Vanguard News
Brazavile, Okala’s best game
On
By Emeka Obasi
There was everything extraordinary about Green Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Anthony Oguejiofo Okala when he demobilised one of Africa’s best, Diables Rouges (Red Devils) at the Revolution Stadium, Brazaville on July 13, 1975. The Congolese may yet recover from that shock 1-0 defeat.
It was the Second Round of the Ethiopia ’76 African Nations Cup qualifiers. Sunny Oyarekhua put the Nigerians ahead in the very first minute. And that was the last anyone saw of the visitors. The next 89 minutes were played away from the Devil’s half.
Congo won the Cameroon ’72 African Nations Cup. They finished fourth at the next Championships and were the only team that beat eventual winners, Leopards of Congo Democratic Republic (Zaire). That same year, 1974, CARA of Brazaville lifted the African Cup for Champion Clubs ( today’s CAF Champions League).
Vanguard News
Relocate Abuja to Lagos
By Emeka Obasi
Moving the nation’s capital to Abuja sounded rhetorically so alluring that necessary checks were not carried out. What was sold to compatriots was that Lagos was too close to the border and Abuja represented the centre of unity and country. Cursed, that is Abuja.
President Shehu Shagari took the Independence celebrations to Abuja in 1982. In 1983, he chose to spend Yuletide in the Federal Capital Territory. That was when the military decided to truncate the Second Republic.
Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was given the role of Head of State. Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was killed in the coup by Presidential guards led by Capt. Augustine Anyogo. Shagari was placed under House arrest. Vice President Alex Ekwueme was taken to Kirikiri prison.
Vanguard News
USAFRICOM: Burying Barre’s Ghost
On
By Emeka Obasi
Somalian dictator, Mohamed Siad Barre, found home in Nigeria following his ouster in 1991 and rejection by Kenyan opposition when he arrived Nairobi for refuge. The maximum ruler died in Lagos five years later and it appears his blood soaked evil spirit is hovering all over the nation.
I received the good news that President Muhammadu Buhari has asked for help from the United States to tackle the unprecedented flood of insecurity that may consume the country and perhaps create a mass of refugees all over the the West African Sub Region.
FCMB
First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) of India, has so far carried out free eye surgeries, correctional testing services and provided glasses to over 300,000 Nigerians under the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, tagged Priceless Gift of Sight. Out of this number, the sight of almost 17,000 visually impaired Nigerians have been restored through surgeries, while the rest underwent tests to correct various eye defects and also received glasses.
The yearly intervention, which started in 2009, is designed to combat cataracts and other eye defects that could lead to blindness among underprivileged adults and children across various communities in Nigeria. FCMB has sustained this programme for thirteen consecutive years (2009 till date) by offering free testing, surgeries and glasses in partnership with TCF in Kebbi, Cross River, Imo, Abuja, Katsina and Adamawa.
FCMB s Priceless Gift of Sight: Over 300,000 Nigerians with eye defects benefit premiumtimesng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from premiumtimesng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.