Wednesda Ojukwu on life support-UNTH

Indications have emerged that former Biafran warlord Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu may be flown abroad for treatment before the end of the week due to his deteriorating health. The management of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH), Enugu, revealed the former Biafran warlord had been placed on life-support machine apparently to stabilise him before he would be flown to either South Africa or Egypt for intensive medical attention. When Daily Sun visited the hospital yesterday, there was serious security presence within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) section. The son, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), and a former chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Mr. Azuka Okwuosa were among the few relatives and well wishers that were allowed into the ICU reception. During a chat with journalists, the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Dr Anthony Mbah said a team of consultants led by Prof Vincent Ike, a Consultant Cardiologist had been working on the former warlord, while disclosing that Ojukwu was gradually regaining consciousness. According to the physician, “ Ojukwu was brought to the accident and emergency department of this hospital in an unconscious state last Sunday. The blood pressure was quite low and he was not making enough urine. Upon his arrival, all consultants started work on him immediately; diagnostic procedures were immediately administered on him. Right now, I can say that the blood pressure has stabilised and he is making enough urine. Although his level of consciousness has not improved greatly, efforts are in top gear to fly him abroad. As a hospital, we have already provided transport oxygen and we are updating his medical certificate every moment in order to get ready for his rapid evacuation. “The opinion of the medical team working on him is that he had stroke attack and as I’m speaking, he is on a ventilator which is an artificial breathing machine just to help his breath because he was breathing excessively when he was brought here. For now, we have evidence that the oxygen saturation is okay. I also have it on good authority that the family is thinking of getting a flying ambulance to take him away,” Mba stated. Ojukwu’s ill-health made President Goodluck Jonathan who was in Enugu last Friday to commission the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to pay him a visit at his GRA residence and wish him quick recovery. Meanwhile, his wife, Bianca had declared that her husband’s illness was sensationalised by the media. According to her, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu was not expected to respond to treatment like a 30- year-old would. She argued that a 30- year old would respond to treatment of headache faster than an over 70- year-old man would. She said although her husband was ill, there was no cause for panic. Ojukwu turned 77 on November 4. The Ikemba was rushed to the UNTH on the day the hospital’s members of staff were returning to work after embarking on a strike to press home their demand for better condition of service. When newsmen visited Ojukwu’s residence yesterday, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Chief Emeka Sebodu, who was believed to have paid a sympathy visit was seen leaving the place. Before now, Ojukwu had traveled abroad for medical treatment and only returned to the country about a month ago.

IBB, Atiku pushing Nigeria to the brink- EX- MEND commanders

The zoning debate within the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assumed a dangerous dimension with former commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), warning of the imminent break-up of the country.

Former Military President, Ibrahim Babaginda, and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, had during a National Stakeholders’ Conference organised by the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) on Wednesday warned of dire consequences if the PDP abandoned the zoning principle.

President Goodluck Jonathan has sounded a note of warning to those making inciting statements, challenging Nigeria’s sovereignty as a nation and warned his government would no longer “take that kind of rubbish lightly.”

The president, who was speaking at the decoration ceremony of some newly promoted Nigerian Navy and Air Force Admirals and Air Vice Marshals yesterday in Abuja, said those who made such incendiary utterances were always the first to take their families abroad to stay until other people’s children and families suffered and died as a result of their mischief.

He was apparently reacting to perceived inciting statements by former president Ibrahim Babangida and former vice president and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had, while speaking at the National Stakeholders Conference organised by the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) in Abuja, on Wednesday, warned the Federal Government on the likelihood of violence in next year’s election, saying, “those who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.”

President Jonathan warned: “We will no longer allow that kind of culture. I will not allow anybody to take the country for a ride. And sometimes, I frown at some people making statements, especially those of us who are politicians making statements, challenging the sovereignty of this nation.

“Government will no longer take that kind of rubbish lightly. Because when we have crisis, we lose army officers, police officers and some of us who are the cause of the trouble are the people flying to the United States to go and stay until other peoples’ children will die, other people’s wives will suffer then they come back to be our leaders. We will no longer allow that kind of culture. I will not allow anybody to take the country for a ride.”

President Jonathan, while decrying inciting utterances by some politicians in recent times, said Nigeria was bigger than any individual. He called on those guilty of such inciting statements to focus on how to move the country forward and not toe the path of destruction. The president commended the role played by the Nigerian military to keep the nation one, saying but for the role played by the Nigerian Armed Forces in international peace support operations all over the world, Nigeria would not have been recognised as the giant of Africa.

He said the country, more than ever before, was ready to take her rightful place in the African sub-region, adding that the whole world was looking up to Nigeria to settle the political situation in Cote d’ Ivoire. “We have to thank the military for keeping the country together. You have shown leadership in the whole of Africa.

As for what is happening in Cote d’ Ivoire everyday, presidents all over the world are calling on me because they feel it is only Nigeria that can solve the problem of that country. That tells you how others rate Nigeria and we have no reason to derail. “I have to commend the military for doing that. We have that standing role in the society because of the role the military is playing.”

The president, who personally decorated the first female rear admiral in the Nigerian Navy with her new rank, said his administration was conferring with the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces to commence the admission of women into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to be trained as regular combatant officers.

Seller wants Indian hemp smoking legalised

When Alonge Bolaji, a native of Kogi State was first arrested by the men of the A Division police station penultimate week, he did not show any remorse that he has committed any grievous offence.

He was so bold that he told journalists that selling Indian hemp was not a big deal. Bolaji, was arrested in a residential building along Leo area of Akure metropolis, Ondo State with 28 bags of Indian hemp stock-piled in sacks

England or Nigeria: Siasia meets Onuoha

Nigeria’s Coach, Samson Siasia, flew out to Europe on Thursday night to meet with a number of players, and will also hold discussions with Sunderland’s defender, Nedum Onuoha.

On his way to the Abuja Airport on Thursday afternoon to fly to Lagos, where he boarded a British Airways aircraft to London, Siasia said: “I intend to discuss with Nedum (Onuoha) and see what is possible. I believe he will commit to Nigeria”.

Jonathan warns IBB, Atiku over inciting statement

President Goodluck Jonathan has sounded a note of warning to those making inciting statements, challenging Nigeria’s sovereignty as a nation and warned his government would no longer “take that kind of rubbish lightly.”

The president, who was speaking at the decoration ceremony of some newly promoted Nigerian Navy and Air Force Admirals and Air Vice Marshals yesterday in Abuja, said those who made such incendiary utterances were always the first to take their families abroad to stay until other people’s children and families suffered and died as a result of their mischief.

Pandemonium as pipeline explodes in Lagos

But for the quick intervention of fire fighters, petrochemical fire from pipeline explosion could have wreaked monumental havoc at Isheri in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State yesterday.

Daily Sun learnt that the explosion, which started at about 12:30p.m. at the back of Diamond Estate, along LASU-Isheri Road, was caused by the activities of fuel scoopers.
The fire burnt fiercely until about 4:00p.m before a combined team of the safety officials from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Ejigbo and the Lagos State Fire Service put it under countrol.

MTN signs N2.6b league sponsorship deal with NPL

Telecommunications firm, MTN Nigeria, has been awarded the title rights to sponsor the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the next four years.

After two days of deliberations on the bidding proposals from two bidders, the bid committee of the Premier League on Thursday named MTN Nigeria its new title sponsor.

The two bidding firms were Globacom Nigeria Limited and Total Promotions Limited – representing the eventual winner of the bidding process, MTN.

IBB, Atiku: He was a Patriot

Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday described the late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, as a patriot.
Also proceedings were stopped at the National Stakeholders Conference organized to shore up support for Atiku when news filtered in that the elder statesman was dead. A one minute silence was observed in honour of the man who moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria from the British colonial government.

Babangida, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, “The struggle for the independence of Nigeria will not be complete without writing a full chapter on Pa Anthony Enahoro, who stood to be counted amongst other nationalists in the battle to rescue the country from the claws of colonial domination.
“At a time when it was almost trite to rise up against colonial rule and domination, Pa Enahoro, as a young man displayed rare courage, activism, selflessness, patriotism, doggedness and good spiritedness to ask for independence for the country.
“The struggle of those years well articulately captured in the ability of the nationalists to advance the cause of the nation, exposing the dubiety of the colonial masters and insisting that the country must follow the path of other sister African nations in enjoying the freedom of self government.”

On his part, Atiku described Enahoro’s death as the eclipse of one of the brightest stars in Nigeria’s political firmament.
According to a statement by his campaign organization, Atiku described Enahoro as a patriot and a true democrat, adding that his death marked the end of an era.
“As the first statesman to raise the motion for independence in 1952,” Atiku said, “Nigerians will forever remain grateful to the sacrifices made by Pa Enahoro to free the country from the shackles of colonial domination and imperialism”.
The former vice-president recalled that the late nationalist and leader of the Pro-national Conference Organization (PRONACO) put the interest of the country above personal comfort.

“Until his death, he remained actively involved in the search for a stable and democratic order in Nigeria,” Atiku said.
He said  the best tribute to this trail blazer and fountain of inspiration is for all Nigerian leaders to emulate his virtues of activism and patriotism.
Atiku prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal peace and strength to the family to bear the loss.
Also in a condolence message, a member of the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), Tanko Yakassai, described the death of Enahoro as a big loss to the nation and members of family.

According to him, “by his death, Nigeria has lost committed patriot who served Nigeria selflessly. It is on record that Chief Enahoro was among the first set of Nigerians who occupied ministerial position at different times from 1951 and held such position both at regional and federal levels. He was never known to use such offices to build a financial empire for himself or any member of his family.”

Kalu withdraws from presidential race

Citing the collective decision by Igbo leaders from the South-east geo-political zone to wait for 2015 presidency, former governor of Abia State and leading presidential aspirant of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has withdrawn from the 2011 presidential race.

Kalu, who had, while declaring his intention to contest the highest office in the land, said the hardship and despair across the landscape, occasioned by poor governance was what motivated him to go into the race, explained that as a proud Igbo son, he decided to submit himself to the decision of the leaders of the zone.

Though he disagreed with the decision that the Igbo nation should wait till 2015, when there were able and qualified people from the zone, including him, that could bring the desired turn around to the nation, Kalu said “as a committed Igbo man, having consulted widely, I therefore have to adhere to the decision made by Igbo leaders and the Igbo nation till such a time when we reach a consensus to produce a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.”

Dr. Kalu, in a statement signed by him in Abuja yesterday said he had deferred to the prominent Igbo leaders in such groups as Ohaneze Ndigbo, Aka Ikenga, Igbo Peoples Forum (IPF), South-east Political Leaders and others, who have studied the prevailing situation and came to the conclusion that the Igbo should gear up for the presidency in 2015.
The former governor argued that the poverty and the despair that pervaded the land in the midst of abundant God-given endowments, were direct reactions to the general poor governance and that for him, “the quest to provide leadership at the highest level can only be worth its while when we can appropriately replace the hopelessness, despair and despondency of today with hope and equal assurance that the imperfections of our past would challenge our creative instinct to re-direct the developmental pulse of the nation towards a progressive path.”

Kalu said that while offering himself to serve, he relied on his assurances of his ability in conjunction with like minds to provide leadership needed to lift the nation moreso when “some of us have made things work at the micro level of government with limited resources, there is no reason why such successes cannot be replicated at the macro national level.”

Thanking Nigerians of all strata both at home and in the diaspora, for the belief in him and the support given to his aspiration and quest to lead the nation, Kalu said he would ready to contribute his quota to the task of developing the nation to the level all envisioned.

GOODNIGHT ENAHORO

One of Nigeria’s surviving foremost nationalists, Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, yesterday passed on in Benin at 87. He died at about 6 a.m. in his residence, No.10, Aideyan Street, Benin.

Enahoro went into coma in October and was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he was diagnosed of diabetes. According to family sources, he was discharged from hospital two weeks ago. Only yesterday, he issued a statement in which he condoled with Governor Adams Oshiomhole over the death of his wife, Clara.

Nigeria's prodigal National Assembly and Sanusi's revelation

Only a couple of weeks ago, the country was awakened to the embarrassing revelation that 25.41 percent of Nigeria's annual total overhead cost is spent ...
on the nation's lawmakers at the National Assembly (consisting of the upper chamber, the Senate; and the House of Representatives -- the lower chamber).  The revelation was made by Mallam Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while delivering a convocation lecture at the Igbinedion University, Okada, near Benin-City, Edo State. He was invited by the premier private university to speak on the topic, “Growth Prospects for the Nigerian Economy”.
Without mincing words, Sanusi told his audience and, by extension, Nigerians that no meaningful economic development can be achieved except our leaders address their minds to the critical issue of judicious management of the nation's vast resources. He was concerned about the lack of progress that has characterized Nigeria's national development since independence which has led to Nigeria trailing far behind the emerging Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, China, India and Indonesia, noting that Nigeria was far ahead of these countries in the 70's.

Union Bank Staff stage protests

Union Bank workers on Tuesday paralysed activities at its headquarters in Lagos to protest the "high-handedness" and the "poor attitude" to their welfare ...

by the management, led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Olufunke Osibodu. Osibodu and her team were appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year.

Senate passes electoral act, drops NEC clause

The Senate yesterday bowed to public pressure and dropped the controversial section of the 2010 Electoral Act amendment bill which sought to make ...

all federal lawmakers members of their parties’ executive council.

The Senate withdrew section 87 (11) which has caused a lot of uproar and charges that National assembly members plan to hijack the parties and make themselves the most powerful block in Nigerian politics.

Investors stake N1.3bn in Banking sub sector

Investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Tuesday staked N1.299 billion on 146.067 million shares recorded in 3,305 deals of the banking ...
stocks, just as market capitalization closed at N7.765 trillion, while the All Share-Index ended at 24,306.83 points.

The banking sub sector led the activity chart in turn over volume, with Zenith Bank Plc recording the highest number of shares, put at 30.83 million worth N441.13 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc followed with a turn over of 23.832 million shares valued at N404.068 million and Oceanic Bank International recording 17.654 million shares worth N41.200 million.

Nigeria has lost a great son in Enahoro

rich tributes were paid to late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, on Wednesday by Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva. Sylva expressed ...

deep grief and sorrow over the passing away of Enahoro whom he described as a “dedicated and sincere nationalist.”

Police audit reveals massive fraud, recovers N6bn

The massive fraud perpetrated by police pay officers and accountants in all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, was on

Tuesday revealed by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim. Already, some pay officers with Abia State Police Command have been arrested and are being quizzed over their roles in the financial scam.

He said an audit directed by the Ministry of Police Affairs has uncovered thousands of ghost officers in the Nigeria Police Force and billions of naira stolen by police pay officers and accountants. The exercise, which commenced in September 2010 allegedly uncovered bank accounts through which monies were being stolen by pay officers and their collaborators. Ringim said N6 billion have been recovered within two months.

Addressing pay officers and accountants at the Force Headquarters on Tuesday, Ringim said the consultant discovered that the staff strength of the Force was not up to the 377,000 official figure.

“The audit also established the fact that bank officials connive with police pay officers to steal money. Investigation had commenced and any officer indicted would be prosecuted and jailed. Pay officers often delay the payment of salaries unnecessarily while complaints of variated salaries and allowances by officers in some state commands are rife. Some pay officers have been found to have made multiple payments into accounts,” he said.

The IGP said that in one instance, about N15 million was paid into some accounts monthly while cheques were also cashed, in flagrant violation of government regulations that all payments must be done through e-payment. He recounted his experience when a pay officer in one of the state commands where he served attempted to give him money, but he said he declined the offer.

“On a daily basis, we receive complaints from men in Abuja and outside that their pay have been unduly cut. Some state commands pay constables N16, 000, some pay N18, 000 without reasons. Some accuse the Mechanised Salary Section (MSS) and pay officers. We are going to change those responsible for this. Government money is not a free thing for all to be converted to personal use.

“I have received complaints over and over that police salaries are deliberately delayed. It shouldn’t happen in police because it is an embodiment of law and order. All policemen that have served in MSS for two years must be changed as well as civilians. Salaries and emoluments that should have been paid by 27 and 28 of the month drag on and on. I will stamp out this fraud completely. I have low tolerance for such conduct,” Mr. Ringim further said.

Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim

The commissioner in charge of Special Investigation Unit, Ali Amodu, who presented a preliminary report of investigations into the scam, said salaries were being paid to ghost workers and that monies meant for 10, 000 men were paid into fraudulent bank accounts.

He said some unscrupulous pay officers and accountants opened over 20 accounts where monies were paid monthly, stressing that his investigations revealed fraud on a large scale.

PDP NEC meeting breaks up in chaos

The 54th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ended in chaos after only 20 minutes yesterday in a row over the presence of the Enugu State chairman of the party who was purportedly removed by the National Chairman. The meeting was adjourned to tomorrow [Thursday] to enable the party bosses to sort out the problem.

When stakeholders met over Lagos-Ibadan expressway

The deplorable state of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the attendant loss of lives and property have continued to be a source of concern to many — especially stakeholders. Adebayo Waheed reports.
The carnage on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has continued to give concern not only to the users of the road but the Federal Government. As a result of this, stakeholders gathered recently under the auspices of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to fashion out ways  to  ameliorate     the deplorable condition of the road.
It is said that in the past, it took motorists 45 minutes to travel from Ibadan to Lagos  but now the reverse is the case as motorists spend between one hour and one hour 30 minutes due to the deadly potholes that have taken over the road.

Who will save the world from this monster?

On December 9, 2010, the world, with one voice, condemned corruption in very strong terms. Chukwuma Okparaocha, in this report, exposes the breeding spots of corruption.
CORRUPTION has been described in many ways; some see it as a monster threatening to tear any society apart right from its roots; others say it is a quagmire in which the more one tries to extricate oneself, the more one sinks, yet other people have described corruption simply as a gross act of financial insincerity and indiscipline which often starts in a subtle and innocuous way until it becomes uncontrollable like a wild fire which destroys everything in its path.
Corruption has also been described as a dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority. In their publication “Institutional Working Divination of Corruption,” Obert Chinhamo and Gabriel Shumba defined corruption as “the abuse or complicity in the abuse of private or public power, office or resources for personal gain.” Corruption can also be seen as moral perversion, depravity and dishonesty, especially bribery.
“Corruption threatens peoples and their governments. It makes societies unfair,” S.C. Bansal stated in his publication “causes of corruption,” adding that “there is no more power engine of injustice and cruelty, for bribery destroys both faith and state. The serious consequence thus is not only state capture but also mind capture.

Jonathan vows to punish wrongdoings

ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, vowed that never again shall wrongdoing among Nigerians go unpunished, warning that government was set to make the business of impunity unattractive in the country.
According to the President, perpetrators of criminality in the society will be identified and punished to avoid the development of a culture of impunity.
The president, who spoke when a delegation of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, led by its President, Rev. Anthony Farinto, paid him a courtesy call at the State House, Abuja, vowed to jail anyone that increased election figures in the next election.
Responding to a call on government to take radical steps to ensure that individual votes counted in 2011, the president said perpetrators of electoral offences, such as “changing figures of votes cast,” which is forgery, will face the full wrath of the law, since “any crime that goes unpunished leads to a culture of impunity, which does not augur well for law and order.”
President Jonathan re-stated his commitment to the conduct of free and fair elections in 2011, adding that “until people can elect those they want as their leaders, democracy will not take root in Nigeria.”
Clarifying his position on the militants and anti-social conduct in the Niger Delta, the president said the genuine militants, who had embraced amnesty, were being taken care of, noting that all those who have engaged in criminality would be treated as criminals.

ASUU strike: Group threatens legal action

The Commercial Oil and Gas Aviation and Tax Lawyers Association (COGATLA), has threatened legal action against South-east governors if they failed to resolve the long drawn strike in state-owned universities in the region within 14 days.
This was contained in a press release, signed by the group’s President, Mr. Chijioke Ndubuisi, which was made available to Daily Sun.

The group condemned the prolonged strike and urged the state governors to speed-up negotiation with the zonal Academic Staff Unionof Universities (ASUU) to end the action.
The lawyers also warned that unless the issue was resolved if within 14 days, the governors refused to make necessary move to end the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU), which had caused serious set back in the education system in the region, they would be charged to court for reneging on the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government agreement which was jointly signed by the negotiating teams.

Pardon for 27 soldiers

At last, the Nigerian Army Council has granted pardon to the 27 soldiers attached to the 323 Artillery Regiment, Owena Barracks, Akure, Ondo State, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, and later reduced to seven years jail term, for demonstrating violently over unpaid duty allowances.

However, in granting them full pardon, the Army Council, which said that the affected soldiers would be paid all their full benefits, also discharged them from service.

The affected soldiers, who served in the 15th Battalion of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, demonstrated in the streets of Akure over non-payment of the allowances meant for peacekeeping operation in the West African country from September 2007, to April 2008.

Jonathan to present N4.2 trn 2011 budget today

Ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presentation of the 2011 budget before the National Assembly today, Daily Sun can authoritatively report that the Federal Government has proposed N4.2 trillion budget with the crude oil benchmark pegged at $62 per barrel. Daily Sun findings reveal that capital expenditure is expected to take N1trn while the recurrent expenditure will gulp N3.2 trillion.

It was also gathered that contrary to earlier reports of plans to cut the recurrent expenditure in the budget, government is proposing its commencement from the 2012 financial year.
Daily Sun further learnt that before government could conveniently cut the recurrent expenditure, it would have to cut down on certain expenditure including the downsizing of the workforce in the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government,  merging of ministries, and parastatals. It was also gathered that government was considering voluntary retirement and payoff of civil servants who are willing to leave the service.

“All these are cost saving measures but they are things that cannot be done overnight. It is not a six- month thing. Government would have to do this gradually and over time,” a top presidency source said yesterday.
Already, the ministry of finance, as part of steps towards the auditing  staff of the civil service and MDAs has already spent over N12 billion in building a database of staff in 16 MDAs with the drive to cover all the MDAs and paratstatals of government by the end of the 2011 financial year.

According to the source, “These processes require time. People who would be laid off would have to be paid off and in other cases, alternative jobs would have to be provided for such people. It has to be planned carefully in order for it not to have a back lash effect.”
The disproportionate budgeting pattern has been a subject of concern to the Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, consequently, in September, he set up a committee to among other things review the expenditure pattern and advise government appropriately.
The Committee, which was said to have some of the best Nigerians with excellent financial track records as at the time of finalising the budget proposal.
turn in its report.

NOT YET OFF THE HOOK

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, has said on Monday that the organisation has strict ethical rules for dealing with any of its member, who “has become tainted” after past allegations are proven.

“The whole issue is about the reputation of the IOC potentially being tainted, if facts are proven for a person that was not an IOC member at that time,” Rogge said.

The IOC Ethics Commission asked the BBC two weeks ago to pass on the evidence aired in a TV documentary alleging that Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Issa Hayatou, took a kickback from FIFA’s former marketing agency in 1995. Hayatou became an IOC member in 2001.

The Cameroonian declined to be interviewed for the BBC’s “Panorama” programme. The day after the broadcast, Hayatou said the payment of about $20,000 was a donation to CAF.
“We have asked for clarification from the BBC and then the Ethics Commission will look into the matter and will then decide which persons have to be investigated,” Rogge said.
The IOC president did not confirm which of the members are involved, citing the need to “respect the total autonomy and confidentiality of the work of the Ethics Commission.”

The BBC investigation also alleged that former FIFA President, Joao Havelange, received secret payments. The 94-year-old Brazilian is the longest-serving IOC member with 47 years in the movement.
FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, who joined the IOC in 1999, was not accused by the BBC of receiving kickbacks.
Rogge said on Monday that Blatter kept him informed in recent weeks, as FIFA dealt with accusations of bribe taking and vote rigging in the process of choosing hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Two voters from FIFA’s Executive Committee, plus four past members, were suspended from all soccer duties by its ethics court, which was created in 2006 in the image of the IOC’s own ethics body.

Jonathan, Atiku in photo finish race in C’River

Cross River State can be described as a one-party state as demonstrated in the last local government elections in which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) swept the polls with opposition parties trailing behind with just five councillorship seats out of 196 wards.

Besides, Governor Liyel Imoke’s politics of accommodation and humility in service have weakened the hitherto political bigwigs who were poised to oppose PDP and his administration. This, of course, has made it virtually impossible to have dissenting voices and has brought all shades of opinion into the ruling party. The fight now is within the party.

With this development, the race for the 2011 presidential election in Cross River state seems a one-way win-win for President Goodluck Jonathan. The political class and major power blocs in the state have all collapsed for the emergence of the incumbent in the forthcoming PDP primaries.

Investigations by Daily Sun reveal that all the political heavy weights in the state are either directly or indirectly involved in the Jonanthan/Sambo 2011 project. For instance, there are three major groups including Goodluck Support Group (GSG), South-South Democratic Voice (SOSODEV) and Jonathan Consolidation 2011. They have spread their tentacles in all nooks and crannies of the state drumming support for Jonathan.

Co-ordinated by Mr. Eko Atu, Lord Silver and Bassey Ibor respectively, these groups have been mobilizing seriously. The Goodluck Support Group is said to be one of the pet projects of Imoke, and to ensure the success of the groups, elected officers in the state are said to be contributing heavily to their funding.
Speaking to Daily Sun on their activities to install the president, the state co-ordinator of the Goodluck Support Group, said, “Within the next few days, President Jonathan team will know that Cross River is in support of him and his team. That is authentic.

Now that the time-table is out, we will go into works because we are not leaving anything to chance”.
Atu, who is one of the loyalists of Imoke and the Director-General, state Rural Development Agency(RUDA) contended that “the group was already mobilising delegates across the country ahead of the PDP National Convention to face any contenders for the party’s presidential ticket and we are waiting for anybody to challenge him (Jonathan) at the convention. We are sure he will win the PDP ticket.”

Not relenting, he said the group will also mobilise people to take part in the next voters registration and elections, stressing that “we will do everything possible to work towards a credible elections”.

Equally drumming up support for Jonathan’s presidency, Ibor, who is the Cross River State co-ordinator of Jonathan Consolidation 2011, said “for Cross River, President Goodluck Jonathan will definitely complete the 8-year term joint ticket which he started with his late boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua because we will vote for him en masse.”

The group stated that “any attempt to stop a faithful and committed leader as President Jonathan, would be seen as an act of disservice to the collective psyche of Nigerians and would be a big disappointment to many Nigerians. Vowing to fight on until he clinches the PDP ticket.”
To show total support for Jonathan, the Cross River Elders Forum in an enlarged meeting held recently unanimously endorsed Jonathan/Sambo ticket for 2011, and passed a vote of confidence on the administration.

My life is ruined, cries woman whose husband was murdered at MTN base station

For the Onwusus of Ohuhu, Ikeala Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government of Abia State, Thursday, September 16, 2010 was like any other day.

Their bread winner, Mr Martin Onwusu employed six months ago by GSM service provider, MTN, to man one of its base stations in Aba, Abia State as a security man, had enthusiastically prepared for work as always. There was no premonition that something unusual would happen. Onwusu went to work that fateful, but he never returned alive.
Onwusu was manning the MTN base station at Alaoji along the Enugu/Port Harcourt express way on that fateful day when at about 2.00 p.m. a van belonging to the service  provider pulled by,  carrying three mobile policemen, two  MTN engineers and another worker who came for routine maintenance at the station.

Hardly had the van carrying the policemen and the MTN staffers  stopped than gunmen believed  to be kidnappers emerged from nowhere, perhaps on a kidnap mission, but on sighting the police they opened fire.
At the end of about 10 minutes of non-stop firing, the policemen, two MTN engineers and Mr. Onwusu, the 75-year-old security man lay stone dead. Yet the gunmen were not done as they kidnapped the two others who reports said were only released after the payment of N10 million ransoms.

Three months after her husband’s brutal murder by the gunmen, Alice the widow who the responsibility  of taking care of their seven children has now rested squarely  on her shoulders  told Daily Sun that those who killed her husband might as well kill her for they have made life unbearable .
“My husband was working for a private company in Aba and retired in 1991. Since then, he was without job until in March, 2010 when MTN offered him job as a security man to be in charge of their base station at Alaoji.
“With this job, the family heaved a sigh of relief   because he had an enhanced package which he was using to take care and train all our seven children aged between two and 25 years.

 “Now that they’ve killed him (her husband), what am I going to do? I am a house wife who depended wholly on my husband for the upkeep of the family,” she said. The woman was at loss on what next to do as she asked rhetorically said, “Look at me, what will I do as they’ve gruesomely murdered my husband, who is going to take care of the children and other members of the family he left behind?

Local players can make you great

Former Everton and Super Eagles’ striker, Daniel Amokachi, has advised Coach Samson Siasia to concentrate more on discovering local talents and transforming them into great players, instead of moving round in search of players in Europe as he works towards returning the national team to winning ways.

Amokachi, who started his career in the local league, said the experience he garnered as a former player and manager of the Super Eagles, had given him an edge above other commentators on how to revive the senior national team.
He, however, said that Siasia would know how to identify and nurture players from the local league, and therefore, implored him to remain firm in his approach at rebuilding Eagles.

“I am in the school of thought that believes that the future of our football lies with the local league,” Amokachi stated. “And I also believe that Siasia, who passed through the local league, shares in my opinion. He did it in the time past by assembling a bunch of unknown players that surprised the world at different occasions.
“It will not be a year’s job to get the team set for the real action, but I believe that Nigerians will understand the situation we are in right now.

NEC membership: Party to decide -Jonathan, governors

An emergency meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ended with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governors on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform resolving to let the party decide who would be members of National Executive Committee (NEC).

Sources at the meeting, which ended at 7pm at House 7 in the villa said that all knotty issues which generated disagreements had been resolved.

“We have resolved all the issues and we agreed that the issue of who becomes NEC member should be decided by the party. There are no more problems. We have agreed on everything,” a party member confirmed last night.
Members of the National Assembly had been pushing to include themselves as members of their parties’ NEC, a move which had been stoutly resisted by political parties, state governors and members of the civil society.

The PDP’s highest decision making body was unable to resolve the issue at its 54th meeting earlier in the day yesterday and has scheduled another meeting for Thursday with the hope that all the thorny issues would be resolved by then.

Kidnappers frustrate immunisation in Uyo

In Akwa Ibom state , particularly in Uyo metropolis, it was one huddle after another recently when health officials went on a house to house immunization campaign in the state. Reason: big shots weren’t taking chances, being afraid that kidnappers might as well put on immunization aprons to gain access into their homes for their evil mandate.

 While Akwa Ibom is one of the states that have ensured the absence of wild polio virus, the officials are lamenting that the high rate of kidnapping in the state is threatening their efforts as people are now scared too open their doors to unknown persons.

 Daily Sun was in Akwa Ibom to monitor the Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) last month. Although the level of non-compliance was said to have remained very low with high successes, officials felt that they could cover more grounds during the national campaign if they did not have to grapple with the problem of access to their targeted population following the high level of insecurity.

Local Immunization Officer (LIO) for Uyo Local Government Area, Esther Christopher Ibia, told Daily Sun that although they were not deterred by this mindset of the people, they were, however, unhappy and uncomfortable with this development because it was hampering their efforts.
Stressing that this was a big barrier, she said despite the serious awareness created both in the media and through the town criers prior to the exercise, the people were still afraid that evil men could take advantage of their announcements and also wear their aprons to commit all sort of atrocities.

“In Ewet Housing, we have a big challenge there. It is not a question of not immunizing their children but you will see a compound with this big fence, big gate and then you’ll knock and they are not ready to respond to you,” she said, even as she described the present time as kidnapping era.
According to her, “people are very careful. And so I may not really say that they don’t comply but because you don’t know who is who. Anybody can wear apron and say I want to immunize your child and do some other funny things. In that Ewet housing, we have low turn outs but we create time on Saturday and Sunday.
“Actually there may not be reported cases that oh, I went to this place, but there is this attitude that you go to somebody’s house and knock especially where there is a gate and then somebody will just peep and does not know you and you say look, I want to give immunization to your children. You know that funny things are happening; people are going to people’s houses in the name of I am this, I’m that and then before you know it, it is another story.

“And so people are still scared. Even though we make announcement, there is jingle on air, people are coming around to give immunization OPV to children 0 to 59 months you know that other people too can also use that opportunity to do other activities. So you may not really, really blame them for not opening their doors. The only thing we need to do is to go early at the time when the caregivers would be at home. If this scenario was not on ground, it would have helped us a lot. I can’t say that it would have been hundred per cent after all before this time, you’d still see these high fences with dogs that they don’t permit you to go in but it is this other issue that has overwhelmed the other aspect of it. It is a very big barrier.

“If we want to go and do a separate announcement that, okay people in Ewet Housing, please we will come this time, the same people that we are trying to run away from will still hear this announcement and can still use that opportunity to, you know... And so, we don’t have any alternative than we go in there, immunize, for those ones we cannot have access to, we try it in the evening, then we try it on Sunday. We asked the vaccinators, the moving team, they should do what they can. For those places that they cannot, they can just give us a call and we will go there to see how to resolve it,” the LIO stated.
Apart from the challenge of shut gates, there were the usual complaint of too many rounds, as the people expressed worries that it may have adverse effect, but Ibia said they did not relent in sensitizing them ahead of the exercise that there is no adverse effect.

 “When it comes to OPV, a child can take as many times as we have the national programme. All what we want is to make sure that we don’t have polio virus in Akwa Ibom state and we thank God that we don’t record any. We are trying so much to make sure that Akwa Ibom state remains a polio free state,” she said.
Ibia said that it was a wise strategy to use people from a community to administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) during the exercise in that community, stating that those people would know where to see the children and their people also have the confidence in them that they would not harm them. She said this strategy had helped them to achieve successes in the villages.

To ensure adequate coverage in the state, children were immunized in churches on Sunday and in the schools during the school hours by the house to house teams. Equally, people voluntarily went to the fixed posts in some churches, schools and primary health care facilities to immunize their children.
 Mrs. Ubong-Abasi Victor is the Director, Primary Health Care in Uyo Local Government Area. Before now, she was in Uruan LGA and she shared her experience of the campaign in Uruan with Daily Sun. She said there are some hard-to-reach areas in Uruan, where in some cases the teams would have to travel in speed boats and stay there for the four days of the campaign before crossing back to their various homes. Uyo is not left out as it also has a few hard-to-reach areas.

There he goes again

So this man is still kicking? Long time ‘no hear’, Mr. Fix-it! There are two broad kinds of people in the world today: those who are sent, and those who went. In practical terms, those who are ‘sent’ are people who produce results that have a profound impact on the society. Reason: this class of people are remarkably diligent, have the charm of a salesman and the analytical skills of an actuary. They are like apples from a tree; they wear their hearts on their sleeves. They carefully choose their words, the implications before they open their mouths to speak.

Those who ‘went’ are people whose hearts may be in politics quite all right, but their hands are ruled by pure partisanship and brinkmanship. When they speak, they hardly think in terms of history, their place in it or that of those they are making a case for. History means little to them and legacy of no value. While history is for the future, those who ‘went’ are concerned with the ephemeral present.

Such people unknowingly, wander in the wilderness of confusion. Often the comments those who went make, incendiary in nature, they tend to widen the fault lines that divide the country and leave their political party polarized. The problem with such people is that they delude themselves that they can define politics for others to drive on it. In all, they possess one consistent, single idea: a gleeful delight in the things that run against every grain of democratic spirit. High-wired politics without a safety net is their forte.
In presidential politics, the lessons of the last campaigns are always priced beyond the application of the present. The wisdom here is the intrinsic value that gives equal opportunity to all, even in the pursuit of that ultimate political prize – the presidency. In such a pursuit, rotten politics, which negates idea-based issues in place of personality attack, ought to play little part.

All of this speaks volumes. Had chief Tony Anenih, once the most powerful politician of the present dispensation, the Mr. Fix-It of modern Nigeria politics and the self-styled Leader, been more intellectual and with a benefit of hindsight, he might have taken advantage of his own huge experience in the revolving doors of our politics in which he has played an undeniably major role. If he had, he would have asked himself soberly, “why am I locating the nexus of power only around authority, as against the more acceptable, level-playing field?

The failure to understand this is why the circle is always turning each time chief Anenih speaks. Though a man of few words, each time this man speaks, it packs a wallop. It’s like the kind of impact that a fox makes on entering a chicken coop. A statement he made last week Monday in Benin, Edo state is still creating a firestorm. It is a statement that is intended to scare away all contenders to the presidency, especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where despite his dwindling influence, Anenih cannot be ignored.

Timing is always vital in politics. And Anenih knows when to deploy this factor into play. Speaking at the official inauguration of the President’s campaign office in Benin, Anenih who now superintends over the Board of the revenue spinning Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) used the occasion to threw gibes against Atiku Abubakar, the recently crowned “Consensus candidate” of the Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Leaders Political Forum. Anenih said, matter-of-flatly, “there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. Nigeria’s consensus candidate is still there.” The interpretation that flows from that is unmistakably clear: In the thinking of the Leader, Atiku has no chance in the forthcoming PDP presidential primaries simply because Anenih has said so. It is an intimidatory posturing that approximates, to use a basketball terminology, a slam-dunk, a terrifying blow that awaits anyone who dare challenge the incumbent president. This is not the first time Anenih would issue such threats to other aspirants. Interestingly, one man is always the target: Atiku.

That statement has always been his moment of high good feeling. In November, 2002, we spryly danced to the strains of that old favourite sound bite when he carpeted all those who were challenging president Olusegun Obasanjo’s bid for second term. In justifying his statement, Anenih claimed that OBJ “is the reason why Nigeria still remains one entity”. It was also in Benin that he issued that infamous declaration of No Vacancy. It was at the foundation laying ceremony of the FRCN – FM station. Anenih added, “If Obasanjo was not president today, Nigerians would have taken to the streets fighting themselves.” No other person, he boasted, would have behaved like OBJ. This odd theory of Anenih negates a key democratic principle that sovereignty resides with the people.

Electoral Act amendment: CNPP says N’Assembly’s action is contempt of public opinion

Opposition parties on the platform of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) have alerted Nigerians to disallow members of the National Assembly to get away with the “civilian coup” they plotted and are executing through the fraudulent amendment of the Electoral Act.

CNPP Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said the federal lawmakers had demonstrated their contempt for popular opinion and disdain for the people by going ahead with the changes to the laws despite the widespread rejection of the “criminal” clauses that the lawmakers are hell-bent on smuggling into the document.
Therefore, the federal lawmakers should be prepared to face mass action if they go ahead to push through the obnoxious amendment, he warned.

Ezugwu who was speaking on the new law admitting the National Assembly members as automatic members oof their respective party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), warned that “what the federal lawmakers had done was capable of truncating the democratic process. It was also a recipe for electoral fraud in the 2011 polls beginning with the party primaries which would be inevitably fixed going by the latest round of changes being made at the National Assembly. We have been insisting on internal democracy, it is now glaring that this may not be the case if Nigerians allow Senators and House of Representatives members to have their ways by foisting this coup on the populace.”

The statement explained that the lawmakers were actually trying to rig the polls right from the stage of party primaries such that it will be possible for those with ‘election war chests’ to buy parties’ tickets before ultimately rigging the general elections while the populace looked on helplessly because the laws would have been doctored in favour of criminals.

No salary advance in Siasia’s contract

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has come out strongly to deny reports of a salary advance embedded in the contract of Super Eagles’ new Head Coach, Samson Siasia. “There is nowhere it is stated in the contract that the NFF would pay Mr Samson Siasia any salary advance,” stated NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

 “People should stop speculating and look through the contract. The Clause 6.1 that people are talking about states that the NFF should pay Siasia his salary (of the sum of N5million) on or before the last day of every month. Nothing more,” he added.

 There have been widespread speculation and rumours of a salary advance due for the former Under-20 and Under-23 national team handler, who was unveiled as the new head coach of the senior national team at a colourful ceremony in Abuja on December 1.

 

How Osisikankwu was killed

Details of how the dreaded kidnapper in Abia State, Obioma Nwankwo, a.k.a Osisikankwu, met his waterloo in the hands of soldiers have emerged . The kidnap kingpin, who hailed from Ugwuati in Ukwa West Local Government Area, was killed about 2.30 pm, on Sunday, as he was driving in company with three other suspected kidnappers, including a woman said to be his girlfriend, who was believed to have played ‘active’ and ‘supportive’ to his man when he held sway in Abia.

Two of the suspected kidnappers, simply identified as Polycarp and Chinedu, were killed alongside Osisikankwu while the girlfriend, identified simply as Ogochi, was arrested and is now helping the army in its investigations.

Giving details of how the kidnap kingpin was killed while addressing newsmen at Asa High School, the headquarters of the Special Task Force in Abia State, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General Sarki Yaki Bello, said Osisikankwu had kidnapped a man last week and taken him to his hideout in the evil forest at Ugwuati.

He said the man escaped from the camp and took refuge somewhere else. But the kidnap kingpin together with his gang, stormed the man’s house, but when they could not find the target, they kidnapped his wife, the four children and burnt his car and house. However, the man reported the incident to soldiers.

Bello said the army immediately swung into action and deployed soldiers who laid ambush on the road, they gathered, Osisikankwu normally plied.
For over one week, the soldiers laid ambush for the notorious kidnapper. The GOC said the ambush paid off on Sunday afternoon when Osisikankwu was accosted at a thick forest near the Obokwe market in company with three others.

The notorious kidnapper was said to have resisted arrest when he was cornered for questioning. He was said to have rather engaged the soldiers in a shootout, and in the cross fire, he was instantly killed together with Polycarp. The third, Chinedu, was, however, taken to the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he later died of gunshot wound sustained during the encounter.

He urged those in the mould of Osisikankwu to surrender as there was no hiding place for them.
The assistant director public relations of the 82 Division took newsmen round some recovered items.
 

you’re playing amala politics say by Bola-Ahmed Tinubu

Bole-Ahmed Tinub

Former Lagos State governor, Bola-Ahmed Tinubu on Monday replied the Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala on the battle for Oyo State governorship seat in 2011, urging him to shun amala politics and embrace developmental politics.
Fielding questions from Aviation Correspondents at the presidential lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Tinubu said the Akala-led administration had only succeeded in taking the state several years backward. He stressed that the Action Congress of Nigeria was ready to sweep the votes and occupy all elected positions both in Oyo and Ogun states in 2011.

Falcon star signs for Danish club

Super Falcons striker, Sarah Michael, has put pen to paper for Danish Women Club side, KIF Orebo.
Michael, who plied her trade with Delta Queens of Asaba before moving abroad, is one of the young players that Coach Uche Eucharia would be banking on for the Germany 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In a release issued by the Danish club on their website, the 20 year-old Nigerian has been recruited from a fellow Danish side, Djurgardeen in a move expected to bolster the team’s preparation for the next Danish women league season.
Michael is one of the most accomplished strikers in the Danish Women League and notched seven Premier League goals in the just concluded 2009/2010 season.

The former Falconet’s star, signed a year contract with the Danish club with an option for extension. She has attracted interest from top Danish clubs and other European clubs, but settled for the Richard Holmlund tutored team.
A top official of the Club, Nisse Janson, emphasised that the Nigerian youngster was contracted because of her amazing skills with the ball, according to him the essence of recruiting the Nigerian lady is to help them beef up their team’s striking force for the forthcoming season.
“Sarah is a modern centre forward with great international quality, who is endowed with wonderful ball control and awesome shots.”

Coach Martin Lasarte: Real Sociedad Were Not Competitive Against Barcelona

 

Real Sociedad coach Martin Lasarte says his side needed permission to play against Barcelona, as the Catalan giants demolished the newly-promoted side 5-0.

Lasarte admits the team did not believe they could defeat the league leaders, and can only learn from this experience.

"The first thing is to believe that you can do well in football, and we did not believe this," the tactician told Marca after the match. "There is a difference in losing 3-0 to 5-0, but this is all a part of learning.

"At the moment, we are learning a lot, but Real Sociedad still lack some competitiveness, but that will come.

"We are also taking about some world-class players. They make you play hard ball, and apply lots of physical pressure. We almost had to ask for permission in order to play with the ball," he concluded.

Wayne Rooney Burnt Out Or Will He Return To His Best?

On Monday night two of the biggest clubs in England confront each other. Manchester United welcome Arsenal at Old Trafford in a key Premier League fixture that promises to be as entertaining as it is significant when it comes to the title race.

Wayne Rooney is expected to start against the Gunners and given that he is gradually recovering his form and gaining confidence, the England international will spearhead United's attack. Last season the 25-year-old scored 34 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils but so far this campaign he has mustered just two - both penalties. However, his performances against Valencia, Blackburn Rovers and Rangers have inspired confidence and many believe that he will return to his best before long.

But will he? Rooney may have had a terrific campaign in 2009-10 but he also suffered an injury in March. Then there was his World Cup failure for England and earlier this season his private life hit the headlines.

In October Rooney revealed that he wanted to leave the former English and European champions and got into trouble, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming that he was not as seriously injured as he was reported to be. Yet Rooney soon signed a long-term contract.

However, Rooney seems to be on the path to recovery and is starting to look good again. On this occasion, journalists and editors from various editions of Goal.com have their say on whether they believe that Wazza can truly become the great player everyone expects him to be.

"First of all I think that Rooney is a great player but a very difficult character. It seems that he can never play outside of England, for Real Madrid for instance. After the World Cup, his affairs and his new contract all put him out of his senses. He looks unhappy, and we can never say for sure whether he is unhappy because he is playing badly, or because he is in love with the supermarket girl. Nevertheless, Rooney is a great player and he will be back to his best whether in Manchester United colours or for his old club Everton. We need players like him in football."

Ivar Matusevich, Goal.com Spain

"Wayne Rooney is unquestionably a world class footballer and has been since he first came to Manchester United. That was six seasons ago. Before that he was a key part of the Everton side and was justifiably regarded as one of the outstanding prospects in the game.

"Rooney exploded onto the scene. He did not gradually become one of the best English players around, he announced himself as one at the age of 16. And he's played around 400 matches since then. It is nearly impossible for a player, certainly an attacker, to remain on top of the world for a decade.

"Usually, the very best attackers have a five/ six year spell as the best in their position and then begin to fade naturally. For some, like Zidane or Rivaldo, this comes at the mid-point of their career graph. For others, like Adriano and Michael Owen, it comes at the beginning. I think Rooney is in the latter category."

Peter Staunton, Goal.com International

"You cannot unlearn how to play football in such a short period and Wayne Ronney can still be one of the best strikers in the world. He has been in bad form for the last couple of months. At United, it is easy to designate the problem. There was a mental thing (the saga with Sir Alex Ferguson). After this you can start talking about his form, but this basically comes from the mental point of view.

"Interesting too is the comparison with Ajax's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who cannot outplay his granny anymore after the World Cup. Those guys want the best of themselves but cannot bring it because of a long, long season and then get frustrated, which is bad for their form. Finally it blows their self-confidence. Rooney needs time. But he will be back."

Wout Stravers, Goal.com Netherlands


"I feel that Wayne Rooney's bad form was down to a combination of factors. His relationship with Sir Alex worsened amidst on-off contract talks which led to him being dropped and sulking on the bench. His niggling ankle injuries, failure to perform at the World Cup and his tumultuous personal life have all played their part.

"The booze, the hookers and the hype all caught up with him and it was certainly felt by many around him that he needed to hit the reset switch on his life. Get back in shape, keep a low profile for a few weeks and just focus on his game. He has come back into the team and has played well at times, and looked a little off the pace at other moments.

"Manchester United usually step up a gear after Christmas so perhaps the Rooney of last season will return then. He is a great player and one of the most outstanding talents produced in the country in recent years. For this reason he will always benefit from a dose of good will from fleet street's football writers. There is no reason why he cannot recapture his top form - but he has to learn the lessons of 2010 or he'll end up being another tragic, wasted talent like Gazza."