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Lesson Orji Uzor Kalu failed to learn from Tinubu “It’s good that he now knows better,” Says Kanu’s Associate
Sir: I didn’t know whether to sympathise with or mock Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) after watching a video in which he barely held back tears on the floor of the Senate.
I will not deny that I have for years had a kind of emotional attachment to Kalu.
Like all humans, he has his shortcomings and most are mirrored via the shenanigans and greed that hallmark our politics.
Kalu, no doubt, is one of the promoters and beneficiaries of the hollow politics that catapults his likes to positions of authority through the help of an undiscerning electorate.
Some years back, Kalu invited top Igbo journalists in Lagos to his Victoria Island residence. Yours sincerely was among the invitees. There, he explained to them why he founded the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA).
He had said: “I had an interaction with Tinubu one day and the focus was on how we could make the South play politics like the North.
“During the discussion, Tinubu said he was ready to form a political party to stand for the interest of the Southwest. He advised me to get like minds and also form a party that can stand for the Southeast.
“He went on to add that since politics is like a chess game, we in the South must have our Queens.
“With your Queen in a major tribe, you will be courted by any zone that wants to be in power. You know that there is hardly any zone that can win our presidential election by standing alone. When you are being courted, you will be in a position to negotiate.
“Go and hold your zone through a political party that can have the masses behind it while I work towards holding my zone.
“That is how PPA and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) came into being then.”
In less than four years, Kalu handed over the PPA to the PDP as a gluttonous bride would run into the open alms of an inconsiderate groom. He simply buried the PPA and went on a self-serving romance with the PDP and now the APC.
After being shown that his contributions to both parties are not worth an ounce, nationally, he started shedding crocodile tears and lamenting that Nigeria “isn’t fair”. It’s good that he now knows better.
OUK simply did not learn from Tinubu who started with Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC) and then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which teamed up with Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Onu’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form APC.
It is Tinubu’s consistency and perseverance in opposition politics that eventually landed him in Aso Rock Villa through APC.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress have once again etched their name into the history books, emerging as champions of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Côte d’Ivoire after a commanding 78-64 victory over Mali in Sunday’s final.
Led by head coach Rena Wakama, the Nigerian side delivered a stellar performance at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan to secure their fifth straight continental crown — a feat no other nation has achieved in the tournament’s history.
The win also guarantees D’Tigress an automatic berth at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
Having edged past a tough Senegalese team in a dramatic semi-final, where they rallied in the fourth quarter to secure a hard-fought win, D’Tigress showed a different level of composure and dominance in the final against Mali.
Mali came out strong, finishing the first quarter with a 26-21 lead. But Nigeria responded swiftly, leveling the game 41-41 by halftime.
The third quarter saw D’Tigress turn on the style, as they pulled ahead 61-56. By the final quarter, the Nigerian side tightened their defense and restricted Mali to just eight points, cruising to a 14-point triumph.
With this latest victory, Nigeria has now lifted the Women’s Afrobasket trophy seven times in total — 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 — and remain unbeaten in the competition for a decade. The team’s last loss in the tournament dates back to October 2, 2015, against hosts Cameroon.
This fifth consecutive title reaffirms D’Tigress’ status as the undisputed queens of African women’s basketball.
President Bola Tinubu has bestowed the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, on the Super Falcons and the entire technical crew.
He also allocated three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to each of the players and the technical crew at the Renewed Hope Estate.
The President also directed the cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 each of the 24 players and $50,000 to each of the 11-man technical crew.
This came during a reception in honour of the players and the coaching crew at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, “I hereby conferred on the players, the 11 man technical team with national honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger.
“Additionally, I have I directed the allocation of three bedroom apartments in the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
“Then there is the cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 US dollars each 24 players and the naira equivalent of $50,000 to the 11-man technical crew.”
The President also said he didn’t want to watch the WAFCON final because he didn’t want to have high blood pressure.
Earlier, the President and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received the Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa on Monday, following their record victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Saturday.
The coaster buses conveying the players and coaching crew arrived at the forecourt of the Aso Rock shortly before 04:36 p.m. local time.
The Super Falcons, 10-time African champions after their 3-2 comeback over the Atlas Lionesses Morocco, were received by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, upon their arrival.
In a post-match video call on Saturday night, President Tinubu praised captain and tournament MVP Rasheedat Ajibade.
He also praised Nigeria’s rally from a 2-0 half-time deficit to claim the WAFCON title.
Over the past decade, the Super Falcons have won four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024, bringing their total to 10
The Super Falcons emerged champions of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after pulling off a stunning second-half comeback to defeat hosts Morocco in a pulsating final.
The Moroccans had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half, capitalizing on early momentum and a roaring home crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
But the Nigerians, showing the grit and pedigree that has made them the most successful team in the tournament’s history, roared back after the break.
WAFCON final: Oramah FC chairman pledges ₦500,000 per goal to Super Falcons
First Lady rallies Super Falcons to victory in WAFCON final
A spirited second-half display saw the Super Falcons flip the script in dramatic fashion, scoring twice to silence the home fans and reclaim the continental crown.
With this victory, Nigeria completes the 10th WAFCON title
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