I’m scripting this on Tuesday, December 2.
The final days of AMGA 2024 took their toll on me.
For a ‘younger boy’ like me, it’s not straightforward to mix sleep for under three hours every evening, daylight on the transfer, three entire meals a day together with one of the best lunch on this planet day by day, every day evening rendezvous topped up with Arabian Tea, and time to script the every day diary simply earlier than daybreak….on every day!
One thing needed to give.
I didn’t examine it, however with out my every day train routine, I imagine my BP shot up and I shut down!
So, I saved notes, not capable of get round to increasing and posting them to on my social media platforms earlier than daybreak.
Eventually, I gave in to my physique, knackered. I shut down and left Abuja on Sunday.
I returned to Wasimi by means of Lagos. I’ve been taking part in a bit of tennis and sleeping for 2 days.
There may be mounting stress on me by some people to finish my Day by day Diary.
So, right here I’m.
It’s laborious for me to re-capture the temper of Abuja in Wasimi. I took down notes each evening in Abuja. I imagine these may also inform the remainder of the AMGA 2024 story seen by means of my particular lens.
So, the next is a purely tutorial train. Take pleasure in it in case you have the persistence to learn these NOTES.
DAY ELEVENMorning. Nothing occurs. Espresso for breakfast.
Lunch at Akisco’s. Getting hooked on ‘Gboko meals’. I’m ‘infecting’ many buddies.Drained, however in the present day is vital.
I’m to meet up with the Chief of Defence Workers. That is huge o! Whao!
I’ve by no means bodily met Basic Musa. We’ve exchanged messages just a few occasions. That’s all. However I like the person.
Many individuals need me to attach them to the ‘huge man’ for one favour or the opposite. They assume we’re 5 and 6. It’s ridiculous. I’ve by no means even met him. Such requests exhaust goodwill very quick.
I’m going to the Indoor Sports activities Corridor.
Navy autos all over the place. Inform-tale indicators that the Huge Boss is right here. Corridor is sort of full.It’s Volleyball. Girls. Nigeria versus Ghana. Perennial rivalry.
I enter the corridor. My face cap ‘hides’ the face of an previous footballer. I’m not Jay Jay or Kanu.
I see him from a distance. Safety is tight across the CDS. AVM Marquis, the Chairman of the Native Organising Committee, LOC, sitting subsequent to the Boss sees me. Instructs safety aides to let me by means of.
The CDS sees me. An enormous smile. He recognises me. His darkish face lights up. Welcomes me with agency, pleasant handshake and endearing bear hug, like an previous pal.AVM is sitting subsequent to the CDS. He affords me his seat. I refuse. He insists. I take the seat.
The optical phantasm of the closeness of my relationship with CDS balloons. Henceforth, I shall be goal of contractors and job seekers looking for his favour by means of me.
We watch the match collectively. Very thrilling. The person is aware of his Volleyball. He performed it at nationwide degree. He is aware of techniques too. It’s the finest of 5 video games. The primary two matches finish 1-1.
A reporter invitations the Chief for a LIVE interview. He invitations me to hitch him. We’re adopted by a military of aides. We go outdoors the corridor to a cubicle. It’s the OB Van of Voice of Nigeria. The Inside can hardly seat two individuals. Six of us crowd into it. The interviews are quick and sharp, first with him, after which with me.
Over in half-hour simply because the final of the volleyball match finishes.
The Nigerian women put up an excellent struggle, however the Ghanaians are higher with workforce techniques. So, the Ghanaian women received.
Interviews over, we chat a bit of. He invitations me to hitch him the next morning on a preferred morning Tv present on Come up Tv. We half methods.
I hit city with my buddies. We find yourself at Blake’s, a preferred membership with reside band music. Nice Enjoyable with Seun and Segun.
DAY TWELVEI get up early.
Look on TV with CDS on my thoughts.
I’m pondering: The Chief is a courageous man for taking over internet hosting the African Navy Olympic Video games in Abuja and contained in the vandalised MKO Nationwide Stadium.
Reviving the Nationwide Stadium is a miracle. ‘Impossibility is nothing, in case you have a dream, the desire, and the assumption. Basic Musa proves that.
The nation’s sports activities authorities should take classes from it. It could set off a nationwide sports activities revolution, who is aware of. We wait to see what occurs after AMGA 2024.
Come up Tv Studios is on the second flooring of Transcorp Hilton.
I’m totally kitted within the monitor fits of Workforce Nigeria. Feeling already like a soldier.The morning goes in a short time.The CDS and I meet within the studios. Technical points have an effect on the present a bit of, however we survive Dr. Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and co within the Lagos Studio.
The CDS is an interviewer’s delight. He is aware of the topic of sports activities and the army inside out, plus his personal mission with AMGA 2024.
Then it’s over.We stroll collectively to the ready vehicles. We promise to attach once more on the closing ceremony.
I’m now a co-optee of AMGA 2024 organisation.
It’s a nice feeling – the privilege of being acknowledged and honored by the highest echelon of the Nigerian army institution.
Again to my lodge room, feeling actually drained. Headache. Working (and taking part in) flat out for 2 weeks, with solely 3/4 hours of sleep each evening, not a single day on the tennis courtroom, not good in any respect. Should watch my BP.
Get into mattress. Knock off and get some relaxation. Seun comes at 10pm. We exit to Farm Metropolis for first time. Good spot. It’s an expertise – Plantain chips, grilled fish and Arabian tea.Lanre Carew, Chairman/CEO of Farm Metropolis and his two buddies acknowledge me and we meet. He takes care of all of the payments, with a clean cheque any time I go to.What an honour!Get again early at 1:00am!
LAST DAYIt is Saturday.
Closing ceremony.
I’m not ready for my very own radio present – ‘90 minutes with Mathematical’, regardless that I really feel a bit of higher in my well being standing.
By some means, anyhow, I do my present – no promo, no visitor, no topic…for first time since Eagle7 Sports activities Radio 103.7 started over two years in the past.
I spend the remainder of the morning in mattress.Lunch, the ultimate one in Abuja. My common buddies at Akisco’s Place. The desk is laid out, as typical, like ‘the final Supper’. As typical, additionally, luxurious.
A couple of minutes to 5pm, we go away for the closing ceremony on the MKO Abiola Nationwide Stadium.
Busier with human and vehicular site visitors.The primary bowl seems lovely even with its empty seats. This stadium can by no means be crammed to capability except there’s a radical socio-cultural and business alteration to the eco-system.
The occasion begins very late. Delayed by the lateness of the Particular Friends – Politicians aren’t any respecter of time. For a global occasion, completely unacceptable. Solely in Nigeria.
Rundown of the packages modified to accommodate lapse.
The athletics relays begin. They restore the spirit and pleasure of the group within the stadium.
Everybody embraces the quite a few shortcomings of the day, and selected to benefit from the second, the ceremonies that bring to a standstill, two terrific weeks of a brand new expertise and new respect for the Nigerian army institution, hope for one thing new in sport, renewed love for town of Abuja, nice lunches and socials at evening, and a eager for extra of such festivals celebrating excellence, friendship, unity, and the surprise, magnificence and richness of Sports activities and of Nigeria.
The remainder of the evening is full – Farm Metropolis once more.
I get to mattress within the wee-hours.
My thoughts is reeling – early morning flight, one other great AirPeace expertise, Lagos, the Backyard of Eden in Wasimi, Tito, Morenike, Timi…Heaven!
I thanks, Creator of the Universe, for all the time exhibiting up!
AMGA 2024. I’m lacking it already. Thanks, all that made it particular – Basic Christopher Gwabin Musa, Alhaji Bashiru Adewale Adeniyi, Air Vice Marshall Marquis, Allen Onyema, Seun Oyefeso, Otunba Déjì Oshibogun, Engineer Tunde Dabiri, Air Commodore Ayuba Buhari, Lanre Carew, and lots of others within the AMGA 2024 circuit.
