PRESS RELEASE: HIJAB: FASHOLA SEEKS OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT

The Lagos State Government is seeking an out of court settlement in the suit filed against it by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit over the victimization of Muslim girls wearing Hijab in state public schools.

When the case came up for first hearing before Justice J.O.K Oyewole of the Lagos High Court Ikeja today, counsel to the state government, S.A Ajanaku, said no defense had been filed in the case, but added that steps had already been initiated towards settlement of the matter.

He pleaded with the judge to allow the government more time to consummate the steps already initiated.

Muslim students after court hearing on victimisation over hijab, in Lagos. 

However, counsel to the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit Barrister Hassan .A. Fajimite, who led other nine lawyers to the court, expressed surprise at the request of the state counsel, saying that they were not aware or informed of any move by the state government to settle the case. He nevertheless obliged to the option.

Justice Oyewole thereafter asked the parties to meet and work out terms of the settlement and report back to the court on July 10, 2013.

Meanwhile, members of the MSSN and other Islamic organizations, who thronged the court premises for the case, later embarked on a peaceful protest to Ikeja under-bridge and back to the old secretariat mosque beside the high court.

They carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Hijab is our right,’ ‘Why must Lagos State Government compete with God?’ ‘Hijab our pride,’ ‘Nudity is not our way,’

and others.

Addressing the people, the Amir Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen, urged all Muslims in the state to remain calm and peaceful throughout the period the hearing of the case would last.

He also thanked all Islamic organizations that came to solidarise with the MSSN on the Hijab issue promising that the society would not relent until victory is achieved.

It would be recalled that the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit had taken the state government to court over persistent victimization of Muslim girls using Hijab by some secondary school principals in the state.

One of them Aisha Alabi of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Metta was given 43 strokes of the cane by her principal, Mrs. E.C Ukpaka for wearing Hijab in the school premises.

Bareera Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi was also harassed by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele who removed her Hijab and stepped on it outside the school premises.

Signed:

Sulaimon Alamutu

PRO, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit

Time for Chalobah to show up on big stage

I have strangely procrastinated writing on Chelsea’s Nathaniel Chalobah for some time now, having monitored his impressive progress this season on loan at English Championship, Watford FC.

Often times I try to avoid the sensationalism that usually hits a youngster who has had a decent single season, especially at the Chalobah’s age, for there is a long journey from being a superstar at youth football level to arriving at an accomplished footballer destination. The beauty about opinion is it changes as reality creeps in, with time.

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone on December 12, 1994, Nathaniel is the kind of young player every coach who is interested in youth football development desires; a natural talent who has got the heart of a leader, and versatility in potentials. His talent offers a coach a beautiful conundrum of options from where to explore and exploit. He’s a young lad who has been involved with the first team squad at Chelsea since the age of 15.

Young Chalobah has captained England and Chelsea youth teams (always ahead of his age groups) as well as the Blues reserves yet he only turned 18 last December. The fact that the England boss, Roy Hodgson has mentioned him as one of the country’s emerging talents clearly means he has been monitoring his progress.

Watford manager and one of Chelsea’s most admirable former footballers, Gianfranco Zola believes in the youngster and took him into his squad from the start of the season. Zola, 46, even fondly sometimes calls him ‘my friend’ and after featuring 41 times-including 36 starts- you surely do not need many arguments on how highly the Blues legend rates Chalobah.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Nathaniel Chalobah (right) set for Wembley showdown for Watford

Chalobah can competently play both as a central defender and a midfielder, but Zola admits he is trying to mould him into a defensive midfielder-he has played as midfielder virtually all season. It is safe to say the Italian has not curtailed the Three Lions hopeful of his attacking instincts, allowing him to transit into opponents’ attacking third throughout the season. Nathaniel has plundered five goals via these offensive traits, with his thunderbolt winner at Leicester City the peak of the pack.

Now the teenager is facing arguably the biggest game of his career so far against London rivals Crystal Palace in the play-off final, a game of emotions, of financial and professional motivation. The new windfall of around £120m, expected to be accruable to teams aiming for promotion, makes it a massive game at the illustrious Wembley Stadium on May, 27. Then the chance to play against the finest footballers in the English Premier League is another significant incentive.

Chalobah has had relatively subdued performances in the previous two-legged games play-off games against Leicester City but that’s understandable for a young lad who has started 37 games in his first real shot at senior competitive football .

 However he must be ready to make a huge impression at Wembley with Premier League managers (who may offer him loan options) and those of the national teams watching. It is important he sees the game as a great audition to further justify the rave reviews he has had all season and repay Zola’s faith in him by playing a crucial role to ensure a victorious outing. His position is quite important in controlling the tempo of the game for the Hornets. He can be a key player.

 If Watford make the Premier League, it affords Chalobah a great opportunity to ask Chelsea for another loan spell at Vicarage Road, where he could enjoy more regular football at top level than returning to Stamford Bridge for bit-part roles.  Staying with Zola in the top flight will do him a lot of good because the manager clearly believes in him.

There are obvious indications the new Blues manager (potentially Jose Mourinho) is gunning for experienced midfield reinforcements- Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira and AS Roma’s Danielle De Rossi have both been linked with a move to London.  In addition, the announcement of a new deal for veteran Frank Lampard can only mean Chalobah will be down the line in his consideration.

Then after making the squad to this summer’s U-21 European Championship, it would be great for young Nathaniel to show manager Stuart Pearce that he’s the man to trust in the heart of England midfield in Israel.

You’ve got it in you Chalobah, good luck at Wembley. 

Odemwingie on counter-attack to my twitter jab

Peter Odemwingie is a very interesting character. He has been a vocal footballer who is never shy when it comes to ventilating his views about his issues regarding the national team or even criticisms about him.

The latter, which bothers on his tempestuous experience at current club, West Bromwhich Albion, has further highlighted his ‘no-nonsense’ personality, heightened by the Nigerian star’s intense presence on twitter.

Immediately after helping Nigeria to Beijing Olympics silver medal in 2008, Odemwingie bluntly declared that his coach at the tournament; Samson Siasia, was not ready to take over the senior national team’s job. He believed he needed more ‘age and experience’  to coach the Eagles. He disagreed with the popular clamour for his coach who eventually got the job but then dismissed for failing to lead the team to 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualification .

The Albion forward also openly criticised the tactics of for Eagles coach Shuaibu Amodu, and had problems with current England coach, Roy Hodgson whom current coach Steve Clarke succeeded as the Baggies manager.

  So last Friday I tweeted in wonderment as to why Odemwingie has had issues with virtually all his clubs (nothing chaotic during his impressive sojourn at French Ligue 1 outfit Lille Metropole , helping them to the knockout stages of the 2006/2007  UEFA Champions League) and the national team. Here are my tweets:

“The more @OdemwingieP talks, to explain, the worse it gets really. Yet he doesn't get it. Poor him.

“@OdemwingieP is desperate to convince us all that he's been right with his decisions, that he's been poorly treated, yet we see holes there.

“NFF, Keshi, Siasia, Hodgson,Clarke, Nigeria, Russia & West Brom fans have all wronged @OdemwingieP, we've misjudged him. Calm down bro. Calm.”

Osaze, as we fondly call him in Nigeria (His indigenous name), sent me a strong reaction through a direct mail to rubbish any suggestions that he is a unmanageable. Here is his response unedited (beside the parenthesis).

“Shut up there guy. Who them be make I take sh*t from them. Loko (Lokomotiv Moscow, his former Russian club) na yeye club. See we’re they are now. Siasia wanted me out the team before the problem started.

“Hodgeson u can judge by what he did to Ferdinand. Keshi plan same as Siasia. I don’t waste time I just help them speed up the process, so we dot need to pretend long.

“NFF? Hy u think they change them all the time and get a presidential tax force to control their movement? Now there r few correct  people. There not selfish.”

Odemwingie, who became West Brom  top scorer ever in a single Premier League season with 15 goals in the 2010/2011 season, his debut campaign at the Hawthorns, insists he will remain a hero among the Baggies faithful.

“Wba hero is what I am to fans. If doctor or coach or player no give me min respect  I ll just hammer them Simple. People only see my complains. My achievements are more than any complain both with eagles and club I beg. Don’t write me that rubbish again.”

Yes sir! I hear you oga Osaze.