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.
Friday, September 10, 2010
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.
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