The barbarism of Fulani herdsmen: An eyesore to the nation's security setup
Rage and lamentations have rending the air over the dastardly acts of annihilation perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen across various states in the nation. The latest of their attack is visited upon different communities in Benue state where trails of blood and sorrow have been left with many persons counting their losses as the herdsmen wreaked havoc. These devious herdsmen appear to be out to prove a point of their own as they remain implacable, and every morally sane person can only imagine what this is really about- is there any regard for the sacredness of life?

These herdsmen take delight in satisfying their bloodthirstiness, and are ready to obliterate those who stand in their way. But then how has the government responded to these incidences [of the herdsmen's vicious attacks on their innocent victims]? What we have been hearing are words of promises that those behind these gruesome killings will be brought to book and we earnestly look forward to that very time when the real perpetrators will be persecuted. However, it remains to be seen how much longer we have to wait with the evident dilly-dallying in the deployment of military force to the state. This is even more perplexing when one begins to ponder on the statement attributed to the President, insinuating that the government will not employ force in dealing with the brutal Fulani herdsmen- that, to me, is really disappointing and demeaning considering the devastating blows with which these herdsmen strike those whom they oppress. If not against an enemy of the state in the mold of the 'terrorist herdsmen' then upon which group should the wrath of the military armoury be unleash?

Here is what we have got: the herdsmen are getting more daring as they are now attacking police officers- the attack on the mobile unit at Awashuwa village is just one of such- and this definitely does not augur well for the nation's security arm and the country in general. The attacks on those security operatives is just one of those things that are apparent when the 'sword is left in the sheath' while up against a deadly group like the Fulani herdsmen. It is noteworthy to recall that aftermath the herdsmen's attack on some communities in Benue state back in 2017, members of the Federal House of Representatives proposed that the Federal Government set up a task force to supervise the disarmament of the herdsmen but that (idea) did not appear to make any sense [to the FG], and about one year after that incidence (of 2017), Benue state- and Nigeria as a whole- has been hit once again by violence meted out by the 'unrepentant' Fulani herdsmen.

My heart bleeds the more when I hear top government functionaries trying to bring talks of politicization and also the fact that the herdsmen deserve more from the government into the matter. These are not the kinds of words Nigerians want to hear at this very point in time. There is no need to divert attention; we only wish to know who these 'killer herdsmen' are, and in effect, a call for them to be made to face the full weight of the law. Muddling things up will not do us any good neither would the multitude of condolences assure [the residents of the affected communities as well as the general populace] of the government's resolution to provide them with the needed security.

Protecting yourself against harmattan hazards
The harmattan season is one that we sometimes anticipate with delight. The reason for this may not be unconnected to the cold weather that comes with the season- a good way of being free from the sweltering heat of summer. However, despite the cold weather attainable during this season, there are yet several hazards that are inherent with harmattan, and this is basically owing to the fact that the season is synonymous with dust and dry air- it is no wonder that harmattan is sometimes referred to as 'dust devil'. It is to this effect that it becomes necessary to take certain precautionary and/or safety measures towards maintaining wholeness especially as it regards checking cracked lips, dry skins and other health complications that may arise as a result of harmattan. I shall henceforth share some tips on how you can manage the situation as the (harmattan) season rolls by.

Drink a lot of water
Ordinarily, 'water is life', and that is not a fact that can be debated when one considers that over 70% of the human body is composed of water- or fluid if one chooses to be more technical. With the chances of one getting dehydrated being on the high side during harmattan, it becomes necessary to take a lot of water [during this season]; you do not have to wait until you are thirst before reaching for a glass of water. It is advisable to have a water bottle [filled with water] on hand while you are on the go.

Regular use of moisturizers
It is a known fact that during harmattan season, the lips and skin are susceptible to drying out fast hence moisturizers are really handy to have around- in the home and in one's bag. Lip balm is good for preventing chapped lips while body cream will help to moisturize the skin, and also stop the occurrence of white patches on the skin.

Wear protective gear
The dust that is blown around by the wind can settle anywhere, and that includes the human body system. As such, it is expedient that one uses protective gear to provide some form of cover from the dust. For instance, putting on a pair of sunglasses while you are outdoor will protect the eyes from dust while using a nose mask should help safeguard the nose especially in areas that have so much dust- this will prevent the dust from settling in the respiratory tract where damage could be done. Furthermore, insulating clothing apparels should be worn to keep you from the cold that is feasible during the season.

Take a lot of fruits
It is also good to find pleasure in taking fruits- juicy ones to be precise- during this season. This would provide you with some essential vitamins and minerals, and also help to keep you hydrated. Fruits such as pineapple, carrot, orange, cucumber and watermelon will do you a lot of good. Plus, you should also go for vegetables and diets that are rich in protein during this very period.

Minimize your exercises
The heavy presence of dust and reduction in the oxygen level can make breathing quite difficult in some instances. It is for this reason that one has to play it safe by planning an exercise routine that is not so demanding or one that pushes [an individual] to the limit- no one wants to find himself/herself gasping for breath all in the name of staying fit. So, a light walk or jogging exercise might just do for the time being.

Towards a brighter future: Preparation for 2019 Elections hots up

Save one decides to shy away from what is obtainable, it is quite obvious that quite a considerable number of Nigerians have become skeptical about seeing a ‘better Nigeria’ as the hope they once nursed [to have a great nation where things will function properly] seemed to have been blown away time and again by the politicians whose promises they had held in high esteem. Aside the many issues that affect various sectors, we, as a people, have suffered from ill-administration which has, no doubt, been detrimental to our development. The politicians have thus far had the stakes but shall the voice of the masses be shut forever? – Not in the least; there is always an avenue through which we all can express our feelings and/or opinions, and that is ultimately at the polling unit.

The election [being over one away] might be seen as being far away but what do you expect when you see the clouds gathering? – The downpour of showers, most probably. Relating this to the election that is coming up in 2019, we are already witnessing a barrage of activities from several politicians: projects are now being completed at an alarming rate; propagandas are on the loose as fiction is exalted over fact; those seeking political offices are suddenly turning a new leaf and getting closer to the people. All these point to one thing: the politicians [who know how critical time is to their ambitions] are playing their cards well as they aim to score ‘political points’ but where does this leave you and me- the citizens or better still, electorate?

This is the very moment when we need to start reviewing the situation at hand circumspectly, and make resolutions to do nothing short of ensuring a result that will reposition our nation on the pedestal of greatness- you may not be privileged to be voted for at the moment but you can definitely have your say in seeing to it that things are set aright.

As such, it is expedient that we center on the reputation of the individuals that will be projected as the top aspirants- especially as it concerns the presidential election. We have got to look out for men whose reputation does not betray moral and ethical standards; men whose words are backed up with action. The question that may be popping up your mind is: “Are there still such men in Nigeria’s political hemisphere? And if there are, will they be allowed to carry their respective party’s flag? I will say that the answer to both questions is YES. There are still men of integrity in this nation, and I believe they can be talked up into contesting for the election. On the latter however, I must confess that it would be really difficult to have a say on the candidate a particular party gives its mandate but I believe that these politicians can be made to have a rethink if we show to them that we are a people of value that is desirous of building a nation where future generations will thrive.

And before we make this all about the political power players; have we had our consciences purged of certain trivialities and/or sentiments [we had always held on to] which have thus far not brought us much good as a nation? Are we going to seek a way to bring out [with that one vote and one voice] our nation from the deep pool of decrepitude it has been plunged into? OR Will it be business as usual? Will realism prevail over fictitious propagandas? The quest for ‘your ‘candidate’ to win the (presidential) election should not trump the need together do what is right in the interest of national development: herein lies the call to do what is needful [on your part] for the socioeconomic sustainability of Nigeria’s polity. 2019 Election is coming at us but how are you gearing up for it?

ENDSARSNOW: A call to order

It is often said that when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable- or maybe I should give it a little twist for the sake of this write-up by saying that ‘when the objective of a project/invention is neglected and/or forgotten, waywardness becomes the order of the day. It goes to show that for men to function efficiently at what they do; they must key into the vision of the project at hand, and also walk and work with the consciousness of the obligations committed into their hands- but where does this leave SARS?

‘SARS’ which translates to ‘Special Anti-Robbery Squad’ was set up to curtail the proliferation of armed robbery and other crimes across all the states of the federation. However, with the many accusations that have thus far been raised[ through the ENDSARSNOW campaign] against some of the men of SARS team, it is obvious that there had been more gratuitous functions that have been undertaken by SARS. Cases of harassment, molestation, extrajudicial killings and other activities in the realm of the aforementioned should never have been part of the array of activities that would be named against a security unit that is saddled with the responsibility of offering protection to the citizens of the nation in an unpleasant twist of events.

Notwithstanding, as the ENDSARSNOW campaign surges on with various protestations and online juggernauts, it is important that we spare a thought on what ‘END’ really means and see how feasible it is in the light of the campaign: to end a thing is to wholly terminate it; bringing it to a close. Well, ending SARS without having a viable option on ground could be detrimental to the fight against crime as the perpetrators [of such heinous activities] will certainly take advantage of the loophole. Plus, the move to end SARS can be likened to ‘throwing a baby away with the bathwater’as I believe that there are still officers who are committed to the (crime-fighting) course in SARS. Hence, rather than calling to end SARS, we need to seek a redress in the way in which men of the unit perform the tasks that have been entrusted to them.

In that regard, one cannot but look to the police hierarchy to map out the blueprint for a restructured SRAS unit- and definitely, the Police Force in Nigeria as a whole. Moves should be made towards re-orienting these men, and adesicated monitoring team should even follow up on them as they go about discharging their duties. The ENDSARSNOW campaign came about as a result of grievances from who looked to the police for protection but were instead harassed so, it would not be out of the place for the police authority to have a functional platform where complaints will be laid and earnestly addressed without any attempt to shield erring officers from justice.

The call to end SARS was not borne out of zealousness but the need to bring about corrective measures to a menace that has so tainted the reputation of Nigeria Police Force hence, it will be very appalling for the relevant quarter not to do anything about the situation. It is good to know that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is already making attempts to put things right, and whatsoever is being done must be far-reaching; not just to quell the campaign but to bring about the expected changes Nigerians are craving for as it regards the operations of SARS. The molestation and other extrajudicial activities must stop now, while we keep working at raising a policing unit that can be trusted, and loyal enough to uphold the purpose for which it has been instituted.

                                               **Still shaming the truth?**

It has been over a month since the drama surrounding the reinstatement of erstwhile chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pensions Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina started and we are yet to get to the root of the matter. The latest trend on the issue regards the activities of the House of Representatives Ad hoc committee [set up to investigate the case and also probe the parties involved. The fall-out from the proceeding has thus far not shown how the reinstatement was sealed as the key characters- Abubakar Malami, Abdulrahman Dambazzau and Winifred Oyo-Ita were all in denial as to who really made the final push even with Mohammed Katu [who stood in as counsel to the embattled former Pensions Reform chairman] made a startling revelation that his client kept collecting his salary package while being out of service. Also invited was the Acting chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Joseph Oluremi who posited that it is not within the commission’s jurisdiction to order such reappointment while Mr. Abubakar Magaji was absent as he was said to be battling with an ailment.
At this juncture, I will like to beam focus on the submissions of each of the three (3) main characters- Winifred Oyo-Ita, Abdulrahman Dambazzau and Abubakar Malami- that seem to hold the aces in the event leading to Maina’s reinstatement.

Winifred Oyo-Ita
The Head of Service, Mrs. Oyo-Ita has made it clear that she had an inkling of the ploy to have Maina reinstated- a move she knew would have a far-reaching consequence as we are now seeing. Owing to this, she never gave her approval, and would later confirm through the media that Maina had not only been officially reappointed but was also promoted. She mentioned that she still has a copy of a letter written to the Federal Civil Service Commission directing that Maina be reinstated. Again, one cannot afford to disregard the fact that Oyo-Ita had earlier said she indeed informed the President of what Maina’s recall would portend.

Abdulrahman Dambazzau
Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau does seem to clear himself of any fault as he made it known that such cases as touching reinstatement is the direct responsibility of the offices of the Permanent Secretary- a position occupied by Mr. Abubakar Magaji in the Ministry [of Interior]- Head of Service and the Federal Civil Service Commission. Furthermore, Dambazzau stated that Maina was not out-rightly dismissed by his predecessor.

Abubakar Malami
Abubakar Malami stated that he had met Maina in Dubai in 2016, and that he (Maina) had been helpful in fast-tracking investigations into pension fraud cases that were discovered during his term in office. But hold on for a minute: should Malami [being the Minister of Justice] not have found a way of making Maina see case he left unattended [as a fugitive] to an end? Why should Malami turn a blind eye to the allegations laid against Maina back in 2013? Malami further said that the letter that effected maina’s recall did not come from his office but I wish he could give a clear answer to this question: did he make the push? If the request to give Maina justice- as he (Malami) might have felt Maina was unjustly treated in respect to the hearing in 2013- should it not have been done by following due process in the law court, and was there not a greater cause to have justice served?
As investigation continues- even though someone [among those invited so far] appears bent on shaming the truth- it is incumbent that the ad hoc committee dig really deep in order to bring this case to a credible conclusion. Plus, with Oyo-Ita claiming to have informed Mr. President of the implications of Maina’s reinstatement, I believe there is a critical part of the puzzle that is still missing, and that is having the President- not a spokesperson- to clear the air on what he knows, and whether or not Oyo-Ita had made an allegation against him- however, will the House have the guts to do so?
We all may be viewing Maina as the evil that has since been rooted out but the matter on ground is about an evil system that needs to be holistically purged with recourse to the rule of law. I will like to end this with the words of Wayne Malcolm: “we’re not wrestling against evil people but against evil systems. Evil systems produce and facilitate evil people.”

The Nigerian Police Force ranked as worst in the world: How true?
The Nigerian police was recently ranked as the worst performing police force in the world. The result was drawn from the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) for 2016 which was compiled by the International Police Science Association in conjunction with the Institute for Economics and Peace.
But before we get carried away by the result made available by these two bodies, and paint ourselves as being ‘unfair’, it is expedient that we take a brief look at the factors that influenced this result. The performances were measured based on the trends that were attainable from the areas of internal security and policing; capacity; process and legitimacy and outcomes. As the result turned out, the Nigerian police force scored very low in all these areas, and that in turn pushed it down the pecking order. The report considered data obtained from the research carried out on the forces of 127 different nations across the world.
Now, let us relate the result to what we do observe in our different communities. Firstly, in regards to internal security and policing which was particular hinged on terrorism; the Nigerian police performed worst when compared to those of other nations. While it might be impossible to stop men from being evil as the nation witnessed incessant acts of terrorist attacks in the past few years, it is obvious that the police have not been dynamic enough in developing up-to-date strategies that help in grappling the tenacious terrorists- most notably, the Boko Haram group- that seemed to be advancing in its operation leaving the police in the dust prior to the intervention of the military. This, in a way could be a direct consequence of the limited resources that are available for the force to work with. For instance, the report shows that the NPF has 219 police officers to cater for the security needs of 100,000 citizens- a figure which falls far below the index’s standard of 300 officers for that same number of citizens.
The Nigerian Police Force also passed up the chance of bettering their ranking in the aspect of process and legitimacy where some factors [such as the use of force for private gain, bribery, effectiveness in ensuring criminal justice, and adherence to due process] were put under review. The result in these areas only highlighted what we have always witnessed as the abuse of ‘uniform power’ on day-to-day basis. With all these, have come the increased number of individuals that have been victimized by varying degree of crimes as the police, according to the report, have not been able to effectively protect the citizens.
The Nigerian Police Force [through its spokesman, Jimoh Moshood] has since come out to reject the ranking , stressing that the Nigeria police remains the best on the African continent- a position that WISPI has accorded to the Botswani Police Force- and making reference to the positions it occupies in United Nations’ peace-keeping missions and its standing at Interpol. Inasmuch as the hierarchy of the NPF might not take this lightly, I believe the Nigerian Police Force still need to make moves towards purging its system of inherent ‘little foxes’ that are not projecting its image in good light, and that can only begin by knowing and accepting the truth. Moreover, there is no pride in trying to make a ‘bad’ situation look good without having the mind to seek workable solutions towards making things better. The jury is out already, and maybe the Nigeria Police Force is not the worst in the world; it is yet nowhere near being the best- there lies a need for an upgrade. As there is no smoke without a fire; this ranking has not come about based on hearsay so, the NPF ought to make stringent moves to quell the flames of ineptitude [within its rank], and also free itself from the pungency of the smoke that has evolved…denial does not change fact in any way.

One year after: Justice still cries out
Do these two names; Eunice Olawale and Bridget Agbahime still ring a bell? Eunice Olawale was murdered in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory on the 9th of July, 2016 as she went about her regular evangelical mission. It was reported that she was stabbed in the stomach, leg and neck while Bridget Agbahime was stoned and beaten to death by an angry mob of Muslim fanatics who had accused her of blasphemy for asking one of their own not to perform ablution in front of her shop in Kofar Wambai, a popular plastic market in Kano state with the killers not even considering the flailing state of the 74 year old woman. One similar trend that is perceptible in the deaths of these two women is religious intolerance.
Though arrests were made following these incidents but no cogent prosecution has been heard of. In the case of Madame Eunice; six (6) different suspects were apprehended with the police being accused of including innocent persons among those that were nabbed with the thoroughness in question. Let us assume that the dark had aided its own as the perpetrators were not seen since the event happened around past 5 in the morning but what about the case of Mrs. Bridget who was murdered in broad daylight as her husband watched on. In the case of the latter; five (5) suspects were arrested, and they were duly identified by the husband of the victim. What is however alarming about the whole situation [aside the murder] is the manner in which the suspects were set free as the case was withdrawn by the Attorney-General of Kano state, Haruna Falali, and the reason for the withdrawal is yet to be made known thus leaving this question begging: ‘shall the judge of the earth not judge right? Thanks to Falali, Ahmad- the prime suspect- and co are still out there leaving in their ‘freedom’ while justice is imprisoned. Falali does appear to have tilted towards the end of religious bias or can one say he is operating under a separate law besides the constitution which he ought to hold forth its bidding.
In the norm of getting cases of this magnanimity swept under the carpet, the cases of Eunice Olawale and Bridget Agbahime seem to have gone into a harbinger of silence. It must be said that the police in Kano state did their utmost in ensuring that the suspects were arrested only for their efforts to be rendered null and void as the Attorney-General saw no reason why the evil men should be made to pay for their heinous acts. The police is however yet to come to a conclusive end on the murder case of Eunice Olawale with those that were initially arrested already released [earlier this year] on the basis that they had no connection with the killing. Nonetheless, the public relations officer at the force headquarters in Abuja gave a reassurance that the police is still very much on the case as the investigation is still ongoing. As weeks keep turning into months and months into years, it is hoped that this will not go down as one of the many murder cases that we have heard and seen in the nation.
But even if the matter looks dead and buried, or we just decide to keep calm or silent; will the blood of the slain keep silent?- maybe for a while but not forever. Will the truth also be slain? - That I know will not be possible. There is a cry that is ringing out loud, and that is the cry for justice- the soul whose mother has been cut in her prime cries out; the blood of the slain cries out for it, and the simple whose life no respite knows because of the presence of the ‘devouring lions’ in human skin that are all around, eagerly cries out for justice to be given a freedom of expression… are you in tune with this cry, o ye rulers and judge of the earth?

A System in Shambles
A couple of weeks back, news emerged that about three-quarter of the thirty-three thousand teachers [in Kaduna state] who partook in a basic four competence test had failed with the pass mark set at 75%. And at the moment, these teachers await their fate- with the state government bent on annulling their appointments. But while the Kaduna scenario remains fresh, one will not be out of context to posit that the matter [at hand] is a microcosm of a failing educational system.
Reviewing the Kaduna case further; in the first place, I personally believe that 75% pass mark for teachers who were taken through trainings is still somewhat average considering that the questions were drawn from basic four syllabus. It is even quite pathetic that officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers are threatening to go on strike should the Kaduna state government proceed with the sacking. NUT’s point is that the government reneged on the agreement to set the pass mark set at 60%- though not one to support people not keeping to promise but why should it be that low in the first place? Are the teachers not supposed to be a repository of knowledge from which the pupils ought to tap? I believe the teachers ought to be well ahead of the pupils they are teaching. Plus, is NUT now protecting the interest of the affected teachers- that may be the right thing to do but the priority should not be misplaced- to the detriment of the nation’s future. The teachers are meant to be 'shapers' of destinies so, should they not have the wherewithal to expertly deliver the right kind of service or knowledge to the children, there is no reason why they stand in front of the class posing as teachers- allowing such level of incompetence will be tantamount to giving in garbage to beget a ‘heap of garbage’ in the course of time.
Putting the Kaduna state issue aside for a moment, the educational system in the nation is one that is freighted with many faulty trends that have eaten deep into the fabric of the entire setup. A major problem that has been facing the Nigerian educational system is that of poor management strategies as there appears to be no firm grip/control of the administration of these schools by any tier of government. This has thus far left things in a mess as proper monitoring is neglected and/or given little consideration. Furthermore, the politicization that is sometimes exercised in the appointment if teachers has not also done the system any real good as mediocrity eventually gets exalted over merit, and the children are left to bear the brunt.
Other challenges such as the instability of teachers, irregularities in teachers’ training and inadequate equipment/infrastructures have played a part in lowering the standard of education in the country. Where all these have left us is a state of rot that has not only affected the pupils and students at the receiving end but also left a stench in the society at large.
To wrap this up, while the failure rate recorded in the Kaduna test might have once again opened our eyes to the ‘cankerworms’ that have been gnawing at our educational system, one must bear in mind that the problem of having incompetent teachers in service is not limited to Kaduna alone. As such, other state governors need to start taking bold steps at sifting the chaff from the wheat by ensuring that teachers go through competence test on a regular basis. We may not be able to holistically deal with the many problems at once but we can surely start from somewhere- taking bold and decisive steps here and there.

A System in Shambles
A couple of weeks back, news emerged that about three-quarter of the thirty-three thousand teachers [in Kaduna state] who partook in a basic four competence test had failed with the pass mark set at 75%. And at the moment, these teachers await their fate- with the state government bent on annulling their appointments. But while the Kaduna scenario remains fresh, one will not be out of context to posit that the matter [at hand] is a microcosm of a failing educational system.
Reviewing the Kaduna case further; in the first place, I personally believe that 75% pass mark for teachers who were taken through trainings is still somewhat average considering that the questions were drawn from basic four syllabus. It is even quite pathetic that officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers are threatening to go on strike should the Kaduna state government proceed with the sacking. NUT’s point is that the government reneged on the agreement to set the pass mark set at 60%- though not one to support people not keeping to promise but why should it be that low in the first place? Are the teachers not supposed to be a repository of knowledge from which the pupils ought to tap? I believe the teachers ought to be well ahead of the pupils they are teaching. Plus, is NUT now protecting the interest of the affected teachers- that may be the right thing to do but the priority should not misplaced- to the detriment of the nation’s future. The teachers are meant to be shapers of destinies so, should they not have the wherewithal to expertly deliver the right kind of service or knowledge to the children, there is no reason why they stand in front of the class posing as teachers- allowing such level of incompetence will be tantamount to giving in garbage to beget a ‘heap of garbage’ in the course of time.
Putting the Kaduna state issue aside for a moment, the educational system in the nation is one that is freighted with many faulty trends that have eaten deep into the fabric of the entire setup. A major problem that has been facing the Nigerian educational system is that of poor management strategies as there appears to be no firm grip/control of the administration of these schools by any tier of government. This has thus far left things in a mess as proper monitoring is neglected and/or given little consideration. Furthermore, the politicization that is sometimes exercised in the appointment if teachers has not also done the system any real good as mediocrity eventually gets exalted over merit, and the children are left to bear the brunt.
Other challenges such as the instability of teachers, irregularities in teachers’ training and inadequate equipment/infrastructures have played a part in lowering the standard of education in the country. Where all these have left us is a state of rot that has not only affected the pupils and students at the receiving end but also left a stench in the society at large.
To wrap this up, while the failure rate recorded in the Kaduna test might have once again opened our eyes to the ‘cankerworms’ that have been gnawing at our educational system, one must bear in mind that the problem of having incompetent teachers in service is not limited to Kaduna alone. As such, other state governors need to start taking bold steps at sifting the chaff from the wheat by ensuring that teachers go through competence test on a regular basis. We may not be able to holistically deal with the many problems at once but we can surely start from somewhere- taking bold and decisive steps here and there.

Argentina 2 Vs Nigeria 4 but it’s not world cup yet
Wild celebrations trailed the Super Eagles’ commanding victory over Argentina. Social media platforms went [and are still] buzzing with excitement on the feat of the youthful eagles’ team, with the major talking point being the comeback show put up by the Nigerian team. The excitement is quite understandable considering the fact that this was only the second time a Nigerian team will be coming out top against a star-studded Argentine team- the first of such being the 3-2 win at Atlanta ’96 which was also a comeback win. And of a truth, considering Argentina’s ranking in world football, this rare victory is worth celebrating- so, once again, bravo to the gallant eagles.
But before we get carried away by the euphoria that has come with the victory, we need to stay calm and look towards the ‘football mundial’ with great expectations [of having a wonderful outing in Russia next year]. This can only be achieved if all hands continue to be on deck.
It is no-brainer that early preparation is very essential to ensure that things turn out well at the world cup. Irrespective of the surety of this fact, fire brigade approach usually witnessed in our football circle has always been the greatest undoing- that said, I do hope complacency will not add up to that as the team is now on an appreciable winning streak. Kudos must however be given to the Amaju Pinnick-led administration that has thus worked around the clock to bring out the best in the team, and also take Nigeria’s football to the pedestal of greatness. It is to this end that I expect the NFF to keep making concerted efforts towards getting the Super Eagles in shape by organizing more grade A friendly matches like the one we just had. Plus, early camping/preparation should also be ensured if we [as a nation] wish to sustain the level of excitement we have caught from the victory over Argentina.
Though it is not world cup yet but beyond the result, there an ample of reasons why the victory is worth celebrating, and some of these (reasons) are henceforth discussed:
The competition looks good
Finally, the team is now looking more competitive as a couple of players from their outstanding display have shown the readiness to upstage the regulars. A major department that has not seen so much competition is the left full-back which had been more of a one-man show for so long now. However, the introductions of ola Aina and Bryan Idowu - who showed his intuitiveness as a modern full-back- into the setup seem to be bringing much verve to that particular position. Another player whose performance was eye-catching in the friendly against the Albiceleste was Ado Den Haag’s defender, Tyronne Ebuehi who has been waiting for his chance to don the green and white jersey of Nigeria. Though Abdullahi Shehu has been quite impressive but having another strong contender for the right full-back position is indeed a great idea. And with a youngster like Francis Uzoho coming up, is there really any reason to have Daniel Akpeyi in the team? It might be early days at the moment but things are looking very promising. Again, John Ogu, who is an old warhorse of some sort, is also looking good thus presenting more options in the midfield. Above all, with the zest we see in the team, and a strong bench in the offing, things are adding up to help the coach put up a strong squad that will be able to hold its head high even against the very best footballing nations.
Tactical flexibility
Nigeria’s national football team has been known tilted more towards 4-4-2 formation but coach Gernot Rohr has so far brought a mix with his different switches, and we have seen the Super Eagles play 4-3-3, 4-5-1 and 3-5-2 formations- the latter being aptly employed in the friendly match. What this portends is that the team’s hope does not have to always be pinned on a particular set of players- nonetheless; it is quite obvious that some players are highly influential- as the coach keeps attempting to make good use of the resources at his disposal. This (flexibility) could be very needful in the eventuality of injuries.
Now that we have beaten the fourth best team in world football- even to the distastefulness of Argentine football legend, Diego Maradona who is very much concern about national prestige- there is no doubting the fact that we have drawn attention to ourselves, and as such, the Nigerian team cannot afford to rest on its oars…there is a bigger fight ahead, and that, we must be prepared for.