ABUJA AND YOU PERSPECTIVES BY USMAN BAFFA NASEER

Abuja is probabaly the worst-hit of Nigerian cities by this recession. It is only understandable: Abuja works at nothing but revels in wanton opulence, fed strictly from pens adding zeroes behind a whole number. It's buildings are populated with straw companies gliding on patronage and privilege, not rights, merit and productivity. Most of its inhabitants are currently in what seems a state of disbelief, if not shock.
My son and I walked lazily to Sheraton two Saturdays ago and from the gate you got a surprise: no line of traffic! The lounge was empty as the car park was vacant. We sat in surprise at the little corners of decay creeping on the lounge, part of which was even poorly lit. Of course, even Maitama and Asokoro are wrapped in thick darkness these days at 8pm if grid power fails.
I was surprised at the black silence I met in these desolate palaces. Everywhere signs hang on homes and high-rise office buildings begging for tenants. I called a number on one and the voice that answered said it was for sale: 3.6billion, seven-story building with a footprint of about 250sqm. "I see".
There is good hiding in evil and sometimes you don't even have to look too deeply to see it. Too many wealth in Nigeria is strictly in figures without any underlying source or feeder spring. If you got your money through work and creativity; if they put you in a desert, you will still replicate the feat.
What is called a recession in regular economics is but a dethronement of false money, the overthrow of pretenders and wealth built with the tip of a pen so that reality and productivity can take over. It is an inevitable passage if nature is correctly programmed.
In a hilarious circle I was told about a typical Abuja moneybag whose fortune has now turned around. He was in money - and you know what I mean. In height of his affluence he collected two more wives to make a total of three. But the noose had been getting tighter and, all streams gone dry, he applied for a loan from a bank. Not so well exposed to the hazard of seeking credit from Nigerian banks, he was exceedingly positive he will soon be credited and so went with gusto to the manager's office on an appointed day to get the final answer on his application.
When he was told that he had been turned down, he lost control of himself so completely that he pooped on himself right there in the bank. He was helped into the bathroom and offered a ton of tissues and when he had become manageable, they led him into a taxi and gave him a thousand naira to the bank's happy ending of the personal tragedy.
The story teaches us that wealth without foundation will end in sudden failure. It is not only Abuja or the typical, overweight Nigerian big man, Nigeria itself is a victim of lazy wealth: oil is not a result of hard work or creativity. We don't even as much as have local capacity to drill the oil! If we don't build our economy by adding value through processing and developing our human resources, we won't end up much better than that poor individual you just laughed at."
My view:
It is time to start building real and sustainable wealth, enough of what used to be...The difference between the poor and rich nations is not the age of the Nation. This can be demonstrated by countries like India and Egypt, which are more than 2000 years old and are still poor countries.
On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which 150 years back were insignificant, today are developed and rich countries.
The difference between the poor and rich nation does not also depend on the available natural resources.
Japan has limited territory, 80% mountainous, unsuitable for agriculture or farming, but is the second in worlds economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw material from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.
Second example is Switzerland, it does not grow cocoa but produces the best chocolates in the world. In her small territory she rears animals and cultivates the land only for four month in a year, nevertheless manufactures the best milk products. A small country which is an image of security which has made it the strongest world bank.
Executives from rich countries who interact with their counterparts from poor countries show no significant intellectual differences.
The racial or colour factors also do not evince importance: migrants heavy in laziness in their country of origin are forcefully productive in rich European countries.
What then is the difference?
The difference is the attitude of the people, moulded for many years by education and culture.
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When we analyse the conduct of the people from the rich and developed countries, it is observed that a majority abide by the following principles of life:
1. Ethics, as basic principles.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. The respect for Laws and Regulations.
5. The respect from majority of citizens by right.
6. The love for work.
7. The effort to save and invest.
8. The will to be productive.
9. Punctuality.
In the poor countries a small minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.
We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel towards us.
We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to follow and teach these principles of working of rich and developed societies.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE
WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER
EVRYTHING AND EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE
WE SEE SOMETHING DONE WRONG
AND SAY - “LET IT BE”
WE SHOULD HAVE A SPIRITED MEMORY
AND ATTITUDE…
ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT STATE.
If you do not share this message, nothing is going to happen to you. Your prized animal is not going to die, you wont be sacked from your job, you wont be having bad luck for seven years, nor are you going to get sick.
But, if you love your COUNTRY, try and circulate this message so that as many people may read and see what our problems are and hopefully move to change themselves

Meet Jim Obazee, Who Fought Sanusi, Suspended Peterside and ‘Sacked’ Pastor Adeboye as General Overseer of RCCG

Jim Obazee, fired as executive secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) on Monday, is a man of controversies. Since his appointment in November 2010, Obazee never showed any discomfort with controversy.
However, the latest controversy he got himself entangled in – enforcement of the code of corporate governance – might have cost him his job.
In 2015, he was re-appointed as the FRC executive secretary for another term of four years, which will have elapsed in 2018.
He has been accused of many things, including sexual harassment and insubordination.
And he had a frosty relationship with Okechukwu Enelamah, minister of industry, trade and investment, who had directed him to suspend the law, but he refused.
ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY HIS PA
Obazee was accused of sexual harassment by one Abimbola Yakubu, his personal assistant of three years, in 2013. But he denied the allegation.
In a letter to the board of the FRC, Yakubu alleged that Obazee had repeatedly threatened to sack her if she did not accede to his amorous gestures.
“For the period of years that I worked with him, I have always been closing as late as 10pm and sometimes beyond. I have been very loyal, committed and dedicated to duty. I have never for one day shown any sign of insubordination. Early this year, I noticed the Executive Secretary’s attitude changed towards me,” she wrote.
“I met with him on several occasions, asking him what I have done wrong but he would not say anything rather, he would yell and scream at me saying all manner of unprintable words like: ‘when I am done with you, you will cry’; ‘when I am done with you, you will hang yourself’. So I withdrew and kept to myself. He continued in this attitude towards me, not relating with me and giving my subordinates my job to do (the things I should be doing).
“I close very late at night as a civil servant, not because we really have much work to do, but that’s when he finds it most convenient to talk to me about his love for me. He makes sure everyone has closed and we are left alone in the office to make his demands. I am grateful to God for the kind of husband I married who is very understanding.
“Besides, there is no sexual move or plea he made that I did not tell my husband, from the very beginning of the advances. So, my husband is very much aware of the goings on but, he trusts me. Even when I told the Executive Secretary that my husband is aware of his moves he tells me it is not trust, that there is no man who will allow his wife go through such since all men are jealous. He then warned me sternly not to ever mention goings on the office with my husband.
“We have had to travel around the country together to places like, Calabar, Uyo, Enugu, Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, Abuja and Minna. These were occasions he would have had his way had God not helped me, if I had not been determined to stand firm and if my husband was not solidly behind me. All of the time when we ought to retire back to our hotel rooms he would call me to either come to his room if we are in the same hotel or he would call to tell me he was coming to my room. Other times when we stay in different hotels, like when we are in Abuja, he would call me sometimes very late at night to tell me he was on his way to my hotel.”
She added that Obazee later transferred her to a corner office in Kaduna, where she would “suffer”, and that he eventually sacked her. Despite the allegations, Obazee was not probed. He strongly denied them, saying he sacked Yakubu because she had a history of poor performance at work.
RECOMMENDED THE SACK OF SANUSI
The sack of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, in February 2014, is perhaps, one of the most controversial actions of the FRC under Obazee.
Prior to his sack, Sanusi had made weighty allegations against the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He had alleged that billions of dollars accruable to the federation were being diverted by some persons in the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
And in the heat of the storm which followed his allegations, Jonathan relying on a recommendation of the FRC, which accused Sanusi of financial recklessness, sacked him.
After his sack, the FRC began to probe Sanusi, but he shunned several invitations of the council. He later sued the council for defamation of character.
SUSPENDED PETERSIDE
In October 2015, the FRC under Obazee suspended Atedo Peterside as the chairman of Stanbic IBTC. The council cited infractions in the 2013-14 financial statements of the bank as the reason for its decision.
It directed the bank to restate and to re-issue its 2013-14 financial statements. It also imposed a fine of N1bn on the bank.
Besides Peterside, Sola David-Borha, group managing director, Stanbic’s chief finance officer and the audit committee chairman were also suspended.
But in December 2016, the FRC lifted the suspension on the management of the bank.
FORCED ADEBOYE TO STEP DOWN AS RCCG GENERAL OVERSEER
Late 2016, the FRC directed not-for-profit organisations — including churches and mosques — to comply with a corporate governance code stipulating a term of 20 years for heads of such entities.
It was by this provision that Enoch Adeboye, who had spent over 20 years as the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), named Joshua Obayemi to head the Nigeria church although he emphasised that he remained the worldwide overseer of the church.
But two days after Adeboye stepped down, and in the heat of a caustic controversy, Buhari fired Obazee and approved the reconstitution of the board.
In a statement afterwards, Constance Ikokwu, media aide of Enelamah, said the law had also been suspended in order to review it.
“The Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigerian has been suspended pending a detailed review, extensive consultation with stakeholders and reconstitution of the board of the FRC,” she said.
Obazee has a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Benin; a master of science degree in accounting from the University of Lagos, and a certification in strategic financial analysis for business evaluation from Harvard University, USA.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and the American Accounting Association (AAA).
Credits: TheCable News

Mourinho reacts to Rojo injury

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has a worry over Marcos Rojo after the defender was withdrawn during the first half of the 4-0 win over Reading with an injury.
The Argentinian has been in outstanding form of late but was replaced by Phil Jones only 19 minutes into the FA Cup tie, even if the Reds were already two goals to the good at the time.
With Tuesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Hull City on the horizon, followed by the Premier League showdown with Liverpool the following weekend, Rojo's fitness will need to be assessed.
Speaking to BT Sport and MUTV after the game, the boss said: "I don't know [what the damage is]. We have to wait a little bit. A muscle is a muscle and you're always afraid of it but let's see what is going on.
"It would be so important for us to keep our central defenders fit for the month of January. But I prefer to wait. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones did a very good job for us."
Eric Bailly is currently away with Ivory Coast as he prepares to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mourinho reveals early team news for Hull

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he will bring back some of his big guns for the visit of Hull City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The manager will freshen things up again following the 4-0 win over Reading in the FA Cup and confirmed Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all set to start against the Tigers, with Liverpool or Southampton awaiting the victors in next month's final.
"I play with the players that didn't play today," said Mourinho after Saturday's cup win. "I played with fresh players and I don't want to say anything about first choice or second choice but we played with fresh players, the players who didn't play against West Ham.
"In the next match against Hull City we are going to play again with fresh players. So it's easy to know our team - Zlatan, Pogba, Herrera, Valencia. The guys that didn't play today."
Of course, the boss is aware of the importance of next weekend's Premier League encounter with Liverpool but remains hungry to win every piece of silverware available.
"Hull face a semi-final, also a big occasion for them, and I don't know maybe for them, it's more important the match they have to play three or four days later in the Premier League [against Bournemouth]," he added.
"We play against Liverpool, a big match for us, but we want to be in the final. So we are going to face this Hull match with everything we have, all the power we have, as we know it's two legs but the second leg is away. If we can do something in the first leg that gives us the advantage, so we will try to do that."
Marcos Rojo could be a doubt for Tuesday's tie after being withdrawn due to an injury in the first half of the win over Reading.

Mourinho's view on FA Cup win over Reading

Jose Mourinho was delighted with his players as Manchester United secured a spot in the FA Cup fourth round by beating Reading 4-0 at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney opened the scoring to equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goal record before Anthony Martial and a second-half brace from Marcus Rashford rounded off a perfect afternoon for the Reds.
Here are the main points of discussion from the manager’s post-match interview with MUTV…


The players were professional
“I think we started very well, we didn’t kill the game but 2-0 was a good situation for us to control the game. I think it’s a very professional job with everybody really focused and trying to play well, which we did, and winning the match, which we should, against a team that gave us some difficult moments. The team was intense; the team was dynamic, playing well. As we expected, they were good with the ball so when we gave them the chance to have the ball they had it, they moved the ball and create, not big chances, but create some attacking football and, for a long time, the game was still open at 2-0 but I’m very happy with the attitude."
Rooney’s big moment is "arriving"
“I think it’s just a question of time to score one more goal and become in the history of Manchester United. It’s arriving; the big moment for him is arriving. It’s amazing because everybody knows who Sir Bobby [Charlton] is and what he means for the history of the club and English football and, for Wayne to score the same number of goals for Manchester United, is fantastic."
It could have been more
"We played well and, without Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] today, we had to go for a different style of play and Marcus [Rashford] is very fast in getting behind people. We play with four creative – and three players in attacking areas – and with Michael [Carrick] and [Marouane] Fellaini controlling the organisation in midfield. I think we could have scored more goals but it would be a bit too nasty to them as they presented good football.”
Martial was fresh and firing"[Anthony Martial] played very well against Middlesbrough but, because he was not playing for a long time, him and myself felt that 48 hours later against West Ham it was better not to start so, today, he was fresh and again very objective playing against a good player. [Chris] Gunter is a good right-back and he performed very well again but I think [of] everybody, we could name lots of players, we could name [Marouane] Fellaini, we could name so many of them, but, overall, the team collectively played well again and we created lots of chances."

Rooney equals Sir Bobby Charlton's record

Wayne Rooney now needs just one more goal to become Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer, after finding the net during Saturday's FA Cup third-round victory over Reading.
The Reds skipper opened the scoring after just seven minutes at Old Trafford during the 4-0 win, to move level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 249 competitive goals for the club. And Rooney spoke to BT Sport after the game to reveal his pride at matching the milestone.
"It's a proud moment especially to do so at such a massive club like Manchester United. I'm hugely honoured to be able to play for this football club and to be up there in terms of goals with Sir Bobby is a really proud moment for me. Hopefully I'll be out there on my own soon but I'll enjoy today because it's a real honour," he explained.

"I'm enjoying my football and I'm thankful to score again It's a huge part of my life this football club and I'm really honoured to be up there alongside Sir Bobby.

"Of course you want to break records in front of your home fans," he added. "We've got two home games coming up [this week] so hopefully I can get the next one in one of those games. I'm delighted for today though and more importantly the result. There were a lot of changes and the lads have come in and shown they're ready if needed."
Rooney was praised by United legends Bryan Robson and Mickey Thomas on Twitter, while Sir Bobby himself could be seen celebrating the effort, set up by Anthony Martial and Juan Mata, in the stands.
Our no.10 will now hope to break the record if involved in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Hull City at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening or, perhaps most romantically, against arch-rivals Liverpool next weekend.

Manchester United 4 Reading 0

FA Cup Third Round \ Old Trafford \ Attendance: 74,396 \ Scorers: Rooney 7, Martial 15, Rashford 75, 79
Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record as Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a convincing 4-0 win over Jaap Stam's Reading at Old Trafford.
The captain moved alongside a fellow United legend in the club’s all-time scoring charts with his 249th goal and Anthony Martial doubled the lead with a calm finish as the Reds went 2-0 ahead inside the first 15 minutes.
Marcus Rashford stroked home and capitalised on an error by Ali Al-Habsi to add a late double which reflected United’s superiority in a dominant display.
The victory extended the Reds’ winning run to eight matches in all competitions but Jose Mourinho’s men won’t discover our next opponents in the competition until the draw is made on Monday evening.
It may seem a long time since United lifted the FA Cup for a record-equalling 12th time at Wembley last May but the first home game of 2017 saw the Reds begin the defence of the trophy, with the first challenge presenting the return of a familiar face in the opposing dug-out in Stam.
The Reds made a fast start with Rashford, starting as the main striker, firing an effort wide inside 32 seconds before Rooney latched onto a delightful Daley Blind pass and brought a fine low save from Royals keeper Al-Habsi.
It didn’t take the no.10 long to make an impact though, marking his return from a three-game injury absence with a historic moment in the seventh minute. The England skipper managed to react quickly to direct Juan Mata’s cross into the far corner for the record-equalling goal he has been waiting for – which was warmly applauded by Charlton himself and Sir Alex Ferguson in the directors' box.
Reading – currently third in the Championship – struggled to get out of their own half as the hosts continued to dominate and Martial increased the lead on the quarter-hour mark. The Frenchman played a delightful one-two with Rooney on the edge of the box before stroking a low shot through the legs of Liam Moore and into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season.
There was a blow for United, however, when Marcos Rojo – one of only two survivors from the side which beat West Ham 2-0 on Monday – was forced off with an injury in the 19th minute and replaced by Phil Jones. It failed to disrupt the pattern of the game as the irresistible Reds bossed proceedings and created a series of opportunities.
Martial cut inside to unleash an effort which almost slipped through Al-Habsi’s grasp before Rooney and Mata couldn’t find the target with efforts from 20 yards. Rashford latched onto an incisive Chris Smalling pass to round Al-Habsi but could only find the side-netting from a tight angle.
The forward then couldn’t beat the Reading keeper in another one-on-one situation after a clever pass around the corner by Martial but, as referee Andre Marriner blew the half-time whistle, the Reds were already in a commanding position.
HALF-TIME STATS
Possession: United 53% Reading 47%
Shots at goal: United 19 Reading 2
Shots on target: United 6 Reading 0
Corners: United 4 Reading 2
It almost got better for United in the early minutes of the second half when a curling Michael Carrick shot was parried by Al-Habsi, who then made a brilliant double save to deny Marouane Fellaini and Rooney from close range.
Rashford was then inches away from connecting with a dangerous low cross by Martial as the Reds continued to apply pressure with a measure of confidence. The visitors, who were FA Cup semi-finalists two years ago, barely threatened but Reds keeper Sergio Romero had to be brave to save at the feet of Garath McCleary.
Just when the game needed livening up, Rashford obliged with a calm and composed finish when played in through the middle by Carrick to add a fairer picture to a scoreline which began to reflect United’s dominance.
And, moments after Bastian Schweinsteiger and Tim Fosu-Mensah were introduced from the bench, Rashford helped himself to another goal to round off the win following a comical moment when Al-Habsi miskicked Moore’s backpass.
After comfortably securing a place in the next round, the Reds will now be looking to make progress in another cup competition on Tuesday night in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against fellow top-flight side Hull City at Old Trafford (KO 20:00 GMT).
FULL-TIME STATS
Possession: United 45% Reading 55%
Shots at goal: United 27 Reading 7
Shots on target: United 12 Reading 1
Corners: United 7 Reading 4
THE TEAMS:
United: Romero; Young, Smalling, Rojo (Jones 19), Blind; Carrick (Fosu-Mensah 78), Fellaini; Mata (Schweinsteiger 78), Rooney (c), Martial, Rashford.
Subs not used: J. Pereira, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Ibrahimovic.
Booked: Young
Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter (c), Blackett (Obita 46), L.Moore, Van den Berg, Evans (Swift 57), Williams, Kelly, Beerens, McCleary, Kermorgant (Samuel 77).
Subs not used: S.Moore, Cooper, Meite, Watson.
Booked: None

State of the Nation – Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari By Michael Okunade Igboho

State of the Nation – Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari
Dear Mr. President, I want to start by commending you for the tremendous sacrifice you made to lead Nigeria at this uncertain time. I know the past 19 months has been tough for you, but uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

While you may not have met an ideal Nigeria, the Nigeria that people had on May 29, 2015, is severely degraded. Whether this is right or not is subject to individual experience, interpretation of events, and judgment. The consensus among Nigerians is that your policies has crushed their upward chances and worsened the standards of living.
Nigerians are so confused and scared because your policy direction has been unstable, incoherent, and harmful. Petrol and utility pricing, importation, and currency policies are a few examples of how you have gone two step forwards and thousands backward. The combination of hyperinflation, high prices, low wages, weak Naira, and high unemployment unleashes a perfect genocide by famine storm on Nigerians.
Mr. President, Nigerians en route greener pasture in Europe are perishing on the high seas by the thousand. Unfortunately, the spiritually blind clerics continue to inundate you with the prophecy of a better and brighter tomorrow. Reworking the policy calculus to reduce the economic squeeze on Nigerians is more beneficial than listening to any ungodly, unrealistic, and doomed prophecy.
Nigerians are getting mixed ethnoreligious signals from your high office. You shunned the Southeast Economic Summit with a belated security excuse. By the same token, you have kept silent and turned a blind eye on the ethnoreligious killings in Southern Kaduna, the Southeast, the Southwest, and the deep South. Mr. President, the time is ripe for you to engage and speak directly to all Nigerians about integration and ethnoreligious tolerance, not just “the good people of Bauchi State.”
Mr. President Sir, Kudos to you and the Nigerian Army for smoking Boko Haram out of their strongholds. However, it is very concerning that ethnoreligious distrust and tensions have increased dramatically under your watch. The growing ethnoreligious distrust is a huge security risk that needs to be defused now before the impending elastic limit is breached. Nigerians are waiting for their president to lead a reconciliation effort centered on self-determination, and religious and ethnic harmony.
I never imagined the situation where a Nigerian President must tread cautiously to avoid running into ethnoreligious conflicts or security risks. If our president must forego important events for these reasons, there is indeed fire on the mountain. Instead of remaining on partisan narratives of how the PDP is responsible for everything that ails Nigeria, it is time for Mr. President to own the present difficulties and start providing real solutions.
Mr. President, Biafra agitation and the similar Niger Delta movements are no deferrable child’s play that could be resolved by military interventions. The creation and implementation of a diplomatic reconciliatory apparatus to de-escalate and address the situation is a long overdue responsibility of yours. By every political yardstick, employing the hell or high water tactics on this matter is detrimental to the peace and progress of Nigeria.
Mr. President, democracy and the rule of law include honoring the tenets of separation of powers and respect for civil rights. Consequently, one of your sacred duty is to give Nigerians a real sense of justice and equality before the law. Stopping unlawful detention of Nigerians and respect for civil rights can only happen if you release your political prisoners in compliance with several court orders.
President Buhari Sir, there can be no logical end to corruption by employing a predisposed and procedurally corrupt agency to help eradicate corruption. It is important that you reform the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and bring every corrupt official in your government to justice. Finally, Mr. President, the world is watching and laughing out loud because paying the poor five thousand Naira is not synonymous with a social security program.
On this note, Mr. President, I wish you will find the courage to do right by Nigerians in the year 2017. I also wish you every success in your nation-building efforts. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Religion has Killed Rational Thinking of Nigerians By Prof Niyi Osundare

"Religion has killed rational thinking in this country. I say this all the time, our country is still in a pre-scientific era. That is why things are like this. We don’t think logically; that is why any ruler, any fool would seize the reins and rule us, because we would always find an excuse for being ruled or being led by the nose.
Not long ago a pastor said he was between two cities and he discovered that the fuel in his ...car had run out. He actually checked and saw the fuel in the car was completely gone. But because of his act of faith and on the strength of his prayers, he was able to do two hundred miles on an empty tank!

When he declared this testimony, people clapped and shouted “ Hallelujah!” I never heard anybody say how can?"
"Nigerians don’t ask questions; that is why the imams and the pastors lead them by the nose, and the politicians also complete their humiliation and disempowerment. And between the clerics and the political functionaries, there is a very close liaison.
It’s a kind of power structure; one controls the political, social realm, the other controls the spiritual, metaphysical realm and they are together. Many Nigerians are not rational, interrogative people.
In fact, in this country today, if you are the interrogative type you are easily labelled, branded, and condemned. People even wonder: why are you always asking questions?"
"Another problem: well, our people are docile and the reason why they take all kinds of cheating is that many of them envisage themselves in the position of power someday, too.
If I am X and the oppressor is Y, and the oppressor is oppressing me, stealing all the money, and making life difficult for me and my children, I am not likely to attack him. I’ll pray to God to let my own “miracle” happen so that someday, he will go and I will be in his place. No; I am praying for him to go but for the structure to remain."
Professor Niyi Osundare

Alli 45'+, 54'Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea: Alli double ruins Blues' hopes of making history

Premier League

• January 4, 2017
• • 20:00
• • White Hart Lane, London

• Referee: M. Atkinson
• • Attendance: 31491

Tottenham Hotspur

• B. Alli 45'+, 54'

2

FT

0

Chelsea

The England international found the back of the net either side of the interval to help Spurs move up to third in the Premier League and seven points behind Antonio Conte's men

Dele Alli continued his scintillating form in front of goal by heading a brace to give Tottenham a stirring 2-0 derby victory and halt Chelsea's record-equalling Premier League winning run of 13 matches.
Alli scored twice for the third Spurs game in succession, converting Christian Eriksen crosses either side of half-time as Antonio Conte's league leaders tasted defeat for the first time since September.
Tottenham are up to third place, above Manchester City on goal difference, and now within seven points of Conte's men, who lead Liverpool by five.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are enjoying a purple patch of their own, having won five from five since losing at Manchester United on December 11 and scoring 15 times in the process.
Chelsea's rampant march had previously been tested as they fell behind to Spurs at Stamford Bridge and City at the Etihad Stadium, but the excellent Alli ensured there would be no respite on this occasion.
Tottenham began with menacing intensity but Eden Hazard enjoyed the first clear opening for the leaders in the fifth minute, only to scuff wide from Nemanja Matic's ball over the top.
Mousa Dembele strode through a succession of Chelsea challenges before his chipped pass ran a shade too far for Harry Kane, while Eriksen was afforded a couple of set-piece opportunities as Spurs increased the pressure.
Pedro – back in the Chelsea XI for Willian following suspension despite the latter's brace against Stoke City – was booked for bringing down Danny Rose and found himself embroiled in a heated exchange of views with Diego Costa after a counter-attack broke down.



Eriksen flashed a dipping drive just past the post in the 23rd minute and Costa blazed over from the edge of the box 10 minutes before half-time.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried Eric Dier's back-post header after Gary Cahill was cautioned for hauling back Eriksen and the Denmark international rounded off a highly impressive first period by setting up the opener in stoppage time.
He was given room to float an impeccable cross towards Alli, who timed his run to leap and guide a header into the top right corner.
Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was seldom involved before the break but got down with a firm hand to keep out Costa two minutes after the restart, while Hazard squirted a header wide after the hosts failed to deal with Marcos Alonso's deep cross.
Once more, Alli emphatically showed him how it was done in the 54th minute.
Eriksen again took on the role of provider and the England star found space in between Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta to beat Courtois at the far post.
Alli's clever movement and relentless running meant the evening never progressed beyond unpleasant for Chelsea's much-vaunted defence, although he was unable to extend his hot streak to eight goals in four games by claiming the match ball.
Tottenham comfortably closed out a victory to serve emphatic notice of their own title ambitions against the opponents who so relished ending them last time around.

Five talking points: West Ham 0 United 2

Manchester United made a positive start to 2017 by securing a deserved 2-0 win at West Ham on Monday night, thanks to second-half goals from substitute Juan Mata and the ageless Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Here's our recap of five talking points from London Stadium…
REDS HAVE MOMENTUM
United have now won six Premier League matches in a row at an unquestionably important time in the season. Furthermore, the Reds are unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions and that is the club’s longest run without a defeat since Sir Alex Ferguson's eventual title-winners managed 18 games before losing one in March 2013 - to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. Before you are worn out by stats, let us also inform you that this is Mourinho's best winning run in all competitions since that same month when he secured seven straight victories.
MOURINHO’S SUPER SUBS
The three changes made at West Ham represented a masterclass in game management from Mourinho, or at least in this writer’s eyes. The boss decisively introduced Juan Mata for Matteo Darmian at half-time, pushing Marcos Rojo out wide to left-back and pulling Michael Carrick into centre-back in the process, as the Reds pushed for an opening goal. Marcus Rashford was then introduced to attack the tiring 10-man Hammers from a wide position, which led to the Academy graduate assisting his fellow substitute Mata to break the deadlock. Finally, Chris Smalling was sent on to add steel to the defence, with the boss pre-empting the eventual (and ultimately ineffective) introduction of Andy Carroll.
MILESTONE FOR DE GEA
David De Gea tallied his 250th United appearance on Monday and the ever-impressive goalkeeper marked it with a game-changing save to deny Michael Antonio, when the England international shot at the Spaniard when put clean through on goal after 60 minutes. Crucial, the Hammers forward's profligacy was punished just three minutes later when Mata opened the scoring from Rashford’s pass. Our number one’s contribution was recognised afterwards, as he finished second in the Man of the Match vote.
HERRERA BLED FOR THE CAUSE
Passion is one of many words you can use to describe Ander Herrera and the former Athletic Club man showed plenty of that particular attribute in this 2-0 win, not only through his intense midfield play but his willingness to fight for the cause. Observant viewers will have noticed him bleeding heavily from above his right eye in the first half, but he played on (presumably through the pain) and finished the match as one our most influential performers. The 27-year-old later confirmed with a photo posted on Instagram that he had received three stitches to his wound. What a guy.
IBRA OVERTAKES 2015/16 TOP SCORER
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may not have been at his talismanic best, which is understandable considering the 35-year-old veteran played a full game against Middlesbrough only 48 hours earlier, but the Swede still produced a moment of class to score his 18th goal of the season. That means he has now exceeded the 17 strikes notched by last campaign’s top scorer, Anthony Martial, which emphasises just how much more potent the Reds are this time around. Who knows what number Ibra will finish on...

Mata & Rashford react to win at West Ham

Second-half substitutes Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford were delighted to play influential parts in helping Manchester United start 2017 with a 2-0 win at West Ham United.
Academy graduate Rashford did brilliantly to cut inside from the left wing and assist Mata's opening goal just after the hour-mark, giving the Reds a welcomed lead in what was a hard-fought game. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's strike added further polish late on, but the breakthrough was unquestionably vital.
"It was looking like one of those tough games where you get chances but just cannot score," Mata told Sky Sports at the London Stadium. "But thankfully I was able to get on the end of Marcus’s pass and then we added another goal [from Ibrahimovic] so we are happy to get the three points."
United looked a changed outfit after the introductions of Mata and Rashford, with the latter capping off a superb solo run to assist the opening goal. So exactly what had he been instructed to do? "The manager just told me to stay wide and do my best to isolate the full-back," Marcus said. "As soon as I lifted up my head I could see Juan in acres of space on the edge of the box and thankfully he finished it off really well."
Monday night's win for United made it seven on the bounce in all competitions and it has also put the Reds to within a point of the Premier League's top four, ahead of Tuesday night's fixtures at least.
"It’s very tight at the top," Rashford stated, looking forward. "There’s not much space between second and sixth place now. We feel confident and we know we just need to keep going game by game to keep up the pressure on the teams above us." 

Mourinho happy with win at West Ham

Jose Mourinho praised the impact of his substitutes Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford after both influenced Manchester United's excellent 2-0 win at West Ham United. 
Mata scored a powerful opening goal from a superb Rashford assist shortly after entering the action, before a further strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovic wrapped up a sixth consecutive Premier League win. Here are the main points from the manager's post-match interviews with MUTV and Sky Sports...
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE
"Congratulations to everyone on the pitch because I realise that it's really hard. I was a bit disappointed with some mistakes, with some bad decisions, but that is typical of fatigue and there are no miracles. And for them with 10 men for a long period is even more difficult. With 11 it's difficult, with 10 it's more difficult. For us, it was a question of keeping a clean sheet which we did because David made a very important save from Antonio. And it was a question of moving the ball, try to find spaces and accelerating the game. So we did okay. It was not a phenomenal match but the circumstances are really difficult so again, congratulations to everyone."
AMMUNITION ON THE BENCH
“It was a difficult match but I had ammunition on the bench. I had Mata and Rashford, who were crucial in both matches when coming off the bench. In these fixtures it is very important to have people on the bench, capable of winning the game. I had a feeling to start Mata and Rashford today, but I think it is better for them to come from the bench when everyone is dying and the decision was proven right.”

PLAYING AGAINST A TIRED DEFENCE
“Nordtveit played for 90 minutes against Leicester City and today he played for 60 minutes against Mkhitaryan and Lingard, with lots of running. He was in front of me in the first half and it was a big effort for the boy. Slaven [Bilic] had no more defenders on the bench. He just had attacking players on the bench. So I thought Rashford could make a difference, not through the middle this time but coming from the side.”

DE GEA’S VITAL CONTRIBUTION
“It was a crucial save. To be honest, we had a big chance in the first half but they had a good shot, Antonio went face to face with David. It was very important. They also had Carroll on the bench and I know that when they were losing, he was coming for sure. In this moment I felt it was time for a proper centre defender and time to bring Smalling into the game."

AN UNEXPECTED BONUS
“What was the Liverpool result? [Interviewer: "2-2."] I didn’t know it was 2-2. So we have gained two points on Liverpool. I was thinking about Chelsea and Tottenham [playing on Tuesday], because one of them will lose or both will get the draw. But also Liverpool, so we have gained points on the second-placed team and we play them at Old Trafford. If we play with 75,000 then we can win."

West Ham United 0 Manchester United 2

Premier League | London Stadium | Attendance: 56,996 | Scorers: Mata 63, Ibrahimovic 78
Manchester United made the perfect start to 2017, as second-half goals from Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned Jose Mourinho's men an important victory over 10-man West Ham United on Monday evening.
Despite an early red card for Hammers midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, the Reds were made to wait for the breakthrough, which eventually came when Marcus Rashford set up fellow substitute Mata inside the area with just under half an hour remaining.
Ibrahimovic added a second strike with 12 minutes to go, firing into the corner after confusion in the West Ham defence, to claim his 17th goal of the season and seal a sixth straight Premier League win.
Ahead of the game – the first between the sides at West Ham’s new home, London Stadium – Jose Mourinho made five changes to the side that came from behind to beat Middlesbrough on New Year’s Eve, with defensive trio Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian among those recalled to the team.
Behind them, David De Gea was making his 250th appearance for the club, and had to make an early save, diving across his goal to tip Manuel Lanzini’s 20-yard effort around the post.
The game’s pivotal moment came just five minutes later, when Feghouli slid into a 50-50 challenge on the edge of the visitors' area, colliding with Jones. After some deliberation, referee Mike Dean dismissed the West Ham man, and while replays suggested the punishment may have been harsh, it gave the Reds a one-man advantage for the remaining 75 minutes nonetheless.
As expected, the red card left Slaven Bilic’s side in need of a huge defensive effort and, to their credit, the home side restricted the Reds to few sights of goal in the first half.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that a real opportunity came United’s way, and it was one that should have resulted in an opener. Ibrahimovic found Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the far post, and the Armenian crossed for Antonio Valencia, whose effort was denied by Darren Randolph. When the ball fell kindly for Jesse Lingard, his shot came back off the post, allowing the West Ham keeper to recover.
It was a missed chance that Mourinho’s men almost came to regret at the end of the half, when Lanzini again forced De Gea into action, finding half a yard before curling a shot towards the corner. Instead, United’s no.1 clawed the ball to safety, leaving the game finely poised going into the break.
HALF-TIME STATS
Possession: West Ham 36% United 64%
Shots at goal: West Ham 5 United 3
Shots on target: West Ham 1 United 1
Corners: West Ham 2 United 0

Mourinho made an attacking substitution at the interval, as Mata replaced Darmian. The change saw Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba operating as a midfield two, just in front of stand-in captain Carrick, who moved to centre-back.
It was West Ham, though, who fashioned the first chance of the second half, as Michail Antonio rose to meet Dimitri Payet’s free-kick but couldn’t make a proper connection. The former then had an even better opportunity with half an hour remaining, after being played through on goal by Lanzini, but was denied by the legs of De Gea.
The save would prove key, too, as United took the lead just three minutes later. Rashford – on as a substitute for Lingard – showed great awareness to beat two defenders before playing a neat pass inside for Mata, who unleashed a powerful shot which sailed past Randolph and into the net.
With the Hammers’ resistance finally broken, the Reds went in search of an immediate second, as Pogba curled an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the area, before going close with a similar shot on 74 minutes.
It didn’t take United long to increase the advantage, however, and put the result beyond doubt. This time, Herrera’s blocked shot fell at the feet of Ibrahimovic, who beat the offside trap amid uncertainty in the box, to provide a precise finish past Randolph.
The goal capped what was a patient and professional display in East London, and one which leaves United hot on the heels of the other top-four contenders.

FULL-TIME STATS
Possession: West Ham 36% United 64%
Shots at goal: West Ham 8 United 12
Shots on target: West Ham 2 United 6
Corners: West Ham 2 United 1

THE TEAMS:

West Ham: Randolph; Nordtveit, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Obiang, Kouyate (Fernandes 82); Feghouli, Lanzini (Ayew 89), Payet (Carroll 69); Antonio.

Subs not used: Adrian, Noble, Quina, Fletcher.

Booked: Payet, Nordtveit.
Sent off: Feghouli

United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian (Mata 45), Carrick, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard (Rashford 59), Mkhitaryan (Smalling 65), Ibrahimovic.

Subs not used: Romero, Fellaini, Young, Martial.

Booked: Darmian, Valencia.

Africa-bound Bailly misses West Ham game

Eric Bailly will miss Monday’s game against West Ham United, and up to seven more Manchester United fixtures in the New Year, while he’s away on international duty with Ivory Coast.
The centre-back played the full 90 minutes of the Reds’ late 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday but will join his country’s Africa Cup of Nations preparations on Monday.
The news was confirmed by Jose Mourinho in his post-match press conference and, if Ivory Coast go all the way to the final in their defence of the tournament in Gabon, Bailly won’t be available for the Reds until mid-February.
However, the manager is happy with the other central defensive options he has at his disposal – Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones – and revealed both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have an outside chance of facing the Hammers, while also reserving praise for Marouane Fellaini’s performance against Boro.
“Bailly is leaving – he goes to the national team,” Mourinho said. “He has to be with them on 2 January. We asked them for him to be on 3 January but they refused, so he cannot play against West Ham.
“I know that I lose Bailly for a month and I'm going to have Smalling, Rojo and Jones for, I think, eight matches. So I decided to play Eric [against Middlesbrough] and it was good to have him on the pitch because, one-on-one at the back, he's the best because he's very fast.
“Rooney has a little chance and Michael has a bigger chance than Rooney. Let's see how he is tomorrow.
"I'm really happy with Fellaini and the way he played," continued the manager. "I'm really happy with his connection with the fans. I think they realised how useful he is and how much he is with the team.”
Both United and West Ham have only a 48-hour turnaround for the game at the London Stadium, with Slaven Bilic’s side having lost 1-0 at Leicester City on Saturday.
“It's difficult for us and difficult for West Ham,” Mourinho admitted. “We've both played at the same time, we've both had difficult matches and couldn't rest players.
“The intensity of the game was very high for them, for sure, against Leicester, and for us the same. And now we have 48 hours to play, so it's difficult for all of us.”

Vote for December's Player of the Month(For United Fans)

Three Manchester United men are in contention for December’s Player of the Month award.
There have been a number of excellent performers during a busy and successful run for the Reds but Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have all made the three-man shortlist to be named our star man for the month.
Read about the nominees and cast your vote for the winner...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 7 appearances, 6 goals
The no.9 has continued his irrepressible form in his first season at Old Trafford with several crucial goals during the busiest month of the campaign. After netting against Everton and Zorya Luhansk, our top scorer struck the late winner at Crystal Palace and a well-taken brace at West Bromwich Albion. He then fired the decisive second goal in the Boxing Day success over Sunderland, before setting up Anthony Martial's crucial equaliser against Middlesbrough on New Year's Eve with a cute header.
Paul Pogba: 7 appearances, 2 goals
The dynamic Frenchman earned plenty of plaudits for his influential displays in the final month of 2016. Having firmly established himself in Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up, the midfielder capped a positive performance at Selhurst Park with the important breakthrough on the stroke of half-time, before heading the dramatic winner against Boro – his sixth goal of an impressive season so far.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 7 (1) appearances, 3 goals
The Armenian won’t forget December in a hurry, as it was the month in which he netted his first three goals for the club – including the memorable Goal of the Season contender against Sunderland. Despite being sidelined for a spell with an ankle injury, the summer signing still enjoyed a month to remember and has quickly established himself as a firm favourite among Reds supporters.
Vote for United's Player of the Month for December at ManUtd.com/POTM. The result will be announced on Thursday 5 January.

Mourinho's verdict on final game of 2016

Jose Mourinho spoke to MUTV and reporters in his post-match press conference following Manchester United's final match of the year, a dramatic 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, on Sir Alex Ferguson's 75th birthday. Here's what the manager had to say...

A WIN IN THE FERGUSON TRADITION
"He deserves to come here and for people to remember the game not just for his 75th birthday but also for the kind of football we played and the fact that we managed to bring the fans to the pitch. In the last 20 minutes, the fans were on the pitch – they were not in the stands. And this is a credit to the players, who showed amazing character to go and go and go and go. This time we were successful and it's three more points."
A SHAME FOR ZLATAN
"It’s hard because we respect the referees and they want to do well, but for us it is very disappointing [Ibrahimovic's disallowed goal]. We scored a beautiful goal, a goal that would mean Zlatan and Messi would be the two top scorers in 2016 in European football. It is a goal that stopped such an amazing player being level with Messi as top scorer in 2016. So it’s quite frustrating, but it was another big test for us and the players. The reality is that my players deserve that amazing comeback."
LATE TEAM RESHUFFLE
"I put Mkhitaryan at left-back when we scored the second goal because at 1-0 it was Negredo and Traore against Bailly and Rojo – two against two. Valencia was the winger, we had no left-back and we went for everything. Then when we scored the second goal, obviously, we started to close. I thought Micki was really fresh and could do a better job at left-back than other players, and I wanted to keep Herrera and Pogba in the middle, and we managed to keep the 2-1."
IF YOU DRIVE, DRINK WATER!
"The Red family are happy for New Year’s Eve. I hope they enjoy the night – family, health and happiness are more important than football. But clubs are a part of people's lives and can create even more happiness in families, so I’m sure they will enjoy tonight after this result. And, as I wrote in my programme notes, if you drive, drink water!"
48-HOUR TURNAROUND TO WEST HAM
"It’s a challenge for everybody but Chelsea, as they play only on the 4th; Tottenham play tomorrow [Sunday] and then on the 4th. For us and West Ham it’s the same – difficult. Middlesbrough play at 12 o’clock, so less than 48 hours. It’s very hard, especially when you see the intensity of this game; you can imagine that people need to rest, but there is no time to rest, so let’s go to London and enjoy the game against West Ham and try to get the points."

Preview: West Ham v Manchester United

How can I follow the game? Manchester United’s first fixture of 2017 is an evening Premier League match against West Ham which kicks off at 17:15 GMT and will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports. MUTV subscribers can see all the build-up in Match Day Live from 16:15 GMT on Monday 2 January and then watch the match in full at midnight. Fans can also follow the action via ManUtd.com's live blog and the club's official Twitter account @ManUtd.
A new year, a new start…. Well, the Reds will be hoping to pick up where things were left off following a brilliant end to 2016. Jose Mourinho’s men, who are the only English team still fighting on four fronts, have strung together an impressive sequence of wins to maintain the pressure on our rivals at the top of the table.
Any team news? Mourinho made five changes to the team which dramatically beat Middlesbrough on New Year's Eve with the West Ham trip very much in mind. One player the Reds will definitely be without is Eric Bailly who is leaving immediately to join the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. Wayne Rooney has missed the last two matches with a thigh problem and Mourinho said on Saturday evening that his captain has "a little chance" to be ready for the game. The United boss also confirmed that illness had forced Michael Carrick out of the Boro game, but added that, "Michael has a bigger chance than Rooney. Let's see how he is tomorrow." Meanwhile, the Hammers are set to be without a host of first-team players, including long-term absentees Diafra Sakho, Arthur Masuaku, Alvaro Arbeloa and Gokhan Tore. There is also a doubt over captain Mark Noble, who was forced out of Saturday's loss at Leicester City following a bad tackle from Daniel Amartey.
How have West Ham fared recently? After an indifferent start to the season which saw them hovering around the relegation zone, the east London outfit have made steady progress to propel themselves into mid-table. Since a crushing 5-1 defeat at home to Arsenal at the start of December, the Hammers have reacted positively with an encouraging draw at Liverpool followed by three successive victories before their New Year’s Eve defeat to champions Leicester City.
How did we get on against the Hammers earlier in the season? Well, the Reds have actually faced Slaven Bilic’s side on two occasions already this term and are unbeaten in both meetings. United welcomed them to Old Trafford twice in the space of four days at the end of November – Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s header earned a 1-1 draw in the league before our no.9 struck twice in a 4-1 victory in the EFL Cup which booked our place in the semi-finals of the competition.
Any former Reds in the West Ham squad? Yes, one player who will be familiar is young striker Ashley Fletcher. The England Under-20 international, who left Old Trafford to join the Hammers permanently last summer, has had to be patient for an opportunity in the team but has shown plenty of promise and scored his only goal for his new club so far, against the Reds in the EFL Cup.
How do the rest of the top-flight start the New Year? All 20 Premier League clubs will be in action across three days starting on Monday, while Watford, Tottenham, Arsenal and Crystal Palace will be playing for the second time in 2017 after their respective games on New Year’s Day.  
Monday 2 January (15:00 GMT unless stated)
Middlesbrough v Leicester City (12:30)
Everton v Southampton
Manchester City v Burnley
Sunderland v Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Hull City
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Bournemouth v Arsenal (19:45)
Crystal Palace v Swansea City (20:00)
Stoke City v Watford (20:00)
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (20:00)