#NigeriaDecides #VoteNotFight: Credible and peaceful elections, duty of all Nigerians

Jonathan (l) and Buhari (r). Credits: Punch

It took the United States President Barack Obama about 400 words in two minutes and 30 seconds on Monday, March 23, to remind over 170 million Nigerians of a home truth: The general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 presented the country with a great opportunity to stand united and secure the country’s future through the ballot box.

In his special broadcast, Obama mentioned ‘peace/peacefully’ thrice. He also mentioned ‘democratic’ thrice.

Simply put, Obama’s message drove home the importance of a peace, democracy and maintaining democratic structures in the growth and development of any society.

This is the more reason why, like Obama noted, all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without fear or intimidation. He said, “I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections, and that they would not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence, before, during or after the votes are counted.

Obama also said, “By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress. And this process must be done peacefully.” He also noted that, for elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful.

Indeed. While the Independent National Electoral Commission must do everything possible within its constitutional powers to ensure it organises free, fair and credible elections; it is not the sole responsibility of the electoral agency alone.

While it is the responsibility of the Nigerian military, the police and all the country’s security agencies to uphold the law and ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order during and after the elections; while the bulk rests on the leaders and candidates to ensure that their supporters do not engage or support any form of violence; it is also the choice of that supporter to choose peace over violence, to choose patriotism over ethnic, religious, political and regional sentiments.

Going by previous elections in the country, it is almost impossible to say categorically that there would not be any kind of violence during the elections. However, it would be fair to say all Nigerians have a choice to decide if they want to be part of a largely peaceful election process.

Thus, ensuring free, fair and credible elections should not only be the sole responsibility of INEC, leaders, political parties and their candidates, it should also be the collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

After decades of military rule and then 16 years of uninterrupted ‘home-grown’ democracy, the upcoming elections come at another critical junction of our nationhood. It is a litmus test of our democratic structures and our national character.

This is the more reason why every Nigerian must see himself as a Nigerian first, before one’s ethnicity, religious or party affiliations. Every Nigerian must work for the collective good, to ensure that the country consolidates on her democratic gains by exercising their constitutional rights peacefully during the elections.

This is another historic opportunity for Nigerians to write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress by not only voting in the upcoming elections, but also by exercising their constitutional rights peacefully.

“A government of the people, for the people, by the people,” a quote widely accredited to the 16^th US President, Abraham Lincoln, is the least Nigerians deserve. Whoever wins the elections should uphold this timeless tenet of democracy.

As a patriotic duty, Nigerians should choose to go about casting their ballots peacefully during the elections, and also maintain the peace after the elections; no strong and enduring democratic structure was ever built on the foundation of violence, political deceit and selfish interests.

Like President Obama rightly quoted from the famous rallying slogan of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) during the civil war, “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.”

This journey begins again with free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. Electoral violence should become a footnote on the pages of our history as a great nation, not a recurring decimal.

Nigeria should become a great nation indeed, where peace and justice truly reigns.

God bless Nigeria.

2014: No birthday for people born on February 29

Photo: BBC

Leap days come once every four years. ‘Leapling’ or ‘leap year baby’ are terms used to describe a person born on February 29. And for many born on this day, their birthdays usually come with extra treats.

Mr. Jerry Adesewo is in his late thirties, but he has only seen his birth date nine times since his birth over three decades ago.

This is because Adesewo was born on a leap year.

 “If we have to go by the Leap Year, I think I should be nine years old now.  But I’ll be 37 by the end of this month,” said Adesewo, who is a writer and theatre director.

Since he can only celebrate his birthday once every four years, he decided to rewrite the script of his birth.

He said, “I’m not given to extravagant celebration, but I usually celebrate my birthdays with a few friends and my family members. Before now, I picked February 28, March 1, or the last Sunday of February to mark my birthday. I chose the last Sunday because I was born on a Sunday.

“As a young man, I used to feel bad that I didn’t have a birthday celebration every year, especially as my friends always invited me to their birthdays every other year. I decided to pick those three dates to measure up with my friends. It was much later that I had a better understanding and realised I was a very unique person as there are few of us born on February 29. Then, I began to appreciate it even more.”

He said his father prayed for him to be born on February 29.

“When I was younger, my father tried to make me understand my birth date was a special day because he wanted me to be born on that day. I would have been born on the 28th, but my father said he prayed that I would be born the next day because it was a very special day.

“He said my being born on the 29th was the answer to his request. Also, there is this belief among some Christians that the Leap Year was derived after Joshua in the Bible prayed and asked the sun to stand still for a day which caused the one or two days’ delay.  I always tell myself that I am a special being,” he told SUNDAY PUNCH.

Maybe that was why information and communications technology manager, Mr. David Aderigbibe, named his son, who was born on February 29, Joshua. He clocks five this February. “Interestingly, I never thought about it. I was just convinced about the name, Joshua, before his christening. But obviously, there is a relationship between Joshua in the bible and the sun standing still.  Whenever his birthday is approaching, I always think of how to go about it since February has 28 days each year and 29 days only in a leap year, which comes once every four years,” he noted.

As he grows older, Joshua has become inquisitive about his birth date. Aderigbibe said his son doesn’t want to hear that there is no February 29 this year.

He said, “Whenever I want to celebrate his birthday on the last day of February, being the 28th, he would ask me, ‘dad, but my birthday is on the 29th. I want to have my birthday on my birth date.’ It is hard explaining to him at his age. He may learn to overlook it as he grows older.

“This year, I know I will get the same look he always gives me. He usually looks lost when I try to explain it to him. I know his young mind finds it hard to understand why the day is missing.”

Every year is a special year, but Aderigbibe noted he would make February 29, 2016, a leap year, more special for his son, who would be seven then.

“For the first time, I am going to design and make him a nice outfit, something to remind us of that particular birthday. I would also bake him a cake with his favourite cartoon character and take him swimming, he likes water a lot, like me,” he said.

For communications and brand strategist, Merrilyn Okeleke, who is in her thirties, she described her birthday as a unique one and noted that she has never felt any different about being born on the February of a leap year.

“My parents usually bought a present for me every non-leap year and told me I was very special. I get teased a lot on my non-leap year birthdays though.  Some friends deliberately tell me that they are planning a birthday bash and want my birthday date; and when I mention 29th, they sigh and promise to do it in a leap year,” she said.

Celebrating her birthdays in her younger days was entirely her parents’ decision. But as an adult, Okeleke now celebrates her birthday on February 26, 27, or she does not celebrate it at all. “It is mostly low-key,” she said, adding that her most memorable birthday was on her 20th birthday.

“It was the first organised by me and not my parents as I was in the tertiary institution then. I got the surprise of my life when my roommate organised a surprise birthday that had the crème de la crème in the school and pushed my popularity up by 100 decibels. I always celebrate the actual February 29 birthday in a special way. At least, I have three years to decide and plan,” she said, smiling. “I look forward to my fortieth birthday,” she added.

For 46-year-old Hilda Egboh, it does not matter whether it was a leap year or not.

“I am a very happy person. So, I always look for any excuse to celebrate. As the 29th falls between February 28 and March 1, I expect pre-birthday wishes on the 28th and post-birthday wishes on the 1st. The actual February 29th birthday period often falls in the Lenten period and being Catholic, the celebrations are a bit more subdued. So, on non-leap years, I celebrate for two days instead of the traditional one day. I always have special birthdays. This year will not be any different,” she told our correspondent.

Since the date comes once every four years, people born on February 29 are considered unique and not very common.

It is said that the odds of being born on a leap day are one in 1,500. With a population of over 160 million, this means there could be about 100,000 Nigerians born on February 29.

Read more here

Music Nigeria: Ese Peters in Concert

There are few songs that remain evergreen and still give fresh goose pimples each time you listen to it. Like Ese Peters' 'Omote'.

And come this Easter weekend, on Saturday, March 30, at Bogobiri, 9, Maitama Sule, Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Peters would be strumming his guitar and performing Omote, as well as his other hit singles. The best part? You can watch Nigeria's next contemporary/rock music star - for free. Peters is a gifted vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, from Warri, Delta State.

Once an independent artiste, Ese Peters signed a record deal with AbOriginal Music, after last year’s release of his Acoustic EP, Then came 'Omote', which was released on Thursday, September 27, 2012. His hit singles also include Gone, Stay with Me, Walk Away, The Way You Are. Prepare to be impressed on an Easter weekend of beautiful rock ballads from this gifted vocalist.

The concert is presented by AbOriginal music.

They are the Champions! Purple Krown College Enugu Win NNPC/SHELL Cup

We are the Champions: Purple Krown team in celebration mood

Like Sunday Mba, whose goal ensured the Super Eagles of Nigeria were crowned Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, champions in South Africa 2013, Uzodinma Emmanuel, of Purple Krown College, Enugu, who was eventually named the Most Valuable Player of the NNPC/Shell Cup championship, scored the only goal of the game in the NNPC/Shell Cup final played on Sunday, March 24, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. However, Emmanuel's 50th minute goal was a cool dispatch from the penalty spot. His goal ensured that his school, Purple Krown College, Enugu, were crowned champions of the 15th edition of the NNPC/Shell Cup as they ran away with a 1-0 victory over Government Secondary School (GSS), Wuse, Abuja, in an entertaining final.

In the first half, both teams put on a fine display of skill and attacking intent, and had numerous scoring opportunities, but lacked the decisive final touch in the 18-yard box. Like the first, the second half was also full of high end drama and action, as the two teams made tactical changes to find the winning touch, until Emmanuel’s decisive goal in the 50^th minute. From then on, the Wuse lads raised the tempo of their game and searched desperately for an equaliser, but the Enugu team proved to be the better side for most part of the game. In the end, there was going to be one winner. Purple Krown College held on to win their first trophy in Nigeria’s biggest school football competition. For their victory, the team won N2.5 million cash prize for sports development in the school, while each of the players received N50, 000. As runners-up, GSS Wuse went home with N1.4 million, while the players got N45, 000 each.

Mutiu Sunmonu (MD Shell), Nigeria Sports Minister, Purple Krown  captain

On their way to the final, Purple Krown College thrashed Government College, Ibadan, 4-1 in the first semi-final. While Government Secondary School, Wuse, qualified via a 9-8 penalty shootout win against Government Arabic College, Kano, in the second semi-final. The game had finished 1-1 at full time. With this historic win, Purple Krown also earned a place at the invitational school football competition in the United States of America, courtesy of the Nigeria School Sports Federation, NSSF.

In an also exciting third place play-off, Government Arabic College, Gwale, Kano, finished third with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Government College, Ibadan, Oyo. The Gwale lads also carted home N500,000 for their school’s sports development and N40,000 for each of the players. While the fourth placed team received N400,000 for their school and N35,000 for each of the players. The winning team, runners-up, third place and fourth placed teams all received certificates of participation.

“People have come to appreciate the quality of the game, year in, year out, because the quality has been improving. It has made us more proud than we have ever felt before,” said Mutiu Sunmonu, Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, on why the NNPC/Shell Cup is regarded as the biggest Secondary School football competition in Nigeria today. “The interesting aspect of this for the players is that they do not have to drop out of school to pursue a career in football. We are organising this at secondary schools so that our students will understand that education is very important and that the development of sports will make them complete. That is what we want to imbibe in the leaders of tomorrow,” said Engineer Ben Akaakar, Technical Assistant to Group Managing Director GMD, NNPC, Engineer Andrew Yakubu. The Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, as well as many other distinguished guests, graced the occasion.

Special awards were also presented to outstanding players during the championship. Osayeme Joshua (Purple Krown College, Enugu) bagged the highest goal scorer award with six goals and Arinze Okpanpa (Purple Crown College, Enugu) was named the best defender. While Faisal Ali (Government Arabic College, Kano) won the best goalkeeper award and Malomo Taofeek (Government College Ibadan) was adjudged the best midfielder.

The winning goal

“We want to see players from the NNPC/Shell Cup represent Nigeria in major championship and we also want to see them grow academically because it is not all about football. Education is very important and that is why our theme is; football and education should go hand-in-hand,” said Shola Akinwale, managing director, Worldwide Sports Limited, consultants to the NNPC/Shell Cup. “The future is bright for these boys because they have potentials. The development is positive but the end result is priority. After here, what’s next for the lads? The National School Sports coaches should harness their potentials to form the platform for the national Under 16 teams,” said Kudur Umar, public relations officer, NSSF. Umar also added that the NNPC/Shell Cup will continue to be the breeding ground for talented football stars in Nigeria. Over the years, the competition has produced notable names such as Chinedu Obasi, Ambrose Vanzekin, and many others who have represented Nigeria in international football competitions.

SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA CROWNED AFRICA CHAMPIONS

In a pulsating final played on Sunday, February 10, Stephen Keshi tutored Super Eagles defeated the Stallions of Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa

Sunday Mba’s lone spectacular strike in the 40^th minute was enough to win Nigeria its third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in the 2013 final against the Stallions of Burkina Faso played on Sunday, February 10, at the Soccer City, Johannesburg.

Mba, a player who plies his trade in the Nigeria Premier League, wore jersey number 19, and more interestingly ended the country’s 19-year wait for AFCON title. Nigeria last won the AFCON title on home soil in 1980 and 1994 in Tunisia. Against the odds, Coach Stephen Keshi also made history as he became the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles to the title. He also becomes the second man to win it both as a player and a coach, the first being the late Mahmoud El Gohary who led Egypt to the AFCON title in 1998.

The match kicked off at a frenetic pace with nerves showing on both sides as they battled for supremacy in possession and play. Although the Eagles looked the more settled as the first half progressed, they failed to capitalize on their dominant possession. The absence of striker Emmanuel Emenike due to injury was glaring as the Eagles were unable to convert the numerous chances they created, with returnee striker IK Uche and Brown Ideye, failing to make any visible impact. This was until the 40^th minute when Mba struck a sweet volley into the far corner of the post from inside the Burkinabe box. Mba’s goal came from a determined run by the Warri Wolves/Enugu Rangers player after Victor Moses and Brown Ideye had failed to capitalise on gilt edged chances seconds earlier.

The second half continued like the first, with both teams trying to grab the match by the scruff of the neck at the midfield. Although the Stallions seem to have gained confidence from their bright start at the second, they were not able to create clear cut chances, like the Eagles. The efforts of their star players; Jonathan Pitroipa, whose unjust red card in the semi-final against Ghana was reversed and Aristides Bance were neutralized by the Eagles’ defence, which put up an excellent shift throughout the match. Wilfried Sanou almost snatched a late equaliser for Burkina Faso, but Vincent Enyeama’s reflexes saved the day for Keshi and the Eagles. Ahmed Musa could have sealed the match with a second goal but fell embarrassingly inside the Burkina box after being put through on goal. The Eagles held on for the four minutes of added time to be crowned champions of Africa in the 2013 final watched by 85,000 fans.

“I am overjoyed at the stunning victory of the Super Eagles which has seen Nigeria emerge as the champions of the African Cup of Nations, 2013. Well done Patriots, you have done Nigeria proud. 2013 is obviously the year of Nigeria. We have emerged as a beacon of hope on the African continent by proving to Africa and the world that a strong Nigerian team put together and trained by a Nigerian coach can stand the test of time and successfully rise to the challenge of a most formidable opponent. The Nigerian spirit stands strong and steady as we march to the destination of greatness. I doff my fedora hat to this great squad that has brought laughter and happiness to our homes. Nigerians are grateful. We thank God. We thank you,” said President Goodluck Jonathan, in his congratulatory message to the team, who are billed to be hosted to a grand reception in Abuja on Tuesday, February 12.

With this victory, Nigeria would now represent Africa at the FIFA Confederations Cup slated for June in Brazil, where they would play against European and World champions Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti. Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Italy make the other group.

Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles: On the Cusp of Greatness

So far, he has succeeded where others failed. And if he gets luckier, the Super Eagles coach would write his name in gold in South Africa 2013

By Arukaino Umukoro

Even the best local pundits did not believe Stephen Keshi, coach of the Super Eagles, would get this far. After all, the last set, the much praised golden generation, which won the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Tunisia 1994, took five years to build. In contrast, Keshi’s Eagles had roughly five to six weeks. Also, the fact that notable names such as Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi, Danny Shittu, Obinna Nsofor, Taye Taiwo et al did not make the final cut gave reasons for apprehension among Eagles’ faithful and neutrals.

But the coach had always been full of confidence in his Eagles’ project. “I have the frame of the team I want and I believe that the squad we have selected for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is good enough. What we need is chemistry. Once we have that, we’ll be okay going forward and all the way,” he said on the eve of the competition.

Fast forward three weeks after. Even the most pessimistic football loving Nigerian has been transformed into a true believer. National faith in Keshi has hit the rooftops as many now feel that Afcon 2013 might just be the making of the next golden generation of the Super Eagles.

The good thing about this is that Keshi, as well as his assistant Daniel Amokachi, was a member and captain of the last golden generation - the 1994 Eagles team. That team, bleeding with class everywhere, also went on to dazzle the world at the FIFA World Cup USA 1994, where they got to the second round.

Now the captain has become the field marshal, poised to conquer the continent with his glory chasing soldiers. The 1994 set was the standard which others after them have failed to meet. As it stands now, Keshi’s team is in pole position to equal it and probably raise it further. He is the second Nigerian coach, after Adegboye Onigbinde in 1984, to reach an Afcon final. Interestingly, Keshi was also assistant to Jo Bonfrere when the Eagles reached the 2000 final in Lagos, where they lost to Cameroon on penalty kicks. Besides, he is the third player from that 1994 golden generation to become coach (alongside Austin Eguavoen and Samson Siasia). This means that no matter what happens in Sunday’s final, it would be recorded that Keshi succeeded where others failed.

All things being equal, he looks good to become the first ever to win it. And if he gets lucky, again, he would also make history as the second man to win it both as a player and a coach, the first being Mahmoud El Gohary who led Egypt to the Afcon title in 1998.

While the final against Burkina Faso would be a tricky tie, these new-look Super Eagles smell the scent of victory like blood to a vampire. Only the resurgent Stallions, whose objective before the tournament was to win a game at least, could stop them from flying.

If experience counts also, Keshi has some on his side. First he took an unfancied Togo team to the 2006 Fifa World Cup for the first time in their history. Then, he guided Mali to the Afcon in 2010, where they were eliminated in the group stages. Interestingly, his Afcon 2013 Super Eagles team were also on the verge of elimination before two Victor Moses penalties in their last group match against Ethiopia delivered them into the quarter finals. Since then, the team has grown in confidence and proved the doubting Thomases wrong.

Now, 19 years after winning the trophy in Tunisia and 13 years after their last appearance in an Afcon final, the Super Eagles can finally stand up and be counted in South Africa.

Like midfielder John Obi Mikel rightly noted, Keshi could be said to be a lucky coach. Indeed. The Eagles’ lucky charms seem to have been the enterprising Moses and striker Emmanuel Emenike, who might finish the tournament as the highest goal scorer - just like the late Rashidi Yekini did in 1994. However, beside Moses and Emenike, any of the players could be the joker in the final. They proved this with their display of teamwork and purposeful football in the semi-finals, where they took Mali to the cleaners. This team may have come of age in so short a time simply because Keshi is blessed with 23 determined players, brimming with passion and potentials, hungry enough to make their Fatherland proud, who can’t wait to get their hands on the Afcon trophy.

“We have real expectation of winning. From the moment we qualified, we knew we were capable of winning it. So, our expectation is to win the trophy and make Nigerians happy,” said Keshi before the tournament kicked off.

In November 2011 when the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) appointed him as coach of the Eagles, Keshi’s coaching contract included a condition that he must qualify for South Africa 2013 and reach the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Not only has he surpassed the first, he may go on to do the same with the second if they let him continue his rebuilding efforts.

More especially as his Eagles team have improved with every match, maturing into a fine blend, like vintage wine. While he may need to do more on improving their tactical discipline, Keshi and his evolving team are well on the threshold of making golden history. Barring the upset of upsets, with over 160 million Nigerians cheering and thousands more inside Soccer City, Johannesburg, the 51 year-old and his Super Eagles team would be crowned African champions on Sunday.

AFCON 2013: Super Eagles Draw Zambia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso in Group C

Stephen Keshi, Pix credits: Getty Images

18 years and a few months after Stephen Keshi captained the Super Eagles to winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in Tunis; the same man would be leading the Eagles as coach to the 2013 edition, with continental glory firmly in his sights. Not only that, he would have to overcome the same hurdle – the Chipolopolo of Zambia – that he and his team mates faced on that glorious April 10, 1994 night. 

However, while it is yet day before the big test, Keshi had already been talking tough about their now known opponents in South Africa 2013. “I have said to a lot of people and will say it again that I am not afraid of any team in the championship draws. You don’t win a championship by being afraid of your opponents and that is the spirit with which I am going to the draws with”, he was quoted as saying by Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, just two days before the draws were conducted on Wednesday, October 24, at the Durban International Convention Centre, South Africa.

Besides Zambia, the Eagles were drawn in Group C alongside Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. On January 21, The Eagles would kick off their Nations Cup with a match against the Burkina Faso in Nelspruit. While they face Zambia and Ethiopia on January 25 and 29 respectively.

Bwalya Pix credits: cafonline

For Kalusha Bwalya, the man who captained the Chipolopolo to silver in 1994, and now president of the Football Association of Zambia, it would have been a disaster if the defending AFCON champions had not qualified. The Chipolopolo had to do it the hard way though, by relying on a tense penalty shootout win over Uganda in their final qualifier matches. “I told the players that they needed to put everything into that final match against Uganda. Ultimately, we kept our nerves and we showed why we are champions by winning in the penalty shootout,” Bwalya told CAFonline in Durban.

The first match of the competition would be see hosts South Africa play Cape Verde, who stunned four-time champions Cameroon to book a place in their debut AFCON finals. 

Super Eagles. Pix credits: AFP

However for Nigerian fans, the question would be: can Bwalya’s Zambia get a revenge against Keshi’s Eagles and then go on to retain the trophy or can Keshi’s Eagles claim another Zambian scalp by getting a win in their group match and then go on to make history for the third time? South Africa 2013 will tell.

Slated to hold between January 19 and February 10, 2013, he tournament will be held in five South African cities - Durban, Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg.

Group A: South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Angola

Group B: Ghana, DR Congo, Niger, Mali

Group C: Zambia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso

Group D: Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, Algeria