BESTs OF 2019

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

In the literal sense,Martin Scorcese's The Irishman would clinch this ahead of Shaft but this has always meant everything for me including tv series.Overall,i would pick the third season of Snowfall as the best thing i watched in 2019.

COUPLE OF THE YEAR

Burna and Steff didn't look like they would last long.Steff is one of the most coveted ladies in the world of music with names as high profile as Drake (who has always been vocal about his love for BBWs (Big Black Women) reaching out publicly for a date.Steff has not only settled for Burna boy,she appears to love the African Giant even more than he does her.It looked like the end when a video leaked of Burna having a video chat and hanging out at the same spot as big a**ed Ghanaian actress,Princess Shyngle but Steff's love for Don Guorgon was strong enough to power the couple through.

Whether or not they go the whole hog,these two are my best couple for 2019.

BEST ARTICLE

Aisha Buhari's criticism of her husband's social investment schemes was an eye opener for a lot of my brothers in the north.The blind support for Buhari and his lopsided appointments now not only meant the open-minded ones among us didn't have to be worried about a Southern President continuing the trend of brazenly favouring his brothers,it also meant the people were being taken for granted; no need to please an already pleased people with tradermoni and other schemes which were perceived by most nigerians as campaign mediums for the 2019 Presidential election.

My article AISHA BUHARI: BUHARI'S APPOINTMENTS & THE NEW REALITY FOR THE NORTH allowed me highlight how the chicken has come home to roost for those blindly rooting for Buhari.

SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Anthony Joshua without a doubt.Deontay Wilder's WBC belt is the only one left for him to scoop and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and the only reason that hasn't happened yet is because Wilder is dodging a fight with Joshua.AJ fought Andy 'the destroyer' Ruiz Jnr to keep busy and he ended up suffering a knock out.He rose back up and regained his belts in Saudi Arabia 6 months later.The heavyweight category may not have as many good fighters as it used to even in recent years but if there is one thing most people are certain of,it is that AJ is better than anyone in the divison.

Special mention must also be made of Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman who are both UFC champions.

LEADER OF THE YEAR

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state is arguably the most popular politician in the country right now.His strides have been phenomenal.That needs to be said but Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara is who i will hand this to.He travelled to Dubai in the heat of the banditry crisis in the state to meet security experts shortly after being elected.Not that he was going to get the UAE to send men or weapons, he just needed Zamfarans to know he wasn't sitting back doing nothing while they were being slaughtered and that singular move highlighted the type of governance this country had been missing over the past years.One where leaders worried about optics and were ready to go the extra mile to keep the people inspired even though they were truly helpless.When Matawalle months later,decided to negotiate with the bandits to save the lives of his people especially those in rural parts of the state who were being subjected to attacks almost on a daily basis,nobody was heard complaining in Zamfara.He had already earned the trust of his people.

Thankfully, Zamfara is now safe.Only God knows the amount of lives that would have been lost if Matawalle 'did the right thing' by waiting for Buhari and his law enforcement agencies to handle the situation.He is my leader of the year.

BOOK OF THE YEAR

I have had Roger Dawson's The Confident Decision Maker for years now and only just read it.A quite brilliant book.

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

In addition to scooping numerous awards based on his feats in 2018,Burna boy dropped another great album in 2019 titled African Giant and got Grammy nominated for it.Many like myself who have followed Nigerian music keenly over the years will tell you Burna boy's accomplishments are not only well deserved but long overdue.

The Afro-fusionist has for quite some time been the most talented Nigerian artiste and it is an attestation to the saying that 'God does not sleep' that he is now Nigeria's biggest musical export.

BOO OF THE YEAR

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Tanko in his screening at the senate didn't know what legal technicality meant.After taking off his glasses and beating round the bush, he said when the courts are faced with 'technical' issues,it invites an expert to answer questions on that.I had never been more sorry for this country.

MAN OF THE YEAR

Omoyele Sowore without a scintilla of doubt.The Sahara Reporters publisher and Presidential candidate of the AAC in the 2019 election sought to mobilize Nigerians who were frustrated at how Buhari was running the country to protest and demand better.Sowore made his demands public-implementation of the new minimum wage by all state governors, a review of the current billing scheme of the power companies, the unconditional release of all political prisoners & employment for youths among others.He categorically stated that failure to comply by the Buhari government would mean protests would subsist.

But Buhari and his DSS without an iota of shame, conveniently interpreted Sowore's 'Revolution Now' slogan to mean only a forceful change of government.Any dictionary worth a dime also has as the meaning of revolution, a drastic change in how people live and think.That is totally in sync with Sowore's demands.He told the world what would happen if Buhari didn't meet the demands and at no time did he promise to uproot Buhari from Aso Rock.It was very obvious General Buhari wanted to punish anyone willing to rally Nigerians to ask for what they deserve.For his immense love for this country,Sowore abandoned the comfort of America to come home and liberate his people.He was asked to denounce the struggle and be released but he stood firm.I salute his patriotism.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court is handling Sowore's case.Most people see the judiciary as corrupt and eager to do the bidding of government.Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is a beacon of hope as has been proven by the fearless and impartial discharge of her duties.She granted Sowore bail without caring a hoot who she was offending and when her bail conditions appeared striking a balance between pleasing the masses and making it impossible for Sowore to get out,she judiciously relaxed the conditions.

Her husband Professor Ernest Ojukwu SAN is someone i have always known to be of impeccable ethical standards and it is easy to see why he found his missing rib in such a lady.As a matter of fact, the Prof wrote the Rules of Professional Conduct for Nigerian legal practitioners and also the Legal Practitioners Act.I supported him at the last NBA election based solely on his manifesto which sought to restore pride and integrity to the profession despite being my DDG at the Enugu campus of the Nigerian law school.A lot of people see now what they missed.Justice Ojukwu is my woman of the year.