AGITATION FOR BIAFRA AND THE NEED FOR UNITED NIGERIA

In my own appraisal the declaration by General Yakubu Gowen in 1970 of "No Victor, No Vanquished" should have put an end to any secessionist agitation in Nigeria. The Civil War has truncated Nigeria's unity and the wounds of disunity were supposed to be healed with the country inching on. But alas! The elements of disunity keep on revising us and the ghost of Biafra refuse to disappear for good.

When we were growing up our parents persistently relayed tales of the Nigerian Civil War, the devastating effects and how Nigeria almost got divided across ethnic lines. Our parents took us through history on the genesis of the secessionist agitation.

We learned through history that the Federation of Nigeria, as it is known today, has never really been one homogeneous country, for it's widely differing peoples and tribes. This obvious fact notwithstanding, the British colonial master decided to keep the country as one entity in order to effectively control her vital resources for their economic interests. Thus, for administrative convenience the Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Thereafter the only thing this people had in common was the name of their country since each side had different administrative set-up. This alone was an insufficient basis for true unity. Under normal circumstances the amagalmation ought to have brought the various peoples together and provided a firm basis for the arduous task of establishing closer cultural, social, religious, and linguistic ties vital for true unity among the people. There was division, hatred, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced disparity in development.

The Nigerian Civil War broke out in July 1967. The war was the culmination of an uneasy peace and stability that had plagued the Nation from independence in 1960. This situation had its genesis in the geography, history, culture and demography of Nigeria. The immediate cause of the civil war itself may be identified as the coup and the counter coup of 1966 which altered the political equation and destroyed the fragile trust existing among the major ethnic groups.

The consequences of the Civil War was as devastating as the war itself. Almost half a century afterwards, angst amongst the populace persisted, with ethnic sentiments threatening to destabilise the country. Virtually every ethnic group in Nigeria is one way or the other guilty of rekindling hatred towards other ethnic groups. What seems to be a human tragedy all through ages is the inability of man to learn a good lesson from the past so as to avoid the pitfall of those who had gone before. There is also the innate and unconscious desire of man to remain oblivious of the lessons of the past.

The emergence of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB seemingly sounding the drums of war at a time when Nigeria more than anytime need to be united in fighting corruption and instituting economic dependency. While IPOB are trying to unleash their agenda, resistant forces in the north are echoing the war drums by brazenly "ordering" the relocation of Igbos from northern Nigeria. Do we really need to be divided? I'm a strong believer in the fact that every region in Nigeria can sustain itself, but we need not go to that extent. Nigeria's unity need to be resuscitated, every ethic group is as important in Nigeria as every Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa. We are all joint shareholders of the enterprise called Nigeria.

It was President Olusegun Obasanjo who once dismissed IPOB and MASSOB as mere swindlers: "The people who are doing this," he said, "are the same people in the 419 business, they are the same people you will find in drugs all over the world. To them this is another source of making money." I won't believe that Nnamdi Kanu and Ralph Uwazurike are mere con men, their resurgence supersedes that. Nigeria don't need another Civil War, we need national unity and tolerance. One Nigeria is what we should agitate for.

CAN ARSENAL DO THE IMPOSSIBLE?

As Arsenal prepare for the daunting task of overturning the 5-1 first leg deficit against Bayern Munich tonight, let's look back at eight of the greatest second leg comebacks in European Champions Leagues annals:

*FC Barcelona lost 2-0 to AC Milan in the first leg, but won 4-0 in the second leg (2012/13 round of 16)

*FC Barcelona lost 3-1 to Chelsea in the first leg, but won 5-1 in second leg (1999/2000 quarter-finals)

*Chelsea FC lost 3-1 to Napoli in the first leg, but won 4-1 in the second leg (2011/12 round of 16)

*Deportivo La Coruna lost 4-1 to AC Milan in first leg, but won 4-0 in second leg (2003/04 quarter-finals)

*Monaco lost 4-2 to Real Madrid in first leg, but won 3-1 in the second leg (2003/04 quarter-finals)

*Manchester United lost 2-0 to Olympiacos in the first leg, but won 3-0 in the second leg (2013/14 round of 16)

*Chelsea lost 3-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg, but won 2-0 in the second leg (2013/14 quarter-finals)

*Bayern Munich lost 3-1 to Porto in the first leg, but won 6-1 in the second leg (2014/15 quarter-finals)

NB: No team has been able to recover from a 5-1 deficit, but nothing is impossible in football. Arsenal will set a new record if they achieve that at the Emirates tonight

2015/16 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BATTLE ROYALE

The coming season which kicks off today will be one of the most interesting in the history of the English Premier League. The desperation to wrest the title from Chelsea and the flood of new signings will no doubt emblazon the season.


Last season, the chase for the title turned into a foregone conclusion fairly early as a disciplined Chelsea ran away with the league. This time out, a much tougher fight looms. Again Chelsea will be the favourites, in my reckoning, and a very good bet indeed to achieve something special with back-to-back titles. Manager Jose Mourinho is targeting consistency ahead of an unnecessary overhaul, with Radamel Falcao the only arrival of note. But can Falcao be able to exorcise his injury demons, that's the question to be asked, as the season gets underway. Seriously agitating to challenge Chelsea will be the usual suspects, Man City, Man United, Arsenal, and from the outside, Liverpool.

Attempt by City at defending its crown went poorly last season, so the chequebook has been opened in this transfer window as the oil-rich club looks to propel itself back to the top. Raheem Sterling has arrived from Liverpool for a club record fee, and Kevin De Bruyne could be next in line for potentially another record fee. But the problems may be at the back, Vincent Kompany seems to be losing his grit,  as massive preseason losses to Real Madrid and, worryingly, Stuttgart have suggested. Work is still to be done for City.

Meanwhile, United has been busy as every preparing for a very important season. After two years out of the title race, it is imperative Louis Van Gaal gets United back into it in this campaign, and the incomings have reflected that urgency, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin are among the first wave of new United players, with Angel Di Maria's departure and David De Gea looking to be on the way out, there could be a seriously expensive second wave on the way. Depending on how quickly the new signings gel, United could be either a genuine threat for the title or in a scrap for the Champions League.

Liverpool are always there or thereabouts, and yet another spending spree makes them somewhat of an unknown quantity ahead of the new season. Liverpool struggled last season after the sale of Luis Suarez inspired a squad overhaul, and the off-season has appeared remarkably similar, they will struggle to finish among the top four again.

Tottenham, Southampton and Everton will again fight it out for European slots. As the the newly-promoted sides, Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford, staying up will be their priorities.  Provided all three teams don't go straight back down, the Premier League will have to lose something of a mainstay, with Aston Villa top of the list of candidates. Poor last season but saved largely by Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph - players who are no longer at Villa Park - Tim Sherwood desperately needs his new signings to make an immediate impact.

Overall, the season is going to be interesting. Again it is Chelsea's title to lose, United could only provide a stern challenge by signing a centre back and a proven goal scorer before the transfer window closes. Arsenal is in the same region, if the can get Karim Benzema Monsieur Wenger could swing surprises. City will be desperate, but I don't see them winning the title with Kompany, Mangala and Demichelis at the heart of their defense. The trio might turn a new leaf, if they do Chelsea will be in danger of losing the title.

2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

The 21st season of the English Premier League is upon us like a bang! It is hard to believe that as I'm writing this in barely 24 hours proceedings in the English elite football league will resume. Manchester United will be the defending champions as pretenders to the crown will attempt to wrest the trophy that has virtually been the property of United since the commencement of the Premier League era. 

This season will be seemingly unpredictable with the managerial changes at United, Citeh and Chelski. The return of Jose Mourinho will not only brighten the league, but will also add to the competitive edge. Chelski, Citeh and Spurs have spent big while United and Arsenal have kept hold of their key players. 

United put themselves into the driving seat last summer after signing Robin van Persie. The Dutchman did not disappoint as his goals steered the team to yet another premiership title. As at today the new manager David Moyes is yet to make his marquee signing. Chelski have already signed Cristian Cuevas, Stipe Perica, Andre Schurrle, Mark Schwarzer and Mario van Ginkel. Citeh have in their books these new players: Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo. These are substantial additions to these teams, but as we've seen over the years, it is the team, not the quality of big money signings, that wins the league. 

My prediction: I often don't like to predict which team will ultimately claim the EPL title in May 2014, but I see it finishing this time with the following preferences: 1. Chelski 2. Citeh 3. United 4. Arsenal...in that order. Same old, same old, you might say. 

MARIO BALOTELLI: THE REBEL RETURN HOME TO ROOST

Mario Balotelli's height of eccentricity came to the fore when as an Inter Milan player he appeared on a live television programme wearing AC Milan's shirt, when asked why he replied, tongue in cheek, that he was an AC Milan fan. That act of bizarre defiance invariably showed 'Super' Mario the exit door. Inter Milan's fans were obviously agitated and cannot condone that recalcitrance.

Roberto Mancini, buoyed by the affluence at his disposal at Manchester City, decided to bring the Italian prodigy to Lancashire. Balotelli is a brilliant footballer, but unmanageable even by his fellow Italian. The altercation the pair had in that infamous training ground burst up was the last straw that broke Balotelli's capricious sojourn at Manchester City.

Manchester City fans, and by extension the followers of the English Premier League, will be relieved to see the back of the lad who had finalised a move to a team he claimed to support, AC Milan. Whether he can be managed at the red heart od Milano is a different matter, but I would love to watch the next Milan derby: The quantum of hoot he will receive from Inter Milan fans can only be compared to that received by Luis Figo from Barcelona fans when he moved to bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2000. When Figo to the Nou Camp for a league match, he was accorded a heated reception from the fans that hitherto adored him, many started throwing objects at him, including, if I can remember correctly, a pig's head.

2012/2013 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEW

Another English Premier League season will unfold this weekend. It's hard to believe it's been just over three months since the end of the 2011-2012 Barclays Premier League season. Who can forget that unbelievable final day when Manchester City scored two late goals against QPR to wrest the title from Manchester United’s grasp? This weekend marks the start of the Premier League 2012-2013 season, with the league welcoming new boys Southampton, Reading and West Ham United to the show.

If the Olympian heights represent Shangri-La, a wonderful land to aspire to, then the extraordinary mix of vibrancy and venality that is English professional football simply reflects life in the real world where money talks. Last season alone, the elite clubs paid £900 million tax on (admittedly crazy) wages, £100 million on VAT on (admittedly expensive) tickets and £50 million on stadium business rates.

But now is also the time for footballers to tone down the swearing and consider occasionally smiling, remembering the game is supposed to be about spreading joy as well as reaping in the glittering silverware and salaries. It promises to be another classic season, brimming with incident.

A House of Horrors to its critics, a House of Fun for the rest of us, the Premier League is a luxury abode divided into five levels.

Fighting it out in the penthouse again are the two Manchester teams, Manchester City and Manchester United, whose duel last season gave us one of the most compelling title races.

The television audience probably still has Martin Tyler’s memorable commentary still ringing in its ears. As Sergio Aguero scored, Tyler declared: “I swear you will never see anything like this ever again — stupendous.’’

So that’s football for you, providing the season’s definitive moment 40 seconds from the end. And how did Sir Alex Ferguson react to City’s title triumph?

As only the great man knows how: picking up the gauntlet. So in comes Robin van Persie to partner Wayne Rooney in an attacking axis sure to disturb the sleep of all centre-halves.

A glance at the all-time Premier League scoring charts shows Rooney in ninth place and rising fast, having amassed 144 goals from his 10 seasons and he could overtake Teddy Sheringham (146), Michael Owen and Les Ferdinand (both 149) within the month. Van Persie needs only four more for his century. Like that well-known United fan Usain Bolt, Van Persie won’t take long.

The next level down in the Premier League tower block is occupied by Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs, contesting the two remaining Champions League places.

Now free of Didier Drogba’s long, imposing shadow at Chelsea, Fernando Torres should flourish.

Eden Hazard appears to possess the strength of mind and technique to prosper but Oscar may take a while to bed in. Arsenal will need Olivier Giroud to settle fast in the post-RVP world, although Lukas Podolski should adapt immediately.

When last seen in London, Andre Villas-Boas resembled a tourist who had lost his map and Oyster card. After a chastening experience at the Bridge, the Lane offers AVB the chance of rehabilitating his reputation.

Let me close this short preview by quoting the expectations of managers of the front row teams:

Alex Ferguson
Manchester United
“Last year was a different type of year, it’s the first time anyone has beaten us on goal difference. That is what cost us the league and It won’t happen again, trust me on that.”

Roberto Mancini
Manchester City
“United are favourites – they have played for the title always, every year for 20 years. Although we won the last championship, we can’t change this in one year.”

Roberto Di Matteo
Chelsea
“We have to try, for sure. It’s not that we’re not going to try. We have to try to challenge ourselves with the other teams, so I wouldn’t say there is no expectation [from Roman Abramovich].”

Arsene Wenger
Arsenal
“At the moment I believe we have what is needed to be ambitious and to play our game. We have to be even more of a team and work even more together to compensate for the loss of Van Persie.”

Andre Villas-Boas
Tottenham
“It’s different for us this year. It’s a new start under a new management team, but we want to build on last year. The spirit is good and the motivation is high.”

Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool
“The top four is certainly not something we’ll shy away from. It’s where a club of this status wants to be, but it’s always easier said than done. The reality over the past three seasons or so hasn’t been that.”

HOW DO 19 SOUND?

When Alex Ferguson took over the management of Manchester United from Ron Atkinson in November 1986, he made a big statement of intent promising to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’. United by then had won only 7 league trophies, as compared to Liverpool’s 16. Liverpool went on to win two additional titles in 1988 and 1990 to get their tally to 18.  And then they hit a stumbling block.

Alex Ferguson was renowned for breaking the Rangers-Celtic stranglehold on Scottish football as the manager of Aberdeen. Under his leadership, Aberdeen were crowned Scottish champions three times, they won the Scottish Cup four times (achieving the double in 1984) and the Scottish League Cup once.  They were also triumphant in Europe, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983.

It was that fabulous record that persuaded Manchester United’s board to sign Ferguson, and in 1986, following a sojourn as Scotland caretaker manager at the World Cup, he was installed in the Old Trafford hot seat. Success was elusive in the early years of Ferguson’s managerial reign, but his resolute spirit and foresight in developing the club’s youth system ultimately yield reward.

The FA Cup win in 1990 saved Ferguson’s job, and spurred the Scot with the determination to overturn Liverpool’s record, a record they thought unassailable.  The Premier League era, which began from the 1992/93 season, gave United the springboard to dominate the English League.  Despite huge challenges posed by the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, United went on the claim the inaugural Premier League trophy, and retained it the following season.

Manchester United fans had high hopes of a first league title in 26 years when the 1992/93 season got underway.  Before the season begun, there was disappointment for the fans. England’s most successful striker, Alan Shearer, snubbed United, opting to join Newcastle from Southampton, while popular forward Mark Robins was sold to Norwich. The arrival of Dion Dublin proved scant consolation when the former Cambridge striker broke his leg just three games into his United career.  At the beginning of the inaugural Premier League season, there were few signs that this would be the campaign to end the wait for glory. However the signing of the charismatic, if somewhat temperamental, striker Eric Cantona from Leeds sparked a revival at Old Trafford. Ironically, the best 1.2 million pounds ever spent in the history of the transfer market was initially considered a risk. Cantona came to United on the back of a career in France that encompasses half a dozen acrimonious partings. Cantona scored five goals in six games to help United climb up the table. Cantona’s presence in the club brought a renewed vigor, confidence and flair that had not always been evident before the Frenchman’s arrival.

United went on to sweep five of the seven Premier League titles in the 1990s (including earning the double in 1994 and 1996, and the treble in 1999). Key players in that era include, apart from Cantona who retired in 1997, were Peter Schmeichel, Bryan Robson, Brian McClair, Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe, Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Ole Gunner Solskjaer, Jaap Stam, Teddy Sheringham, Karel Poborsky, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Roy Keane.

In the mid-1990s it was widely known that Ferguson felt that United had a number of young players who were ready to play in the first team. The youngsters, who would be known as "Fergie's Fledglings", included Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham,  Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who would all go on to be important members of the team. Blackburn had beaten United to the 1994/95 league title, and Everton managed a 1-0 victory against United in the FA Cup final, and so the 1995/96 season began without a major signing, at a time when the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United were making the headlines with big money signings.

When United lost the first league match of the 1995/96 season- 3–1 to Aston Villa, the media swooped upon Ferguson with undisguised glee. They wrote United off because Ferguson's squad contained so many young and inexperienced players.  Match of the Day pundit, Alan Hansen proclaimed that "you can't win anything with kids".

However, the young players performed well and United won their next five matches, exacting their revenge over Everton for the FA Cup defeat with a 3–2 win at Goodison Park and achieving a 2–1 away win over defending champions Blackburn Rovers who were now looking rather like relegation battlers than title contenders.

Cantona's return from suspension was a boost, but they found themselves 10 points behind Newcastle by Christmas 1995. A 2–0 home win over the Tynesiders in December narrowed the gap to seven points and a subsequent win over struggling QPR narrowed it to four points, but a 4–1 defeat for United at Tottenham on New Year's Day 1996 and a 0–0 home draw with Aston Villa saw the Magpies re-establish their wide lead and it looked certain that the league title was Newcastle's.

However a series of good results starting in mid January 1996 saw the gap close, and when United travelled to Newcastle and won 1–0 in March, the gap was down to a single point. United went top of the league soon after the win at Newcastle, who continued to drop points in crucial games.

Early April saw Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan's famous outburst on live television ("I'd love it if we beat them! Love it!"), and is generally regarded as the moment that Ferguson gained the upper hand against his opponent. United's Premier League title success was confirmed on the final day of the season, when they defeated a Middlesbrough side managed by former United captain Bryan Robson  in a game which ended in a 3–0 win despite strong displays by Boro confounding pre-match reports that Robson would give his old team an easy ride.

Other success stories of the 1996/97 season were two Norwegian signings, striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (the club's top scorer that season) and defender Ronny Johnsen, who were bargain buys as they were little known outside the Premier League on their arrival the previous summer but went on to be key factors in United's fourth Premier League title.

The turn of century saw United achieving a remarkable laurel in the Premier League, including a record three consecutive titles on two separate occasions (1999, 2000 and 2001 as well as 2007, 2008 and 2009). The acquisition of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Laurent Blanc (both in 2001), Rio Ferdinand (2002), Cristiano Ronaldo (2003), Wayne Rooney (2004), Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra (both in 2005) proved pivotal in the century.

In the 2002/03 season, United won their 8th Premier League title, just over two months before the end of the season they were eight points behind leaders Arsenal. But an improvement in form for United, and a decline for Arsenal, saw the Premier League trophy gradually slip out of the Londoners' grasp and push it back in the direction of Old Trafford. Ferguson described the season’s title triumph as his most satisfying ever, due to the nature of a remarkable comeback. The excellent run-in had produced 10 wins and a draw (including 4–0 home win over Liverpool and a 6–2 away demolition of Newcastle United) from the final 11 games, and no defeats since Boxing Day.

There followed three futile seasons, Arsenal won the title in 2003/04 and a Roman Abramovich-bankrolled Chelsea claimed the next two titles. But Alex Ferguson charged the players to make history; they obliged and went on to win another three consecutive titles.

In 2008 Liverpool fans mocked United with a banner at Anfield ‘Come Back When You Get 18’, reiterating their bragging right as the team with most league titles in the English top division. The 2008/09 season saw United winning an 18^th league title to equal Liverpool’s record haul. In the 2009/10 season, Chelsea denied United a record 19^th title, winning by just one point, after beating Liverpool at Anfield in a game many conspiracy theorists want to believe Liverpool made it soft for Chelsea, especially after Steven Gerrard made an uncharacteristic back-pass to allow Frank Lampard to pounce and score.

In the season that follows, clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and new mega-rich Manchester City, spent heavily in the transfer market. But Alex Ferguson went for a little known Mexican striker, Javier Hernandez in a bargain worth 6 million pounds. Chicharito, as he liked to be called, proved mercurial in front of goal, scoring 20 goals in his inaugural season. Dimitar Berbatov finished as the season joint top scorer and Wayne Rooney reversed his earlier decision to leave the club. A solid backline led by Vidic catapulted United to the 2010/11 league title, finishing 9 points ahead of Chelsea. As United upended Liverpool’s record by winning a 19^th league title, it is befitting enough to boomerang Liverpool’s ridicule with an apt question: ‘How Do 19 Sound?’