Nigeria goes to Polls

By James Ojo

credits:BBC

Nigerians will today go to poll to elect their next president - an
election many pundits predict to be the toughest in Nigeria's
political history.

BBC's Will Ross had in Lagos said: "This election is likely to be a
tight race, especially if the opposition manages to stay united behind
one candidate".

Today's Presidential election is obviously a two-horse race between
PDP's  President Goodluck Jonathan and APC's Mohammadu Buhari (rtd).

Having defeated Mr. Atiku Abubakar his closest rival in the APC's
primaries, Buhari is now set to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan -
a repeat of 2011 poll.

In the previous election, Jonathan recorded a landslide victory over
Buhari, winning with almost 59% of the votes against 32%,
sparking widespread unrest in Northern areas which backed Mr. Buhari.
More than 500 people were killed and thousands of people were forced
out of their homes.

Amidst of the insecurity tussle in the Country, the APC's chosen
candidate, Buhari, has vowed to leave no stone unturned in
tackling the country's insecurity saga if elected.

Real Madrid ran riot without Ronaldo, Chelsea, Man City Struggle

By James Ojo

As football action resumed  on Saturday, some clubs were
without their key players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Costa, Cecs
Fabregas and Yaya were all out of action for their respective clubs.

Real Madrid ran riot on Saturday against Real Sociedad as they made
light of them 4-1 to maintain their lead on top of La Liga without
their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was handed a two- match ban
last weekend.

Ronaldo was red carded for misconduct against a Cordoba defender,
Edimar last weekend. But goals from James Rodriquez, Sergio Ramos
and a brace from prolific Kareem Benzema ensured a deserved victory
for the Blancos.

Carlo Ancelloti's men will now shift attention to Wednesday's clash
against Sevilla without Ronaldo before their crunch tie against city rival,
Athletico Madrid on February 7- a match that will feature Ronaldo.

Else where in the Barclay's Premier League, Chelsea and Manchester
City both struggled for a win in the absence of some key players.
Manchester City have not been convincing enough on the pitch since the
departure of ace Midfielder, Yaya Toure, for the African Cup of Nations
in Equitorial Guinea. Pellegrini's men have not tasted victory in
their last four suffering 2-0 defeats in a league match against
Arsenal and Middlesbrough in the FA.

With Toure, Manchester City have won 14 of their last18 Premier League
fixtures losing one and drawing three of the four games without him.
And a draw on Saturday with Chelsea leave them five points adrift of
League leaders thanks to David Silva who rooted Sergio Aguero's
powerful shot into the net in the 45th minute to take them level after
Remy had given Chelsea the lead in the 41st minute.

The absence of Diego Costa and Cecs Fabregas made life difficult for
the blues as they were almost caged in their own half against City in
a pulsating encounter that ended 1-1 on Saturday.

Costa received a three-match ban following his misconduct in their win
against Liverpool in FA last week and the Striker was forced to the
bench alongside Fabregas who did not look fit enough for the game.

While some clubs dazzled the world without their star men,
others struggled to create clear cut chances.

UNN SUG ELECTION: Thrills, Reactions, Expectations as Winners Emerge

By James Ojo, Izukanne Dorathy,and Gideon Arinze

Considering the relevance of student unionism to the growth of any
academic institution, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, had on the
29th of January, gone to  poll to elect new executive members of the
Student Union Government of the institution.

However, excitements, reactions and expectations have trailed the
conduct of the election which saw Orji Peter Ekene, popularly known
as Pedro, a 400-Level student of Veterinary Medicine, as the newly
elected president of the union.

The results of the election, which was announced at the Students
Affairs Department by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka's Electoral
Commission(UNECO), at about 9:30 pm, saw Orji Peter Ekene emerge the
President with a landslide victory polling 1289 votes to defeat his
closest rivals Ejike Celestine Amaechi, a 200-Level of Biochemistry
who polled 966 votes, Nwancha Precious C., who had 951 votes and Eze
Stanley with 805 votes.

In other elections conducted,  Nneka Peace emerged the Vice-President
with a total of 1802 votes to defeat her closest opponent Nebo and
Ugwu Rosemary who trailed her with 1778 and 543 votes respectively.
In the same vein, Onah Chibuzo emerged the Secretary General with 1397
votes, Ezea Sunday as Assistant Secretary General with 1055 votes,
Okeke Chibueze as Director of Transport with 811 votes, Anyanwu
Maximus as Director of Information, Ugwu Orji Henry as Director of
Socials with 1950 votes, Chinonye Noble as Director of Welfare with
888 votes, and others which include: the office of the Treasurer and
Director of Welfare whose winners cannot be ascertained at the time of
filing this report.

Before the election day, elections into House of Senate and House of
Representatives were held in the respective faculties of the
institution. This was followed by the candidates manifestoes where
each of the candidates unveiled his or her plans to leapfrog UNN's SUG
to eldorado if elected.

Following the announcement of the results, some students who could not
hide their feelings expressed their excitement and reactions to the conduct
and results and their expectations of the new administration an interview
with our correspondent.

According to a student identified as Ugwu Chidi, 'to a large extent, I
would say it was free and fair election' and that 'at least, those who
had voted had their votes actually counted,' he said. In his
assessment of the newly elected president, Chidi noted he is the right
candidate for the office as 'for now, I know Pedro(the president). I
believe that he has the ability and capacity to carry the SUG. I
believe he will do well,' he added.

To another student identified as Okonkwo Ernest, 'It is very orderly
and for me, it is free and fair. They(officials) kept to the rules and
regulations of the election' And 'security men were on ground'.

He however decried the low turn out of students for the election and
suggested that, 'They(students) need to be enlightened on the need to
come out and vote their candidates into office' as 'It is very
important for their welfare and well-being,' he said.

Also, electoral official identified as George Ugwu, also asserted that
the election went on a smooth ride as he had 'not observed any
misconduct' during the election.

In an interview, the newly elected SUG  President Orji Peter Ekene,
has reiterated his commitment to promotes the welfare as  his
administration is bent on walking the walk, 'Coming in with a lot of
transportation agenda' which entails improving the University's
'transportation network, a consolidated water supply and a conducive
environment for learning'. As a leader driven by a ferocious
determination to better the lots of his people, he remained unmoved,
cocksure that 'when all these things are put together, it would go
a very long way to absolutely define what student unionis should be
and not what it seems'.

Unveiling some strategies to achieve his plans, Peter said: 'I promise
that am going to work with all my team mates to see that the dreams
come through' as he determined not to let his foot off the gas to 'see
them actualised'.

To Pedro whose name has set UNN aglow after the election, polling
1289 votes and becoming the SUG President is not only a thing of joy
but also an uphill task. "I feel so happy and at the same time, I see it
as a very big task and a challenge,' he said.

This year's SUG election was keenly contested by many candidates. In
comparison to last year's election, there were few candidates and Agwu
Christian was the clear favourite to win the election - which he
eventually did.

Real Madrid Set to Rule the world

By James Ojo

credits: coyotechronicle.net

Call them the European and world champions, you have got it right.
Real Madrid are battle ready not to take their foot off the gas as
they aim to dominate all fronts in the new year, after a scintilating
run in the first half of the 2014-2015 season.

With a tip-top form in year 2014, the Blancos have nothing to worry
about after they clinched the Club World Cup in December to end an
emphatic 12 months winning the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and
set a new record for consecutive victories.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are on top of La Liga and are one of the clear
favourites to win other major trophies in Europe including the UEFA
Champions League and are auspiciously set to dominate Europe in
subsequent years.

Interestingly, they have little or nothing to worry about cosidering
some factors which gave them an edge over other teams in the world.

In the first place, Real Madrid parades one of the strongest attack in
the world with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema as
their deadliest arsenal  against their opponents. Adding to this are
hosts of other best players in the world with new world cup signings:
James Rodriquez and Kroos, making the team a more formidable one.

More to this is the coach who is a man with wealth of football
experiences. As a coach, he had  enjoyed a good career  having won may
titles with his previous clubs. For instance, he had won domestic
league titles in Italy with AC Millan, in England with Chelsea, and in
France with Paris Saint-German and recently in December, he had bagged
the 2014 coach of the year award at the Globe Soccer Awards, held in
Dubai, and penned down his name among the league of best coaches in the
world. To him, life at the spanish capital was easy because, "we have
many great players and wonderful staff which makes it a lot easier to
coach Real Madrid than other clubs"; and he believed they have the
most formidable team branding his squad the "strongest in the world".

Indeed, Ancelotti is not far from the truth as their win over San
Lorenzo in the final of the Club World Cup extended their winning
streak in competitive action to 22 matches. Not satisfied with these
landslide achievements, the coach said, "In 2015, we want to compete
in every competition and we have the confidence to compete for
everything" on Madrid's official Website.

 He is therefore cock-sure that task  the will not be a daunting one
and that the Blancos are on the path of history as in which they "had
to work and fight in order to try and win again".

Sharing the same point of view with Ancelotti, Real Madrid's captain
and No1. goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, describing their prolifacy
noted that, "we are talking about a team that is now experienced, that
started out young but is now mature insisting they have "high
expectations to achieve everything possible" and that they can
"compete for everything given that we are such a competitive team".

All they want therefore according to Sergio Ramos is for their fans
"to keep supporting us as they have done" on their official website.

Considering wealth of titles, Real Madrid are undoubtedly one of most
successful club in Europe wiinning: 1 best club of the 20th century
FIFA Trophy, 10 European Cups, 3 Intercontinental cups, 19 Copa del
Rey, 32 Ligas, 2 UEFA cups, 2 European Super Cups, 2 Latin Cups,  2
small world cups, 1 League Cup, 9 Spanish Super Cups, 18 Regional
Championship and 5 Mancomunados Trophies to their credit.
Source:www.Realmadrid/../football

From the foregoing, the Blancos are nothing but a side to reckon with
in 2015 as they get set to gun all European cups with  one of the
deadliest squad in the world.

The War against the Pen

By James Ojo

credits: gbcghana.com

Undoubtedly, the might of the pen had enjoyed a good reputation of

mythological proportion as Agbese rightly said.

But it is rather pathetic and catastrophic to note that the recent

attacks being launched against journalists all over the world has gone

through the roofs in recent time and thus requires serious attention

to rescue the deteriorating situation. According to Irina Bokova,

director general of UNESCO,"The threat is grave. On average, one

journalist is killed per week and while fatalities include foreign

correspondents, the vast majority of victims are local, covering local

stories, living in a climate of impunity."

Agbese, a mogul and foremost Nigerian Journalist once said, "All

societies need the reporter, not usually for what he is but what he

does and what is does is giving information".

Imagine our society without journalists to keep us abreast of events?

Imagine our society without the reporters to keep the governments on

their toes as Dimgba Igwe noted? Imagine...? Yet, journalists are

being massacred, killed, tortured and jailed at will in the course of

discharging their duties.

The worst part of this horrible trend is that most of these

perpetrators are hardly brought to book and according to Anna Paolini,

UNESCO regional director  "The fact that anyone who kills a journalist

can get away with it is unacceptable."

The International Federation of Journalists reported that in 2014,

Pakistan was the deadliest country with 14 journalists killed,

followed by 12 dead in Syria and nine each in Afghanistan and the

Palestinian territories.

The report showed that 118 journalists and media

staff were killed around the world in 2014.

According to the report, among those killed, 13 more than in 2013,

were either targeted for their work or caught in the cross-fire while

another 17 died in accidents or natural disasters while on assignment;

prompting the IFJ president to charge the government to "make the

protection of journalists their priority". As journalists are

"targeted not only to restrict the free flow of information, but

increasingly as leverage to secure huge ransoms and political

concessions through sheer violence."

Considering this fact, should media organisations stop the trend of

sending their reporters to places of war, there would "be poorer for

lack of independent witnesses" as the IFJ president said.

From the foregoing, Journalists contribution to the society cannot be

quantified and as such requires all hands to be on deck to go to 'war'

against the surge. The people of our world need the pen to give them the truth. They

need the pen to act as the voice of the voiceless, they need the pen

to serve as a check on government activities among other things. Thus,

the journalists role is all encompassing and as such, laws should be

enforced to protect them in the discharge of their duty.

Enyeama rivals Toure, Aubameyang for 2014 African Player of the Year Awards

By James Ojo

credits: cafonline.com

Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama rivals  Cote d'Ivoire's Yaya Toure, current
African Footballer of the year, and Gabonnese striker Pierre-Emerick,
for the African Player of the Year Award showdown slated to hold on
the 8th of January, 2015, in Lagos.

The trio made the final cut in a list released by the Confederation of
African Football after their tip-top form for both their country and
their clubs.


Twenty-five players were initially shortlisted some weeks ago
including Nigeria's Ahmed Musa before it was narrowed down to ten then
later five through voting from members of the Technical& Development
and the Media Committees.

The Head Coaches of the National Associations affiliated to Caf will
vote in their order of preference to decide on who the best player in
Africa is.

 The winners would be announced at the Glo-CAF Awards Gala slated  for
Thursday, January 8, 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

FINAL SHORTLISTS:

Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire , Manchester City)

Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria, LOSC Lille)

 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon, Borussia Dortmund).

Nigerians remain in the dark over 2015

...call for good governance after a turbulent 2014.

By James Ojo, Eze Chukwudera and Elom Sunday

credits: modernghana.com

In spite of President Goodluck Jonathan's plegde to better the lots of
Nigerians in his new year broadcast, some Nigerians remain in the dark
as to what 2015 has in stock for them after an enduring 2014.

They made this known in a cross-section of interviews with our
correspondents in Enugu and Asaba, Delta state, in the early hours of
Thursday.

According to Miss. Iroegbu Nkechinyere Oluchi, a graduate of mass communication,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, year 2014 has not been a good year
considering the records of unrest and insurgency in the country which
has not been curbed till date.

She however committed 2015 into God's hand noting that the right
leader should emerge at the end of the poll.

"2015 is in the hands of God. Whoever God wants to be at the
helm of affairs in this country, will be. In all, I'm expecting a year
of amazing grace in all ramification"  she said.

Similarly, Mr. Michael Chukwudi Okeh, a lecturer in a  University
expressed his joy at seeing another year and looked forward for a
better year ahead after a turbulent 2014.

In his assessment of the previous year, Mr. Okeh said:

"2014 is the year that closes the year of amalgamation of Nigeria
which took place in 1914. The year witnessed a lot of challenges,
insurgency and lots of trying times. Also the year the defending
champion did not qualify for the African cup of Nations due to the
storms".

While explaining the fate of Nigeria in 2015, he believes that Nigeria
while overcome despite all odds.

"The president is being optimistic. Watching the antecedent of what
happened in the past, where some people after the election made some
felonious statements that Nigeria will be ungovernable. Walking down
the memory lane, it was after the 2011 election that Nigeria started
experiencing bombing and killing. On that note, the president is sounding
a note of warning that it will not be a business as usual,"  he said.

 He therefore enjoined Nigerians to be patriotic and security
conscious about our environment, arguing that this would go a long way
in curbing insecurity in Nigeria.

In the same vein, Dr.Fidelis Emeka, in his assessment said,

 "2014 was a year of turbulence. Reasons being that a lot of Nigerians
including the leaders, do not believe in God. This has led to the
unrest and insurgencies in the country", he said.

 While explaining the fate of Nigeria and the electorates in performing
their obligation in the forthcoming general election, Dr. Emeka said,

 "People in the northern part of the country may not turn out in mass
to exercise their right because of the insurgency. Then coming to the
South and other parts of the country, people will turn out to vote for
their candidates, but the fear is that some political parties might try
to manipulate the vote".

Explaining his expectations for Nigeria in 2015, he noted that Nigeria
would divide in 2015, owing to the  various predictions of American
government in 2011.

On their part, Mr.Stephen and Mr. Abednego noted that their
expectations this year was to accomplished some plans which they
couldn't achieve in the previous year.

President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his commitment to the
developement of Nigeria and the fight against terrorism in his new
year broadcast to Nigerains on Thursday.

 "We have done a lot of painstaking planing in resolving the security
challenge in the country", he said.

While highlighting some his achievement in the last four years
President Goodluck Jonathan noted that he had recorded a landslide
feat in areas  like:

Rehabilitation and expansion of rail transportation network;privatization of
power; significantly reformed and increased local participation in oil and
gas industry; Improved nationl wide asses of portable water from
fifty-seven percent in 2010 to seventy percent at present; Significant
progress in improving asses to primary, secondary and tertiary
education by building and equipping the schools; National economy,
maintains a steady growth.

Kane Stars as Tottenham humbled Chelsea 5-3

By James Ojo

credits: bbc.co.uk

Chelsea kicked-off their 2015 title campaign on a sad note after
suffering their worst defeat of the season to Tottenham in a pulsating
5-3 encounter on Thursday night.

The Blues took the lead in the 18th minute when Diego Costa fired home
a pass from Oscar before Harry Kane who put up a scintilating display
on Thursday night scored in the 30th minute to take Tottenham level.

In another quick session, Danny Rose netted to give the host the lead
in the 44th minute before Andros Townsend fired home in a penalty
during additional time to give the Spurs a comfortable 3-1 lead into the
half-time.

Few minutes into the second half, Harry Kane scored again in the
52th minute to record a brace before Nacer Chadli scored in the 78th
minute to hand the Spurs a comfortable 5-3 victory in their first game
of 2015.

Eden Hazard's 61th minute and John Terry 87th minute strikes were
not enough to earn Jose Mourinho's men a point.

Meanwhile Manchester City recorded a 3-2 victory over Sunderland
thanks to Frank Lampard's late goal in a match earlier in the day to
level up with Chelsea on top of the table with 46 points.

The other results from matches played yesterday are as follows:

Stoke City 1 - 1 Manchester United

Aston Villa 0 - 0 Crystal Palace

Hull 2 - 0 Everton

Liverpool 2 - 2 Leicester

Man City 3 - 2 Sunderland

Newcastle United 3 - 3nBurnley

QPR 1 - 1 Swansea City

Southampton 2 - 0 Arsenal

West Ham United 1 - 1 West Brom

2015: New Year, New Expectations

By James Ojo, Elom Sunday

As Nigeria move away from her centenary ''celebration'' in year 2014 -
something that calls for joy, but whose joy was hampered by her
enormous challenges, Nigerians remain optimistic as year 2015 unfolds,
with the hope of a better tomorrow.

Going down the memory lane, the amalgamation of the Southern and
Northen Protectorates in 1914 brought about the current state called
Nigeria. Since then, challenges had been her hallmarks, perhaps due to
what many called ''a forceful marriage''.

This sprout questions like: Are we really one Nigeria? Is there unity
in our land? As the case may be , it is a fact that Nigeria does
not really live in unity as we claimed to be. Nevertheless, it boils
down to what unity meant to us.

This reminds me of Odewale's words in the popular drama, ''They Gods are
not to blame'' written by a literary mogul, Rotimi Olawale.
It reads: ''The monkey and gorilla may claim oneness but monkey is
monkey and gorilla is gorilla''.

Amidst our religious, ethnic and tribal turbulence, it is obvious that
each tribe has attempted to pay more loyalty to their ethnicity than
to the central government - a bane to our so called ''federal system of
government''. Despite this we claim to be one, operating under the notion of
 unity in diversity.

Hunred years of ''togetherness''! How has the journey been so far?

An analysis
Year 2014 undoubtedly was characterised by so many unmitigated disasters
especially those posed by the deadly militant Islamic sect Boko Haram.

At the outset their mission seems known to everybody as - ''war against
western education and creation of islamic state'', but in the long run,
they are fast turning into a religious-cum-political tool.

While many Nigerians became hopeless in 2014, thousands were killed,
thousands injured and many others in great trauma, nuturing the stigma
inflicted on them by these the Boko Haram.

Our over 250 Chibok girls taken captive would forever linger in our
memory. Our brothers killed at the Iyanya blast and many others killed
in the North remains indellible in the anals of Nigeria history.

However the future might looked unhappy but to resign oneself to it is
to be crippled fast. To this end Nigerians must move on. Moving on
with faith, with hope and with expectations.

We must borrow a leaf from USA who had once been in a tussle like this
but never relent. Today, other countries of the world look up to them
for various aids.

Giving Nigeria more expections and making more committments for 2015, President
Goodluck Jonathan on his first day of the year, made an address to Nigerians,
ensuring them of a better future, a better tomorrow. Parts of
his speech reads:

"Great People of our nation.

"I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the New Year today.
As we mark the beginning of this New Year, 2015, a new nation is being
born.  A new nation is being born because of the foundations we have
all laid, working together for the good and progress of our dear
fatherland.

" I join you all in thanking God Almighty who has brought us this far,
for continually bestowing His Grace upon us and for guiding our great
nation safely through all the challenges of the past year.

"This year, as in the year past, I reaffirm my commitment to work to
ensure a secure future for our dear country and the generations yet
unborn.

"Last year, we celebrated our hundredth year of nationhood. The year
brought us further progress, challenges and fresh opportunities.

" We have contended with the normal challenges of nation-building and
the unusual challenges of terrorism.

"But we have continued to vigorously confront those who seek to
destroy the bonds of unity that hold us together.
communities, driving them into exile.

" I want to assure you that the terrorists will not get away with
their atrocities: they will not win; they will be routed. As
President, I feel the pain of all affected communities and families. I
hear their cries and share their sorrow and pain.

" We will not forget; we will not look the other way.''