₦airaland Forum

Here is a 2012 account of the drama from National Mirror:

The media (new and traditional) has been awash of recent with the intruiging story of Apostle Suleiman Johnson and Miss Stephanie Otobo.

Followers of the story are drawn to take sides as new facts emerge.

As each day passes, twists and turns unravel with onlookers wondering which side to believe.

This whole drama reminds me of a similar drama which played out between Mr. Fidelis Oyahkilome, a chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and a society lady (celebrity as they are known now or socialite as we knew them then) called Ms. Jennifer Madike.

When the whole drama started, only a few could have guessed how far around and up (in government) it would go.

The dramtis personae included the two individuals mentioned above, some alleged drug barons and even the nation's first lady at the time (Mrs. Maryam Babangida).

Social media did not exist at the time so most people relied on state-run media, like the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for news.

Of course, news items had a government bent.

As the drama had a legal angle to it, we relied on a man called Kayode Williams, NTA's brilliant legal correspondent to keep us updated.

Mr. Williams had a particular manner of presenting his reports whch I found interesting and often looked forward to.

He would carefully present a summary of the arguements of the sides of cases he reported. Law students must have found his reports a useful resource.

Each time the Jennifer Madike case came up in court, I looked forward to Mr. Williams' report not only for the legal insights and new revelations the court appearances brought but probably more because of the fact that Ms. Madike was a drama queen.

She would appear in court wearing designer suits and sun-shades. She would sometimes hold up her cuffed hands in a show of defiance as she boarded vehicles taking her to prison.

She was a real drama queen and each appearance was another episode in the soap opera.

Unfortunately for her, she did not have social media to tell her own side of the story like most do today.

These days, Stephanie Otobo, Ese Walters, Kemi Olunloyo and others have the means to propagate their own sides of their "persecution" stories.

As the Stephanie-Sulaiman drama unfolds, I invite us to refresh our minds with some details of the Oyakhilome-Madike drama.

3kay945:
Thanks bro, this isn't the qoute am looking for. Maybe its similar to ' he prepared a table before me ...... '

"He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake" Psalm 23:3

3kay945:
Pls,. Who can remind me of a Bible verse or quote that end with ' for His name sake'

Thanks

Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name John 15:16


I tell you for certain the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. John 16:23-24

LemmyOdafe (OP),

Are you sure that book is based on Nigerian curriculum?

I see Cambridge on the cover.

ehie:
lol...just like the empreors of rome, the colesiums and the gladiators...lol

Something to make the plebians happy.

Airport road: FG not frustrating Lagos, says Fashola
ABDULFATAI AYOBAMI IBRAHIM
10 MAR 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday declared that his ministry was not in any way frustrating Lagos State Government with respect to the reconstruction of the Lagos International Airport Road from Oshodi.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, on Wednesday said the Federal Ministry of Works was frustrating efforts by his government to reconstruct the road.

But Fashola stated that his ministry had approved several requests made by the state government, adding that the governor failed to acknowledge that he spoke with the minister who explained ongoing processes to him.

The minister also stated that the state government had refused to provide land for the National Housing Programme.

He said it was important for his ministry to respond in order to ensure that members of the public were not misled.

Fashola, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, stated that the allegations of lack of cooperation from the ministry and frustration of the state government’s development initiatives were not true.


Disturbed by the development, the governor disclosed that the Presidential Lodge was central to the state’s fiftieth celebration, noting that the state government would soon roll programme for the anniversary.

He, therefore, lamented that the Presidential lodge, which would play a crucial role in the state’s fiftieth celebration, had not been handed over to the state government against the president’s directive.

He said the state government “has been being tossed about by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Department of State Services (DSS) even after Buhari has approved that the Presidential Lodge should be handed over to the state government.

“Buhari has actually approved handing over of the Presidential Lodge, Marina. As we speak, nothing has been done on Mr. President’s directive. We are being frustrated. The approval of Buhari should be honoured. We believe we should take possession so that we can take over.”

Likewise, Ambode lamented that the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing “is frustrating the state government’s plan to reconstruct the road that links Murtala Muhammed International to Oshodi.”
Citing the degeneration of the road, the governor described the degradation of Oshodi-Airport road as a national embarrassment, saying the state government had the cash “to do a total reconstruction of the road.

“In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe strongly that the image that is exhumed by the decadence of that road must be repaired.

“We took it upon ourselves to redevelop the road. We also took it upon ourselves to appropriate the 2017 budget that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the International Airport,” the governor explained.

He disclosed that the state government had already a design of 10 lanes “to come from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop you towards the Local Airport. The contractor is already set to go. Everything as I said has been completed.

“We already have the cash, but alas we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This is a federal and not a state road. The Federal Ministry of Works believes that they should do the road, but they have not been able to do it all these years.
Prior to when he became the governor of the state, he said the Federal Ministry of Works had been owing the state N51billion as reimbursement for reconstruction that was carried out on federal roads in the state.

Obviously, according to the governor, whatever we are asking for can never be up to N51billion they owe us. It is only logical that they should even give us part of what they owe us so that we can complete this construction of the Airport Road within a time of six months.
He, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Works “to reimburse us with whatever they owe us. Even if they are not willing to pay us now, we have the money to do it. It is a national disgrace and we would not be part of it. We would like to do it as part of the celebration of Lagos at 50.”

http://punchng.com/airport-road-fg-not-frustrating-lagos-says-fashola/

Ambode Accuses Fashola’s Ministry of Frustrating Efforts to Rehabilitate Oshodi-Airport Road
March 9, 2017162262

Akinwunmi Ambode


• Says Buhari’s directive on Presidential Lodge yet to be honoured
Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday accused the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing under the supervision of his immediate predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, of frustrating the plans of the state government to reconstruct the road linking Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Oshodi.

Ambode also accused the ministry of refusing to approve the handover of the Presidential Lodge, Marina to the state contrary to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor made the allegations at the State House, Alausa after inspecting some strategic projects in different parts of the state alongside Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello among other members of the State Executive Council.



Disturbed by the development, the governor disclosed that the Presidential Lodge was central to the state’s fiftieth celebration, noting that the state government would soon roll programme for the anniversary.

He, therefore, lamented that the Presidential lodge, which would play a crucial role in the state’s fiftieth celebration, had not been handed over to the state government against the president’s directive.

He said the state government “has been being tossed about by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Department of State Services (DSS) even after Buhari has approved that the Presidential Lodge should be handed over to the state government.

“Buhari has actually approved handing over of the Presidential Lodge, Marina. As we speak, nothing has been done on Mr. President’s directive. We are being frustrated. The approval of Buhari should be honoured. We believe we should take possession so that we can take over.”

Likewise, Ambode lamented that the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing “is frustrating the state government’s plan to reconstruct the road that links Murtala Muhammed International to Oshodi.”
Citing the degeneration of the road, the governor described the degradation of Oshodi-Airport road as a national embarrassment, saying the state government had the cash “to do a total reconstruction of the road.

“In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe strongly that the image that is exhumed by the decadence of that road must be repaired.

“We took it upon ourselves to redevelop the road. We also took it upon ourselves to appropriate the 2017 budget that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the International Airport,” the governor explained.

He disclosed that the state government had already a design of 10 lanes “to come from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop you towards the Local Airport. The contractor is already set to go. Everything as I said has been completed.

“We already have the cash, but alas we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This is a federal and not a state road. The Federal Ministry of Works believes that they should do the road, but they have not been able to do it all these years.
Prior to when he became the governor of the state, he said the Federal Ministry of Works had been owing the state N51billion as reimbursement for reconstruction that was carried out on federal roads in the state.

Obviously, according to the governor, whatever we are asking for can never be up to N51billion they owe us. It is only logical that they should even give us part of what they owe us so that we can complete this construction of the Airport Road within a time of six months.
He, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Works “to reimburse us with whatever they owe us. Even if they are not willing to pay us now, we have the money to do it. It is a national disgrace and we would not be part of it. We would like to do it as part of the celebration of Lagos at 50.”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/09/ambode-accuses-fasholas-ministry-of-frustrating-efforts-to-rehabilitate-oshodi-airport-road/

naptu2:
This was the original caption of the picture when I first saw it 3 or 4 years ago.



http://thekushchronicles..com.ng/2014/04/flashback-fridays-founding-members-of.html?m=1

Thanks!

MuttleyLaff:
Didn't you spot Moses Olaiya, the alawada comedian, whose stage name is Baba Sala, standing between Shagari and Victor Uwaifo at all?

That's Bobby Benson!

Naptu2, your comments are welcome.

004gist:
Goodluck Jonathan shows off his swag during his first service to Nigeria through NYSC


http://www.fastdatashare.com/2016/11/picture-of-forma-president-goodluck.html

Not NYSC!

That was when he worked at Customs.

Happy birthday Naptu2.

May life abundant be added to your years and many years added to your life.

Enjoy your day.

Dreamwaker:
Are you serious? Is there a sign that shows its a post office? Does it function?

The post office at Ikota is not directly on the expressway.

Structured erected on the setback by traders and others have obscured the view and path to the place.

I believe there is a sign post there but given the fast pace of movement on the expressway most people might not notice it.

If you get to Ikota and ask, I am sure you would be directed to the place.

I think there's one on Admiralty way in Phase 1.

There is also a post office opposite Ikota Primary School at Ikota (near Lekki County entrance).

johnie:
10. Power sector reforms

“When people come and say that there is no power, they only speak of their inefficiency and incapacity to deliver power. Electricity, as an invention, is over 100 years old; so there is no excuse for Nigerians to continue to live in darkness.”-

http://www.punchng.com/news/fashola-blames-pdp-for-nigerias-woes/
Now that FG and Lagos are aligned, we would not accept any excuses.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has accused western powers of being a stumbling block to Nigeria’s plan to improve power output through the use of coal.

Adeosun said this on Wednesday in Washington during a discussion on the importance of addressing infrastructure gaps in developing countries at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund General Meetings.

She said that improving power supply was the corner stone of the current administration’s goal towards economic development, yet finding it difficult to get support from western community.

“We want to build a coal power plant because we are a country blessed with coal, yet we have power problem. So it doesn’t take a genius to workout that it will make sense to build a coal power plant. “However, we are being blocked from doing so, because it is not green.

This is not fair because they have an entire western industralisation that was built on coal fired energy. “This is the competitive advantage that was used to develop Europe, yet now that Nigeria wants to do it, they say it’s not green, so we cannot.

“They suggest that we use solar and wind, which is the more expensive. So yes, Africa must invest in its infrastructure, but we must also make sure that the playing field is level,” she said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/western-powers-blocking-nigerias-power-solution-adeosun/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

jmaine:
National politics is a different kettle of fish . It's an arena of brutal sharks who will feast on each other if ever the opportunity arises. They don't need to smell blood to become vicious.

According to Fashola:

"In 2011, President Jonathan made a total of 91 (Ninety One) electoral promises around power, security and the economy.

Majority of them remain unfulfilled."

johnie:
Now that Lagos and the FG would be in the hands of APC, the following issues require immediate attention:

1. Special Status for Lagos

"Advancing reasons why Lagos voters should reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Fashola, who noted that the state once served as the Federal Capital Territory, recalled the promise made by a former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, that Lagos would remain the nation’s commercial capital and one of its nerve centres.

According to the Governor, the Head of State noted that “in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope.” Fashola added however, “But we coped at great sacrifice”.

Governor Fashola also quoted the late Head of State as saying, “It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is therefore necessary for the Federal Government to continue to sustain the substantial investment in the area. The port facilities and other economic activities in the Lagos area have to be expanded”.

Other commitments which the former Head of State made concerning Lagos, Governor Fashola said, included that the need for the Federal Government “to maintain a special defence and security arrangement in Lagos which would henceforth be designated a special area”, adding that “the arrangements would be carefully worked out and written into the new constitution. Kaduna and Port Harcourt are to be accorded similar status and designated as Special Areas”

He noted with dismay, “Remember that since the capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos 24 years ago in December 1991, Lagos has been abandoned by the Federal Government. Ask yourself when the last major new road in Lagos was built by the Federal Government. It was the 3rd Mainland Bridge completed in 1990”, adding, “This is not in accord with the spirit of the promise made to Lagos when the Federal Government first declared Abuja as the capital in 1976.

http://nigershowbiz.com/constitution-amendment-fashola-canvasses-state-police-special-status-for-lagos

Promise #1 cancelled?

The Nigerian senate has thrown out a bid for Special grants to be allocated to Lagos state as the nation's commercial capital.


The bill which was proposed by Senator Oluremi Tinubu will entitle Lagos state to one percent of the Nation's revenue. The bill was rejected in a rowdy session.

Events that led to the rejection of the bill

Things took a bad turn when Senator Olusola Adeyeye of the APC representing Osun central stood up talk. Adeyeye while defending the Lagos grant bill, took a jibe at the FCT, saying it was like a 'pampered child'.

This didn't go down well with Senator Philip Aduda, the representative of the FCT, who violently retorted, ordering Adeyeye to withdraw his statement. Other senators from the northern part of the country stood up in support of Adeda demanding a withdrawal of statement from Adeyeye.

The session became very rowdy before Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu waded in and asked Senator Adeyeye to withdraw his statement. Adeyeye withdrew his statement and order was restored but this had laid the foundation for the bill's waterloo.


Ekweremadu then put the bill into voting which unsurprisingly was unanimously rejected by the senators.

http://dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/reps-decry-state-of-murtala-mohammed-airport-road/119062.html

Double post

cooljude:
@ Johnie, I intentionally placed it here to bring awareness. I would have simply observed and said nothing but I chose to go otherwise. whether I get replies or not It honestly doesn't border me. we just have to start creating awareness for our own. if we can't do it for ourselves nobody would do it for us.

Well said.

I admire your patriotic zeal.

Did anyone notice the man wearing glasses?

Is he the special assistant on Pigeon affairs?

The fact that your post has not received replies up till now is further proof of your point.

Or maybe the problem is that the post is not in the sports section.

azerbaijanbase:
Nigeria trying to muzzle dissenting voices, Amnesty says
Sponsored Stories


www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/28/nigeria-trying-to-muzzle-dissenting-voices-amnesty-says.html

Sponsored stories?

As Nigeria's Paralympians return from Rio after their most successful ever Games, BBC Sport's Oluwashina Okeleji examines the country's extraordinary dominance in powerlifting and asks what lessons the flailing national football team could learn from their success.

Nigeria closed the Rio Paralympics with eight golds, two silvers and two bronze medals to finish 17th in the medal table and top among African countries.

Compare that with the performance of Nigeria's able-bodied Olympians a few weeks earlier, who brought home just one bronze medal, finishing a lowly 78th in the Rio 2016 medal table.

Nigeria's Paralympians, who first competed in Barcelona in 1992, have always outperformed the Olympians.

At the London Olympics four years ago, the green and white flag was never hoisted at a medal ceremony.

In contrast, the Paralympic team returned home with 13 medals.

Their success is all the more remarkable when you consider the difficulty and discrimination that many disabled people face in Nigeria.

For Nigerians hoping to catch a medal-winning Paralympian moment this summer, there was one sport worth tuning in for: powerlifting.

The flurry of medals (six gold, two silver, one bronze) won in this "supreme test of upper-body strength and technique", as the organisers describe it, accounted for all but three of Nigeria's Paralympic medals.

For anyone baffled by this national powerlifting prowess, a single name is often given by way of explanation: Are Feyisetan.

Dubbed "king of the physically challenged", Nigeria's national powerlifting coach is a passionate advocate for disabled sport.

A former champion power lifter himself, Feyisetan also formed the national amputee football team in 2002.

Powerlifting, he tells me, is more than just a sport for those he trains. It provides "an opportunity to pull these athletes away from stigmatisation and help them in conquering poverty".

"People expect a disabled person to beg on the streets but they are breaking those stereotypes. Many people forget that some of these guys had a normal life before accidents crippled them - so they turn to powerlifting to forge another life."

This was Nigeria's seventh appearance at the Paralympics

The remarkable success of Nigeria's powerlifters comes despite poor training facilities and a lack of financial backing.

Much of the country's Paralympic infrastructure, dating back to 1990, has seen better days.

The athletes train on broken benches, inside the dark and dilapidated National Stadium in Lagos, the sprawling commercial capital, where congested streets are difficult to navigate even for the able-bodied.

Despite the incredible achievements of those he has trained and in some cases funded himself, Feyisetan says that his athletes are left in a precarious position because of the way disabled sport is undervalued in Nigeria.

"Financial support from big brand companies is less forthcoming because they are all interested in football.

"If we are not careful some of these athletes celebrating gold medals today could turn to begging in the next few years - they grow older and feel used and abandoned. We need to stop that trend."

Football is the number one sport in Nigeria and support for the national team is probably the one thing that pulls Nigerians together irrespective of ethnicity, religion or politics.

The contrast between the country's football team and its Paralympians could not be more stark.

Even with millions of dollars poured into the national effort every year, Nigeria has now failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) twice in a row, despite having the continent's largest population by far.

Considering Nigeria reached the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup and were Afcon champions as recently as 2013, the team's fall from grace has been dramatic.

Nigeria's Olympic team managed to reverse the trend with a bronze medal at Rio, but given the competition is predominantly for players under the age of 23, this does not necessarily mean a renaissance the full senior team, known as the Super Eagles,

So what lessons could Feyisetan and his team of Paralympic powerlifters teach the country's faltering football stars and administrators?

Discipline:

"They leave their homes and wheel their chairs from 05:00 because we start training by 06:00 every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. That is commitment," Feyisetan tells me when describing the team's training regime. Despite numerous unfulfilled financial pledges, the team has never boycotted a competition or gone public over unpaid wages.

By contrast, at the World Cup in 2014, Nigerian players boycotted training in a row over unpaid bonuses, one in a long line of similar disputes.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regularly cites cash constraints and lack of sponsorship for the team's failures.

Loyalty:

Feyisetan has been the national powerlifting coach since 1996, rejecting lucrative offers from five different powerlifting federations.

Over the same period, the Nigerian football team has had 18 different managers.

Focus and fairness:

Officials are fond of meddling in team selections when it comes to football, but in powerlifting there is no room for top government officials to impose athletes on coaches or distract participants.

The powerlifters have constantly fought off local politicians' desire to hijack their successful discipline for publicity stunts.
Footballers are distracted by media attention and social media distraction - the powerlifters, who are less well known, focus solely on their sport.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37406133

All the people interviewed spoke on condition of anonimity?

Their main grouse is with the war on corruption?

Ok o, continue!

September 05, 2016

LUANDA —
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos fired Finance Minister Armando Manuel on Monday two months after the government of Africa's biggest oil producer broke off talks with the IMF over emergency funding.

In a cabinet reshuffle, dos Santos also replaced his agriculture minister and dropped the powerful Chief of Staff in the presidency, Edeltrudes da Costa, who was implicated in a recent land eviction.

A statement said Manuel, who was appointed in 2013 and whose term had been due to run to 2017, would be replaced by capital markets commission head Augusto Archer de Sousa Hose, more commonly known as Archer Mangueira.

Over the last two years, Manuel had presided over an economic slump caused by a sharp drop in oil prices that sapped dollar inflows, hammered the kwanza and prompted heavy government borrowing.

The kwanza slid more than 30 percent against the dollar in 2015, and in January the central bank allowed for another 15 percent weakening to 155 against the dollar.

The currency was bid at 165/dollar on Monday, according to Thomson Reuters data. On the black market, it has been trading as low as 600.

The weaker currency has seen inflation soar to 35 percent from 10 percent a year ago, forcing the central bank to hike interest rates by 675 basis points since June 2015.

However, it said on Monday it had kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 16 percent at its latest policy meeting.

Before his appointment, 53-year-old Mangueira was President of Angola's Capital Markets Commission, making him a familiar face to foreign investors, and had recently been brought onto the central committee of the ruling MPLA party.

Diplomats said his promotion was not a major surprise, especially in the wake of the government's decision in late June to end emergency financing talks, supported by Manuel, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Angola's economic slump has fueled opposition to dos Santos' 36-year rule, although the MPLA re-elected him as its leader last month ahead parliamentary elections in 2017.

http://www.voanews.com/a/angolan-president-fires-finance-minister-manuel/3494289.html

ever811:
Kenya ehnnn..

This is Namibia not Kenya!

This should a Himba woman.

Look what I found:

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR, ERNEST OKONKWO

26/08/2015

This month marks the 25th year of the passing away of a great sporting legend and arguably, one of Nigeria’s finest ace radio and sports commentators, the inimitable Ernest Okonkwo. Having been privileged to listen to his countless commentaries during the late 70’s and 80’s, I am constrained to write a glowing and fitting tribute in honour of the memory of the great man – Ernest Okonkwo.

Undoubtedly, Ernest Okonkwo and another radio commentator legend, the irrepressible Ishola Folorunsho, were one of the rare breed of first class radio commentators in the 1970’s-1980’s that had the knack of bringing to life the event they were covering to their listening audience as if they were there physically. In Ernest Okonkwo, he was as animated as he was adept at holding his audience captive. There was never a dull moment with him.

Due to the inescapable fact that he was a word smith, he was never lost for words. With impeccable wit, he was blessed with excellent oratory skills and an abundance of apt metaphors, euphemisms and adjectives he usually employed with monotonous regularity in describing his subjects. It was no surprise that listeners would prefer to listen to his radio commentaries while placing the volume of the TV on mute to drown out the voice of the TV commentator, as they watched the action on TV. Such was his endearing eloquence, fluidity, flexibility, creativity as well as his depth of knowledge about football, all of which he brought to bear when he held the microphone to his mouth.

In addition, he had a formidable voice which he used to convey different contrasting moments of a football match. It was high pitch at the right time and low pitch at other times. He was quite simply, a quintessential and consummate professional that commanded respect, not only from his army of listeners but from his peers as well.

Footballers’ nicknames:
He coined nicknames for most of the footballers, which stuck to them nicely. He referred to

Emmanuel Okala as ‘Man Mountain’ given his tall lanky figure;
Aloysius Atuegbu was nicknamed ‘Blockbuster’.

Then you had Christian ‘Chairman’ Chukwu,
Segun ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami,
Mudashiru ‘Midfield Maestro’ Lawal,
Adokiye ‘Chief Justice’ Amasiemeka,
Uwem ‘Harmattan’ Ekarika,
Sylvanus ‘Quicksilver‘Okpala,
Louis ‘Commander’ Igwilo,
Idowu ‘Slow Poison’ Otubusin,
Christian ‘Penalty Specialist’ Madu,
and Emmanuel ‘The Man with Bullet Shot’ Osigwe.

Below are some of his most memorable commentary quotes during his illustrious career spanning 33 years:

”Okey Isima, with a short pass to Sylvanus Okpala. They both play in Portugal. They can communicate in Igbo; they can communicate in English; they can communicate in Portuguese and they just communicated with the ball”.

“Etim Esin, he shilly-shallies, he dilly-dallies, he tries to beat one man but only succeeds in beating himself!”

“He beats Christian Chukwu; he beats Christian Madu; he beats Christian Nwokocha, he beats three Christians in a row. Who is this man? He must be a Muslim. Oh, it is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed.”

In the 1975 African Club of champions club match between Rangers and Ghazi El Mehalla of Egypt, Rangers lost 1-3 in the first leg in Egypt, but won the second leg in Enugu 3-0 and Ernest Okonkwo dubbed the match – “Mehalla see wahala”.

“After 90 minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal apiece but a winner must emerge. Five players have on each side been selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to God to give them this day, but it is not who prays more but who plays better.”


Nigeria vs Tunisia, 1978 WC Qualifying match:
He starts off slowly: “As the game peters out to the dying minutes of this rather engrossing match, a long ball is floated into the Eagles 18 yard box. It seems like an eternity for it to land … (then as the action intensifies, his voice becomes racy) … Godwin Odiye, under pressure from the advancing Tunisian attacker is there to deal with it.

Without looking back, he expertly heads the ball backwards toward Okala…(his voice is now loud). ..Okala is rushing out to retrieve the loose ball (his voice becomes louder) …Oh noooo…it’s an own goal! Nigeria has scored Nigeriaaaaaa!!! It was a misjudged header by Odiye, as Okala goes the wrong way and the ball the other way. The ball rolls effortlessly into an empty net…(he tones down his voice into a sombre one)… “A sad spectacle to watch…What a calamity!” (His voice is now slow)… “The Tunisians are joyous and celebrating victory. And the Nigerian camp is understandably subdued. Odiye bends down in shock as he watches the long towering figure of Emmanuel Okala walk slowly towards goal to retrieve the ball from the net.

The stadium is agonisingly silent. You can hear a pin drop. The Green Eagles are rooted to the spot. They can’t believe their eyes. Even Father Tiko is motionless. It was as if someone had just died…to everyone listening, it is with sorrow in my heart that I return you to the studios. Bye-bye Nigeria!”.

Nigeria Vs Egypt 1980 African Nations Cup:
“…and the ball is ballooned skywards out of the Eagles defence by Chairman Christian Chukwu, but Muda Lawal runs towards the ball and controls it superbly with the deft touch of his right boot as if it was glued to it. The midfield maestro strolls majestically with the ball. He then sprays the ball towards Chief Justice Adokie on the left of midfield, who darts to the left and cleverly cuts the ball back in one fast swift motion, losing his marker in the process…he crosses the ball and it reaches Mathematical Segun Odegbami. He exchanges a one two with Muda. Odegbami collects the ball back, sells a dummy and beats another player with a leg over…the crowd roar in delight… he’s running to the right flank…

He calculates one and two, maybe he will find Muda Lawal again at the perimeter circle, but he decides to send a 50 metre cross close to the 18 yard box of the opponent. Blockbuster Aloysius Atuegbu intercepts the ball. He bamboozles his way past two players using his physical strength. He dribbles one, dribbles two and releases a cannon shot! It’s a goaaaallll!!! Oh no! The Egyptian goalkeeper, Ikrami Ahmed, tips the ball over the bar…just when the ball was flying into the top corner of the goal post! What an intercontinental ballistic missile…! What a brilliant world class save by Ahmed! And what a great flowing move by the Green Eagles! Even Father Tiko is standing in admiration”!

Rangers FC vs Water Corporation of Ibadan:
“The lanky ebony black goal hungry Ranger ranging alone in the goal area of the Water Corporation Football Club of Ibadan. Can the one-man riot squad make it four for Rangers? A hat trick, that is one, two, three goals are already in the kitty. Ifeanyi Chukwu means nothing is insurmountable to God. Four goals are also not beyond the ability of Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika. It is a goaaaaal! … goal number four for the indomitable Rangers International Football Club of Enugu!! all scored by Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika!”

Nigeria Vs Soviet Union U-20 WC 1989:
In the 1989 U-20 World Quarter-final match between the Soviet Union and Nigeria in Saudi Arabia dubbed the ‘Damaan Miracle’, Okonkwo was at his inimitable best. Russia was leading 4-2, with fifteen minutes left to end the match. Undaunted and with sheer determination to at least reduce the embarrassing score line, the Flying Eagles equalised to make the final score 4-4. All the while, Okonkwo had managed to induce the hearts of many Nigerians to beat frantically in anticipation of what was to happen next!

After extra time, with the score line still the same, then came the dreaded penalty shootout and the last spot kick to decide the eventual winner to meet the USA in the semifinal was to be taken by Samuel Elijah. In a brief but succinct moment, Okonkwo gave a vivid illustration of the confrontation that took place in the Bible involving Prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal. After his narration, Okonkwo then switched back to the action at hand and said “…and now we have Elijah of Nigeria. Give us this day. The whole country is on your shoulders; you cannot afford to fail your country…And he moves, 1 ,2 , 3, 4 it’s a goooooooooooaaaaal!!!! This is a miracle. The God of soccer is a Nigerian!”

Since the demise of Ernest Okonkwo, radio commentary in Nigeria has never been the same again. One wonders what appropriate nicknames he would have given world class players like Messi, Ronaldo or Suarez. His apt description of any football match will be remembered by all, particularly the older generation. He brought joy and delighted ardent football fans with his unique brand of commentary and his affable personality. He was quite simply irreplaceable. May his soul continue to rest eternally.

‘Tunde Adeleye, MBA, Author

http://www.gongnews.net/memorial-tribute-to-legendary-football-commentator-ernest-okonkwo/

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has poured scorn over the latest rumours of his health, joking that he had died and was resurrected.

Mr Mugabe, 92, was arriving back in the country at the main airport in Harare and appeared jovial as he disembarked.

Flight data had suggested his plane was heading to East Asia but that it instead went to Dubai. Mr Mugabe said he had gone there for a family matter.

In May, Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, said that he would rule from the grave.
The flight path and other rumours had led some to speculate that Mr Mugabe had suffered a serious health problem and had sought treatment in Dubai or had even succumbed to his illness.

The Southern Daily website had posted an article headlined "Robert Mugabe suffers stroke, Mnangagwa now the new interim President of Zimbabwe".

But Reuters news agency said that on arriving at Harare Mr Mugabe had told reporters in the local Shona language: "I had gone on a family matter to Dubai concerning one of my children.

"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real."

Mr Mugabe is expected to address a youth meeting later on Saturday.

He has been in power since 1980 and has said he will run again for office in 2018.

The country remains in political and economic turmoil, amid allegations of government corruption.

The capital saw a wave of protests last week, with dozens arrested.

Police on Thursday banned demonstration in the capital for two weeks.

Mr Mugabe has vowed to crack down on anti-government dissent.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37265890

naptu2:
I remember the drama of the Miracle of Dammam (I believe it was Ernest Okonkwo that actually gave it that name). Remember that NTA did not broadcast the match live, so the whole country was hooked on Ernest Okonkwo's commentary. The drama was unbelievable. I saw an old man (a football coach) crying. People had given up. A crowd had congregated outside, because people didn't want to listen to the commentaries anymore. USSR 4-0 Nigeria. Then we heard people scream "Goal!" And we were like, "At least they've got one". Then we heard another scream, "Goal". Then everybody ran back into their houses.

I remember clearly that I was travelling towards Idi-Iroko (the Nigeria-Benin border town) when the Damman drama took place. We listened to the commentaries on the car radio until the bashing became too much for us and we switched off the radio.

At a point on the journey we observed people along the way shouting in excitement and were wondering what was going on. It took us a while to figure out that it had to do with the match. By the time we did, I think Nigeria had only a one-goal deficit and we still didn't believe we could equalise.

Soon after we turned on the radio, Nigeria equalised and the rest, as they say is history.

naptu2:
Ernest Okonkwo actually told the story of Prophet Elijah and the prophets of Bal as Samuel Elijah walked up to take his penalty kick. It was like the whole country erupted when he screamed "Goal". That was just a few months before he fell ill.

Ernest Okonkwo named everything in Nigeria football. He coined so many names.

Mathematical Segun Odegbami.

Chairman Christian Chukwu

Blockbuster Alloysius Atuegbu.

Gangling Rashidi Yekini

Chief Justice Adokiye Amiesimaka

Dean Of Defence Yisa Sofoluwe

What was so amazing was that he said all these things in the heat of the moment. He couldn't possibly have known that Samuel Elijah would take that penalty kick, but he immediately recounted the story of Elijah. He couldn't have known that Mehalla would see "wahala" or that the player would beat two christians. He was just amazing.

Goes to show how knowledgable and passionate he was.

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill." - Muhammad Ali

naptu2:
"He beats Christian Chukwu. He beats Christian Madu. He has beaten two christians, he must be a muslim".

(I've forgotten the name of the player) "It's a goal! **** and his intercontinental ballistic missile!"

-Ernest Okonkwo.

What we did whenever any of the national teams was playing in those days was to watch the match on TV with the volume off and listen to commentaries on radio.