The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Volleyball on the rise again, says Muhammed

    Volleyball on the rise again, says Muhammed

    Head coach of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Sani Muhammed believed the fortunes of volleyball in the country is on the upward swing following the team’s impressive performance at the just concluded African Volleyball Club Championship in Tunis, writes TUNDE LIADI

    Head coach, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers, Sani Mohammed has described the team’s performance in their maiden appearance at the recently concluded African Volleyball Championship held in Kelibia El Haouaria, Tunisia as impressive and motivating for the sport.

    Three Nigeria’s volleyball teams including both the men’s and women’s CNS Spikers teams as well as the Nigeria Customs Volleyball team, represented Nigeria in the competition at the continental competition.

    CNS Spikers men’s team who made their debut appearance in the competition defeated Ethiopian side, Mugher Volleyball Club, 3-0 ( 25-18, 25-12, 25-15) before they were stopped 3-1 by Kenya Ports Authority in the Round of 16. They later settled for the ninth spot after a 3-0 defeat of Burundian opposition, Rukinzo Volleyball Club (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) in one of the classification games.

    The women team finished in the 7th in only their second appearance after defeating Nyong Women Volleyball club of Cameroon. They had beaten ARSU Women Volleyball Club of Seychelles 3-0 and Ivorien side, CO Descartes 3-0 in the earlier rounds before Egyptian side and eventual champions, Zamalek SC thrashed them 3-0 in the quarter final. CNS Women side also lost to Kenya Commercial Bank 3-0 in the 5th and 6th classification tie.

    The relative successes recorded by the teams notwithstanding, Mohammed praised the spirited performances of both the men and women ‘s CNS Spikers teams, adding with emphasis on long term preparations, Nigeria clubs have what it takes to excel in international competitions.

    “We went for the African Men’s and Women’s Club championship in Tunisia. The men’s team came ninth and the women’s were seventh in Africa,” Mohammed said. “It was a good outing for the men’s because it was our debut appearance in the competition while the women’s team also tried their best in their second appearance.

    “The men’s team won five out of the seven games played while the women’s team were eliminated in the quarter finals. I believe we can do better than we have done with good planning and emphasis on preparing the team.

    Read Also: NSF GOLD MEDALIST ABIMBOLA OGUNKOYA: Why I dumped Volleyball for shooting

    “We can go places with the right environment,” he added.

    On the 2023 National Division 1 and 2 Leagues that recently took place in Owerri, Muhammed said CNS Spikers would do everything possible to pick one of the two promotion tickets to the Premier League at the end of the second stanza.

    He insisted that CNS Spikers do not belong to the lower league and that all necessary steps have been put in place to ensure they secure the ticket ahead of the remaining four teams competing for the same purpose.

    Muhammed said he was happy with their first stanza performance having won all their four games even as they eye encore in the second stanza.

    “The competition is interesting and all the teams are trying their best,” he said on the margins of the first stanza of the 2023 National Division 1 League held recently in Owerri, Imo State.“ All the clubs here came with the intention of qualifying for the next divisions. I believe my team which is a team that just came back from the African club championship in Tunisia,is ready to pick the ticket to the premier league at the end of the competition.

    “Based on the calibre of players and the level of our play, but because of the rules and regulations of the league, we have to start from the lower division to get to the higher division. We have done well with the way we performed in the first stanza winning all our four games.

    “By the grace of God, we are certain the we will pick the first ticket. All the teams in Owerri came here to seek qualification. We know that no team is a pushover,” he added.

    Muhammed hailed the significant support the team got from the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubril Awwal Gambo while also hoping for the same harmonious relationship under the new Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

    He also saluted the enthusiasm of the CNS Spikers’ Coordinator who a doubles as the chairman of the Volleyball Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Commodore James Aliyu Pindar.

    “Our secret has been the adequate support we got from the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubril Awwal Gambo. He made us to feel belong and always answered us. We know that the new Chief of Naval Staff, Real Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is a good man.

    “Our team coordinator, Commodore James Aliyu Pindar is another reason we are winning. He takes personal interest in the team and always seeking improvement.”

    Muhammed further praised the renaissance in volleyball under incumbent president of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod .

    “The present board of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation under Engineer Musa Nimrod has been great. Volleyball has moved to a very high level both the beach and conventional Volleyball.

    “We are grateful to the president for the steady progress is making and I think volleyball is on the rise again,” he remarked.

  • May Ephraim not happen to us

    May Ephraim not happen to us

    The early pages of Chika Unigwe’s ‘The Middle Daughter’ flew by quickly. Not even the gist from my son, Toluwanimi, not his attempt at plaiting my hair as he perched beside me on the living room’s L-shaped couch, not his suggestion that I allow his sister, Opemipo, add me to her list of home hair-plaiting clientele, just nothing that Sunday afternoon succeeded in denying me the joy of savouring the early parts of the delicious soup that ‘The Middle Daughter’ is. At a point, Toluwanimi expressed his shock that I had read that much.

    “Are the pages short?”

    “No, the story is interesting,” I told him to explain that an engrossing tale can aid fast reading.

    Forced to take a break for a work-related appointment, I thereafter craved every free time to return to the world of Nani, Ugo, Ephraim, the ancestor, Udodi, and others in this modern retelling of the Greek mythology of Hades and Persephone.

    Houston’s traffic was free that Sunday so I got to where I was going earlier. The weather was 95 degrees. So, with the engine and air-conditioning system running, I read on. It was while I was in the car that Nani met Ephraim, the one who loves speaking big grammar, the one who came as a preacher, the one who finally ‘sealed’ Nani’s path to America and the one who tripled her sorrow.

    The effects of the family tragedies were diverse. Aside the evil of leading Nani to Ephraim, it also affected Mother’s faith and “even mother who used to carry church on her head no longer went”.

    I didn’t return home until 1am of the following day, and sleep ought to be my next calling, but ‘The Middle Daughter’ called like River Nun and I heard and I obeyed it.

    And Ephraim picked up the narration; ‘detonating’ one big word after the other.

    Fresh off two tragedies, Ephraim becomes the shoulder Nani leans on. She tells him things she can’t tell Mother or Ugo. She looks forward to seeing him, talking to him and receiving the small, small gifts he has cultivated the habit of bringing. Ugo notices their closeness and starts calling him her boyfriend.

    I couldn’t cheat nature for too long so sleep demanded attention and I gave in.

    Hours later when I woke up, it was to Ephraim’s revelation of the secret behind Mother’s business. At that stage, I was inwardly screaming: “Help me, help me, Chika Unigwe dey carry me go where I no know.”

    Ugo and Mother eventually leave for America and Ephraim becomes Nani’s husband and father of her children, and she is estranged from Ugo and Mother. Ephraim becomes a disappointment but Nani is stuck with him and her centre is unable to hold.

    As I read on, the fact of Doda being a fantastic father kept tugging at my heart and I also kept seeing Mother as a replica of many a mother who make it difficult for their children to discuss certain issues with them.

    I saw how death can destroy the fabrics of a home, how the end is not the end, how some ends or deaths can precipitate actions with reverberating effects.

    Ephraim comes across to me as the ultimate mad man pretending to be a man of God. Initially, I had seen him as a fanatical Christian but as I got to meet him more, I came to the conclusion that he was sick, mentally sick.

    Read Also: Chidi Amuta, Peter Obi and the ‘obidient’s’ thriving tyranny

    As the author tossed me here and there in an unlinear manner, from Nani to Ephraim, to Ugo, and the ancestral voice of Udodi, I was haunted by what was to come. I wondered if everything good would come the way of Nani or she would remain in hell and never see heaven.

    It was painful to see Ephraim being loved by the kids, and somehow preferred to their mother, but I consoled myself by saying shit happens.

    The author shows that humans are complex and dwell in moral ambiguity, and principle is the first casualty when our interests are at risk.

    This novel, which is Unigwe’s fifth, is written in English Language but there are parts of it that are Nigerian English and the beauty can truly be appreciated by a Nigerian. She sought, like Achebe, to do with English what the oyinbos didn’t think it was capable of.

    The family at the heart of the novel is Igbo and the author transcribed their world without altering their Igboness. She stretched and forced English to do her will to achieve this.

    Relief washed over me when I got to the end, relief that the author righted the wrong in the Hades-Persephone myth – relief for Nani and relief for myself because we went through the storm together, and we deserved the calmness.

    This is a fantastic read!

    May Ephraim never happen to us!

    My final take: Not everyone who calls the name of God is of God. Some just want to use God’s name to have the access they need to manipulate and dominate and ultimately destroy their captives.

    Tyranny of the popular

    In journalism, it is no news when a dog bites a man, except the man is some super star or celebrity. When there is an accident, the victims are not identified by names in the headline except they are popular. And when one of them is the only popular one, the tyranny of popularity comes into play as only the famous is identified in the headline and the rest of them become known as ‘others’.

    This golden journalism rule played out in the reporting of the Titanic submarine accident. The search for the rich men aboard was a major headline because of who they were. Poor folks trying to cross to Europe perished in the sea about the same time. The reporting of both tragedies shows that even in death, classism triumphs.

    Those who perished trying to escape poverty and lack were people’s husbands, wives, fathers, fiancés, brothers, uncles and sons.

    When a poor man dies, he is nothing but a footnote. It is like his death means nothing. When the rich and influential die, almost everybody will talk about them while the poor or unpopular man or woman’s family will mourn in silence.

  • Super Eagles : Uncertainty as Peseiro contract ends today

    Super Eagles : Uncertainty as Peseiro contract ends today

    The future of Super Eagles manager, Jose Peseiro, now remains uncertain as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) dallies over the extension of his one-year contract which expires today, 30th June.

    Appointed as the new head coach of the Super Eagles by the last board of Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) led by Amaju Pinnick on 15th May 2022, Peseiro was thrown into quandary last week after the incumbent president, Ibrahim Gusau on a radio program said Nigerians would be left to decide the fate of the Portuguese coach through a novel voting arrangements on social media platform and phones.

    President of the Professional Players’ Union of Nigerian, Tijani Babangida , earlier this week described as strange the path taken by NFF on Peseiro, adding employment of national team coaches falls within the purview of the NFF President and his board.

    “It is something very strange now that they have given it to the public to vote because this has not happened in Nigeria before,” former Ajax winger noted. “But since this is happening, I hope when the result of the poll comes, they will be ready to adjust or abide by it.

    “It is something strange and I hope that Nigeria will choose the best.”

    He continued: “ I think the (NFF) President should just take the bull by the horns and just make the decision and check what Peseiro has done so far; and check if he can take the team to greater heights; and they can then give him one more year contract and see what he can do at the next AFCON .”

    Over a fortnight ago, Peseiro guided the Super Eagles to a 3-2 away win against Sierra Leone in Monrovia to secure the country’s berth to the delayed 2023 AFCON to be held in Cote d’Ivoire even with a game to spare at home against São Tomé and Príncipe in September.

    But most purists have queried the performances of the Super Eagles overtime under Peseiro despite the fact that he was on a humongous $70,000 monthly salary.

    Former Nigeria international and erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu said Peseiro has not really justified his fat salary due to his over reliance on the country’s Armanda of foreign-based professionals without recourse to integration of players from the domestic league.

    “ I think his (Peseiro) contract must be reviewed and he should be made to stay in the country to monitor players in the local league,” noted Chukwu who assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof to secure Nigeria’s second AFCON title in 1994.“ When Westerhof was here, he was living in Nigeria to watch the local league and electing good players and that was why he succeeded.

    “If they want to give this man ( Peseiro) new contract, they must find accommodation for him in other to live in Nigeria in order to watch our leagues an monitor the players because that is how to discover good players.

    “But this one , you’ll only see him few days to a match and he will only call foreign based players without using the home-based players and I’m not in support of that,” Chukwu affirmed.

    But a respected football federation and a former chieftain of the NFF who is versed in football governance and matters relating to association football , has decried the current posturing of the NFF on the Peseiro’s contract saga, saying the Gusau-led board is playing to the gallery by asking the fans to vote before making a decision on the future of the former Venezuela’s coach.

    Read Also: Super Eagles: Babangida, others fault NFF over fans’ votes to oust Peseiro

    “ It tells you they (NFF) have no clue about what to do (if they are waiting for the fans to vote first before deciding the fate of the coach),” he said. “Can you imagine the mentality of those we entrusted our football with?”

    He added: “It’s a shame; this is passing the bulk. Why do we have executive committee? Instead of the fans. The president should have generated discussion on the Congress platform to arrive at the decision. Would the fans decide also the replacement?”

    Read Also: Osihmen’s brace earns Super Eagles AFCON ticket against Sierra Leone

    While many football stakeholders believed the NFF’s design as per Peseiro’s contract saga lacks transparency, feelers across social media platforms have suggested that fans across Nigeria want the Portuguese coach out but whether the NFF would eventually take this route yet remains to be seen.

    SUPER EAGLES RESULTS UNDER PESEIRO

    AFCON QUALIFIERS

    •9th June 2022 : Nigeria 2-1 Sierra Leone

    •13th June 2022: São Tomé & Principe 0-10 Nigeria

    INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

    • 29th May 2022: Mexico 2-1 Nigeria

    •3rd June 2022: Ecuador 1-0 Nigeria

    •27th Sept 2022: Algeria 2-1 Nigeria

    •17th Nov 2022: Portugal 4-0 Nigeria

    AFCON QUALIFIERS

    •20th March 2023: Nigeria 0-1 Guinea-Bissau

    • 27th March 2023:Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria

    •18th June 2023:Sierra Leone 2-3 Nigeria

    OUTSTANDING

    •4th Sept 2023: Nigeria vs São Tomé & Príncipe

  • Port Harcourt Polo Club gets Interim Management Committee

    Port Harcourt Polo Club gets Interim Management Committee

    The much anticipated polls to select new management committee of the high-profile Port Harcourt Polo Club last Sunday ended in a bitter row and brawl but for the intervention security agencies and the Chairman Board of Trustee, King Diette Spiff.

    Trouble reportedly started when the Electoral Committee failed to meet up with the requirement of the club’s constitution by publishing the list of contestants to the various posts at least four days to the polls.

    It was gathered that the in the melee and the attempt by the electoral body to go ahead with the election resulted in fisticuffs as most of the contestants and members who suspected foul play in the June 25 exercise, invited the security and the Board of Trustee Chairman to calm the warring factions.

    As a result, King Diette Spiff addressed the protesting members and contestants and promptly suspended the electoral committee while an emergency management committee was put in charge of the club pending when a proper election into the new Management Committee would take place.

    In a statement personally signed by the Amayanabo Toon Brass, the appointment of a five-man committee take over the running of the club until an election is conducted .

    The listed members of the committee include Tonye Pepple, Ibifiri Bobmanuel, Osa Cookey, Leo Edochie and Ibiwari Pepple.

    The committee is expected to function for 21 days during which the electoral processes would be re-organized and a fresh polls to elect new members of the club’s management committee to run the club according to the extant laws of the Port Harcourt Polo Club.

    “Please note that based on the provision of Rule4 (2) of the club’s constitution, all past Presidents who are Trustees of the club are excused from being part of this interim leadership,” the statement stated.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to grace Lagos Polo Club’s Easter Tourney

    Some of the leading contenders informed our correspondent that they would abide by the decision of the interim committee, insisting that any attempt to subvert the authority of the club’s constitution would not be allowed to stand.

    “Port Harcourt Polo Club is bigger and more important than any individual or group and attempt to take the club back to darks years would met with strong opposition,” one of the contenders told NationSport.

    Another quipped: “The key issue here is the interest of noble game of polo and that is paramount; and that is why things must be done properly.”

    The Port–Harcourt polo club was established in 1972 by the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt Gen T. Y. Danjuma (RTD) who is also a patron of the club that pride itself as the premier public polo club in the Niger Delta region and the entire South Eastern region of the country.

    It was later handed over to civilian management in 1974 and the club is duly recognized by the Nigerian polo ruling authority, the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) and the International Polo Federation (FIP).

    As the premier polo tournament in the entire South East and South-South regions of the country, the Port Harcourt Polo fiesta has over the years set a unique example as one of the most exciting events in the country and the organizing committee said this edition will be bigger and better with exciting package that would be on offer.

    The fact that professionals from Argentina, England, South Africa and enthusiasts from across the world attend this festival annually in their droves, attest to the immense tourism and social values of the exciting game in the region.

  • My first season in Russian league enriching, says Aruna

    My first season in Russian league enriching, says Aruna

    Following a ten-year unbeaten run in the Portuguese table tennis league where he severally led Sporting club de Portugal to feature in the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) Champions League, Quadri Aruna headed to the German table tennis Bundesliga and joined TTC RhönSprudel Maberzell Fulda. He later departed TTC for Russian champion TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg albeit leading the team to the semi-final of the German Cup. Aruna who is the first Nigerian and indeed African to compete in the Russian league here described his first season in Russia as enriching after helping TTC Fakel – Gazprom to finish in second position, writes OLALEKAN OKUSAN

    It was a shock to TTC RhönSprudel Maberzell Fulda, a top club in the German Bundesliga Table Tennis when they were approached by Russian club TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg for the services of Nigerian Quadri Aruna.

    Initially, the club refused to listen to any offer for the African champion knowing full well that Aruna’s departure may affect their fortunes in the league.

    But the management of the German club could not turn down the tempting and enticing offers coupled with the decision of Aruna to embark on an adventure, the German side consented to the offer and parted with the Nigerian in January 2023.

    At the time Aruna joined TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg, the team was fighting to remain on top of the league despite being the defending champion.

    His arrival revived the hope of the team in the quest to retain their title but it was their fierce opponent UMMC which has the services of Croatia’s duo of Tomislav Pucar and Adrey Gacina, that claimed the title despite Aruna’s spirited efforts in the second leg of the playoff finals.

    Read Also: WTT Contender Lagos: German Franziska replaces ‘unavailable’ Aruna

    Aruna’s c TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg had lost the first leg 3-0 after dropping the Nigerian to field their Chinese import An Yan. But in the second leg, Aruna replaced the Chinese and he delivered his two matches while his teammates – Alexander Shibaev and Denis Ivonin could not stop UMMC from winning two matches as the second leg ended 3-2 for UMMC ‘s 5-3 aggregate win.

    “Russian People are so nice and I really did not know how good Russians are until I signed for Orenburg,” Aruna told NationSport on his first season’s experience in Russia. “I had played before in different parts of Europe and I feel similarly good here in Russia. So far, I am adapting and I am very happy to be playing in the league.”

    Despite not being able to help the team in the playoff, the management of TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg were not discouraged as they handed the Nigerian another contract for next season which kicks off in September.

    “It was first season and I enjoyed everything,” he continued.“ Russia is a beautiful country with nice people, Orenburg is a nice place too.

    “ I really hope I can learn some words in Russia soon. I am very happy that I will still be here again next season and I am looking forward to it, I must say thanks to the fans and the club for the opportunity.

    “I feel so proud and happy; as I said, coming here is a dream come through.

    “I am already part of the club with the greatest results, a club that has world stars of table tennis, a club that has an Olympic medalist; I am proud and happy to be part of this great team,” he added.

    Having visited and played against the Russian team while featuring for Sporting in the ETTU Champions League, Aruna said he had long dreamt of playing with the Russian side, adding his loyalty remains with table tennis as he choose not to dabble in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

    “My dream was to play in Orenburg,” he confessed. “While playing in Sporting club de Portugal, we played two or three times with Orenburg and I saw how good the club is.

    “ I really love Orenburg a lot, it’s a club that have the interest of young talents, a lot of kids are playing table tennis here in Orenburg and that shows that is a great club that want to grow talents.

    “The president is also very nice and kind; my job is table tennis and not politics, I do not have problems with Russia and similarly I have no problem with Ukraine, and I used to have a sponsor from Ukraine before.

    “I see everything (the war between Russia and Ukraine) as political and since I am a sports person, I really do not have any problem before choosing the club to play for.

    “Orenburg is a club with biggest stars of table tennis, and I am very happy to join the club.”

    That notwithstanding, he expressed his disappointment over the loss of the league title to UMMC in his first season.

    But Aruna remains optimistic about the future, insisting that the quality of players coupled with the ongoing restructure at TTC Fakel – Gazprom Orenburg , would give his side the wherewithal to reclaim the title next season.

    “The playoff was the best part of the league and unfortunately, we lost the title to UMMC,” he admitted.

    “But with the restructure in place and quality of the players assembled, we can start well and reclaim our title from UMMC.

    “I love the club and I will surely give my best for the team next season.

    “I want to thank the management of the team for the opportunity and God helping me, I will repay their trust with a good performance that will help the team next season,” he pledged.

  • Okorodudu: boxing community mourns Commonwealth Games medallist

    Okorodudu: boxing community mourns Commonwealth Games medallist

    Members of the boxing community in Nigeria have expressed their shock on the passing of former Olympian Jeremiah Okorodudu on Wednesday at a Lagos hospital after a protracted illness.

    Okorodudu died weeks after he had been hospitalized at the Brighton Hospital in the Lawanson area of Lagos where he was undergoing treatment for partial stroke and foot cancer.

    Before his demise, there were reports that Okorodudu was not able to meet up with medical bills, which affected his treatment and his widow, Atinuke had appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid.

    She also said the hospital would not release her husband’s corpse until an outstanding N600,000 medical bill is paid.

    A shocked Tony Konyegwachie was speechless when contacted to share his view on Okorodudu’s demise. The national team coach, who worked with the late Okorodudu said the news was “heart-breaking.”

    “What can I say. Jerry’s death is very sad and heart-breaking,” he lamented. “Living from hand to mouth in abject poverty is not something anybody should go through talk less of someone of Jerry’s status.

    “I mean, this is someone who won medals and laurels for the country and now was reduced to begging all the time to survive.”

    Also reacting to the death, the Secretary-General of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), Remi Aboderin, described the circumstances at which the former boxing champion died as a pitiable one.

    “It is very unfortunate that he died this way, and I am actually lost for words. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

    The Vice President, Nigeria Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege, said that he had sent his wife some money on Tuesday for the hospital bills of the former boxer ahead of the scheduled operation to amputate

    “I just sent them money yesterday (Tuesday). I sent them N100,000 and we were planning for the amputation (of his leg) on Friday, this is very sad,” he said.

    A technical Assistant to the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Babatunde Laguda said Okorodudu demise was a big blow to boxing in Nigeria, adding that the late boxer contributed immersely to boxing development in Nigeria as a boxer and coach.

    Read Also: Newcomer Amirat shares her romance with boxing

    Born on May 24, 1959, the late Okorodudu represented the county in the men’s middleweight event at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics where he was controversially edged out at the quarterfinals by Virgil Hills of the United States. He had earlier won a bronze medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.

    Before then, he had won a gold medal at the National Sports Festival, Oluyole ’79. He had 83 amateur fights and 40 professional bouts between 1986 and 1992.

    Boxing enthusiasts in Nigeria would always remember with fond memories two of his clashes with then bitter rival Joe Lasisi in the eighties. The first one at the National Stadium on 28th July 1985 Jerry had to retire with a broken right arm in the 2nd round.

    The second bout between both boxers on 16th December 1988 also at the National Stadium, Lagos saw the score card read 68-65; 67-66 and 66-67 in favour of Lasisi.

    After hanging his boxing gloves in the early nineties, the late Okorodudu took up coaching and was a long-time assistant to the present national coach, Tony Konyegwachie who remembered him fondly.

    “I knew him from 1981 when he was my elder brother’s (Peter Konyegwachie) in the national team. They both won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia and both were in the same team to the Olympics games in 1984, where my brother won Nigeria’s first silver medal at the global stage.”

    ” He started assisting me since 2013 during preparation towards World Boxing Championship in Kazakhstan and he was my assistant at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games preparation camp in 2014 and also during All African Games in Congo 2015 before his illness cut short his time the national team.

    “We had a lot of good times since travelled a lot together and I always saw his like a senior brother.”

    N

  • Sallah tragedy: Eleven die, eight injured in Benin-Lagos highway crash

    Sallah tragedy: Eleven die, eight injured in Benin-Lagos highway crash

    No fewer than eleven passengers in an Toyota Hiace 18-seater bus died on Thursday on the ever-busy Benin-Lagos Expressway.

    The crash occured when a truck rammed into the passenger bus, which left eight others injured during Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    The articulated vehicle was heading for Lagos from Benin, the Edo state capital but rammed into the bus that slowed down at the bad spot on the dualised road after brushing the backside of a small Kia vehicle, killing 11 passengers on the spot.

    Read Also: IBEDC promises good service during sallah holidays

    The injured were quickly rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin.

    The bus was heading for the Southeast enroute Edo State but slowed down at the failed portion of the Ovia river bridge before the over-speeding truck suddenly rammed into it.

    The Nation gathered some of the deceased passengers were returning to base from Lagos after attending a programme organised by a popular church headquartered in Lagos.

    Edo sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Paul Okpe, confirmed the incident.

  • Adeleke surrounded by incompetent aides—Senator Basiru

    Adeleke surrounded by incompetent aides—Senator Basiru

    Ex-Senate spokesman Ajibola Basiru has lampooned Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke after their much-publicised clash at Eid prayer ground on Wednesday.

    He alleged the Governor has “surrounded himself with incompetent people.”

    The Nation reports Adeleke and Basiru clashed at Osogbo Eid Prayer ground at Oke-Baale area of Osun State on Wednesday over sitting arrangement.

    The development made the Governor storm out of the praying ground angrily without observing the two-Rakat prayers.

    Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Basiru pitted Adeleke for allegedly appointing incompetent aides who are not representing him very well.

    According to him: “I pity the Governor of Osun State. He is surrounded by people who don’t know how to represent him very well and those who are supposed to be his handlers are people who are pushing illogical narratives for him and I will give you two examples of it.

    “The spokesperson said some hoodlums were seen in about three buses at Eid ground and up till today nothing has happened in terms of arresting and bringing them to books.

    “The Governor left the premises, leaving those thugs in the venue without arresting them up till now and he is supposed to be the Chief Security officer. He swore to the Constitution, Section 14 that security and welfare is paramount responsibility of the Governor, so that statement by Olawale Rasheed is an indictment on the Governor himself. Maybe he does know the implications on the office of the Governor.

    “Then to also say the Governor arrive at a place to meet such situation means that the security around the Governor is also porous because there is supposed to be advanced team that would have gone to do security reconnaissance. Two things would have happened, either they are inefficient or outright liars.”

    Read Also: Adeleke, Basiru clash at Eid prayer ground

    He added: “I am a Muslim but I don’t mix politics and religion together but for some people they need to pretend what they are not to appeal to voters. It is also ironical that somebody who is a Muslim, no matter how hard it is, no matter the issues involved, to observe a two Raka-at prayers should not be an issue that you stormed out of the Eid and after that his spokesperson says he went to do thanksgivings.

    “I don’t know if it is Muslim, Christian or traditional thanksgiving. Because their is nothing like thanksgiving in Islam. For me, as our people begin to grow and demand good governance from public officials, as we begin to pay tax they will take governance serious and won’t let anybody deceive them using primordial sentiment of religion.”

    But Adeleke’s spokesperson Olawale Rasheed berated the Senator for instigating violence at Eid.

    He said: “Governor’s handlers are more than competent hence the superlative performance of the administration in the last seven months. There was an advance team which had secured a space for the Governor. SRJ hijacked the space and SRJ refused to vacate the space when approached by protocol officers first and later by Osogbo leaders.

    “The handlers are smarter because SRJ agenda was to create violence and stampede which he planned to blame on the Governor. The presence of armed thugs was to kill and create stampede, all which will be blamed on the Governor.

    “But the team was smarter , hence the Governor leaving the venue and denying dark minds of their yearnings for blood. Again, the right thing was done by the police which quizzed the culprit ,SRJ. Ongoing is an investigation by the police.

    “Ours is a law-abiding administration. The Governor escaped assassination attempt, and the worshippers escaped stampede that would have claimed lives of innocent citizens.”

  • CSOs unite to improve civic inclusion

    CSOs unite to improve civic inclusion

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are collaborating to improve on civic inclusion and the challenges facing policy influencing.

    Some CSOs in partnership with Connected Development (CODE) have begun the resolution of the challenges civil society groups face in effectively influencing policy in Nigeria, despite a more favorable socio-political environment.

    The group made the submission in a joint training for journalists and CSOs, titled: ‘Digital Media & Collaboration for Civic Inclusion (DMCCI),’ organized in Abuja by Connected Development (CODE) with support from Oxfam and the National Orientation Agency.

    In his presentation, Dr. Augustine Okere, highlighted the challenges CSOs face in effectively influencing policy in Nigeria, despite a more favorable socio-political environment.

    He said while recent positive changes such as democratization, freer markets, and globalization have improved the climate for CSOs, their impact on policy worldwide remains comparatively low.

    Read Also: CSOs task pharma firm on patent rights for HIV, hepatitis drugs

    Okere added: “CSOs should present credible, practical, and relevant evidence which is most likely to have a policy impact,” Dr. Okere said, adding that greater networking among CSOs and other stakeholders can amplify policy-related evidence and mobilize resources, increasing their lobbying potential.

    He noted that several barriers to CSOs’ engagement with government on policy, including hostile governments marginalizing their research and service delivery, inadequate understanding of policymaking processes, and communication strategies that fail to present data accessibly.

    “Additionally, technical and financial capacity constraints limit smaller CSOs’ ability to participate in policy discussions,” he stated.

    Digital Media Associate at CODE, Mien Nabo enumerated various tactics used to suppress press freedom, including intimidation, harassment, violence, censorship laws, fines, lawsuits, and cybercrime laws.

    Among her recommendations for supporting press freedom, Nabo suggested engaging in citizen-led journalism, speaking against attempts to restrict press freedom through proposed legislations, and supporting media outlets by sharing their stories and donating to their cause.

  • Gthree Mayami features Erigga in new single “E Sure for Me”

    Gthree Mayami features Erigga in new single “E Sure for Me”

    Nigerian Singer and Songwriter Gthree Mayami Collaborates with Nigerian’s Sensational Singer and Rapper, Erigga on New Debut single titled “E Sure for me”.

    Gthree Mayami reveals to his fans on his social media page his reasons why he was off the music scene for a while, he needed time and space to work on himself and good project.

    Mayami explains that his new single with Erigga let drop when he had nothing and he struggled in the hood with different challenges in life, fake friends came and went but he stood firm but as time flies GOD came through and everything was easy. He advises his audience to believe that God makes a way where it seams to be none and makes things sure.

    Read Also: Nnennaya Kelly announces new Single “No Wori”

    Okeke Frank Ndubuisi best known as Gthree Mayami, a Nigerian singer who has made waves with his sounds in Port harcourt city, Announces 22nd July, 2023 as official dropping of “E Sure for me” his Debut single with Erriga.

    Erigga delivered his motivational lyrics on the Craft with Mayami while fans are still anticipating “E sure for me”.