The beginning of the end of Aribisala’s fiction

The Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in this rejoinder, dismisses Dr. Femi Aribisala’s latest column entitled The beginning of the end of Bola Tinubu

DR. Femi Aribisala’s recent article “The beginning of the end of the Bola Tinubu Dynasty” should not have appeared in The Vanguard or in any newspaper for that matter. What this piece represented was a contribution to fiction writing, not responsible journalism.

Even there, it was bad fiction. Aribisala is so obsessed with his animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu that Aribisala cannot see or think straight. Thus, his writing is crooked. If one did not know better, one would think Aribisala does not hate Tinubu as much as he envies the man. Aribisala wishes he were Tinubu. Instead, Aribisala is relegated to being the Asiwaju of his own imagination.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The article is presented as an objective news analysis and commentary.  In doing so, the writer does injury to the newspaper, the truth and to the reading public.  The piece begins with a purported quotation from Bola Tinubu himself used to paint him in an unsavory light. The problem is that this quotation never occurred. It was figment of the author’s dire, envious imagination.

What was presented as   fact is fantasy. The man has the freedom to write whatever he pleases be it fact or fiction. However, it is unethical for him to portray as incisive journalism what are nothing but the fruits of personal hatred translated into  paper and ink.  When the truth does not prove the point he wants to make, Aribisala invents his own truth. While this might be an asset for a fiction writer, for a public commentator, it is a serious trespass against the tenets of responsible journalism.

Responsiblejournalism

Aribisala may well be jumping through these unethical hoops to currying the favor of the monarch of Aso Villa. But he should not be so hypocritical as to try to confuse us that his efforts are done as a public service.

The man actually criticizes Asiwaju for being a successful political leader as if doing so were some type of sin when , in fact, Nigeria is in great need of more far-sighted politician leaders not fewer. Aribisala claims Asiwaju wants to be another Awolowo. Here, why did not he quote Tinubu who has rebuked this charge many times? Repeatedly, he has stated there can only be Awolowo and to try to fit into his shoes is to lace yourself to failure.

We must learn from the great one and the principles he espoused so that we meet the challenges of our time as our legendary mentor and leader would have us do.  This Tinubu’s position regarding Awo. If you want to accuse Tinubu of believing that Awolowo is the father of progressive politics in Nigeria, he would plead guilty. But Aribisala accuses him of trying to supplant Awolowo.  The accusation is wrong and mean-spirited.

Again, at one point, Aribisala invents a Tinubu quote to as proof for his lies. Then at this point, the writer ignores Tinubu’s public statements because those statements rebuff the lie Aribisala seeks to perpetrate in the public mind. This comes to the meat of the matter.  This hack writer asserts that Tinubu seeks a dynasty. He cannot be more incorrect. Tinubu is a leader of a political reform movement along with other patriotic Nigerians.

When Tinubu held fast against the tyranny of the PDP and its attempt to capture all states by any means necessary that was the work of a man committed to democracy. If he had not stood against the great odds against him and his party, the PDP would likely have turned Nigeria into a one-party state by now.

Instead, the APC has come about and now challenges the PDP in an unprecedented manner. Any objective person would conclude that this competition is beneficial for the public and for the growth of Nigerian democracy.  It begs the question why Aribisala seems not to see this enormous contribution. He does not see it because those whose favor he seeks do not want him to expose this truth to the wider public.

Take a look at the men Tinubu has helped in their quest for public office. Fashola, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Oshiohmole, Ajimobi, Amosun, etc.  These men are not non performing “yes men”. They are all dynamic and outstanding performers in their own right. Each is different than the other and each state government excels in its own unique way.

Dynasticpretence

This means that Tinubu is not orchestrating them into some limited uniformity but stands out of the way for them to lead as they believe.  No major politician in Nigeria has a track record as good as Tinubu’s when it comes to supporting able people for office then leaving them to perform as they believe. Nowhere in the PDP does this happen.

If Aribisala wants to see and criticize something with dynastic pretence, he should do an expose on the PDP. In barking at Tinubu, he is barking at the wrong house.

This brings us to the Ekiti election. The vote count is in and the PDP has been named the winner.  Because there were few overt instances of violence, people have lauded the election as free and fair. I caution you not to be too hasty in drawing that conclusion.

Slowly, the truth is coming out about how the military blanketed the state and intimidated APC members and office holders, including the governor himself.  A new, subtler form of voter and opposition intimidation took place.

We have taken note and shall be prepared to outwit it the next time.On a larger note, Bola Tinubu is one of the leaders of a reformist national opposition party contesting against a behemoth, immoral ruling party that will use any all measures to keep power. This is a long marathon we run. There will be obstacles and pitfalls along the way. Ekiti was one but we are not deterred. Our objective is good and right. We seek democratic good governance for the people. We are not ashamed about that.

If seeking to make the people’s vote count and to make government care for the people is wrong, then let us be wrong. For we know that we will only be in the wrong to people with jaded vision such as Aribisala. History shall prove us right. Long after Aribisala’s efforts find their way to the bottom of the wastebasket, the APC shall stand as having pulled Nigeria from the precipice.   And history will score Tinubu with high marks for ever remaining the one man standing.

Sunday Dare, former General Editor of The News/Tempo magazine and former Supervisor at the Voice of America, Washington D.C. is the Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu

Laloko bemoans Nigeria world cup exit, blames lack of concentration

Abuja – Kashimawo Laloko, an Assistant Technical Director with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), on Monday blamed lack of concentration for Nigeria’s exit from the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles lost 0-2 to France on Monday in Brasilia in a Round of 16 tie to crash out of the competition.
Laloko, however, said in a telephone interview that issues arising from the bonus row might have contributed majorly to the team’s exit.
“I think the players didn’t realise the importance of today’s game and I think they got a little frustrated towards the end.

Keshi and Yobo
“One can easily say we have gotten to the phase where we have always ended. It is possible that the bonus row affected the team.
“Every outstanding bonus should have been paid before this encounter to avoid all these excuses.
“We would have been smiling by now, if not that the situation in the team’s camp was mismanaged. Because, even if you are not going to pay all bonuses, you should pay some.
“It is possible the boys stomached all these things and decided to show it in their performance. It has not helped Nigeria at all,’’ Laloko said.
He pointed out that the team would have defeated the French team if not for the distractions, noting that the French team was not tactically balanced earlier in the game.
Laloko also frowned at a situation where the Eagles were carried away by team captain Joseph Yobo’s 100th cap celebration, adding that it was another major source of distraction.
“We would have gone beyond this stage. But, along the line, I became worried because the players themselves became frustrated and the French team took over.
“I knew the Eagles will regret the errors they were making once the French team got a goal, and it later happened.
“In  fact, my position all the time about Yobo was that his inclusion in the team was going to be a minus.
“I didn’t expect him to do better than he did and was not surprised that the team went ahead to celebrate his 100th cap for the national team instead of concentrating on the competition,’’ he said.
Paul Pogba capitalised on a Vincent Enyeama error from a corner kick to open scoring in the 79th minute for the French team.
The victory was then sealed when Yobo deflected the ball into his own net in the 90th minute due to pressure from French substitute Antoine Griezmann.
Nigeria’s exit from the competition handed the French team a quarter-final place.(NAN)

Orezi causes chaos as he flaunts Limo ride

Fast rising music artist, Esegine Allen, whose fans know as Orezi, seems to be making it big in the music industry as he was spotted in a limo car at a Lagos event where he stole the attention of many people at the ceremony.
It all started when people at the event sighted the limo at the gate and anticipated who was inside the expensive ‘toy.’
But as soon as he stepped down from the long vehicle, many rushed to take his photograph for which he was delighted. And when asked why he decided to do that, he said, “it is about showbiz.”
Orezi, who hails from Delta State, burst onto the Nigerian Music scene after collaborating with DJ Jimmy Jatt where he was featured with Sauce Kid, Muna, and Igho, in a song titled Komije.

Eagles win blackmail game,lose to france

Cameroon had issues with money. They shamefully lost three matches, conceding nine goals and scoring two.
Ghana took after them. They had issues with money. Their government was ashamed and disgraced Africa the more when they flew $3m cash to Brazil to meet the demands of their players. International media mocked Africa. Flying $3m cash to Brazil?
Money doesn’t play football. They had the money but shamefully lost to Portugal and crashed in the first round.
Nigeria failed to learn from their mistakes.

Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama saves a shot by Paul Pogba of France.
They lost to Argentina but courtesy of Bosnia’s victory over Iran, they qualified for the second round.
Rather than concentrate on the match, they started making issues over money. They wanted appearance fee paid them from fifa’s grant which had not been paid to the federation. They boycotted training for a day in their bid to collect money.
It was a blackmail which President Jonathan, just like his Ghanaian counterpart, fell to. He sent Sports minister to Brazil in a Presidential jet with some cash to make the players win. But money doesn’t win matches. Competitiveness, tactical discipline,fitness and concentration are all ingredients of victory.
Money could not provide these for the Eagles yesterday even as they have to be commended for getting to the second round. But heightening tension over appearance fee in spite of the bonuses that they have been collecting didn’t help their concentration.
It backfired when they put money before the country. Their fitness was doubtful when they lost gas in the closing minutes of the second half against France yesterday in Brasilia. They lacked competitiveness when Mikel Obi played all the matches in spite of his poor runs in this 2014 World Cup.
He was awful yesterday but Eagles lacked a good bench to react to substitution needs. It was glaring in their substitutions from day one of the ongoing World Cup. Each substitute was worse than the player he changed.
The way they played yesterday especially in the second half showed they fell short of the tactical discipline to get them to the quarterfinals.
They did their best, impressed some Nigerians but simply lacked what it takes to go far in the World Cup. Round of 16 is not bad. But Cameroun, Senegal and Ghana once got to the quarterfinals. Nigeria are yet to reach that level.
And this summed up their World Cup story yesterday when France beat them 2-0, with goals scored in the late minutes when they mounted pressure and Eagles eventually cracked after so many saves from Vincent Enyeama, a goal-keeper they have described as one of the best in this World Cup.
Unfortunately, it was Enyeama’s parry that gifted Paul Pogba the chance to head the ball into the net   in the 79th minute.
When it came, it was so simple. Valbuena whipped the ball toward the far post from the left.
And in the first minute of injury time, Nigeria conceded possession again needlessly, Omeruo passed the ball back and out for a corner down the right.
A quickly taken corner, and Benzema rushed along the byline with the ball. He fired it low into the six-yard box, where Griezmann got ahead of Yobo and Enyeama at the right-hand post, and flicked, which Yobo helped into the net. In retrospect, Ogenyi’s Onazi’s injury and subsequent substitution handed the advantage to France, who exploited the big void left by Onazi, who before his replacement did a yeoman’s role in the midfield.
His replacement, Gabriel Reuben did not just fit into the mix and with Mikel playing the worst football of his career, it allowed the French to exploit all the frailties in the Nigerian side.
What an anti-climatic way to end the World Cup.

Super eagles lacks technical,tactical depth-fans

Brazil 2014: Abuja football fans express disappointment with Eagles over 0-2 loss to France
Abuja -  A cross-section of football fans in Abuja on Monday expressed disappointment with the Super Eagles over their loss to France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria supporters celebrate their team’s 2-0 win over Ethiopia on January 29, 2013 after a 2013 African Cup of Nations Group C football match at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg. AFP PHOTO
France beat Nigeria 2-0 in their Round of 16 match to progress to the quarter-finals after a hard-fought game.
The deadlock was broken by Paul Pogba, after a goalkeeping error by the otherwise-excellent Vincent Enyeama.
Joseph Yobo’s own goal finished things off in stoppage time at the end of the match at Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha.
A cross-section of football fans who spokeafter the match however noted that even though the players gave a good fight, the team did not look organised.
They said the team lacked technical and tactical depth.
Ebere Okechukwu, a sports analyst, said: “We started well, but the tactical approach of the coach was nothing impressive. He was clueless and confused.
“Going forward, I don’t think coach Stephen Keshi is the guy for this team. But, first and foremost, we must put our house in order before aspiring for greater heights in the World Cup,’’ he said.
Ernest Frank, a businessman, blamed the coach for the team’s loss, saying Nigeria did not lose the game because of lack of quality players, but rather because of the coach.
“Keshi needs to go back to coaching school.
“I said it too many times that Emmanuel Emenike and Mikel Obi were the weakest link in the team right from all the friendly matches, yet the coach did nothing about it.
“Each time Emenike got the ball, he either fell down after running like a pregnant woman or he wasted it. A good coach would have substituted him in this game.
“Mikel on the other hand was too casual and gave away the ball too easily on many occasions, thereby allowing the French to pile on too much pressure on our defence,’’ Frank said.
Tunde Adesina, an engineer, said Keshi should have accepted the technical assistance of Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof and utilised his experience of a competition of such big nature.
“We needed the experience of someone like Westerhof to take us through the knockout round, because this game was ours. But we lost it because this team was deficient in technical knowledge.
“We outplayed the French, but then again that is football. Sometimes you win some and other times you lose some.
“It wasn’t our day today (Monday) and as Nigerians, we all feel bad about it.
“Nevertheless, no matter what has happened today. I salute the Super Eagles for at least reaching the round of 16 after a very long time.
“I think, it is a sign of good things to come in Nigerian football,” he said.
Sam Ibozi, a civil servant, rued the Super Eagles’ missed opportunities, adding that in football when one fails to take his chances, he always pay for it at the end.
“I knew Nigeria would be tired in the second half, especially after that unfortunate ankle injury suffered by Ogenyi Onazi. But that is why we should have taken our chances in the first half.
“We could have easily scored two or three goals in the first half. But we didn’t and had to pay the price at the end.
“However, I think Emenike’s goal was a legitimate one and the foul on Osaze Odemwingie was a clear penalty kick, but the referee did not think so.’’
The tournament which kicked off on June 12 will end on July 13.

Explosion rocks ile-ife

There was a pandemonium in the early hours of Tuesday in the  ancient city of Ile-Ife in Osun state following an explosion suspected to be Improvised Explosive Devise IED that rocked the city.
It was reliably gathered that two explosive devices which were planted in two strategic locations at Agbedegbede area of the town exploded at 5.30 am, leaving residents of the area in shock and apprehension.
Although no life was lost to the explosion, it was gathered that property which are yet to be estimated  were destroyed by the explosion.
The state commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim  Maishanu who confirmed the incident said “the explosion was a minor one and not a major explosion.”
He said the state Police command would reinforce security in all parts of the state, assuring all residents of the state to continue with thie activities peacefully.
Meanwhile, Osun state government has condemned explosion that rocked Ile-Ife, describing it as unfortunate.
The state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere urged the people of the state to remain calm, saying that the government would not allow any threat to the peace of the state.

Over 50 feared dead,68 injured in borno market bomb blast

Over 50 people including 16 members of the Vigilante Youth, a.k.a Civilian JTF were killed, while about 68 persons were seriously injured when a Peugeot 505 saloon car carrying charcoal but laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) exploded around the busy Elkanemi Round -About, Monday Market and about 40 metres away from the office of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Maiduguri, the Borno state Capital on Tuesday at about 7am.

People gather to look at a burnt vehicle following a bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Monday Market in Maiduguri, Borno State, on July 1, 2014. A truck exploded in a huge fireball killing at least 15 people on July 1 in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the latest attack in a city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram Islamists. AFP PHOTO
Although, the Chairman of the Vigilante Youth a.k.a Civilian JTF attached to Sector 3, Mallam Iliya Saidu while briefing Governor Kashim Shettima said, his men were able to identify 9 of his members that died in the blast, but the Chairman of Monday Market Traders Association, Alhaji Bukar Jere while giving the breakdown of the number of casualty to the Governor when he visited the scene insisted that 16 Civilian JTF were among the dozens of people killed.
Briefing, Governor Kashim Shettima at the scene of the blast, the Manager Maiduguri Monday market said “16 civilian JTF were among those killed in the blast, while 69 sustained serious injuries”.
He said 4 vehicle and four tricycles, popularly called ‘ KEKE NAPEP’ were burnt in the blast, adding that the incident also affected 49 shops and Wares displayed by the petty traders on the road side.