The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hope

  • Hope rises for Osaze

    Hope rises for Osaze

     : Clarke says he  has a part to play

    The reintegration of West Brom wantaway Peter Odemwingie is continuing with manager Steve Clarke insisting the striker will have a part to play this season.

    Having travelled with the squad to Anfield on Monday night, the Nigerian sat in the stand to watch the Baggies’ surprise 2-0 win over Liverpool, their first victory since Boxing Day.

    Clarke said the 31-year-old, who was disciplined by the club after trying to force a deadline-day move to QPR by driving to Loftus Road, was involved with the team in the pre-match build-up and hopes he can soon return in a playing capacity.

    Clarke had suggested prior to the Liverpool match that Odemwingie might be involved for the first time since January 19, but insisted there was nothing sinister in his eventual decision to leave him out.

    “It wasn’t an additional punishment and he was involved, that is why he was there,” he said. He was in the dressing room, he was delighted for his team-mates and was there to support them and help them.

    “It is all part of what being part of a squad about.

    “Peter makes his contribution and will make a contribution in the season going forward.”

    West Brom spent most of the match pursuing and pressing their hosts and they were successful enough to still be in the game with 10 minutes to go after goalkeeper Ben Foster had saved Steven Gerrard’s penalty.

    Defender Gareth McAuley’s header and Romelu Lukaku’s 90th-minute strike snatched victory but Clarke felt the platform had been established by his midfield.

    “It is the first time in a number of weeks I’ve had the luxury of being able to pick Mulumbu, Claudio Yacob and James Morrison in the same midfield,” he said.

    “When they are together and everyone is doing their jobs properly we are a good team and deserve to be in the top eight.”

    Clarke admitted selecting that trio restricted his options up front but was pleased with the contribution of both Shane Long, who started, and Lukaku.

    “They are a good combination. When they play together they play well but when I have my three midfield players in there it is difficult to play both,” he said. Sometimes I have to make difficult decisions and in recent weeks Rom, for a 19-year-old, has been carrying a lot of weight up front.

    “So it was nice to give him a breather and the chance to come into the game to do what he did. Rom did well but he got the benefit of the hard work of Shane Long, who put in a hell of a shift.

    “He came on when the game was open – we knew Liverpool would come chasing the game and we could pick them off – and fortunately for the first time this year it worked.”

  • ACN/CPC merger is hope for new Nigeria

    ACN/CPC merger is hope for new Nigeria

    SIR: If everything goes as planned with the proposed merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Nigeria may be on the way to greatness from 2015.

    An attempt was made in 2011 to confront the arrogance and impunity of the ruling party, PDP but the efforts were not sufficient to checkmate the moles and blacklegs who put spanners in the works. That inability to drive the merger got Nigeria into another big mess for another four years. We have been paying the price of our lack of commitment since 2011.

    ACN has put together a 19-man committee of decent men and women to work with committees of the other parties to produce a blueprint for the real merger. There is little doubt about the potentials of this merger that is leaving the PDP deeply troubled.

    After 16 years of confused and inept leadership, Nigeria needs a change of leadership to move forward. After 16 years of waste, we need real men among men to be in the driver’s seat. After 16 years of foolishness and selfishness in governance at the highest level in Nigeria, Nigerians need a break. Nigeria needs a recreation. Nigeria needs reinvention. Nigeria needs rehabilitation for it has been wrecked in 16 years of recklessness, corruption, impunity and incompetence.

    Let the committee members of the various opposition parties realise that Nigeria is at cross roads and therefore make conscious and spirited efforts to make their own history. Mindful of the need to sustain the argument that history remembers only the winners and that leaders make decisions that create the future they desire, I urge the committee members to declare war on those who throw big stones on the project Nigeria. Men among men who can make the difference here in Nigeria are not in short supply. They live with us. They see our problems and they have solutions to those problems. History beckons on them. More than half of the country’s eligible voters do not vote because they do not believe in the process. They are undecided voters. The people get the kind of leaders they deserve. In 2015 Nigerians must take a stand for change. All must endorse the merger plan for the change that we all need. Yes, real endorsement is the right word. We must be mindful that this is our last chance to pull the chestnut out of a raging fire and we cannot afford to miss this golden opportunity. We will continue to suffer the rule of idiots if we fail again to do what is right.

    • Joe Igbokwe

    Lagos

  • We must not lose hope in God – Obasanjo

    We must not lose hope in God – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday advised Nigerians not to lose hope in God.

    Obasanajo gave the advice in Kaduna when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Mukhtar Yero and members of the State Council of Chiefs over the demise of former Governor Patrick Yakowa.

    He described Yakowa’s death as sudden, adding that the late governor was a “bridge builder” who struggled to secure and develop the state during his tenure.

    Obasanjo said Nigerians must not feel desolute, but rather trust and appreciate God at all times.

    “ We must not mourn or lose hope like unbelievers because we believe in the ultimate goodness of God,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the former president as saying during the visit.

    Obasanjo congratulated the new governor, urging him to continue with the good work of his predecessor.

    He commended traditional, religious and other political leaders in the state for the smooth and peaceful transmission of power to Governor Yero.

    Responding, Vice-President Namadi Sambo expressed appreciation to Obasanjo for the visit.

    He said the demise was a great loss not only to the family, but to the entire country.

    Sambo urged traditional leaders and the entire people of the state to support the new governor, in order to continue with the legacies of Yakowa.

     

  • There is hope for Nigeria, says Ribadu

    There is hope for Nigeria, says Ribadu

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman Nuhu Ribadu yesterday assured Nigerians that there was hope for the country to overcome its multiple problems.

    Ribadu gave the assurance in Ilorin when he visited Senator Bukola Saraki to condole with him on the death of his father, Olusola.

    “I must say that there is hope for Nigeria to overcome its multiple challenges.

    “Everybody is working to revamp the country’s political, socio-economic and security problems,” he said.

    Ribadu called for concerted efforts and prayers by Nigerians for peace.

    “There is need for us all to rise up and ensure that security and other challenges facing the nation become things of the past.

    “It is through collective efforts that we can achieve this goal,” he said.

    On his committee’s report, Ribadu said it would be implemented to reshape the oil industry.

    He said the committee considered the interest of Nigerians and the nation while writing the report.

    The former EFCC boss described the late Saraki as a philanthropist, whose passion was to ensure the well-being of his people.

    He urged the children of the deceased to emulate the good deeds of their father and uplift the welfare of their people.

    Igbo residents in Ilorin would hold a special prayer session for the deceased on Thursday.

    This was contained in a statement by the President-General, Igbo Community Association in Kwara, Sir Truelove Njoku.

    The statement directed Igbos in the 16 local government areas to close their shops between 6am till noon on that day.

     

  • Nigerians should not lose hope

    SIR:Despite the current challenges Nigeria is facing, like threats to security, social injustice, youth unemployment, political killings, labour unrest, bombing among others, there is hope and Nigerians should not lose hope of divine solution.

    Nigerians-at-large should pray to God to redeem and deliver our country, for, only God can redeem the nation from the present fears of insecurity and poverty. Only God could heal our wounds, so that, there would be peace.

    Prophetically, I want to assure Nigerians, that, with the prayers of the saints, at the soonest, all-will-be-well, as, God is ready to intervene and heal our land, if we humble ourselves and fear God.

    With the potentials available in the country, if we repent our sins and do the will of God, from the leaders to the followers, there is hope for Nigeria and Nigerians in all spheres. There is also greater tomorrow for Nigeria, if we pray fervently and put all hands on deck, to move the nation forward.

    Nigeria had faced many difficult situations in the past, but, God had always proved to be faithful. As the problems facing Nigeria presently are big, God will come to our rescue once we keep relying on Him.

    The current security challenges in the nation could be attributed to high level of corruption and bad governance on the part of the leaders. Because the people have lost the trust of those holding offices in government, the situation has created the environment where killings, poverty, unemployment, insecurity among others reign.

    Nigeria now desire political leaders that will turn our bad situation to better, and whose primary concerns are to build institutions and empower the people.

    Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel (Sekunderin),

    Lagos.