This Madness Called Football!

Call me a ranting imbecile, I really don't care. The subject of football fanaticism has reached a perturbing height that it begins to beg the question: Is it really worth it? Does it truly count at the end? Wednessday, Ist of February, will be remembered as a black day for the beautiful game of football. It all happened at Port Said in Egypt. Mayhem was let loose between fans of Al-Masry and Al-Ahly. This was after the match where the former had an unprecedented 3-1 win over the more renowned Al-Ahly. This senseless rancour claimed the lives of 74 (78, depending on who you choose to believe) people. Suffice it to say, this ugly incident is simply the latest in a series of violence and unrest surrounding the sport. From the frenzy world of the English Priemiership to the stern turf of the Italian Serie A, to the exquisite football artistry in the Spanish La Liga, the story of violence is the same. Even in our own country Nigeria, some fans have gone insane. We have had series of cases where fans of foreign clubsides either kill or injure oppossing fans. Some marriages have been destroyed in the name of football, idleness have taken on a new name for some, and overall efficiency at work have taken a nosedive, all in the name of football. How did we get here? Football pundits will argue that football offers a form of escapism for many, from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially in this part of the world where news headlines are a pack of nightmares. However, there is the need for fans to check this excessive love (lust if you like) for football. Richard Wright famously stated that 'the spectators can never be part of the action'. Thus, no matter how attached you are to a particular football club, you can never become a gladiator. The true moments of glory and agony of a clubside are truly felt by the players, coaching staff and management. This is not saying that becoming a football fan is acrimonious and bad, however, we all need to realize that at the end, it's just a game which should merely be enjoyed, at least for the fans. Thus, it is obvious that it does not worth breaking a sweat or losing sleep or skipping meals the next time your team loses a football game.

Mourinho And The Burden Of Barcelona!

Seldom in his amazing career has the self acclaimed 'Special One' been repeatedly humbled in defeats. Jose Mourinho was handpicked by the powers that be at the Santiago Bernebeau, to mainly curtail the 'irritating' and sublime dominance of their archrivals, Barcelona. But, this holy grail appears to have evaded the mindas touch that we all know that José conjures. One win in ten attempts against the Catalans can only be described as the peak of disasters. Not only has Barca remained the trailblazers, the bragging rights which the Madrid hierarchy desperately covets, has remained in the Camp Nou. These are certainly not happy days for Mourinho, and until he solves this protracted puzzle, he might never become the greatest gaffer of all time. Several explanations have been put up to explain why Madrid under José, never seems to be able to defeat their sworn enemy. Some reasons could outrightly be dismissed as untenable and fictitious, while some are embedded with truism. However,one fact cannot be gainsayed, and which is that Mourinho has always had a personal rivalry with Barcelona. This 'Cold War' streches back to his days at Chelsea. The Pourtugese has undoubtedly admitted that he can simply not defeat Barca at their own game, and during his spells at both Chelsea and Inter Milan, he has resorted to the infamous mantra of 'parking the bus' and 'catching them on the break'. However, at Madrid, the rivarly with Barca is a different kettle of fish. El Classico is simply not about three points only, it is most importantly about the bragging and bullish rights, the tussle for supremacy and the battle for wits. But with Mourinho's arrival at Madrid, the rivalry translated into hatred. Red cards have become an inevitable feature at El Classicos. While it is true that a handful of Barca's players often simulates and 'play acts' against Madrid, Real Madrid players often stoke the fire. Tackles against Barca always carry malacious intents with them. This trend is not only harming Madrid's ambitions, it is also killing the beautiful game of football. When football gets very personal, it loses it's essence. A glance at the Spanish La Liga suggests that Madrid are seven points clear, but even Mourinho knows that with Barcelona, the team behind them, it is not yet uhuru.

The Power Of Social Media In The Nigerian Dream!

Enough chronicles and tales have already been written on the amazing role that the social media played in bringing about the watershed that was the Arab spring. In those months of revolutions in the Arab world, conventions were defied, technology attained a new status and an intriguing precedent was set. Occupy wall street became the theme in the United States, shortly after, and just when many thought that the Nigerian mind was too backward and nasty to accomodate this wind of change, Occupy Nigeria was the answer. It will merely be emphazing the obvious to unequivocally say that we are in a century where secrets have learnt to go viral and indeed, the globe has become a spying camera in itself. The fuel subsidy removal impasse that threw the country into a quagmire underlined the fact that Nigerians have fully grasped the magic of the social media. Rallies and protests were conceived on the pages of Blackberry messenger, twitter, youtube and facebook. The awakening was unbelievable. Mobile phones attained a new meaning in the hands of Nigerians. Messages moved at a speed of light. Images and videos were exchanged at a scary pace. It truly won't be an exaggeration to say that the social media played a pivotal role in the success (or partial success if you like) of the first phase of the Occupy Nigeria movement. However, it does not require a strech of the imagination to see that this change has only just begun. Make no mistake about it, even the illetrates and not so enlightened have all been part of this awakening. For president Goodluck Jonathan, he has to live with the burden that technological innovations has brought. These innovations have ensured that the fancy walls of Aso rock is now transperent. Not only does the walls have ears these days, they also have eyes. The struggle for the attainment of the Nigerian dream did not elapse with the suspension of the nation-wide strike. It only entered a new phase, and with the world churning out novel innovations daily, the social media will continue to play an integral part in this fight to liberate the present and salvage posterity.

Goodluck Jonathan: An Opportunity Lost!

At times, fate has a way of presenting you with chances to etch your name in gold. However, not too many grab the subtle and rare chance. The fairytale story of the political sojourn of Goodluck Jonathan is one that does not require a rehash. Some version of the story has it that his stroke of luck began while he was in secondary school, where he succeeded in disposing the head boy. Which ever version you choose to believe, it cannot be gainsayed that Goodluck Jonathan rode his luck to become the president, at least at this time. The recent fuel subsidy removal imbriglio could well have soiled a reputation that was firmly built on luck and sentiments. Hitherto this recent brouhaha, Jonathan was perceived as a form of 'fresh air', a break away from the old, and a beginning of a new dawn. But, the recent impasse with the majority of the citizenry has dainted that image. While some might have seen Jonathan's removal of subsidy as a form of brevity, the truth remains that turning a deaf ear to the electorate that gave you your mandate, is an obvious display of insensitivity and dictatorial tendencies. It is heartbreaking that Goodluck Jonathan couldn't seize the opportunity that history doled out to him. He had a platform to put Nigeria back on the right track, but he blew it. He allowed the fear of his godfathers, the cabals and the callously corrupt kingmakers around him, to becloud his sense of judgement. This might yet be early days for the Jonathan presidency, but the signs of failures are already glaring. The terror of Boko Haram still thrives, our universities have been under lock and key, unemployment continues to skyrocket, steady power supply appears to be a distant dream, insecurity remains a national plague and sheer corruption continues to be the order of the day. It is true that Jonathan did not get us to this mess, but at least, he could have helped in salvaging it. Instead, he choose to compound our woes. This was a man who claimed not to have shoes, who got into power as a result of public outcry, but as it's always the case with most politicians in Nigeria, Jonathan has a short memory. He has a cabinet that is largely mediocre and dominated by same old faces, and herein lies the problem. Indeed, it is not Nigerians fault that they cannot trust their leaders, afterall, trust is to be earned not solicited for. It took the will of Fidel Castro to Liberate Cuba in the 20th century. It took the doggedness of Jerry Rawlings to get Ghana to it's promised land. And now, Jonathan has thrown reason to the air, and made himself a pun in the hands of some few. Regardless of what the current turmoil snowballs into, one thing is certain, Goodluck Jonathan will never get a second chance to recreate the first impression he has manifested.

Short Story: The Fight For Survival (The Nigerian Story)

Afam was wounded by the obvious pain in the eyes of his children. He cursed the day their mother decided to attend that church service. It was to be her last service, at least in the human flesh, as the Boko Haram mayhem claimed her fledgling body. Afam could see the trauma in his four kids. Their tears freely flowed. Their hearts panted in anguish and their bodies had the frame of mourners. He couldn't stand the tormenting sight any more. He left the sitting room to the verenda, hoping that the soothing breeze of the night will ease his plethora of sorrows. Afam helped his body into a chair. He tilted his head in a way that exudes frustation. He gazed at the stars with an angry smile, that made the stars quiver. Then, his thoughts ran the show. 'My country has really been unfair to me', he muttered. He remembered how he gruesomely lost his parent to one of the many Jos crises. He recollected how he was cruelly dismissed from the civil service for refusing to engage in a corrupt deal. Now, his wife was the latest casuality and misery that his country has bestowed upon him. He wanted to cry, but his tears were tired of flowing. They wanted a rest. Afam slept at the veranda that night, and it was the mosquitoes who had the last laugh that night. The next day was new year's day. Afam's household was still shroudded in their agony. Mirth had never been his forté, for life's strokes had taught him enough. It was a dark new year's day as PHCN held their power. Afam simply turned on his transistor radio, the only inheritance that his father had bequeathed to him. No sooner has he successfully tuned to his favourite radio station, that he heard the breaking news. 'FG HAS REMOVED SUBSIDY ON PETROL'. He first thought it was his ears that played pranks on him. But, as he listened again, he knew it was true. 'No', he said with a tone that had anger written all over it. 'I won't accept this', he mumbled as if the battle was a personal one. The next day, Afam was in the forefront of the peaceful protest in his hometown. His voice was broken out of constant shoutings and chantings, yet, it was still the loudest in the crowd. And then, the worst happened. Fire was opened on him by security operatives. As he laid in the pool of his blood, he gazed to the stars again. 'At least, now I will rest. If Mouhamed Bouazizi can do it for Tunisia, why can't I do it for Nigeria', were his last words. His eyes began to gloriously shut themselves, his hands dropped with a swiftness that could only mean one thing, Afam was dead!

Nigeria Is At The Brink...

Who saw this coming? Shocking does not aptly gague the feelings of countless Nigerians at the moment. What was initially percieved as a hoax and an unthinkable dream by the powers that be, has hit us all like an hurricane. Subsidy on petroleum has finally been removed, and the petrification of purchasing a litre of fuel for 150 naira, has been validated into reality. Just when we were ushering in a 2012, that in all truism, looks bleak for our political future, the Fresh air presidency has pulled out a shocker like a bolt from the blue. Befuddled and cruel, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has finally incited a citizenry that was already pushed to the wall. It decries reason to unequivocally say that the Federal Government promised to continue nation wide consultation over the fuel subsidy saga, but like the cynics feared, this was not a government to be trusted. History for the umpteenth time, vindicates itself. Aso rock is not a name to be associated with honesty, and to think that this declaration came at a time when the fear of Boko Haram thrived in our shores! It is foolhardy for Jonathan and his team of 'fresh air advocates', to expect that the populace will accept this charade with passivity. He has simply pierced Nigerians where it hurts and must be ready for the rage that comes with such action. He has surely started a song, his dancing cannot evade, a music that could well be his last!

Bloody Christmas: How Long Will This Continue?

The scourge is terrifying and the pallatives have all proved abortive. It was a day of uncommon significance for all christains. It was Christmas day, and with it came the glitz and the razzmattaz that always attends the event. Thus, parishoners of St Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleja, in Niger State, went to usher in the 'baby Jesus'. However, they were ushered into mayhem, and got what they never bargained for. Undoubtedly, this was a Christmas that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Again, it was one attack too many. Again, it was Boko Haram reeling in it's finest hour, a case of crass madness. Again, it was a incident that reminded us that our goverment cannot meet their basic responsibility of protecting our lives. Indeed, the unfortunate scenerio demanded a swift response of resolve, intent and condolence from the presidency, but did we get? A presidential statement that puzzles the mind and befuddles reason. Our president had the effortnery to say that 'This was a burden we must learn to live with'. Which leader displays such unspeakable cowardice when his nation is in distress? Pathetic! It is no longer news that Nigeria is now a haven of insecurity, and that our security operatives is as porus and toothless as a cursed child, however, one begs the question: For how long will this wreckage linger?