My vision is to engage Nigerian youths in sports to promote national pride on the global stage and grassroots developments without political infiltrations, says Senator Obinna Ogba

On moving Nigerian sports forward in Nigeria highlight a task that is long overdue. For any renewal move to be achieved, drastic steps and deliberate actions need to be upheld. A former senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 8th and 9th Assemblies, Senator Obinna Joseph Ogba, who is also a sports administrator, hails from Amanvu-
Nkalagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Senator Obinna bares his mind on ways Nigerian sports can take its place in the community of sports nations.

Excerpt:

We heard of your move from PDP to APC. What informed your decision and belief in this government?

A political party is like a vehicle that can convey you to a destination, and when you get there, it becomes about Nigeria. I never liked APC as a party before, but Senator Oluremi Tinubu talked me through it while we were at the Senate together. She was then the chairman of my committee. It was then I began to yield to APC agendas.
The party I belonged to also disenfranchised me from the Ebonyi State governorship ticket. Myself and others, like my mentor in Ebonyi State, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, decided to support APC before the election. It’s therefore wrong for people to assume I just joined APC after the 2023 election. So far, so good. We have been doing well and making efforts to contribute our own quotas, hoping that one day our names can come out at the national level.

Can you mention some of your scorecards during your terms in the 8th and 9th Assemblies?

I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but prefer people to talk about my achievements. However, let me mention them. No senator from Ebonyi State has done what I did since the state’s creation in 1996. I built a stadium while I was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports for eight years. I assisted in facilitating over 480 Ebonyians into the federal civil service, and all of them are growing in the system. It gives me joy to see those Ebonyians. We attracted developments like road constructions and bridges. I included my community projects in the Nigerian budget, which was unprecedented in the history of Ebonyi State. That is why, on the floor of the Senate, I thank those who introduced constituency projects because, without such initiatives, people like us might not get anything as community gains from the federal government. A cassava processing plant is also part of what my representation brought to my community to date. My first senatorial bill was on the University of Sports, the first in West Africa, which has today been signed into law. Again, to show you that President Tinubu is doing well in recognizing the importance of youths, he has approved the university, which would soon be commissioned, and a vice-chancellor will be appointed. The National Sports Commission has been an illegal entity, and if the President didn’t like it, it could be scrapped. But I had to push a bill for the National Sports Commission, which former President Buhari assented to. That was my bill. Presently, Mr. President has also started implementing the law. Very soon, he will appoint a Director General to run the day-to-day operations of the Commission. When you look at the Commission for Physically Challenged Bill too, I was a partner to it. The National Lottery Bill was also my bill, though former President Buhari refused to assent to it, but the National Assembly vetoed it. That is one of the two bills in Nigeria that has been vetoed. The NDDC Bill during Obasanjo’s era was refused, and this National Lottery Bill was also refused by Buhari, and both were vetoed by the Assembly. I have a lot to tell. The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill was also initiated by me. Now that President Tinubu has consented, myself, Senator Stella Odua, and Anyanwu were the first to sponsor the bill. Buhari assented to the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) but refused the SEDC Bill then. Thank God the present Deputy Speaker has now represented and sponsored the bill, which was assented to by Mr. President. The South-East would forever be grateful for that.

If Mr. President offers you the position of Director General of the Sports Commission today, what would you do differently?

Well, since I know everything about the bill, I have been in sports management all my life. I was a Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi State, Senior Assistant to the former Ebonyi State Governor on Youths and Sports, First-Vice President of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), a retired referee, coach, and former member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). My credentials in sports speak for me to develop Nigerian youths and sports, to uplift Mr. President’s government in the areas of youths and the Renewed Hope Agendas because you need a system that can relate the agendas to the grassroots. One sure way is through sports. I mean wholesome sports. Be mindful that football is not the only sport we can push to the forefront; there are many other arms of sports too. The era of Nigerians going for international sports competitions without bringing home medals would be a thing of the past. We would ensure sports activities are developed without political infiltrations. I will use my experience to convince Mr. President of the need to develop sports to make his Renewed Hope Agendas proud.

I will develop athletes’ training policies to get them adequately prepared for any competition whatsoever. Releasing money within two to three weeks before a competition would not yield any results; such funds would be a waste. The Olympics is a four-year interval event, and we would no longer wait for athletes to roam the streets without adequate care.

I am aware Mr. President has released ₦12 billion to the Sports Commission, and such funds can be used to care for these talented athletes and not just be spent on a fire-brigade approach for winning Olympic medals with only weeks of preparation—it would never happen. Such funds need to be put to use between now and the next Olympics, while releasing a few billion naira around the tournament period would suffice to achieve commendable results.

My governor just established a football club and appointed me as the chairman of the club. As I am here, I think and talk sports. If given the opportunity, I will do well. In fact, in talking about sports in Nigeria, there is no way my name would not be mentioned. I have a lot to offer. Even most sports ministers usually consult us when they are appointed. You know, after your advice, when money comes, they won’t call you again or even follow the advice offered, and that’s why they always fail.

When people without a track record in sports are appointed, someone like the man from Plateau State who had no knowledge about sports and didn’t belong to the sports community, he was unable to do anything. When you don’t belong to the sports community, you find it difficult to do well and may become frustrated.

In sports, we can also partner with private organizations to raise funds to support sports, making accountable use of the resources garnered to support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agendas. I believe in the power of sports as a uniting force for the country.

If given the privilege, I can also establish a National Sports Fund for sustainable funding because most sports funds come from the government alone, and it shouldn’t be so. I will also facilitate sports commission workforce welfare, including coaches and staff. These are the administrators, and adequate training is expected to be given to them for efficiency.

My vision is to engage Nigerian youths to promote national pride on the global stage. I am confident that with the right approach, Nigerian sports can be taken to international levels sustainably.

What do you admire most, and what are your suggestions to Mr. President for almost two years of his administration?

It was his effort to give national honors to athletes who could not win the CAF tournaments but became second with silver medals. No President has ever done that. The President and General Secretary of the NFA were also given national honors. In 1980, when Nigeria first won gold, they were not given national honors. Up to 10 times now, it’s happening for the first time.

Though people say things are very hard and go demonstrating, as an Igbo man, we don’t believe in that. We support President Tinubu’s government. By the time he finishes his second term in office, everything will be normalized.

Why do you think South-Eastern States supported Mr. President?

Our people don’t lie; we focus on what we believe in. Imo and Ebonyi States are APC states. We also believe that by 2027, APC will capture more. Mr. President has been doing well. See the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) he assented to and approved. Mr. President’s wife visiting our state and we are there to warmly welcome her. We don’t hide our support for him.

How do you think Nigeria can perform well in international competition?

Simply by early preparation. Participants must be fully engaged and exposed to international friendlies to sharpen their talents. We should also learn how to play boardroom politics—that is, not allowing all these Francophone country referees to officiate in our matches against other Francophone nations due to biased officiating. Neutral officials, perhaps from Northern Africa, would be better suited for such games.

If I am appointed Director General, I will make sure Mr. President hosts an African tournament, which would also sell the nation to the world. After Obasanjo, it’s only former President Yar’Adua that hosted an African game. We have something upstairs to offer and make his 2027 election easier for him to win.

What do you think affected our sporting facilities in Nigeria?

Lack of maintenance. We lack a maintenance culture. All our facilities become old. I don’t see any reason why the National Stadium in Lagos should not be working. How much do we think the stadium would cost to maintain that we cannot afford? That stadium, in question, can also yield revenue to cover maintenance costs.

Nigeria has only one FIFA-approved stadium, which is in Akwa Ibom State because the state keeps maintaining it. The National Stadium in Abuja can be maintained too. If appointed, I can reach out to Julius Berger to maintain the stadium to secure a contract from us.

There is also another way we can manage it through private partnerships. Even UBA, as a bank, can be contracted to maintain the stadium for 20 years and earn revenue from it. Dangote, too, can handle it. Look at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MM2) in Lagos—it’s been under private management and functions profitably to this day.

Again, the National Lottery needs to go into sports. In fact, the National Lottery is not paying enough to the federal government as it ought to. We have to ensure they pay all that is due to them.

In addition, our national leagues should be opened for support from government and private organizations. They should not rely only on clubs to survive.

In all, there is no government that has done what Mr. President has done in Nigeria. Security issues have gone down. The proposed tax reforms, too, are a fantastic economic policy to take Nigeria to the next level.
In moving Nigerian sports forward in Nigeria highlight a task that is long overdue. For any renewal move to be achieved, drastic steps and deliberate actions need to be upheld. A former senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 8th and 9th Assemblies, Senator Obinna Joseph Ogba, who is also a sports administrator, hails from Amanvu-
Nkalagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Senator Obinna bares his mind on ways Nigerian sports can take its place in the community of sports nations.

Excerpt:

We heard of your move from PDP to APC. What informed your decision and belief in this government?

A political party is like a vehicle that can convey you to a destination, and when you get there, it becomes about Nigeria. I never liked APC as a party before, but Senator Oluremi Tinubu talked me through it while we were at the Senate together. She was then the chairman of my committee. It was then I began to yield to APC agendas.
The party I belonged to also disenfranchised me from the Ebonyi State governorship ticket. Myself and others, like my mentor in Ebonyi State, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, decided to support APC before the election. It’s therefore wrong for people to assume I just joined APC after the 2023 election. So far, so good. We have been doing well and making efforts to contribute our own quotas, hoping that one day our names can come out at the national level.

Can you mention some of your scorecards during your terms in the 8th and 9th Assemblies?

I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but prefer people to talk about my achievements. However, let me mention them. No senator from Ebonyi State has done what I did since the state’s creation in 1996. I built a stadium while I was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youths and Sports for eight years. I assisted in facilitating over 480 Ebonyians into the federal civil service, and all of them are growing in the system. It gives me joy to see those Ebonyians. We attracted developments like road constructions and bridges. I included my community projects in the Nigerian budget, which was unprecedented in the history of Ebonyi State. That is why, on the floor of the Senate, I thank those who introduced constituency projects because, without such initiatives, people like us might not get anything as community gains from the federal government. A cassava processing plant is also part of what my representation brought to my community to date. My first senatorial bill was on the University of Sports, the first in West Africa, which has today been signed into law. Again, to show you that President Tinubu is doing well in recognizing the importance of youths, he has approved the university, which would soon be commissioned, and a vice-chancellor will be appointed. The National Sports Commission has been an illegal entity, and if the President didn’t like it, it could be scrapped. But I had to push a bill for the National Sports Commission, which former President Buhari assented to. That was my bill. Presently, Mr. President has also started implementing the law. Very soon, he will appoint a Director General to run the day-to-day operations of the Commission. When you look at the Commission for Physically Challenged Bill too, I was a partner to it. The National Lottery Bill was also my bill, though former President Buhari refused to assent to it, but the National Assembly vetoed it. That is one of the two bills in Nigeria that has been vetoed. The NDDC Bill during Obasanjo’s era was refused, and this National Lottery Bill was also refused by Buhari, and both were vetoed by the Assembly. I have a lot to tell. The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill was also initiated by me. Now that President Tinubu has consented, myself, Senator Stella Odua, and Anyanwu were the first to sponsor the bill. Buhari assented to the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) but refused the SEDC Bill then. Thank God the present Deputy Speaker has now represented and sponsored the bill, which was assented to by Mr. President. The South-East would forever be grateful for that.

If Mr. President offers you the position of Director General of the Sports Commission today, what would you do differently?

Well, since I know everything about the bill, I have been in sports management all my life. I was a Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi State, Senior Assistant to the former Ebonyi State Governor on Youths and Sports, First-Vice President of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), a retired referee, coach, and former member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). My credentials in sports speak for me to develop Nigerian youths and sports, to uplift Mr. President’s government in the areas of youths and the Renewed Hope Agendas because you need a system that can relate the agendas to the grassroots. One sure way is through sports. I mean wholesome sports. Be mindful that football is not the only sport we can push to the forefront; there are many other arms of sports too. The era of Nigerians going for international sports competitions without bringing home medals would be a thing of the past. We would ensure sports activities are developed without political infiltrations. I will use my experience to convince Mr. President of the need to develop sports to make his Renewed Hope Agendas proud.

I will develop athletes’ training policies to get them adequately prepared for any competition whatsoever. Releasing money within two to three weeks before a competition would not yield any results; such funds would be a waste. The Olympics is a four-year interval event, and we would no longer wait for athletes to roam the streets without adequate care.

I am aware Mr. President has released ₦12 billion to the Sports Commission, and such funds can be used to care for these talented athletes and not just be spent on a fire-brigade approach for winning Olympic medals with only weeks of preparation—it would never happen. Such funds need to be put to use between now and the next Olympics, while releasing a few billion naira around the tournament period would suffice to achieve commendable results.

My governor just established a football club and appointed me as the chairman of the club. As I am here, I think and talk sports. If given the opportunity, I will do well. In fact, in talking about sports in Nigeria, there is no way my name would not be mentioned. I have a lot to offer. Even most sports ministers usually consult us when they are appointed. You know, after your advice, when money comes, they won’t call you again or even follow the advice offered, and that’s why they always fail.

When people without a track record in sports are appointed, someone like the man from Plateau State who had no knowledge about sports and didn’t belong to the sports community, he was unable to do anything. When you don’t belong to the sports community, you find it difficult to do well and may become frustrated.

In sports, we can also partner with private organizations to raise funds to support sports, making accountable use of the resources garnered to support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agendas. I believe in the power of sports as a uniting force for the country.

If given the privilege, I can also establish a National Sports Fund for sustainable funding because most sports funds come from the government alone, and it shouldn’t be so. I will also facilitate sports commission workforce welfare, including coaches and staff. These are the administrators, and adequate training is expected to be given to them for efficiency.

My vision is to engage Nigerian youths to promote national pride on the global stage. I am confident that with the right approach, Nigerian sports can be taken to international levels sustainably.

What do you admire most, and what are your suggestions to Mr. President for almost two years of his administration?

It was his effort to give national honors to athletes who could not win the CAF tournaments but became second with silver medals. No President has ever done that. The President and General Secretary of the NFA were also given national honors. In 1980, when Nigeria first won gold, they were not given national honors. Up to 10 times now, it’s happening for the first time.

Though people say things are very hard and go demonstrating, as an Igbo man, we don’t believe in that. We support President Tinubu’s government. By the time he finishes his second term in office, everything will be normalized.

Why do you think South-Eastern States supported Mr. President?

Our people don’t lie; we focus on what we believe in. Imo and Ebonyi States are APC states. We also believe that by 2027, APC will capture more. Mr. President has been doing well. See the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) he assented to and approved. Mr. President’s wife visiting our state and we are there to warmly welcome her. We don’t hide our support for him.

How do you think Nigeria can perform well in international competition?

Simply by early preparation. Participants must be fully engaged and exposed to international friendlies to sharpen their talents. We should also learn how to play boardroom politics—that is, not allowing all these Francophone country referees to officiate in our matches against other Francophone nations due to biased officiating. Neutral officials, perhaps from Northern Africa, would be better suited for such games.

If I am appointed Director General, I will make sure Mr. President hosts an African tournament, which would also sell the nation to the world. After Obasanjo, it’s only former President Yar’Adua that hosted an African game. We have something upstairs to offer and make his 2027 election easier for him to win.

What do you think affected our sporting facilities in Nigeria?

Lack of maintenance. We lack a maintenance culture. All our facilities become old. I don’t see any reason why the National Stadium in Lagos should not be working. How much do we think the stadium would cost to maintain that we cannot afford? That stadium, in question, can also yield revenue to cover maintenance costs.

Nigeria has only one FIFA-approved stadium, which is in Akwa Ibom State because the state keeps maintaining it. The National Stadium in Abuja can be maintained too. If appointed, I can reach out to Julius Berger to maintain the stadium to secure a contract from us.

There is also another way we can manage it through private partnerships. Even UBA, as a bank, can be contracted to maintain the stadium for 20 years and earn revenue from it. Dangote, too, can handle it. Look at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MM2) in Lagos—it’s been under private management and functions profitably to this day.

Again, the National Lottery needs to go into sports. In fact, the National Lottery is not paying enough to the federal government as it ought to. We have to ensure they pay all that is due to them.

In addition, our national leagues should be opened for support from government and private organizations. They should not rely only on clubs to survive.

In all, there is no government that has done what Mr. President has done in Nigeria. Security issues have gone down. The proposed tax reforms, too, are a fantastic economic policy to take Nigeria to the next level.

My vision is to engage Nigerian youths in sports to promote national pride on the global stage and grassroots developments without political infiltrations, says Senator Obinna Ogba

General Lagbaja, the Nigerian Army, and the myriads of unfinished businesses

By: Bodunrin Kayode

If there is any personnel in military uniform in Nigeria today who would be extremely devastated about the death of General Lagbaja, it is the Chief of the defense staff General Chris Musa. He obviously had a very smooth working relationship with the late Army Chief before his demise. General Musa is one of the few military Commanders who have swallowed the bitter taste of asymmetric warfare in the battle fields of “Hadin Kai” and the entire country. He is a warrior whose patriotism General Lagbaja emulated.

Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja would be sorely missed by all his colleagues and men whom he walked with through the valleys of torments and came out in one piece. They will never forget another fine General who often led his troops from the front following after the pattern of predecessors like Generals Tukur Buratai, Lamidi Adeosun, Chris Musa and many other warriors who have passed through this theatre. Even at the 7 division level we had warriors like General Abdulsalam Abubakar who have since left the theatre for another front of banditry torment at the 3, division of the Nigerian Army and Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna current General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 division who had served the city of Maiduguri as Garrison Commander before now. They have all crossed his path at one operation or the other as ordered by army headquarters(HQ).

Lagbaja’s battles against Boko Haram

For the one decade I have worked within the “Hadin Kai” war theatre, I have seen and reported the activities of many Army Generals coming and leaving their sector posts at close range. As a matter of fact, they are too many to mention who came and left at a time we needed them most like Major Generals Abdulkalifa Ibrahim who is now the infantry Chief of the Army and Ibrahim Ali holding fort at the Multinational joint task force (MNJTF) HQ. From the kinetic proactive Commanders, to those who spend more time in the non kinetic realms than in the battle field. All directed to end the insurgency with their strengths and weaknesses as we reporters hear from the interpretation of the residents who judge their respective fighting prowesses. In all these, I have only encountered Lagbaja as the Army Chief coming on operational visits which may not be regarded as close range but close enough to sense the signs of the tides and his body languages which was always that of a warrior screaming “end this war” to his troops. Military sources hinted this reporter that in all his command positions he held under the days of “Lafia Dole” interacting between sector one and three even around the brutal mine fields of Baga, he had always maintained the same pattern of motivation of his troops by leading from the front and not expecting anything special for doing the job. His style was obviously more of less talk and more action. I never had that close working relationship with lagbaja as I had with others like Generals Koko Isoni, Rogers Nicholas, Ibrahim Attahiru, Faruk Yahaya, Ibrahim Ali, Nura Mayirenso Saraso and many others but from a distance and judging from what my colleagues used to report about him at the Bernin Gwari front, he was indeed a warrior. He cared about his troops which is why immediately he assumed duty he started fighting for increased welfare for them. It is only a general who have had keen encounters with his troops that will know exactly what their challenges are. And Lagbaja knew their challenges.

Efforts by the military to maintain sanity in the war theatre

A lot of efforts have been channeled into the maintenance of peace and sanity in the Hadin Kai war theatre and history will remember Taoreed Lagbaja as one of the few Generals who faced fire at the frontline in this theatre before moving to others to fight for his country. From General’s Buratai to Lamidi Adeosun to Victor Ezegwu to many others like Chris Musa who got double promotion and today he is the Chief of the entire Nigerian military. They all tried their best to make their impacts before leaving. Most of them left as warriors except for Ibrahim Attahiru who had to contend with the shortest and bloodiest attacks here before leaving. On his movement to headquarters, he was later made the Army Chief but lost his life in a plane crash making his reign an equally short lived one. Attahiru it was who actually changed the name of “Lafia Dole” to Hadin Kai to suite the exigency of that time.

Lagbaja’s meteoric promotion from GOC to Army Chief

No General in recent times has being promoted to become Chief from outside “Hadin Kai” except Lagbaja who had passed through the theatre as an unsong warrior. Of course Hadin Kai had become a big bone in the throat of the military and it was obvious that only warriors from this theatre that could be made Chief of the Nigerian Army. If one did not understand the dynamics of the asymmetric warfare down here, one’s ability to review operational strategies and change tactics would be highly impaired. However, General Lagbaja’s case was unique which is why his own elevation never came from this theatre as the likes of General Faruk Yahaya who followed the footsteps of Attahiru. Rather he was busy leading from the front as General Officer Commanding GOC the one division of the Army at the Kaduna theatre axis when he was told to drop his weapons and prepare to propound and approve policies for tactical warfare at the Army headquarters as the first Army Chief for President Bola Tinubu. In other words, while troops were busy taking out the enemies in Sambisa and the Lake Chad region from this axis Lagbaja was leading from the front in the north west theatre where he was the GOC 1 division of the Nigerian Army. It is from this point that he rose to the rank of Army Chief. Even as army chief he still maintained his style of seeing things for himself. Feeling the pulse of his troops and impacting his style on them.

“He led from the front and was always ready to take the bullet for his troops.” Said Chiroma a private soldier who fought along side him in the Lafia Dole theatre. One thing I have learnt inside the Hadin Kai war theatre as a defacto defense correspondent is that troops always celebrate their Generals or Commanders who led from the front. Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja was a highly celebrated officer who had many dreams for a modern Nigerian Army. His humility never allowed him to adorn himself with all his medals of a true warrior because they were so many.
His introduction of the first air platform components for the Army was a huge success for the administration of President Bola Tinubu who wanted to prove his mettle at the management of the security sector. Lagbaja had received two Bell UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopters registered as NA 010 and NA 011 in June this year. With that introduction the Army has stepped up its operational efficiency especially in dangerous sections of the fight against terrorism in the North East and Western flanks of the country. Too many times the air force had delayed in giving them the spontaneous service they used to require. With the development of the aviation component of the Army, troops will now be well protected whenever they need to break through short range barriers. This new development will equally reduce the prevalence of erroneous mistakes sometimes on own troops in any of the troublesome theatres.

Motivational speaker and press ups exercises

The passage of General Lagbaja to the great beyond is not only a huge loss to the Nigerian army, it is also a loss to the entire country. He was a great motivator to his troops wherever he went to.
Seeing that his troops lacked motivation in certain instances, he had personally gingered them up in press up exercises while observing their faces and body languages. Breaking protocols at times to discuss with troops over their challenges. He was not heavily built and kept an average tummy which spoke volumes to those officers who had massive tummies hindering them in their movements. He was an obviously big time dreamer with lots of thoughts for his people.

Goodbye General Lagbaja

Sadly for me I only had one instance to say hello to this great General who some of us felt was a bit media shy and may not like any sudden form of interaction with us especially our electronics colleagues who sometimes are unable to read body languages to know when not to cross some lines. He was shy initially but as he kept coming to the theatre, his countenance improved. His case was a bit better than General Faruk Yahaya who kept journalists at arms length like some dangerous irritants while in the theatre but adjusting when he became the Chief. All thanks to the Army spokesman Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, they always fall in line to accept the media as Co-fighters against evil when they become chiefs. Nwachukwu is also an acknowledged pen warrior who did so much in moulding these Generals to understand that the army is not part of the secret service so they always opened up after they hit the ground running.

Ambushing Lagbaja

Lagbaja had arrived Maiduguri with his defense Chief General Chris Musa and they had done their usual operational reviews inside the hall of Hadin Kai HQ while we milled around pinging our phones or snacking as we wait for them to tell us why the war still lingers. They came out for group pictures and interactions with the media which is the style of General Musa before they took off to see wounded troops in the hospital. Then I cornered him as he ruminated over what may have happened inside the hall. Some of them had loosened up but not Lagbaja. He was always at red alert. As a matter of fact, while the interaction continued he had a cold stare common with the ogas when their boys have not met the yard stick they had given them. As if he should come down and lead them through the valleys of the shadow of death. That “I fear no evil” sight of a warrior. I was taking aback a bit and hesitated slightly. But I then introduced my experience to engage him looking straight into his eyes and retorted: “Good day General” I said to him. He looked at me with that windless stare that would not allow you to construct his mind from his face. I later learnt that is his trade mark as a toughie when on duty. He gave me a nod. Clear sign don’t ask further questions. I smiled in my mind and said this one is really a tough one. And went further, “I wish you the best General and be sure that we will continue to fight with our pens along side your troops at this side of the theatre”. He gave a second nod of approval and walked off like one of his mentors in the American war college where he trained. It was time to go so his ADC who had kept a distance went tugging along with the General into the air conditioned bus waiting for the entourage to embark and finish the tour. It was a chanced meeting and I enjoyed it though. Later that month, I would hear him in another theatre commending the gentlemen of the pen for fighting along with his troops. He obviously have done his best being the Chief of a badly overstretched Army. It’s up to his predecessor to keep the flag flying by clearing all the terrorists bragging around the country and increasing the army alone to at least 100,000 men and officers before the end of the first term of the Commander in Chief President Tinubu. The Army, Airforce and Navy should not be less than 500,000 officers and men by 2034. It’s practicable if the new Chief in conjunction with defense and the National Youth Service Corp creates a corp of reservists which can always supply the main stream as it is done in Israel and many other countries. We cannot continue to allow terrorists to be embarrassing and humiliating the biggest economy on the African continent except if it is for a purpose.
Smoking these people out once and for all does not mean that there would not be theatres for troops to practice their trades. There are many theatres of war they can be shipped to outside the country when our borders are cleared and sealed. These are the tasks before the new Army chief. Nigerians expect better deals in terms of security and Lagbaja understood that and was deliberately going after the well-being of the nation.

He will be enjoying his peaceful sleep till we meet to part no more. May the Lord console the entire family of the Lagbaja’s especially his uncle who is going to live the rest of his old age in regrets that his nephew was buried before him which to him is a deep stab in his fragile heart. My condolence too goes to the Commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria President Bola Tinubu.

General Lagbaja, the Nigerian Army, and the myriads of unfinished businesses

“Freedom of the Press and the Portrayal of Women in the Media”

By : Atifete Jahjaga

Dear Mr. Orav,
Dear Mr. Fontana,
Dear journalists and media professionals from all over the world present here today,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear all,

Freedom of the media and the safety of journalists are essential in societies that want to prosper, aspire to be just and to be guided by accountability. Their work is essential. It has been such in Kosovo’s not so short tradition of media pluralism that has defined our republic’s making and even now when we find ourselves as the only country in Europe that no longer has a printed newspaper.

We are well aware and we should be reminded every day that Democracy has no chance to survive and no ability to thrive in information darkness. We have lived in one and we will never go back there again. A free and thriving press is a value – one of the greatest values I may argue – and we need strong willed, responsible journalists and editors in the newsrooms as we forge Kosovo’s way forward. They need to remind us of who we are and who we are committed to be and hold us to account every single day of how we are measuring up to our goal of being a free and fair country to all that call Kosovo their home. They need to inform the public of promises kept and promised unkept.

Media not only creates social and national cohesion by helping build a sense of community, as Benedict Anderson so diligently described in The Imagined Communities, but it also sets an agenda of priorities, big and small, that come to construct our public engagement mosaic and define our roles and responsibilities.

And here in lies the challenge. Given this enormous expectation that the public vests on media and journalists, this enormous power to keep institutions and all entities honest, it is just as essential for media to live up to their duty to serve the public’s right to know and to foster a fact-based conversation that keeps the institutions and the citizens at the receiving end of the decision-making engaged and responsible.

While this may have been a more straightforward matter in times of national tormet, during the Kosovo war, since its liberation Kosovo, like many democracies, has struggled to define these roles and responsibilities. We have seen institutions, both local and international, limit media’s access to information. We have seen them use and misuse national interest as a way to limit transparency, accountability and the public’s right to know. And we have seen that it has damaged all parties involved – it has weakened the political processes that are key to Kosovo’s future, it has shaken the trust in media and it has undermined the democratic progress.

In my public engagement, I too have stumbled upon challenges and I have had my share of frustrations, especially with the ways media characterized my presidency and how my gender became a target. Sometimes it felt personal, but most times I worried about the repercussions it will have on the general portrayal of women in public office and the discouragement that comes with it.

We need to do our outmost ro ensure the freedom of the media for it is essential, so that the information it disseminates is fact-based and reliable, so no hand or power should affect or try to affect the dignity of this institution. When I talk about the pressfreedom, I also emphasize their moral, professional and legal obligation to provide reliable news, deep and qualitative analysis, and especially the immediate avoidance and elimination of gender and sexist prejudices against all women who are part of public life.
The portrayal of women belonging to public professions by the media is an area that requires our attention but also our criticism, focused on big and significant changes, despite the positive changes in some aspects of the functioning of the media, this area we can say that still leaves a lot to be desired for further improvements.
As the first female president of Kosovo, I faced unique challenges in how the media portrayed my leadership. Local media coverage often focused more on my gender, my appearance, my private life than my policies. When I stop and reflect on my tenure, I cannot ignore the unfair and unprofessional treatment I have received from the media, and all of this treatment has come as a result of my gender identity, being a woman, and the President, for someone it was too much. Despite my dedication and raising the state of Kosovo to high pedestals, the country’s media focused on other aspects, such as my appearance or wardrobe.

The media’s portrayal of women often reinforces stereotypes, affecting public perception and limiting women’s roles in politics and society. This not only undermines women’s contributions but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination. It’s crucial to address these biases to foster an inclusive society.

For my part, I learned to engage with the media strategically, using interviews and press conferences to amplify my message while advocating for more balanced coverage of women in leadership, something that I try to do to this day.

Dear all,

To understand better this current state of affairs, we need to identify the challenges that the media face, and their struggles are many. Not only have media faced unprecedented challenges with the rise of social media and lately AI, which require them to constantly change and adapt to an ever shifting environment of wants and needs, but they are often a function of a market competition that is outside of their control.
Yes, indeed, we often think of media as a public service, a right and a good which ensures that every citizen is informed if she or he chooses to, but in a free and open market, media are dependent on business models that could make them susceptible to influences that in the long-term undermine their objectivity, their impartiality and eventually the public’s trust.

Some of these forces don’t have immediate fixes. They are part of a longer chain of events interlinked and interdependent that are tied to our ability to create stable economies and strong democracies that withstand the earthquakes of today’s rapidly changing world.
But what we can do is to ensure that we – institutions, civil society and the public – do our outmost to ensure the freedom of the media, for it is essential, so that the information it disseminates is fact-based and reliable, so no hand or power should affect or try to affect the dignity of this powerful and key estate.
When I talk about the pressfreedom, I also emphasize their moral, professional and legal obligation to provide reliable news, deep and qualitative analysis, and especially the immediate avoidance and elimination of gender and sexist prejudices against all women who are part of public life.
Dear,

We are living in the time of clicks, everything revolves around the number of clicks a news story gets, without worrying about its authenticity or analysis, it is enough to publish it quickly, with a bombastic headline and a picture that will attract readers to click on the news, but what that text contains is not important at all.

There are many reasons why such a thing happens, but the most important is the financing. Many media have serious economic problems, so they compete with each other as to who will publish the news first, without worrying about its content as well as professional and human ethics.
Disinformation, hyperbolization of events, and the apparent decline in the quality of work are unfortunately characterizing journalism in Kosovo and beyond, and this is quite worrying.

Yet I am optimistic for the fact that Kosovo enjoys a media pluralism with a variety of voices and figures heard on television, radio and other online platforms, which are owned by different entities, allowing room for independent reporting and a diversity of viewpoints.

But unfortunately the political polarization and politicization has affected every field, profession, and person, so even the media have not been immune to this challenge.

But there is one essential element to anchor us through all this. In a democracy, it is essential that every power be independent of each other, no one should try to extend force or influence in any sphere that falls outside its responsibility.
In order to preserve their educational and sensitizing role, the media should be allowed to exercise their profession and their role unhindered. For its part, the media should also be committed to an ethical standard so that the dignity of each and everyone is preserved.
We all need to better ourselves – Institutions need to become more transparent and let media do their job. Media executives should do some soul-searching about their impact on the fabric of the society and perhaps rethink how they themselves could agree to hold themselves to an account through stronger self-regulation to ensure equitable representation and to challenge harmful narratives. In an increasingly globalized world, Kosovo faces significant challenges from foreign entities attempting to manipulate public opinion and destabilize its young democracy. It is essential to educate the public about recognizing misinformation and understanding the sources of their information. Supporting independent journalism and promoting fact-based reporting is vital in building resilience against external narratives that threaten our democratic values.
It’s crucial for all stakeholders-government, civil society, and the media-to work together to safeguard our democratic institutions. Encouraging transparency in media ownership and funding sources can help combat the influence of foreign actors seeking to disrupt our democracy. Engaging citizens in dialogue about their rights and the importance of informed decision-making is essential for a robust democratic process. I remain committed to advocating for gender equality in media and politics while ensuring that Kosovo’s democracy is safeguarded against external threats. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive society.
Dear,
I am more than aware of the fast flow of time and life nowadays, everything is commercialized, but I am also convinced that we still have people who do their work with dignity and do not allow anything to touch the sanctity of their work, as every work is valuable. There are many issues that must be raised, many things that must be eliminated so that we all feel safe to speak, work and act freely in our country, without fear of who and what will write about us. Truths are always welcome, but blackmail, fake news and infringement of privacy are a line we should pledge not to cross.

Strongly advocating for the freedom of the media, their protection by law, as well as not violating the identity of the media and all professionals in this field, as well as for a quality, educational and informative work of the media, I also want to convey this message:
Dear Media,
You have the opportunity to bring the whole world together, you are one of the fastest and most important connectors today, you have the power to do great things, so please use this opportunity with honesty and dignity, with dedication and work tireless. There is nothing more important than being the eyes, ears and voice of the people, and you are, you have been given and have earned this opportunity, so that there is as little hesitation, threats and interference in your work as possible, let law, work ethic and professionalism be your guide.

Let me repeat it again: we should be reminded every day that Democracy has no chance to survive and no ability to thrive in darkness. We need a free and thriving press and we need strong willed, responsible journalists and editors in the newsrooms as we forge Kosovo’s way forward. They need to remind us of who we are and who we are committed to be.
Atifete Jahjaga, is the first Kosovo’s Female President.

“Freedom of the Press and the Portrayal of Women in the Media”