The Nation Newspaper

Tag: face

  • New face of PDP

    A new face of symbol of the People’s Democratic Party emerged last week as former Borno state governor, Sen. Alimodu Sheriff was acrimoniously elected the party’s chairman his supporters and fixers led by Chief Uche Secundus saw it as a feat. He is the man, all things been equal expected to lift the morale of members, rebuild a party in ruins, check the spate of defection and ensure that the PDP stands again ahead of the 2019 elections.

    It is not clear to me what qualities of Sen. Sheriff appealed to his supporters. Obviously he has been in the political wilderness for a while. He has lost ground in Borno state and apparently, Today, has little electoral value. He is not known to have any experience in party administration. All that could be said of him is that, under the military he knew what buttons to press for money to gush out. At the inception of this republic Sen. Sheriff was one of those the military nudged to form the PDP as a party in whom they were well pleased. As a result he became a power broker. He pushed his weight around the political scene assumed himself to be a colossus of sort and reached beyond his ken to occupy a sit at the senate. Since then he has imagined himself as a Nigerian leader, A fixer like Chief Tony Anenih.

    Last year his name ran across the land as an alleged boko haram kingpin. This has not been proven in any court of law so far. As a result, he is right to claim innocence under our law. He incurred the ire of Nigerians when he turned up on an official Nigerian delegation to Chad Republic under the Jonathan there only as a Nigerian Businessman based in Chad republic. Since then, until last week he has been in his cocoon. How the PDP apparatchik settled for Sheriff remain unclear but its their right to choose.

    It appears to me that Sheriff’s emergence is another proof that the PDP is yet to get its act. This ordinarily should not bother people like us, but the opposition but at least another strong is needed for the smooth functioning of the democracy. I do not think holding parties celebrating nothing or exalting failure is the way to build a party in ruins. Exhuming a man like Sheriff is a further proof that the PDP is not ready yet to play the role of an effective opposition to their ruling All Progressives Congress

    The 12 PDP governors owe it a duty to themselves, their party and the government to braise up the reality of the moment, put heads together and come up with a more credible leadership. Must the Chairman come from the Northeast? Must he be a former governor?  And why Sen.Alimodu Sheriff? These are posers that must be resolved in helping the PDP to its feet.

    The party does not have all the time to sulk and stagger after the 2015 calamitous fall. The time to plot the way out of the morals is now. And, it starts with the choice of a credible leadership- one that can take on the ruling APC, one that can present an alternative platform for public engagements. The ruling party is still on honeymoon, enjoying a free ride on the political highway. For now, cracking the whip on looters of yore is a past time that sits well with a cynical public. But, soon, it will soon be regarded as insufficient for nation building. Policies for building the collapsed walls for education, health and more importantly, the economy and security are currently needed.

    The Buhari Administration should not be made too comfortable believing it could take the public for granted. Yes, all looted funds must be recovered and the criminal administrators put behind the bars. Never again should be the outcry as we make to sacrifice the public sector but almost one year in the saddle the government should show us concrete plans of how it intends to pull the country out of the woods.

    The role of keeping the APC on track, influencing public opinion, and providing a shadow for the ruling party generally is not something a Sen. Sheriff could undertake unless he has been engaged as an undertaker. The PDP ought to quickly put its house in order and has no more than three months to do this. By May 29 it will be one year since the PDP lost relevance in the political system. More importantly it will be three years to another general election. We need a party that could contribute in a coherent manner and fashion to preparations for 2019, especially as the legislature is about to start another review of the extant laws guiding political participation and electoral context.

    This face of the PDP is uninviting and unexciting. It ought to be consigned to where it belongs. Quickly. It shall be well with Nigeria.

  • Armsgate, true face of terror

    SIR: Boko Haram was tagged the world most deadly terrorist group in 2014. According to the Global Terrorism Index, an annual report by the New York City-based Institute for Economics and Peace, Boko Haram killed more people- 6,644 in terror attacks in 2014 than any other terrorist group in the world. The Islamic State, ISIL, based in Syria and Iraq, follows closely behind, at 6,073 deaths through terrorism in 2014.

    Also, the highly respected Nigeria Security Tracker, compiled by the U.S.-based Council on Foreign Relations, found that over 6,000 people were killed in clashes between Boko Haram and Nigerian forces in 2014.

    From 2013 through 2014, the death toll from terrorism-related attacks climbed drastically in Nigeria, increasing by 300 percent. It was the largest increase in terrorist deaths ever recorded by any country.

    Regrettably, Nigeria is second of the five countries that suffer the bulk of terrorist acts in 2014. The rest are: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria – accounting for 78 percent of all fatalities in 2014. Iraq bears the heaviest burden with 9,929 terrorist fatalities in 2014.

    Putting the consequences of this terror together, Boko Haram activities in the north eastern part of Nigeria have been reported to be responsible for death of about 13,000 people, damage to properties worth billions of naira and displacement of over three million Nigerians.

    However, what do you say about those that had the opportunity to stop this terror, those that were in charge of the administration when Boko Haram was unveiling its devilish acts; those that had all it takes to put an end to the insurgency before it escalated but blatantly refused to do so? How do you categorize such act? Isn’t it terror itself?

    The revelations so far from the on-going investigation of the arms procurement during the last administration have confirmed the hypothesis of so many – the lack of political will to defeat Boko Haram.

    Funds meant for arms procurement were shared among some political elites and fortunate folks close to the administration at a time innocent Nigerians were being killed by Boko Haram, school children abducted, properties damaged and millions displaced. There is no terror greater than this!

    Armsgate was the real terror indirectly behind the death of innocent Nigerians. It was the real terror responsible for the loss of lives of Nigerian gallant soldiers on the battle front against the Boko Haram insurgency. It was the real terror behind the abduction of our men, women and children and for the displacement of persons from their abodes.

    It is the world most deadly terrorist group in 2014 not Boko Haram.

     

    • Ogundana Michael Rotimi,

    michealtheboffin@yahoo.com

  • Sunshine face uphill task for top-three

    Sunshine face uphill task for top-three

    It was supposed to culminate in a first Nigerian league title for Sunshine Stars on their 20th anniversary as a club. So thought most of their faithful, players and even officials including those at the football agency that oversees the affairs of the Akure club, but that now looks bleak.

    The Akure club were the best in the first round of this season’s campaign in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), also referred to as the Glo Premier League. They finished the first round top with 36 points, same with Enyimba, but with a superior goal difference.

    Such was the dominance of Sunshine Stars in the first round of the season that they occupied top spot for 10 match days including sitting pretty at the summit for five consecutive match days. Sandwiched among that run was a 3-0 win at Heartland, which at that time was their only success on the road.

    In fact that 3-0 success at Heartland did serve as a catalyst to wet the appetite of Sunshine Stars faithful as they looked forward to a first Nigerian title with their 20th anniversary this year.

    On the last day of the first round, Sunshine Stars barely scraped past struggling FC Taraba, at the time bottom of the standings. Playing at home in front of just above 5,000 fans the Taraba club stunned them by taking the lead through Stephen Adah in the 12th minute.

    Sunshine Stars had to toil for 32 minutes before Tunde Adeniji pulled them level and then scored the winner five minutes into the restart. Adeniji’s brace of goals was just enough to keep them ahead of Enyimba, who claimed a 2-1 win at southeast rivals, Enugu Rangers.

    The Akure club failed to strengthen their playing personnel in mid-season with new signings despite the fact that their squad looked thin whenever the likes of goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Prince Aggreh, Paul Onobi, Dayo Ojo and Tunde Adeniji were away on international duties.

    While Sunshine Stars were quiet in the mid-season transfer market, their fellow title contenders, Enyimba, were hogging every talent in sight to shore up their already star-packed squad. In came Musa Najare and Burkina Faso striker, Ahmed Kone as well as the promotion of youngster Alloy Browne from their development team for the second round.

    If Kennedy Boboye’s men needed to be told that the second round is the business end of the title race, struggling FC Taraba made that statement clear to them at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo. Adah, again, returned to score against Sunshine Stars, and this time, the winning goal. Their rivals in the title race, Enyimba, battled Rangers to a 1-1 draw and that signalled the start of Sunshine Stars’ struggles in the run-in of the NPFL.

    And then the collapse at home came. Two games on the spin, Sunshine Stars failed to claim full points after a 100 per cent run in the previous 13 matches at home. First, Heartland, who they had beaten in the reverse game 3-0, got a point off them and then Nasarawa United crashed the party with a 3-2 win ending a six-year home record held by Sunshine Stars in the top-flight.

    Sunshine Stars head coach, Boboye, believed that the Nasarawa United setback was just a blip and that “we will bounce back.” At present, the Owena Waves are eight points behind table-topping Enyimba and have been dislodged from the top-four for the first time since match day six, which was five months ago.

    And their recent 0-3 capitulation at fellow title contenders, Warri Wolves, summed up their struggles in the business end of the season followed up by a 1-2 loss at Kano Pillars. But midfielder, Paul Onobi, remains confident that they can salvage the situation with five games to go.

    “It is not over yet,” he told supersport.com. “We have had a few results which are not good for us, but there are five games to be played and we can still do better.”

    The run-in for a top-three finish now presents them with a handful of tricky and big contests in their last five games against relegation-threatened sides, Akwa United, Bayelsa United and Lobi Stars. There are also two home games against southeast teams, Rangers and Enyimba, despite Onobi’s assurances. The latter is their last game of the season on November 15 and could prove important in determining the campaign’s outcome if Enyimba or the other top-four sides fail to build on their lead.

    Until date, Sunshine Stars’ best finish in the top-flight remains a second-placed position in the 2010/11 season when they missed the title by two points less to Dolphins, who notched up 73 points to win the title that season.

  • 9/11 and changing face of global terrorism

    9/11 and changing face of global terrorism

    In September 11, 2001, the world was in a state of confusion as news broke out about the vicious escapades of 19 deadly hijackers who hijacked four commercial passenger planes flying towards the east coast of the United States.

    According to BBC report, two of the aircrafts were deliberately flown into the two main towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, with a third hitting the Pentagon in Virginia while the fourth plane never reached its intended target. Reports had it that it crashed in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the passengers and crew overpowered the commandeers who wanted to expropriate the plane.

    Notwithstanding, the total loss of life on 9/11 was about 3, 000 including the 19 transgressors who forcefully took over the planes. The Osama bin Laden-led Al-Qaeda group is believed to be responsible for the barbaric act. The attack remains epochal in the nation’s history.

    There were series of major attacks carried out on US forces prior to the September 11 attack. Some reported cases include the shooting down of two American Black Hawk helicopters in Somalia in October 1993, killing of 19 Americans in a bombing incident at a military housing complex in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the bombing of US embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in 1998 claiming 223 lives, and the suicide attack on the USS Cole in 2000 which killed 17 servicemen and wounded 39.

    No doubt, the quest to maintain peace and build the national security of the state has always been a politically sensitive issue. The greatest threats to national security have been political, social, economic, environmental, ideological and religious differences. These have given rise to insurgent groups over the years.

    Historically, insurgent groups have thrived in countries with weak government structures and unable to maintain national security. To call a spade a spade and not an agricultural instrument, there is no justification for any violent act resulting to the killings of innocent people whether in America or anywhere in the world. Hence the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, the hitting of the Pentagon in Virginia and the crash in Pennsylvania are morally and politically wrong and must be condemned by every right thinking person.

    Although several scholars have argued for and against it, most prominent are the views of Mackinlay and Kicullun. Kicullun argues that insurgency has changed over time and space. Mackinlay, however, observed that nothing has changed about insurgency, whether from Mao to Osama bin Laden. Both sides of the argument cannot be ignored. For Kicullen, modern insurgency is viewed from four distinctive levels, which are the level of policy, strategy, operational art and technical technique.

    The then President of America, G.W. Bush, noted that the attack was “evil, and a despicable acts of terror”. He concluded that the US was “at war with a new and different kind of enemy”. Judging from this statement, it is obvious that the September 11 attack has changed the nature of insurgency and transnational terrorism owing to the fact that insurgency has moved from villages to cities. It also opened up an era of crisis, upheaval and militarisation of American society as well as a far-reaching overhaul of US military doctrine. More so, the attack marked the onslaught of the “Global War on Terrorism” (GWOT), used as a pretext and a justification by the US and its NATO allies to carry out a “war without borders”, a global war of conquest. Notwithstanding, Al-Quaeda is a US intelligence asset.  Osama bin-Laden was a once a CIA agent. He was 22 years old at the time he was undergoing guerilla training sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency.

    Ironically, while Washington accuses Iran and Afghanistan of supporting terrorism, the historical record and evidence indelibly point to the “state sponsorship” of Al Qaeda by the CIA, MI6 and their counterparts in Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This is a story for another day.

    Without dwelling much on the analysis, it is quite important that the world should be at peace with one another at this point in time when global tension is becoming ubiquitous. We must collectively unite to end violence and every act of terrorism.

    I have never read or heard of any religion that says we must kill one another. That is the more reason why the issue of insurgency and terrorism must be tackled without any religious sentiment so that the death of the September 11 heroes and those of the past attacks will not go in vain.

    Let all aggrieved persons seek legal means of getting their grievances settled. The law is clear on how to create a state or leave a union. A referendum will show and determine if truly their people want a state on their own or not.

    The killing of Osama by the Obama led administration ten years after is a clear indication that no one is above the law. The world can live in peace if only we can tolerate one another. The global crisis is caused by politics and it can best be settled with politics.

     

    • Sheyi is a Master’s student of Conflict, Development and Security, University of Leeds, UK

     

  • CHAN Eagles face South Africa U-23s in test clash

    CHAN Eagles face South Africa U-23s in test clash

    Nigeria’s home-based team will welcome South Africa U-23 side in a friendly planned for Port Harcourt on Saturday, October 10, AfricanFootball.com has  scooped.

    The home-based Eagles are preparing for a 2016 CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso on October 18 in Port Harcourt, while South Africa U-23s are getting set for this year’s Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal in November.

    The U-23 Nations Cup will be the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The home-based Eagles are due to open camp on October 4 in Port Harcourt.

    Coach Sunday Oliseh has called up 19 players from the domestic league for this training camp with six other players from the league joining up with the rest of the squad after the Super Eagles friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.

  • Warri Wolves face uphill task against AC Leopard

    Warri Wolves face uphill task against AC Leopard

    The only surviving Nigeria club on the continent this year, Warri Wolves, face an uphill task against AC Leopard of Congo when they trade tackles today in the second leg of a CAF Confederation Cup playoff game.

    The coach Paul Aigbogun-tutored side lost the first leg in Congo 3-0 and now need to overturn that to go through to the group stage of the second tier continental club competition.

    Warri Wolves midfielder Ichul Lordson will miss the game in Warri, but he told AfricanFootball.com the club are poised to win well so as to progress to the money-spinning group stage of the competition.

    “I don’t have any doubts in my mind that we will scale through and qualify to the group stage,” said Lordson.

    “We know it is going to be tough, but we are battle ready. I believe we are going to upturn the result of the first leg.”

    Wolves will be without several players including Lordson, Joseph Eyimofe and Michael Egbeta due to injury and card suspensions.

    However, they have star striker Gbolahan Salami back after he missed the first leg due to card suspension.

    Defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe and Solomon Kwambe have also been excused from the Eagles training camp to feature in this encounter.

    Warri Wolves have never reached the group stage in the CAF competitions and will now hope to do so today after renewed support from the Delta State Government.

  • Face to face with a rapist

    Face to face with a rapist

    But for providence, a 400-Level female student of the Department of Political Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State would have been raped by a graduate, who had just finished his National Youth Service. The victim relives her experience to WALE AJETUNMOBI.

    Trust can be likened to a tiny but strong chord that can endure; but, it takes a moment of disappointment to severe it forever. By now, Zulihat Adebimpe (not her real name) may have stopped to trust anybody again. The 400-Level Political Science student of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State capital escaped being raped penultimate week by a male friend whom she trusted.

    She could only feel helpless after being overpowered by her male friend whose sense had been overwhelmed by a sharp moment of libido. But for a brief seizure, which threw the culprit, Qaseem (other names withheld), off-balance, perhaps the victim would still been writhing in psychological depression and trauma.

    Zulihat, who had just been inducted into a coven of hijab sisters as young female Muslims are called, said she excessively trusted the man who attempted to rape her. She described the moment of struggling against the assailant as terrible, because nobody came to her rescue when she screamed for help. Zulihat said she was more disappointed because the incident happened in an apartment which Qaseem claimed to be his family house.

    Qaseem, it was learnt, graduated from Department of Political Science of UNILORIN in 2013 and had just finished his National Youth Service. He became friend with Zulihat, while he was in school but lost contact with her when he went for Youth Service.

    But, Zulihat said the culprit got her phone number from Facebook, after which he called and sent her message on Whatsapp, a mobile instant messaging application.

    She said: “After his graduation, I heard from Qaseem last month. He called me at 1:30am while I was observing a midnight prayer and we spoke for a while before I returned to the prayer. The following morning, his calls kept coming in and I was surprised he requested that I should visit him. I did not have inkling of what he was up to, because we had chatted many times in the past on my reluctance to visit people I hardly know.

    “But he kept pestering me to visit him. I told him I was being cautious against assault, because I hardly forgive myself for my mistakes. A week later, I decided to visit him after he pleaded. He agreed to pick me up at Post Office area with his motorcycle to his family house in Ilorin.”

    Zulihat said she did not expect harm from Qaseem, since they are both Muslims and they understand what the Holy Qur’an said about pre-marital mating.

    She added: “Both of us are Muslims and I expected fair treatment from him. He took me to an apartment, which I believe is not his family house. But given his harmless countenance and humility, I agreed to go into the building with him. He offered me water, which I delayed in drinking. He brought out his photo album and he used the opportunity to move closer to me. I sensed he was up to something untoward; then, I dropped the photo album and asked to take my leave.

    “He suddenly changed his attitude and looked at me seductively. I stood up to leave the apartment but he pulled me back. He pushed me on the bed and as I made effort to get up, he landed on me with force. I struggled with him for a moment but when my strength could not save me, I screamed for help. His neighbours could not hear my cry.

    “I pleaded with him not to do it and told him I am a virgin. I told him that, even if I was ready for intercourse, it should not be by violation. I pleaded with him, using the religion we both share, but all to no avail. He continued making his effort pull off my hijab, which was too thick and covered all parts of my body.”

    After a while, Zulihat said she noticed her assailant began to shake feverishly and fell on the floor. She ran to the door to escape but it was locked.

    “Qaseem got up again and grabbed my hand. He knelt and begged that I should forgive is uncontrollable act. He said he was seduced by my presence. I told him to open the door for me to leave. He obliged and I ran out of the building. Everything happened within 10 minutes.

    “The following day, he came to check me in school but I ignored him. He sent messages on Whatsapp, pleading for his immoral act. I did not reply any of his messages because he betrayed my trust. I am being traumatised psychologically because I don’t forgive myself easily for my mistakes.”

    If Qassem had succeeded, Zulihat said he would have been thrown into an endless agony by a friend she trusted. She said she decided not to report the matter at the police station because of stigmatisation that may arise after the incident becomes open. Besides, she did not want her personal mistakes to expose her fellow Muslim sisters to public disgrace.

    She said: “If I had reported the matter to the police, the law may set him free or find him guilty but it would not stop me from regretting my decision to visit him at home. My religion will always find me guilty and punish me for visiting a man who is not a member of my family or husband.”

  • FEDERATION CUP: Giwa face Plateau United in final

    FEDERATION CUP: Giwa face Plateau United in final

    Giwa FC defeated Mighty Jet 2-1 in one of the semi final matches played on Thursday to qualify for the State Federation Cup final.

    The God’s Elephants will play Plateau United in the final on Saturday.

    Akide Ibrahim scored the first goal for the premier league side before AbdulRasheed got an equaliser for Mighty Jet in a keenly contested encounter. Ibrahim Shaibu netted the winner for Giwa FC to qualify for the final.

    Giwa FC, who was led by their new coach Tony Bulus, will face Plateau United in the final on Sunday.

    In a chat with SportingLife after the game, Bulus was full of praise for his side for their resilience during the match.

    “I am happy to qualify the team for the final of the Confederation Cup few days in charge of the club. The match was tough but I have to commend the boys for their fighting spirit. We will go to the final on Sunday with hope of defeating Plateau United and lift the trophy,” Bulus told SportingLife.

  • Abia to face Enyimba FA Cup semi-final

    Abia to face Enyimba FA Cup semi-final

    Abia Warriors Youth Team will have to wait a little longer to face Enyimba in the Semi final of the 2015 Abia State FA Cup due to the 2014 Federation Cup champions assignment on the continent this weekend.

    The Youth Team of Nigerian Premier League campaigner, Abia Warriors FC made it to the last four edging city rivals, Diamond International Football Academy 7-6 on penalties after scores stood 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

    However the senior team, Abia Warriors FC have already reached the final this year’s Abia State FA Cup competition following a 3-1 victory over Enyimba Feeders of as they wait for the winner between Enyimba and Abia Warriors Youth Team in the second semi-final.

    The encounter between Abia Warriors FC and Enyimba Feeders, which took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium, saw homeboy, Chisom Chikatara score two goals in the first half including a penalty while Ndifreke Effiong netted the third after Louis Okoro had pulled one back for the Enyimba boys.

    With the victory, Abia Warriors also qualified for the National Federation cup contest as the two finalists in the state FA Cup will represent each state at the National Federation Cup competition.

  • Heartland to face Nek United in semis today

    Heartland to face Nek United in semis today

    Heartland will square up with Nek United in the semi final of the 2015 Imo State FA Cup today at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri by 4pm, organisers have informed SportingLife.

    The Naze Millionaires dazed Campos FC 2-1 in the quarter final played at the Njaba Township Stadium on Tuesday while Nek United pipped Ezena FC 1-0 in the other quarter final duel decided at the Nwaorieubi Stadium, Mbaitoli.

    The second semi final will see Papillo FC, financed by former Super Eagles’ captain, Nwankwo Kanu, entertaining Baton FC also today in the first game of the last four encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri by 2pm.

    To scale to the semis, Papillo FC beat Pakat 2-1 at the Iho Township Stadium, Ikeduru on Tuesday while Baton formerly called Police Machine FC eliminated Amacuff 3-1 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes at the Iho Township Stadium, Ikeduru on Monday.

    The winners of the two last four matches will face each other on Sunday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for the grand finale. Heartland are the defending champions of the competition having beaten Baton 2-0 in the final last year.