President MuhammaduBuhari has approved the appointment of 29 Judicial Officers for the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
A statement by the director of information in the Judicial Service Commission, SojiOye, said that 12 Justices were appointed for the Court of Appeal, nine for Federal High Court and seven for Federal Capital Territory’s High Court.
The breakdown is as follows:
The twelve (12) Justices approved for the Court of Appeal are:-
1. Hon. (Mr) Justice P. A. Mahmud
2. Hon. (Mr) Justice F. O. Ojo
3. Hon. (Mr) Justice I. A. Andenyangsto
4. Hon. (Mr) Justice G. O. Kolawole
5. Hon. (Mr) Justice B. B. Aliyu
6. Hon. (Mr) JusticeEbiowei Tobi
7. Hon. (Mr) Justice J. G. Abundaga
8. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. S. Umar
9. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Talba
10. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Bayero
11. Hon. (Mr) Justice A. M. Lamido
12. Hon. (Mr) Justice M. B. Idris
The nine Judges for the Federal High Court are:
1. Sunday BasseyOnu
2. Mrs.AdefunmilolaAdekemi Demi-Ajayi
3. Hon. (Mr) Justice Peter O. Lifu
4. ObioraAtuegwuEgwuata
5. Sa’adatu Ibrahim Mark (Mrs)
6. MobolajiOlubukola Olajuwon
7. AminuBappaAliyu
8. TijjaniGarbaRingim
9. Nkeonye Evelyn Maha
The Seven Judges for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory are:
1. Binta Mohammed
2. ModupeOsho-Adebiyi
3. GabaVenchak Simon
4. Babangida Hassan
5. AkobiIyabeni Anna
6. Samirah Umar Bature
7. AsmauAkanbi Yusuf
The statement said that the Justices of the Court of Appeal will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council, Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen on Friday June 22.
It said that those who were appointed for the Federal High Court will be sworn-in on Monday, June 25 while the Judges appointed for the High Court of the FCT will be sworn-in on Tuesday, June 26 at the main hall of the Court room of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made available the sum of $210 million to meet customers’ requests in various segments of the foreign exchange market.
A statement from the bank said that $100 million was offered to authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment got boosted with the sum of $55 million.
The statement said that customers needing foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, were also allocated the sum of $55 million.
It will be recalled that the bank, last Thursday, intervened to the tune of $343.06 million to cater for requests in the retail segment of the forex market.
Meanwhile, the naira continued its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N360/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Wednesday.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Yussuff Lasun
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Yussuff Lasun has said that no amount of intimidation by his opponents would stop him from seeking the mandate of the people of Osun State to serve them as the next governor of the state.
Yussuff Lasu, who spoke to news men in Lagos yesterday, Tuesday, stressed that irrespective of sponsored political blackmails, threats and politically inspired smear campaigns to muscle him out of the governorship race of Osun state, he is determined to enlist the support of the masses of the state.
“I am a man of the people,” lawmaker said, adding that he has a record of unflinching service to the party as a true progressive and that he is ready to continue the personal sacrifices “to make my people happy. The interests and welfare of the people of Osun state is uppermost to me and I am going to put all that I have to get the peoples mandate to become the next governor of the state.
“Those who are engaging in all sorts of blackmail against me are doing so because of my growing political acceptance anchored on my role as a party man and identity that is known to anybody who knew about our struggles of the past in our dear state”.
“I am prepared to keep serving my people and they are behind me and I will not abandon them for any blackmail no matter where the threats, smear campaigns or is blackmail coming from. I will not allow the blackmail to distract me from seeking the mandate of the people of Osun state in the next election.
“People are prepared to employ any means to pull you down” stressing however that those engaged in the pull down syndrome were doing so because “they are afraid of the salient records of my commitment to service dedicated to a better life for the people of Osun.
“Look at my track records, I have invested all I have in life in the state. All my investments are in Osun. Where a man’s treasure is, there his heart is. I know some of them who take whatever they have by way of investments and they situate them elsewhere.
“Check my records, I have the people of Osun in my heart and I am ready to do everything possible to take that state out of its present economic challenges.”
Yussuff Lasun advised all political actors in the state to as a matter of priority “put the interests of the people of Osun at the center of their campaign,” nothing that “the reason we are seeking to govern is to be able to improve the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the state and that’s exactly why I intend to do when am given the mandate to lead the state”.
Meanwhile, Legislative Writers Association (LWA) have urged the Deputy Speaker not to be distracted by political enemies who are bent on dragging his name in the mud
In a statement by its national coordinator and secretary, Austen Odey and Johnson Eze, the body urged Lasun “not to be distracted in his service to the House of Representatives and indeed Nigerians, asserting that the many projects and interventions using his legislative relevance to attract marks him high among other contenders.
They encouraged the Deputy Speaker to stay focused and take all the smear campaigns as a source of renewed strength in the pursuit of a better life for the people of Osun stressing that “in the fullness of time you will be vindicated.”
Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah has responded to Present Muhammadu Buhari by saying that he should not expect the National Assembly to rubber stamp the 2018 budget which the President just signed into law today, Wednesday. “Certainly, you wouldn’t expect us to just rubber stamp and just bring it back. We have to do the nitty gritty of budget consideration. Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well and we have done what we think is the right thing to do to deliver on the expectations and the mandate bestowed on us by the people of our constituencies.” Na Allah, who spoke to news men at the presidential Villa, Abuja shortly after President Buhari signed the budget, in reaction to President’s complaint of increased in the budget, described the job of parliamentarians as a very difficult one. “The way the budget came, if we had allowed it to go that way, we would have been in trouble with those who elected us. you have to balance between the six geo political zones. “It is the balancing efforts by the National Assembly that led to those observations and happily enough, he himself has said he is coming with a supplementary budget which will be dealt with as quickly as possible. I assure you about that one.” Senator Na Allah explained that supplementary budgets don’t normally last long, adding that the one it will be built on what has already been done by the National Assembly. I think that is the most important issue. “About the issue of delay, the president is right, but at the same time, if you remember, you were here, the president had to order some MDAs to appear before the Assembly for the purpose of defending their budgets. “It’s a very delicate issue, if somebody said he wants N500 million for the maintenance of bridges nationwide, then you expect the National Assembly to say Ok, that budget is approved because it came from the executive, then we have not done our work, we will be interested in knowing which of the roads are you going to maintain so that again, we don’t give another allocation in the next budget. “Those observations are correct but in the budgeting process those things are normal.” “I think some of these major concerns Mr President has raised are very critical and I am afraid if I should be in a position to respond on behalf of the House. But for me as an individual and a member of the House of Representatives, I want to belief that the president is at liberty to raise some of these observations. But the most important thing you have to know is that the budget has been signed and is now a law of the federation and we expect the executive to now implement the law to the latter. “Should the president however, brings about an amendments or a supplementary budget for the National Assembly to consider. We will also at the same time be at liberty to look at the president’s concerns and those things he wants us to now review and I want to belief the National Assembly is always in a position to work hand in hand with Mr President. “A lot of us in both chambers of the National Assembly have tremendous respect for Mr President and we cherish his moral integrity as a leader. “I want to believe we will always play in tune to his expectations to make him deliver on the dividends of democracy that he promised especially in this period of election. “Some of us that are in the APC, and even a lot of members that are in opposition are quiet aware of the enormous responsibility on the shoulders of Mr President. Now is the right time to cooperate with Mr President and give him what he desires as the leader of the government.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has appended his signature to the controversial 2018 national budget, complaining about the selfishness with which the National Assembly passed the budget. The President complained that the National Assembly selfishly added figures to it’s budgetary allocation while it reduced that of the executive.
“An example of this increase is the budget of the National Assembly itself which has increased by 14.5 billion Naira, from 125 billion Naira to 139.5 billion Naira without any discussion with the executive.”
President Buhari expressed concern over the increase by the National Assembly, in the provisions for Statutory Transfers by an aggregate of 73.96 billion Naira, adding that most of these increases are for recurrent expenditure at a time his government is trying to keep down the cost of governance.
The full text of President Buhari’s speech after signing the budget goes thus:
I would like to thank the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as all the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, for passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, after seven months.
When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7th November 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year. The importance of this predictability cannot be overemphasized.
While the Federal Government’s budget represents less than 10% of aggregate yearly expenditures in the economy, it has a very significant accelerator effect on the financial plans of other tiers of government, and even more importantly, the private sector, which mostly operates on a January-December financial year.
Notwithstanding the delay this year, I am determined to continue to work with the National Assembly towards improving the budgeting process and restoring our country to the January-December fiscal cycle.
I note, with pleasure, that the National Assembly is working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law, so as to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process.
As I mentioned during the presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill, we intend to use the 2018 Budget to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.
It is in this regard that I am concerned about some of the changes that the National Assembly has made to the budget proposals that I presented. The logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that, it is the Executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.
Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me. The National Assembly made cuts amounting to 347 billion Naira in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to 578 billion Naira.
Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation. Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualized, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.
Furthermore, many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.
As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the States and Local Governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.
Such examples of projects from which cuts were made are as follows:
The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.
Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of 7.5 billion Naira.
The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional Security Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9 billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira; this will make it impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfill its commitment to the United Nations on this project.
The provisions for various Strategic Interventions in the health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions, transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system, provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an aggregate amount of 7.45 billion Naira.
The provision for security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools across the country were cut by 3 billion Naira at a time when securing our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of government.
The provision for the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme was cut by 8.7 billion Naira.
At a time when we are working with Labour to address compensation-related issues, a total of 5 billion Naira was cut from the provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.
The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialization initiatives of this Administration, were cut by a total of 14.5 billion Naira.
The provision for Construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport was cut from 2 billion Naira to 500 million Naira which will further delay the completion of this critical project.
The Take-off Grant for the Maritime University in Delta State, a key strategic initiative of the Federal Government, was cut from 5 billion Naira to 3.4 billion Naira.
About seventy (70) new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.
Another area of concern is the increase by the National Assembly of the provisions for Statutory Transfers by an aggregate of 73.96 billion Naira. Most of these increases are for recurrent expenditure at a time we are trying to keep down the cost of governance.
An example of this increase is the budget of the National Assembly itself which has increased by 14.5 billion Naira, from 125 billion Naira to 139.5 billion Naira without any discussion with the Executive.
Notwithstanding the above stated observations, I have decided to sign the 2018 Budget in order not to further slowdown the pace of recovery of our economy, which has doubtlessly been affected by the delay in passing the budget.
However, it is my intention to seek to remedy some of the most critical of these issues through a supplementary and/or amendment budget which I hope the National Assembly will be able to expeditiously consider.
I am pleased with the success recorded in the implementation of the 2017 Budget. A total sum of 1.5 trillion Naira has been released for the implementation of capital projects during the 2017 fiscal year. In response to this and other policy measures implemented, we have observed significant improvement in the performance of the Nigerian economy.
To achieve the laudable objectives of the 2018 Budget, we will work very hard to generate the revenues required to finance our projects and programmes. The positive global oil market outlook, as well as continuing improvement in non-oil revenues, make us optimistic about our ability to finance the budget.
However, being a deficit budget, the Borrowing Plan will be forwarded to the National Assembly shortly. I crave the indulgence of the National Assembly for a speedy consideration and approval of the Plan.
The 2018 Budget I have just signed into law provides for aggregate expenditures of 9.12 trillion Naira, which is 22.6% higher than the 2017 Appropriation. Further details of the approved budget will be provided by the Minister of Budget and National Planning.
I thank the Ministers of Budget and National Planning, the Budget Office of the Federation, and everyone who worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to bring us to this day. However, the job is only partly done.
I am sure you will remain committed to advancing our Change Agenda, not only in the preparation of the national budget but also in ensuring its effective implementation.
Early in 1988 I was persuaded to try my luck with farming by my friend and colleague, now late Abu Tapidi. His father in-law lived around Ngurore, a village in the precincts of Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Through him we rented a large parcel of land which we shared with other friends who also invested in the enterprise.
We cleared the land then waited for the rains. When they came, we ploughed and then planted maize seedlings. At the appropriate time we applied fertilizers and watched happily as our farms developed. Then came a most disturbing report from our farm supervisor that some Fulani herdsmen had invaded the farm with their cattle and caused extensive damage.
After an inspection of the damaged farm, we followed the advice of the farm supervisor and reported the problem to the Ardo, the local leader of the Fulani herdsmen in the neighborhood. As it turned out, it was a most wise move. If we had gone to the police, they would have demanded bribes. The Fulani herdsmen themselves avoided having encounters with the police for the same reason – bribery.
It was a good decision to have engaged a local farm supervisor because he was on hand when the herdsmen invaded the farms and he could positively identify the group. After our report to the Ardo, a meeting was arranged with the herdsmen and we tabled our complaints. The herdsmen were full of regrets for the damage they caused us and then went into discussions, switching off from Hausa, which I understand to the Fulfulde language, which I don’t.
After what looked like an endless discussion, they switched back to Hausa. We were told the herd that had caused the damage on our farms had been identified and that the owner would be responsible for compensating us for the damage. We were then told to quantify our damage into Naira and Kobo which wedid. Another round of endless haggling ensued at the end of which a solution was worked out. The owner of the rampaging cattle had agreed to pay for our losses but he had no cash. We were to wait for the next market day at Ngurore for him to sell one cow and then pay us. We agreed and left.
As we drove back to Yola, I asked Abu Tapidi about the man who was to settle our losses. All through the negotiations, I noticed that he was angry, wore a melancholic look on his face and argued endlessly. It was then that I knew what his predicament was. First, he agreed that we suffered losses and needed to be compensated. But he was not convinced that it was his cattle which were herded by a young lad of between nine to twelve years that had caused the damage. Most of the negotiations at our meeting with the herdsmen and their Ardo was done in Hausa. Unfortunately, the man did not speak the Hausa language and all that transpired during the negotiations had to be translated to him in Fulfulde. He believed there was a conspiracy against him by his fellow Fulani herdsmen who could speak Hausa to criminalize and shortchange him. From what Abu Tapidi who spoke a smattering of Fulfulde could understand, the man felt there was a gang up against him because of his inability to speak Hausa.
It was a pathetic situation. But he kept his word. His failure to do so would have led to more losses on his part. The Ardo had ruled based on the evidence of his fellow herdsmen that he was guilty. If he refused to honor the gentleman’s agreement, he would have been dragged to the police where he would most likely be detained, pay bribes and suffer more losses than just one cow. It was on that day that I saw for the first time what the loss of one cow means to a Fulani herdsman. The pain on his face was just beyond description.
Last week as I visited Yola to condole with the family of my friend, brother and most reliable comrade,Abdulahi No Sweat, memories of this incidence and many others swept through my mind. I could not just believe how Adamawa and Nigeria has changed for the worst within such a short period in our life time. Problems between herdsmen and sedentary farmers of today cannot be resolved the way we did it in Ngurore in 1988. There has been a lot of bloodshed and loss of life and property in Adamawa, just like in her sister state of Taraba. Benue, Nassarawa, Plateau and Kaduna statesare burning because problems between herdsmen and sedentary farmers defy solutions.
At the home of Abdullahi No Sweat, his widowed wife Inna – a fine Fulani lady – whose marriage to No Sweat saw me playing a significant role in 1988, who speaks perfect Tiv language and who spent her honeymoon in my remote Tiv village was heartbroken to see me. Still, she managed to crack some jokes after the shock of our meeting me was over.
I devoted a whole day of my stay in Yola determined to see old friends. I saw many, mostly my Fulani friends. By evening, I was at the home of Professor Jibril Aminu a Fulani and old school mate of Abdulahi No Sweat at the Adamawa Provincial School in Yola way back in the 50’s. We broke his fast together with a three-course meal at his Jimeta home. I have done that with him and No Sweat on several occasions in the past at his house in theAso Rock Villa neighborhood.
As we discussed what to do to assist the young family our mutual friend No Sweat left behind, the fact of our common humanity as Tiv and Fulani began to dawn on me. It also dawned on me how governments’ incompetence and failure to appreciate and solve problems in an objective way could lead to wastage of human life, property and finally failure of state.
Senegal defeated Poland in their opening Group H game with a 2-1 victory at the Spartak Stadium, recording the first win by an African team at the ongoing World Cup. M’Baye Niang’s strike secured victory on the hour, after a 37th-minute own goal handed Senegal the half-time lead. Both teams seemed nervous at the start in Senegal’s first World Cup match since 2002 and Poland’s first since 1996. In a first half of few chances Senegal took control when outshot Poland 5-2 while the Poles had a slight possession edge. Senegal took the lead when Mbaye Niang went around Lukasz Piszczek on the flank following a restart and centred to Sadio Mané. The Senegal midfielder passed to Idrissa Gueye, who sent a right-foot shot from the arc toward Wojciech Szczesny’s far post. But the Poland defender Thiago Cionek, near the penalty spot, lifted his right leg and deflected the ball past a wrong-footed Szczesny. Niang then struck on the hour. From the centre of the pitch Grzegorz Krychowiak tried to loft a 50-yard pass back to his goalkeeper but the ball dropped woefully short. Niang beat Szczesny to the ball and shot into an empty net. Krychowiak pulled a goal back, but it was not enough for Poland. The teams next play on Sunday, when Senegal face Japan and Poland take on Colombia.
Industry and Commerce delegation from Germany has rated Nigeria as one of the promising markets for foreign investors.
Members of the delegation, led by Ulrich Konstantin Rieger, Head of Division, Internationalization Department Africa, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, alongside the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck paid a visit on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today, Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The leader of the delegation and German Ambassador acknowledged that the economic policy initiatives of the Muhammadu Buhari administration have improved Nigeria’s rating as a more investor-friendly destination. “After difficult years, Nigeria is facing an upward trend; the investment climate seems to be improving. For foreign companies, Nigeria is one of the most promising markets in Africa,” Rieger added. this was even as Vice President Osinbajo stressed that the Buhari administration is continually working very hard to create an environment that makes it much easier for businesses to thrive in Nigeria and is looking at ways to solve infrastructure and economic issues. “A few weeks ago, we completed the Focus Labs which was a way by which we thought we could crack some of the difficult problems concerning investors coming into Nigeria. There were a wide range of investors in power, oil and gas, various sectors. They had one issue or the other with their investments, and we had over a 6-week period, we worked through each of those problems with government agencies in attendance. “It was a very innovative experience, because we had all government agencies in the same room with investors who had issues, and we ensured that the investors were able to get some results from the Focus Labs. We intend to take that approach in resolving many of the other issues that have been outlined. I think Minister of Industry mentioned that in relation to Nigerian Investment Promotion Council’s approach in solving some of these problems. “I just want to say that Nigeria is set for business, and fortunately, you have NIPC – Yewande Sadiku will be talking to you in greater detail about some of the issues around investment and all that. A lot of the physical issues and concerns around interest rates, we are working on it now that inflation has declined steadily in the past 18 months, we are certainly going to have to look at how to substantially reduce interest rates to make it easier for businesses to take credit. We are in a very good place, especially with the physical situation improving very considerably, to make some important changes. We are hoping the Central Bank will be able to do so in a very short time. Nigeria is a place to look at for innovation and technology, we have so many young people there, and we think that might be an interesting opportunity as well.” [myad]
There has been nothing in recent memory like the build-up to Nigeria’s first match at the on-going 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia. Football is Nigeria’s greatest unifier: when it is football, our compatriots drop all ethnic, religious and ideological differences and profess the missing faith and ideology of one Nigeria.
They have expressed similar solidarity over whose jollof is sweeter in the competition between Ghanaian jollof, Senegalese jollof and Nigerian jollof – the way Nigerians defend our national cuisine, you would think we are a nation of gourmets, but nothing compares to the magic of football and its connection with nationalism. When it comes to football, Nigeria is the home of passion, zeal and boundary-less excitement. This is intriguing so to speak in the same nation where politics is combustible and a comment about another person’s faith or religion, or ethnicity or a mere disagreement between a Hausa-Fulani and a Yoruba at Mile 12 market, or between a pastoralist and a farmer in the Middle Belt could result in bloodbath, even at a football-viewing centre. The only explanation we have for this is that Nigeria is a complex country, full of paradoxes, and clearly, only Nigerians understand their country.
Nonetheless, the disappointing performance of the Super Eagles in their first match at the on-going 2018 World Cup tournament has nothing to do with paradox or complexity, it was a display of sheer absent-mindedness. In the build-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria was the darling of the entire world. The news was that we had the best set of jerseys and kits in the world. Despite the shoulder-rubbing aspiration of Egypt, Croatia and one other country like that, the Nigerian jerseys designed by Nike became the aso ebi of the World Cup – a nice combination of colour, mood, shade and tint. The jerseys sold out a few minutes after being made available on the Nike website. Before you knew it, everybody that is somebody or simply pro-Nigerian started wearing the jersey, across the world. If the World Cup were to be won by the beauty of the garment, Nigerians would have seized the trophy even before the tournament began.
There was even a quarrel over the attires: there must be like four different types, but the one eventually designed by a local tailor made as much wave as the Nike ones and one guy went on twitter to protest that there was a Nigerian conspiracy against the Warri guy who designed the local aso ebi. At that point, the ethnic element came in, but Nigerians didn’t dwell on that. They quickly recognized @gt_stitches and asked the Super Eagles to show the world what they have.
Beautiful Nollywood girls and professional local slay queens pushed their frontal and back-end assets in our faces proclaiming Up-Nigeria. Some even exposed nice, succulent, tempting flesh, to reassure the Super Eagles that the women of Nigeria were behind them. Some celebrities joined the craze, including a few pot-bellied, and white-hair-in-the-nose actors wearing the Super Eagles jersey. The international media spotted the story – BBC, CNN, Al-Jazeera etc and adopted the Super Eagles as the best-dressed team in the World Cup and we all went wa-ah–oh. They even interviewed Russians watching our Nigerian football fans, dancing round the streets of Russia, singing, jolloficating, and energetically pounding the streets. “The Nigerians just won’t stop singing and dancing”!
The excitement was so much that even the President of Brazil endorsed Nigeria as a key team at the World Cup. The Irish, not having a team at the World Cup, ignored England and said they were supporting Nigeria. It was clear to me, doing a structuralist and semiotic reading of this that Nigeria is a country in desperate need of good news. I didn’t attempt a Marxist reading- the Russians themselves having killed Karl Marx after his death. The World Cup is not about the struggle of the masses, or equity or justice. It is war, even if at the end of the day the gifted are separated from the waka-pass and a dictatorship of the former is established. Every qualifying team joins the war to defend its country, its brand, national ego and corporate brand. Very sad. Very bad. So frustrating, therefore: The Super Eagles messed us up on Saturday, June 16. Many Nigerians were disappointed with their performance. It was Nigeria’s 6thWorld Cup appearance. The boys may have worn the most fashionable clothes, but they failed to realize that the World Cup is not a Dolce and Gabana show where Wizkid and Naomi Campell can exchange boy and woman banters or that the garment does not make the Monk. Every World Cup match is a macho game, a game of thrones, with too much at stake – personal brands, national brands, and the ego and emotions of nations. Our team lacked energy, drive and creativity. Alex Iwobi, the leading light from the qualifiers was anonymous on the left wing. Victor Moses was the man every Nigerian thought would make some difference. The fella was busy showboating all over the pitch on Saturday, falling up and down like a yoyo, kicking the ball like a headless chicken. Ighalo was left isolated with no secondary support.
Troost-Ekong certainly does not know that the World Cup field is not a night-club. He should be told to stop holding and embracing the opponent in the penalty yard. A football match is not a ballet where people cling to each other and do the pirouette. Mikel Obi should try and help his country. Cristiano Ronaldo had a big tax evasion matter on his head, but he still stood up for his country. Diego Costa: he proved himself for Spain. Lionel Messi may have lost the penalty: I blame the coach – never ask Messi to take the penalty, he would mess it up- but he worked hard for Argentina.
With an own goal and a silly penalty give-away in the match against Croatia, we have all now become a nation of football coaches. Young Nigerians who claim to understand football, even if their only claim to that is the Aba-made Super Eagles jersey they bought in Lagos Traffic, or at Yaba bend-down market, are now telling Gernot Rohr what combination he must adopt in subsequent matches. Many amateur coaches have recommended the 4-4-2 combination but I think Nigeria probably stands a chance of doing better in this World Cup if all the arm-chair coaches on social media can be blocked and all the fine girls with corruption-laden body parts can be banned from sending Direct Messages to the Super Eagles. Also, the boys must not visit Mikel Obi’s in-laws until the end of the tournament. They must stay away from Russian hospitality and Vodka. Nigeria as a country needs to concentrate on the task at hand. Switzerland was able to hold Brazil down to a 1-1 draw because they focused on the job. The same was the case in the Portugal-Spain match. Marcus, the pig had predicted that Spain would beat Portugal. But that didn’t happen. In the dying minutes, Ronaldo made it a hat-rick and cancelled Diego Costa’s brace. We need people like that in the Super Eagles. Portugal obviously did not rely on the pig.
It is indeed a crying shame that Nigerians are relying on fashion and animals for their World Cup 2018 fortune. Just before our first match against Croatia on Saturday, we were told that the Football Association Chairman in Russia had issued a statement forbidding Super Eagles fans from bringing live chickens to the stadiums. Apparently the Super Eagles Fans’ Club Association had asked for permission to bring live chickens to the match venues- chickens are said to be symbols of the Fans’ association. I don’t know whether or not the Russians were being polite, but they said No. I have tried to put myself in their shoes. Having heard all those stories about snakes that steal millions of money in Nigeria, who in his right senses in the world today, will allow Nigerians to bring a live chicken to a competitive football match? What if any of the chickens, the sprightly, springy ones broke loose, jumped onto the field of play and caused some havoc in the course of a peregrination across the stadium? There is also the additional threat of bird flu, being spread inadvertently through contact or air-borne pollination. But may be it was not even the chickens that posed the greatest danger, it was probably Marcus the pig- the prophesying-animal that reportedly told the whole world that the Super Eagles would make it to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Nigerians generally, including the Super Eagles are very superstitious. But we all need to be told that the World Cup is not about chickens and pigs. Some Nigerians were so dependent on the pig’s prediction that when they were disappointed at the end, they slaughtered and barbecued Marcus – representations of it – literally, and figuratively, on social media for its treachery. May they be reminded that the same pig probably predicted that Spain will beat Portugal in their first encounter. But Portugal had Ronaldo who proved to be brighter than the pig and in the dying minutes, he changed the game. And that takes us to where we are going: the Super Eagles must stop relying on predictions, or pigs or chickens and play football. The on-going World Cup tournament is already springing surprises and living up to the hype. Mexico trashed Germany the defending Champions. Switzerland held Brazil with their individually and collectively talented squad to a draw. Portugal and Spain played as if they were at war. Iceland, a first-time participant at the World Cup, put up a great showing, 1-1, against Argentina, a team mentioned as one of the favourites to win the tournament. This particular match recorded specular saves by the Iceland goalkeeper, including a Lionel Messi penalty kick. Magical moments like this indicate determination and the desire to win. Hannes Halldorsson, Iceland’s goalkeeper, is a film-maker away from football- he would never have guessed he would produce a film-like performance at the World Cup and also be named Man of the Match.
On Friday, June 22, the Super Eagles will again be on the field – against Iceland. If there is ever a must-win match to keep a nation’s hope alive, that must be it. The Super Eagles must not play like pigs or chickens. We expect them to play like champions. Just before the World Cup began, Javier Mascherano, an Argentine player commented on how the great thing about Nigeria is that we are a disorganized team, and that our disorganization disorganizes other teams. Masherano was proven right in our match against Croatia. That is disheartening.
As a country that has football ingrained into its identity, we expect a lot more even if, to be honest, there is an obvious lack of high-end talent representing the national team. Many of our own who can make a difference are, sadly and unfortunately, representing other national teams at this World Cup. Manuel Obafemi Akanji, born to a Nigerian father, has just helped Switzerland to secure a draw against Brazil. Dele Alli, another Nigerian is in the English national team. So I ask: are we expecting too much from the Super Eagles? Are we putting too much pressure on them to perform? I don’t think so. Romelu Lukaku, a star of the Belgian team and Manchester United, is from a family that had no access to Cable TV. His family was poor. He is now making a second-time appearance in the World Cup finals. He has scored 2 goals in this World Cup to help secure a 3-0 victory for Belgium over Panama. Gabriel Jesus of Brazil used to paint streets; today he is one of the leading stars for Brazil at the World Cup. What Nigerians want from the Super Eagles at this World Cup is good performance, a display of ability and seriousness, and a successful defence of the Nigerian brand.
Developing football? Whatever happens at the end of the day in Russia, we have to learn to develop Nigeria’s football sector and the entire sports sector – the management, the leadership recruitment, the diversification and strategic intensification – to demonstrate to the world that we are a serious-minded nation. Super Eagles – a severely depressed nation in search of good news waits on you.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to lead a Federal Government delegation immediately to Bauchi State to assess the extent of material and human losses in the wake of the windstorm which destroyed an estimated 1,505 houses mainly in the state capital.
No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead while 120 others have reportedly sustained various degrees of injury. Azare, another major town was struck by a major fire disaster that destroyed the market in the town a few days after.
The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engineer Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja is part of the Presidential delegation, even as before now, NEMA has started mobilizing relief items from its warehouses located in Damaturu and Yola for onward distribution to those displaced by the windstorm. The aid materials are expected to reach Bauchi today, Tuesday evening while assessment is being conducted on the fire incident in Azare.
President Buhari had yesterday, Monday, extended his deepest sympathies to the victims and families of devastating windstorm and the fire incidents.
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made available the sum of $210 million to meet customers’ requests in various segments of the foreign exchange market.
Early in 1988 I was persuaded to try my luck with farming by my friend and colleague, now late Abu Tapidi. His father in-law lived around Ngurore, a village in the precincts of Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Through him we rented a large parcel of land which we shared with other friends who also invested in the enterprise.
Senegal defeated Poland in their opening Group H game with a 2-1 victory at the Spartak Stadium, recording the first win by an African team at the ongoing World Cup.
There has been nothing in recent memory like the build-up to Nigeria’s first match at the on-going 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia. Football is Nigeria’s greatest unifier: when it is football, our compatriots drop all ethnic, religious and ideological differences and profess the missing faith and ideology of one Nigeria.
