KESHI’S RED CARD AS EAGLES COACH
Few hours after Nigeria defeated Sudan 3-1 in Abuja, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) fired Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach and appointed a consortium of coaches led by Shaibu Amodu to take charge of the concluding qualifying matches for the African Nations Cup (AFCON) 2015. An expatriate coach would be appointed afterwards. NFF also dispensed with Daniel Amokachi, assistant coach, and Ike Shorounmu, goalkeeper trainer.
Many football lovers have hailed the governing body’s decision as a bold and well-advised one, many of them arguing that Keshi did himself in. Keshi led the Super Eagles to win the African Cup of Nations in 2013 but had been having a running battle with the authorities from then until he was eased out.
MINISTERS WHO WANT TO BE GOVERNORS
Political permutations for 2015 assumed a new dimension on Wednesday with the news of seven ministers who resigned their appointments to pave way for their aspirations in the 2015 general election. The ministers are Labaran Maku, minister of information; Samuel Ortom, minister of state for trade and industry; Nyesom Wike, minister of state for education; Musiliu Obanikoro, minister of state for defence; Emeka Wogu, minister of labour; Onyebuchi Chukwu, minister of health; and Dairus Ishaku, minister of state for Niger Delta.
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They are all eyeing the governorship of their respective states: Nasarawa, Benue, Rivers, Lagos, Abia, Ebonyi and Taraba. Big risk their resignations are. Should they lose, some could still nick ministerial appointments should Jonathan return in 2015. But a loss may also well spell the journey to political oblivion for a few others.
PRESIDENCY AND BUHARI TRADE WORDS
The presidency and Muhammadu Buhari have been at loggerheads since the retired general and APC presidential aspirant declared his presidential ambition on Wednesday. In his speech at the public declaration, Buhari had accused the PDP-led government of presiding over the economic decline of Nigeria.
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“The last 16 years of PDP government has witnessed decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria,” Buhari said, amid similar statements highlighting perceived lapses in the current administration that the APC says it plans to fill. But the presidency would have none of that.
Responding through Reuben Abati, the presidency dismissed Buhari’s claims about Nigerian economy. Abati went on to say that none of Buhari’s ideas was original, as all of them were already being implemented by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. He added that the economy had maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6 per cent to 7 per cent, while Nigeria had become Africa’s largest economy under the Jonathan administration. Now, who do Nigerians believe – Buhari or Abati? It has been said that figures don’t lie. But it is one thing to quote statistics; to feel the tangible effects of those figures is another thing entirely.
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