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Person Of The Year 2022, By Hannatu Musawa

Hannatu Musawa
January 10, 2023

PERSON OF THE YEAR 2022

ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU

In the Yoruba culture, the literal translations of “Asiwaju” would be “one who opens (leads) from the front, a leader and the first.” Hence the Asiwaju title is very sacred to Yoruba’s and not just anyone is conferred the title. In fact, one must possess leadership traits and must have exhibited them for the title to be conferred. It is certainly no surprise that Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu holds the title of Asiwaju of Lagos.

 

Many also know him as “Jagaban”, gaining prominence among his followers and fellow political allies. But not many of the people who know him or refer to him as Jagaban are aware that the name Jagaban is a chieftaincy title bestowed upon him by the late Emir of Borgu, in Niger State, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro III. The word Jagaban means ‘leader of warriors’ and it was formed from the chieftaincy title “Ja a gabar borgu” which means “the leader of Borgu land or in the Yoruba Language the Asiwaju of Borgu land.”

 

No doubt Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently exhibited his leadership prowess over the years, endearing many to him. He has also become a force to be reckoned within political circles and a gladiator in the political arena. His views, opinions, and even silence have been subjected to heated debates across the length and breadth of the country.  Presently, I doubt that there is any “popular” leader in the sense of someone who enjoys consensual support across the many spectrums of political opinions and interests in Nigeria.

 

Born in the mid twentieth century, the leadership gene was perhaps transferred to him as his mother Abibatu Mogaji who was a trader, later became the Iyaloja of Lagos Sate. He attended St. John's Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children's Home School in Ibadan. Tinubu then went to the United States in 1975, where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago and then at Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. After working for several companies like Arthur Andersen and Deloitte he returned to Nigeria in 1983 and joined Mobil Oil Nigeria. He would go on to become an executive of the company.

 

His political career kick started in 1992 when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was elected to the Senate representing Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Third Republic. After the annulment of the now infamous June 12 presidential elections in 1993, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition, a group which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of Moshood Abiola as winner of the Presidential election.

 

In the run-up to the 1999 elections that ushered in the current Fourth Republic, Bola Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo. His political prowess shone during the party’s governorship election primaries when he defeated Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu. Both were heavy weights in Lagos, with Dosunmu a former Minister of Works and Housing. He would go on to stand in Isolo, Oshodi LGA, to lead his campaign for Governor. He subsequently became elected as governor during the 1999 elections, with the most votes ever given any candidate in Lagos history.

His two for year tenure as Governor of Lagos state was where Tinubu etched his name and legacy in the sands of time. His indelible footprints as Governor are still littered around the length and breadth of Lagos state. Like a commentator recently said, “Tinubu took over like that proverbial octopus with all its hands in all the jars, weaving Lagos state from pit to the palace it is today.”

 

Lagosians can never forget the efforts of Tinubu’s administration in creating the “Lagos of our dream” especially when the federal allocation for Lagos was seized. It is on record that he embarked on a novel and aggressive revenue generation drive, which halted the dependence on federal allocations to the state. Before he came to power, Lagos was generating about N600,000 monthly. Today, the internally generated revenue (IGR) is around N45 billion courtesy of Tinubu’s effective thinking cap and thinking outside the box. 

 

Despite being the most populous state in Nigeria, Lagos has no history of terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. From initiating and equipping the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), an anti-crime unit in Lagos, to solving the internecine war between motor park managers, Tinubu is being touted as the man who can solve the current national security challenges. The RRS that he helped established is being copied by other states towards fighting crime and criminalities.

 

Health and education were key priority areas for his administration. He made large investments in education in the state and also reduced the number of schools in the state by returning many schools to the already settled former owners. There was also a free health policy for children below 18 and adults above 65 years that the Tinubu administration introduced, drugs for patients were heavily subsidized knowing the importance of healthcare delivery to building a healthy society.

 

Tinubu provided multiple housing units in Lagos for the poor and succeeded in making the Lekki corridor the fastest growing real estate investment haven. The former governor lamented the federal government’s failed housing policy and the neglect of the housing needs of the former federal capital territory (FCT). He restructured the ministry of works and housing by upgrading the housing department or directorate into a full-fledged ministry. 

 

His administration is indeed a success story that encompasses success in reforming the civil service, reducing corruption, and improving state infrastructure. He improved incentives for civil servants, including salary increases, improving quality and hygiene of working environments, and teaching investment principles and how to work toward home ownership.  His payroll-system reforms removed thousands of ghost workers from the system.  He applied principles he learned in the corporate world to the public sector reform effort.  

 

Before the 2007 General Elections, Tinubu succeeded in convincing the erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar to become the flag bearer of his party, the Action Congress. In 2009, following the landslide victory of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 elections, Tinubu became involved in negotiations to bring together the fragmented opposition parties into a "mega-party" capable of challenging the then ruling PDP.

 

In February 2013, he spear-headed the creation of a "mega opposition" party with the merger of Nigeria's three biggest opposition parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the new PDP (nPDP), a faction of the then ruling People's Democratic Party – into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The following year, he was again instrumental in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the Presidential flag bearer of the newly form All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2015, Buhari rode the APC to victory, ending the sixteen year rule of the PDP, and marking the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate. Tinubu has gone on to play an important role in the Buhari administration, supporting government policies and holding onto the internal party reins. Early this year, he officially announced his intention to run for President and in June won the APC presidential primary.

 

Out of 24 heavyweights that vied for the APC presidential ticket, Tinubu clinched it and went on to form a formidable team that would campaign for the Presidency at the 2023 general election.

 

His tenacity, principle of competence, innovation, compassion integrity, fairness, adherence to excellence and political prowess has set him on a clear path to victory come the presidential election. He is not only the front runner, but also gearing up to win the election with a huge landslide.

 

Presently, there is no other politician in Nigeria that has shown the kind of acute skill that Asiwaju displays. He is the future of Nigeria and will likely be one of the best presidents the nation will ever have. “Asiwaju is coming!”

 

…FOR HIS INNOVATION, COURAGE, CLOUT, COMMITMENT, VISION, SINCERITY OF PURPOSE, CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE IN NAVIGATING THE POLITICAL TERRAIN, FOR THE MIDAS TOUCH HE BRINGS TO EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES, FOR HIS ABILITY TO OUTMANEUVER EVERY OTHER POLITICIAN IN THE LAST SEVERAL POLITICAL CYCLES AND EMERGE THE HEAVYWEIGHT OF NIGERIAN POLITICS, AND FOR POSITIONING HIMSELF IN THE PIVOTAL POSITION OF EMERGING AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA, ‘ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU’ IS THE PERSON OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

CATEGORIES:

NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR

NON NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR: 

WARRIOR OF THE YEAR:

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG OF THE YEAR: 

NIGERIAN GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR:

WORST HEADLINE / BREAKING STDRGORY OF THE YEAR: 

BEST BREAKING NEWS / HEADLINE OF THE YEAR: 

COLLUMNIST OF THE YEAR: 

ARTICLE  OF THE YEAR: 

• MY WRITE UP CHOICE OF THE YEAR:

BOOK OF THE YEAR:

MOVIE OF THE YEAR: 

T.V SHOW OF THE YEAR: 

SONG OF THE YEAR: 

NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR

OLUWATOBILOBA AYOMIDE AMUSAN (TOBI AMUSAN)

 

12.12 seconds and a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the semi-finals and finals of the 2022 World Championships 100 meters hurdles has been etched in history as the current world record. It was set by none other than Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian female sensation that has been sprinting her way to gold in recent athletic meets. Time and time again, the Nigerian sprint sensation has proven why she is the global queen of the 100 meter hurdles. Last year, she became the first Nigerian athlete to win a Diamond League title as she took the 100 meters hurdles trophy.

She is the current World, Commonwealth and African champion in the 100 m hurdles, as well as the meet record holder in those three competitions. Amusan became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100 m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds in the semifinal. She won back to back Commonwealth and African titles in 2018 and 2022 in the 100 m hurdles and is also a two-time African Games champion in the event.

 

She may have missed out on the Women’s World Athlete of the Year Awards-coming, third behind American Sydney McLaughlin and Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce respectively but that does not take anything away from the global star. Tobi rules Africa by a mile as she was named Africa’s Best Female Athlete for the Year 2022 ahead of Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who are both world champions in the 1500m and 1000m were ranked second and third respectively behind Amusan.

 

Born to school teachers in 1997 in Ijebu Ode and the last child of three siblings, Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan was an accomplished athlete from an early age. She wasn’t an athletic outlier because both her parents were athletes. Her father played volleyball for Ogun State while her mother was a sprinter in her tertiary school days, but both were cautious in allowing their daughter a free rein at athletics. Like several Nigerians, her sports journey began as a footballer. She was however taken to a track coach and in competing against supposedly coached athletes, she came first. That was how her athletics career took off in Ijebu-Ode.

She began winning medals at local competitions, but she actually came into the national consciousness when she won a silver medal at the 2013 African Youth Championships in Warri. Due to her tenacity, consistency and never-say-never attitude, she made it to the 100m Hurdles semi-final at the 2016 Rio Olympics; came fourth at the World Athletics Championships in 2019; was fourth again at the 2020 Olympics before shattering the world record in 2022 in the United States.

 

If there is one thing that stands Amusan out amongst her peers, it is her self-belief and philosophy that with God, all things are possible. After the disappointment in Tokyo, Amusan dusted herself off and took the 2021 Diamond League title in September. Screaming after the race, draped with the Nigeria flag, Amusan said, “I did it”. It was a great way to end the season. Her achievements were officially recognized by President Muhammadu Buhari who conferred her with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in September.

 

There is no getting over the fact that Tobi Amusan is one of the shinning lights of this great nation at this very time. She is a role model and a beacon of hope for so many young people, girls especially, who look to this great amazon and believe that they too could aspire and reach to greater heights by believing and striving to be the best. Apart from being a global star at this very moment, she is one person we can continue to watch in the future with pride, glee and delight. May this national treasure soar higher and higher with great success.

…FOR INSPIRING THE NATION AND THE WORLD WITH HER VICTORY,  FOR REPRESENTING NIGERIA WITH HONOUR, SKILL AND EXCELLENCE AND FOR BEING AN EXAMPLE FOR EVERY NIGERIAN LITTILE GIRL OF HOW DEDICATION AND HARDWORK CAN FORM FUTURE POTENTIAL…, ‘OLUWATOBILOBA AYOMIDE AMUSAN’  IS THE NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

NON NIGRERIAN OF THE YEAR

 

HER ROYAL MAJESTY, QUEEEN ELIZABETH II

 

I can only think of one non Nigerian that deserves this accolade more than any other. Even in death, the life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth stands head and shoulders above almost every other living person.

 

On her twenty-first birthday, 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth, in the presence of her parents and younger sister made a promise to her nation and dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth when she said, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

….And it was a promise that Elizabeth Alexandra Mary kept throughout her life!

 

Like so many people around the world, the passing of Queen Elizabeth had a thunderous effect on me. Nobody living can say that they haven’t lived the majority of their lives under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. For 70 years this woman of sheer class and substance served Britain and the commonwealth with a remarkable dedication to duty. It’s hard to imagine anything about being British without the thought of the Monarch who sat on the throne for over seventy years. With her passing everything changes and the British consciousness is greatly challenged.

 

It may be hard for those not in tune with the concept of Monarchy and specifically Britain’s Constitutional Monarchy to completely understand how deeply the bond between the British people and the Queen ran. In its most basic form, the Queen was the very embodiment of being British and the institution that she was the head of is the very identity of Britain. She was the very best of being British, she was the epitome of essence and value for the United Kingdom. She was what made Britain… ‘Great Britain.’ Nobody in the history of the world has symbolized what it means to be British more than Queen Elizabeth. 

 

She had always just been present with a seemingly resolute and invincible impression. The British people and all the people around the world who revered her must learn to live a life in which she is no longer present. The impact of her death cannot be quantified into words. The transition that happened in the wake of her death was concrete history unfolding right before our very own eyes.

 

This incredible woman was the longest serving Monarch in Britain and she was the second longest serving Monarch in the history of the world. She served with 15 British prime Ministers, hosted 13 of the last 14 American presidents. She was Queen before Nigeria gained its Independence. She held more than 100 State visits of the World’s leaders and was the head of state in 17 different countries. She was the head of the commonwealth of nations. She was present through the good and the bad times of the world. Through wars, pandemics, financial crisis, terrorism, natural disasters she was always present. And she stood tall and gave leadership with the dignity, faith and duty of heroes.

 

One shall remain grateful to have had the opportunity to thank her for her service during her Platinum Jubilee earlier on in the year. And it gave the United Kingdom and the commonwealth an opportunity to show its beloved Queen how grateful they were for her service and how much she meant to them. 

 

She had a sense of magic and majesty. She loomed large in the life of most Britons. She had such warmth and humor which shone through when she interacted with people. She had empathy and compassion. She was strong, intellectual and modest. I was lucky to have had two encounters with the Queen and must say that I was profoundly struck by her warmth.

 

Her life was one of public service and duty which saw her totally commit to her country and her commonwealth. She was a devoted wife and mother and a constant figure of British national pride. Even when the dynamic reality of the world experienced extraordinary changes, Elizabeth was steadfast.

 

She was born in 1926 as a princess. There was nothing in her path that suggested the expectation of her emerging as Queen. Elizabeth’s destiny changed when her Grandfather, King George V, passed and when her uncle, Edward VII, abdicated. Her father, King George VI, became King and she became his heir. With those turn of events, her role for life changed and her approach to it was shaped by the second World War. It was during wartime that the most important relationship of her life was sparked when she met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten

 

In 1947, she got engaged and then married to Prince Philip. They became a glamorous young couple who were celebrated across the British Isles. From the union, Prince Charles was born, followed by Princess Ann, later came Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. While a young mother of two duty called when her father became ill and she had to take his place on a tour of the commonwealth. It was during that assignment that the tragic news of the passing of a beloved sovereign, King George VI, came. 

 

In a remote lodge in Kenya, her husband, Prince Phillip broke the heartbreaking news to her. In the flash of an eye, she had become Queen in her early twenties. Accounts record that she gulped and gathered herself because, after all, in addition to being a grieving daughter, she had also become the Queen in a way that she could never have imagined. A year after becoming Queen came her coronation.

 

At only 26, Queen Elizabeth set out to prove herself to courtiers, politicians, the country and the commonwealth. And this she did with eloquence and perfection. From the very start of her reign, she was very deliberate in connecting with the public. She did this by carrying out thousands of community engagements and walkabouts. She was always calm as she constantly dedicated herself to duty, with constitutional responsibilities and with weekly audiences with her prime ministers. She was a figurehead of unity and stability wherever she went. She always applied herself accordingly and never wavered from duty and service. She was the anchor who led her people with dignity. In every situation, she adapted the way she worked to reach out to people, set a steady example and rallied her people with messages of hope and resilience. She was a woman who was a symbol of reconciliation, collaboration, and national pride. She was a guiding light through many a dark time. And behind all the formality, she remained a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

 

While she was head of state, her husband, Prince Philip was the head of her family and an enormous support for her. In 2021, when she had to say goodbye to her beloved husband and dedicated consort, she weathered it bravely. She grieved with courage and without self pity. She believed that nothing was about her but about the greater good of her nation. 

 

In what can be described as the more difficult personal times of her reign, especially in the 1990’s when her children got divorced and a fire engorged her beloved Windsor castle, she stood strong. In her now famous speech, she described 1992 as a “annus horribilis.” In 1997, when Princess Diana was tragically killed in a horrific car crash, the Queen was challenged by her subjects when she was criticized for not addressing the nation and mourning with the public. The Queen responded by speaking to the public on Diana’s death. 

 

In more recent years, she saw her family and the monarchy through more personal turmoil when her favorite son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, faced sex abuse allegations and her petulant grandchild, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, opted to leave the firm with his ambitious and overbearing wife. 

 

It was a given that the Queen didn’t show her emotions in public because she ‘Never complained and never explained’, but she was known to be a woman who was genuinely kind. She had a very British sense of humor, which the world saw a glimpse of in hilarious stints she participated in during the 2012 London Summer Olympics when she jumped out of a plane with James Bond and during her Platinum Jubilee in 2022 when she shared the screen with Paddington Bear and a marmalade sandwich. 

 

During her milestone moment at the Platinum Jubilee, the United Kingdom and the commonwealth came together to celebrate, not only with her, but to celebrate her. She went on to become the first British monarch to mark a platinum jubilee. Her long life passed by so many milestones, and it has been a pleasure watching her along the way. 

 

In life, her family was expected to step in and support her and now they have a duty of service to maintain her legacy and the noble lineage she comes from. Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable reign and the stability it bought has ensured to secure the future of the monarchy. Through King Charles III, Prince William (Prince of Wales) and Prince George, the monarchy looks to be in steady arms. 

 

Like millions across the world, I feel a personal loss at the passing of Queen Elizabeth, a loss of an indomitable woman who lived her life with such grace and dignity. Like millions across the world, I shall mourn Queen Elizabeth.

 

And as I reflect on a year that saw the passing of this gargantuan woman of sheer substance, I bow my head, curtsey and say, Thank you, ma’am. Goodbye.”

 

… FOR TRASCENDING NATIONAL BORDERS, BEING A MONARCH, WHOSE EXAMPLE FOR SEVEN DECADES WAS MATCHLESS;  FOR CHAMPIONING THE BEST HUMAN VIRTUES: FAITH IN GOD, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND COMMITMENT TO DUTY AND BEING A FINE EXAMPLE OF HUMANITY, ‘THE LATE GRATE ROYAL MAJESTY, QUEEEN ELIZABETH II’ IS THE NON NIGERIAN  OF THE YAER 2022

 

 

WARRIOR OF THE YEAR

 

GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE

 

In January 2021, during the commissioning of Rumueche/Rumuakunde Ohna Awuse Road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Rochas Okorocha described Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State as one of the most controversial politicians in Nigeria. Well, the former Imo state governor wasn’t far from the truth. Two words fittingly describe Nyesom Wike – controversial and daring. 

Whenever the governor speaks on an issue, his listeners could easily feel the energy and passion, or even the anger in him. He has shown time and time again that he is one governor who loves talking and stirs controversies, even if such controversies could hurt him politically. His political rascality, doggedness and astuteness is well-known and has become unparalleled to none.

His political journey began when he was elected as a two-term Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007. He was appointed Minister of State for Education in 2011 and was later appointed Acting Minister of Education, but resigned before finishing his term to campaign for Governor of Rivers State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He was elected governor in 2015 and 2019.

Presently, one could say that Wike is holding the PDP by the jugular owing to the several controversies that has besieged the party after its presidential primaries. In March last year, Wike had declared that he would be running for president ahead of the 2023 General election. He was however defeated by Atiku Abubakar who won the primaries with 371 votes while Wike got 237 votes being the first runner up. This apparently didn’t sit down well with Wike and the PDP has been enmeshed in crisis ever since.

His loud silence since the nomination of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, also unsettled the party and its leadership. The grievance undoubtedly polarized the ranks of the main opposition party especially in the South. His subsequent refusal to meet with Atiku or his emissaries, sent jitters down the spine of the PDP as nobody in the party knows his next move, especially considering the alleged overtures from the APC and Labour Party.

 

At the party’s flag-off of its presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, a group of five PDP governors led by none other than Nyesom Wike were conspicuously absent. This was also the case at the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council. The unresolved crisis with the five governors christened ‘G-5 Governors’ shows that the PDP crisis is far from being over ahead of elections next month. How much it will affect the party in the General Elections is anybody’s guess. Whichever way the 2023 elections will go, Governor Nyesom Wike, leading his renegade G5, has cemented himself as a warrior ready to stand his ground and make his own decision regarding the election despite the expectations of his party.

 

… FOR BEING A BRAVE WARRIOR READY TO TAKE A STAND BASED ON HIS CONVICTIONS, FOR SHOWING GREAT VIGOR, COURAGE, INDEPENDENCE AND AGGRESSIVENESS AS FAR AS THE POLITICS OF PDP AND RIVERS STATE IS CONCERNED, ‘GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE’ IS THE WARRIOR OF THE YEAR 2022

 

 

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR 2022

LIONEL MESSI

 

In football, there are few numbers that carry such significance or admiration as the number 10. Traditionally, the number 10 jersey is usually given to the team's playmaker or star attacking midfielder. A playmaker is typically the player who, with their acute vision, awareness of the game, passing skills, technique and ability to read the game sets the tone of the attacking play. They are often seen as the 'puppeteers' of the team. It is a number not to be worn lightly as it carries huge responsibilities.

 

Some of the greatest players in history have worn this number on the back of their jerseys, and some of the greatest moments in the game have been created by a player wearing the number 10. Notable players such as Pele, Maradona, Platini and our very own Jay Jay Okocha along with so many more of the all-time greats all wore that number at the height of their careers. 

 

The prestige attached to the number has primarily developed from the fact that these players in the history of the round leather game have accomplished their most outstanding achievements while wearing the number 10 on their back.

 

Lionel Messi, a.k.a merciless Messi, a.k.a the magician is the latest sensation that is ‘repping’ the number 10 jersey, as they say in local parlance. Since bursting into the international stage, he has been phenomenal. His left foot has sent many players to the cleaners. He is feared by defenders and goalkeepers and along with the legendary Maradona he has made sure that the Argentinean flag features prominently at senior foot balling events.

 

Widely regarded as the greatest player in history, the unassuming Argentine forward first came to limelight when he led his country to victory, winning the 2005 edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship. The 18-year old budding superstar at the time edged silver and bronze-placed Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo to the golden ball. The trio were the best players at the tournament which was hosted by the Netherlands. He scored twice from the spot to take his tally to six, as he also claimed the top scorer’s award at the competition where Nigeria came second. 

 

Born in 1987, Messi has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa Del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues. With his country, he won the 2021 Copa América. The prolific goal scorer and creative playmaker also holds the records for most goals in La Liga, most hat-tricks in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He also has the most international goals by a South American male and has the most goals by a player for a single club.

 

It was during the just concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup final on 18 December that he shone like the star he is. He scored Argentina's opening goal with a penalty. However, after Argentina's eventual two-goal lead was erased by France, Messi scored again in extra-time to restore Argentina's lead, before France drew level. Tied 3–3 after extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Messi scored Argentina's first goal in the shoot-out, with Argentina eventually winning 4–2, ending the nation's 36-year wait for the trophy. 

 

On the day he lifted the trophy, his name joined that rare and elite list of all. Not that his silken dribbling skills, innumerable goals at club and international level, were not enough to earn him a legendary status, but a World Cup win was just the stamp that he needed to become an all-time great. It is no wonder that his crowning moment in Qatar has been immortalized with a spectacular mural on the streets of Buenos Aires. Argentina’s Central Bank is also considering putting his face on a new bank note. For many around the world, Messi is the undisputed 'GOAT', ending a long drawn debate with his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Due to his success in the just concluded World Cup, 2022 is the year Messi’s start shined brightest.

 

…FOR LEADING HIS COUNTRY TO VICTORY IN THE 2022 WORLD CUP, AND DISPLAYING HIS FOOTBALL SKILLS OF DRIBBLING, SHOOTING, SPEED, PASSING, AND A VISION WHICH ALL COME TOGETHER AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT HE PRACTICALLY CRUSHES THE OPPONENT IN A MATCH AND SHOWING THE MAGIC THAT INVARIABLY MAKES HIM ONE OF THE GOATS OF FOOTBALL, ‘LIONEL MESSI’ IS THE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR 2022

 

 

BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG OF THE YEAR 2022 

PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUCCEX 

For the second time in a row, the biggest doughbag of the year remained the same. Prince Harry, Duke of Succex makes his second appearance of the list that biggest nincompoop of 2022.

After making a dramatic exit from the Royal family at the prompting of his megalomaniac and narcissistic wife, Meghan Markle, the overpampered Prince has managed to unleash a sledgehammer on his family with motivations that seem to be unrealistic expectations and poorly conceived ideas of a life different than the one his birthright foretold. 

All in one fell swoop this year, Prince Harry has disappointed his father, the present King and his brother, who is the next sovereign but  most importantly probably broke his late grandmother’s heart before her passing in another ‘annus horiblus’ for the British Royal family. Fresh on the heels of his tell all Oprah interview in which he tried to paint his country and a racist bunch of heartless people who have no sympathy for suicide attempts, he has released a reality documentary with his wife that exposes private discussions of the highly discreet family and written a book that will predictably do the same. And this is all just in the aftermath of the passing of Britain’s longest reigning Monarch and all while his father is trying to get stability in his role as the new King. Disappointment doesn’t begin to describe the hurt that has been spread with Harry and Meghan’s actions. 

Before his marriage to Meghan, Harry was among the top royals in popularity. And when him and Meghan got married in 2018, they were an extremely popular couple in the UK. However, since expressing a desire to step down from Royal duties, the pair lighted a torch blade on his family and his country. Incidentally, numerous of the claims these two nincompoops have made in their interview and documentary have been debunked and proven to, either, be false or an over embellishment. 

In addition to the contemptuous Oprah interview, Meghan contributed to a book named, ‘Finding Freedom,’ which gave a scathing criticism of the Royal family’s treatment of the duo. After that, Harry went on to appear on the podcast ‘Armchair Expert’ where he accused Prince Charles of passing on ‘genetic pain and suffering’ to him. Still, not finished with demolishing his family, Harry appeared on the Apple TV+ series ‘The Me You Can See’ to again throw his family under the bus. The duo have also just released a Netflix documentary which shows Britain and the monarchy in bad light. He is also expected to publish a memoir in 2023 with more information about his life as a royal. “Lord knows what he will say next!” 

What makes Harry’s attacks on his family aggravating is the fact that he knows that his family cannot respond to his accusations. The Royal Family often follows the rule of ‘Never complain, Never Explain,’ and they have mostly stayed quiet in public when it comes to accusations from Meghan and Harry. 

Harry continuously drones on about care and compassion but none of his actions show care & compassion. From one’s vantage point, it seems that the Prince concentrates on his own ‘needs,’ ‘desires,’ and ‘wants’ exclusively. He appears to lack empathy or compassion for his family. He wants to look like a victim, to be blameless, and to be pitied. He is only loyal to himself. He has no bonds with anyone of his family, except his wife. 

The bottom line is that Harry has sadly married a malignant narcissist who has brainwashed him into believing that his birth family are not on his side. It’s not their fault and is not even about them. It’s Meghan’s agenda.... 

Harry’s choices and the way he is going about his Royal exit makes one feel sorry for the royal family and the legacy of the late Queen, who gave her entire life in service to the crown and the commonwealth. At this point, one is truly fed up with hearing from Meghan and Harry that they are life’s eternal victims. “Enough already!” 

Prince Harry used to be a fun-loving sort, a mischievous happy lad. He enjoyed playing pranks, was relatable and a cheeky-chappy with an indifference to status. Now, his marriage to Meghan, once heralded a new era, has transformed him to someone unrecognizable. What seemed modern and exciting before this process of emotional devolution that Prince Harry has put his family through looks increasingly myopic, materialistic, and mundane. One wishes to see and hear less about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the upcoming year. 

.... FOR CONTINUING TO SINK A SHARP BLADE INTO HIS FAMILES’ BACKS, FOR WINGING AND WHINING “WOE IS ME” FROM HIS IVORY TOWER OF PRIVILEGE, FOR BEING COMPLETELY TONE-DEAF, FOR NOT KNOWING WHEN TO SIMPLY ‘SHUT UP,’ ‘PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX’ IS THE BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG OF 2022. 

 

 

NIGERIAN GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2022:

GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE, ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO 

In Nigeria, state governors are an absolute necessity in ensuring growth and development, so much so that leadership at the state level is often considered more important than that of the central government. 

In 2022, of the 35 state governors in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, picking one that stands out was an easy task. That is because the work and achievement of that governor is palpable and visible for all to see. This year that governor has got to be the Niger State Governor, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello. 

Picking Governor Abubakar Sani Bello as Nigeria’s Governor of the Year, 2022, was a ‘given’ based on his policies on security, unity, infrastructure and youth development. Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has won numerous awards in the time he has been Niger State governor purely due to his exemplary record.

Since assuming the mantle of leadership of his State, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has distinguished himself and improved the living standard of his people. He has brought peace and development and reinvigorated the ‘Power State.’ 

As governor, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has applied policies that benefit his people, introduced reforms that strengthen the education and health sectors, tendered to the continuous payment of salaries, and facilitated reforms for the support of Nigerlites all across the state.

As governor, he is upright, courageous, kind, compassionate, humble, thoughtful and consistent. He has been an achiever, a unifier, a gentleman and a visionary. He is considered as a one of the governors that govern with empathy and wisdom. He has already achieved a lot in the promotion of peace, conflict resolution, development of Niger State  and has worked tirelessly for his people in his bid to develop the State he navigates, despite the security challenges the state has faced. 

Since Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s emergence as Governor, Niger State has witnessed inclusiveness and greater understanding and increased brotherhood amongst the people of the state. This year, he deserves every accolade that comes his way. 

As we close up another year and inch closer to the 2023 elections, the achievements of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello does not only remain indelibly significant as a living example to inspire the leaders of tomorrow, but it also transcends his State stewardship to make Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello an all-round amazing human being and exceptional Nigerian. His trajectory is one to watch in Nigeria! 

... FOR BECOMING THE LIVING EMBODIMENT OF COMMITMENT, UNITY, COMPASSION AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, FOR HIS DEDICATION IN SERVICE, HIS EMPATHY, GENEROSITY, PEOPLE ORIENTED PROGRAMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, ‘NIGER STATE GOVERNOR, ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO” IS NIGERIA’S BEST GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

WORST HEADLINE/ BREAKING STORY OF THE YEAR

 

QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS DEAD

 

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 made waves across the world. It has been said that when the great Monarch died, “it was the moment history stoped; for a minute, an hour, for a day or a week; it was the moment history stoped.”

 

With the announcement by Buckingham Palace that Britain's longest-reigning monarch had died, billons of hearts broke. While there have been many breaking headline news of tragedy over the course of the year, it was the death of UK’s Queen Elizabeth II which became the worst headline / breaking news story of the year. On September 8, when she died, it spelled the end of an era and triggered the start of a 10-day national mourning period.  

 

During her funeral, British people poured into the streets to mourn the death of their beloved queen, and on September 19 2022, she was given a state funeral and is buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her husband Philip after services in Westminster Abbey and the St George Chapel at Windsor Castle. 

Charles III, Elizabeth’s eldest son acceded the throne upon her death, at the age of 73. A coronation ceremony for Charles III and his wife Camilla is set to take place in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.

  

The death of Queen Elizabeth II completely devastated me and I join millions of people around the world who remain grateful for her service and the noble legacy she leaves behind. 

 

… FOR THE LOSS OF A MONARCH WITH INTUITION BEYOND HER YEARS, WHO PLEDGED A LIFE OF SERVICE SO MANY DECADES AGO, MADE THE MONARCHY THE REPOSITORY OF MUCH THAT BRITAIN LOVED OF ITSELF, FOR LOOSING A FIGURE THAT REFLECTED MUCH OF WHAT BRITONS LIKE TO THINK OF AS THE BEST OF THEMSELVES; MODEST, UNCOMPLAINING, THRIFTY, INTELLIGENT, SENSIBLE, UNFUSSY, A DRY SENSE OF HUMOUR WITH A GREAT BIG LAUGH, SLOW TO ANGER AND ALWAYS WELL-MANNERED, ‘QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS DEAD’ IS THE WORST HEADLINE/ BREAKING STORY OF THE YEAR 2022

 

 

 

BEST BREAKING NEWS / HEADLINE OF 2022

 

“RISHI SUNAK BECOMES THE NEXT BRITISH PRIME MINISTER”

 

On the 25th of October 2022, King Charles III invited Rishi Sunak to form a government. And the newspapers read, “Rishi Sunak becomes the next British prime minister!” That breaking news from the UK glowed up the world as the 42-year-old Sunak, was set to become the first person of color to lead Britain. Sunak is of Indian origin and the first Hindu and first person of color to become British prime minister. Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy is an Indian citizen and the daughter of Indian billionaire businessman N.R. Narayana Murthy, who founded the Indian IT outsourcing company Infosys. Following the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss, Sunak, as the leader of the Conservatives, the majority party in Parliament, became the new prime minister and Social media and TV channels across the globe were awash with congratulations. 

Sunak’s rise to the top job was a revolutionary moment in history considering  the fact that his grandparents hailed from Punjab state before the subcontinent was divided into two countries — India and Pakistan — after British rule ended in 1947. They moved to East Africa in the late 1930s before finally settling in the U.K. in the 1960s. Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton on England’s south coast.

The announcement on Sunak was made on the day of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of lights celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. It celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness

 

The breaking news on Sunak makes the best headline news of 2022 because it was a historic moment that simply would not have been possible even a decade or two ago. It shows that public service in the highest office in Britain can be open to those of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

 

…FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY, WATERSHED MOMENT WHERE A PERSON OF COLOUR WHO IS ALSO A HINDU IS APPOINTED AS THE PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN, FOR ITS ABILITY TO SHOW HOW FAR ETHNIC MINORITY REPRESENTATION HAS COME IN POLITICS, “RISHI SUNAK BECOMES PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN” IS THE BEST HEADLINE / BREAKING NEWS OF 2022.

 

 

COLLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

“AN APPEAL TO MY DEAR ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU” BY CHIEF DELE MOMODU

In addition to being one of the most prolific columnists in Nigeria, Chief Dele Momodu stands as one of our most valued national treasures. Giving him the title of Columnist of the year could easily be a yearly feat because he is just that brilliant. However, in the first of its kind since I started doing The Person of the year many years ago, I am giving Dele Momodu Columnist of the year 2022, not because of an article he wrote this year, but for an article he wrote in 2019. 

This year, I would want to resurrect that magnificent piece because of its significance, given the candidacy of the subject matter of the write up, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and because it gives one of the most cogent arguments as to why it is essential for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to run and win the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

…On October 27th, 2019, an article was written by Chief Dele Momodu. It was effectively a letter to APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu. Momodu in the article gave reasons Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and national leader of APC, is eminently qualified to run for president in 2023.

While I could understand the sentiment exhibited in the article, it didn’t take away from the surgical way Chief Momodu articulated his case for the 2023 Presidential Candidacy of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Reading his article was like watching an incredibly astute Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) lay down his slam-dunk closing arguments in an obstinate legal matter. By the end of the article, Chief Momodu had won me over. After this brilliant piece, I, too, “have no illusions that Tinubu will definitely perform as President of Nigeria, if he and wins. He has a knack for identifying brilliant minds and fertile brains, and the ability to nurture them to greatness.” 

I do not think that there is any barrier for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who seems to be coasting to victory; his track record, action plan, capacity, vision, compassion and achievements should be the priority for anyone hoping for a better Nigeria lead by the best leader.

…FOR HIS BRILLIANT ABILITY TO CONVINCE BY PUTTING PEN TO PAPER, AND THE COHERENT WAY HE UNFOLDED HIS ARGUMENTS IN JUST THIS ONE PIECE, ‘AN APPEAL TO MY DEAR ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU’ BY CHIEF DELE MOMODU MAKES MOMODU MY COLLUMNIST OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

ARTILE / COLUMN OF THE YEAR

‘WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT IN 2023’  BY AZU ISHIEKWENE’-

 

Mr Azu Ishiekwene has done it again! Right as the year 2022 is drawing to a close, Mr Azu, one of the most creative columnists and brilliant editorial minds we have in Nigeria comes up with a masterpiece by analyzing the possible outcome of the 2023 general elections. 

In the piece titled, ‘What you Might expect in 2023,’ Mr Azu sets out to give an objective and realistic analyses. He presented credible arguments and offered unbiased information in order to shape the knowledge he was imparting in the op-ed.

 

As a writer and columnist myself, my appreciation for the work of other writers is rather heightened. And in going through the write ups of other columnists this year, it was this most recent piece written by Mr Azu that really stood out for me. 

 

In addition to this particular piece, Mr Azu Ishiekwene has churned out brilliant masterpieces addressing the most pressing issues of the day. He is simply a phenomenal writer and I would hope to see his talent being absorbed into the new administration regardless of who the winner of the presidential election of 2023 will be.

 

Azu Ishiekwene is a Journalist and editor extraordinaire. He has worked at The Punch, Unilag Sun, Toplife magazine, Leadership, Saturday Punch, Sunday Punch and Saturday Punch amongst other publications.

 

He has won many awards, wears many hats and has served as a staff reporter, investigative reporter, feature writer, senior feature writer, deputy feature editor, feature editor and deputy editor. He was also a member of several publication’s editorial board, is a published author and lecturer. The achievements of Azu Ishiekwene go above and beyond what I can mention in this piece. His articles are fantastic, brilliant and engaging.

 

…FOR HIS ITS APLICATION OF REALISTIC OBJECTIVITY AND THE IMPRESSIVE PROCESS USED IN LAYING OUT THE ANALISES OF THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION, WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT IN 2023’ BY AZU ISHIEKWENE IS THE ARTICLE / COLUMN OF 2022.’

 

 

 

MY WRITE UP CHOICE OF THE YEAR:

‘I HAVE A NEW DREAM’ BY HANNATU MUSAWA

Inspired by a resonance I saw this year in the Nigerian spirit to aspire in making our country a better place, the words of Martin Luther King Jr., in which he articulated his dream for his nation, I was moved to write about my new dream about my motherland, Nigeria.

In the piece, I have a New Dream, I spoke of the way I hoped my country folk would see themselves primarily as Nigerians. My hope was that no Nigerian would be judged by their facial features, spoken language, accent, traditional regalia, region, ethnic tribes or religion but by the content of their character.

The pronouncement of APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket saw a measure of dissent. And as the debates and fallouts continued, I felt a responsibility, as a Nigerian Muslim, who understood the ire of the Christian community vis-a-vis the necessity of the Muslim Muslim ticket in this instance to formulate an opinion.

In the article, I explored what I would be feeling if I woke up and the flagbearer of the political party I had committed to support was a Christian who had picked a Christian running mate. I also urged Nigerians of like minds to rise above the primitive reasoning of ‘us and them’ that gives way to kneejerk vitriol spewing along ethnic and religious lines. In doing so, as a people, we will overcome ethnic bias, nepotism, tribal discord and religious dichotomy. My hope, as written in the piece, is for Nigerians to always see issues through Nigerian eyes; to be objective, empathetic to others, understanding of apprehensions and appreciative of who we are and what we each bring to this colourful cluster of personalities that make up our beautiful geographical expression.

 

From every aspect, I looked at the meaning and consequence of the Muslim Muslim ticket and concluded that my community needed to reach out to fellow Nigerians who may have reservations. And so I used that piece to extend my hand in friendship across the Niger, through the Benue and up to the pulpit and plead for peace and unity, ask for patience and understanding and offer my explanations and justifications. And I assured the Christian community that there is absolutely nothing to fear in Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of competence, courage, eloquence, loyalty, knowledge, integrity and fundamental political sagacity.

 

Of all the articles I wrote this year, because it is for the advancement of my treasured motherland, ‘I have a new dream’ resonated in me more than any other. 

 

FOR ITS MESSAGE OF INCOURAGING NIGERIA TO BE IN THE ORIGINAL NIGERIAN VISION OF OUR FOREFATHERS, FOR ITS HOPE THAT THE GIANT OF AFRICA TRANSCENDS POLITICAL DISCORD, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MISUNDERSTANDINGS TO STAND AS ONE AND TAKE ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE COMMITTEE OF GREAT NATIONS, ‘I HAVE A NEW DREAM’ BY HANNATU MUSAWA IS MY WRITE UP CHOICE OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

 

BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022

 

‘THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR’ BY NINA DE GRAMONT

 

As a huge fan of Agatha Christie books, The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont was at the top of my book list the minute I learnt about it. In real life, it was documented that Agatha Christie fan had mysteriously disappeared for a period of 11-days, a mystery that was never solved. Thus the idea that this book addressed that time of that disappearance really appealed to me.

‘The Christie Affair’ is a work of historical fiction with the character of Nan O’Dea as the main character. Nan O’Dea was the real life mistress of Agatha Christie’s husband and the story focuses on her upbringing and her first romance. As the story is being told in present day, it brings together Agatha Christie’s disappearance and the reason Nan felt compelled to begin an affair with Agatha Christie’s husband. 

This books turns out to be a highly fictionalized version of what may have happened to her in those 11 days. It tried to fill in that period of disappearance through the eyes of Nan and while many of the events of the book take place around the time of Christie’s disappearance, the main story itself doesn’t really focus on Agatha Christie. 

The storyline is creative in the way it comes up with a plot to fit neatly into a historical event. And it carried with it a hint of mystery.

Initially I was interested in reading this book to learn more about Agatha Christie’s disappearance, but even at the time I realized that the book was a completely fictionalized version of the event, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this light read with its dreamy narration. This story comes together in a satisfying way and had a clever ending. 

For anyone reading the book solely because they love Agatha Christie, it would certainly not be what they would expect, but the books’ sold plot stands on its own. The book is a good pick for some light reading.

…FOR A LIGHT READ WHICH FOCUSES ON A GENTLE TALE ABOUT CLASSIC THEMES LIKE LOVE AND REVENGE, WITH A FEW SURPRISING TWISTS THROWN IN THERE, ‘THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR BY NINA DE GRAMONT’ IS MY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022

 

 

MOVIE OF THE YEAR 2022

 

BLACK PANTHER; WAKANDA FOREVER

 

As an avid MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) fan, choosing Black Panther; Wakanda Forever as the best movie of the year was easy. In addition to thoroughly enjoying superhero epics, this feature had a more profound meaning to me due to the passing of the leading star of the first Black Panther movie, Chadwick Boseman. 

In the movie, the death of King T’Challa, the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) overwhelms the people of the nation he led, Wakanda. His nation, family and friends lead by his sister Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) and his mother Queen Ramonda (Angel Bassett), try to overcome their grief while attempting to keep Wakanda safe. Outside forces desiring their precious metal Vibranium, which keeps their nation safe infiltrate their sanctuary. The desire to find vibranium introduces a new underwater nation called Talokan who will do anything to protect its own entity, even taking down Wakanda.

The movie told a solid story in the midst of its lead character’s death. The attention to detail by writer/director Ryan Coogler and cowriter Joe Robert Cole and mission to honor the legacy of Boseman and character is very evident. In the absence of the superhero, Shuri steps up and her journey of self-discovery drives the film for 2h 41 min.

As the movie takes us on a majestic journey, its magic on dealing with death grip you visually and emotionally in the most profound way. The characters were brave, vulnerable and heroic. The action scene sequences were impressive, and the cinematography was splendid. The movie was a thrill and I recommend it for anyone, even those who may not be watchers of superhero epics.

…FOR BEING A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GREAT CHADWICK BOSEMAN, FOR SHOWING AFROCENTRIC CULTURE AT ITS BEST AND DELIVERING A MAJESTIC, AWE INSPIRING AND EMOTIONAL ACTION EXTRAVAGANZA, ‘BLACK PANTHER, WAKANDA FOREVER’ IS THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

T.V SHOW OF THE YEAR

ALL OF US ARE DEAD

Recently, the world has been delighted with the fusillade of Korean shows that Netflix streamed. One of the greatest blockbusters that was on offer this year was the Zombie flick, All of Us Are Dead.’ As an ardent zombie movie enthusiast, this K-drama zombie series grabbed my attention in a way only its predecessor, The Walking Dead did. And right form the time the first flesh guzzling undead struck, I loved the show.

The series put a high-school twist on the genre in a mishmash of teen drama, suspense, action and horror.

Set in the fictional city of Hyosan, in a high school science lab, a schoolgirl is bitten by a lab hamster that exhibits rage. This initiates a cascading wave of pestilence leading to a full blown zombie apocalypse.

After the pandemic era that the world recently witnessed with Covid, the idea that once a plague surfaces, it spreads at an exponential rate, rendering containment a near-impossibility has acutely unnerving resonance- something that everyone in the real world can likely relate to.

All of Us Are Dead’ is brilliantly made and the acting, set design, and cinematography is amazing. The way in which the characters move through the school is very creative. I am thrilled that the show will soon come out with a second season.

FOR ITS ABILITY TO STEP OUT OF THE WALKING DEAD’S LONG SHADOW AND ITS COMPELLING, IMAGINATIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, THRILLING, ENGAGING AND HUGELY ENTERTAINING TAKE ON HOW A VIRAL APOCALYPSE WOULD ULTIMATELY BECOME MORE THAN A BIT MONOTONOUS, ‘ALL OF US ARE DEAD’ IS T.V SHOW OF THE YEAR 2022.

 

 

SONG OF THE YEAR 2022

‘BUGA’ BY KIZZ DANIEL WITH TEKNO

 

Unless you were literally living under a rock in 2022, you are likely to have heard Kizz Daniel’s 2022 hit song ‘Buga’ with Tekno. Apart from becoming the most googled song in Nigeria, it also became a global anthem.

 

From the time it was released, ‘Buga’ has managed to break so many records. From the time the song came on the scene on 3rd May 2022, it has invariably morphed into the most popular song in Africa and has held the number one position in over ten countries on the Apple Music Charts.

Buga is an addition to the ever growing Afrobeats, which is the biggest music genre on the African continent. The sound of Afrobeats is instantly infectious and continues to push boundaries all across the world. By blending the world’s best dance music together, the infectious hybrid that songs such as ‘Buga’ have become is gradually taking over the music industry.

The beat and rhythm of Buga are layered and relentless in a manner that forces a listener to start with solid head nods and switch to rhythmic dancing… to go “low, Low, low’ then emerging up with semi outstretched arms to “Buga O.” The words and beat of Buga have stuck to my head and propelled me to dance since I heard it and I suspect it will continue to do so into the year 2023.

…FOR BEING THE QUNTISENTIAL SOUND OF THE YEAR AND SPARKING A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT TO RHYTHMIC BEAT OF AFROBEATS EXCELLENCE, ‘BUGA BY KIZZ DANIEL’ IS THE SONG OF THE YEAR 2022.