MY 'BESTS' OF 2016

This year was by far my busiest professionally as i was in court on almost all working days.I broke my personal record of 4 articles in one month by writing 6 in October in what had to be my most hectic month ever; It was work and right back to typing.As always,life taught me a couple more lessons and i'm grateful for that.A lot of things combined to keep me happy when needed to stay that way,lift my spirits when I was down and take my mind off stuff I needed to shut out.

These are my very 'bests' of 2016.

BEST MOVIE

I didn't really have as much time for TV (i'm old skool like that.Lol) as I used to and most of the time I made out was spent binge watching series.My mom came visiting and we watched a lot of her favourite Hausa movies. I liked one called RUMFAR SHEHU and it had this popular song I kept hearing all round town.It was quite a hilarious movie and I really enjoyed it.

BEST COUPLE

Messi and his long time girlfriend, Antonella reportedly got engaged last month and are set to wed next year.The humble and introverted geniuses are usually better at keeping long term relationships than the loud,flashy and outgoing ones(No disrespect Cristiano Ronaldo.Lol).They tend to live off the little things and value whatever keeps them happy above everything else.

Messi is just that.They have had a crisis-free relationship that seems to have been going on forever and are blessed with 2 gorgeous boys.Its really one of those instances where its only just a matter of making it official.

BEST BOOK

Jeffrey Archers' THE FOURTH ESTATE is a tale of 2 media moguls-one coming from nothing and the other building on what he inherited. Vintage Archer; 2 separate lives crossing paths at the climax.It reminds of another book of his titled SONS OF FORTUNE.

BEST CLUB

Leicester City without a doubt.It was amazing to watch them suprise everyone including themselves en route an epic premier league triumph.Their story would make a great movie-from relegation-battlers to Premier league champions in just a season.Though,they haven't replicated last season's form in the EPL,they have been outstanding in their debut Champions league season and are through to the knock out phases.

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Cristiano Ronaldo.He won the Uefa Champions League with Real Madrid and scored the most goals in the process. He capped off the 2015/2016 season in some style by winning the Euros with Portugal.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Claudio Ranieri led Leicester City to their magnific Premier league win.Prior to that he was deemed a 'has been' who could no longer hold it down in the big leagues.Ranieri it was who built the great Valencia team of the early 2000s and transformed them into overnight contenders in the major tournaments.He has done same with Leceister City and this was a much harder task considering the circumstances he was able to succeed under.

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

I hand this to Simon Kolawole of TheCableng.He was outstanding all year and I really enjoyed reading him.

ARTICLE OF THE YEAR

My 8 BUHARI GAFFES:THE BAD,THE VERY BAD AND THE UGLY is an article I love so much. Communication skills are essential attributes of good leaders and some of the gaffes highlighted were capable of heating up the polity even if that wasn't the intention of the President.He is heavily flawed in that regard and I think that is why he stopped hosting Media Chats after his first one a year ago.

BEST LEADER

A lot of Governors are hiding behind the country's current financial state to justify their poor performance but I doff my hat to Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state for the good job he has done so far.More grease to his elbow.

BEST MOMENTS

I got judgment on a matter I took over at the start of the opposing party's case and it was more or less pulling a rabbit out of a hat.The former person handling it had messed the case up bad and I was glad I could turn things around.I got a commendation from the DPP of my state on the respondent's brief I wrote in a virtually hopeless appeal case.He spoke about his plans of pushing for an amendment of the criminal procedural law and he told me he was going to place heavy reliance on that brief.

WORST MOMENTS

I was deeply saddened by the killings of the herdsmen and government's seeming reluctance to sympathize with the victims.

I had some issues with my bank account and believe it or not I couldn't access my funds for months.It got resolved after i put my lawyer hat on and threatened to petiton the CBN.For someone who had to be in the office when he wasn't in court,it was a most trying time and I thank God for family and friends who were there when I 'gassed' out.God bless y'all.

Watching the Super Falcons begging for their dues after the AWCON win broke my heart.These ladies who ordinarily should be handed national awards at the very least were made to suffer for what is rightfully theirs.I also feel saddened by the fact that the record breaking exploits of our Paralympic athletes were not rewarded in any way by the Federal government. Not even a Presidential handshake.Same for our Olympic athletes who were subjected to the worst embarrassment by having to appear in their tracksuits because their attires weren't ready before the opening ceremony.

Fuel got bumped to N145 a litre and the exchange rate kept falling hard like it were Humpty Dumpty.Things got more expensive and it was hard for a lot of Nigerians.

MAN OF THE YEAR

The Rap King of the East,Phyno grew bored at top and delved into pop.He made the biggest hit this year in FADA FADA to prove the success of CONNECT was no fluke and he didn't stop at that.Having conquered the pop terrain, he moved to highlife and recorded 2 back to back hits as well-E SURE FOR ME and PINO PINO.He released the much anticipated THE PLAYMAKER album to critical acclaim.It was amazing to watch him drift through genres like only a Master would.He is undoubtedly the most versatile Nigerian musician at the moment and he has gone on to conquer every territory he has waded into in a manner unprecedented in the history of Nigerian music.Like that title of a song of his,Phyno is my man of the year.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Florence Omagbemi made history as the first African Woman to win the African Women Cup Of Nations as a player and Coach when she led the Super Falcons to victory in this year's edition. She was Captain of the Falcons when women's football started to gain momentum in Africa and she led the team to establish an absolute dominance lasting almost a whole decade.

Amidst a cash strapped campaign,she was able to keep the troops motivated and focused on winning the trophy.

For this feat,Florence Omagbemi is my woman of the year.