music and telling people not to play it. Recently, we spoke and we are doing a stuff on the computer.
Mighty Mouse is bigger than me. We are not fighting over supremacy. He is a big man in the music community in Ajegunle and he supports us a lot. I was just not happy with him but he is a man who I respect a lot and have supported in many ways. He is not the person that should be fighting me now that I am trying to break even.
Relationship with women
It’s a big problem. It is very hard to handle especially when they find out that you are not married. They all want commitment which is easy to promise but hard to deliver. My New Year resolution is to be very prayerful. I am praying to God to give me the wisdom to be able to juggle girls properly and eventually come to the one that I will settle down with. You can’t marry non-tested. If you want to buy a car, you have to test it to observe the engine noise and other things. I am just like test running, if things go well, I would get married before this year runs out.
HOUSE CRISIS: PDP summons Bankole, Nafada, Melaye, others •No going back on move to remove Bankole –Melaye’s group
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wedne-sday, berated the House of Representatives for allowing its sitting on Tuesday to degenerate into chaos,
during which members engaged in a free-for-all, as it summoned the leadership to an urgent meeting.
The move by the ruling party to wade into the crisis in the House had earlier been reported. It was exclusively reported that the leadership of the party would summon the Speaker and other principal officials to a meeting on the reason behind the breakdown of confidence among members.
While summoning the House leadership, the party also extended the invitation for an urgent meeting to members of the Progressives, led by Honourable Dino Melaye, who it described as “unruly” and who were suspended indefinitely by the House on Tuesday.
The PDP said it was saddened by the rowdy session in the House, stating that it felt more embarrassed that the incident occurred right in the full glare of school children who watched the scenes from the gallery during their excursion to the National Assembly.
The PDP took the decision at its National Working Committee (NWC) metting.
According to a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Ahmed Alkali Rufa'i, the PDP was pained that members of the party in the House of Representatives ignored its earlier admonition to them to sheathe their swords on the matter pending its intervention.
It said the display of hooliganistic tendency by certain members of the House was un-parliamentary, and condemned the act in strong terms.
The statement by the PDP spokesperson read in part: "The NWC was particularly saddened that its earlier appeal for members to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue in resolving all lingering issues went unheeded.
“The NWC, therefore, condemned the resort to violence which was carried out in the full glare of the public, including school children, who had gone to the National Assembly to experience the process of legislation first-hand.
"The outcome of the sitting of the House of Representatives on the 22nd of June, 2010 is regrettable and does not tally with the mood of the nation and the policy thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan, which encourages constructive engagement.
"This shameful act carried out by some members of the House of Representatives, some of whom are members of our party, also negates the new philosophy of discipline and decorum which the new national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, has set out to instill in the party. The party, therefore, calls on the House of Representatives to offer apology to Nigerians for this disgraceful and avoidable conduct".
The House was into chaos the previous day when 11 members of the Progressives attempted to disrupt the House’s proceedings, when a motion seeking their suspension was being presented.
Melaye and other members of the Progressives had accused the speaker of mismanaging the sum of N9 billion being House’s capital vote since 2008 till date, calling on him to render account.
The group had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the speaker to resign, failing which they threatened to expose the alleged corruption against him to the anti-graft agencies, most especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group made good its threat, when members visited the EFCC on Monday to present a petition against the speaker.
Meanwhile, Honourable Doris Uboh, representing Ika Federal Constituency in Delta State, who was one of the lawmakers suspended after a violent confrontation on Tuesday, has vowed to press on with her fight to ensure accountability and probity in the House, noting that the issues at stake bordered on “criminality.”
She said at a press briefing in her residence, on Wednesday, in Abuja that contrary to what the leadership of the House was claiming, she was not fighting because of committee’s position as she remained a deputy chairman of a House committee.
Honourable Uboh, who is nursing a dislocated shoulder following her battering in Tuesday’s scuffle in the House, said she was not deterred by her experience on the floor of the House.
She said that she was only trying to point out that the procedure of the House had been breached by the member who moved a motion for the suspension of the Progressives but was hardly allowed to do that before she was physically attacked.
The lawmaker, who confirmed that she was not a member of the Progressives, blamed anti-female sentiments among the male legislators for the attack she suffered, saying it was for the same reason that former Speaker of the House, Honourable Patricia Etteh, was removed from office.
According to her, “everybody has seen what happened to me just because I am a woman. It breaks my heart. Not only was I treated badly, people also watched the situation degenerate into where a female member was being trampled upon and they stood there looking extremely satisfied.
“I will not allow that to happen to me without pressing charges. I will take it to the highest level that I can,” she said, adding that “what I was doing yesterday (Tuesday) was representing my people, which is my parliamentary duty.”
She condemned the directive by the House leadership that the offices of the suspended members should be sealed off, saying that the House leadership had no constitutional authority to bar them from representing their constituents.
“I equally remember during Etteh’s time that she was told that she could not preside over her own case in accordance with laws of natural justice but Honourable Dimeji Bankole was made to preside, to suspend us indefinitely, to lock up our offices and to do as he damn well please,” she said.
She observed that the speaker, by presiding over Tuesday’s session, gave the impression that there were two sets of laws for the system, saying that in order to ensure justice, the House must revert to the situation that was applied in the case of Honourable Etteh to decide the issues raised by the Progressives.
She vowed that those who wanted investigation into the alleged cases of corruption in the House would continue their agitation, as she pointed out that the issues bordered on criminality, saying “you (speaker) misappropriated N9 billion and you felt that the best way to go about it was to suspend.”
during which members engaged in a free-for-all, as it summoned the leadership to an urgent meeting.
The move by the ruling party to wade into the crisis in the House had earlier been reported. It was exclusively reported that the leadership of the party would summon the Speaker and other principal officials to a meeting on the reason behind the breakdown of confidence among members.
While summoning the House leadership, the party also extended the invitation for an urgent meeting to members of the Progressives, led by Honourable Dino Melaye, who it described as “unruly” and who were suspended indefinitely by the House on Tuesday.
The PDP said it was saddened by the rowdy session in the House, stating that it felt more embarrassed that the incident occurred right in the full glare of school children who watched the scenes from the gallery during their excursion to the National Assembly.
The PDP took the decision at its National Working Committee (NWC) metting.
According to a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Ahmed Alkali Rufa'i, the PDP was pained that members of the party in the House of Representatives ignored its earlier admonition to them to sheathe their swords on the matter pending its intervention.
It said the display of hooliganistic tendency by certain members of the House was un-parliamentary, and condemned the act in strong terms.
The statement by the PDP spokesperson read in part: "The NWC was particularly saddened that its earlier appeal for members to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue in resolving all lingering issues went unheeded.
“The NWC, therefore, condemned the resort to violence which was carried out in the full glare of the public, including school children, who had gone to the National Assembly to experience the process of legislation first-hand.
"The outcome of the sitting of the House of Representatives on the 22nd of June, 2010 is regrettable and does not tally with the mood of the nation and the policy thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan, which encourages constructive engagement.
"This shameful act carried out by some members of the House of Representatives, some of whom are members of our party, also negates the new philosophy of discipline and decorum which the new national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, has set out to instill in the party. The party, therefore, calls on the House of Representatives to offer apology to Nigerians for this disgraceful and avoidable conduct".
The House was into chaos the previous day when 11 members of the Progressives attempted to disrupt the House’s proceedings, when a motion seeking their suspension was being presented.
Melaye and other members of the Progressives had accused the speaker of mismanaging the sum of N9 billion being House’s capital vote since 2008 till date, calling on him to render account.
The group had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the speaker to resign, failing which they threatened to expose the alleged corruption against him to the anti-graft agencies, most especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group made good its threat, when members visited the EFCC on Monday to present a petition against the speaker.
Meanwhile, Honourable Doris Uboh, representing Ika Federal Constituency in Delta State, who was one of the lawmakers suspended after a violent confrontation on Tuesday, has vowed to press on with her fight to ensure accountability and probity in the House, noting that the issues at stake bordered on “criminality.”
She said at a press briefing in her residence, on Wednesday, in Abuja that contrary to what the leadership of the House was claiming, she was not fighting because of committee’s position as she remained a deputy chairman of a House committee.
Honourable Uboh, who is nursing a dislocated shoulder following her battering in Tuesday’s scuffle in the House, said she was not deterred by her experience on the floor of the House.
She said that she was only trying to point out that the procedure of the House had been breached by the member who moved a motion for the suspension of the Progressives but was hardly allowed to do that before she was physically attacked.
The lawmaker, who confirmed that she was not a member of the Progressives, blamed anti-female sentiments among the male legislators for the attack she suffered, saying it was for the same reason that former Speaker of the House, Honourable Patricia Etteh, was removed from office.
According to her, “everybody has seen what happened to me just because I am a woman. It breaks my heart. Not only was I treated badly, people also watched the situation degenerate into where a female member was being trampled upon and they stood there looking extremely satisfied.
“I will not allow that to happen to me without pressing charges. I will take it to the highest level that I can,” she said, adding that “what I was doing yesterday (Tuesday) was representing my people, which is my parliamentary duty.”
She condemned the directive by the House leadership that the offices of the suspended members should be sealed off, saying that the House leadership had no constitutional authority to bar them from representing their constituents.
“I equally remember during Etteh’s time that she was told that she could not preside over her own case in accordance with laws of natural justice but Honourable Dimeji Bankole was made to preside, to suspend us indefinitely, to lock up our offices and to do as he damn well please,” she said.
She observed that the speaker, by presiding over Tuesday’s session, gave the impression that there were two sets of laws for the system, saying that in order to ensure justice, the House must revert to the situation that was applied in the case of Honourable Etteh to decide the issues raised by the Progressives.
She vowed that those who wanted investigation into the alleged cases of corruption in the House would continue their agitation, as she pointed out that the issues bordered on criminality, saying “you (speaker) misappropriated N9 billion and you felt that the best way to go about it was to suspend.”
Godswill Obot Akpabio: The “Follow Follow” Governor of Akwa Ibom State
For reasons best known to him, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has never been, and is still not, a fan or a genuine admirer of President Goodluck Jonathan. While many Nigerians wanted the then Vice-President to assume the functions of the presidency when YarArdua was ill, Akpabio did everything within his power to thwart the move; he lobbied members of the Federal House of Assembly and even bribed some of them not to support the idea. After the death of President YarAdua, the last thing Governor Akpabio wanted was to see how the rest of Nigerians agreed to confirm Mr. Jonathan as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And Mr. Jonathan was aware of Akpabio’s intrigues; at one time he even confronted governor Akpabio.
Now, Governor Akpabio has been following President Jonathan around, like a little puppy, to the point where Akpabio has become a national embarrassment. The Protocol officials who work for Jonathan have tagged Akpabio the tile of the “follow follow governor,” because everywhere the president visits, Akpabio must make sure that he too is present. To Akwa Ibom people, the behavior of their governor is making them feel uncomfortable. And they just can’t understand why the governor is behaving the way he does.
Sources say Mr. Jonathan himself has confided in some of his well-placed kitchen-cabinet members that he wishes Akpabio would go away. Jonathan says he doesn’t mind meeting Akpabio in the presence of others. But, what the president loathes is the one-on-one meeting, which is what Mr. Akpabio craves for. It is not that Akpabio is posing any security, or physical risk to the presidency. No; not all. The problem is, President Jonathan does not feel comfortable around a man known by his own people as a failed leader, whose administration is associated with cultism, kidnapping, money laundering, lies, assassinations, armed robbery, murder, and other vices.
Within Nigeria, governor Akpabio has done nearly everything under his capacity for a one-on-one-audience with the President, but to no avail. It is well known how he even made several attempts to recruit the services of former President Shagari, Edwin Clark, and a Paramount Ruler in Bayelsta State (just to name a few) to help him have access to the President. Mr. Shagari flatly rejected his request and it is doubtful if others agreed to help Mr. Akpabio.
Recently, when the President of South Africa invited President Jonathan to attend the World Cup Soccer event, Akpabio quickly took a flight, invited or not, to South Africa, thinking that if he meets the president in a foreign country, as a State Governor, the protocol would be in his favor to have the audience with the president; a feat he couldn’t accomplish while in Nigeria. While in South Africa, several efforts by Mr. Akpabio to meet with the president failed.
Finally, out of desperation, Akpabio made contact with Governor Adam Oshimhole of Delta State, who was also in South Africa. Mr. Oshimhole decided to help Akpabio have access to Jonathan. Governor Oshimhole called the president in his suite and requested an audience with him. The president agreed. But Mr. Oshimhole did not tell the president that he was coming over with governor Akpabio. When the president’s aides informed the president that Mr. Oshimhole has arrived with governor Akpabio in-tow, he quickly sent a polite message, with apology, to governor Oshimhole that he could no longer honor the meeting with him (Oshimhole). Reports say President Jonathan later called Mr. Oshimhole to explain why he had to cancell the meeting; “I don’t want that man (Akpabio) around me. Please don’t ever come with him to see me.”
Last month, the same scenario occurred when the president visited Rivers State. Akpabio was there too. He also tried everything within his power for a one-on-one meeting with the President, but failed. In March or April this year, when President Jonathan was invited by President Obama for an official visit, Akpabio lied to the people of Akwa Ibom State that he had been included in the president’s entourage. He was not.
When Akpabio arrived in Washington, D.C., because he was not invited for the trip, he had to stay in a hotel different from the one the president and his team stayed. With the help of some Nigerian embassy officials, who thought it odd that a visiting governor was separated from the rest of Nigerian officials, a room was secured for Akpabio in the same hotel which the president stayed. In essence, Akpabio “crashed” into the event. Because of the help, which the embassy officials gave him, he was able to secure a photo-op with the rest of the visiting team with President Obama in the group. Today, Akpabio proudly and conspicuously hangs the picture in the Hill Top Mansion, at a must-see location. Again, Akpabio tried all he could to see President Jonathan, but failed.
People who read this may wonder why governor Akpabio is so desperate to see President Jonathan. Akpabio believes, wrong or correct, that if Jonathan does not forgive him over the efforts which he (Akpabio) campaigned to derail the emergence of Jonathan as the president, Jonathan will pay back by making sure that Akpabio does not fulfill his ambition for a second-term. Because Akpabio is so bent on continuing as a governor, the very thought that he does not stand a good chance for a second-term (which he really doesn’t), is enough to drive the man insane.
But what governor Akpabio may not know, or knows but is in self-denial, is the mountain of evidence available to president Jonathan, which the intelligence agencies, both in Nigeria and abroad, have compiled on Akpabio regarding his money laundering schemes, criminal activities in Akwa Ibom State, abuse of the rights of citizens, kidnappings and assassinations of political opponents, theft and squandering of the people’s money, and other corrupt practices, some of which Akpabio still believes are secrets.
On the other hand, maybe governor Akpabio is privy to what many of us don’t know. But, while he is busy worrying about president Jonathan as the only single man in the entire Nigeria who can thwart his dream for a second-term, he has become oblivious to his rejection by the very people he governs. What Akpabio does not know is that there is a mass movement, in Akwa Ibom State and in the Diaspora, organized to stop him from continuing as a governor. The people of Akwa Ibom State believes him to be an incompetent administrator who has squandered their resources, cause many of them to remain poor and hungry in a State in which peace and security has also been, and has remained, elusive for the past three years of Akpabio’s governance. Now the people want him to go away. They also want and are ready for a change.
The support which the people now give to former Senator Akpan Udoedehe, a gubernatorial aspirant, is a testimony to the disaffection of the people towards governor Akpabio. Anyone who visits Akpan Udoedehe’s house in Uyo, and even when he is in Abuja, will not fail to be amazed at the number of people that go in and out, all day long. They don’t go there to eat, drink, or sleep. They visit Akpan Udoedehe to confirm their support and to send a message to governor Akpabio that his days are up. The more than 300 different organizations for Positive Change, that are spread all over Akwa Ibom State in readiness for the Akpan Udoedehe’s campaign, is a clear testimony that the people are ready for a change, Unfortunately, Akpabio and especially his crumbs-from- table-eaters have refused to see the hand-writing on the wall. But no matter what, Akpabio Must Go and Akpabio Will Go; it’s just a matter of time.
By
Thompson Essien
Now, Governor Akpabio has been following President Jonathan around, like a little puppy, to the point where Akpabio has become a national embarrassment. The Protocol officials who work for Jonathan have tagged Akpabio the tile of the “follow follow governor,” because everywhere the president visits, Akpabio must make sure that he too is present. To Akwa Ibom people, the behavior of their governor is making them feel uncomfortable. And they just can’t understand why the governor is behaving the way he does.
Sources say Mr. Jonathan himself has confided in some of his well-placed kitchen-cabinet members that he wishes Akpabio would go away. Jonathan says he doesn’t mind meeting Akpabio in the presence of others. But, what the president loathes is the one-on-one meeting, which is what Mr. Akpabio craves for. It is not that Akpabio is posing any security, or physical risk to the presidency. No; not all. The problem is, President Jonathan does not feel comfortable around a man known by his own people as a failed leader, whose administration is associated with cultism, kidnapping, money laundering, lies, assassinations, armed robbery, murder, and other vices.
Within Nigeria, governor Akpabio has done nearly everything under his capacity for a one-on-one-audience with the President, but to no avail. It is well known how he even made several attempts to recruit the services of former President Shagari, Edwin Clark, and a Paramount Ruler in Bayelsta State (just to name a few) to help him have access to the President. Mr. Shagari flatly rejected his request and it is doubtful if others agreed to help Mr. Akpabio.
Recently, when the President of South Africa invited President Jonathan to attend the World Cup Soccer event, Akpabio quickly took a flight, invited or not, to South Africa, thinking that if he meets the president in a foreign country, as a State Governor, the protocol would be in his favor to have the audience with the president; a feat he couldn’t accomplish while in Nigeria. While in South Africa, several efforts by Mr. Akpabio to meet with the president failed.
Finally, out of desperation, Akpabio made contact with Governor Adam Oshimhole of Delta State, who was also in South Africa. Mr. Oshimhole decided to help Akpabio have access to Jonathan. Governor Oshimhole called the president in his suite and requested an audience with him. The president agreed. But Mr. Oshimhole did not tell the president that he was coming over with governor Akpabio. When the president’s aides informed the president that Mr. Oshimhole has arrived with governor Akpabio in-tow, he quickly sent a polite message, with apology, to governor Oshimhole that he could no longer honor the meeting with him (Oshimhole). Reports say President Jonathan later called Mr. Oshimhole to explain why he had to cancell the meeting; “I don’t want that man (Akpabio) around me. Please don’t ever come with him to see me.”
Last month, the same scenario occurred when the president visited Rivers State. Akpabio was there too. He also tried everything within his power for a one-on-one meeting with the President, but failed. In March or April this year, when President Jonathan was invited by President Obama for an official visit, Akpabio lied to the people of Akwa Ibom State that he had been included in the president’s entourage. He was not.
When Akpabio arrived in Washington, D.C., because he was not invited for the trip, he had to stay in a hotel different from the one the president and his team stayed. With the help of some Nigerian embassy officials, who thought it odd that a visiting governor was separated from the rest of Nigerian officials, a room was secured for Akpabio in the same hotel which the president stayed. In essence, Akpabio “crashed” into the event. Because of the help, which the embassy officials gave him, he was able to secure a photo-op with the rest of the visiting team with President Obama in the group. Today, Akpabio proudly and conspicuously hangs the picture in the Hill Top Mansion, at a must-see location. Again, Akpabio tried all he could to see President Jonathan, but failed.
People who read this may wonder why governor Akpabio is so desperate to see President Jonathan. Akpabio believes, wrong or correct, that if Jonathan does not forgive him over the efforts which he (Akpabio) campaigned to derail the emergence of Jonathan as the president, Jonathan will pay back by making sure that Akpabio does not fulfill his ambition for a second-term. Because Akpabio is so bent on continuing as a governor, the very thought that he does not stand a good chance for a second-term (which he really doesn’t), is enough to drive the man insane.
But what governor Akpabio may not know, or knows but is in self-denial, is the mountain of evidence available to president Jonathan, which the intelligence agencies, both in Nigeria and abroad, have compiled on Akpabio regarding his money laundering schemes, criminal activities in Akwa Ibom State, abuse of the rights of citizens, kidnappings and assassinations of political opponents, theft and squandering of the people’s money, and other corrupt practices, some of which Akpabio still believes are secrets.
On the other hand, maybe governor Akpabio is privy to what many of us don’t know. But, while he is busy worrying about president Jonathan as the only single man in the entire Nigeria who can thwart his dream for a second-term, he has become oblivious to his rejection by the very people he governs. What Akpabio does not know is that there is a mass movement, in Akwa Ibom State and in the Diaspora, organized to stop him from continuing as a governor. The people of Akwa Ibom State believes him to be an incompetent administrator who has squandered their resources, cause many of them to remain poor and hungry in a State in which peace and security has also been, and has remained, elusive for the past three years of Akpabio’s governance. Now the people want him to go away. They also want and are ready for a change.
The support which the people now give to former Senator Akpan Udoedehe, a gubernatorial aspirant, is a testimony to the disaffection of the people towards governor Akpabio. Anyone who visits Akpan Udoedehe’s house in Uyo, and even when he is in Abuja, will not fail to be amazed at the number of people that go in and out, all day long. They don’t go there to eat, drink, or sleep. They visit Akpan Udoedehe to confirm their support and to send a message to governor Akpabio that his days are up. The more than 300 different organizations for Positive Change, that are spread all over Akwa Ibom State in readiness for the Akpan Udoedehe’s campaign, is a clear testimony that the people are ready for a change, Unfortunately, Akpabio and especially his crumbs-from- table-eaters have refused to see the hand-writing on the wall. But no matter what, Akpabio Must Go and Akpabio Will Go; it’s just a matter of time.
By
Thompson Essien
The Fleecing of Akwa Ibom State--Part 2: The Contractors
>
>A very tiny but powerful cabal is toying with the future of Akwa Ibom State. They are led by a single powerful leader, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Together, they are stealing and milking the State dry. Any further delay in checking the deceptive practices of this cabal will leave Akwa Ibom State in a deep financial chaos after their term. The cabal is known as contractors.
>
>
>In a recent press interview, Akpabio explained “that most of the projects in the state were contracted to tested contractors rather than putting them in the hands of incompetent persons who in "the past were interested in collecting mobilization funds and abandoning jobs awarded by the government." Governor Akpabio may be right. But do you know who the “tested contractors” are? Below are some of them.
>
>Prince Ukpong Akpabio (the governor‘s cousin):
>Prince Akpabio owns Prill Guards, which is located at 73 Enwe Street, Uyo. His firm is responsible in providing security for government offices and secretariat. Prill investment is responsible for booking flights for Dana Air located at Monty Suites at the Airport. Prince Akpabio also handles protocol for the State Government as a term-contractor responsible for all government supplies. Another firm in the Prill conglomerate is Prill Communication, located at 293 Oron Road, Uyo, which was bought between 2007 and 2008. It owns part of Diamond Bank in Uyo. The firm also handles roofing and security for houses and was awarded the contract to renovate schools in Akwa Ibom State. Prince Ukpong owns a mansion along Etukube Street in Ikot Ekpene.
>
>Emem Akpabio:
>Emem Akpabio owns Emem and Sons as a front to obtain government contracts. Emem Akpabio is responsible for direct deductions from Local Government Allocations using various projects, such as ambulance, supplying construction equipment, and fire-trucks to Local Governments
>
>Nigerpet Structures Limited:
>This company is owned by Governor Akpabio’s brothers, using a Lebanese as a front. It is run by a former Manager of Mothercat (Construction) . Contract for the recent demolition of structures in Uyo, under the guise of Urban Renewal Program, was awarded to this firm. The firm is also involved in the multi-billion naira Urban Water Reticulation Scheme. All these projects have been in Akwa Ibom State Budgets since 2008. The Company is located at G32 Plot in Ewet Housing Complex in Uyo.
>
>Sylvester Okonkwo:
>Akpabio’s friend and a “419” colleague since the days of Emis Telecoms in Lagos, is the one who is awarded a contract to arrange all the various Man of the Year Award ceremonies for Governor Akpabio. More than thirty (30) percent of all Certificate of Occupancy signed by Governor Akpabio are in his name. Sylvester Okonkwo also fronts for Akpabio as the owner of a gravel quarry in Akamkpa. The rumor in Akwa Ibom State is that part of the reasons for the assasination of "Submarine" and his brother is because the family refused to sell the family-owned gravel and sand quarry to Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, who is is said to own some landed properties next to the quarry.
>
>Sinoend Construction:
>Located opposite Amity Hotel at Ewet Housing Complex is owned by the senior sister of Akpabios’ wife. The firm was awarded the contract for the construction of Enen-Nsit and Etebi-Ewang Roads. The contract for the construction of Ikot Ekpene Prison was awarded to this firm, but the company has since abandoned the project after it collected billions of naira.
>
>AEC Ltd:
>Is a firm owned by Umana Okon Umana, the Secretary to the State Government. This firm was awarded the contracts for the construction of Use Ikot Amama Road. The contract was later increased to N14 billion, despite the fact that Nung Udoe to Okoita was done by Victor Attah’s administration. This firm has also been awarded the contract for Aka-Obot Idim Road (12km Road) for N12.3 billion.
>
>Donald Etim (Commissioner for Works):
>Owns ten (10) companies in one building and they are all consultancy firms. One of them is Deluxe Engineering. Another firm, Spellbound Building and Construction Limited, was awarded a N1.9 billion contract for information drive (whatever that means). Then Lukane Limited (named after Kane Etim, who is Don’s brother) was awarded a N2.7 billion contract to construct Etinan Leprosy Hospital roads and install street lights. The company is located at 41 Brooks Street in Uyo.
>
>Nsentip Akpabio (the Governor’s half brother):
>Owns a warehouse at Osong Ama Street where all building materials are sold at exorbitant prices to contractors, under oath, that do business with the State. A contractor who refuses to buy supplies from the warehouse risks having his contract award immediately cancelled. Nsentip also owns Proconnect, an Internet service provider, at 25 Ikot Abasi Street in Uyo. Nsentip runs the Bureau de Change in Calabar for Governor Akpabio, as a conduit for money laundering.
>
>Etido Inyang (Special Adviser on Technology):
>Is the person who handles the over N1 billion contract for the design of the failed Tropicana. He also supervises the Alcon fraud at the Airport.
>
>Third Investment Limited:
>This firm is owned by Sunny Ibanga. The firm is responsible for supplying workers for construction firms. Also provides catering services and clearing of equipment bought by Atah’s administration for Airport.
>
>Diamond Engineering:
>Diamond Engineering is owned by the former disgraced PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor. For the past three (3) years, the firm has continued to receive contract awards for rural electrification and running of underground conduit pipes. In 2008, the firm received N10 billion. In 2009, it was N7 billion. In 2010, it is N6.1 billion (please see this years’ budget).
>A very tiny but powerful cabal is toying with the future of Akwa Ibom State. They are led by a single powerful leader, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Together, they are stealing and milking the State dry. Any further delay in checking the deceptive practices of this cabal will leave Akwa Ibom State in a deep financial chaos after their term. The cabal is known as contractors.
>
>
>In a recent press interview, Akpabio explained “that most of the projects in the state were contracted to tested contractors rather than putting them in the hands of incompetent persons who in "the past were interested in collecting mobilization funds and abandoning jobs awarded by the government." Governor Akpabio may be right. But do you know who the “tested contractors” are? Below are some of them.
>
>Prince Ukpong Akpabio (the governor‘s cousin):
>Prince Akpabio owns Prill Guards, which is located at 73 Enwe Street, Uyo. His firm is responsible in providing security for government offices and secretariat. Prill investment is responsible for booking flights for Dana Air located at Monty Suites at the Airport. Prince Akpabio also handles protocol for the State Government as a term-contractor responsible for all government supplies. Another firm in the Prill conglomerate is Prill Communication, located at 293 Oron Road, Uyo, which was bought between 2007 and 2008. It owns part of Diamond Bank in Uyo. The firm also handles roofing and security for houses and was awarded the contract to renovate schools in Akwa Ibom State. Prince Ukpong owns a mansion along Etukube Street in Ikot Ekpene.
>
>Emem Akpabio:
>Emem Akpabio owns Emem and Sons as a front to obtain government contracts. Emem Akpabio is responsible for direct deductions from Local Government Allocations using various projects, such as ambulance, supplying construction equipment, and fire-trucks to Local Governments
>
>Nigerpet Structures Limited:
>This company is owned by Governor Akpabio’s brothers, using a Lebanese as a front. It is run by a former Manager of Mothercat (Construction) . Contract for the recent demolition of structures in Uyo, under the guise of Urban Renewal Program, was awarded to this firm. The firm is also involved in the multi-billion naira Urban Water Reticulation Scheme. All these projects have been in Akwa Ibom State Budgets since 2008. The Company is located at G32 Plot in Ewet Housing Complex in Uyo.
>
>Sylvester Okonkwo:
>Akpabio’s friend and a “419” colleague since the days of Emis Telecoms in Lagos, is the one who is awarded a contract to arrange all the various Man of the Year Award ceremonies for Governor Akpabio. More than thirty (30) percent of all Certificate of Occupancy signed by Governor Akpabio are in his name. Sylvester Okonkwo also fronts for Akpabio as the owner of a gravel quarry in Akamkpa. The rumor in Akwa Ibom State is that part of the reasons for the assasination of "Submarine" and his brother is because the family refused to sell the family-owned gravel and sand quarry to Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, who is is said to own some landed properties next to the quarry.
>
>Sinoend Construction:
>Located opposite Amity Hotel at Ewet Housing Complex is owned by the senior sister of Akpabios’ wife. The firm was awarded the contract for the construction of Enen-Nsit and Etebi-Ewang Roads. The contract for the construction of Ikot Ekpene Prison was awarded to this firm, but the company has since abandoned the project after it collected billions of naira.
>
>AEC Ltd:
>Is a firm owned by Umana Okon Umana, the Secretary to the State Government. This firm was awarded the contracts for the construction of Use Ikot Amama Road. The contract was later increased to N14 billion, despite the fact that Nung Udoe to Okoita was done by Victor Attah’s administration. This firm has also been awarded the contract for Aka-Obot Idim Road (12km Road) for N12.3 billion.
>
>Donald Etim (Commissioner for Works):
>Owns ten (10) companies in one building and they are all consultancy firms. One of them is Deluxe Engineering. Another firm, Spellbound Building and Construction Limited, was awarded a N1.9 billion contract for information drive (whatever that means). Then Lukane Limited (named after Kane Etim, who is Don’s brother) was awarded a N2.7 billion contract to construct Etinan Leprosy Hospital roads and install street lights. The company is located at 41 Brooks Street in Uyo.
>
>Nsentip Akpabio (the Governor’s half brother):
>Owns a warehouse at Osong Ama Street where all building materials are sold at exorbitant prices to contractors, under oath, that do business with the State. A contractor who refuses to buy supplies from the warehouse risks having his contract award immediately cancelled. Nsentip also owns Proconnect, an Internet service provider, at 25 Ikot Abasi Street in Uyo. Nsentip runs the Bureau de Change in Calabar for Governor Akpabio, as a conduit for money laundering.
>
>Etido Inyang (Special Adviser on Technology):
>Is the person who handles the over N1 billion contract for the design of the failed Tropicana. He also supervises the Alcon fraud at the Airport.
>
>Third Investment Limited:
>This firm is owned by Sunny Ibanga. The firm is responsible for supplying workers for construction firms. Also provides catering services and clearing of equipment bought by Atah’s administration for Airport.
>
>Diamond Engineering:
>Diamond Engineering is owned by the former disgraced PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor. For the past three (3) years, the firm has continued to receive contract awards for rural electrification and running of underground conduit pipes. In 2008, the firm received N10 billion. In 2009, it was N7 billion. In 2010, it is N6.1 billion (please see this years’ budget).
Akwa Ibom: Opposition Plans Exposed
These are indeed intriguing times in the politics of Akwa Ibom State. As the 2011 gubernatorial election draws closer, the remnant of opposition in the state has become very desperate in their bid to 'snatch' power from incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio. In their desperation, they have gone after the Governor with a tar brush with the hope that some dirt would stick, all in a bid to occupy the Hilltop Mansion. The recurring theme in their disingenuous plot is to pitch President Goodluck Jonathan against Governor Akpabio, hoping that they would become the beneficiaries in the ensuing contrived political wrangle.
Not too long ago, residents of Uyo were surprised to wake up and find the posters of Governor Akpabio adorning strategic locations in the state proclaiming that the Governor was aspiring to be President of Nigeria in 2011. Even though the Governor had not declared an intention to run for a second term then, it was enough hints at a second term ambition when he had declared in an event that his intention was not to build the new state-of-the-art, ultra modern Governor's lodge for another person to be its first occupant. He later denied that he has any interest in running for the Presidency of the country in 2011.
Subsequent investigations into the source of the posters had revealed that some opposition elements in the state, who are mostly fly-by-night politicians, were behind the plot to create doubt and confusion in the minds of Akwa Ibom people as to where the Governor's interest lies in 2011. Ordinarily, the denials by the Governor and his aides would have sufficed to put an end to these devious lies and political distractions, but not when you have an opposition whose stock-in-trade is to feed the people, not with their programmes and manifestoes, but with lies and propaganda and their favourite past time: Akpabio bashing.
As if to resuscitate the old but worn out strategy of falsehood, last week some major streets of Abuja were flooded with the posters of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, fixing the photograph of Governor Akpabio on the said poster as his running mate in 2011. It is noteworthy that President Jonathan had been a victim of such sinister campaign when he was acting President, and had ordered security agencies to probe those behind the unauthorized printing of his supposed campaign posters at a time he had declared that his major preoccupation was to solve the country's myriad problems and not 2011 electioneering. But they underrate the quantum of intelligence available to the President of the federation to think that he could be drawn into a non-existent political dispute with the Governor through unfounded fabrications.
The choice of Abuja in this desperate campaign of mischief is instructive. Firstly, the two principal characters who have constituted themselves into opposition in Akwa Ibom State are politicians that are based in the Federal Capital Territory, who have totally lost touch with developments at home. Secondly, it is not difficult to know that President Jonathan is their target audience. In their warped imagination, they think that since President Jonathan may likely contest the 2011 presidential election, proclaiming Governor Akpabio as a running mate to General Babangida would poison the mind of the President against the Governor, and probably as the leader of the party, he would deny the Governor a second term ticket and award it to their candidate.
As stated earlier, these mendacious fabricators do great injustice to the President to think that he would swallow their political spin hook, line and sinker. But it is not difficult to put a lie to their machination. Governor Akpabio has not left anyone in doubt about his aspiration in 2011. At about the same time that these mischief makers were busy pasting Governor Akpabio's posters in Abuja, specifically on Saturday June 5, the Governor was once again adopted by the youths of the former Abak Division comprising five local government areas in present day Akwa Ibom State, as their sole candidate in next year's gubernatorial election and accented to their request to sponsor him for the position.
And just on May 29 during the last Democracy Day celebration, the people along with their representatives in the national assembly had trooped out to Uyo township stadium to adopt a motion endorsing the Governor for a second term in office, thereby reaffirming their support Akpabio's return in 2011. At the occasion, Senator Effiong Bob who is the national assembly caucus leader had said, “We, on behalf of the entire people in the state and in the national assembly caucus having seen what the Governor has done for the past three years hereby move that he continues in the office in order to complete all the ongoing projects,” and through a voice vote the ayes had it. Before then the major ethnic groups in the state comprising the Ibibios, Annangs and Oros had at different colourful ceremonies adopted the Governor for a second term.
All these will leave no one in doubt, except mischievous propagandists, on where the Governor stands in his 2011 aspiration. To make it sound believable, before they had gone to print the posters, they had circulated some wild rumours in town. When the Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu turned up in the state to be awarded a honourary doctorate degree by the University of Uyo, the news spinned by those oppose to Akpabio was that he had come to discuss the issue of IBB's running mate with Akpabio and when the General showed up in the state to chair the inauguration of the board of trustees of the Initiatives, a cerebral group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives led by Hon Eseme Eyiboh, an Akwa Ibom indigene, they said it was a confirmation that Governor Akpabio had agreed to be his running mate in 2011.
Not even the explanation by Hon Eyiboh that the event was devoid of any political undertone as IBB had been contacted and agreed to chair the event about seven months prior to the event and at a time he had not nursed any political ambition and that it would have been unfair to turn him back on the basis of a recently declared presidential ambition, would suffice for these cynics. For them, IBB whom God had used to actualize the agitation of the people by creating Akwa Ibom State out of Cross River State should be treated as a leper who should not set his foot on the state nor should he be accorded any courtesy as a former head of state. They forget that even President Jonathan would treat IBB with every civility possible even with the rumour that they may contest against each other in 2011.
As noted earlier the recent smear campaign against the Governor follows a familiar pattern of the opposition praying that the Governor and the President be seen as being in conflict. But they must feel a sense of frustration that the more they insinuate of Jonathan being at loggerheads with Akpabio, the more the two leaders collaborate in the task of nation building. This is evidenced by the Governor being a part of the entourage of the President to the United States of America and on return from the trip being presented with an award of excellence during the tenth anniversary of Aso Rock chapel and most importantly, through the quiet diplomacy of the Governor, the Akwa Ibom State ministerial nominee, Chief Nduese Essien was assigned the lands and housing portfolio, arguably the best an Akwa Ibom indigene has clinched during the past eleven years of democratic rule.
But the Akwa Ibom people are discerning and no amount of campaign of calumny will sway them. If the people have decided to pitch their tent with Governor Akpabio in 2011 for what many have described as uncommon transformation of the state within three years, who can stop them? Neither propaganda nor mischievous fabrication
Not too long ago, residents of Uyo were surprised to wake up and find the posters of Governor Akpabio adorning strategic locations in the state proclaiming that the Governor was aspiring to be President of Nigeria in 2011. Even though the Governor had not declared an intention to run for a second term then, it was enough hints at a second term ambition when he had declared in an event that his intention was not to build the new state-of-the-art, ultra modern Governor's lodge for another person to be its first occupant. He later denied that he has any interest in running for the Presidency of the country in 2011.
Subsequent investigations into the source of the posters had revealed that some opposition elements in the state, who are mostly fly-by-night politicians, were behind the plot to create doubt and confusion in the minds of Akwa Ibom people as to where the Governor's interest lies in 2011. Ordinarily, the denials by the Governor and his aides would have sufficed to put an end to these devious lies and political distractions, but not when you have an opposition whose stock-in-trade is to feed the people, not with their programmes and manifestoes, but with lies and propaganda and their favourite past time: Akpabio bashing.
As if to resuscitate the old but worn out strategy of falsehood, last week some major streets of Abuja were flooded with the posters of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, fixing the photograph of Governor Akpabio on the said poster as his running mate in 2011. It is noteworthy that President Jonathan had been a victim of such sinister campaign when he was acting President, and had ordered security agencies to probe those behind the unauthorized printing of his supposed campaign posters at a time he had declared that his major preoccupation was to solve the country's myriad problems and not 2011 electioneering. But they underrate the quantum of intelligence available to the President of the federation to think that he could be drawn into a non-existent political dispute with the Governor through unfounded fabrications.
The choice of Abuja in this desperate campaign of mischief is instructive. Firstly, the two principal characters who have constituted themselves into opposition in Akwa Ibom State are politicians that are based in the Federal Capital Territory, who have totally lost touch with developments at home. Secondly, it is not difficult to know that President Jonathan is their target audience. In their warped imagination, they think that since President Jonathan may likely contest the 2011 presidential election, proclaiming Governor Akpabio as a running mate to General Babangida would poison the mind of the President against the Governor, and probably as the leader of the party, he would deny the Governor a second term ticket and award it to their candidate.
As stated earlier, these mendacious fabricators do great injustice to the President to think that he would swallow their political spin hook, line and sinker. But it is not difficult to put a lie to their machination. Governor Akpabio has not left anyone in doubt about his aspiration in 2011. At about the same time that these mischief makers were busy pasting Governor Akpabio's posters in Abuja, specifically on Saturday June 5, the Governor was once again adopted by the youths of the former Abak Division comprising five local government areas in present day Akwa Ibom State, as their sole candidate in next year's gubernatorial election and accented to their request to sponsor him for the position.
And just on May 29 during the last Democracy Day celebration, the people along with their representatives in the national assembly had trooped out to Uyo township stadium to adopt a motion endorsing the Governor for a second term in office, thereby reaffirming their support Akpabio's return in 2011. At the occasion, Senator Effiong Bob who is the national assembly caucus leader had said, “We, on behalf of the entire people in the state and in the national assembly caucus having seen what the Governor has done for the past three years hereby move that he continues in the office in order to complete all the ongoing projects,” and through a voice vote the ayes had it. Before then the major ethnic groups in the state comprising the Ibibios, Annangs and Oros had at different colourful ceremonies adopted the Governor for a second term.
All these will leave no one in doubt, except mischievous propagandists, on where the Governor stands in his 2011 aspiration. To make it sound believable, before they had gone to print the posters, they had circulated some wild rumours in town. When the Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu turned up in the state to be awarded a honourary doctorate degree by the University of Uyo, the news spinned by those oppose to Akpabio was that he had come to discuss the issue of IBB's running mate with Akpabio and when the General showed up in the state to chair the inauguration of the board of trustees of the Initiatives, a cerebral group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives led by Hon Eseme Eyiboh, an Akwa Ibom indigene, they said it was a confirmation that Governor Akpabio had agreed to be his running mate in 2011.
Not even the explanation by Hon Eyiboh that the event was devoid of any political undertone as IBB had been contacted and agreed to chair the event about seven months prior to the event and at a time he had not nursed any political ambition and that it would have been unfair to turn him back on the basis of a recently declared presidential ambition, would suffice for these cynics. For them, IBB whom God had used to actualize the agitation of the people by creating Akwa Ibom State out of Cross River State should be treated as a leper who should not set his foot on the state nor should he be accorded any courtesy as a former head of state. They forget that even President Jonathan would treat IBB with every civility possible even with the rumour that they may contest against each other in 2011.
As noted earlier the recent smear campaign against the Governor follows a familiar pattern of the opposition praying that the Governor and the President be seen as being in conflict. But they must feel a sense of frustration that the more they insinuate of Jonathan being at loggerheads with Akpabio, the more the two leaders collaborate in the task of nation building. This is evidenced by the Governor being a part of the entourage of the President to the United States of America and on return from the trip being presented with an award of excellence during the tenth anniversary of Aso Rock chapel and most importantly, through the quiet diplomacy of the Governor, the Akwa Ibom State ministerial nominee, Chief Nduese Essien was assigned the lands and housing portfolio, arguably the best an Akwa Ibom indigene has clinched during the past eleven years of democratic rule.
But the Akwa Ibom people are discerning and no amount of campaign of calumny will sway them. If the people have decided to pitch their tent with Governor Akpabio in 2011 for what many have described as uncommon transformation of the state within three years, who can stop them? Neither propaganda nor mischievous fabrication
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