The Archaich Security Network: The Nigerian Security Agencies in the 21st Century

          The definition and perception of security in the past two decades have shifted from the old paradigm of protection from physical arms and injuries. The new paradigm focuses on food security and right to decent living for all humans in the world.  The developed countries of the world had made great leap forward both in the old and new paradigm. In Nigeria, emphasis remains on the old conception of security and stagnancy characterises our security system. The world has changed greatly in the last two decades in terms of security and governance, but the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and State Security Service (SSS) have failed to move or catch up with these changes. Their inability to messure up with these changes arises out of the chaotic recruitment process, lack of modern security apparatuses, and  poor quality of staff personnels have almost paralysed the agencies charged with the security responsibilities. The series of bombing by the fanatical sect, Boko Aram and the and armed robbery in the country have exposed the wicknesses in our security system as a nation.This seemingly hopeless security situation is further exacerbated by the complicities of those charged with the nations security in many kidnappings, robberies and perhaps the bombings. Not even the Nation's capital, Abuja is insulated from these security threats which appears to render our security agencies helpless in dealing with these threats. A nation that could not protect itself from the internal security threats is headed towards failure. That the Nigerian Security system needs overhauling to reflect the realities of the 21st century is self evident. The nation's security agencies needs to justify the billions of naira of tax payers money which have entered their purse in the name of defence and security. The central piece of this study attempts a critic of the Nigerian security agencies and concludes that, they are all outdated and unfit for the security challenges of the 21st century. Their challenges is not strictly their failure, but more importantly the failure of governance, misplaced priorities and visionless leadership.

Messi's debut & a meeting with Mourinho

A lot can happen in eight years. Back in 2003, Real Madrid remained the dominant force in Spanish and European football - despite Valencia winning the previous La Liga - while Barcelona had gone four years without any title at all.

The Catalan club had just failed to sign David Beckham and bought Ronaldinho instead, Lionel Messi was an unknown and Jose Mourinho simply a former assistant coach taking his, albeit very successful, first steps in the game in his native Portugal.

Mourinho had worked under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barca, gaining popularity as he spoke of his warmth for the club and impressed in his role as a knowledgeable and dedicated number two. And after leading Porto to league, cup and Uefa Cup success in 2003, he was instrumental in inviting back his old club for a prestigious friendly meeting to inaugurate Porto's brand new stadium, Estadio do Dragao, built for the European Championships of 2004.

Trophy boy | The honours have kept on coming for Leo Messi since his 2003 debut

Porto offered Barca €250,000 (£221,160) and incoming president Joan Laporta, reeling from bad buys at elevated prices in previous mandates, gladly took up the offer. As it was mid-November, coach Frank Rijkaard, who would later lead the Catalan club to two Primera Division titles and a Champions League crown in 2006, picked a scratch side with mostly youth-team players joined in the starting XI by Xavi, Mexican defender Rafa Marquez and current Roma coach Luis Enrique, who was coming to the end of his career.

The match turned out to be a scrappy affair on a poor pitch, but it was made memorable by two men: Messi and Mourinho.

“On Messi's first day of training with us, we wondered why he was there because he was so tiny. But then we saw him play.”

- Gerard Pique on young Messi

The Argentine, a tiny teenager of just 16 years and five months, began on the bench and was expected to feature at some stage. "Argentine footballer Luis Lionel Messi, a youth-team player with FC Barcelona, could make his debut with the first team against Portuguese side Porto in the inauguration of their new stadium on Sunday," read an understated report by Buenos Aires-based national news agency Telam. Little did they know what was to come from young 'Luis Lionel' as the youngster replaced defender Fernando Navarro late in the game and immediately caused Porto problems with a serious of dazzling dribbles. He should have scored as well, but opted to keep running instead of shooting with the goal at his mercy.

From the dugout, Mourinho watched on with interest. The Portuguese was hardly a household name back then, either, but he would be less than a year later as he led Porto to an improbable triumph in the Champions League and subsequently moved to Chelsea. It was a first meeting with former club Barca for the self-styled 'Special One' and a premiere performance for Messi, who later watched the highlights of the game with his father, proud and touched at his son's showing, as part of a television special in Catalunya.

Mourinho, ultra-competitive as always, won that particular meeting with Messi and Barca as his side triumphed 2-0, thanks to a penalty from Derlei and a late Hugo Almeida goal. Nobody remembers that now, of course, but the rest, as they say, is history.

“If I had known how good Mourinho was, I would have told Barcelona to keep him here when he was working as assistant coach.”

- Pep Guardiola in 2010


Just last week, Mourinho's Real Madrid side came as close as anyone has to exposing Barcelona in recent times, giving as good as they got in the Spanish Supercopa before ultimately losing out, as so often before, to Messi. But big battles lie ahead in 2011-12 following five frenzied fixtures between Spain's big two last term.

Together, the Portuguese and the Argentine have helped create - along with Pep Guardiola, who was winding down his playing career in Qatar late in 2003 - what is perhaps modern football's greatest rivalry.

So if Messi nets tonight in the only competition in which he has played and failed to score, and leads his side to yet another victory, the newly-crowned European Player of the Year will have beaten both Mourinho and Porto in the space of just over a week. He will have come full circle. And if that happens, he will surely look back to when he stepped nervously off the bench that night in northern Portugal in 2003 to face Porto, Mourinho and the watching world for the very first time in his first-team career. Eight years is a long time in football.

The Libyan Revolution and a Tale of Deceit

                                             The Libyan Revolution and a Tale of Deceit ?

It was a a sigh of relieve and a welcom development when the capture of Saif Al Islam became the thrilling and sensational headline of yesterday news from New York Times to CNN and BBC. by the nightfall the story was otherwise and allegedly capture Seif reapeared. His re appearance did not only caused panick but most importantly put in doubt the sincerity and the integrity of the freedom fighters or what the West would call rebels. Rebels should get their priority straight and stop deceiving the public because they may loose sympathisers and support of those who really want to lend hand in their struggle. The most amazing however was the alleged confirmation by the ICC of Saef Al- Islam's arrest. Is ICC loosing credibility which many in the first instance do not believe exists? Should Gahdaffis still at large, the situation in Libya remains uncertain while at the same time it could not be controverted that Gadhafi is almost stripped  by the rebels's entrance of Libya on Saturday. While no one could accurately predict the outcome of the Libyan situation, it is certain peace would not return imediately to the country because power vacuum had been created, and the contest for power and supremacy itself may be worse off than the struggle to host Gadhafi. the lies told by the rebels leaders could be the sign of the what to come. Let every freedom loving Libyans continue to monitor this situation and lend their total support to the liberation of their home land from the poisionous grips of the Gadhafis. Who is decieving who in Libya? The Media, The TNC, The ICC or The Gadhafis?

The Fall of "Green Square"

The fall of “Green Square”

It was more like a dream than reality when the revolution that was ignited by Bouaziz”s self-immolation in Tunisia snowballed into Egypt, Bahrain, Syria and finally Libya. For those who are still disillusioned by the invincibility and the apparent power and popularity of tyrants in the Arab world, you are welcomed to the possibility of human will and freedom to fully choose their government. The capturing of the Green Square on Sunday, 21^st 2011 demonstrated that no dictator, iron fisted or wood fisted and even nuclear fisted could submerge the human will. Are there any lessons for Iranian leader, Ahmadinejad in the Libyan example? This may be one of the signs of things to come for Iran. How be it the Libyan people have demonstrated bravery and took their destiny in their hand, in the end they have obtained their freedom from Gadhafi’s Self-created four decades monarchy. Beyond the ousting of the Green Tyrant, what does the Transitional National Council (TNC) hope to put on ground to resolve governance which has been ousted? At a level are the fears of replicating the Afghan and the Iraqi example in Libya and at another level, the fear of turning Libya into a breeding ground for potential terrorists is not unfounded. The NATO-aided victory of the rebel is well known under the guise of No Fly Zone. Here comes another question, will the West pay the huge sacrifices necessary to sustain the rebel government beyond their vampire search for Oil of Libya? Indeed many questions abound for the Inquisitive minds and analysts to engage on the Libyan question and the fall of the Green Square. On a final note how would the rebel and ICC handle Gadhafis whom have been captured? The battle for the Green Square which had been envisaged to be bloody came seemingly swiftly and In the end, it was more of a Sunday drive than a punishing final offensive. This shows the powerful hand of the West.