The Eagle Gate

Tag: Nigeria

  • Open Letter to Mr. President

    Open Letter to Mr. President

    Dear Mr. President,

    You seem to be changing each passing day, each passing day. Our collective dreams about you are no longer quiet as they seem, no longer as quiet as they seem. Prior to 2015 election, we never felt like this, never. Now we are feeling more disappointed these ills are coming from you. We are opening up everyday seeing some strange principalities coming from you, are they demons you can’t leave behind? You are looking and acting strangely different.

    We wanted more than this from you Mr. Integrity, that’s why our pain and disappointment are impossible to ignore, impossible to ignore. This that is coming from you is an impossible attitude, an impossible attitude.

    And now we are telling you openly, our hearts are broken. You have become what we can’t define. A totally changed man, so insensitive and so unkind. That’s what you have become. You have become everything we do not wish for.

    You were supposed to be the concept of service and love. Please come talk to us, what’s on your mind? Do not listen to sychophants; why can’t you no longer hold on to the concept of service and love? Why do you now take power as if it is between life and death, as it is for sinners and infidels? Why are your footfalls going backwards? We can no longer hear you.

    We are no longer free and wide open to our thoughts; we now leave in perpetual fear even when we close our eyes to the things happening under you. We have been trying to control ourselves, so please don’t stand on our ways, we have waited for 3 years and there is a climax coming our way, we are no longer fond of you.

    Don’t you analysize and tabulize the magic of the revolution to come? There is war in Syria and Libya, can’t you see the rage is building up, the rage from us all? This is not worth it anymore as we are descending into paths of destruction and war. We can’t take it anymore.

    So return to where you came from because of this embarrassment, this harassment and this decadence.

    We are free to decide and we shall give you our word when the time comes, so please come away with your footfalls, go back to where you come from, go back to where you come from, you have enough time in your hands.

    Elempe Dele

  • Has Aisha Buhari Gone Missing?

    Has Aisha Buhari Gone Missing?

    In Nigeria, during campaigns, we are used to First Ladies, that’s the wives of Presidents, campaigning for their husbands rigourously for reelections. Prior to 2015 election, we saw Aisha Buhari frying ‘akara’ in the street in support of her husband but forward to 2018, some months to the presidential election, we have hardly noticed this strong willed woman who has been defiling all odds, even shackling religious odds, to speak against her disappointment over her husband’s administration.

    Ok let’s say we have not been noticing her disappearance because we are not accustomed to the unusual situations of this administration, people ordinarily talk about things that ail them. But should we have totally forgotten about the first lady that is almost on the side of the suffering masses?

    There are some dangerous conspiracy theories concerning her being incommunicado recently but one cannot vouch for such theories. But in 2016, if we can jolt our memory, she said in a BBC interview that her husband has been “held hostage by a cabal” to which the president reacted by sending her to ‘the kitchen and the other room.’ Feminists kicked against his primitive comment all over the world, especially when he was being hosted by a female Chancellor, Angela Merkel of Germany.

    Aisha then took to her tweeter handle retweeting both senators Misau and Ben Bruce criticizing her husband’s administration’s lackluster. As if that internalized criticism was not enough, last year, she declared openly that there were no syringes and other items in the Aso Rock Clinic in spite of the huge budgetary allocations for the past two years. And this administration claimed it was fighting corruption. And to this criticisms she was awarded the Vanguard Personality for speaking truth to power even in her difficult condition to do so. She said her position concerning her criticism was not necessarily about confrontation but her sense of justice.

    Is it that Aisha, who has apparently shown distaste for her husband’s incompetence has finally been silenced? Who knows, perhaps she has.

    Well, the reason behind her lack of many public appearances campaigning for her husband is shrouded in secrecy but might not be unconnected with her perception of her husband’s led administration which had not lived up to expectations. It has rather been bizarre, lackluster and out-of-bound in most cases. We should be interested, especially the women folks to whom she dedicated her last year award, feminists and anti-sexist organizations to know what’s happening to her. Its certain things are not normal, and it will get more abnormal if unchallenged.

    #WhereIsAishaBuhari

    Elempe Dele

  • President Buhari’s Eroding Democratic Values in Nigeria

    President Buhari’s Eroding Democratic Values in Nigeria

    To those who know a lot about political engineering and democratic manifestations, would admit that the president is in an effort mission to undermine democratic values in the country. The consequence of this experimental disintegration might be too severe to compensate if the trend is not discarded. The level of his impunity and disregard for the rule of law is not only shocking, but severe, and this has been diagnosed by democratic watchdogs all over the world including Amnesty International and the US State Department. And this endangered institution has been under severe attack since 2015.

    Since 2015, Buhari has unleashed war on perceived enemies which some had termed ‘WITCH HUNTING.’ Never in the history of Nigeria, except under his former master, Abacha, has any president used law enforcement agencies for his personal political favours like Buhari is doing today that we sit in the arena of modern day democracy. We can only look at the Senator Dino Melaye’s case, a modern cult hero in Nigeria and a critic of the Buhari led administration, to see the cooperation and collusion between Buhari and these agencies of government. He is using them to attack and silence those who criticize the government by creating a dark climate of fear.

    As if this is not enough, his absolute disregard of the separation of powers of the three arm of government has become a talking point on a likely Constitutional Crisis if not discouraged. A while ago, the president withdrew monies from the federation’s account to allegedly purchase military hardwares from the United States of America without consulting the nation’s National Assembly or seeking their constitutional approval. That’s a gross violation of the constitution which is an impeachable offense.

    I think what people are worried about, taking examples from history, is that under Buhari, a one time dreadful dictator back in the 80s, Nigeria is again tittering towards autocracy and totalitarianism. What is happening now, if unchecked, would leave the country to move progressively towards having an all-powerful president, and when such a leader continue to engage in his undemocratic nuisances and there is no resistance from the people, his powers are further enhanced. And once he has these powers, he takes more undemocratic actions. (The gods that feed on blood are restless)

    Most of Buhari’s action today are abnormal under democratic dispensation, especially the nascent version, and a lot of them are unprecedented and dangerous. No wonder the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Onnoghen said recently that any government disobeying court orders is inviting anarchy. He was referring directly to the government of President Buhari.

    The law enforcement agencies ought to be apolitical. It’s under Buhari you will see law enforcement agents that are directly involved in the politics of the day, pitching tent with the ruling party to the chagrin of taxpayers. It is a democratic norm that their activities be under law, (not under political parties) including under the watch of the National Assembly’s oversight functions, as well as other basic values such as conflict of interest and government staying away from influencing their activities – all these are parts of the essential elements of the rule of law, which is key to any modern functioning democracy. But in Nigeria, what we have is a voodoo democracy.

    There are listless undemocratic things happening in Nigeria today perpetuated by the government directly and indirectly but somehow, the infrastructure of justice, which are the courts and dissenting voices have been holding up thus far. Despite Buhari’s attacks, people have continued to speak up for and support democratic values and norms. It was the people who spoke against the illegal reinstatement of the criminal fugitive, Maina, before he was let loose from the civil service into the wild. Non-governmental organizations and other busybodies have been showing their displeasures, and to me, that’s a testament to justice.

    Whether or not these violations of democratic values will continue would depend on what happens at the 2019 presidential polls. And the question of whether this violations will continue also depend on the continuous reactions of the sensitive people. I do not believe Buhari can dent our democracy forever even if he wins in 2019, which is unlikely though. For power is not eternal. But I think Buhari would continue now to violate these values as far as he is in power for self-interest. And if after 2019 he ends up badly, which is very likely, owing to his undemocratic values, and other infractions, then whoever will take over from him will be deterred from indulging in these things, and we might even witness a strengthening of these democratic values and its institutions.

    What we are faced with today in Nigeria is a quiet radical and undemocratic negation and gross violation to which we hold President Buhari responsible for his dangerous and retrogressive high-stake experiment.

     

    Elempe Dele

  • The disingenuous claim by the Buhari Media Organization

    The disingenuous claim by the Buhari Media Organization

    This is another attempt to deceive the people of Nigeria. It’s foolishness on the part of the Buhari Media Organization (BMO) to even claim anything Holy in it’s criticism of Atiku’s proposal.

    Verbatim, the former Vice President said, “on the restructuring of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector by result oriented and stepwise privatization of some aspects of the ailing sector to engender its vibrancy and enable it to stand solid as Nigeria’s major energy provision source”.

    So clearly, the former Vice President in his wisdom talked about means and ways of revitalizing the sector by privatization of “some aspects of its ailing”part.

    But of course, when these propagandist want to deceive people, they turn every word on its head to rubbish the substance of the whole story. Why not! when you consider a government that promised to reduce the pump price of petroleum but got to power and increased the pump price instead. Perhaps they think the people have forgotten, no we haven’t!

    How could they not misrepresent the former Vice President when this government cannot tell Nigerians for certain how much crude flows out of this country and how much it receives and how much it discloses to Nigerians. This is the most deceitful and malicious government in modern times.

    How does this government begin to talk of anti people policies! This is preposterous! This is a government that in all its ramifications is anti people both in words of deceit and by its action in raising the pump price contrary to its promise to reduce same.

    This government wants the status quo to remain only because it provides to them a source of illicit funds for their campaign.

    You know what! Another shall rise and the whole world would then appreciate the magnitude of the recklessness and decadence of this regime that has no respect to the rule of law.

     

    Neda Imasuen, Esq.

  • IN SUPPORT OF TY DANJUMA; A NATIONAL STATESMAN

    IN SUPPORT OF TY DANJUMA; A NATIONAL STATESMAN

    TY has benefited from Nigeria and he has a duty to keep it one. He said what we all know. The problem with most of his critics is partisan epilepsy which puts them in momentary fit whenever they are confronted with the truth. That is not patriotism. It is patrimolianism. Some of us were very critical of PDP misbehavior even as Members of the House of Representatives. It may have cost us principal officership, but we are alive by the grace of God to continue to speak truth to power. Party membership or affiliation is not a reason to endanger humanity with indecisiveness on security of lives and properties. Some of us have never witnessed what is now going on in this country in our adult lives.

     

    We heard of Tafawa Balewa. We saw Usman Shagari. We worked with Umaru Yaradua. They were northerners and Muslim. They may have had Fulani blood in them but their sense of national duty was exemplary. None of them would have tolerated this menace of some irresponsible heardsmen spreading terror to the ancestral land of others in a jet age. Rather than restrain them with decent and globally tested policies, the Government is overwhelmed with nepotic constraints and thereby preventing the avoidable deaths of thousands of innocent citizens.

     

    More than any government in our republican history, this government has been the slowest to act on matters that require urgent government attention. It cannot continue like this merely because a few privileged people have formed a vanguard of blame-him-not around President Buhari. They are definitely not helping Nigeria but themselves. Let me remind all such persons of the proverb that those who ride on the back of the tiger, end up in its stomach.

     

    Obasanjo wrote his 20 page letter of caution to the President. He was called names by the holier-than thou supporters of the President. Gen. Babaginda issued a press statement on the way forward. He was lampooned by the same band of economic and tribal clappers.

     

    Gen. TY Danjuma, more than these hallelujah brigade, contributed enormous personal resources to the campaign process of President Buhari over the years. He was the chairman of the President’s advisory group when the President assumed office. He mobilized support for the president across the length and breadth of the country. How would a man who made these contributions to the emergence of Buhari as president standby and watch the ship of State sink deeply without qualms? Danjuma is made of sterner stuff. He was a full blooded General in the Army and knows the difference between the Army they belonged to and today’s Army.

     

    Those casting aspersions on the eminent citizen have done nothing to help our country. They do not want anyone to stand up for Nigeria. They like the country as it is. They are fanning the embers of inefficiency, nepotism and insecurity in order to profit from the situation. How many of these champions drive on Nigerian roads form one part of the country to another? How many of them sleep in their houses without surrounding themselves with armed Police guards?

    The truth is that we are now more unsafe than we have ever been in Nigeria in Peace time. I give kudos to the Northern Elders who recently called a spade a spade by telling the nation that they would not vote anyone from their region who has not lived up to expectations. They know that all is not well with our country and are themselves worried about the state of affairs. We cannot say that the professional clappers love President Buhari more than Prof Ango Abdulahi, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and their group of northern elders. The same group joined others to mobilize the country to vote against President Jonathan and usher in President Buhari in 2015.

     

    The simple message to Mr. President by all those who have cautioned him is that he is performing far below the expectations of most of our country men and women. Let the President listen to them and ignore the Buhari-does-no-wrong group. They would be the first to jump ship if the President doesn’t make it back to Aso Rock in 2019. I wish the President all the best.

     

    God bless Nigeria.

     

    Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa.

  • NIGERIA’S RECENT POOR CORRUPTION RATING BY TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL VINDICATES THE CLAIM OF MANY THAT THERE IS GROWING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA;

    NIGERIA’S RECENT POOR CORRUPTION RATING BY TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL VINDICATES THE CLAIM OF MANY THAT THERE IS GROWING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA;

    Confirmation from the Sultan of Sokoto who is a very conservative religious/ traditional ruler that there is still high level of corruption in Nigeria and the recent poor ranking of Nigeria on the world’s corruption perception index by Transparency International, vindicate those who have persistently argued that corruption in Nigeria merely went underground and became more audacious.

    The civil service and many public institutions are experiencing the highest level of nepotism and wanton embezzlement. Some public servants preside over the award of contracts to themselves through their surrogates and have deeply limited the openness that is expected from such processes. A number of public servants are taking refuge in an unelected powerful cabal to inflict damage on the integrity of this government. The pain of it all is that the elected government still has so much confidence in a warped bureaucracy.

    A great number of political appointees have not helped matters at all. Leading the pack is the serving Attorney General. What a pity that President Buhari can stick with this man of the many competent and forthright lawyers available to pick from in this country. The AG must read the mood of the nation with respect to fighting corruption. The public wants this fight to be sustained on the basis of substantial justice. They way don’t want a fight based on technicalities. They want to see that those let off the hook are truly innocent and the guilty ones are behind bars. This desire is based on the renewed public awareness that the real people who have afflicted them with poverty are those who stole their common wealth, but move around the country as free men flaunting their ill gotten wealth.

    How can a government that takes the likes of Amaechi seriously be taken seriously by the rest of humanity. Who were those in PDP that caused that Party credibility problems? Were they from Jupiter? Most of those men and women are right in bed with this regime. It is not surprising that they are gradually afflicting the government with their moral leprosy.

    Buhari’s supporters are intolerant of criticism and hail the old man as infallible, but his inability to be promptly decisive on corruption matters surrounding his lieutenants may rob him of his place in history. For a man who rode to power on the fight against corruption, to have the country remain in the worst ranking on corruption in recent times by an International Organization with global neutrality is ironical of his journey to Aso rock.

    The government cannot run away from this rating or dismiss same as wailing by haters as they normally do. They must take it seriously. Each time they get a boost on improving the economy from figures by less endowed agencies, they celebrate it via formal and social media. They must accept this rating and work to improve it. They cannot approbate and reprobate about international rating agencies by picking and choosing which one to accept. Such discretion would be poor and laughable.

    This is a warning shot to the government. They must heed the call and do the needful. Time is running out.

    Dr. West-Idahosa.
    ( A Nigerian based lawyer and policy analyst)

  • CAN OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRY JUDICIAL OFFICERS FOR ANY FORM OF MISCONDUCT?

    CAN OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRY JUDICIAL OFFICERS FOR ANY FORM OF MISCONDUCT?

    Section 153 of the 1999 constitution provides for the establishment of the National Judicial council (NJC). The functions of NJC are set out in paragraphs b & d of Item 21 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution and includes the exercise of disciplinary control over judicial officers. This is the umbrella upon which the NJC frequently subjects judicial officers to disciplinary processes which may lead to reprimand, suspension, freeze of promotion or dismissal in some cases. However, section 158 of the same constitution does not allow the NJC’s activities to be subject to the control or direction of any other authority or person.

     

    NJC’s 2014 Judicial Discipline Regulations describes misconduct as one prejudicial to effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts or any conduct described as misconduct in the Constitution and Code of Conduct of judicial officers.

     

    Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the Code of Conduct of public officers. Paragraphs 6 & 8 prohibits public officers from receiving gifts for something done or undone in the discharge of his duties and no one is entitled to bribe them to discharge their duties. Public officers covered by the said Code of Conduct includes all judicial officers as contained in part 2 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. The Code of Conduct Tribunal is set up to punish those in breach of any of the provisions of such code.

     

    Apparently, flowing from its disciplinary powers, NJC is positioned to deal with a breach of the Code of Conduct by judicial officers arising from their job. One of such is bribery in any form. Since the Constitution vests the power to discipline judicial officers on both the NJC or Code of Conduct Tribunal, either of them can exercise this power over serving judges, although it appears more convenient for NJC to do so on account if its greater preparedness for such activities.

     

    Allegations bothering on bribery of judicial officers flow from the discharge of their duties. They are not ordinary crimes. They bother on breaches of the code of conduct and oath of office contained in the constitution. They have to be dealt with in accordance with the method prescribed by the constitution.

     

    It does not mean that a judicial officer duly dealt with according to law and dismissed cannot be prosecuted by appropriate authorities for the crime of bribery under our criminal justice system. Judicial misconduct is sue generis and being in a class of its own, cannot be treated like any other crime. This is not peculiar to Nigeria. Some countries even have the The Court of the Judiciary where such matters are dealt with. The state of Tennessee in the US has such a court for dealing with judicial misconduct. In Canada, the the court of the judiciary investigates allegations of misconduct and recommends to parliarment, which has the ultimate power of removal as discipline.

     

    There is no doubt that the dominance of judges in NJC may lead to a perception that judges are getting off. This can have an adverse effect on public opinion confidence. Notwithstanding this,
    many judges have been nailed by NJC. The most important thing is for victims of judicial misconduct to have the courage to send petitions to the appropriate body and be guaranteed that they would not be victimized directly or otherwise by the judicial system.

    This is a personal opinion.

     

    Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa.

  • Buhari Government DÉJÀ VU or COINCIDENCE

    Buhari Government DÉJÀ VU or COINCIDENCE

    – Brigadier General Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro’s address to the Nation on the overthrow of Major General Buhari’s government – Tuesday, 27th August, 1985.

    – Please Pay attention to the CAPITALIZED phrases!

    Fellow countrymen,

    The intervention of the military at the end of 1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm. Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better.

    Almost two years later, it has become clear that the FULFILLMENT OF EXPECTATIONS IS NOT FORTHCOMING. Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay passive and watch a small group of individuals’ misuse power to the detriment of our national aspirations and interest. No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of government; WHERE IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT POSITIVE ACTION BY THE POLICY MAKERS IS HINDERED BECAUSE AS A BODY IT LACKS A UNITY OF PURPOSE.

    IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE NATION WOULD BE ENDANGERED WITH THE RISK OF CONTINUOUS MISDIRECTION. We are presently confronted with that danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what we have done. THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC HAS BEEN MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SLOW PACE OF ACTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HEADED BY MAJOR-GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI was due to the enormity of the problems left by the last civilian administration. Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by the last civilian government, THE REAL REASON, HOWEVER, FOR THE VERY SLOW PACE OF ACTION IS DUE TO LACK OF UNANIMITY OF PURPOSE AMONG THE RULING BODY; subsequently, THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNANCE HAS GRADUALLY BEEN SUBJECTED TO ILL-MOTIVATED POWER PLAY CONSIDERATIONS.

    The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has, therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of the SMC’s policies and decision. THE CONCEPT OF COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SUBSTITUTED BY STUBBORN AND ILLADVISED UNILATERAL ACTIONS, THEREBY DESTROYING THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CAME TO POWER. #Brainlessness

    ANY EFFORT MADE TO ADVISE THE LEADERSHIP, MET WITH STUBBORN RESISTANCE AND WAS VIEWED AS A CHALLENGE TO AUTHORITY OR DISLOYALTY. Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of what, was termed oppositions. ALL THE ENERGIES OF THE RULERSHIP WERE DIRECTED AT THIS IMAGINARY OPPOSITION RATHER THAN TO EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the country as a whole. The government has started to drift.

    THE ECONOMY DOES NOT SEEM TO BE GETTING ANY BETTER AS WE WITNESS DAILY INCREASED INFLATION. The nation’s meager resources are once again being WASTED ON UNPRODUCTIVE VENTURES. Government has distanced itself from the people and THE YEARNINGS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE AS CONSTANTLY REFLECTED IN THE MEDIA HAVE BEEN IGNORED. This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body.

    #Dejavu

    All these events have shown that the present composition of our country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued occupation of that position. Furthermore, the initial objectives and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. THE PRESENT STATE OF UNCERTAINTY AND STAGNATION CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO DEGENERATE INTO SUPPRESSION AND RETROGRESSION. We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew aspirations for a better future. WE ARE NO PROPHETS OF DOOM FOR OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, NIGERIA.

    #WhereisIBB

    We, therefore, count on everyone’s cooperation and assistance. I appeal to you, fellow countrymen, particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the armed forces. In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a) The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c) The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are closed; all borders remain closed. Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders will ensure effective maintenance of law and order. Further announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria

  • Aubameyang Ends Hegemony in African Football Award

    Aubameyang Ends Hegemony in African Football Award

    Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally ended the winning streak of Ivory Coast’s midfielder Yaya Toure to win the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year award.

    Yaya Toure who scooped the prestigious individual accolade in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, failed to register his dominance during the 2015 African footballer of the year award.

    In a vote of coaches and technical directors of Confederation of African member -nations, Aubameyang scored 143 points ahead of Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Toure on 136 while Ghana and Swansea midfielder Ande Ayew scored 112 points.

    The 26-year-old Gabon skipper has been in outstanding form this season for his club side Borussia Dortmund so far, scoring 18 goals in 17 league games.

    In this contest between goals and glory, between net-bursting regularity and continental-conquering, the cold, hard stats of Aubameyang’s year have won out.  And they’re numbers that make the heart beat just that little bit faster.

    In 2015, the Dortmund forward scored 41 goals in all competitions, of which 18 have come in just 17 Bundesliga matches so far this term—making him the division’s top scorer by the year’s end.

    His unswerving consistency of the end of last season (2014-2015), it’s worth noting that he only scored five league goals in the first half of the 2014-15 campaign, compared to 11 after the break, have given way to a relentless dominance over defenders this term.

    Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba paid tribute to the Gabonese star who will be key to the country’s hopes of lifting the African Cup of Nations on home soil in 2017.

    “The epitome of commitment and success at the highest level, this exceptional Gabonese demonstrated dazzling intuition and an attack of unparalleled velocity,” said the Gabon President in a statement.

    “His genius is a major asset for the panthers in preparation for the next African Cup of Nations.

    Aubameyang is the first player from his country to win the award. In 2014, he lost his first opportunity to win the award by losing to Yaya Toure.

    At the beginning of the year, Yaya became the first player to win four times the African Player of the Year awards in a row, but by October, Aubameyang had made headlines of his own, becoming the first Bundesliga player to score in each of the first eight games of the season.

    According to Goal.com, Beyond ending Toure’s hegemony of the award, Aubameyang may well have brought the curtain down on the cabal of truly world-class African players that established themselves as continental greats over the last decade and a half.

    Between them, Yaya, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Michael Essien, all of whom remain in football in some capacity, have 10 Caf POTY awards, eight second-placed finishes and nine third-placed finishes stretching back over the last 15 years—but it’s hard to see any of them truly challenge for the award again.

    Aubameyang’s victory looks to have just heralded in a new era of African elite.

     

    Other Award Winners

     

    Victor Osimhen was crowned Youth Player of the Year after 10 goals in seven matches helped Nigeria win the Under-17 World Cup for a record fifth time.

    Herve Renard, who managed Ivory Coast to their Africa Cup of Nations victory, won the coach of the year award. The Frenchman, who led Zambia to victory in the tournament in 2012, is the first person to coach two different countries to the title.

    Mbwana Aly Samatta, the Tanzanian star who helped his club side TP Mazembe to the African Champions League title, was crowned African-based player of the year.

    Mazembe were named club of the year, having also represented Africa at the Club World Cup, while Ivory Coast and Cameroon were respectively named men’s and women’s national team of the year.

    Gaelle Enganamouit of Cameroon was named women’s player of the year. She starred as the Indomitable Lionesses reached the second round of the Women’s World Cup, having qualified for the tournament for the first time in their history.

    Most Promising Talent of the Year – Peter Etebo Oghenejaro (Nigeria)

    Referee of the Year – Papa Bakary Papa Gassama (The Gambia)

    Leader of the Year – Abdiqani Said Arab (Somalia)

    Fair Play Award – Allez Casa Supporters Group (Senegal)

    African Legend – CK Gyamfi (Ghana) and Samuel Mbappe Leppe (Cameroon)

    Africa’s Finest XI of 2015

    Goalkeeper: Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo)

    Defenders: Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia), Mohamed Meftah (Algeria)

    Midfielders: Andre Ayew (Ghana), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Yacine Brahimi (Algeria),

    Forwards: Mbwana Aly Samatta (Tanzania), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria)