Full Text of Inaugural Address of ‘President’ MKO Abiola on June 11, 1994

Full text of the Epetedo, Lagos proclamation delivered by the late M.K.O. Abiola on Saturday, June 11, 1994.

People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected.

These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.

Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls. But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.

My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin.

All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community.

However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellowmen.

Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. They arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people.

There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no “setup” that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago. It has been a long night. But the dawn is here.

Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!” We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of independence.

Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its history. Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.” Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because of its size and population.

The permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but lost. For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of their own people?

Enough of military rule. We are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to anyone.

Enough of square pegs in round holes. We are tired of then military repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”.

The next day, they say “Devaluation.” A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?” All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace.

Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want? We are plagued also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries.

A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance. Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favouritism and corruption becomes the order of the day.

Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE ’93. This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralised us all. I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained from the people.

Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent. To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the winner should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.

I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: “What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president- elect who can lead a government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an end.

As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated.

The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.

I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time.

I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed by me, your only elected President.

My Government of National Unity is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now. People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind. Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr. Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.

Nelson Mandela fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We in Nigeria are also fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed forces. Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today, that is rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections.

The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out. I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.

Late MKO Abiola and Late Gen Sani Abacha

The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest. In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. 

Today, apartheid is gone forever.

So, let it be with Nigeria. Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military. They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the repository of power in the land.

No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to. God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government of National Unity.

Meeting with Buhari: No official memo from presidency, says NASS

ABUJA – THE office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA, yesterday denied receiving any communication whether formal or informal from President Muhammadu Buhari to delay the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly.

Sources in the CNA office claimed that there was neither official letter, nor SMS message from the presidency directing the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, to delay the inauguration.

When Vanguard visited the office at about 2:30pm, Thursday, to confirm whether the CNA was in receipt of any official communication from Mr. President directing him to delay the inauguration because of the alleged meeting he scheduled with the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senators and House of Representatives members-elect, he was not on seat and his office was under lock and key.

The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to make any official statement on the matter said, ” there was no official communication through memo from the presidency, no even text messages or phone calls.

“Anybody that has any form of evidence like that, I challenge the person to make it public. Even if there was anything like that, it was not enough to stop the proclamation because it is a constitutional ritual that happens every four years.

“The proclamation letter from the President directed that the inauguration should take place by 10am. Having done the proclamation, you cannot create a distant in time.”

Some of the aggrieved APC Senators under the aegis of the Unity Forum, the group supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan for the Senate President seat had claimed while briefing journalists in Abuja, Wednesday, that the CNA was notified by the President to delay the inauguration of the 8th assembly because of Mr. President’s meeting with the APC members-elect but he ignored the the message and went ahead with the exercise.

To authenticate the APC Unity Forum Senators’ claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu was said to have stated that there was a message to the CNA to inform him of the President’s meeting with the National Assembly members and the need to delay the inauguration.

However, a member of the Unity Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa from Zamfara state wondered why the CNA should proceed with the inauguration of the 8th Senate with only 57 Senators that were present as at the time the election of the Senate President was conducted.

According to him, “why was he in a hurry when he knew that only 57 Senators was in the chamber in such a legislative exercise, what would he have lost if he had delayed it in obedience to the presidential directive.

“About 76 Senators participated in the election of the Deputy Senate President, why did he not wait a little during the election of Senate President if 76 Senators should come within a short time.

“At what point was the Standing Rule of the Senate amended, who amended it? These are some of the things we would like to know.”

When asked that whether there any evidence of Presidential directive to the CNA to delay the inauguration because of the meeting the President was said to have scheduled with the APC Senators and House of Representatives-elect, he said that the presidential spokesman had confirmed that such communication existed.

While also reminded that the proclamation letter from the President for the inauguration directed that the exercise should start 10am even though it started about 10:03 am, he said that he was not aware of the time.

But he insisted that the CNA should have delayed the inauguration having seen that many Senators were not in the chamber as at the time he started the process.

What federal and state legislators earn

The decision to review the current salaries and allowances of the nations’ public office holders has received approval of many members of the public who have complained that Nigerian law makers were about the highest paid worldwide.

Senate
The Senate President has a total Annual Basic Salary of N2, 484, 242.50 and Annual Allowance of N6, 210, 606. 25 , making a total Annual salary of N8, 694, 848.75 which brings the monthly salary to about N724, 570.75.

In addition, he collects 250 per cent of his Annual Salary as Constituency Allowance.

However, his vehicles and their maintenance are provided by the federal government.

Similarly, his domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance an, as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government.

Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Senate President.

The Deputy Senate President enjoys the same benefits except that his Annual Basic Salary stands at N 2,309,166.75, total allowance N 5,772,916.8, bringing total annual salary to 8,082,083.63 and a monthly pay of N 673,506.97

The Senate Majority Leader receives a salary of N12, 968, 960. The Minority leader receives a total annual salary of N12, 908, 168. The Whip receives N12, 867 . The same applies to Committee Chairmen. Incidentally in the last administration almost all senators were chairmen of various committees.

The allowances received by the members of the upper legislative chamber is far more than their salaries indicate.

For instance, each senator receives 75 per cent of the annual salary as allowance for a vehicle and its maintenance. They collect another 75 per cent of their salaries for domestic staff; 30 per cent for entertainment; 30 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent for robe (clothing); and 250 per cent as Constituency Allowance.

Others include, another allowance unspecified which stands at 53 per cent; newspapers 15 per cent; Personal Assistance, 24 per cent; and House maintenance 5 per cent.

In addition, the Leader receives 10 per cent for Responsibility; Minority Leader 7; while the Whip and Committee chairmen receive 5 per cent for the same purpose.

Ordinary senators receive a basic salary of 2,026,400.00; annual allowance of N10,739,920.00 , bring it to a total of N 12,766,320.00.

Other non-regular allowances include 300 per cent gratuity for the Senate President; and estacode of $1, 00 per night for foreign trips, as well as, a N37,000 per night duty tour allowance.

All the senators who have just finished their terms at the 7th National Assembly are therefore entitled to 300 per cent of the annual salaries as gratuity.

The Deputy senate President gets N32, 000 per night as Duty Tour Allowance.

Senators receive $ 1 000 as estacode and a duty tour allowance of N23, 000 per night.

House of Reps
At the House of Representatives, the Speaker receives a total annual salary of N 4,334,942.50.

Just like the Senate President, the federal government provides his vehicles and their maintenance . 

His domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance an, as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government.

Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Senate President.

He receives 75 per cent of his salary as constituency allowance.

The Deputy speaker whose annual salary stands at 4,002,309.94 enjoys similar benefits as the speaker.

The Majority Leader of the House, the Minority Leader, the Chief Whip and Chairmen of Committees receive annual salaries of N 6, 352,680.00. In addition, they receive 50 per cent of their salaries as Vehicle and Maintenance allowance; another 50 per cent for domestic staff; 10 per cent for utilities and another 10 per cent for House maintenance.

In addition, they collect 75 per cent for constituency allowance, 25 per cent for personal Assistant. Other members enjoy similar allowances.

At the House of representatives, the speaker receives $ 790 estacode per night and N32, 000 per night for domestic trips.

The Deputy Speaker receives $750 and N30, 000 for estacode and Duty Tour, respectively. Members receive $550 and N21 , 000 for estacode and domestic trips , respectively.

Houses of Assembly
Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly enjoy all the benefits as their federal counterpart where virtually all they need are provided with public funds. However, their annual salaries stand at N 2,049,843.75 and a Constituency Allowance of N25 per cent of their Annual Salaries.

Deputy Speaker receives N 1,807,478.13 and 25 per cent of same as constituency allowance.

Members at the House of Assemblies receive annual salaries of N 2,473,866.25.

In addition, they receive 20 per cent for vehicles; 25 per cent for domestic staff, 10 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent each for robe, constituency , Personal Assistant and 5 per cent for newspapers.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/what-federal-and-state-legislators-earn/#sthash.XmAqxr8f.dpuf

China ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang gets life term

 

• From the

State TV showed Zhou Yongkang admitting his guilt at the closed-door trial in Tianjin

China's ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang has been jailed for life - the most senior politician to face corruption charges under Communist rule.

He was found guilty of bribery, abuse of power and "intentionally disclosing national secrets", China's official Xinhua news agency reports.

Until his retirement in 2012, Mr Zhou was one of China's most powerful men.

He was put under investigation one year later as part of President Xi Jinping's major anti-corruption campaign.

State TV showed a clip of Mr Zhou, 72, pleading guilty at a closed-door trial in the northern city of Tianjin. When responding to the judge, he said he would not launch an appeal.

"I've realised the harm I've caused to the party and the people. I plead guilty and I regret my crimes," he said.

The verdict caught many people off guard.

It was expected that Zhou Yongkang's trial would be played out for the Chinese public; his failings strung out for every citizen to see.

In similar high-profile cases, like that of Mr. Zhou's protege, Bo Xilai, the foreign and Chinese media were given 48 hours' notice that Bo's trial would begin. Reporters camped outside the courthouse for days, breathlessly waiting for updates.

In March, the head of China's Supreme People's Court had promised that Zhou Yongkang's trial would be "open in accordance with the law". The trial was set to take place in the eastern port city of Tianjin. It seemed Zhou was set to follow Bo's pattern. Like other senior officials convicted of serious crimes, it was expected he would receive a suspended death sentence.

Months passed without any word. Some guessed that Zhou Yongkang was not co-operating with prosecutors. Others believed that his crimes were too much of an embarrassment for the government.

After all, Zhou Yongkang had held a seat at the very top of the Chinese government pyramid. If he was thoroughly corrupt, some in China might ask whether others at the top were rotten too.

In the end, the decision to keep Zhou Yongkang's trial secret matches the case surrounding him, and Mr Zhou's own public persona: inaccessible and secretive.

The news agency said Mr Zhou was tried behind closed doors on 22 May because the case involved state secrets. There was no public announcement until the conviction was reported on Thursday.

In a breakdown of the ruling, Xinhua reports that Mr Zhou received a life sentence for accepting bribes worth 130m yuan ($21.3m; £13.8m), seven years for abuse of power and four years for "deliberately releasing state secrets".

All political rights have been stripped and his property confiscated, it added.

Mr Zhou was charged in April, nine months after a formal investigation was announced. He has since been expelled from the Communist Party.

He was once head of the Ministry of Public Security, as well as a member of China's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

It is the first time such a senior Chinese figure has been convicted of corruption since the Communist Party came to power in 1949.

President Xi Jinping vowed to end endemic corruption when he came to power in 2012.

Since then, a number of Mr Zhou's former associates from his time working in the oil industry and as Communist Party chief in Sichuan province have been investigated or prosecuted as part of Mr Xi's corruption crackdown.

The Xinhua report did not refer to Bo Xilai, a former protege of Mr Zhou's and former Chongqing Communist Party chief, who is currently in prison on charges linked to his wife's murder of a UK businessman.

Barcelona wanted me to replace Xavi, reveals Koke

EXCLUSIVE: The 23-year-old has confirmed the Catalans wanted to sign him last summer, while Real Madrid also attempted to lure him to the Bernabeu as a teenager

Atletico Madrid  star Koke has revealed Barcelona approached him last summer after identifying him as Xavi's long term successor.

The 23-year-old is a product of Atletico's academy and made his debut as a 17-year-old against Barca back in 2009, before establishing himself as one of Spain's finest midfielders.

Koke has long been rumoured to be a target of Manchester United, but revealed Barcelona moved for him 12 months ago.

"Last summer I knew there was an interest from Barcelona in me. But my head was at Atletico Madrid," he said. "I grew up here, and did not have that need to go. I'm very comfortable here, and for now I don't see the need to go.

"Real Madrid also tried to prise me away when I was with the Under-16 team. But Atletico said it would not happen. And thank God, I'm still here. Hopefully I can be a one-club man and win a lot with Atletico.

"The goodbyes to [Steven] Gerrard and Xavi [when each left Liverpool and Barcelona respectively] were spectacular. They only played for the same club in their careers, and it was very beautiful."

Koke was also keen play down his tag as the 'new Xavi', but admitted the veteran has been a role model for him throughout his formative years.

"Me, the 'new Xavi'? In the end, there is not going to be a 'new Xavi', or 'new Iniesta', or 'new whatever'," the Spain international continued. "I hope to be remembered as Koke.

"Still, Xavi has been a reference for me. I shared a year with him in the [national] team, and learnt many things from him. For me, it is an honour to have shared that time with him."

Koke is also hopeful he will return to his favoured central midfield berth next term after operating out wide for much of last season.

"I was not as good as I could have been last term," he concluded. " There were so many games being played, after three or four years in which we gave everything.

"I am ready to play as a central midfielder next season, as Cholo [Simeone] recently said. His philosphy is playing to win, to give everything in each game and wanting to win every one.

"Maybe there was a slight downturn at the end, not only with me but the whole group. So perhaps that's why Simeone is looking to change things at Atletico."

Messi the best club player ever and Barcelona's the greatest season in history

COMMENT: Luis Enrique's side have eclipsed even Pep Guardiola's great team of 2009, with their star man a more complete footballer than ever before

Luis Enrique could have had the last laugh. Face to face with many of his fiercest critics from earlier on in the season, the Barcelona coach spoke seriously and almost without emotion after leading the Catalan club to a historic treble that culminated with the Champions League crown in Berlin on Saturday.

The Asturian coach led Barca to La Liga after edging out rivals Real Madrid by two points, before seeing his side claim the Copa del Rey by beating Athletic Club at Camp Nou last weekend and add Europe's elite trophy to their haul as they overcame Juventus in a hard-fought final on Saturday.

But there was no grinning, no gloating and no milking the moment from the Barca boss. Asked how he would define his side's season, the 44-year-old said: "We have played 60 games, won 50, drawn four and lost six. Those are the best numbers of any season in the history of the club."

And not only that. En route to the treble, Barca beat the best teams around. Champions League success came after eliminating the champions of England (Manchester City), France (Paris Saint-Germain), Germany (Bayern Munich) and Italy (Juventus). The Catalans, without doubt, were worthy winners of Europe's premier club competition.

Last season's Primera Division champions Atletico were also swept aside on four occasions in Liga and Copa, while Barca defeated Real Madrid at Camp Nou in March after losing to Carlo Ancelotti's side at the Bernabeu back in October.

So Luis Enrique was right. As he said, Barca's season in 2014-15 was the finest in the team's history. But it is in fact the greatest club campaign of all time. No side can boast better numbers than this Blaugrana outfit and it is hard to imagine any of the previous treble winners (including Bayern in 2012-13, Inter in 2009-10 or Manchester United in 1998-99) coming close to the Catalans' current crop.

Barca become the first team in history to achieve a treble twice. Pep Guardiola's great side won all three titles in 2008-09 and there have been constant comparisons between the two teams in the build-up to this final.

"Don't compare me with Pep," Luis Enrique joked at his Barca unveiling last summer, before adding: "I suppose if you compare me with Pep, it will mean I am doing something right."

Little did he know. As Madrid led La Liga in the winter months, Lionel Messi began 2015 on the bench after an argument with his coach and performances remained unconvincing. A treble triumph looked a million miles away, but through it all Luis Enrique stuck to his guns.

Behind the scenes, his staff said the team would be stronger in the second part of the season. A fitness freak and obsessive when it comes to conditioning, the Barca boss and his colleagues tailored a programme that would see the players finish the season strongly as their rivals faded.

That plan also included rotation in the first half of the season and brought criticism, yet Barca finished fresher and without as many injuries as Madrid, Bayern and others all suffered serious physical problems later in the campaign. Luis Enrique, it turned out, knew what he was doing all along.

His relationship with the players remains distant. There is no real affection like there had been in the earlier days with Guardiola, yet there is respect and positive results in the second half of the season that have helped to smooth over the problems from the first few months of the campaign.

And Messi's move back to the right - which Luis Suarez said had been a decision made initially by the players themselves on the pitch - was key to Barca's improvement as well.

Messi started slowly in 2014-15, but put World Cup disappointment behind him and ended up playing the finest football of his career this term. Some way short of the 73 goals he scored in Guardiola's last season in charge, the new version of Leo was a much more generous player, dropping deep to create chances as well as putting them away. The Argentine attacker is now more complete than ever and his role in this Barca team remains vital.

However, the new mature Messi took something of a secondary role in Barca's 3-1 over Juventus on Saturday. The 27-year-old floated a wonderful forward ball in the build-up to the first goal, while his saved shot brought about Barca's second. And that goal arrived amid a spell of Juventus dominance following their equaliser. So even though he was quieter than usual, the Argentine still intervened when it mattered most.

Perhaps fittingly, though, the three goals in Berlin were scored by Ivan Rakitic, Suarez and Neymar. Those three players were not at the club during the Guardiola era and symbolise the change in style between the two teams.

Without Pep's superb side, this treble would not have been possible, but Barca have evolved, adding set-piece strength, solidity in midfield through Rakitic and a formidable foward line to help Messi, allowing the Argentine to adopt a more selfless role in 2014-15.

When Guardiola left the club in 2012, it was hard to see how his team could get better. But this season's side sets a benchmark with the greatest season of any team ever, backed by the finest footballer in the history of club football.

Juventus now belong with Barcelona, Madrid & Bayern - can they stay with the elite next season?

The Bianconeri just fell short in Berlin but have proven this season that they are among the best teams in Europe. The job now will be sustaining it next term

Juventus are domestic double champions and were knocking on the door of a treble in the Champions League final until Neymar's injury time clincher for Barcelona in Berlin ultimately sealed their fate. 

The challenge? To get better.

No Juventus supporter in their wildest dreams could have envisaged the type of season they've had, in Europe at least, following the upheaval at the club last summer. Antonio Conte, the man who shook the Old Lady of Italian football from her slumber in winning three consecutive Scudetti, left Turin in a blaze of controversy. Replacement Masimilliano Allegri was seen as a stop-gap, yesterday's man as a result of his recent underwhelming history at AC Milan. 

Juventus might not have the best players in Europe, Barcelona do, but they have something very close to the best team. There is an identity and a shared sense of purpose running through their ranks from Gianluigi Buffon, through the backline that knows each other inside out, to a multifaceted midfield and a sharp strike force. The problem is, at the highest level, they are still not quite there. There is no great shame in that at this stage of their development. 

The club themselves would never have expected to make it this far following two dismal campaigns in a row in the Champions League under Conte but Allegri has the team ahead of schedule. There is a gradual curve of improvement in any team and, with players as young as Paul Pogba and Alvaro Morata, that holds as true for Juve as it does for any other side. They have blazed a trail this season. 

Things, though, are changing at Juve and expections must now rise inside the club as much as they will rise outwith. The club is on secure financial footing and will earn more cash from their Champions League participation than any other club in the competition. 



Big-money transfer objectives can again be realised; Paulo Dybala has already been added at considerable expense. The €32 million man signed from Palermo has a happy knack of finding Serie A nets but is, as yet, totally unproven on the continent. Allegri must conjure a way of making sure he hits the ground running. 

Dybala's arrivial means compatriot Carlos Tevez will leave thus summer or next with a spell at hometown club Boca Juniors in the offing. 

The fact they can blow their budget on one big player, however, does not mean Juve will lose any of the sense in the market they gained in the recent fallow years. Sami Khedira will shortly be confirmed a Juventus player, following in the recent Juventus tradition of pedigree free signings like Pogba and Andrea Pirlo. 

The Italian midfield veteran had tears in his eyes after the final whistle in the Olympiastadion with the suggestion being that his race is run after failing to match his European triumphs at Milan with Juve. MLS beckons with Khedira ready to step into the breach. 

There is still the future of Pogba to decide. Juventus very much hold the cards on any deal with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain known to be interested. Once upon a time, Zinedine Zidane left Turin for Madrid at great expense. They bought Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved with the transfer fee. It would not be beyond sporting director Giuseppe Moratta to conduct a similar campaign in the summer should the right players come available. 

There is no guarantee over the future of Arturo Vidal either; a decent Copa America campaign on home turf in Chile would also attract the interest of plenty more clubs around Europe in this window. 

You would not exactly describe this season as the Max Allegri revolution but he has certainly helped Juventus kick on. The pieces slotted together; they won Serie A at a canter and a first Coppa Italia in 20 years. In the Champions League they were much better given their ability to adapt formations and strategies by the game and sometimes by the minute. 

There would, already, be few reasonable gamblers backing against Juve to retain their domestic crown next season by some considerable distance. No one else comes close in that championship. What this season's Champions League campaign proved is that Juve have taken a decisive step out of the confines of Serie A and catapulted themselves back into an elite band of European teams which includes Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich.

They beat one this season and gave the other a close match in this final. That is the company in which they now belong. Next season the job is sustaining it.

When Messi is happy, it doesn't matter who Barcelona's coach is

 

COMMENT: The Blaugrana announced on Tuesday that Luis Enrique had extended his contract until 2017 but the most important thing for the club is their star player's state of mind

Luis Enrique has committed himself to Barcelona, signing a two-year contract until 2017 in the wake of his treble-winning exploits. After the post-Pep period of upheaval where coaches came and went it is the correct decision to ensure the greatness of this team to be retained. But with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, does it really matter who is in charge?

The coach has had to deal with his fair share of concerns across the campaign; as well as keeping Messi happy and integrating new players into the side he has had to handle questions on issues ranging from Dani Alves’ contract situation (now resolved) to the continuing concerns regarding Barca’s recent off-field activities.

He has taken it all in his stride but let’s not forget that it was the front three that turned this season around, not any tactical innovation from the bench. After the Real Sociedad defeat in January, one where Messi was named as a substitute following his late return from Argentina after the Christmas break, Real Madrid were clear favourites to win La Liga and Luis Enrique’s position was under genuine threat.

But suddenly the stars aligned. Luis Enrique and Messi’s relationship became, at the very least, amicable while Suarez accepted his role as the main forward to devastating effect. Neymar’s innate understanding with those two sealed the deal – arguably the finest attack football has ever seen performing at the peak of their abilities. Teams had no answer to their link-up, their finishing, and their unselfishness.



With players like these, who needs tactics? It wasn’t clever innovation that obliterated all opponents, it was three players being allowed to express themselves and with the freedom to do as they pleased. Luis Enrique’s future will not be defined by the decisions he makes but by how long their incredible form can be preserved. History tells us it is difficult to sustain such brilliance but Messi in particular has been performing to an astonishing level since 2008 and shows no signs of waning.

And the key is that Messi is content. He is content in his surroundings, content to agree with Suarez that he can operate centrally while Messi drifts wide, and is content to begin his natural progression into playmaker from relentless goal-scorer.

And he was also motivated enough to make it clear that he wanted the team to move to the next level. There are many figures looking to take credit for the transformation of the team in 2015 and the dramatic end result, but it begins and ends with Messi. If you are able to keep the Argentine driven by the project then good things can happen. It’s unclear how much credit Luis Enrique can take for this but having the best player in history travelling in the same direction as you can’t hurt.

The decision by Barcelona, to opt for consistency after the season to end all seasons, is a logical one. But there will always be a caveat attached to Luis Enrique’s achievements because it is inextricably linked to the form of Messi and as soon as the Argentine suffers a dip, the role of the coach in that situation will once again be questioned. Despite equalling the achievement of Pep Guardiola he won’t be revered and afforded space to evolve the team that Pep was given.

Is it because Guardiola created Messi and Luis Enrique simply inherited him?

Perhaps.

But the situation is clear - make this Messi last for as long as possible. If Luis Enrique can manage that, Barca will be the team to beat on all fronts again next season. Maybe then we’ll look at his role in their glory in a different light.