The Nation Newspaper

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  • KESHI TO NFF: Eagles need 3 more stars

    KESHI TO NFF: Eagles need 3 more stars

    Fresh from winning the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is already planning ahead and says his squad needs about three more players to be complete.

    Keshi took a team of virtual unknowns and moulded them into a formidable, title-winning unit but says his squad is still a work in progress

    “We are still building. This team is not complete yet. We need about three more players and a little more time to get to where we want,” Keshi told KickOffNigeria.com.

    But the coach would not be drawn on which positions he needed to fill with these additional numbers.

    “We know what we want, and we are working on it. We will look at different players, and in due course, I believe we have the talent in and outside the country to get what we want.”

  • Hotshot Emenike wants more

    Hotshot Emenike wants more

    AFCON Goal King Emmanuel Emenike has revealed he hopes to achieve more after his goals crowned Nigeria champions for a third time.

    The 25-year-old Spartak Moscow hitman, who scored a total of four goals with three assists to emerge the hotshot at the continental showpiece event, said he is very excited to have won his first winners’ medal on his debut appearance.

    “I am very proud to be an Africa champion. This means a lot to me and it has boosted my career. It gives me more confidence that I can achieve more with Nigeria,” he told MTNFootball.com.

    “I am happy with my achievement and that of the team as a whole. I never thought of becoming the top scorer, my aim was to help my team win the trophy by doing my best and contribute to the team’s success, but I never knew God has his own plans for me.

    “I am excited. I am on top of the world to have achieved this even when many believed it was impossible. We fought till the end and believed in ourselves.”

    Emenike admitted he was disappointed to miss Sunday’s final due to a hamstring injury, which will sideline him for at least two weeks.

    “I felt bad and wasn’t happy missing the final, but I was so confident in the team, that we will win without me on the pitch,” he revealed.

    The former FC Cape Town and Mpumalanga Black Aces both of South Africa star said he was very much at home on his return to South Africa.

    “I was at home here in South Africa. I was also eager to prove myself to the fans and the country as a whole that I was born to score goals. I thank God I didn’t let them down,” Emenike further told MTNFootball.com.

    He said his Goal King award and winners’ medal are for his parents because they have supported his career.

    “What I achieved at this Nations Cup is for my parents for their wonderful support in my career. They really made my dream to become a professional footballer come to pass,” he said.

    “Without my parents’ support and blessing, I wouldn’t have played football not to talk of getting to this stage. I thank God for everything.”

  • Nigerians in South Africa demand more from Eagles

    Nigerians in South Africa demand more from Eagles

    BASKING in the Euphoria of the Super Eagles victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Sunday’s quarter final clash at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Nigerians living in South Africa have urged Eagles to go all out and beat Mali in Wednesday’s semi final clash.

    The jubilant supporters who spoke to SportingLife on Monday said they were proud of what Nigeria’s performance against the Ivorians. They have however begged them not to relent on their oars until they get the job done.

    Ken Agbim, a business man, said the Eagles had proved doubters wrong and want the chief coach, Stephen Keshi to keep the winning team.

    “The match is something made out of the heaven because it is just a miracle. I am very sure that Nigerians never expected that performance from them. Eagles proved every one wrong on Sunday. I will suggest that the coach would keep this selection against our next opponents because you don’t change a winning team. I wish Eagles all the best as they try to make us proud again when they face Mali.”

    Olorunfemi Omoola aka ‘Olubadan of Ibadan’ pleaded with the Eagles to go the extra mile and get victory against Mali on Wednesday in Durban, he said: “We thank God that the boys didn’t disappoint us. We prayed to God and he answered our prayers. We are still hopeful that the Cup is going to Nigeria by the special grace of God because we’ve passed the big hurdle. What I want from Eagles on Wednesday is winning even if it is 1-0. Winning is winning.”

    “Super Eagles tried for the Cote d’ Ivoire match, I believe if they can put more efforts they will reach the finals. I don’t want them to let the victory against Cote d’Ivoire to get into their head. We are very happy and we are still celebrating and we don’t want them to dash our hope. We can believe now and we believe in them,” another Nigerian, Mutiu Sofoluwe said.

  • Govt should do more, say lawyers

    Nigerians have asked the Federal Government to be firm in its anti-corruption effort. To some,the government was not doing enough to tackle corruption.

    Others called for an improved and sustained effort against the menace.

    They spoke in reaction to Wednesday’s report by the international Organisation-Transparency International (TI), which rated the country 35 in its global corruption index.

    Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Felix Fagbohungbe and Joseph Nwobike contended that the nation’s upward movement on the annual corruption was an acknowledgement that something was being done. They urged the government to sustain its anti-corruption efforts.

    Another senior advocate, Adeniyi Akintola, the President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasir Fagge, rights activists, Fred Agbaje, Bamidele Aturu and Festus Keyamo faulted government’s claim that the government was taking steps to curb corrupt practices in the country.

    Fagbohungbe said: “In the real sense of it, we could be said to have done better. What is the yardstick adopted by those who compiled the report? The mere fact that we have been rated to have moved up the ladder is an indication that the effort by those in government is yielding good result. We only need to improve on our effort.”

    Nwobike argued that the report has shown that Nigeria has made an improvement in its effort towards combating corruption. This evident in the TI report. It shows that the current administration has started to pursue an agenda intended to tackle the issue of corruption.

    According to him. “That does not mean we have done enough. It means we have started doing something and if we maintain it, Nigeria can be seen and referred to as a country fighting corruption.

    “I must say that this administration, as indicated by the various charges filed against prominent personalities by the EFCC and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), we can say that a platform for fighting corruption has been established,” he said.

    Akintola argued that leaders have not been serious about fighting corruption. He argued that the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has refused, despite calls from all quarters that he publicly declare his assets, is enough evidence that this administration is not interested in being transparent. What is he (President Jonathan) hiding?

    “We know his background as a former deputy governor and vice president. I believe he is afraid that people could easily raise questions. Until we place the onus on public officers to justify their wealth, we will not get there.

    “We should emulate the Asian countries where corruption attracts death penalty. The fight against corruption has to be taken seriously. It is the inability of our leaders to implement the law that is the problem.

    “Those who are stealing us blind are not more than 5000. If Ghana could sacrifice 13 lives, we can afford to sacrifice them too for the rest of us to have peace. God even sacrificed his son to redeem the world,” Akintola said.

    Fagge, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) advised the government to adopt the right approach to win the against corruption war.

    He said that conviction of culprits was the best approach to winning the war against corruption, rather than adopting the “window-dressing approach”.

    He said “It is not about fighting corruption, but adopting the right approach. Yes, culprits have been caught but we are yet to really see people that have been caught and punished appropriately. Government officials and public office holders will continue to indulge in corruption because they believe they will not be punished.

    “The truth is that, we will not be able to address the issue of corruption until, and unless the culprits that are caught are punished appropriately to serve as deterrent to others. Government catch people for corruption today and tomorrow, you see them on the streets walking as free men and even being given higher responsibilities. What the Federal Government is doing is like window dressing, “ he said According to Agbaje, the report by TI did not show any improvement. In fact it confirmed our position that corruption in the country has worsened. He argued that the present government has become prodigal, spending money as if money is going out of vogue.

    “There is nothing about human and institutional development to sustain such huge spending. The leaving standard of Nigerians today is even worse than what it was before this government came on board. In a society where the government is not concerned about the plight of the people, but of the only few in power, what do you expect?

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not doing enough and the government is not bothered about that. The level of profligacy is higher now than ever in the history of the country. The corruption in the oil sector is enough for TI to damn us,” he said.

    Aturu said “I think that there is a problem with the TI rating and the parameters adopted. We can see that there is high level of looting going on in the country and that corruption is on the increase.

    “For the report to have rated Nigeria 35th in the global corruption index could be because the report was based on faulty parameters or that other countries of the world are doing better in corruption than us.

    Certainly, there is nothing on ground to show that we are doing anything to fight corruption,” Aturu said.

    Keyamo said: “There is too much cover up .What happened to the Comptroller of Customs, who forged his academic certificates? They should answer that question first before any other thing.”

  • Edo poll: Airhiavbere to call more witnesses

    THE Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, has filed an application before the Election Petition Tribunal seeking to core more witnesses.

    Airhiavbere is challenging the outcome of the election.

    About 22 of his witnesses have testified before the tribunal.

    The PDP candidate is expected to close his case on November 29.

  • Ikuforiji: be more committed

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged Muslims to be more obedient and dedicated in the service to God and humanity.

    Ikuforiji, who gave the admonition in his message, by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, also congratulated Muslims.

    He urged them to emulate Prophet Ibrahim by being resolute and committed, even when faced with adversity.

    “We have to continue to emulate Prophet Ibrahim for that wonderful service he rendered to his Creator, by offering his only son as a sacrifice. We continue to be obedient, dedicated and committed in our relationship with the Almighty God, our creator, the governments and people around us.

    “This should also reflect in all Muslims’ positive attitude to all the laws passed by the legislature.

  • Mubi massacre: Just how much more can the nation take?

    Mubi massacre: Just how much more can the nation take?

    The full scale of the Mubi, Adamawa State, killings will not sink in until inconsolable parents who lost loved ones begin to grieve openly. Some 40 youths, most of them students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, were reportedly murdered by unknown gunmen who stole in on them while they slept in their off-campus hostels, and in spite of curfew. Preliminary reports indicate the students were shot only after their identities were ascertained. The motives are unclear. But it is feared the killings were probably a spinoff from the recently concluded students’ union elections in that school, a theory some students have dismissed as farcical. It may, however, be too early to dismiss any theory, including the sectarian motive insinuated by a few students. In the coming days, as the identities of the victims become known, the nation should be able to make sense of what happened on that bitter and rainy Monday night.

    As if anyone needed additional proof of Nigeria’s descent into bestiality, the sheer scale of the killings and the numbing fact that students were the principal victims have sealed the country’s notoriety as a modern-day killing fields. Inexplicable emotions follow the killing of students anywhere, almost akin to the strange emotions that follow the death of passengers in a plane crash, as if one type of death was less shocking or less honourable than the other. The Mubi horror will, therefore, probably assume more frightening dimensions in the days ahead. Though the country may have become inured to terror-related killings, it will nonetheless find out that the Mubi slaughter will be difficult to live down. Worse, the massacre may even begin to raise fears that terror killings, if they continue, could yet trigger something much more catastrophic for the nation, probably something even apocalyptic.

    Nigerians are predictably deeply outraged. That outrage will loom larger in the coming days as wrenching stories of family losses reach the media. The Senate was in fact so incensed by the barbarous display in Mubi that they began calling for sterner measures against the murderers. But in the din, it will be forgotten that terror killings and the outrage that follow have become a national pirouette from which the country is unlikely to extricate itself soon, particularly given the government’s desultory and sanguinary anti-terror measures. It will also be forgotten that by killing scores of students in one fell swoop, the perpetrators might in fact be modifying their tactics by shifting from attacking churches to attacking students. If the attacks on churches could not bring about the apocalypse they desired, then perhaps attacks on students might.

    What is clear in all this is not that Nigerians fail to show enough fortitude in the face of extreme provocations, or refuse to bear their periodic losses with dignified resignation. The main problem is that the government has not inspired much confidence, either by its methods or by its attitude. Yet, the people must nurse hope that there is light at the end of the dark terror tunnel. After all, it is one of the cardinal responsibilities of any government that in times of great crisis it must ensure the people see that reassuring light if they are not to yield to despair or, worse, engineer the fragmentation of their country.

  • Cynthia: Three more suspects appear in court

    Cynthia: Three more suspects appear in court

    Three more persons yesterday appeared before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for the alleged murder of C6ynthia Osokogu, bringing to seven the total number of those so far charged with her murder.

    They are Gideon Okechukwu (39), Nonso Ifechukwu (22) and Emeka Chinonso (27). Before them, the quartet of Okwuno Echezoma Nwafo (33), Ejike Ifechukwu Olisaeloka (23) and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25) were charged on Okechukwu was alleged to have conspired with Nwafo and Olisaeloka to kill Cynthia; Ifechukwu and Chinonso were said to have recieved her stolen phone from Olisaeloka.

    The late Cynthia, a post-graduate student of the Nassarawa State University, was allegedly killed after being drugged in a hotel at Amuwo Odofin, a Lagos suburb, on July 22, by Nwafo and Olisaeloka.

    Yesterday, the Osokogu family tentatively fixed October 5, for her funeral.

    Okechukwu, a taxi driver was said to have driven the suspected killers out of the hotel, is facing an eight-count charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder, among others.

    Prosecuting Superintendent of Police (SP) Chukwu Agwu said Okechukwu, on July 21, at Room No. C1, Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos conspired to murder Cynthia thereby, committing an offence punishable under Section 231 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    Okechukwu, the prosecutor said, conspired with others to kill Cynthia by administering on her an obnoxious substance known as Rohypol Flunitrazepam tablets via Ribena fruit juice.

    The accused was also said to have joined others in binding the late Cynthia’s hands with chain and padlock. They also allegedly used cellophane tapes to bind her legs, neck and mouth. Blows were also said to have been dealt on her. She was said to have been bitten, tortured and strangled to death.

    Okechukwu was said to have robbed Cynthia of her Blackberry handset, Bold 5 model; International Passport with No- AO1249397 dated July 3, 2009; National Driver’s Licence with No. GRE0002AA dated March 15, 2010; a pair of shoes; a hand bag; a vibrator; as well as a Jewellery box containing three wrist watches, four rings, three pairs of earrings, a pendant, a necklace, hand chain and a single earring, while armed.

    According to Agu, the value of the properties stolen, is yet to be ascertained.

    Okechukwu was also alleged to have joined others to forcefully and unlawfully have carnal knowledge of Cynthia, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 258(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

    Okechukwu’s plea was not taken as the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

    He was remanded in prison custody by Magistrate S.O. Aka-Bashorun, pending advice from the Director, Public Prosecution (DPP).

    In a separate charge with number TA/58/2012, Ifechukwu and Chinonso were said to have received Cynthia’s stolen phone, despite knowing that “it was unlawfully obtained.”

    They pleaded not guilty and Magistrate Aka-Bashorun granted them N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Magistrate Aka-Bashorun adjourned the case till October 3.

    The Osokogu family said it tentatively fixed October 5, for Cynthia’s burial “with the belief that the machinery of justice would not be impeeded.

    A funeral mass has been held for her in her Delta State home town without her body on August 27. Her brother, Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Osokogu, who spoke on behalf of the family, gave reasons for the delay, saying: “The police have not called the family to collect the body. The case is still at the Magistrate’s Court. The court cannot try murder case. The second hearing is slated for October 3. And we believe that it will be transferred to the High Court; afterwards the police can seek for permission to release the body for burial. We are not in a hurry to bury her as justice must take its full course. The family has resolved to fix the new date Friday, October 5, if everything goes as planned.”

    The family also denied that it abandoned the body at the morgue.

  • More and more dysfunctional

    More and more dysfunctional

    Nigeria seems to be awash with small arms. Hardly a day passes without an announcement by the police of one seizure or another of arms and ammunition. The magnitude of each seizure often gives indication that the arms are certainly not meant for robbery or even kidnapping alone. Just this weekend, the Lagos State police announced the recovery of five rocket launchers, five dynamites, 11 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 250 loaded magazines and 17,000 rounds of ammunition from a house in Lagos. Early September, security agencies also announced the recovery of a cache of arms in Oraifite, Anambra State. In that instance, the police said, albeit with a dose of exaggeration, the Anambra seizure was substantial enough to defeat a small army. According to a newspaper report of the Oraifite seizure, the recovered arms, some of them in underground armoury, included 17 rockets, 13 rocket grenades, one rocket launcher, 27 AK-47 rifles, one K2 rifle, two other rifles, one general purpose machine gun, six pump action guns, three locally-manufactured guns, one Berretta pistol, and some 14,425 rounds of live ammunition. The seized weapons doubtless packed a hefty punch.

    The weapons recently recovered from both Lagos and Anambra States are merely examples of the ubiquitousness of light arms in the country. More pass through the eye of the needle than are seized by the authorities. The Boko Haram Islamic sect, which is waging a sectarian cum socio-economic insurgency in the northern part of the country, also packs an even deadlier punch than the arms seizure in the two states listed above. It does appear that no one can halt the flow of arms nor curb the criminal uses to which the weapons are being put virtually on a daily basis. Indeed, the problem of kidnapping, which feeds on light arms, has become so pervasive that it is even underreported, while the country has seemed to reconcile itself almost completely to the menace of armed robbery.

    The proliferation of light arms, whether they are able to defeat or pin down a small army or not, kidnapping and ethnic and sectarian violence obviously indicate that there is something fundamentally wrong with the country. Officials appear to scratch the problem only on the surface. There is neither a coherent nor intelligent attempt to decipher the problem, let alone proffer realistic and targeted solution. As a result, the country is getting more and more dysfunctional, and the problem will get worse with each passing month the government continues to apply the anodyne measures of sermonizing and police action.

    Perhaps the problem is fundamentally rooted in politics, especially the need to restructure the country away from the unitary system that masquerades in the 1999 constitution as federal, but which has proved unworkable and now even cancerous. Perhaps the country’s leaders, or those purporting to lead it, need to climb down from their high horses to acknowledge that it is time to sit down and discuss not only where we should go and how, but also who we really are, the resilience of the ties that bind us, and the nature of the factors that disunite us.

    There is no guarantee that the country’s present leaders have the courage to meet the tough questions and hard choices confronting Nigeria. There is also no proof they will not begin to scramble for solutions only when things begin to unravel. But if the country is to put a lid on the burgeoning forces tearing the nation asunder, forces that are deceptively manifesting as kidnapping, armed robbery and sectarian bloodletting, we must urgently draft bold, intelligent and honest leaders willing and competent to handle the national crisis threatening to undo us.