The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

  • What I saw at Nassarawa varsity, Keffi

    What I saw at Nassarawa varsity, Keffi

    SIR: From the handful of universities we had in different parts of Nigeria barely a decade ago, the number has soared significantly over the years. The result is that wherever you go across Nigeria these days, a private or federal or state university is bound to be located somewhere nearby. It is, however, one thing to have a varsity; having a university that stands out in terms of good governance, infrastructure, laboratory, and high academic standard is a different ball game.

    It was against this backdrop that I travelled to the Nasarawa State University, Keffi in Nasarawa State, recently to visit my daughter-in-law. Although I had been to the school once or twice before now for sundry reasons, I hadn’t paid much attention to the place.

    Located along the Keffi –Akwanga highway, Nasarawa State University (NSU) occupies a relatively wide expanse of land on the outskirts of Keffi town.

    In terms of size, NSU is, in my view, not all that impressive. Particularly when compared with a number of other universities that one has been privileged to visit in recent years. But when you realize that the institution is relatively young, even as it grows in leaps and bounds, it becomes obvious that it needs time to develop according to expectations.

    Like any parent or student, however, want concerns me most is the quality of academic work available (or otherwise) here. When I sought her opinion, my girl said, in her usual melodramatic manner, that: “they are killing us o.” To which I inquired:” Killing you? How?” Her response: “The lectures are too much; there is hardly any space to breath or time to rest; it’s lecture, lecture, all the time.” What about strikes, riots, cultists and the like, I prodded. She shrugged. “So far, at least, I haven’t witnessed any such things here; I heard that the Vice Chancellor is a no-nonsense man who doesn’t allow such things happen here.”

    That, to those who know the NSU helmsman, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali, is hardly surprising, given that he had conjured a similar feat at his old duty post – the University of Ilorin. Prof. Amali had, through a dint of visionary leadership, exemplary human relations and deft shuffles, ensured that Unilorin remained largely unaffected by the chaos and madness of these seasons. Maintaining an open-door policy and acting like a father to both students and staff alike, he was said to have effectively tamed the monster of industrial crises in the hitherto restive school.

    Indeed, based on what I witnessed at the university that day, one dares say without fear of contradiction that Prof. Amali, the renowned administrator, scholar, leader and acclaimed professor of Theatre and Drama, has “transferred” his inimitable leadership and administrative acumen to NSU.

     

    • Hajia Jamila Mohammed

    Abuja

     

  • From cell the phone

    From cell the phone

    For Dapo Fafowora

     

    Sir, I want to know whether Asaba and Lokoja can be regarded as former federal capital territories. From Ademola Adejumo, Ibadan

    Sir, your commentary about the centinary is biased and wrong. Will you suggest that a child born as a result of the gang rape of his mother should not celeberate his birthday? Even the kingdoms you said that existed before the advent of the British were established by wars and many tribes were forced to speak the dialet of their conquerors. Let us thank God for Nigeria. From Barango

    Dear Dapo, thank you on the brilliant piece, “Lord Lugard and the 1914 amalgamation of Nigerian”. But you have not said anything new irrespective of how Nigeria came into being. She is a country and her case is not unique. The Serbs celebrate their country’s conquest in 1365 by the Turks. Was the British policy in Nigeria different from her American policy pre-1775? What about in China, and others? Talking about nation states, what was it like in Oyo, Benin, Kano pre 1900? What gave rise to the Esans and the Urhobos from ancient Benin? You as a Yoruba man, have you forgotten “Yoruba ronu “? We should stop barking agaist the bad and chant the beauty of the good. From Omoweh

    Is there nobody to tell these clueless individuals in power that the amalgamation has expired and they should be thinking of another system that will benefit Nigerians? Anonymous

    As a student of history, you are very right sir, but Calabar equally played important role then. From Enang Enang, Uyo.

    The amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was neither a historical accident nor a dubious event rather in my opinion it was good. The so called protectorates would not have been better separately than Nigeria today. From Abbe Jos

    Sir, I just read your salient commentary on the amalgamation project published in The Nation with so many historical facts to support its relevance to national development hence, I would like to find out when the concluding segment of the commentary would be published. I appreciate. From Moses Umanah, Uyo.

    Please develop this excellent piece into a book and your name would enter world record. Give us more on this that we may know the true history of Nigeria and please, advise them to develop new federal cities in some other regions including the rehabilitation of the old government house in Lagos. This will be an amazing way of celebrating our centenary. Thanks! From Rev. Sam, Port Harcourt.

    Dear, congratulations! You are a true historian. This piece is something to read, and I must follow it to its conclusion. Please, let the columnist of HARDBALL make his phone number available, many might want to comment on his post strengthen some truth and shun many lies and sentiments that can never do us good. You will agree with me that misinformations if not checkmated can turn this country into a sorry situation. Thanks once more for your piece. Anonymous

    Dear Dapo, your write-up captioned “The Summit” of 14th Feb. 2013 in The Nation newspaper is a perfect one that made tears roll down my cheeks as I read through. I am pained by the huge amount of money being wasted on irrelevant things in this country, and the centenary celebration is just another. This centenary period would have been fixed as a time of sober reflection of our past, present, and concern about the future of this country. Let us face the reality, this country is faced with grave situations that needs urgent solution. Convocation of a National Conference is the right step. A stitch in time saves nine. May God give us wisdom. Anonymous

    Please kindly forward same write-up to my e-mail: pipersgroup@gmail.com. I would like to keep it for my children to read. Our leaders do not understand our history. The only thing worth celebrating is our Independence Day on 1st October. From Major Ken.

    Dapo, really no need for celebration. It is just as a slave is celebrating the day he was captured. It can just remain in our historical books for record sake but not worthy of celebration. The big question is what did colonisation did to us as a nation? We have too many piority projects at hand beging for attention. From Basiomele, Auchi

     

    For Dare Olatunji

     

    Good use of “Discretion is better part of valour”. We decry our leader’s discretion on the rename of “Liberty Stadiun”, of UNILAG, N5000 note and Idiocy of BAKASSI! Now that Professor Wole Soyinka received Awo’s award, the question is: which dignifies the other? What gives ‘Independence’ its salt is the liberty of human mind, in freedom from shackles of ignorance, poverty and ill-health, so that people like Soyinka or Emegwali could go places! And Awo quite believed this. You see now? Anonymous

    Sir, who knew what apparently damning evidence some of the reporters who covered Governor S. Chime’s arrival might have contrived to concoct in order to gain their end? When a man is determined by his own inclination either to act or not to act in a particular manner, he invariably sets about devising an argument by which he may justify himself to himself for the line he is about to pursue. For now, we should believe the reports except the facts. From Adegoke O. O., Ikhin, Edo State

    Thank God he has returned hale and hearty and may God Almighty grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of Enugu State. And may the remaining ailing other governors return in peace. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Docyard Apapa Lagos.

    Your exciting write-up on family involvement in education especially the concluding part on building a new Coalition of Committed Family and Community Organisation for Children Education is good, let us work it out. From Pastor Caleb, Family Life Care

    What I have to say as regards to the various comments made by some disgruntled elements especially the so-called Save Enugu group is that they should appologise publicly to the governor while the person who originated the rumour that he died should go for confession. From Okibe, Lagos

    Chime is now back alive, what will be the feeling of his critics and enemies who wished him dead? Chime should just forgive them all. From Gordon Chika Nnorom

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

     

    The Jonathan administration has failed Nigerians in many respects already. It should not go to the extent of distorting history as a basis for organizing useless jamborees. Anonymous

    I agree that no government wants its sins to be exposed to the world when its time is over. Yes, the APC will make a difference if it does not harbour elements that sinned against the people yesterday. Thanks! From Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna

    Re: Lord Lugard and the 1914 amagamation of Nigeria. If Lugard made a mistake of amalgamating the Northern and Southern Protectorates nearly a century ago, rather than for us to keep referring to what had been done as a mistake, our emphasis should be on exploring and exploiting the diversity of our culture, ethnicity, climate, etc in making sure that this nation is able to actualise its potential as the giant of Africa. From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga.

    ‘A progressive agenda’ is surely the foundation of a new prosperous Nigeria. But the real fear is the connection between the military and the conservative class. Remember what happened to June 12,1993 election. May God save Nigeria and our politics. From Alhaji ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos

    All Progressive Congress party must have an agenda to reverse this pervasive decadence. Education is crucial on the agenda. The success would not be achieved by massive increase in public expenditure on education to beef up the percentage of GNI. Promotion of private investment on education would beef up the education percentage of GNP. The centralisation of economic power on the fedral government constitute temptation and absolute power that would corrupt even the Holiness. Those in PDP are not of different stocks and breeds from those that would constitute APC. They are all Nigerians. The curruption hitherto is not attributable to PDP members alone. They are Nigerians that got state control and would not withstand the corruptive influences. The agenda would distiguish APC and be the yardstick to measure their performance. PDP had no agenda and should not have been allowed to get power. With agenda as yardstick we may boot out a failure and a looter and deny them power. Let us empower and patronise private investments in education and in other sectors. Revert the economy to private management under public negotiated regulation. From Engr. Adewumi. Ilorin

    Re: A progressive agenda. Coming together, alone, of the oppositions to wrestle power from the PDP is on its own, progressive. One only hopes that sharing of ‘Who takes what’, will not disunite them. For once, this agendum by the opposition is democracy in democracy, hopefully, for the good of the citizens in particular, and the nation in general. Bravo! From Lanre Oseni

    Your piece “A progressive agenda” is quite interesting. The gladiators of the merger should abstain from selfish interest or individualistic tendencies, it is not impossible to wrest power from the ruling party; the interest of the people should be paramount in their hearts above all.

    I wish them well. From Ojo A. Ayodele, Emure Ekiti

    Oga Segun, you journalists should tell the National Universities Commission to quickly and decisively intervene in the ugly matter of lecturers forcing students to buy handouts/pamphlets. No university in the world practices this illicit trade. Thanks sir. Anonymous

    My prayer is for APC to consider pensioners first, and connect the six geo-political zones with modern railway. Thanks sir. Anonymous

     

    For Tunji Adegboyega

     

    RE: “AFCON 2013, Keshi’s resignation, etc.” Notwithstanding Keshi and his team’s success, it was an act of cowardice that Keshi decided to throw in the towel, irrespective of what the NFF might have initially done to hurt him. Thanks that he has retraced his steps by withdrawing the resignation letter. We must show gratitude to God, Keshi and the team members, Nigerian supporters, Dangote, Adenuga, Uduaghan, Fashola, etc. All said and done, successive Nigerian governments must improve on stadia and sports infrastructure, grant coaches reasonable freedom to administer. Our 1985 and 2013 successes suffice. From Lanre Oseni.

    Continuity is the answer to the Super Eagles coaching crews for their brilliant performance in the just-ended AFCON 2013. From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

    Re:”The lost century” (February 10): All is not a loss when Nigeria is compared with other West African countries. I have been an incurable pessimist about Nigeria’s growth but when we all sit and ruminate honestly, we have every cause to count some blessings notwithstanding our need to kill indiscipline, corruption, indolence ethnicism and religious extremism. To me, nothing is wrong with commemoration of our century of amalgamation; it is over-celebration under our present situation that is detested. From Lanre Oseni.

    Now that our leaders have spoken about mistakes made in the last century, what plans are they making to ensure that past mistakes didn’t repeat themselves? What structures are on ground to have a new bountiful century? If we are to make any headway in this century, let’s do away with corruption in our governance. From Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    Quite a nice combination; the duo of President Jonathan and Anyim are in charge in 2013/14 to mark 100 years of amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates. The look-alike understandably cannot be expected to seize the opportunity for any meaningful discourse on this matter. Nigeria never fails to miss opportunities. Pity! From Olatunde.

  • Amnesty for Boko Haram?

    Amnesty for Boko Haram?

    SIR: When I read about what is happening in Nigeria, I feel sorry for the country. Recently I read that northern leaders are canvassing that the terrorists murderers, and rapists should be granted amnesty so that there can be peace in the country.

    This type of arguments sounds foolish and runs contrary to common wisdom. The truth is where is the justice in granting amnesty to terrorists, murderers and rapist (Boko Haram)? There can never be peace in Nigeria until justice is done and seen to be done by everybody.

    These people who are canvassing for amnesty for the terrorists do not understand the extent of the damage they are doing to the country. If the government out of cowardice accedes to this, it will be a doom for the country.

     

    • Martin

    South Africa.

  • Dame Patience affair: the courage to lie

    Dame Patience affair: the courage to lie

    With a lavish and riveting thanksgiving service and party held on Sunday in Abuja, the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has all but guaranteed that her continuing health soap opera will receive high ratings. When she returned home on October 17, 2012 after a seven-week health trip to Germany, Mrs Patience Jonathan told a puzzled airport audience it was all a lie that she received medical care at a popular German hospital. “I was never at that hospital, let alone have a terminal illness,” she deadpanned. At a short reception later, where fawning aides and ministers had gathered to welcome her back, she kept up appearances and continued the evasiveness. She looked pale and lethargic, but on what ailed her or where she went, she maintained a stiff upper lip. It was also okay for us to know, she continued, that she did not have cosmetic surgery because her husband adored her shape. On that day, her reticence and the unwelcoming stare of her tight-lipped husband dissuaded anyone from probing further. Speculations, however, persisted.

    But during the November edition of the presidential media chat, and for reasons we may never guess, the president finally and condescendingly decided to open up a little on his wife’s mysterious trip abroad. She travelled for medical reasons, admitted the president. He didn’t give room for anyone to ask why presidential aides lied about her trip. He didn’t also say why as president he refused at the time to say a word on his wife’s trip. All we got from the First Family were Calvinist lectures on life and the hereafter, our inescapable date with death sometime in the future, and the metaphysics of wishing or not wishing someone ill.

    Finally, and completely out of the blue, the president organised a thanksgiving service and party on Sunday for his wife, virtually shutting down Abuja, so to say. The purpose was to expatiate on the second chance in life Dame Patience told us on October 17 last year that God had gifted her. Like her waffling aides, she had given the impression she travelled to enjoy a deserved rest. But during the Sunday service, she finally came clean about the health matter, describing in medically bewildering details how she underwent eight or nine surgeries in one month. Hear her: “People are always afraid of surgery, but in my own case, while my travail (she means ordeal) lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre every day. It was God who saw me through. I did eight or nine operations within one month. It was not an easy one.” So, why did she evade a straightforward answer about her health last year? Why was she testy and insinuative when the long-suffering public wanted to know her condition and empathise with her? Alas, we may never know how her mind works.

    However, the First Family’s religion is much less inscrutable than their minds. Both the president and his wife were unnerved by the superstition that in most cases the First Family often lost a spouse in the State House, with particular reference to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Gen Sani Abacha, and perhaps Murtala Mohammed. It was, therefore, necessary to sanctify the seat of power to exorcise spousal tragedy from it, Dame Patience moaned.

    It speaks to the Jonathans’ sense of quaint altruism that the cleansing they want for Aso Villa is limited in objective, though it is masqueraded as indispensable to the seat of power. They even seem less interested in learning anything from information management in a modern and complex society than in rebutting the superstition of spousal deaths in the State House. That Dame Patience survived abdominal surgery late last year also seems to underscore the First Family’s religious philosophy that the curse had been broken and naysayers put to shame. As the President fatalistically put it, complete with an implausible exposition on the best time to die, “If anything had happened, there would have been different stories from false prophets, and many other things would have followed. We all know we will all die but the best time to die is not when you are serving your nation.” Really?

    What more can anyone say? There is obviously nothing we can do or say to dissuade the president from being distracted or bitter, or from sometimes wandering into, or conniving at, willful inaccuracies.

     

  • No hope for an African Pope?

    No hope for an African Pope?

    SIR: I do not know whether religion is a reflection of Man’s dream to become god. But I do know that Rev. Georg Ratzinger (elder brother of Pope Benedict) is playing god in the affairs of who becomes the new Pope.

    According to him, “In Europe we have many very able people and the Africans are still not so well known and maybe do not have the experience yet”.

    Certainly Rev. Georg Ratzinger belongs to the class of men who seek to further the excessive segregation in the church. To submit that Africans are still not so well known is not only mendacious but a reflection of incurable ignorance and unforgivable spiritual criminality. Since the Bible contain stories of Africans and Africa, then who is Rev. Georg Ratzinger to say that we are still not so well known? Sincerely the Bible makes him a pathological liar. I suggest that the man should refer to his Bible for details.

    In his reasoning, African’s do not have the experience to lead the Catholic Church. I ask what; experience does Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria need again after serving the church for donkey years? Is it that our African Cardinals cannot officiate mass with theological impeccability, pray the rosary with spiritual efficacy, give communion and perform other public functions with uncommon dexterity? The man would have won my admiration if he had said that the pope is an exclusive reserve for the whites.

    However, I urge the catholic faithful of African extraction to remain strong in faith despite the attempt to make the issue of who becomes the next Pope a matter of white versus black. But let’s not forget to thank our God because God is neither white nor black. Those who know Rev. George Ratzinger should not forget to let him know that in America, his types stood against African-Americans on the basis of colour. But today, history has shown that they can’t be defeated any time. If he does not understand, he should go ask President Barack Obama.

    I call on lovers of God and humanity to resist those who seek to build the church on the pillars of black and white dichotomy. Racism has no place in the church.

    Godfrey Ehi O.

    Benin City

     

  • Official cultism in Nigerian universities

    Official cultism in Nigerian universities

    SIR: The legislators should debate homosexuality scientifically, not merely scripturally, but that is not the concern here. I observe that some university administrators also practice cultism without knowing they do; they never asked themselves what cultism means. It is cultism when a Vice-Chancellor gathers around himself loyalists with whom he conspires on shortchanging workers, or in the case of a Christian or Muslim Vice-Chancellor who gathers around himself or herself fellow believers from among the staff and conspires with them on how to project their own religion and hammer other religion(s) in a federal or state university.

    Cultism is mostly about getting undue advantage or favour. When our Christian and or Muslim rulers collude to secure undue advantages or favours, they plot it at night somewhere or in the secrecy of their offices or houses; they are secret cultists. The ritual aspect comes in the name of worshipping the same God in the same religion.

    Some university administrators don’t know that cheating workers is worse than sexual promiscuity, particularly if the sexual act is consensual rather than a rape. It is a clear case of rape when you shortchange workers; you do it without their consent, and so, you are a robber, thief. These clarifications are necessary to conscientize Nigerian rulers and administrators who are committing sin against humanity and still proudly calling themselves Christians and Muslims.

    Those who say that African Traditional Religion (ATR) is responsible for cultism in Nigerian universities miss the point. I have read books on cultism in which the name “Africa” or any African country does not even feature! Why are Africans raised to hate their roots, their ancestors to that extent? Yes, it is a cultist mentality which some or many develop or which is developed in them through indoctrination to promote their Christianity or Islam, selfishly. That renders many persons myopic. They lack rebirth in the art of “openness to life”. Too many “educated” persons are still living at the catechetical level, and it is children and not adult catechism.

    Imagine that hardly any of the students caught in acts of cultism comes from “pagan” homes; they are baptized or have undergone ritual birth in one “Godly” religion or another. I grew up in ATR and I never heard about secret cultism of the favoritism type within the system in Yorubaland. Cultism is an art of conspiracy born out of clique mentality, not religion.

    Yes, women must not see Oro, Agemo, Oloolu, and things like that in Yorubaland, but not like conspiracy as a religious modus Vivendi. Original Christianity and Islam don’t enjoin cultism, but those indulging in it in our universities are at least ninety-nine and half percent Christians and or Muslims. Yes, pariah status is bad for any university academic staff union congress; shortchanging workers is also un-Islamic; can it be Christian?

     

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

  • Jonathan and the one-term pact

    Jonathan and the one-term pact

    On Sunday, newspapers reported Governor Babangida Aliyu as claiming that President Goodluck Jonathan actually signed a one-term pact with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors before they agreed to support him for the 2011 presidential election. Aliyu made this startling disclosure during an interview with a Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty FM on Saturday. Naturally, as any Nigerian government is wont, the presidency has denied that such an agreement existed anywhere. The ball is now in Aliyu’s court, and we await his angry response. All we can confirm so far is that he was quite definite in talking about the pact on Saturday.

    In the interview with the radio station, Aliyu had declared thus: “What will be will be in 2015. We must remind people of the promises they have made. When he (Jonathan) was going to declare, PDP governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind. Some of us, given the PDP zoning, were expecting that the northern states would produce the President for a number of years, but God has done His own. At that discussion, it was agreed that President Jonathan would serve one term and we all signed, and when he went to Kampala, he said the same thing. But for now, President Jonathan has not declared his candidacy and we must not be speculating based on those who are benefiting from such a thing. I believe that we are all gentlemen enough and when the time comes, we will all sit down and see what the right thing to do is.”

    For a PDP governor, this was quite strong stuff. But Aliyu’s trenchant claims are probably a reflection of the frustrations many governors, and indeed most Nigerians, feel when they contemplate the Jonathan presidency’s lethargic administration of Nigeria. Those frustrations are not likely to abate in the coming months, as the 2015 elections draw near. Two things are, however, evident. One is that Jonathan himself has neither said he would seek reelection, as Aliyu acknowledged, nor has he denied signing a one-term pact. But don’t rule out a response from Jonathan. It is in the nature of the boyishly optimistic president, when he is inspired, to sometimes angrily rebut disagreeable claims by setting the records straight, no matter whose ox is gored. That of course does not guarantee he would not give a rose-coloured account of what transpired between him and the PDP governors prior to the 2011 elections. His predecessor, the inimitable Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is famous for telling spectacular untruths. There is no reason for us to think that Jonathan is not mildly tarred with the same brush, having been mentored by the gruff former army general.

    Second is the fact that a document suggesting Jonathan agreed to a single term may never surface. It is typical of such documents to become either lost or apocryphal. Recall that Obasanjo also had an agreement with the northern group that put him in power in 1999 to spend only one term. There is abundant evidence to indicate he agreed to its infamous and humiliating terms, for Hardball himself was for a long time in possession of the document. But the document was either never signed or the only copy signed was kept with Obasanjo himself. It would be surprising if Jonathan signed any document, just as it would not be surprising if he agreed not to seek reelection. Outfoxing opponents is the exclusive preserve of ambitious leaders.

    Yet, it would be unkind to say Governor Aliyu cannot produce documentary proof. We may, however, have to wait for a more auspicious or, as the case may be, ominous time for the signed proof to surface. The country will then have to decide whether a signed one-term pact that implies Jonathan is a liar is sufficient to debar him from seeking reelection. If Jonathan is to be stopped, as the temper of the country appropriately dictates at the moment, his opponents will have to do better than call him a liar. No politician hangs himself for being caught in flagrant delicto. It is a badge of honour. If in doubt, ask Obasanjo again whether he planned to seek third term. And before he answers, hurl Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s latest book at him and see whether the solid aurochs will flinch.

  • Beyond the AFCON triumph

    Beyond the AFCON triumph

    The credit for Nigeria’s first win of the Africa Nations Cup in nearly two decades is essentially Stephen Keshi’s. For riding a cloud of skepticism after his team stuttered in pre-tournament tune-ups and standing up to apparently meddlesome football officials to get a result, he is in the running for my Man of the Year, so soon. I watched, with interest, as all, from President Goodluck Jonathan to the man on the street, hopped on the feel-good bandwagon as the Super Eagles flapped tentatively before searing through the championship like some phantom unleashed from a dungeon of self-inflicted mediocrity. Progress by the Eagles tallied with his administration’s reform agenda, remarked the president. Many a citizen thought the cup as good as won.

    But I chose, and still choose, to look beyond the cup. While the party lasts, allow me, dear fan, to sour the mood a little – for the greater good. First, the victory, however deserved, came at rather average expense. Imagine the resistance Egypt sanspolitical revolution or Cameroon minus infighting and administrative malaise would have put up. While Nigeria ultimately avoided confrontation with West Coast rivals Ghana in the final, even the Black Stars reflected a shadow of the side that trounced the Eagles at the 2008 quarter-finals in Ghana and registered a derby drubbing on February 6, 2007 in London.

    Is it not possible that since great teams rise and fall, Nigeria could be on the ascendancy while major rivals are in decline? For evidence of dynamism in sports hegemony, compare Zambia’s success at the 2012 edition in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea with Nigeria’s in terms of weakened opposition. As they did last year, Ivory Coast and Ghana fell short this term while Egypt and Cameroon bowed to upstarts on the road.

    Nigeria also benefited from the fortune of having a‘son of the soil’ willing to soil his hands in the morass that typifies Nigerian football. With the national team failures of predecessor Samson Siasia probably ringing in his ears, Keshi rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Issues with accommodation and salary? Official car delayed? None was reason enough to stymie the project. Tellingly, players from the once derided domestic league shifted through a revolving door that shooed six on the train to South Africa. A few found tactical expression in South Africa, but more significantly, Keshi’s near-faultless selection squeezed out off-form captain, Joseph Yobo, for the plucky Godfrey Oboabona and promising Kenneth Omeruo.

    Hindered by poor officiating, the sandy Mbombela pitch on which Nigeria launched out and Keshi’s experimentation with the First Eleven, the Eagles laboured to prey until the Brown Ideye-Emmanuel Emenike spitfire attack worked by Victor Moses and Mikel Obi strafed all and sundry. Ivory Coast took unexpected flak in the quarter-finals as a more mature Elephants yielded to the eager young guns in green. Afterwards, Russia-based Ivorien striker Lancina Traore parried insinuation that his team lost because they underrated the Eagles. He said: “… once on the pitch, Mikel Obi and his mates quickly seized the midfield, cutting off the link to our front men,”adding that his team wondered whether Nigeria “was the same team that drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso in the group phase”.

    Whether Mali succumbed more to fatigue after an epic quarter-final shootout with host, South Africa, we may never know, but goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa thought his Eagles played against “Brazil”. “From my post I saw more than 15 green shirts pouring forth against us and not the usual 10 players. They were strong, slippery, focused and pacy.”

    And the mood portrayed by a Burkina Faso fan before the final could not have been more ominous. “…the Super Eagles now seem like a wild beast unchained. They are devouring and the general fear here now is that they could do the same to us like they did to Mali.”

    Such superlatives to make the head swim!

    In the event, the Nigeria attack blunted by Emenike’s absence through injury after his semi-final exertions in pursuit of the Golden Boot managed to douse the opponents’ patriotic flame with a goal from impressive local lad, Sunday Mba. It would have been more but for the forward line’s profligacy, a development that should task Keshi going forward.

    In South Africa, nonetheless, the Mikel we long sought emanated. Mikel, the tentative and mellow in green turned Mikel, leader and magician. Overall, he was the best player by any yard and certainly the best Nigerian by a mile. Why the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) differed, crowning the Burkinabe trickster Jonathan Pitroipa, is a mystery of political proportions as suggested by the referee’s admission of error and official rescind of the striker’s red card from the semi-final. In fulfilling all self-righteousness, CAF may have set a precedence to be cited again and again.

    Considering the rave reviews, Africa had thirsted for typical Nigerian flair for a while. Remarkably, the fear induced by the Eagles in South Africa evoked a bygone era. And in deference to the Eagles heyday, I propose a change in cognomen to reflect conquest and domination – something with ‘Lions’ in it, perhaps. No, that’s taken – by Cameroon and Senegal. How about ‘Devils’? Well, the Eagles bore that before ‘Green Eagles’. Besides that is also taken: it’s Manchester United’s world-famous epithet. So, ‘Green Devils’? ‘Predatory Eagles’? Anyway, you get the picture; a petrifying appellation wouldn’t hurt.

    But to the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals we must turn our heads in earnest. Nigeria top African Zone Group F with four points from a win and a draw, and the next qualifier comes up against Kenya next month. With the current squad, Nigeria should pick a spot, but is Keshi truly up to the bigger task? He triumphed by selecting his team on merit but what happens when the players earn greater exposure, with profiles expanding spheres of influence? How Keshi fares against swarming player agents is of consequence, for they have been known to ruin a promising coach or two by their machinations. While we might trust Keshi’s massive ego to supersede any player’s, the coach must be more tactful in dealing with super brats and the establishment. To do otherwise would suggest impetuosity and unprofessional conduct, both elements of a tragic career.

    The Mundial is a different ball game, more demanding and technical. In the event of qualification, can Keshi supervise the tactical annihilation of the elite teams of Europe and the Americas? On the basis of his substitutions and tactical discipline, I think not. But that is no reason to call for his sack. Should we tinker with the technical bench to improve technical input? Yes, of course. Do we bring a foreign technical expert, director or adviser to fill the chasm? Yes, with urgency. And how would it work? With Keshi as immediate assistant to an accomplished coach or as immediate boss, if the expat is less accomplished? Samson Siasia’s sustained association with Dutch match analyst Simon Kalika here refers.

    At any rate, let us not forget that Keshi succeeded because he thrived within a deficient system, experiencing the same factors that affected the players, leading to a synergy in mentality. He didn’t work out of Europe as Berti Vogts and Lars Lagerback were excused in unremarkable spells with the national team. The 2014 dream therefore begins with efficient administration from team welfare and discipline to kitting and logistics. Financial motivation should not be a challenge for a government adept at throwing money at problems, but if smaller countries achieve significantly more at less expense, then fatter bonuses do not necessarily translate to better results.

    In the end, Keshi’s record as the second man, after the late Mahmoud el-Gohary of Egypt, to triumph as coach following his Tunisia 1994 gold as captain is secured as is the prestigious ticket to the FIFA Confederations Cup in June following CAF’s selection of the 2013 and not 2012 champions. The Eagles would do well to exploit the subsequent window to continental domination and find eternal relevance in 160 million hearts.

  • Adieu Victor Oduah

    SIR The 29th edition of the African Nations Cup has come and gone with the soccer loving Nigerians still basking in the euphoria of sweet victory of the national team, the Super Eagles in far away South Africa. But the exploits of the national team in the continental championship cannot be complete without the mention of the name of Victor Oduah who skippered the then Green Eagles to lift the first ever Nigeria’s major trophy at our National Stadium in a gruelling and pulsating final against the Desert Warriors of Algeria in 1980.

    Victor Oduah gained admission to Saint Peters College Aro (now Olomore) Abeokuta in 1962. Initially, he was the goalkeeper of the junior school team, but the talent in Oduah was soon discovered by the vice principal, the late Revd. Father James Morrison who converted him to central defender, the position he retained until he retired from active football a couple of years ago.

    Oduah, together with the likes of James Alaba Akintonde of the 1965/1966 West academicals and later Barclays Bank Football Club of Lagos (now Union bank), Yemi Akinwowo also of 1965/1966 West academicals fame and later N.P.A Football club of Lagos (now a big time professor in the US), and of course the one and only George Joseph Hassan who gallivanted from Shooting stars Ibadan to Stationery stores of Lagos and finally ended his career with the Mighty jets of Jos while Victor Oduah relocated to his home state the Old Bendel State where he featured prominently for the Bendel Insurance of Benin City bagging the captaincy badge.

    The four were products of St. Peters College Abeokuta who tormented and taunted other secondary schools in Abeokuta and left no one in doubt of the schools soccer prowess.

    Oduah’s mien and equanimity in and outside the field of play were clear manifestation of some of the characteristics that stood him out as a gentleman to the core. Victor and others were a delight to watch who brought fame and cheap publicity to their alma-mater, St. Peters College Abeokuta.

    Today, the body of Victor Oduah lies smouldering in his white painted sepulchre in his home state Edo, but one thing is clear, his soul goes marching on and Nigerians may not forget him so quickly.

    Within a space of nine months, Nigeria has lost two prominent footballers who have paid their dues to their father land and left their footprints on the sands of time. While one belonged to the new generation Super Eagles, the other belonged to the old generation Green Eagles – talking about the late Rashidi Yekini and Victor Oduah respectively.

    As we continue to celebrate the resounding victory of the Stephen Okechukwu Keshi-led Super Eagles let us for a moment, remember these fallen heroes who also affected us with their scintillating performances in the Nations Cup competitions at various editions.

    It is sad that neither the country nor the football federation reckons with the geese that once laid the golden eggs. If indeed the wordings of our national anthems are anything to go by and quote “Arise, o compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey” having harkened to the national call in their prime, should they now be discarded like a pack of cards? Those who make Nigeria proud in football today may tomorrow die unloved and unheralded. The buck stops at the doorstep of the duo of Bolaji Abdullahi, the sports minister and Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the president of the football federation.

    Wherever Victor Oduah may be today in the spirit world, we at the St. Peters College pray that may the light perpetual continue to shine on him. Adieu Victor.

     

     

    •Muyiwa Idowu

    Ipaja, Lagos

  • As the world expects a new Pope

    SIR The resignation of the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI was shocking not only to the 1.2 billion Catholics but to the nearly seven billion people across the globe. The 85 years old German-born Pope made history as the first in the last 598 years to step down since Gregory XII quit in 1415.

    Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78, he could not be as vibrant as his predecessor who was 58 years when he was elected to the papacy. I commend the courage and truthfulness of Pope Benedict XVI for being truthful to himself, the church and to God.

    As the world awaits the emergence of new Pope, the Vatican City must be diligent and put sentiment apart. The cardinals must look beyond race or colour so as to allow God to have His way because God is not the author of confusion.

    When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Africans were hoping that Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, then 72, arch-conservative and number four in the Vatican hierarchy widely seen as the wider world’s best candidate would be the first African Pope, but as God would have it was outgoing pope that emerged.

    It is also in the record that no African has led the Roman Catholic Church since the death of Gelasius I in 496 AD. Therefore it may be possible that the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI may be God’s way of opening the door for a non-European Pope to emerge especially now that the church is facing scandals in the Holy See, like numerous charges against pedophile priests or conflicts in the Curia after Benedict XVI gave the top post of secretary of state to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

    I will also suggest the emergence of a young, vibrant and agile Pope. Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) who was the second longest serving Pope after Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) became Pope in 1978 when he was 58 years and that was one of the factor that really helped him to move up and down without hindrances for the 26 years he served as Bishop of Rome. I hereby suggest that a new Pope should be a cardinal in his 50s or early 60s so that both spiritual and physical strength will there for him to carry out the Petering ministry.

    The 118 cardinals eligible to vote in election of the Pope must learn from the word of wisdom of outgoing Pope and try and elect a strong and energetic Pope who can cope with the rigorous task of the office of Bishop of Rome.

    The Roman Catholic Church all over the world and other Christian bodies must use this Lenten period to pray for the emergence of a new Pope who is expected to be elected by the 118 eligible members of the College of Cardinal before Easter.

     

    •John Tosin Ajiboye

    Osogbo Osun State