At Last, Pillars Aiteo Cup Champs, Sani Lulu’s Noble Dive into Kogi Guber Primary Race

By Daily Sports on July 29, 2019

I don’t know how to start this week’s write-up because the killings across the country lowered my morale. To worsen the whole situation, Buhari and his jihadist Fulani brothers are hell bent in their spirited effort to force their expansionist pretence down the throat of Southern Nigeria.

It is no news also that the Southern leaders and Benue State Government have risen stoutly against this unholy adventure of Buhari and his Fulani brothers to use Ruga as a poly to Islamise Nigeria which his boys in government have used even their last blood to defend but which core herders in the North have swiftly encountered telling anyone that cares to listen that Ruga is a step to make Nigeria an Islamic nation.

As killings and hardship continue unabated in the nation and with APC/Buhari government looking helplessly, people are clapping for him and the fact is that when it rains, it never spares anybody’s roof.

Not even with the list of mostly deadwoods he pushed out the other day after two months or more of waiting for ministerial list. Festus Keyamo, a potential Sports Minister, over-stretched himself on what should be the brief of the Ministry of Justice – to which Buhari cannot risk appointing him. 

However, sports have always come to the rescue and often serve as a source of succour to Nigerians. Just from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Nigerians are making waves in other sports around the globe and we are hanging on with that despite Buhari’s lame duck regime of doom. 

I deliberately don’t want to say anything on the FG vs IMN because Buhari, El-Rutai, etc, know what they are doing. As a matter of fact, IMN members may have joined forces to fight for Buhari when he lost election in 2011 as a serial loser who has been presiding over a full-blooded Nigerian nation.  

Honestly, the current mood in the country – to say the very least – calls for great concern but not to Buhari, whose Boko Haram, killer herders and sundry have turned Nigeria into a threatre of violence and bloodshed that leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Instead of facing the real issues, Buhari is busy chasing shadows.

I should be excused for this outburst because the Nigeria I was born into has totally eroded especially since this herders’ patron came to power.

Thanks a lot beloved readers for your overwhelming visit to this page. In short, you have being the reason I remain loyal and would always be your servant.

Let me extend the banters to my dear reader Abduallahi Musa from Kaduna, who thumbed the column up for its objectivity and great sense of analysis; to show his sportsmanship he invited me to watch the FA Cup that took place between Niger Tornadoes and Kano Pillars – both sides were, until yesterday, pretenders to the most prestigious and oldest football federation trophy in the land.

Thanks a lot, my dear friend Musa; I will honour your invitation to watch one or some of the NPFL matches.

Still last week, former Supremo of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, signified that he would enter the murky waters of  mainstream politics in Nigeria where he would seek primary election in his state, Kogi, as its next governor under the umbrella of All Progressives Congress in a gubernatorial poll coming up later in the year.

Already, Kogi people are tired of the high handedness and roguery regime of Yahaya Bello and are poised to remove him even from the primaries.

Even if you are not from that sleeping state otherwise referred to as Confluence State you must have one way or the other experienced the bad government of Yahaya Bello even on your way to Abuja by road.

Truth is that Yahaya is simply a disaster and quality administrators like Sani Lulu Abdullahi are lined up against him and to be honest with you, Abdullahi is a seasoned administrator of note and experienced. He brought lots of solid reforms to Nigerian football which Magari could not implement and manage.

Without any prejudice most of whatever workable reforms Amaju Pinnick has on ground today in NFF are the brainchild of Sani Lulu Abdullahi’s regime and it is great for our football.

One prays that APC’s Adams Oshiomhole would not rock the boat as we saw him do during the last primaries in some states – for which his party paid so dearly.

Yahaya is moving huge cash around in his bid to be aided to return to bear the flag of his collapsing party in Kogi State.

Abdullahi’s governance in Kogi, if given the opportunity, would bring great developmental revolution in all facets for the people of the state. He is tested and reliable. Yahaya is a lame duck without direction and vision. Period.

In short, the cap fits Abdullahi. I am not a card carrying or supporter of APC either my entrenching interest here is who will bail the cat for Kogi people. If Adams Oshiomhole and Yahaya would follow the rules which although is never in their dictionary for the primaries, Yahaya will not pick the APC ticket.

Yes, Bola Tinubu is here plotting to install one of his boys which he lost to Buhari last time the politics of Kogi State is a high tension kind of. Remember, late Abubakar Audu’s son is there roaring to pick the APC primaries paper for the number one seat in the State,

One thing is obvious and that is Sani Lulu Abdullahi has deep credentials to lead the state out of the current woods Yahaya has led them into. APC in Kogi State must resist Oshiomhole you collect the money Yahaya would be spreading now to grab the ticket again.

Oshiomhole has the infectious leprous hand to the extent that he has been declared undesirable in his Edo State where he is fighting the sitting Governor Obaseki.

I wish very astute administrator and great visionary Sani Lulu Abdullahi all the best in his parotic move to steer the ship of his drowning state to safety harbour.

Many fans did not know that this year’s once most glamorous and oldest football competition finals in the country the Federations Cup now called Aiteo Cup  has been won and lost this year due to lack of publicity by the organisers and sundry.

From whatever angle you may look at it from the glamour has gone. The centre is no longer holding. A typical FA Cup final day was when newspapers sold highest to high heaven in the good old days.

The FA Cup used to be a reporter’s delight to be nominated by the Sports Editor. But now all these have gone to the wind. It is worrisome and also leaves more questions than answers.

Simply put, the FA Cup has lost its once upon a time golden garment.

All being said and done one hopes that next time would be better. As the new champion has emerged we pray that our representatives in the continent will give their best and shot in both CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup. The teams must go all out to recruit quality players and technical hands that can look at the seeds of time and know the ones that will grow and so on.

Nigerians are thirsty to drink from the continent’s trophies.

At last Kano Pillars finally registered the name of the ancient team into the annuals of Federation Cup winners. An attempt the team started during its name as Racca Rovers FC of Kano when this now colourless but oldest competition in the land was like the World Cup in Nigeria.

Sports Pulse joins teeming fans of the side to say congratulations on this feat. It was a great fight as the day’s opponent gave good account of themselves dragging proceedings into penalty shootout.

However as the game has been won and lost the focus should now be on the continental championships. Clubs bearing our flag must go home for real homework and bring the trophies home after the back to back feat by Enyimba International FC in 2004 CAF Champions League.

Niger Tornadoes FC gave good account of themselves and should focus on their African assignment.

As the curtain of 2019 Aiteo Cup has been drawn, let us set the agenda or review the poorly publicity of the FA Cup this year unlike it. Our social media handles are on 247 come let’s set the tone.

We are visible on the beat and would implore you to stick with Daily Sports. Keep shooting hard till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 29, 2019


 

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