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Tag: stronger

  • OTUNBAJO: I’ll be back stronger, better after surgery

    OTUNBAJO: I’ll be back stronger, better after surgery

    Olaitan Otubanjo was undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s deadliest youthful striker last season when he struck 22 times in 26 appearances for Austria side, FC Blau-Weiß Linz to command huge attraction from clubs in Germany, Turkey and Italy.

    By the time the usual summer transfer frenzy was over, Olaitan who was a member of the Golden Eaglets that won Silver when Nigeria hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009 berthed at Slovakia top side MSK Zilina in a swoop he said ‘was too good to ignored.’

    Pronto, the 24-year-old striker was firing on all cylinders yet again and has already scored 11 goals in the Slovakia League and Cup when he copped an injury last November and was subsequently operated upon.

    “I twisted my ankle during our home game against Tranava FC   and thought it wasn’t serious but I ended up in hospital,” Otubanjo fondly called Oladinho told The Nation Sport & Style. “It was around 25 to 30 minute that I ran into a defender and twisted my ankle; I was out of the game thinking it was minor one until the doctor said I have to go through the operation after further examinations because s there were bruises and some pieces inside my leg. “

    Oladinho said he was under both physical and psychological pains watching his team mates filling out for duty week in-week-out he undergoes his regimen in the gymnasium.

    “It is painful not being able to play since November 21 last year,” he admitted.

    “I missed four games last year because of the injury and has already missed five this year and painfully, we have already lost out of the Cup and I’m not happy about this.

    “It’s painful to lose out of the Cup especially because we sacrificed so much even before getting to the quarter finals.

    “I’m always a positive person and I have belief in God almighty that I will be back and better once the doctors give me the greenlight to return to the pitch.; I would be hungry, aggressive for more goals and hopefully, I can continue where I stopped by banging in more goals.”

    The good news now is that Otubanjo is warming up to return to the pitch disclosing that his return might be sooner than expected: “The rehab is going well and I have already been doing some indoor exercises and my condition is improving though I have not been given a specific date of return.

    “I’m running well now and when the running is strong and good, then I can confidently say I’m good to go.”

    The youngster quit bachelorhood last year and revealed his wife, Ololade who joined him at his new base early the New Year has more than provided the needed succour: “Yes, I have Ololade with me now and I’m more than happy with that development.

    “She couldn’t join me immediately after we got married as she needed to sort out her papers; glory be to God she is here when I really need her most.

    “She has been very supportive and it is a great comfort having her around me now,” she added.

  • Nigeria, stronger together than without

    SIR: I have heard it said that our country and her people were forced into a union they never asked for by the colonial masters. That’s true without a doubt, from available history. Today, campaigners for cessation and resource control, see this as the apple-cart for us to go our separate ways especially when they build the fortissimo for their campaigns.

    They point to United States of America and her idealism but forget to mention that establishment players from all of the regions of America and not only from one region, made that idealism possible and America great.

    Many who champion the call for confederation put out bad history and forget that America experimented with confederation up until 1787. They had been living under the Articles of Confederation (powerful states and a weak federal government) and witnessed disorder and chaos rather than ordered progress.

    * Now with a powerful centre, they can husband resources to take on mortal enemies of state. They ended the Great Depression and intervened to end not only the Second World War but the Cold War. Without federal power America wouldn’t have been able to draw up a Marshal Plan to build Western Europe after WW II., ,

    America couldn’t have put a man on the moon were it a loose state and wouldn’t have been able to fight natural disasters swiftly and more.

    • I maintain untiringly that Nigeria is what she is because we have all failed her. The crop of leaders today believe in gunboat diplomacy during electioneering periods rather than kinship with the people around causes to develop the country. They allow their passions to settle for ‘love for power’ and not ‘power to love’,

    Show me one leader in all of the region in today’s Nigeria that can be compared to Ernest Okoli, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Herbert Macaulay, Michael Okpara and many others? These are folks who in spite of the wealth around them led spartan lives and followed strict discipline and natural laws of cause and effect.

    Small wonder they were guided by forces within and in Heaven where all sublime power comes from and where their infinite self, dwells rather than from earth where their mundane and finite selves live, and they sought out therefore  to build a nation but their foundation was destroyed by selfishness and greed by others who came after them. The latter settle to build individuals and not the nation.

    So what we need is more qualitative education of the mind to demand accountability impacting on welfare all across the nation from people who superintend our affairs. We aren’t fated to suffer in silence. One way to break the silence is to campaign vigorously for the establishment of companies in a peaceful environment so that we can use our skills to become entrepreneurs and not assume that to work in the public service is the be-all and end-all of career choices.

    We must demand an open system of democracy where votes count and not settle for crumbs from politicians after which we shout blue murder. I can’t forget a particular friend who never voted in the last dispensation but was a ‘mouthy’ campaigner for good governance.

    • Use your leading men who are part of the establishment to ask why some region should glory in resources elsewhere instead of developing the massive resources in their own region. Fight the system and not the people because too few benefit from the resources meant for all., ,

    Every citizen is needed to build a country (and not disintegration, a distinct possibility) to greatness. We need only to look at the system of government in Australia, brought about by (and not in spite of) the diversity of its population of many different races and cultures.

    Social stability has been fingered as the key for political stability. We need to campaign for the former to get the latter and not by warring in different guises.

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port-Harcourt.

  • Johnsons: Stronger in love 30 years after

    Johnsons: Stronger in love 30 years after

    He calls her ‘baby’. It trickles her anytime she hears the pet name. She beams with suppressed smile, looks into his face with affection and in turn calls him ‘daddy’.

    This affectionate interplay was all palpable last Thursday at the New Oko Oba headquarters of Jesus Liberation Squad. It has been there from the beginning when they met in the choir of Foursquare Gospel Church Shomolu, then under the leadership of Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo in 1982.

    They married on May 17, 1986. 30 years after, Apostle Dele Johnson and his wife, Adekunbi are still waxing stronger. The bond keeps growing. The smiles have become permanent features. But the marriage is never always a bed of roses.

    Like every couple, the Johnsons have their high and low moments. They ‘fight’, argue and disagree. But no one else gets to know. “The truth is we are just like every other person. What we decided is no matter how angry we are, we will never carry it over to the next day,” Johnson started.

    “We decided even our children will never know about it. We have three grown up kids and none of them has ever caught of arguing or fighting. We decided nobody will ever settle disputes for us. We’d do it ourselves no matter how difficult,” he added.

    Those policy statements, he pointed out, have helped to overcome the challenges of bonding and dispute resolution. “We also decided we will take a walk when we are angry. We address the issues and never ourselves. We keep talking about the issues, not the persons when we have disagreements. All of these have helped us over the years,” Adekunbi stated.

    In 30 years, Johnson has learnt “marriage requires a lot of patience.” According to him: “The husband must act blind while the wife must be dumb. Both parties must be tolerant of the differences in the other partner.”

    When they are angry, the Johnsons have a ‘secret code’ that calms the other partner. “He knows what to do and say that will bring me out of anger and vice versa,” Pastor (Mrs.) Johnson explained.

    Since marriage is said to be a school, the couple have learnt so much in the last 30 years. He said he has learnt to practise what he calls “advanced forgiveness”. For Adekunbi, marriage has taught her to “trust him absolutely.”

    She added: “No matter what people are saying you must say ‘my husband cannot do that’; ‘my wife is not like that’. You must be able to defend the other person without hearing from him or her.”

    Last November, Adekunbi suffered from acute depression that left her hospitalised for three months. That period was the toughest test of the marriage. “She just started becoming aggressive towards me, feeling unworthy. But I told myself I must prove that I love her. I must demonstrate I am not only a lover but also a father.”

    Throughout the period, Johnson practically turned the hospital to his abode. He was there day and night to offer her moral support. “He stood by me in such an incredible way that made me decide I must reciprocate and honour him more,” she recalled. The condition that threatened to the tranquility of the marriage eventually turned to strengthen it.

    Adekunbi said they have sustained the affection over the years because they have remained inseparable. “We do everything together. We are always together. I can tell everything he is doing at every point.”

    Johnson, on his part, said the sustained affection is because “we don’t tear ourselves down. We talk about issues without fighting ourselves.”

    But are they into joint account? “Yes, we do,” Johnson stated. “Either of us can sign though we still have our separate accounts from where we fund the joint account for family projects, children and two grandchildren.”

    They said ministers with troubled homes need to look at the foundation of their marriages. “If they were friends before lovers, it will help more to sustain the tempo,” Adekunbi argued. But her husband said there must be healthy balance between marriage and ministry.

    “Once we get out of the church, we don’t discuss ministerial issues again. Our marriage becomes the focal point. God is interested first in a good marriage before ministry.”

  • ‘Nigeria will come out stronger’

    ‘Nigeria will come out stronger’

    Nigeria will not sink but survive to experience greater glory, the general overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev Felix Meduoye, has declared.

    Meduoye told reporters in Lagos that Nigeria was too important to God to collapse or crumble.

    He assured that all the challenges facing the nation will soon be over, urging Nigerians not to lose faith.

    Meduoye, who was represented by the National Secretary of the church, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, spoke ahead of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the church with the theme greater things.

    The convention holds at the International campground of the church in Ajebo, Ogun State from November 9-15.

    Meduoye said: “God loves this nation. We have the firm belief that God’s hand is involved in the affairs of this nation and it is His will to prosper Nigeria.

    “We make bold to say that Nigeria will come out stronger and better in the years ahead. Our confidence comes from the fact that our God answers prayers and we have prayed for the nation.”

    He said important dignitaries will attend the grand finale of the convention tagged a service of Grace from at least 30 nations, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

  • For stronger and better APC

    The stage the ruling All Progressives Party Congress (APC) is right now  is to find a way to manage its victory and reduce cracks within the party .

    The emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively served to highlight the tendencies of power play within the party. It will do the APC a whole lot of good not to allow it fester beyond the unmanageable. A precedent has been set, albeit one that was a disservice to party discipline. Yet, it had to be handled with care.

    The APC is made up of its legacy parties: Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), all defunct- won at the last election, historically unseating the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it was a victory that could hardly have been wrought without the members of the rested New PDP.

    A cursory look at the outcome of the governorship race in many of the states where the APC won for the first time will also show that the victories had the imprimatur of defecting PDP members. Instance can be found in the North Central states- Plateau, Niger, Benue, Kwara, with the exception of Nasarawa, where the APC for once made headway, it was on the back of the turncoat men of the PDP. Even in Kogi State, where there was no governorship election, the presidential poll was for the first time won by the opposition. This has never happened since the defeat of former Governor Abubakar of the ANPP by the PDP.Audu, now in the APC, together with a potpourri of erstwhile PDP chiefs delivered the state to the APC.

    No doubt the Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has a place reserved for him in history, present, past or future, that no one can or should be eager to deny him, others must be given their pride of place in the scheme of things. There are stalwarts, mainly of the PDP stock that bat no eyelid in their confrontation with their former party to ensure the victory that is now on the table. Former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku,  Bukola Saraki, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, whose confrontation with his erstwhile leader and former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, unnerved the latter to no end.

    Others abound:Timipriye Sylva, Sen. Barnabas Gamade, Gov. Lalong of Plateau State, former Governor Oyinlola, not forgetting the baba of all and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo .Though at no time did the old guards from the PDP officially present a common leader as their rallying point,  there must be one somewhere, and it is becoming clearer by the day that there is more than one axis of party leadership in the today’s APC.

    The APC leadership must work adroitly to erase from the minds and the mindset of Nigerians that others from outside of the legacy parties do not have as much stake, rights and privileges as those of the old ACN, CPC, ANPP or APGA in the victorious APC. That is as simple as the emerging situation can be explained. It is probably after a way is found around that tricky issue that the party can in all truthfulness begin to walk. Because the head is CPC or PDP does not imply that all other body parts should be CPC or ACN. That to me is one of the major undercurrent that played out at the two federal legislative chambers, and not a personal struggle or ambition, though it might appear so, and Saraki, a symbol for that reaction, to send the appropriate signal to the leadership of the APC.

    As at today, in the party structure at the national level, the New PDP is not properly represented. From the chairman, to the secretary, to the regional and zonal and even in most of the states, they are not well represented. Assuming now that from the chairman, to the secretary, to zonal chairmen, that some of them are New PDP, where the National Committee is sitting, they will have a say, but the whole National Working Committee is mostly the legacy parties, while the PDP elements were already in the party when it was being formed. Those are part of the issues that are on ground now that will continue to breed fractionalization if not quickly addressed.

    Mr. President must be ready to take control now and address some of the issues because he holds the responsibility to manage this government well, not the party. Before the election it was the party, after the election, it is Mr. President.

    These and more must have become glaring by now, just as I am convinced that the APC is imbued with the capacity to wade through and manage the situation, just as it did in the past . The journey is just beginning and opportunities abound to expand the field. For example, there are so many sensitive positions and appointments that will be made shortly and the government of President Buhari must take deliberate steps to balance the interest of all the contending parties, including the New PDP, rather than overconcentrating those appointments in his party: CPC, ACN, ANPP or the faction of APGA, for fairness, equity and justice to prevail, so that from the beginning we have a solid and unifying APC to consolidate the gains of the collective victory. The factor of the New PDP is real and must not be ignored or toyed with. Nigerians will be the better for it and more names will be etched in the sands of time in our march towards true greatness.

     

    •Adenrele is an Abuja-based political analyst

  • Adesina pledges stronger AfDB

    Adesina pledges stronger AfDB

    The President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said he will work with shareholders to build a new bank with inclusive growth.

    AfDB shareholders are from African and non-African countries.

    Adesina said together we will “build a stronger and more prosperous Africa, with smart infrastructure, energy for all, a strong private sector, new economic opportunities that will deliver quality jobs and hope for millions of youths and women, revival of Africa’s rural economies to lift many out of poverty, and regional integration for shared prosperity”.

    From rural areas to burgeoning cities, the AfDB helmsman said he has seen vast opportunities for a greater and more inclusive Africa and hopes to build on the work of his predecessor.

    Adesina thanked “former President Goodluck Jonathan for nominating him, his confidence, and his steadfast, enthusiastic support; President Muhammadu Buhari for his strong endorsement and rallying support for us and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her vital role and tremendous effort in delivering this successful outcome”.

    He said: “Dr. Okonjo-Iweala worked passionately for our campaign, and our success would have been impossible without her tireless work shepherding support among many of the esteemed finance ministers and governors at the AfDB.

    “In addition, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Heads of State Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar,  former Vice-Presidents Atiku Abubakar  and Namadi Sambo worked determinedly to build support for my candidacy.”

  • Obayuwana, Lawani’s bond waxes Stronger

    Calling them soul mates can hardly capture the bond between John Obayuwana and Ene Maya Lawani. Like Siamese twins, the two lovers have remained inseparable for quite a while. Not even the wide gap in their ages has threatened their romance in any way. Each time you see them, they coo into each other’s ears, sharing private jokes and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes as if to tell the world that their love has nothing to do with financial benefits.

    John Obayuwana is the MD/CEO of Polo Ltd, a growing luxury conglomerate, CAT Construction and a couple of other brands. Ene Lawani, on the other hand, is a former Miss Nigeria who enjoyed the unique privilege of reigning for six years. She owns an accessories company based in Surulere, Lagos, and is doing financially well on her own.

    In the last few years, Obayuwana, a luxury goods merchant, and Enemaya Lawani have been an item, even though they are yet to put a definition to their newly revived closeness. Their romance seems to wax stronger with time. Their attraction for each other was obvious at a recent event in Lagos where John could not keep his hands to himself.

    Like lovesick teenagers, they were all over each other and were simply inseparable. It is undisputable she and John enjoy a perfect chemistry as lovers.

  • Olowokere: APC ‘s waxing stronger in Ondo

    Olowokere: APC ‘s waxing stronger in Ondo

    Afe Olowokere is the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for Akure North/South Constituency, Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on his victory at the primary election and the quest for quality representation by constituents.

    You are now the APC flag bearer for Akure North/South Federal Constituency. How did you see your emergence.

    First, I have to thank God for sparing my life to witness this moment.Then, my appreciation to Akure people and the delegates who voted me in. This is a challenge; I will not disappoint them, for the confidence reposed in me to serve them. This is just the begining of the struggle, because we still have a long way to go and through the dedication and support of Akure people, I know we will get there to give a good representation to the constituents.

    Do you have political experience for this assignment?

    My foray into politics started in 1989 during the Babagida’s regime. In 1990, I contested as Councilor in Akure Local Government and won. Between 1991 and 1993, I served in different capacities such as Supervising Councilor for Health, Social Services and Women Affairs and later as legislator at the Local Government level. Then, we were practicing the parliamentary system, but after two months, Babangida introduced the presidential system of government and by implication we became the first set of legislators at the local government level. After that, I had the grace to contest for the position of  Committee Chairman, Commerce and Industry and later the Deputy Majority Leader of the House.  In 2003, I was the House of Representatives candidate for the Alliance for Democracy (AD). During that period, the PDP tsunami swept off the AD from the whole Southwest and I lost my election to the PDP candidate. By the grace of God again between 2009 and 2013, I served as the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Due Process; even though I was not a member of the LP. It is because he knew my antecedents and pedigree in the AD. The Governor only saw the need to appoint me outside his own party. I also served as the coordinator for Price Project Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Governor. After serving the first term with Mimiko in his first term in office, I decided to opt out of his administration to return to my party that metamorphosed from AD to AC to ACN and now the All Progressive Congress (APC). Today, I am the candidate of the APC for the Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and I am going to excel in the assignment with my political experience.

    What is your assessment of the workings of the House of Assembly as a former legislator?

    We were the first set of legislators in this Fourth Republic. We were the experimental set. At that time, we went to that House with innocent minds; gave accurate representation to the people and genuine intention to serve the people of this state. Out of the 26 members in the House, 22 of us were members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). We had three PDP and one APP member. Despite that, we did not see the Governor as member of our party and as a result, we decided to criticize the government objectively.We were actually giving our the representation they needed.There were occasions that we had cause to challenge the policies of late Adefarati’s administra-tions.When policy of the government was considered inimical to the people of the state, we opposed it because we were representing the people and not the executive arm of government. As representatives of the people, we were the mouth piece of the people and not that of the government. What I see today in fairness is a House that is serving the interest of the executive arm of government led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.It is a House that is totally disconnected from the people that gave them the mandate. Majority of the people that are going to the House of Assembly and the National Assembly did not even know their role and the essence of being elected. The present House of Assembly has considered and joined its members as members of the executive arm and by so doing they are depriving the people of their rights and voice. Ondo State House of Assembly has become partners in looting whereas the essence of being there is to check the tendency of the executive in looting what belongs to the people.

    What’s your assessment of the Mimiko administration as a former Special Adviser?

    In fairness,when Mimiko came on board after he retrieved his mandate from the PDP, he had genuine interest in serving the state and that was why people from different political backgrounds came into that government to work with him. I contested in 2007 under the defunct Action Congress (AC) and from that platform he appointed me to that position that is very sensitive. I considered that as demonstration from somebody who wanted to serve and wanted to do honest job. My experience in that office was a good one. Throughout my service in that office, there was no time he called me to compromise any file for him. But, there were some things that were brought to that office from different ministries and agencies that I considered as outrageous. We did our jobs honestly in that office,but the man did not call to check me or question any decision we took in that office. So, the first term of Mimiko was better because he tried to do some little projects. Today, we can all see that the present government has gone to sleep. Governor Mimiko is completely sleeping in his second term. He is no longer doing anything unlike in the first term when we could point to one project or the other.

    How would you rate the quality of representation at the Akure South/North Federal Constituency in the last few years?

    What I understand by that question is that if somebody goes to the National Assembly and his voice is not heard there for a period of four years and no practical action or project that could be seen, one will conclude that such person does not give the people he represents a voice. What will you call that? If somebody has been in the House of Assembly for four years and he could not point to anybody that he helped to get employment. Will you call that a good representation or bad one? All these we have noticed in this federal constituency and that is why we want to effect a change and make our people happy. I will give this question to the people to answer appropriateky at the right time.

    Don’t you think the recent defection of Mimiko to the PDP will be a threat to the chances of the APC in the state?

    The so-called merger and Mimiko’s defection to the PDP will be an added advantage to the APC in the forth coming election. Even before the merger, the comment of the people in town is that the PDP has been in the saddle for six years and they experienced untold hardship and oppression. They have seen the APC as alternative party. The merger has however brightened the chances of APC in the coming election. I want to appeal to all members to consider this period as time to be focused, sober, determined, disciplined and committed to winning. We must reason together and fight our common enemy which the PDP represents. There is nothing that can be shared in zero. Our leaders must lead by example.

  • ‘2015 elections will make Nigeria stronger’

    Though some think next year’s general elections will be a decisive one, perhaps witnessing the breakup of the country, Nigerians have been assured of even a stronger nation.

    The General Overseer of Abundant Life Gospel Church, Rev Jane Onaolapo gave the assurance, adding that those expecting doom are in for a shock. She blamed such negative dispositions on what she called lack of patriotism.

    Rev. Onaolapo was speaking with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at an event marking the 30th anniversary of the church. She was optimistic that the country would triumph over its current daunting security and other challenges.

    The cleric, who said the nation needed good-spirited individuals to lead the country to glory, added that the church has been doing its best to teach people in public office to be righteous, saying, “when the righteous rule, there’s peace”.

    She also said that the country has potential to be greater than its present level of development, adding that leaders must have love of their people at heart to overcome the scourge of poverty, joblessness and insecurity.”

    The general overseer said the church has spent N2.1 million to sink boreholes “for our host communities in Ibadan and Ilorin.”

    She said further that it also sand-filled and graded a 1km road leading to the church premises from Oko-Erin Junction at the cost of N300,000.

    “We have also provided 1,150 bed-sheets at Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital last year, about 25 beneficiaries are also enjoying scholarships in Abundant Life Nursery and Primary School,” she said.

    The cleric said that plans were underway to establish a leadership training school to be used as a platform for training and preparing young men and women desiring to take up leadership positions in various arms of government.

    She was confident that God will be sending the church to revive the nation and be an instrument to effect the much-desired and awaited change in the country, even as she warned politicians to always discharge their duties in line with the mandate of God.

     

  • Gardner: I’ll be stronger

    Gardner: I’ll be stronger

    Aston Villa ace Gary Gardner hopes to make up for lost time by avoiding injuries and retaining a regular first-team place, as reported by Birmingham Mail.

    The 22 year-old is currently training with Villa in the United States, and feels a full pre-season will put him in good stead for the upcoming campaign.

    Gardner is an academy graduate and has been given a fresh chance after putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract extension at Villa.

    He is determined to get back to his best before all the injury problems, when he was emerging through the England age groups.

    “When I was playing we had a lot of quality players here and I was playing in front of them,” recalls Gardner, who made the breakthrough in the 2011-12 campaign before being struck down by knee, back and foot problems.

    “When I’m in my tough times, when I’ve been injured, I look back on those games, I watch them over again and I think, ‘I’ve been there before I can get back to that.”

    Gardner has represented England at all youth levels, scoring three goals in 11 appearances for his national side.

    However, with a shortage of midfielders breaking through into the first-team set-up, Gardner’s real dream of becoming an England regular could still be a possibility.