LIBERALISATION AND GLOBALISATION KILLING NIGERIAN FOOTBALL...Olagunju, Secretary,NBA

 LIBERALISATION AND GLOBALISATION KILLING NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

 

By Ayo Ademokoya

The Nigerian Bar Association is the largest profession body in Nigeria and a foremost association in Nigeria.

 Ayo Ademokoya, met with new General Secretary of the Association, Mr Isiaka Abiola Olagunju at the Lekan Salami Stadium during the week one fixtures of the Nigerian Football Professional League involving Shooting Stars and Lobi Stars of Markurdi.

 The exclusive interview with Barrister Olagunju however took place last weekend in Ibadan where he spoke about his love for Nigerian football, factors affecting the game in Nigeria as well as  the vision of the Abubakar Mahmud led executive of the Nigerian Bar Association, issues affecting the Bar in Nigeria and the judiciary and crucial  National and international issues

Q: Kindly introduce yourself sir?

I am Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, a lawyer and the current General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association. I was born almost 50years ago in Ibadan a native of Ibadan,our family compound is SW7/290,Isale- Osi Ibadan.

I attended Christ Gospel Apostolic primary School Oke foko from my elementary education while I proceeded to Community Grammar School Ring- Road. I later went to the then Oyo state Arts and science (OSCARS),Ile-Ife, where I obtained the GCE advanced level before I proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Law and graduated in 1992.I was called to the bar on the 16^th December 1993.

I have never involved myself in any other thing apart from law practice till now,All my life I have been involved in the noble profession of law since 1995 when I established my chambers Abike Chambers .

Before I was appointed as the General Secretary of the NBA, I was the Social Secretary of the Ibadan Branch of Nigerian Bar Association between year 2000-2002, elected as the first assistant secretary of thr NBA during the tenure of Olisah Agbakoba( SAN) as the Executive President of the Association in 2006 in Port-Harcout, Rivers State.

I also served the association in many capacity  such as the Executive Secretary, Human right institute, Secretary Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Council member of Human Right Institution of the NBA, Council member institution of legal practice of the Nigerian Bar Association, a prosecutor in the NBA disciplinary committee before been elected  as the General Secretary of the NBA on the first of July, 2016 and was inaugurated 28^th of August 2016.

Q: Before we talk about salient issues affecting the NBA and the judiciary, can we talk about football which brought us together in the first place,I mean your love for Shooting stars and Nigerian football in general?

I must confess to you that In terms image and the position where Shooting stars ought to be are nothing to write home about. Some of us grew up to love IICC Shooting Stars, I remember watching the team for the first time in 1976 against Spartans of Owerri at the Liberty stadium where they won by 2-0, I can vividly remember that Segun Odegbami and Idowu Otubusin scored both goal and since then I watch  at least 65% of Shooting stars in a season unless I’m not in Ibadan.

 There is much difference between the Shooting stars of those days and the ones we have now, one can’t compare the stars we had then to what we have now, the, likes of Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Idowu Otubusin, Kehinde  Jayifous, Best Ogedegbe, Mudashiru Lawal were legends who played for passion with all their hearts and when you watch them play you see natural talents unlike players of today. To be honest how many people remember stars of today?

Today  liberalisation and globalisation through the advent of digital Television which beamed foreign football match within the comfort of our homes destroyed our local league until recently when they decided to beam our local league live to us and I believe they are trying to redeem the image of the league damaged by them and thing are getting better now.

For example, there was a day I got to the stadium around 4:20pm  and I was told the stadium was filled up and I was impress that things are getting better

Q:But we also had Televised foreign league in those days ?

Yes but they weren’t live matches,tell me how many people knew about English stars in those days?  Now ask a 4 or five year old boy in Nigeria and he will talk to you about all the Messis and Ronaldos of this world where as nothing like that for Nigerian players

In terms of position Shooting stars is supposed to be in the same position Manchester United, Barca FC, Arsenal and other leading football clubs are today. Unfortunately they are not because the pedestal has gone down; if it is well funded and well-structured I believe it can be improved upon. They say it is a Nigerian factor but I believe it human error.

Q: What is the solution?.

Privatisation I believe, government should hands off from running the club, in all fairness shooting stars is our heritage, it is a legacy of all Yoruba’s even in the diaspora. It is wrong to say Shooting stars is an Ibadan club, Shooting stars is an international club based in Ibadan, it is a global brand. Look from abroad they started asking me what was the result between Lobi and shooting stars while at the stadium and that very day there was a friend with me all the way from Port Harcourt to watch the live game at the Lekan Salami stadium. Let me tell you that every season I buy so many replica jersey of the club for my friends based abroad just because of the love they have for the club.

For instance I met a Spaniard named Marino while abroad sometimes ago and he was excited when I told him I'm from Ibadan, he first asked about Shooting stars and then Chief Lekan Salami and I told him Chief his dead, He felt bad and asked if we can established a Television station called Shooting Stars TV”

I came back to Nigeria and discussed with the people concern but probably they believe government is giving them adequate money then, they could not fathom the potentials of such ventures

So Shooting stars is brand that can survive on its own if well structure, the best is for government to hands off in sponsoring the club, they may not sell off their shares totally, we can have like 100 investors buying some shares. It’s true they tried go PLC once but failed due to the fact that government refused to hands off from the day to day running of the club.all we are saying is let the larger percentage of the share be owned by private individual because government can not continue to fund the club.

The revenue is dwindling and expenditure is rising, government all they need to do is to just create conducive avenue for investors to thrive

Come to think of it ,which of the sector has government funded very well, is it education, health or what?  So sport and football can not be their priority.

Q: What is your impression about football in Nigeria?

I feel so sad anytime I watch the on-going Nation’s cup in Gabon because the is the second consecutive time Nigeria is absent from the mundial. I wonder for how long we would continue to expect miracle without adequately preparing for a competition, it is disheartening.

I just believe we need to go back to grassroots football development where natural talents can be discover for club and national teams, imagine competitions like the principal’s cup has where the likes of Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Ademola Adesina etc were discovered has been abandoned and now we relied on averagely talented foreign based player.

OYO JOURNALISTS DECIDES 2016

OYO JOURNALISTS DECIDES 2016

Ko seleri!!!

Contestants in solidarity at opponent’s flag off ceremony.

By Ayo Ademokoya.

Various encomia was poured on the duo of Prince Olusegun Adeyemo, the incumbent vice chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Oyo state council, now contesting for the chairmanship position of the Association and Mr Adewunmi Faniran (Fanny-Power) who were magnanimous enough to show up at the flagging off ceremony of their opponent, Messrs Ademola Babalola who is also contesting for the same NUJ,Oyo chairmanship position on Wednesday  the 7^th of December 2016 at  Dapo Aderogba hall, NUJ Press centre,Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Prince Adeyemo was sighted at the premises of the hall as early as 9:30am  for a programme scheduled to start at 11am while Fanny-power and his entourage showed up around 1:00pm to show solidarity for the campaign organisation of  Debabs 2016.

Commending their attitude, veteran Journalist, Otunba Olukunle Ayorinde noted that Ko seleri,it has never happened in the history of  Oyo NUJ where opponents would show up at their rivals campaign venue, a gesture which  has proven to Nigerians that Journalism in Oyo state has come off age and is setting the pace as far as electioneering is concern .A stattement corroborated by the former Vuce Chairman of the Association,Mr Cosmos Oni.

He however urged politicians to emulate the way and maner election is been organised by those who is 4^th estate of the realm, the journalists.

“Gone are the days when people just because election would hire and touts, tugs, miscreants to destabilise campaign venues of the opponent but we as journalist are so matured now that we can attend each others campaign forum without prejudice or malice.”

Flagging off DEMBAB 2016 campaign team , the Director  General, Mr Joseph Okwuofu, thanked journalists present at the event and reinstate his belief in the duo of Mr Demola  Babalola and Tunde Ogunesan who are vying the posts of Chairmanship and secretary ship of the Association.

“As you can see, both of them are young and I believe in them, twice Demola was the Director General of Mr Gbenga Opadotun, at firts when we nicknamed him “Mr Fix it” ,many would not believe him until he made the candidacy of Ekuro a reality for two terms. If he can fix that believe his do better as the incumbent chairman of the association.

In his speech, Demola Babalola thanked everyone present and rolled out his campaign manifestos which believe would restore the dignity and economic state of Journalist in the state.

Tunde Ogunesan also in his speech urged journalist in the state to give the duo a chance to serve not minding age and other stratifications.

“Ti okete ba dagba tan,Omu omo e ni mu”he began

“Now your aged rats is old and should be ready to milk from the breasts of her children” he concluded jokingly while enumerating his plans for the secretariat of the state NUJ.

The high point of the event was Prince Adeyemo’s message to politicians in the state at the event saying that the chairmanship of the association is not a do or die affair and so should election should be generally.

In conclusion, www.harohkah.blogspot.com.ng however urged the participants to build on the legacies of the outgoing executives of Oyo NUJ led by comrade Gbenga Opadotun and advised that the duo should work on the image of the 4^th estate of the relm which politicians had taken for granted.

Bunmi would have inherited Space FM radio....Oshibogun...

‘Bunmi would have inherited Space FM radio....Oshibogun...

By Ayo Ademokoya

Chairman and founder of  Space FM radio, Ibadan, Oyo state, Otunba Deji Oshibogun has revealed how he intend to hand over his radio station to late Bunmi Atekoja, who was promoted to the post of  Head of Station from Head of Marketing  three months before her demise.

Otunba Oshibogun who fought hard to control his emotions, sobs uncontrollably while eulogising various virtues and giving testimonies of the life and times of Bunmi Atekoja, popularly called ‘Bumshaka’ at the Christian wake keep/service of songs put together by the management and staff of Space FM radio station on Wednesday,7^th of December 2016 at their premises at Liberty road Ibadan which was  witnessed by friends and families and well wishers of the foremost female golfer.

“ May none of you sitting down here this evening ever experience the agony of burying any of your staff” he began

“Bunmi was such an enigma, a man in woman’s clothing whom I believe can defeat even Donald Trump of America if given the chance, unfortunately it’s a man’s world but I’m glad  I gave her the opportunity and the platform to perform before she died.
Bunmi died at time when I thought I finally find who I can hand my dream over, if not for her untimely death, she should have inherited this place. " he wept profusely

“We were struggling to pay salaries of staff and when Bunmi became the head of station,Otunba continued,

"she set up modalities to pay off various debts especially staff salaries, unfortunately Bunmi is no more. he continued to sob,

 Otunba Oshibogun  however assured her two daughters of his continued support and plead that everyone present should give a round of applause to a woman lived a short but fulfilled life which was observed with standing ovation.

Other who gave testimonies about various impact Bunmi made on them and the society at large includes, www.harohkah.blogspot.com.ng, lady golfer from Ibadan Golf Club, representatives of Ikeja golf club, neighbour and church members of St Barnabas, two sibling of the decease to mention but few of those who poured encomium on the life and times of Bunmi Atekoja

The service of song which was conducted by men of God from St Barnabas Anglican church, Felele, Ibadan her first daughter Adenike Atekoja reading from the book Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1:13 while her junior sister Adedayo Atekoja took the second reading from the book of  1 Thessalonica chapter 4:13-18

Her remain has since been interred after the funeral service held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church on Thursday. Bunmi died at the unripe age of 45years old.

Oyo SWAN set to hold Oyo Sport Summit.

Dalung,Ajimobi, Adeyemo, Oke confirmed as Special guests

 

By Ayo Ademokoya

All roads lead to the D’Rovans hotel Ibadan on the 30^th of November 2016, venue of the first Oyo State Sports Summit.

According to the Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter, Mr Samson Akindele who reaveled that the Sports Summit is an initiative of  Niyi Alebiosu led Executive of the Association whose target remain to revive sports on the pacesetter state.

“The new excos of Oyo SWAN swung into action by inaugurating various committees within the association which would be very active in working for the dreams and progress of the association and one of them is the Sports committee comprising about seven members and my humble self as the chairman.

“For quite some time now we all will notice that that Sport is practically dead in the state and there is need for stakeholders to come together and talk about these problems beleaguering sports in the state.

Not only Shooting Stars is dying, other sports too are clamouring for attention while sports facilities in the states are dilapidated. All of us involving in the sports business in one form or the other are feeling these brunt and as stakeholders we cannot fold our arms to see everything go into oblivion.

The new exco has swung into action by inviting the General Manager of Oyo State sports council, Mr Gboyega Makinde to come and speak on the topic titled; State of Sports in Oyo state, while a foremost Sports Marketer in the country, Mr Steve Akadiri has also been invited to talk on Privatisation and Sport Marketing.

Other panellists invited by the association are Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Dr Felix Owolabi, (MON)Honourable Dapo Adesina, Mr Shola Akinwale to mention but few.

A communiqué from the summit is expected to be forwarded to the State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi after wards

Meanwhile,the Executive Governor of Oyo State His Excellency,Senator Abiola Ajimobi,the honourable Minister for Youth and Sports in Nigeria, Barrister Solomon Dalung, Speaker,Oyo State house of Assembly ,Rt Hon. Michael Adeyemo and the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State,Barrister Yomi Oke have all been confirmed to grace the occassion.

Rashidi Yekini Foundation set to honour Obaje

By Ayo Ademokoya.

Chairman of Wikki Tourists FC, Honourable Isa Matori is set to lead siblings of the 2015/16 highest goal scorer in the Nigerian Professional League, Godwin Obaje to receive the Rashidi Yekini Highest goal scorer award schedule for Dipo Dina stadium, Ijebu- Ode, venue of the Gold Cup competition on Saturday, 26^th of No

vember,2016 .

According to the facilitator and founder of the foundation, Barrister Jibril Mohammed the presentation of the giant plaque and a cheque of 100,000naira would be presented to the prolific scorer who emerged the highest goal scorer in the just concluded league is a promised fulfilled to encourage outstanding striker at the end of every leagues season.

“Rashidi Yekini Highest goal scorer has come to stay because this is the second edition of the annual award named after one of the most prolific goal scorer Africa ever produced in Nigeria, late Rashidi Yekini who died on the 4^th of May 2012.

“We want to thank the organisers of the Gold Cup Competition who has formed a synergy with us to make this year’s edition a reality. After deliberating on so many factors, we deemed it fit to hold the presentation over there in Ijebu Ode,Ogun state  because of Wikki Tourists  involvement in the tournament and they are playing Lobi Stars of Markurdi.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi,Honourable Matori is set to lead families and friends  of Godwin Obaje to the event on Saturday   to receive the award on behalf of the football prodigy.

Kobi Nasiru,the spokes person of Wikki Tourist confirmed that Obaje is out of the country to CSKA Moscow where he is finalising a deal to ply his trade in Europe with the former club of Ahmed Musa.

“ Obaje has served us diligently and the club cannot stand in his way from  furthering his career abroad, that is why my chairman has left no stone unturned to bring his family members to receive the award on his behalf.