The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday

  • Call Obuh to order

    The League Management Company (LMC), which runs the Globacom Premier League, matches must protect the brand, if it hopes to attract more sponsors to the domestic game. Most times, willing corporate bodies sit on the fence to watch and evaluate the trends in the Globacom Premier League before making any form of commitment.

    Therefore, the LMC must be proactive to comments by those who try to bring the game to disrepute by their words or behavior. Sanctions must be immediate on those found culpable. Where the referees don’t record such comments or conducts like they often do, the LMC could on the strength of comments in the media invite those culpable to explain why they should not be punished.

    In cases of media reports, the LCM can invite a reporter to substantiate his or her claims. Where the media can provide recorded voices of players, coaches and officials bringing opium to the game, then sanctions should be handed out to deter others.

    Indeed, the only way the LMC can reduce – if not eliminate – these unwholesome conducts by coaches, players and officials is for the broadcast right holder, Supersports, to show us all the matches in delayed broadcast. It is not enough for Supersports to show matches live. Supersports should also show recorded matches and get credible people (former referees, ex-coaches, renowned journalists and ex-international players) across the strata of the game to express their views on the controversial aspects of the matches.

    For instance, Enugu Rangers technical adviser John Obuh pilloried the referees who handled Sunday’s Globacom Premier League cracker against Enyimba in Aba. Curiously, Rangers lost 2-1 with all the goals scored by Enyimba players. Even the goal recorded for Rangers was an own goal by an Enyimba player.

    The question then for Obuh would be if Rangers scored a disallowed goal. But those who know how some unscrupulous referees manipulate games say that he or she could use the whistle to kill off potential goal-bound moves.

    In some cases, such a referee could ignore crunchy tackles on the visitors or intimidate the visiting side’s players out of their wits with yellow cards. These are mere allegations, which can be thrown into the trash bin with visuals on television from the match venues.

    I saw the three goals scored in the Enyimba/Rangers game in Aba during the SuperSports’ Monday night show on television and none of them was fraudulent. Supersports need to have daily progammes dedicated to the Globacom Premier League where all the week’s matches are shown. Fans should be allowed to express their views on talking points of the league, like we see daily on Supersports from the Barclays English Premier League.

    This fans’ forum will set the agenda for us. Such candid views would help the LMC know the problems plaguing the league, particularly why attendance at venues is poor. Fans who like what they see at home weekly may be moved to watch the Globacom Premier League matches anytime the teams they admire visit the towns where they reside.

    The ripple effects of some of these unsubstantiated allegations rest with the fact that fans wouldn’t want to come to see the games because the results, in their view are pre-determined.

    Aside, the gestures from these complaining coaches, players and officials trigger violence from the spectators, who are divided along the two teams. Of course, the visiting teams go home with unsavoury tales of what happened in the first game. These sad tales set the stage for vengeance in the return match.

    If we must get the fans to watch the Globacom Premier League matches, then untoward tendencies as highlighted with the actions of the coaches, players, officials and referees must the reduced.

    We must create the right environment for the games to be played. The essence of sponsorship of the domestic league will be lost if there are no spectators at the stands. In other climes, the fans are the 12th player. The noise from the stands gives their players the energy to fight on.

    The domestic league is the cradle of our football. No one should desecrate it. If the matches are free of violence, scouts from Europe, the Americas and the Diaspora would storm the venues to see our players strut their trade. Most of the players that made their marks at the senior level played the game here.

    For this season, Enugu Rangers are the cash cows for all the teams anytime they parade Ejike Uzoenyi. Fans will storm any stadium where Rangers is playing to touch Uzoenyi. They would want to see him live.

    In Aba last Sunday, the fans held him hostage, not essentially for his role in Rangers 1-2 loss to Enyimba. But for his sterling outing for the home-based Super Eagles at the CHAN tournament held in South Africa early this year. The irony of Aba fans’ mob of Uzoenyi is that he was rejected by Enyimba. Besides, he played for Rangers last and didn’t get this mob action from the appreciative fans. That is what Uzoenyi will face in any city in Nigeria, if he plays for Rangers. Uzoenyi was Nigeria’s best player in CHAN and rightly deserves all the accolades from Nigerians. He brought us joy. He united us with his dazzling performance. And there cannot be a better way to say thank you than for the fans to throng the stadium for his autographs and pictures which they will treasure for life. Imagine if Enyimba paraded Austin Okocha or Nwankwo Kanu? The Aba stadium would have recorded a stampede.

    The LMC must do everything within its power to bring the fans back to the stadium. And it would start by getting the clubs to make the venue safe. With many fans comes higher earnings from the gates. I’m sure that any club that brings Flavour to thrill the fans before matches, for instance, would record a capacity-filled stadium, if the next artiste is Tuface Idibia. Sports and entertainment can mix to lure the fans to the stadium. Clubs must offer the fans something to lure them back. The period between 1.30pm and 4 pm when the game begins will be meaningful to the fans if they can dance to their favourite music. With such top notch musicians at the venues miming (before you ask me how we would remove their equipment), the stadium will be jam-packed. The clubs will earn more from the gates and the players, coaches and officials will be happy. The increase in the players’, coaches’ and officials’ emoluments will enhance performance. The Nigerian game will be better for it.

    My problem with most club managements is that they are lickspittles of the government in states. Most times, they are excited with being board members of clubs because they feel it is an avenue to “chop.” They don’t think. They feed themselves fat, leaving the real actors being owed salaries for up to two years.

    We need to improvethe financial status of our clubs, if we must compel Nigerians to identify with it. I cringe when Nigerians pride themselves as financial members of foreign clubs. I really don’t blame them because our local clubs are more or else casinos for governors’ lackeys, which is regrettable. But we cannot surrender the clubs to these lickspittles. Hence, one is pleading with the LMC to create a platform where players’ inter and intra club movements are documented for us to evaluate them at the end of each season.

    The general impression being created by those who run our local clubs is that they are drainpipes. They would peddle all the influence they can muster to retain their jobs, if asked to quit for others.

    In Europe, transfers serve as money spinners for clubs with the culture of grooming talents for the richer clubs to poach. Most governors who sponsor soccer teams would be shocked to hear how the clubs get from transferring players to Europe. Not many of these state government clubs have domiciliary accounts, yet they have transferred players to Europe. So, how did money change hands between the Nigerian clubs and their European counterparts for the players to change teams? Herein lies the biggest scandals of our football. But who will bell the cat? Until governors, through their commissioners for sports, compel club administrators to account for the cash given to them, the rot in the domestic league will remain.

  • Corruption, counter terrorism and restitution

    I want to show today that corruption and terrorism are two sides of the same coin, in that both tend to take by guile, greed or force what does not belong to the practitioners of either vice. Corruption takes the short corner to sidetrack the law and enrich the crook at the expense of the society. Terrorism sucks in innocent blood to get negative publicity or notoriety and achieve its bloody objective. Today however I want to show that both are the most dangerous and pervasive crimes and vices plaguing the civilised world as we know it today. For starters, I deliberately cast my net globally, to show that contrary to the normal chest beating of Nigerians that their nation is the most corrupt in the world just, as we once thought that Nigerians were the happiest people on earth because a US magazine said so, corruption in Nigeria may take a back seat given some of the issues on corruption we will analyse today. This does not mean that any nation can still outsmart Nigeria on vintage corruption per se. Our record here stays intact given last week end’s Nigerian Immigration Service – NIS- recruitment drive in which 1m unemployed youths paid 1000 naira per application form, for a vacancy of 3000 and 18 of them died in a stampede at the Abuja National Stadium during the recruitment exercise. I doubt if any nation in the whole wide world treats its youths, the future of any nation, with such callous indifference and brutal levity resulting in the premature deaths of young people, just because they want to earn a living and fend for themselves. I wonder if any restitution can ever atone for this monumental corruption of human capital sourcing and development, which has made a dark mark on Nigeria’s image amongst right thinking people in the world at large. Surely, the Minister of Interior and the NIS DG did not throw bombs but their recruitment strategy killed the flower of our youths just because they want to work under them. If that is not another form of terrorism then I need to be corrected. On stark terrorism however I still think Boko Haram remains the bloodiest and most callous terrorist group on earth given the killings of the 59 sleeping school boys in Birni Yadu. And, from all indications, their bloody stain on Nigeria’s sovereign reputation remains a crimson red on the white of Nigeria’s green and white flag in the comity of nations. It is in that light therefore that I will consider the Nigerian National Security Adviser’s new strategic approach on counter terrorism called Soft Approach to Counter Terrorism launched this week in Nigeria. The Nigerian soft approach to terrorism as articulated by the NSA says that Boko Haram was being funded by a wealthy minority bent on creating havoc between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and the Soft Approach to terrorism will counter that and expose Boko Haram as indeed anti Islamist. Surely this is a pragmatic approach that has my total support as it means all hands will be on deck in the North and South to ensure that Boko Haram does not disintegrate Nigeria. This approach seems in tandem with what President Goodluck Jonathan told his hosts in Windhoek , Namibia this week on a visit to that nation with his wife. The Nigerian president admitted that he had treated Boko Haram with kid gloves and explained to his hosts that the Boko Haram menace has affected only three out of Nigeria’s many 36 states. While I admire the objective of the Soft Approach to terrorism as a counter terrorism strategy I pray that it will not be a continuation of the regretted kid gloves strategy that has made Boko Haram a household word for terror both in Nigeria and globally. The Soft Approach should compliment a robust and decisive military offensive that sends Boko Haram scampering like desert rats back into the arid Sahel from where it swept most unexpectedly into our Northern cities bringing blood, murder and tears. While still discussing terrorism, it will certainly astound the global business community to read what I am saying next. I am saying that Toyota of Tokyo, Japan and Boko Haram of Nigeria may be birds of the same feather. While Boko Haram is known for its bloody terrorism, no less a personality than Eric Holder the Attorney General of the US took Toyota to the cleaners for the mendacity of its corporate leaders in covering up mistakes on its floor mats and brakes of Toyota brands, which led to unintended acceleration and threatened the safety of millions of global Toyota car buyers and users. At the end Toyota admitted hiding safety defects on its cars between 2009 and 2010 and paid a whopping $1.2 bn to the US authorities to prevent further litigation and prosecution on the matter. Car makers making mechanical mistakes leading to recalls can be a dangerous night mare for car buyers not to talk of trying to cover up at the expense of the safety of millions of innocent car buyers. Buying the Toyota brand all over the world. Is this not case of corporate corruption tinged with some form of corporate terrorism.? I wonder if a recall is sufficient restitution in this regard as the buyer is denied usage of the car which has not lived up to the buyers’ expectation at the time of purchase, thereby casting a doubt on the integrity of the Toyota brand. Definitely the huge fine would be a deterrent but it should have been used to reinforce customer service and product quality at Toyota, and not lying idle at the US Ministry of Justice. Talking of idle funds reminds me of the story I read about a suit by the Bayelsa State government, asking the EFCC to return the money – 1.4 bn naira – seized from the former Governor of the state, Diprieye Alamieyesagha, to the coffers of the Bayelsa State. Now, to refresh our memory, this was the Governor that the incumbent President of Nigeria succeeded as Governor after the ex Governor was arrested and tried for money laundering and jailed abroad from where he escaped dressed like a woman to Nigeria. Now the money seized was for embezzlement and corruption and his state is asking for the return of the money as belonging to the state in, what looks like a genuine restitution. But the former Governor is said to be about the most influential politician in the state for now. So it is easy to see the destination of the Bayelsa returned money and restitution. And yet Nigeria is fighting corruption tooth and nail according to government spokesmen. Still on the fight against corruption, it is nice to know that as at the time the Centenary Celebration was going in Nigeria, some US attorneys released details of the stolen money stashed away in foreign accounts by former head of state ex General Sanni Abacha. I read then that the president said that the former military ruler was honoured with a Nigerian Centenary Award because the nation made the greatest economic growth during his tenure, hence the award. I find this very unacceptable for the simple fact that many books on money laundering and finance have always mentioned the kleptocracy and profligacy of the Abacha regime in a way that is shameful to the Nigerian nation. Such facts should be sufficient to keep Abacha’s name out of any Centenary’s Honor List. To now use economic growth as an index of performance and honor for him, is to white wash looting and embezzlement and give a bad name to Nigeria in the comity of nations in terms of measurement and recognition of transparency, integrity and public accountability. However as I mentioned before corruption is not Nigerian disease alone and I want to look at S /Africa and Guatemala in this regard. In S/Africa the anti corruption czar has accused the incumbent President Jacob Zuma of using about $23.4m of state funds unethically to renovate his rural residence where he added a ranch and other facilities recently. This revelation has come near election time in May and Zuma’s party, the ANC is still expected to win. This is not because S/Africans condone corruption as in Nigeria but for the simple reason that the ANC is the party of Nelson Mandela and is able to win 80% of the votes cast in any election in that nation anytime. But definitely President Zuma will sit up and I expect him to offer some restitution but since this is his final second term he will have to continue in office with his head bowed while still exercising power. But then I doff my hat to the brave S /African anti corruption chief for stating the facts so loud and clear, no matter whose ox is gored. In Guatemala however Alfonso Portillo a former head of state from 2000 to 2004 who stashed stolen money in the US was not so lucky as the US authorities not only exposed him but tried and jailed him for taking a $2.5m bribe while in office to recognise Taiwan. Now you have to wonder why and how a president in Latin America can take bribe over the recognition of a foreign nation in Asia and think that the world of diplomacy and the international community will not know. The man being a president could not have been broke. This obviously shows how greed can fan the acquisitive tendencies of powerful people such that it gets to a stage that they cannot resist the challenge of taking or stealing what is not theirs or stop doing what is illegal in the hope that detection will not be their lot. Surely for this former Guatemalan president the lesson to learn is that though the mills of justice may grind slowly, they grind exceedingly fine.

  • Nigeria: A crisis of structure or values?

    Nigeria: A crisis of structure or values?

    What exactly is the fundamental problem with Nigeria? Why has such a richly endowed country in terms of human, natural and material resources failed to actualize her vast potentials or fulfil the purpose for her existence over five decades after independence?  The primary purpose of a state is to promote the security, welfare and economic well- being of her citizenry. On virtually all indices, Nigeria exhibits symptoms of chronic state fragility bordering on catastrophic state collapse. Why does Nigeria remain superficially great only as regards population size and land mass?

    Why, in the gripping imagery of Claude Ake, does the country display the senescent symptoms of old age without having gone through and experienced the vigour and vitality of youthfulness?

    Many would argue that the problem is with the perceived structural deformity of the country. A fundamental re-structuring of the country, from this perspective, is thus the cure-all for her myriad afflictions. The problem is that there are multiple and often contradictory perceptions of the kind of re-structuring imperative for national liberation and redemption.  This column, for instance, has consistently advocated the radical decentralization of powers, responsibilities and resources from the centre to the sub national units of the federation.

     We have strongly supported the advocacy for the creation of state police, drastic scaling down of items on the exclusive list of the constitution, a fundamental review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national units of government as well as separation of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation from that of the Accountant General of the Federal Government to promote more accountable and transparent management of the country’s resources. There is also the need for enhanced institutional autonomy of critical agencies like the police, electoral umpire and anti-corruption agencies and also strengthening local government autonomy  if that does not mean liberating the third tier of government  from the strangle hold of the states only to subordinate them to the more stultifying dominance of the Federal Government.

    There are, however, those who, for instance, want a complete re-design of the architecture of the federation by what they describe as a return to regionalism. I believe this is one of the items on the agenda of the South West delegates to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s exceedingly suspicious National Conference. Now this demand is utterly ridiculous. Let us take the South West as an example. The APC governors – Babatunde Fashola, Ibikunle Amosun, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi and Abiola Ajimobi – are widely acknowledged to be performing admirably in the radical modernization of infrastructure and the provision of social welfare services to the citizenry in their states. There is a veritable and undeniable wind of developmental renaissance blowing across the South West just like in some other states across the country.

     What then is the rationale for a return to formal regionalism? What sense does it make to create another level of regional bureaucracy with the attendant implication for cost of governance in an already over-administered territory like Nigeria? Is a state like Lagos, for instance, which is more populous than at least 30 African countries, ready to subordinate its autonomy to political control from Ibadan, which was the headquarters of the old western region? As I have said before, regionalism is itself a form of undesirable centralism. Yes, geographically contiguous states will benefit tremendously from socio-economic cooperation and collaboration in diverse sectors. But there is no need for the creation of a formal, constitutionally recognised level of regional government to achieve this. Yet, some‘leaders’ of the Yoruba have reportedly taken it upon themselves to set up a monitoring committee to ensure that the unelected South West delegates to Dr Jonathan’s conference do not deviate from an agenda drawn up without consultation with the broad masses of the people. It is utterly comical.

    There is also the call for a return to the parliamentary system of government. This is because of the perceived phenomenal cost of the presidential system of government as well as the enormous powers vested in the office of the President. The point is that the irresponsible use of presidential power is not necessarily inherent in the presidential system of government. It is the responsibility of an effective legislature, a courageous and independent judiciary, a free and vigilant press and a vigorous civil society to ensure that presidential powers are not abused. And the truth of the matter is that, notwithstanding our various shortcomings, the Nigerian political system is slowly but steadily developing the capacity to tame the abuse and misuse of power.

    If it was left to the Umaru Yar’Adua cabal, would Dr Goodluck Jonathan ever have assumed Nigeria’s presidency? The answer is no. But public pressure ensured that the rule of law prevailed. If President Jonathan were to have his way, would former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, have been dropped from his cabinet for her culpability in the gross misuse of public funds? We all know the answer. But Jonathan ultimately had no choice but to bow to public opinion. Despite the strong support he enjoyed from the presidency, wasn’t the brazenly partisan Joseph Mbu deployed from Rivers State as Commissioner of Police? In 1999, we had no anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC. At least they exist today even if largely ineffective. It is inevitable that with time they will begin to more effectively perform their statutory functions as public pressure mounts. There are many other examples. Under no system will we reach the desired democratic and political Eldorado in a day. Politics as Aristotle pointed out, is a never-ceasing process of civic education and incremental consciousness.

    The return to a parliamentary system of government will not by itself automatically result in the responsible, accountable and transparent utilisation of power. After all, it was under the parliamentary system in the First Republic that the Federal Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, illegally interfered in the affairs of the Western Regional government, sacked the legitimate Action Group government, imposed an administrator on the region and later blatantly rigged elections in favour of Chief SLA Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). This resulted in the breakdown of law and order in the region, precipitated the first coup and ultimately led the country to the civil war tragedy.

    In the same vein, there is absolutely no iron law that says our presidential system must be as expensive as it currently is. There is nothing which says that either the size of the executive councils or the length of convoys both at the federal and subnational levels should be so unwieldy. Even under the parliamentary system of government, our legislators will allocate outrageous, indefensible salaries and allowances to themselves if we are stupid and docile enough to allow them. After all, perceived corruption epitomised then by the ‘ten per cent’ syndrome was one of the reasons cited for the January 1966 coup that over threw the First Republic. Those who lauded the coup then would have seen with the benefit of hindsight that there can be no miraculous, quick fixes to political problems. In the same way, there can be no single National Conference that will once and for all solve all Nigeria’s problems. There can be no dialogue to end all dialogues. Democracy is an on-going process of ceaseless dialogue and continuous problem solving.

    Nigeria’s socio-political and economic problems have been over-diagnosed. What we have lacked is the requisite quality of visionary political leadership we need to apply the all too well known solutions. For instance, President Jonathan does not need a National Conference to tell him that it is indefensible keeping a fleet of 11 presidential jets. The 1999 constitution has already provided for a review of the Revenue Allocation formula every five years. Does the PDP-controlled Federal Government have to flush seven billion Naira- down a National Conference drain before doing that which is right and lawful? The emergence of the requisite visionary, competent and development-oriented leadership we need has been subverted by the absence of the values of honesty, integrity, restraint and responsibility without which any structural or institutional changes will make absolutely no difference.

  • Whose headache?

    Super Eagles fans seem to have many questions over their darling team’s composition. One school feels strongly that the status quo should remain, arguing that strengthening the Eagles under any guise could destroy the team’s homogeneity. The other school feels that the old order got their rewards after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations diadem.

    For those in this half, the Brazil 2014 World Cup is serious business. Besides, many of those who lifted the Cup in South Africa have lost their form. They warm the bench in their European clubs.

    But what do the Super Eagles coaches feel about the thoughts from the two divides? Are the coaches confused? Could they have made mistakes when picking the squad that secured the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria after 19 years? Would it not be appropriate to pick players who are playing regularly for their European clubs than stick to a squad of benchwarmers? Should loyalty to the coaches – not to the nation – be the key condition for picking players? Would it be wise to pick players who would rock the boat if made to sit on the bench? Should players’ discipline be sacrificed on the altar of picking experienced stars? Or are we back to the drawing board?

    The simple solution to these posers will be for our coaches to emulate what others do. Others pick players who play regularly. This factor helps them to fit into any system the coaches want to adopt. It is for this reason that coaches contact the managers of clubs for which their countrymen are playing, to find out what the issues are – for those who are on the bench or injured.

    Besides, coaches endeavour to visit clubs to watch key games involving their wards. These visits create the environment for the coaches to know their players’ off-the-pitch activities. The synergy between the players’ clubs and the coaches ensures that every detail is known to both parties.

    It is for this reason that many of the European players going to the World Cup play regularly. Disputes between the players and club coaches are easily resolved. Indeed, those players who don’t feature in the coaches’ plans for this season were told bluntly to seek for clubs elsewhere to get regular shirts. Brazil’s first choice goalkeeper Ceasar stayed with relegated Queens Park Rangers (QPR) of England. Clearly, national team managers counsel the players on their career to the advantage of their countries. Not here. Our coaches want our players to show enough commitment before they are invited.

    Watching the recap of European matches played last week on television, football pundits knew why certain players were fielded and others benched. Tactical changes made were informed by the trends of the matches. Most times, even before the changes were made, pundits guessed correctly those to be dropped. And they were spot-on in their choices.

    Brazil 2014 World Cup will be a strikers’ show, with countries such as Brazil, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Uruguay, Argentina and the Netherlands leading the pack. Have I unwittingly listed likely quarter-finalists? No; football isn’t mathematics. It is a game of surprises. Shocks. Yet, I would be very shocked if none of the eight listed makes it to the quarterfinals.

    Have I ruled out Africans? Certainly not, but I foresee Cote d’ Ivoire making the desired impact for the continent – for the first time. In recent times, they have been the best playing African nation. Their players are regulars across the globe, yet they totter, with nationals blaming their players’ off-the-pitch activities for their poor performance.

    In Brazil, things would change. The Ivoriens’ golden generation may be Africa’s pride. This feeling is getting stronger, especially with the way the Ivoriens battle back to a 2-2 draw against Belgium in Brussels penultimate Wednesday. The fighting spirit shown by the Ivoriens against the Belgians has been the missing link in their previous games. If they sustain that style, then Africans can celebrate the way they did in 2010, when Ghanaians held the world spell-bound until they were eliminated by the Uruguayans. Please, don’t remind me of the Luis Suarez handling of the ball for the penalty kick which Asamaoah Gyan lost. Looking back, Gyan’s penalty loss still hurts. One must commend Africans for the way they rallied behind the Ghanaians until they lost. Show me one striker who hasn’t lost a penalty kick? Better luck in Brazil, Gyan.

    I won’t be discussing Nigeria’s chances because we hate the truth. Whatever happens to the Super Eagles in Brazil would be discussed at the post-competition level. At that time, it would have dawned on us to always see the task of doing well at the Mundial as a four-year plan. We are experts in setting up panels to find out why we failed in competitions. Yet, we repeat the same mistakes.

    Belgium leads the pack of upstarts at the World Cup who would spring surprises, given the way their nationals are playing in the big European clubs. If they stick to their current form and show the resilience they exhibit with the European clubs over their first three group games at the Mundial, then they could be the team of Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    To stretch the argument further, I foresee a semi-final pairing of Spain, Brazil, Germany and Netherlands, although my hunches tell me not to foreclose Portugal and the Netherlands. What a tight order where the world may not see Gonzalo Higuan, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano. Argentines have the talents but lack the tactical savvy to hit the semi-finals, largely because their talisman Messi isn’t at his best yet. Poor Messi. He has won every trophy there is to be won in the beautiful game, except the World Cup. Will Argentina lift the diadem in Brazil? Read my lips.

    A strikers’ battle will be seen when Spain and Netherlands meet in one of the Group B matches. On parade will be Alavro Negredo, Pedro, Diego Costa, the Brazilian star who opted to play for the Spaniards, David Villa, Llorente, Fernando Torres, Michu, Tello and Soldado. The Spaniards have a line of good strikers. But their coach has been able to fix the puzzle of those he uses during matches from their contributions during international friendly matches. That they are the world’s best buttresses this fact. Mention must be made of the massive improvement of the Spanish La Liga, unlike in the past where it was a two-team competition.

    Netherlands’ list comprises Kuyt, Robin Van Persie, Robben, Huntelaar and Depay. If names win matches, it should be a stroll in the park for Spain. But, wait for it, both teams met in the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and it was a nail-biting 1-0 victory grabbed at the closing minutes of the game by Xavi.

    Group G where Portugal, Germany, Ghana and USA would fight for the qualification tickets would be the toughest, with the game between Portugal and Germany being the decider. If Ronaldo stays fit, then the two will qualify. But they must watch the Ghanaians, who have the penchant for upsetting the apple cart. This Black Stars side doesn’t look good enough to create any upset in Brazil.

    The way Portugal demolished Cameroon shows that they are ready for the world. But the Portuguese rely so much on Ronaldo. Against the bigger countries, Ronaldo would be caged and that would be their albatross.

    Hosts Brazil are ready to win the trophy. They have jettisoned the strictly Samba style for an adapted system that has incorporated the ruthless European finishing in front of the goalpost. And with strikers such as Neymar (when I remember that this boy played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos in 2009 as U-17, I shed tears), Hulk, Fred and Jo, it is only appropriate to flow with the Brazilians as the next World Cup winners.

    Doubters of this Brazilian squad must sit back and watch the matches of the 2013 Confederations Cup. The Brazilians have improved tremendously. They handled the home fans’ pressure with ease. They scored goals with aplomb. If they sustain the tempo, gusto and cohesion exhibited at the 2013 Confederation Cup, it is only fair to crown them winners.

    But my friend has taken me to task by insisting that Nigeria will upstage the world by lifting the Brazil 2014 World Cup diadem. Please, don’t wake me up from this sleep. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

  • Leaders and the new global balance of terror

    BOTH on the world and the Nigerian stage, a balance of terror is reshaping the destiny of nations of the world and their peoples. If the invasion of Crimea in Ukraine by Russia reminds one of the Cold War when the US and the former Soviet Union squared up to each other, in a mutual deterrence through a balance of terror in the acquisition of weapons of nuclear annihilation, the daily murder of innocent Nigerians in the North East of the country reminds one of the Nigerian Civil War fought over the secession of one part of the nation from the rest. In either case social equanimity and political stability had been unduly disturbed and disrupted, such that there is no visible defining line, to say whether the dogs of war had broken loose unexpectedly or not. But definitely, a form of terror and fear has gripped the land, as well as both the rulers and the ruled. Consequently one can say of both Nigeria and Ukraine, that the that the doves of peace may be leaving these shores in droves and the spectre of war was inching closer by the day. But then that is a view from, as on the ground in both nations, unbelievably as it may seem, we still have legitimate governments in power while terror and mayhem stalk the land creating violence and vast insecurity. Today I am saying that the unfolding events in the Ukraine and Nigeria are like two sides of the same coin. Also the reaction of world leaders to events in the two nations is examined today in an historical context, as to why by acts of commission or omission, these world leaders are reacting to events the way they have done this past one week. Most especially, we shall weigh the reaction of the US on Ukraine as the invasion of Crimea by Russian leader Vladmir Putin was in my view a calculated and measured diplomatic strategy to expose the Achiles heel of the global US Foreign policy of Engagement under the Obama Administration. On the Crimean invasion the US in its reaction has added another lexicon to global democracy by asking Russia to de-escalate the Ukraine Crisis by withdrawing its troops from Crimea, which to me is another round of fruitless diplomacy on the part of the Americans. In both the Ukraine and Nigeria, there are legitimate governments on the ground. But they are not in power in terms of authority and security of life and property. While there is a dissemblance of power in Ukraine leading to deaths of demonstrators for whom visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry laid wreaths when he visited Kiev last week, the Nigerian president is busy battling a legitimacy problem as he is campaigning to contest for re election but is bidding his time in doing that or even saying it. Yet, the Boko Haram terror sucks in innocent Nigerians in an orgy of daily killings of hapless Nigerians while the Commander in Chief’s attention is diverted in a game of political survival and the quest to refresh power and legitimacy. In Ukraine, the elected President Yanukovich has bolted into oblivion after giving orders to kill demonstrators and an Interim government is in place in Kiev. That Interim government could however not guarantee the territorial integrity of Ukraine as the Russian invasion of Crimea, a huge part of Ukraine has shown . Which makes the Kiev government in Kiev a toothless bull dog in terms of the sovereignty of Ukraine. Similarly in Nigeria, the Nigerian government is in place in Abuja but Boko Haram strikes in the heartland of Nigeria with impunity as the Governor of Adamawa had to abandon a sympathy visit to victims of Boko Haram when his convoy came under attack by Boko Haram. So who is in charge of security in the North East and what Has become of the huge security votes given to our governors to assure security of life and property in the six states of the former North East state of Nigeria? Again, in Crimea a part of Ukraine, the Russians put in place a minority government which has met in parliament and has concurred that Crimea should be ceded to Russia just as Docemo ceded Lagos to the British. The cession is to be consolidated in a referendum on March 16. So in effect the Russians after using force to acquire Crimea on account of the demonstrations in Kiev are trying to use democracy, turned upside down, to acquire legitimacy for its violation of international law in seizing Crimea from Ukraine. Similarly the governors of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa are powerless against the ravaging Boko Haram because they have no army and they have diverted their security vote for some thing else. They cant even complain because when the Governor of Borno said Boko Haram is better motivated than the army, the President ominously wanted to know if the governor could sleep in government house, if he, the president, withdrew soldiers from the state capital. So In effect then, we have governors with no authority but a speedily disappearing legitimacy and political control, as they cannot guarantee their own security not to talk of those of the lives and property in the states they govern. Yet, they still parade themselves as governors in the round about game of delusion of power from which the wicked and heartless Boko Haram has profited in their states, as nature abhors a vacuum in the bloody battle of terror that Boko Haram seems to be winning in these states. Let us now look at the role and motive of Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and Crimea as well as the reactive diplomacy of the US and EU with regard to the proposed punitive sanctions against the Russian invader. It is my candid opinion that Russia’s President Vladmir Putin is running a Russian foreign policy of provoking the US and its allies in other to prove to them and the rest of the world that the nations of NATO and the US especially no longer run the affairs of the world as they did after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. This may sound petty or mischievous but the passion and devotion with which the modern, democratic Russian Czar is pursuing this objective is there for all of us to see, admire or condemn .In addition to this, Russians have an unhidden nostalgia for the glory and respect which the existence and activities of the former Soviet Union conferred on its citizens all of which vamoosed into thin air with the collapse of the Soviet Union during the regime of Gorbachev. Nobody harbours that nostalgia and lost glory more than the present Russian head of state and no where is this more palpable than on his sullen ,seemingly frozen expression when talking of the US. Please take time to watch this expression anytime there is a Putin interview especially during the on going Crimean /Ukraine Crisis. This provocative Russian diplomacy was introduced during the Georgian crisis a few years back which led to the partition as it were of that former Soviet nation. That was resolved by diplomacy but after Putin has had his way. It was relaxed during the no fly zone era in Libya during the uprising against the Gaddafi regime when the NATO nations used the occasion to pummel the regime of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi to death from the skies. Russia as well as China never forgave the west for that and the blockage of similar sanction against Syria at the UN Security Council has been Russia’s way of getting even with the west over the overthrow of Libya’s Gaddafi. But again still waters run deep and the west had better be careful in the carefree and arrogant way it is fast earning the hostility and contempt of this Russian strongman. A major potential agent provocateur of Putin’s contempt for the US and the west is the issue of gay rights which the west is using to blackmail African nations on foreign aid and economic support. Russia’s stand and policy on this, is in tandem with that of these African nations and I am sure that very soon the Russian leader will throw his hat into the ring to challenge the nations of the west on categorising gay rights as human rights. On the massive criticism of his record on human rights he is on record as saying that the west interprets human rights the way it suits it. After successfully seeing the Sochi Olympics through in spite of the huge pre – event, pro – gay media campaign to smear Russia’s hosting of the event, I am sure that the Russian president is in a pay back mood. For now the invasion of Crimea is an eminent precursor of the fight on gay rights between Russia and its American and European friends or enemies and this is a fight that Russia is raring for if only to prove that it has a fair idea of gay rights very similar to that of the African nations the west is treating with contempt on the matter. Given this Putin mood towards the US and the EU it is like barking at the moon then for the US to ask a wilfully belligerent nation like Russia to ‘de escalate‘ a crisis it premeditated and executed in its backyard. For that is what the Russians for centuries, have always regarded the Crimea which is the base of its Black Sea Fleet. Putin surely knows the US has no stomach for a war anywhere including Ukraine just as it developed cold feet in Georgia earlier. The US has announced sanctions against key Russian and Ukrainian leaders ostensibly from a list given it by the Interim government in Kiev. But Russia has threatened to seize American assets and that is no idle threat. One wonders therefore what US Secretary of State John Kerry meant when he said he and his Russia counterpart are professionals chummily doing their jobs when a US navy destroyer is reportedly on the way to the Black sea for a pre planned naval military exercise in the area where the Russians have blocked the two approaches to the Black Sea. Obviously this has set a collision course. Which means US diplomacy these days thrive on rhetorics and new vocabularies while that of Russia swims in the strong waters of pragmatic self interest in the comity of nations. It is the resolution of the on going crisis in terms of the observance of international law that will show who is more professional between the US and Russia, not the US Secretary of State’s say so, in the pursuit of his onerous duty.

  • No Gaiya, no

    Monitoring the cable network stations on Tuesday, I saw the Argentine squad walking towards an indoor handball court in Romania, Bucharest, ahead of Wednesday’s barren draw FIFA-free window friendly.

    What struck me was the uniform the players wore. The Argentines wore deep blue track tops on which was inscribed Coca-Cola. I was impressed because it meant that the global brand Coca-Cola was part of the sponsorship package for the Argentines to the 2014 World Cup. They trained under the supervision of their coaches and I didn’t notice around them pot bellied government officials or legislators, not forgetting government hangers on.

    I switched from watching the television, having seen also clips of Australia’s whiplash of South Africa at home in a cricket test series, to reading the newspapers.

    My heart sank when I read Godfrey Gaiya’s harangue at one of the supporters of the Nigeria game, Globacom Telecommunications. My problem with Gaiya, in spite of the fact that he is my friend, is that he is always eager to grab the headlines. He is entitled to air his opinions. Yet, he needs to tread with caution, especially on issues he cannot back with facts.

    Gaiya told the press: “For me, the green colour is not our national colour. I would have preferred the green that we know. I would have preferred the colour in our flag, but again, those that designed it have their reason that they have explained.”

    Good talk, no doubt, from the point of the colour of the jerseys for the World Cup. Gaiya would have stopped his argument there or perhaps gotten in touch with NFF chieftains rather than drag the name of the biggest sponsor of our football, Globacom, into the jersey controversy.

    Gaiya: I would not know whether Globacom influenced the choice of the colour of the new Super Eagles jersey, but we will look into it and whatever we find out, we will let the world know.”

    Interestingly, the essence of unveiling the jerseys is to subject them to criticism, since the samples, were displayed not entirely the final products, were displayed. Indeed, many people quarreled with the choice of red used for the numbering of the jerseys. The manufacturers are bound to make corrections.

    Gaiya should be told that Globacom’s sponsorship deal with the NFF didn’t start today, so they couldn’t have influenced the choice of colour. Indeed, Globacom’s sponsorship rests with providing the cash for the NFF to prepare the teams for international competitions. No portion of the contract gives Globacom the propriety right to decide the colour of the players’ jerseys. If Globacom wanted that clause inserted in its contract, it would have offered to purchase the jerseys and made a ceremony of it by inscribing the brands name on the jersey.

    It would interest Gaiya to know that the World Cup isn’t a pepper soup competition. FIFA’s marketing partners are known and countries have no right to wear insignia or colours of their sponsors at the Mundial. FIFA frowns at ambush marketing and Globacom will not want to associate its brand with such a needless exercise when its management could head straight to Zurich and enter into a marketing deal with FIFA, where Globacom could be the official telecommunication rights owner of all FIFA competitions. That is a bigger and better platform to showcase the Globacom brand; not the senseless insinuation by Gaiya of influencing the colour of the Eagles’ jersey. Gaiya must grow up. He must show that he understands the assignment before him as the House of Representatives Sports Committee Chairman by reading voraciously to be better informed. Globacom won’t opt for such a dubious and cheap platform to advertise its brand.

    The choice of jersey colours isn’t part of Gaiya’s oversight functions. Of course, such a reckless insinuation is one of the reasons why blue-chip companies don’t indentify their products and services with sports. No company likes controversies.

    Nigerians would be excited to read about the revocation of Decree 101. They want to see the Act of Parliament that would make the NFF run like a business concern, where everyone can aspire onto the board and not a select few as has been the case in recent elections into the NFF executive board. I don’t know any part of our governance that is being run by decrees instituted during the military jackboot era.

    Indeed, Gaiya would be remembered as the best thing that happened to Nigeria’s sport, if he spearheads the move for the National Sports Commission (NSC) to be recognised by the law. It is about time the acts for NFF and NSC were made laws for sports to thrive here.

    Back to my room, I saw how the South Africans celebrated the arrival of Brazil for Wednesday’s international friendly. I marvelled at the way the South Africa Football body celebrated their sponsors through look-and-feel backdrops at a pre-match meeting.

    The coverage of the Brazilians’ arrival was swift, with media men enjoying their jobs. There were no inhibitions, especially from security operatives. The media coverage of the players’ arrival served as the impetus for the fans to storm the stadium to watch the game.In fact, those South Africans who support Chelsea FC of England were at the stadium to see live the heroes such as Oscar, Ramires, William and Luis. The flipside to the massive media coverage is the capacity filled attendance by the fans. Blue-chip companies would want to exploit such platforms to showcase their products and services to their target audience- the masses.

    Pundits would ask why South Africa is playing Brazil, when they are not going to the World Cup. Brazil was at the last edition of the Mundial held in South Africa. Their officials certainly appreciated what they saw in terms of availability of facilities and the passion the people showed towards the beautiful game during the 2010 World Cup.

    Beyond these superficial things is the window available to the corporate world to advertise their products and services, using the massive followership that the Samba Boys enjoy globally. Sport is business. The South Africans understand this mechanics, hence they have been able to host many big sporting events seamlessly.

    The Brazilians discovered that the world had demystified their Samba flair brand of football and encouraged their wards to head for Europe to ply their trade. Against South Africa on Wednesday evening, Brazil paraded an entire squad of Europe-based stars who combined what they learnt in Europe with the Samba style. European soccer is about clinical finishing in front of the goal post. One marvelled listening to Carlos Perriera speak at the pre-match conference. Perriera won the World Cup for Brazil in 1994. Now, he is the assistant coach to another World Cup winner for Brazil in 2002, Fillipe Scolari, who is Brazil’s chief coach. With two past World Cup-winning coaches in the Brazilian squad, need one imagine the quality of staff in other departments of the squad? Since Brazil won the 2013 Confederations Cup at home, they have not altered the squad. That wining side has shown sufficient synergy among the players, such that they now score spectacular goals with ease.

    Despite the gap in ranking between both countries, Brazil fielded their best, knowing how the Spaniards fell 1-0 to Bafana Bafana in an earlier friendly last year. That Brazil beat Bafana 5-0 wasn’t the story. The real subject for discussion after the game was Neymar’s hat-trick for the Samba boys. Recall Neymar played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos as a second half substitute for Brazil’s U-17 side which didn’t win the trophy. Today, Neymar is the biggest discovery from that competition held in Nigeria four years ago. Please, don’t ask me about our Golden Eaglets stars who lost in the finals.

    Thank you Abdullahi

    I have not come to mourn Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi’s sack. Nor have I come to join the list of sycophants in government who supervised his exit. No. Abdullahi isn’t one of those sycophants in government and doesn’t want to be remembered as one who didn’t leave his mark at such exalted position.

    I have come to mourn the sad loss to sports which Abdullahi’s sack signposts. Well, as a proven journalist, the newsroom is there to welcome him or he may even offer to join the academia, where he is eminently qualified. My consolation is that Abdullahi served creditably, leaving many landmarks in the industry for all to see. He delivered. I have come to mourn the likely destruction of his legacies by the system under the guise of doing things differently.

    Abdullahi’s removal from office is another death knell to our sports. I’m not saying that the new sports minister doesn’t have what it takes to perform; he may even surpass Abdullahi’s feats. Abdullahi has stabilised sports in this country to warrant any senseless change. Today, we are Africa’s best at the senior level; we are the world’s best football nation. We are the third best African nation at the domestic football level. Abdullahi’s reforms brought forth the League Management Committee (LMC) that ensured that telecommunication giants Globacom returned to bankroll the domestic game.

    Abdullahi wasn’t a football minister, like most of his predecessors. Today, we are the best African nation in athletics at the senior, junior and youth championship cadres. After 14 years’ absence on the medals’ table at the IAAF World Championship, Blessing Okagbare, through some of Abdullahi’s reforms, won two medals for Nigeria (silver in long jump and bronze in the 200 metres) at the 2013 championship held in August, last year.

    Today, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has revitalised the National Academic Sports Committee (NASCOM), which is tasked with developing sports at the grassroots. Mr. President launched NASCOM’s flagship programme for grassroots sports development, Rhythm and Play, in June, 2013. NASCOM’s mandate through the RnP approach is to get two million more youths to participate in sports. NASCOM is already registering schools, games masters and children to achieve this goal. To ensure early identification and discovery of athletes, the first-ever National Youth Games for athletes between ages 13 and 17 held in December 2013, with over 300 special talents discovered, for games which will be held annually.

    Under Abdullahi, the NSC has also completed a world class athletes’ hostel in Abuja. The hostel was built to serve elite athletes’ development programmes, especially athletes to be enrolled for the high performance system. Need I waste space to state that the concessioning of our moribund sports stadia in Surulere, Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna is close to fruition due to Abdullahi’s mind-boggling ideas?

    Neither Abdullahi nor sport is a winner by this sudden sack. The loss, no doubt, is ours. But then, aren’t we famous for killing our stars?

  • Ike Uche’s fate

    Ike Uche’s fate

    I didn’t want to dignify Stephen Keshi with a reply to his insistence of not having Ike Uche in Nigeria’s 2014 World Cup squad. As the Super Eagles chief coach, he rules on such matters. But I changed my mind to tell Keshi some home truth.

    It seems to me that Keshi doesn’t want to continue with this job after the World Cup. His actions and body language suggest so. Should we then fold our hands and watch while he drops capable players for Lilliputians? Is it wrong to ask Keshi to parade our best players, no matter what he thinks about them? Should we accept Keshi’s usual “we are rebuilding” cliché after another catastrophic World Cup outing in Brazil? Shouldn’t we call Keshi to order now? Who will get Keshi to pick Ike Uche, Nigeria’s best striker in Europe?

    Keshi, a central defender, doesn’t know good strikers. The Big Boss doesn’t believe in flair players, hence the Eagles lack creative midfielders, who can drive its attacking onslaught by dribbling through the pack under tight situations, like Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu et al did in the past.

    Therefore, players who can dribble the ball to create openings for free mates to jab into the net had better forget about going to the 2014 World Cup. Little wonder Olaitan who shone like a million stars against Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League isn’t considered good enough to play for the Eagles. Olaitan has been marvelous for Olympiakos FC of Greece this season. Keshi’s idea of playing four men in the midfield rests with asking the wingers (Ahmed Musa, Sunday Mba, Brown Ideye and Nnamdi Oduamadi) to combine the role of going upfront and recovering to the midfield when the Eagles lose the ball. I digress!

    What those who think that Keshi should be allowed to wield the axe on eminently qualified players on grounds not known to football, is that the coach shouldn’t tell us in post-match conferences at the World Cup that his attackers disappointed him.

    We all saw how Real Marid FC of Spain’s manager Carlo Ancelotti paraded Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale upfront against Schalke 04, which was playing at home in one of the UEFA Champions league matches on Wednesday. Ancelotti knew that that the trio were hot. He played them to scare the Germans, knowing also that any defensive network in the world won’t dare join their team’s attacking onslaught against a team that has Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale. Guess what, the trio scored a brace each in Real Madrid’s 6-1 whiplash of Schalke. Talk about managers who know their onions. Can our coaches take such risks based on the players’ form? I digress!

    Nigeria is in a very tricky group where we are the third rated team terms of ranking on FIFA’s table. It is easy for cynics to dismiss FIFA’s rankings. Yet, the truth remains that the Brazil 2014 World Cup will be an event where strikers will wreak havoc on weak defences. Any country desirous of doing well at the Mundial must have strikers who can attract markers because of their pedigree in Europe. These strikers must have the capacity to score from half chances and clear opportunities. Any country going with strikers with the poor goal-ratio of Eagles’ current attacking force will only play the three mandatory matches and return home.

    Keshi has said so many things about Ike Uche. But his recent comment that he isn’t tactically disciplined explains why many have described his feat with the Super Eagles totter during matches. Keshi alleged that Ike Uche lacks discipline. Pundits sneezed at such a trait in Uche, citing his relationship with other managers in the Eagles before Keshi took charge.

    It appears that this new submission is a reaction to his earlier one and it is laughable. In one breath, Keshi said that Uche lacks team discipline, citing matches where the Eagles were totally poor in their execution of Keshi’s match plans for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held in South Africa.

    No one has told Keshi that Eagles were poor in Nigeria’s first three matches at AFCON. And it is rather surprising that Keshi, who admitted that his team was one in transition, could blame Uche for our poor outing in matches at the Africa Cup of Nations. Keshi must tell us the truth about his relationship with Uche beyond these double-speak. It is gratifying that Uche has chosen not to smack Keshi in the international media as Osaze Odemwingie did. But Keshi must keep quiet on Uche’s invitation, rather than be the laughing stock with such statements as the ones ascribed to him on Tuesday. “Ikechukwu Uche is not a player I have not seen play. Ike Uche’s problem is not knowing how to play football. His problem is that he wants to dictate how we play in Super Eagles. He wants to tell us the system we’re playing is not good,” says Keshi, adding: “Uche has a very bad habit, that if you put him in the game, he is not playing to instructions and he did that in the final of AFCON against Burkina Faso. He almost cost us. Again, he did that against Zambia in the second match when (Efe) Ambrose was given a red card. What we told him to do, he was doing the opposite.”

    Keshi went on:”And if you don’t respect your team mates and you don’t respect the team, then there is no point. I know he cannot do that in his club; then why do it in the national team? I don’t think I need a player like that in the team.”

    Haba Keshi. Uche has been introduced into Eagles’ games and scored goals for the team. Ask Samson Siasia, Shuaibu Amodu, Lars Lagerback and Austin Eguavoen. Close watchers of football knew that Uche wasn’t match fit for AFCON, having just recovered from an injury that kept him out of the game for close to two years. That Uche played for Nigeria in South Africa casts doubt over the parametres used in picking him by the coach. Keshi, only a bad workman grumbles with his tools.

    Uche’s mercurial form in the La Liga with 12 goals, ranks him at 11th among 20 top European scorers, comprising Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This underscores why he must be picked for the World Cup against the background that Eagles strikers have been tottering with their European clubs; this should worry Keshi.

    We need to remind Keshi that Uche isn’t a first timer in the Eagles. Besides, members of the squad haven’t changed significantly for Uche not to respect his mates. Haba Big Boss! Who are the newcomers in the Eagles that Uche will treat with disdain? Keshi should tell us the real reasons for dropping Uche. We have seen strikers dictate the pace with which their teams play. Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez, Aguero, Higuain, Rooney, Adebayor et al have been given free roles by the European managers. This ploy is meant to exploit the players’ finer qualities as strikers. It amounts to pettiness for Keshi to blame Uche for Nigeria’s poor outing against Zambia. In which area did the Eagles distinguish themselves in the Chipolopolo tie? Keshi needs re-watch the game on television. His initial judgment may have arisen from the tension that enveloped that match.

    It will be a travesty of fairness if Uche doesn’t make Nigeria’s World Cup squad, given the way he is banging in goals in one of the elite leagues in Europe. Eagles’ coaches want to be Emperors, treating players as mere servants. Who were these coaches when they played for Nigeria? Didn’t their era mark the reign of the mafia? Need I waste space listing all their atrocities, including holding the country hostage to satisfy their personal gains?

    Uche isn’t perturbed with Keshi’s pranks. He is giving his all to Villarreal FC in Spain, knowing that the coaches are fair in their dealings with players. I’m sure if Keshi was Uche’s coach in Spain, he would have sacked him on grounds that he was nursing an injury. Keshi, like the Igbo will say, Madabuchi (man is not God).

    Take heart, Aisha Falode

    Monday was a bad day. Having finished that day’s television show at Silverbird in Lekki with Jide Alabi, I opted to visit Mike Itemuagbor at home.

    He didn’t allow me to sit before asking if I had seen Aisha Falode. I said “no.” He invited me to the breakfast table and said we would be going to see Aisha after food. I looked forward to seeing Aisha. Getting to the house where Aisha was, I wished she wasn’t at home. But there she was, staggering towards us. Certainly, she wasn’t drunk. Her groggy movement captured what she had gone through since her son, Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola Falode, died on February 15.

    Aisha’s eyes were sunk – no thanks to many days of crying. I liked what Itemuagbor told Aisha, when we opened, the big poster of the late Toba.

    Apparently, Aisha hadn’t seen it. But once the beautiful picture became evident, she cried again. Itemuagbor to consoled her with a hug. Once Aisha was seated, Itemuagbor said: “Look Aisha, it clearly hurts that Toba is gone, not because we won’t see him again, but the fact that we can no longer touch him physically. Your son has gone home to rest. Do not feel bad but thank God that he is resting in peace.”

    Itemuagbor’s sermon worked, but not before Aisha had asked God, why such calamity befell her. Don’t ask me what I did? I disappointed Itemuagbor – he told me later – by crying. Toba was like my son. We related very well. It was just unfair that such a meek child could be murdered.

    What could Toba have done to warrant his being thrown down from the 17th floor of a high-rise building in Dubai?

    Well, Toba’s body will be buried in Lagos, on Monday. Good night Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola Falode.

  • Global horror at Nigeria’s season of terror

    PREDICTABLY in the last several weeks the civilised world has looked on in stark unbelief and horror at the emerging daily spectacles and gory tales of murder and mayhem being inflicted on Nigerians by Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria. The latest as I write was in Bama where 60 people were reportedly killed at dawn as Boko Haram arrived for the murderous adventure at 4 30am. According to the State Police Commissioner who briefed pressmen, the DPO told him that Boko Haram burnt all the major government buildings in the unfortunate town including that of the Emir and the town was littered with corpses. At the same time the state governor returned to Aso Rock to tell the president that the situation had gotten worse than that of the last weekend during which the president gave assurance that the situation would improve. In the midst of all these however, a distinctly Nigerian phenomenon or trait has emerged which is the way officials in charge of security have been reeling out casualties figures in a clear and concise manner as if those figures were for inanimate human beings and not killed, full blooded Nigerians. I do not need to recall anyone in particular. Just listen or read anyone of the past or coming briefings or grab any newspaper reporting the Boko Haram horror and you will discover a rather casual and almost inhuman rendition of casualties in the towns and villages of the North East of Nigeria. Which is rather cold blooded to me and seems to confirm the alarm of the State governor of Borno that we are at war. The cruel thing here is that the casualty figures are about our own fellow Nigerians and not the opponent or invader which is Boko Haram. Such cold blooded recitals of Nigerian casualties frightens me and is just not acceptable as it is inhuman and devalues human life especially of Nigerians. While I am not advocating that Nigeria should close shop because of Boko Haram in the NE, I am saying that Nigerians in all parts of Nigeria should be concerned with the killing of other Nigerians as the country is a federation of 36 states. I know the priority of Nigerian leaders now is the coming National Conference and the 2015 elections but I want all Nigerians to know that with regard to this on going Boko Haram horror, the global sovereign reputation or image of Nigerians as a people and Nigeria as a nation is that of a brutal and callous lot, who are definitely not their brothers ‘keeper. Which sadly and pathetically is quite true and reminds one of what Mark Anthony in Williams Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, said of Romans, even as the body of the slain Julius Caesar was on the ground – ‘You blocks, you stones you worse than senseless things, O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome.’ I think Nigerians now resemble ancient Romans in the selfish way they have reacted to the plight of fellow Nigerians being mowed down daily by the terrible scourge of Boko Haram in the NE of Nigeria. Today I weep for Nigeria and Nigerians, in that our perception and respect for human life has degenerated to such an extent that we do not value human life lost anywhere except that of a relative or close one. I see that as the dehumanisation of the Nigerian gene and psyche brought on by our mass indifference and callousness on the Boko Haram murder that is both on our doorsteps and in our midst. Already it has been reported that their leader has threatened to kill the Emir of Kano and bomb oil installations in the Niger Delta which is like carrying the battle against Nigeria and those he branded as infidels, close to Nigeria’s heart land. That to me could have been dismissed as a huge joke until the Borno State governor insisted that the Boko Haram terrorists were better motivated and better armed than our military. Also some survivors in Bama said soldiers fled on seeing the modern and lethal weapons of the terrorists that descended on Bama. Whereas on each occasion military spokesmen have always affirmed that the terrorists have been routed after they had fled leaving corpses of innocent victims in their wake. To show my unhappiness and discomfort on the way Boko Haram has been killing Nigerians with impunity I will today cite some events in the past, and on going, globally, in a bid to deter the Nigerian leadership and psyche from its present posture of business as usual in the face of a creeping evil wind blowing down wards from the North Eastern part of Nigeria. I will remind Nigerians of the story of former President Laurent Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo whose rebellion against the late Mobutu Sese Seko too started in N.E Congo. I will recall what is going on in Ukraine and how the demonstrations stopped when the protesters and government forces realised that 27 human lives had been lost in just one day in a protest that has been on for months. I will also show that tackling Boko Haram horror does not tie the hand of the president in calling the shots in all sectors of the economy and shooting down financial horrors that threaten the stability of the economy in the same way that Boko Haram terror is holding the Nigerian military by the balls in the NE of Nigeria for now. The lesson from the Laurent Kabila story in the Congo is quitesimple. There was a rebellion in the Tutsi refugee camp in NE Congo and Mobutu Sese Seko, the president then, sent troops to quell the insurgency. But the insurgents led by Kabila sent the Mobutu army packing and started pursuing them until they reached Kinshasa and overthrew Mobutu who fled to exile and Kabila became president of Congo. He was later assassinated but his son Joseph succeeded him and has won successive presidential elections to consolidate the Kabila dynasty in the Congo. This is in spite of the fact that most Congolese claim that Kabila is from Rwanda which I doubt as I have information that Kabila was with the late Patrice Lumumba before he was killed in the Katanga secession of Moise Tshombe. And that he was recommended by the great revolutionary Che Guevarra who came to fight in the Congo to create a sort of Cuban revolution but said that Kabila was not very committed then. Kabila then disappeared and was thought to be dead only to resurface in the Tutsi uprising in Congo’s NE from where he drove Mobutu out of power in Kinshasa. Now in Nigeria Maiduguri, Bama, Gwoza are under siege and National Assembly members have asked that the army should move base to the North East. To me the lesson from the Kabila story does not need a sooth sayer to see the inevitable if we do not eliminate Boko Haram in the shortest possible time now, in our own urgent, collective interest. In Ukraine where protests have been going on because the president wants a deal to rescue the economy with Russia while protesters want a deal with the EU instead, some respect was shown for human life, at least when people on both sides died and there was some respite in protests although they had since resumed. Ukraine has a robust culture of dissent which is an anomally in Nigeria and I will not want to bore anyone on this. The president of the country has promised early election but the protesters are not impressed. All they are saying is that they wont allow business as usual while the man they elected as president mortgages their political future to Russia as that would entail going back to the hegemony of Moscow as in the former USSR which broke up under Gorbachev’s reforms of glasnost and perestroika. This is what Russia’s President Vladmir Putin wants to happen and is leading the Ukranian president in that direction while his people say that is one horror that would happen over their dead bodies. So you have defiance on the cities and streets of Ukraine and a president who can not sleep because like Macbeth he murdered sleep when he sold his nation to Russia’s Putin and expected his people to play ball, but they have refused to do so. Let me round up by stating my horror at the way some Nigerians have been reacting to the suspension of the CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi. It is as if because the president cannot handle Boko Haram, he cannot handle anything else. I disagree on this view point because whether you like him or not a Nigerian president is a very powerful man as the CBN governor has finally found out and he has used pure banking routine to oust the CBN boss by just suspending him. In banking once the Inspectors find irregularities against you, you are queried and given time to reply. If fraud is involved, you are suspended, pending investigations. If you are cleared you are reinstated with full emoluments or fired if found guilty and that may even involve prosecution. All these have been in – built into the CBN Act and form the spirit of its execution and implementation and the CBN governor’s suspension cannot be an exception as it is legal and in order. The CBN governor should have started packing his bag out of his office the moment he refused the reported presidential phone call asking him to resign. In addition the charges against him are grievous as they involved the use of the term ‘financial recklessness ‘ by the body that investigated his tenure. As an accomplished regulator who has won global awards, it is in his own interest to defend the charges and he knows he cannot do this while in office. He should know that calling his suspension political will not jell as those who live in glass houses should just not throw stones. For now we hold our breath as we marvel at the equanimity of the experience and credentials of his successor and the huge potentials of professionalism and stability those bring to the regulatory climate of an overheated banking system that has danced too long much to the whims and caprices of a vocal and volatile regulator who finally did not know that an actor must quit when the ovation is loudest.

  • Further thoughts on national conference

    Further thoughts on national conference

    These are indeed most interesting times in Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan and his strategists must be having a good laugh and patting each other on the back for a job well done. Surely their strategies are working perfectly. The nation drifts under a leader who so obviously lacks the vision or capacity to achieve genuine national transformation. Corruption festers. Critical public infrastructure remains in a parlous condition. Unemployment soars. Insecurity grows worse by the day. The vast majority of Nigerians are worse off today than they were in 1999. Yet, rather than these challenges putting Dr Jonathan on his toes to find lasting solutions to them, national attention has been diverted to a phantom National Conference.

    Many of the experienced politicians who have jumped on the National Conference bandwagon surely ought to be more circumspect. They ought to have raised questions about President Jonathan’s sudden somersault and enthusiastic embrace of a national conference he had opposed for so long. The born again stance of Jonathan is even more suspicious given its timing so close to the next general elections. That he has performed abysmally as President of Nigeria is so obvious. President Jonathan made 91 promises on the campaign trail before the 2011 election. These promises have been carefully documented. It is doubtful if he has fulfilled 20 per cent of these pledges. But now, as the national conference grips the national consciousness, the issue of poor governance by Dr Jonathan recedes to the background.

    Those who support the National Conference contend that the problem with the country is that of its defective structure rather than poor leadership. This view absolves President Jonathan and elected officials at all levels of blame for the unsavoury state of the country in virtually all sectors. Whatever may be the defects of the current constitution, it is still possible for the country to make progress under it with the requisite leadership. After all, a good number of states are taking giant strides in terms of delivery of social services and provision of infrastructure under the present constitution.

    In an interview in the Sunday Punch of February 16, the respected Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said: “We do not want an amendment of the constitution. We want a brand new constitution”. He contended that we want a constitution under which the Yoruba will not feel cheated. Honestly, I do not know why the Yoruba should feel cheated under the present constitution. At least we had a Yoruba man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the helm of affairs between 1999 and 2007. The belief that a brand new constitution will automatically help solve our current national problem is completely illusory. If there is no change in terms of attitude, behaviour and values among the political class, not even a constitution drawn up by angels can salvage Nigeria.

    Some have advocated a return to the parliamentary system of government. They therefore see the current presidential system as the source of our woes. It was this type of reasoning that made us to abandon the parliamentary mode of governance for the presidential constitution of 1979. Yet, the political class of the Second Republic were largely as corrupt, venal and anti-democratic as those of the first. The question is not a matter of a presidential or parliamentary constitution. Good governance can flourish under both with the right kind of leadership that maintains high ethical standards and pursues its programmes with determination and a sense of purpose.

    After all, Chief Obafemi Awolowo performed exceptionally as Premier of the Western Region in the First Republic under the parliamentary constitution. And in the Second Republic, many state governments notably Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi to cite two examples, performed creditably. It is thus not a question of the type of constitution but the quality of leadership that matters. Again some have advocated a return to regionalism. Those who make this case forget that the breaking up of the former regions into states was a major step forward in the political development of Nigeria. Chief Awolowo strove tirelessly in the First Republic for the creation of the Calabar/Ogoja/Rivers (COR) state out of the former Eastern region and the creation of the Middle Belt State out of the North. Of course the Mid-West region had already been carved out of the Western region.

    Right now, there are at least 50 requests for the creation of new states. This shows that it is most unlikely that any state will subsume its autonomy under any regional government. In any case, without a change of values, orientation and attitudes among the political class, the creation of regions will only amount to the decentralization of corruption, ineptitude and lethargy from the centre to the regions. It is ironical that those who make a case for a return to regionalism do not realize that they will only be substituting centralization in Abuja for centralization in the regions. One form of centralization is as undesirable as the other.

    It is disturbing and alarming that a country with so many challenges confronting it can afford to budget N7 billion for an ill-thought out and hastily conceived National Conference. The lucky delegates at the conference will reportedly go home with at least N12 million each at the end of three months. Yet, given the intensity of the pre-National Conference debate, it is obvious that the exercise will most certainly exceed the three month time frame within which it is supposed to function. Meanwhile the National Assembly had earlier commenced its constitutional review exercise, an undertaking that took members round the country at great cost to the national treasury.

    Anyone who thinks there can be a conference which is a magic wand to end all conferences or a super dialogue to end all dialogues is grossly mistaken. Democracy is inherently a process of never ending dialogue. The National question will continue to exist as long as Nigeria survives. We have had enough conferences and dialogues over the years; the challenge is the will by those in power to implement proposed suggestions. In what way will this National Conference differ, for example, from that of 2005 organized by President Obasanjo? Some have contended that the 2005 exercise lacked legitimacy because its members were not elected. But the members of the Jonathan conference will also not be elected; they will be nominated. In any case, is there nothing of value we can extract from the 2005 conference once we eliminate the toxic third term virus that did not materialize?

    It is ironical that as the esteemed Chief Ayo Adebanjo has continued to insist that the National Conference is more important than the next elections, President Jonathan has been steadily and systematically pursuing his bid for a second term in office. In the last one or two months, he has worshipped in several churches including the Catholic, Anglican, Winners Chapel and the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Not only was he allowed to address the congregation in all these churches, his minders have ensured that his photographs with top men of God are generously used in the media. Is this not a subtle appeal to Christian voters? Last week, President Jonathan visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Ooni of Ife and the Emir of Kano. The campaign is surely afoot. This whole idea of a National Conference is thus just another brilliant manoeuvre to help actualise Dr. Jonathan’s undisclosed but all too obvious re-election ambition.

    I believe that there is so much that President Jonathan can do without having to convene a National Conference. He does not need a conference, for example, to decisively sanitise the corruption-ridden Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Nor does he need any conference to give the country a more equitable and just revenue allocation formula. Indeed, the constitution provides for a review of the revenue allocation formula every five years. The PDP administration has refused to do this since 1999. The President does not need a conference to fix federal high ways nationwide, ensure that pension fund thieves or fuel subsidy robbers are brought to book speedily and propose a new policing structure to the National Assembly. Well, I am sure there will be vigorous lobbying by those who want to go to Abuja as delegates. After all they will have their own share of the national cake. Allah de!

  • Swimming with Oshiomhole

    Swimming with Oshiomhole

    I’m always excited anytime the opportunity presents itself for me to head for my village, Okpokhumi-Emai in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. I look forward to eating meals cooked in local pots. I cherish the aroma of the food prepared with firewood. I also salivate as I visualise how I will devour the bowls of bush meat and snail. I’m still licking my lips.

    To the village I went penultimate Friday. What would have been a cruise was punctuated by the need to rescue my dad and younger sister whose car had a cut fan belt just before Ehor. Having replaced the fan belt, the journey continued to Okpokhumi-Emai. I stopped at Ojavun as my dad headed home.

    Ojavun stood still for three days. Sympathisers thronged the dusty town to celebrate with the Managing Director of Vintage Press Limited, Victor Ifijieh, the passing on to glory of his 82-year-old mother, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Okheren Ifijieh. It was an exciting event. Edo State governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, was there, witty and jocular all the way. Trust Oshiomhole to seize every platform to rub home the supremacy of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Carry go Osho Baba. I digress!

    I saw my colleagues, many of who knew that I was at home. As a good host, in groups, I them to my village, which was the next from Ojavun. Many marvelled that my 83-year-old father walked unaided. I smiled because my dad still drives himself and insists on playing tennis. Back in Ojavun, I thrilled most of the editors on Friday night. I took them to Sabongida Ora, where we had fun. We had to hurry back to Ojavun to attend the wake-keep/ service of songs. It was a moving session.

    But at 9.15pm, my phone rang. My friend wanted to know if I was in Okpokhumi. I answered in the affirmative. He challenged me to hit Auchi, if I could take the risk. It was a distance that could be covered in 30 minutes, using the Warrake route. I took off for Auchi and got there in good time.

    My friend wasn’t shocked that I took the risk. He welcomed me into his palace. Food was organised that night (10.30pm) after which I opted for a cold bath. Looking refreshed, my friend informed me that we would be going to visit Oshiomhole at home. I couldn’t say no because my friend revealed that he had the governor’s mandate to ensure I came to see him. Oshiomhole wanted to meet with the writer of “Oshiomhole’s suicide mission”, published in this column last year.

    As we drove through the chilly night, I left my mind blank, but the writer’s instinct took over, once we were ushered into the governor’s massive parlour. There he was sitting in his usual unassuming style, but listening to jazz. I was lost. I’m not a jazz freak yet I marvelled at the manner Oshiomhole was engrossed while listening to the music.

    Oshiomhole surely loves architectural designs. The topography of the road leading to his home is hilly and spiral in shape. But what baffled me was the distinct way in which he deployed the architects to place structures that further beautified the Appian Way to his home. Driving towards the governor’s home rolled back the years to January 14, 1972, when I resumed as a student of Government College Ughelli (GCU). I digress!

    As I stepped into the governor’s parlour, I saw a giant piano, although the snow white settee was unmistakable. I assumed the piano was for decoration, or at best an instrument to be played during impromptu morning masses. I was wrong. The governor is a music freak, I later found out.

    As the sound system blared out the sober tunes, we watched the artistes on the mighty television set strutting their trade. The governor occasionally walked towards the piano, but he didn’t play it. I laughed inside me, believing that my theory of the piano being just an instrument for fellowship was spot on. I was wrong, because Oshiomhole played some of the tunes we listened to. I immediately promised to share these moments with Oshio Baba with you, dear reader.

    What did I leave out? I remember now. As I stepped into the parlour, my friend walked me up to where the governor sat and said: “Here is the writer of Oshiomhole’s suicide mission.” Goose pimples ran through me as the governor sprang up to his feet to embrace me. He said so many nice things about my column and The Nation, quoting some of my writings.

    “Look, my dear friend, when I saw the headline at the back page of The Nation, I unknowingly asked which suicide mission again? Quickly, I stopped to read it because I was actually preparing for breakfast. I then read through it. It was when I got towards the end of the article that I realised that you were talking about the Okpekpe Road race. That was a very compelling write-up. Well edited, and it held me spellbound till the end. I want to commend your writing, especially your courage to say the truth at all times. Please keep it up.”

    The governor continued to do his business of the state with some of his lieutenants. Oshiomhole is a team player, works 21 hours, as he explained to me later. The clock read 1.30am on Saturday, but the governor wasn’t ready to let us go. Like a flash, he rose from his chair and beckoned on us to follow him though a door. Behold! A swimming pool fitted with state-of-the-art facilities. Not too expensive but exquisite. What bowled me over at the sight of the swimming pool was the architectural design of rocks which formed a pyramid.

    The confluence from the pyramid diverted the water via a fountain with which anyone eager to swim stood underneath to prepare himself or herself for the exercise. I spent most of the time there, wondering how the rocks were so beautifully arranged. I waited patiently to see how the governor would swim. I expected a big splash reminiscent of how a little child splashes water when left in the bath.

    I had a second thought watching the way the governor obey the rules preparatory to taking a dive. It struck me that he could swim. Still, I had this inkling that it could be another ‘suicide’ mission. It wasn’t. I was startled when the governor dived in a professional manner. It took him time to come up to the surface after the plunge but the way he stroke his hands and the movement of his legs in a fish-like way, told the story of a man who is passionate about the aquatic sport.

    It wasn’t all about swimming at the poolside. There was a lot to eat and drink. The governor also provided good music for all to listen to. The setting reminded me of synchronic swimming.

    Watching Oshiomohole unwind through swimming explained why Edo State is working. I say so because the swimming session witnessed the presence of key members of his executive council who came intermittently to whisper words into his ears about completed jobs, meant to deliver the dividends of democracy to people who live in Edo State. Oba Khato Okpere, Ise!

    Done with swimming at about 2.45am Saturday, I walked up to the governor to find out when he rests. From his reclined chair, he shook his head around for seconds, perhaps pondering over what to say. Then he said: Three hours rest.” Looking sideways, he saw Mike Itemuagbor and the discussion on Okpekpe Road Race began.

    The discussion on how this year’s edition of the Okpekpe Road race would be organised showed that Oshiomhole was preparing for it. Everyone confirmed that he wakes up at 6 am and embarks on a 10 km road race before heading to the bath room to get set for the business of the day. Oshiomhole canvassed for an increase in the kilometers to be covered during the Okpekpe Road race from five kilometers to 10. The governor was informed that road races are always five kilometres. He still insisted that he would run again this year.

    What is the essence of bringing the swimming session with Oshiomhole to this column, many would ask. There are a lot of diligent sports governors who can change the face of what we term lesser sports in Nigeria, only if the administrators can come up with programmes that will involve them.

    I’m sure that if the Swimming Federation asks Oshiomhole to bankroll a one-day swimming competition at N1million in Edo state to mark his late wife’s anniversary, he would jump at it. Oshiomhole likes challenges and would gladly do anything to celebrate his departed wife. Will our administrators do that? They would rather come up with frightening figures of between N15 million and N30 million for a one-day competition.

    Oshiomhole likes kids. He is a grassroots man and loves to relate with his people. If the Swimming Federation chieftains take a competition to Oshio Baba, he will splash the cash. Not with their outrageous figures.

    I shocked my friend and brother in The Nation on Wednesday night when I told him that the Ekiti state governor was a fantastic badminton player. The look on his face showed that he had doubts. He quickly called the governor, who confirmed his prowess in badminton. They threw a challenge. I will relate the result when the games are played. Soon.

    Who says the Ekiti governor cannot spend N1million for a one-day circuit for our big stars? The catch will be for the federation chiefs to include the governor in the draw. The governor would gladly accept the challenge. With every edition, the prize money will be increased. I know that the Badminton Federation men know that Dr. John Kayode Fayemi is passionate about the game, which he has been playing since his days at Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti.

    King Toba Falode is gone

    Reluctantly, I want to talk about a little boy, Toba Falode, who enjoys picking his mother’s phone. Anytime I call Aisha Falode and she doesn’t pick my call, I’m almost sure that if I persist, her son Toba’s voice will come on the phone.

    When the news broke that Aisha Falode was bereaved, not once did I think it would be Toba. In fact, Eddy Ohis told me that the person who died was a boy. I dismissed Ohis, believing that such a person would be an elderly one.

    Back at work, my deputy Ejiro Femi-Babafemi told me that Aisha lost her son. My heart sank. I ran to my office to call another ‘son’ of Aisha, Wale Ajayi of AIT. Once I introduced myself on the phone, the painful narration of Toba’s death began. At 53, I thought I could never shed tears. But I cried and not once after dropping the call on Wale Ajayi. I hope he understood why.

    Quickly, I called Aisha’s phone. The voice at the other end told me that she was indisposed. When she realised that I really wanted to speak with Aisha, she asked me to drop the message. My voice failed me. I dropped the call knowing, that I didn’t disappoint the receiver.

    Aisha, what will I be telling you without asking after the King, Toba? At 53, I thought I couldn’t shed tears. But I did when Wale Ajayi confirmed Toba’s demise. You’re inconsolable, no doubt, but God loves Toba most. May God grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. For Toba, it is good night to a very good boy. Mehen nosen. Sleep well King Toba Falode.