Whether to Daura or to Niger Republic, Just Go! -By Abdulkadir … – Opinion Nigeria
So this is how time flies. At last, Buhari is about to be shown his exit. I learnt he is already in the Glass House. Any moment from now, he will be addressed as “ex”—he will join the long list of ex-presidents. Many Nigerians could not wait to thank God for the completion of these inglorious, unillustrious, and wasted eight years. “Wasted” is not even the right word, wasted years are years without achievement; they are years without progress. In other words, wasted eight years are static years. But Buhari’s eight years are more than wasted. They are years of doom where progress itself retrogressed and lost all its meanings. Nigerians, under Buhari’s unexemplary eight years, stopped thinking of achievement. What many think of is survival. One needs to japa, under Buhari, to start thinking of achievement. Even her Excellency(the First Lady), at some point, had to japa to Dubai to secure herself from the soaring insecurity under his Excellency.
A good fact about history is its mastery in the art of recording. The ugly fact of history, however, is its inability to sieve records. History does not discriminate, it does not separate the grain from chaff. If it does, we would have appealed to History not to record these wasted and useless eight years in its annals. Nigerians are traumatized. My greatest disappointment in all of this is that we can not obliterate this eight year trauma. It will remain with us for life—as long as we live. As long as our memories are functional and History is read, we shall remain traumatized for the sad memory.Advertisement
There are some realities that are, though ugly, unchanged and unchangeable. How do we change the reality that we are Nigerian citizens under President Buhari? Many Nigerians have witnessed Hell on earth. You may not fully understand how hellish was the past eight years because you are fortunate not to have been kidnapped. Perhaps, you have not also plied any of the Nigerian roads that torturously meanders and connects travellers from the North to the South. These roads are not meandering by design, drivers have to meander through them because they are full of deadly craters which must be tactically avoided to avoid sudden death. Travelling on Nigerian roads is a necessary punishment which every traveller must be served.
You may still not understand how hellish Buhari regime is because you are fortunate not to have been admitted into our “doctorless” and reptile-invested public hospitals. Nigerian medical doctors, in their thousands, fell, and continue to fall, on top of another to escape Nigeria under Buhari. What about Nigerian students? They were not only locked out of schools, they were assured of not getting job even if they manage to graduate against the wish of the government. From Buhari regime to university staff, the unambiguous message is “die if want to die, I will not pay your salaries.” The message is very clear. It is like, after all, “I have Chris Ngige—a medical doctor—to certify anyone who chooses to die if they are actually dead. Any lecturers certified dead, Malam Adamu Adamu and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba will lead the funeral prayers for Muslims and Christians among them respectively.”To digress a bit, I learnt Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba thought he will be Nigerian president after Buhari. He managed to get one single vote in the APC presidential primary election. Buhari’s regime is essentially a draconian regime that extols ignorance and ignoramuses; and debases scholarship and scholars.Advertisement
As if Buhari’s regime has some think-tanks whose primary assignment is to research and brainstorm on how best to keep Nigerians wailing under the regime’s merciless and heavy jackboot. Before you know it, the cashless policy was hatched. I have observed and concluded that the regime is very uncomfortable when the masses have a brief sense of relief. To be comfortable, the regime must secrete its venom in form of policy to unleash untold hardship on the masses. That is exactly what the cashless policy does. After the policy achieved some of its objectives: to send as many as possible Nigerians to their graves and to economically strangulate many others and to collapse many businesses, it was relaxed. Some said the policy was designed to catch a BAT, but the BAT outsmarted both the policy makers and its implementers. The BAT is on his way to ASO Rock while Buhari is on his exit.
Nigerians are very tired of Buhari. But for him, Nigerians are ungrateful. Buhari breaks some certain records for which he is not praised. He established and approved the highest number of universities, though there are millions of out of school children and it does not matter whether these universities are under lock or under funded. He recolored the naira for face-lifting after degrading its value—the naira was literally worthless. His government is so transparent that corruption is no longer shrouded in secrecy. Acts of corruption are comfortably committed in a broad daylight. Buhari regime makes government so easy that all a president needs to do is to give directives and relax wielding a toothpick—it does not matter whether the directives are obeyed or not. I personally don’t know, and the President does not also know, why Nigerians are not praising him for generously widening the frontiers of the ungoverned space so that bandits and kidnappers can share in governance. After all, devolution of power, probably in his understanding, is one of the features of federalism. He is also not praised for lowering the bar of governance to the lowest of the low which suddenly makes ex-president Jonathan—whose government was generally adjudged to be clueless—a hero.Advertisement
Buhari has created enough problems for his successor. Yet, he is not tired of creating more. The recent one was an attempt to get an approval of $800 million loan for distribution to the masses whom he never cared for. Calculatedly, if the loan is approved, about 10 million poor and low-income households will getN5,000 per month for a period of six months. Mind you, that will supposedly be paid by the next government. This was rebuffed by the legislators who find it too ridiculous. What of salary increments for civil servants? He made it unlawful for himself to increase workers’ salaries but expects his successor to do that.
After making Nigeria a country deserted by its people and making most Nigerians derelicts, the President promises to retire to anywhere far from Abuja. He feels unsafe in Abuja just like in Kaduna—his former state of residence. His regime has polluted the whole place from which he must run away and very far away. The stench oozing out from the pollution is obviously unbearable. His choicest location is Daura. Not because he feels safe in Daura but because Daura is very close to Niger Republic—a country that is dearer to him probably than the Nigeria he is about to leave in mess.Advertisement
Whether to Daura or to Niger Republic, the concordant voice from Nigerians is; “JUST GO”! Mr. President should just go to wherever he prefers to spend the remaining days of his sojourn on earth. May we never witness calamitous regime again. Bye-bye!
Abdulkadir SalaudeenAdvertisement
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
Advertisement
Post Views: 110
So this is how time flies. At last, Buhari is about to be shown his exit. I learnt he is already in the Glass House. Any moment from now, he will be addressed as “ex”—he will join the long list of ex-presidents. Many Nigerians could not wait to thank God for the completion of these inglorious, unillustrious, and wasted eight years. “Wasted” is not even the right word, wasted years are years without achievement; they are years without progress. In other words, wasted eight years are static years. But Buhari’s eight years are more than wasted. They are years of doom where progress itself retrogressed and lost all its meanings. Nigerians, under Buhari’s unexemplary eight years, stopped thinking of achievement. What many think of is survival. One needs to japa, under Buhari, to start thinking of achievement. Even her Excellency(the First Lady), at some point, had to japa to Dubai to secure herself from the soaring insecurity under his Excellency.
A good fact about history is its mastery in the art of recording. The ugly fact of history, however, is its inability to sieve records. History does not discriminate, it does not separate the grain from chaff. If it does, we would have appealed to History not to record these wasted and useless eight years in its annals. Nigerians are traumatized. My greatest disappointment in all of this is that we can not obliterate this eight year trauma. It will remain with us for life—as long as we live. As long as our memories are functional and History is read, we shall remain traumatized for the sad memory.
There are some realities that are, though ugly, unchanged and unchangeable. How do we change the reality that we are Nigerian citizens under President Buhari? Many Nigerians have witnessed Hell on earth. You may not fully understand how hellish was the past eight years because you are fortunate not to have been kidnapped. Perhaps, you have not also plied any of the Nigerian roads that torturously meanders and connects travellers from the North to the South. These roads are not meandering by design, drivers have to meander through them because they are full of deadly craters which must be tactically avoided to avoid sudden death. Travelling on Nigerian roads is a necessary punishment which every traveller must be served.
You may still not understand how hellish Buhari regime is because you are fortunate not to have been admitted into our “doctorless” and reptile-invested public hospitals. Nigerian medical doctors, in their thousands, fell, and continue to fall, on top of another to escape Nigeria under Buhari. What about Nigerian students? They were not only locked out of schools, they were assured of not getting job even if they manage to graduate against the wish of the government. From Buhari regime to university staff, the unambiguous message is “die if want to die, I will not pay your salaries.” The message is very clear. It is like, after all, “I have Chris Ngige—a medical doctor—to certify anyone who chooses to die if they are actually dead. Any lecturers certified dead, Malam Adamu Adamu and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba will lead the funeral prayers for Muslims and Christians among them respectively.”To digress a bit, I learnt Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba thought he will be Nigerian president after Buhari. He managed to get one single vote in the APC presidential primary election. Buhari’s regime is essentially a draconian regime that extols ignorance and ignoramuses; and debases scholarship and scholars.
As if Buhari’s regime has some think-tanks whose primary assignment is to research and brainstorm on how best to keep Nigerians wailing under the regime’s merciless and heavy jackboot. Before you know it, the cashless policy was hatched. I have observed and concluded that the regime is very uncomfortable when the masses have a brief sense of relief. To be comfortable, the regime must secrete its venom in form of policy to unleash untold hardship on the masses. That is exactly what the cashless policy does. After the policy achieved some of its objectives: to send as many as possible Nigerians to their graves and to economically strangulate many others and to collapse many businesses, it was relaxed. Some said the policy was designed to catch a BAT, but the BAT outsmarted both the policy makers and its implementers. The BAT is on his way to ASO Rock while Buhari is on his exit.
Nigerians are very tired of Buhari. But for him, Nigerians are ungrateful. Buhari breaks some certain records for which he is not praised. He established and approved the highest number of universities, though there are millions of out of school children and it does not matter whether these universities are under lock or under funded. He recolored the naira for face-lifting after degrading its value—the naira was literally worthless. His government is so transparent that corruption is no longer shrouded in secrecy. Acts of corruption are comfortably committed in a broad daylight. Buhari regime makes government so easy that all a president needs to do is to give directives and relax wielding a toothpick—it does not matter whether the directives are obeyed or not. I personally don’t know, and the President does not also know, why Nigerians are not praising him for generously widening the frontiers of the ungoverned space so that bandits and kidnappers can share in governance. After all, devolution of power, probably in his understanding, is one of the features of federalism. He is also not praised for lowering the bar of governance to the lowest of the low which suddenly makes ex-president Jonathan—whose government was generally adjudged to be clueless—a hero.
Buhari has created enough problems for his successor. Yet, he is not tired of creating more. The recent one was an attempt to get an approval of $800 million loan for distribution to the masses whom he never cared for. Calculatedly, if the loan is approved, about 10 million poor and low-income households will getN5,000 per month for a period of six months. Mind you, that will supposedly be paid by the next government. This was rebuffed by the legislators who find it too ridiculous. What of salary increments for civil servants? He made it unlawful for himself to increase workers’ salaries but expects his successor to do that.
After making Nigeria a country deserted by its people and making most Nigerians derelicts, the President promises to retire to anywhere far from Abuja. He feels unsafe in Abuja just like in Kaduna—his former state of residence. His regime has polluted the whole place from which he must run away and very far away. The stench oozing out from the pollution is obviously unbearable. His choicest location is Daura. Not because he feels safe in Daura but because Daura is very close to Niger Republic—a country that is dearer to him probably than the Nigeria he is about to leave in mess.
Whether to Daura or to Niger Republic, the concordant voice from Nigerians is; “JUST GO”! Mr. President should just go to wherever he prefers to spend the remaining days of his sojourn on earth. May we never witness calamitous regime again. Bye-bye!
Abdulkadir Salaudeen
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
Post Views: 110
West Africa
Niger junta accuses UN chief of ‘obstructing’ their participation in General Assembly – FRANCE 24 English
Niger’s coup leaders accused the head of the United Nations on Friday of obstructing their participation in the body’s General Assembly, saying it was “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”.
Issued on: 23/09/2023 – 08:43
2 min
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Rebel elite soldiers overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and have since detained him at home with his family.Negotiations to restore civilian rule have yet to bear fruit, with the junta demanding a three-year transition and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) calling for the immediate return of the democratically elected Bazoum.The coup has also been strongly criticised by Western governments and global bodies such as the UN, which is holding its General Assembly of world leaders in New York this week.In a news release read on public television, the military said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “went astray in the exercise of his mission by obstructing Niger’s full participation in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly”.It criticised “the perfidious actions” of the UN leader, adding that they were “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”.Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Niger’s ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was the new leaders’ chosen representative for the gathering.But, according to a diplomatic source, there was also an application by the overthrown government to represent Niamey.”In case of competing credentials from a Member State the secretary-general defers the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly who will deliberate on the matter,” Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.”The secretary-general does not decide.”Because the committee will not meet until later, no representative from Niger was added to the speakers’ list.Niger “forcefully rejects and denounces this clear interference by Mr Guterres in the internal affairs of a sovereign state”, the junta said.Worries over Sahel One of the world’s poorest nations, Niger is the fourth country in West Africa to suffer a coup since 2020, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.Bazoum’s removal heightened international worries over the Sahel region, which faces growing jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.Regional sanctions since the coup mean food and medicines are scarce in landlocked Niger, prices are skyrocketing and there are blackouts after Nigeria cut electricity supplies.Senegal’s President Macky Sall said on Thursday a diplomatic solution in Niger was “still possible”.”I hope that reason will ultimately prevail… that it is still possible to move forward reasonably to a solution,” Sall said in an interview with France’s RFI and France 24 media outlets.He urged Niger’s coup leaders “to not push (us) to the final decision which would be a military intervention”.The military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a mutual defence pact this month, saying they aimed to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations”.(AFP)
Niger’s coup leaders accused the head of the United Nations on Friday of obstructing their participation in the body’s General Assembly, saying it was “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”.
Issued on: 23/09/2023 – 08:43
2 min
Rebel elite soldiers overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and have since detained him at home with his family.
Negotiations to restore civilian rule have yet to bear fruit, with the junta demanding a three-year transition and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) calling for the immediate return of the democratically elected Bazoum.
The coup has also been strongly criticised by Western governments and global bodies such as the UN, which is holding its General Assembly of world leaders in New York this week.
In a news release read on public television, the military said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “went astray in the exercise of his mission by obstructing Niger‘s full participation in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly”.
It criticised “the perfidious actions” of the UN leader, adding that they were “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”.
Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Niger’s ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was the new leaders’ chosen representative for the gathering.
But, according to a diplomatic source, there was also an application by the overthrown government to represent Niamey.
“In case of competing credentials from a Member State the secretary-general defers the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly who will deliberate on the matter,” Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“The secretary-general does not decide.”
Because the committee will not meet until later, no representative from Niger was added to the speakers’ list.
Niger “forcefully rejects and denounces this clear interference by Mr Guterres in the internal affairs of a sovereign state”, the junta said.
Worries over Sahel
One of the world’s poorest nations, Niger is the fourth country in West Africa to suffer a coup since 2020, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
Bazoum’s removal heightened international worries over the Sahel region, which faces growing jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Regional sanctions since the coup mean food and medicines are scarce in landlocked Niger, prices are skyrocketing and there are blackouts after Nigeria cut electricity supplies.
Senegal‘s President Macky Sall said on Thursday a diplomatic solution in Niger was “still possible”.
“I hope that reason will ultimately prevail… that it is still possible to move forward reasonably to a solution,” Sall said in an interview with France’s RFI and France 24 media outlets.
He urged Niger’s coup leaders “to not push (us) to the final decision which would be a military intervention”.
The military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a mutual defence pact this month, saying they aimed to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations”.
(AFP)
West Africa
VSF, Niger Govt Distribute Food Items To 3,000 Victims Of Terrorism … – News Agency of Nigeria
By Rita Iliya
The Victims Support Fund (VSF), in collaboration with the Niger Government has launched the distribution of food items to 3,000 victims of terrorism in the state.
Gov. Umaru Bago, while speaking at the inauguration of the VSF 2023 Improving Livelihood and Empowering Communities in Minna on Friday, said the partnership was to support the weak and victims of terrorism and other forms of vices.
Bago, represented by his deputy, Mr Yakubu Garba, said victims of terrorism were faced with various challenges ranging from poor hygiene to lack of access to education and economic downturn.
“The predicaments are alarming and all hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend,” he said.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that lasting peace and security was restored to the various communities.
The governor also called on VSF to expand its scope to reach out to victims of flood and other public health issues with a view to reaching a wilder populace.
Earlier, Prof. Nana Tanko, Executive Director, VSF, said that 3,000 households from Lapai, Shiroro and Kontagora Local Government Areas would benefit from the food items.
She listed the items for distribution to include rice, beans, vegetable oil, sugar and seasoning.
Tanko disclosed that VSF had developed a strategy for the next three years to support victims of terrorism as well as expand its intervention to Taraba, Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Niger.
She said that the organisation was making effort to build resilience of victims to enable them to go back to their communities.
In his remarks, Ahmed Suleiman, the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the ministry would partner VSF to bring support to victims of terrorism in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Sadiya Mohammed, appreciated the VSF and the Niger government for the support, adding that the gesture would help alleviate their sufferings. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker and Isaac Ukpoju
By Rita Iliya
The Victims Support Fund (VSF), in collaboration with the Niger Government has launched the distribution of food items to 3,000 victims of terrorism in the state.
Gov. Umaru Bago, while speaking at the inauguration of the VSF 2023 Improving Livelihood and Empowering Communities in Minna on Friday, said the partnership was to support the weak and victims of terrorism and other forms of vices.
Bago, represented by his deputy, Mr Yakubu Garba, said victims of terrorism were faced with various challenges ranging from poor hygiene to lack of access to education and economic downturn.
“The predicaments are alarming and all hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend,” he said.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that lasting peace and security was restored to the various communities.
The governor also called on VSF to expand its scope to reach out to victims of flood and other public health issues with a view to reaching a wilder populace.
Earlier, Prof. Nana Tanko, Executive Director, VSF, said that 3,000 households from Lapai, Shiroro and Kontagora Local Government Areas would benefit from the food items.
She listed the items for distribution to include rice, beans, vegetable oil, sugar and seasoning.
Tanko disclosed that VSF had developed a strategy for the next three years to support victims of terrorism as well as expand its intervention to Taraba, Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Niger.
She said that the organisation was making effort to build resilience of victims to enable them to go back to their communities.
In his remarks, Ahmed Suleiman, the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the ministry would partner VSF to bring support to victims of terrorism in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Sadiya Mohammed, appreciated the VSF and the Niger government for the support, adding that the gesture would help alleviate their sufferings. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker and Isaac Ukpoju
soccer
Awoniyi: Premier League My Dream – Score Nigeria – SCORE NIGERIA
More often than not, players’ career fortunes pirouette on the altar of time and chance. Taiwo Awoniyi can attest to that. Had Awoniyi paid for his university exams on the day he was supposed to, in Ilorin, north-central Nigeria, playing in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest, where his decisive goals saved them from relegation last season, might never have happened.
“My dad actually borrowed the money to pay for my exams,” he says. “I went to the person that was supposed to help register me for the exam in the morning and he was not around. I went there again in the evening and they told me he still wasn’t around. “It was on my way back from that trip that I got a call from the Imperial Soccer Academy [in Nigeria’s Ogun State], that they wanted me. I went back to my dad and said: ‘I do want to keep on going to school. But my passion is football, so let me use this money to get myself down to the academy.’ I think that was the turning point for me.”
Awoniyi (right) has been flying Nigerian flag high in Premier League
Awoniyi had been with the Unicorn Football Academy in Ilorin since he was “six or seven” and played for Nigeria as a 14-year-old at the Copa Coca-Cola Cup, a tournament for African teams, in London in 2011. A call-up to the Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s Under-17 side, that won the 2013 World Cup in the UAE, earned the opportunity he had dreamed of – a five-year contract with Liverpool in 2015. But he never played for the club.
“We discovered that we needed a work permit and to get a permit I needed to play for Nigeria’s first team,” he says. “When I signed, my Nigeria teammate Kelechi Iheanacho got the work permit under the special talent scheme [to join Manchester City]. It was after him that they closed the special talent scheme.
“The only option I had was to keep on going on loan, with the hope that if I do well on loan and I play for the national team, I’ll be able to get the work permit and come back [to Liverpool]. I kept on going on loan. And the national team call-ups still didn’t come, so I didn’t have any other option than to keep on striving.”
In six years, Awoniyi went on loan to six clubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium: FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron (twice), Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin. Then Union bought him from Liverpool for £6.5m in July 2021, before his move to Forest in 2022.
“It was really a hard and tough situation,” he says of the early years on loan, recalling how his family and Seyi Olofinjana, the former Wolves and Stoke midfielder who founded Imperial Soccer Academy, helped him through it.
“I didn’t really play a lot of games [at Frankfurt] … the team was relegated. I then went to Holland [Nijmegen] and that was another strange experience … we also got relegated … I said to myself, about the third year, if I go down again or I don’t make anything happen, I have to think about my football career.
“It was at Mouscron that I really discovered myself, that I saw myself as the player I wanted to be … I scored a goal in my first match and [10] goals with Mouscron that season.”
Taiwo Awoniyi shone at Mouscron
Liverpool gave him a second five-year contract but his journeyman status continued, at Gent and Mainz, via Mouscron again, until he found a real home at Union.
“I remember my first conversation with the coach. He said: ‘Taiwo, I’ve seen you. I think I can make you who you want to be as a player. But it is your decision to come.’ It was just an amazing club. It is what a football club should be, in terms of the people, the administrators, everything, especially the fans.”
Awoniyi’s form made him a cult hero, with his final goal for Union earning them a Europa League spot for the first time. “We needed to win. I remember that in the first half I had a penalty and I scored. We were then in the 88th or 89th minute … I was checking the time and I said: ‘No, these people have come a long way for us not to win …’
https://efb9095dae39658896226d0b4cb40cdb.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html “It’s taken them to where they want to be and where they should be as a club. And from there, they’re now playing in the Champions League. These people deserve even more than that … But they’ve always known that one day I will leave for the Premier League.”
Forest signed Awoniyi after ending a 23-year absence from England’s top division and he knew helping them stay up would constitute a successful season. Years of relegation battles had fortified him for the challenge.
“I was never in doubt that the team would stay up, because I know how much they wanted the club to be where they wanted it to be. I was not really afraid at all. I just said: ‘OK, this is what I want. This is my dream to be in the Premier League and I have a club that is really, really ready to give me the opportunity.’ “So I said I would go for it. When I had the [initial] meeting with the owners and the coach, I was so impressed with the plan and the structure.”
Awoniyi in pre-season training with Liverpool
Awoniyi says his objective was to “exhibit everything that is in you” and that came to the fore in Forest’s penultimate game, when his goal against Arsenal – the club he supports – secured their top‑flight status.
Forest fans have taken Awoniyi to their hearts and voted him this season’s player of the month for August after he scored three goals in his first three games. The feelings are mutual.
“Looking at the difficulty that we found ourselves in last season, they were still behind us, pushing everyone to keep on fighting … They never gave up on us and that gave us more power to push forward.”
The champions Manchester City host Forest on Saturday and Awoniyi expects to face Manuel Akanji, the most difficult defender he has faced. He will relish the challenge.
“I played against him in the Bundesliga and I know how tough he is. I’ve always believed [success in football] will happen. I’ve always worked hard, I’ve always hoped for it, prayed for it and I’ve always done everything that will make me achieve what I want.”
By Osasu Obayiuwana From The Guardian
More often than not, players’ career fortunes pirouette on the altar of time and chance. Taiwo Awoniyi can attest to that. Had Awoniyi paid for his university exams on the day he was supposed to, in Ilorin, north-central Nigeria, playing in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest, where his decisive goals saved them from relegation last season, might never have happened.
“My dad actually borrowed the money to pay for my exams,” he says. “I went to the person that was supposed to help register me for the exam in the morning and he was not around. I went there again in the evening and they told me he still wasn’t around. “It was on my way back from that trip that I got a call from the Imperial Soccer Academy [in Nigeria’s Ogun State], that they wanted me. I went back to my dad and said: ‘I do want to keep on going to school. But my passion is football, so let me use this money to get myself down to the academy.’ I think that was the turning point for me.”
Awoniyi had been with the Unicorn Football Academy in Ilorin since he was “six or seven” and played for Nigeria as a 14-year-old at the Copa Coca-Cola Cup, a tournament for African teams, in London in 2011. A call-up to the Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s Under-17 side, that won the 2013 World Cup in the UAE, earned the opportunity he had dreamed of – a five-year contract with Liverpool in 2015. But he never played for the club.
“We discovered that we needed a work permit and to get a permit I needed to play for Nigeria’s first team,” he says. “When I signed, my Nigeria teammate Kelechi Iheanacho got the work permit under the special talent scheme [to join Manchester City]. It was after him that they closed the special talent scheme.
“The only option I had was to keep on going on loan, with the hope that if I do well on loan and I play for the national team, I’ll be able to get the work permit and come back [to Liverpool]. I kept on going on loan. And the national team call-ups still didn’t come, so I didn’t have any other option than to keep on striving.”
In six years, Awoniyi went on loan to six clubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium: FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron (twice), Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin. Then Union bought him from Liverpool for £6.5m in July 2021, before his move to Forest in 2022.
“It was really a hard and tough situation,” he says of the early years on loan, recalling how his family and Seyi Olofinjana, the former Wolves and Stoke midfielder who founded Imperial Soccer Academy, helped him through it.
“I didn’t really play a lot of games [at Frankfurt] … the team was relegated. I then went to Holland [Nijmegen] and that was another strange experience … we also got relegated … I said to myself, about the third year, if I go down again or I don’t make anything happen, I have to think about my football career.
“It was at Mouscron that I really discovered myself, that I saw myself as the player I wanted to be … I scored a goal in my first match and [10] goals with Mouscron that season.”
Liverpool gave him a second five-year contract but his journeyman status continued, at Gent and Mainz, via Mouscron again, until he found a real home at Union.
“I remember my first conversation with the coach. He said: ‘Taiwo, I’ve seen you. I think I can make you who you want to be as a player. But it is your decision to come.’ It was just an amazing club. It is what a football club should be, in terms of the people, the administrators, everything, especially the fans.”
Awoniyi’s form made him a cult hero, with his final goal for Union earning them a Europa League spot for the first time. “We needed to win. I remember that in the first half I had a penalty and I scored. We were then in the 88th or 89th minute … I was checking the time and I said: ‘No, these people have come a long way for us not to win …’
https://efb9095dae39658896226d0b4cb40cdb.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html “It’s taken them to where they want to be and where they should be as a club. And from there, they’re now playing in the Champions League. These people deserve even more than that … But they’ve always known that one day I will leave for the Premier League.”
Forest signed Awoniyi after ending a 23-year absence from England’s top division and he knew helping them stay up would constitute a successful season. Years of relegation battles had fortified him for the challenge.
“I was never in doubt that the team would stay up, because I know how much they wanted the club to be where they wanted it to be. I was not really afraid at all. I just said: ‘OK, this is what I want. This is my dream to be in the Premier League and I have a club that is really, really ready to give me the opportunity.’ “So I said I would go for it. When I had the [initial] meeting with the owners and the coach, I was so impressed with the plan and the structure.”
Awoniyi says his objective was to “exhibit everything that is in you” and that came to the fore in Forest’s penultimate game, when his goal against Arsenal – the club he supports – secured their top‑flight status.
Forest fans have taken Awoniyi to their hearts and voted him this season’s player of the month for August after he scored three goals in his first three games. The feelings are mutual.
“Looking at the difficulty that we found ourselves in last season, they were still behind us, pushing everyone to keep on fighting … They never gave up on us and that gave us more power to push forward.”
The champions Manchester City host Forest on Saturday and Awoniyi expects to face Manuel Akanji, the most difficult defender he has faced. He will relish the challenge.
“I played against him in the Bundesliga and I know how tough he is. I’ve always believed [success in football] will happen. I’ve always worked hard, I’ve always hoped for it, prayed for it and I’ve always done everything that will make me achieve what I want.”
By Osasu Obayiuwana From The Guardian
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Awoniyi: Premier League My Dream – Score Nigeria – SCORE NIGERIA
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