2014 was a great year for me in all ramifications.Professionally,I attended my first Annual Bar Conference after I received a personal commendation from the DPP of my State which has to go down as one of my most happiest days on earth.Nothing like people acknowledging the hardwork you put in.I was actively involved in an uprising of sorts that stalled the Kano Bar Elections till the Laws were adhered to.Gave a brief interview on TV as a result.Below are some of the things that made my year thick.An interview with Me,Myself and I.
MY BEST MOVIE
Has to be WOLF OF WALL STREET.Officially released December 2013 but wasn't on DVD till May '14.It got just as much criticisms as props for some obscene scenes; drugs and all.Believe me if I could I would change a lot of negative things about this great movie.Leonardo Di Caprio brought his A-Game and the 'there is no nobility in poverty' scene was the most viral and talked about in '14.Most of the memes I saw had scenes from this movie.You know the standard test for a movie:Would you ever get tired of watching?.It passed in flying colours.
COUPLE OF THE YEAR
If it ain't Jay Z and Beyonce...Lol.Yeah,they have always been.They always look like they fell in love yesterday.It never wanes.They remind you of that saying-'If you marry your best friend,you stay happy forever'.If its not ball games and beaches then its museums or parks with these people.They went on tour together and couldn't help but agree with Matthew Knowles that rumours of them splitting was a publicity stunt.They love themselves too much to cheat and that is the the only thing that can damage a union irreparably.
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
I will try not to shed tears as I hand this to John Wall of the Washington Wizards.He dedicated his game winning last 10 points in double overtime against the Bolton Celtics to a Six year old friend he lost to cancer before the game.It was really touching to watch him break down in tears during the post-match interview.Floyd 'Money' Mayweather isn't too far behind.Still unbeaten and...richest sportsman.Always been a 'Money' fan because he reminds me of the G.O.A.T; Muhammad Ali.Walks his talk.You can't blame a man for bragging when he does all he said he would do.Its a case of owning 'Bragging Rights'.
COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR
Hannatu Musawa.Her articles were top notch and she stood out all year.
ARTICLE OF THE YEAR
My 'Plantain and Dodo' Politics which was my first published article.I like to think I did great.It was published in Leadership Newspapers and I got a lot of props for it.I also love my 'Education:Building Something on Nothing' piece.Reminds just how we keep on doing the same thing and yet expect a different result.Hannatu Musawa's piece on Muhammad Ali was sublime, I liked it a lot.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
I have been a diehard Barca fan for 16 years now but I will hand this to Athletico Madrid Fc.They blew everyone to bits.Clinched the Liga and played the UCL final kicking out Ac Milan,Barcelona and Chelsea en route with a 'starless' squad.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Diego Simeone no doubt.Built his unheralded Athletico Madrid team in his image as a player-Concentration,tireless running,discipline: Offensively,Defensively and as players generally.No temperamental black sheep.They stayed focused,modest and never took their eyes off the prize.Of all the winners in the top leagues in Europe in at least the last five years,his team was by miles the least expensive.Earned my respect.
BEST BOOKS
I stack books.So many I could start a library;Commercial of course.Lol.I bought a lot of Islamic Books, a whole lot.I got me Three Qu'rans and donated one to my neighborhood Mosque in Kano.Didn't get enough time to read last year which I hope will change this time out.My favourite Law book would be ST HON (SAN)'s LAW OF EVIDENCE IN NIGERIA.It cost a lot less than the fifty thousand naira price tag when it was first released.The most common mistakes lawyers make during trials are evidence-related and I also needed a good book that would deal extensively with Electronic Evidence.Prior to 2011,it wasn't in our Evidence Act.
I also bought a lot of novels most of which were during the Owerri Bar Conference.I love my authors-the late Sidney Sheldon...John Grisham a distant second and then Jeffrey Archers as well.My pick would be BEST LAID PLANS by Sidney Sheldon.A suspense-packed page-turner.Vintage Sheldon.
WORST LOWS
The worst of all was the sad demise of Diff (Difference) who lost his fight against Cancer.A good friend I flirted with music at the same time with as undergraduates.Dude loved my first song to bits and told me I was the next best thing.Too bad we never got to work on a song together though we performed in a Show I invited he and the rest of the crew to in my school.
Then the Chibok girls.Hurt us all bad.Third would have to be the Eagles failure to qualify for this year's Afcon.Felt really bad.Then the Cash Money-Young Money feud.Lil Wayne is Stunna's adopted son and he made him the Super Star he is today.People always referred to them when illustrating what real loyalty meant.i really feel bad for their kids who are like siblings.Wayne's daughter calls Stunna her Pa Ren because he is her godfather and thats how its done in New Orleans (lol).Then there was Jordin Sparks breaking up with Jason Derulo.What kind of man lets a lady like that go?.Sad.They both collaborated on a love song I love so much-VERTIGO.Well...it happened.Guess they both moved on.
BEST SONGS
This is definitely the toughest for me considering that music is more or less a best friend.Its not just a thing to me like most people.I'll start with Rich Gang's LIFESTYLE.Cash money is always about floss and it felt really great to hear a ground-up joint.New Boys-Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug had generated quite some buzz and 'Thugga Thugga' was on some new issh...Something like Future when he first banged.Unique style.His hook on this joint was perhaps the most popular of 2014.I hand it to Stunna, he is a shrewd ShowBidne$$ Man.Period!
Then also Trey Songz's FOREIGN.Tight offering.One thing I always liked about Trey is his knack for thinking out of the box and that is invaluable.This song blew me away..'I just might pull out my Vi$a'.Lol.Had Justin Bieber on the remix and after a listen I felt he ought to have gotten T-Pain on it.'Mr Auto-tune' was made for joints like this.Not to take anything from it though,Biebs killed it.Realized that afterwards.
EURO's INDUCTION SPEECH off the Young Money sophomore Lp-Rise of an Empire was dope as well.Dude spoke from the heart.Classic 'Started from the bottom,now we here' stuff.
Locally,I felt a lot of songs but my best by miles has to be Mi's BULLION VAN and not because it came late.It is what it is-#Classic.Matter of fact,my overall best song of the year.Love everything about it.From Runtown's 'ehnh Nkwa' chant at the beginning to Stormrex's 'capping'.Mr Incredible as usual killed it-'We dey hang out at the best spots with a hilux and a bullion and an ambulance in the escort.Yekpa!!.And Phyno?..*In his voice* You don't wanna go there!!..Lol.
Second would be Runtown's SUCCESSFUL Freestyle.Sampled Mario Winans's I DON'T WANNA KNOW beat.Personally,this song has this inexplicable grip over me.It just keeps reminding me how far I done came,what i have done with my life in so short a while and how grateful I should be.I could have ended up in a million different places under the worst possible conditions.Big up Bruh.
Then you also have Rayce's JACK SPARROW which was released in '13 but I only got to listen to it last year.Loved it to bits.When he goes-'To ma,To ma',you just have to picture you doing the 'Money dance'.Lol.
Finally,Mi's MONKEY featuring Chigurl was tight.What I liked about Mi was his not towing the 'Sabi Sabi' path.He didn't tinker with a winning formula.The Chairman album was more commercial than his previous ones but he never tried too hard to diversify and experiment.AFRICAN RAPPER No.1 featuring Flavour years back was a Monster hit that even my kid sis loves till this day,so what did he do?.He gave us BULLION VAN and MONKEY with the same eastern feel which in my opinion were the two best songs off the album.A lot of cats out there would have tried to show off on versatility and.... ended up making albums for only them and their friends or worse still,Rock fans.
MAN OF THE YEAR
Is my state Governor,Engr.Rabiu Kwankwaso who has performed exceptionally well.He is rushing extra-hard to finish up all his outstanding projects.A lot of people would have left them for the incoming government but not this man.Kudos.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Late Dr Adadevoh like everyone else thus I lean on their reasons.Lol.Great lady.May her Gentle soul RIP.Amin.
Do have yourselves a fabulous 2015: More Money,Good health,Joy and countless more blessings.See you all at the finish line Insha Allah.Thanks for Reading.
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