Author: The Nation

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says closure over the death of Chief MKO Abiola will be achieved when some of the challenges faced in the country are confronted and eliminated.

Soyinka said this at a Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Abiola, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) at MKO Abiola’s graveside in Ikeja.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, died on July 7, 1998.

He was charged for treason in 1994 by the Nigerian government, because he had declared himself the lawful President of Nigeria. He died in custody on the verge of being released in 1998.

Soyinka said: “This is the first gathering in honour of MKO Abiola after the formal recognition by the federal government that he was duly elected, and that he is a past president of this nation.

“And all we are waiting for is the formal actualisation through symbolic presence of his photographs among other presidents, even though he was never sworn into office.

“We cannot escape the past but we can confront the challenges of the present, which of course very often arise from the past.

“We are inching slowly towards closure. One of these days when we gather, we shall be rejoicing.

“At that time, we would have progressed towards the elimination of some of the abnormalities and contradictions in our country.

Read Also: Photos: Soyinka, other activists mark 21st anniversary of MKO Abiola’s death

“We have the issue of security, obeying the law, which is one thing that equalises all.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should lead by example by obeying the dictates of the  law, so that other Nigerians can follow suit.

“It is this refusal to obey the law that has made some sectors of the populace think they are above the law and are causing anarchy in the country.

“We have a responsibility as a people and government should  address the issue of education, youth unemployment and insecurity.

“Just when we thought we were dealing with Boko Haram, then come these nomadic herdsmen armed with AK-47, and gradually,  the kind of harmonious relationships that existed between various productive arms of this nation begins to disappear.

“We find ourselves on a daily basis being threatened, killed, our women being raped and other productive arms like farmers being driven off their own territories.

“These are critical issues that we need to deal with head on and urgently, so that we begin to celebrate the memories of Late Abiola and what he stood for,” Soyinka said.

He described Late Abiola as a true leader and an icon of inspiration for Nigerians.

“MKO Abiola is one of those that belong in that galaxy of stellar leaders who at the critical moments said No. Nelson Mandela was one of them,  Leah Sharibu is another young example.

“MKO Abiola, when he was given a conditional release in detention, said No.  This is an essential lesson,” he said.

Also speaking, a Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, said that a team of lawyers was being set up to re-open the matter on the death of Abiola at the international court, so that justice would be served.

Falana decried the high rate of poverty in the county, saying that it contradicted the legacy of Late Abiola.

“MKO Abiola’s campaign was anchored on farewell to poverty, today a 100million Nigerians live in abject poverty.

” We, therefore, need to rededicate ourselves to taking our people out of poverty, tackle the problem of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping by addressing the high rate of out-of-school children.

“Abiola stood for justice for all. All Nigerians must benefit from the resources of the nation,” Falana said.

Retired Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a former military administrator of Lagos State, said that Abiola would forever be remembered for his principles and for believing in true federalism.

“We are having so many problems today. 21 years after the death of MKO, we are still struggling to enthrone true federalism where every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging as a citizen.

”We urge the government to go back to how we became a country – a Federal Nigeria. That is the way forward,”he said.

Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of Late Gani Fawehinmi, commended President Buhari for being sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.

Fawehinmi urged President Buhari to urgently constitute his cabinet for a better economy.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, convener of the event, said that 21 years after the death of Abiola, he would continually be celebrated as a great son of Africa.

Okei-Odumakin urged the federal government to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how Abiola died in custody.

She also called for the abolition of poverty in the country, saying that it was an issue paramount to late Abiola

Responding, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, one of the sons of MKO Abiola, appreciated the Federal Government for declaring June 12 Democracy Day, saying that it was an unexpected miracle.

“I want us to be optimistic as a people because I know that the same federal government that was able to take that giant step will not stop at that. They will respond to the yearnings of Nigerians.

“The many challenges in our country today are as a result of decadence over the years and it will not be easy to tackle them in one day.  Let us be patient with President Buhari.

“As we also clamour for restructuring. let us look inward and restore our thinking and ways of doing things. It is not just what the government can do, it is about what we can do as a people to better our nation, ” he said.

Also, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Abiola, another of the sons of Late Abiola, urged Nigerians to stop living in the past and plan for a better future for the younger generation.

“We should allow what happened in the past to be in the past. Let’s stop querying who killed Abiola. Let us talk about how to build a better Nigeria for our children.

“This is 21 years after; Abiola has played his part, what we should be talking about is how to play our parts to better our country,” he said. (NAN)

Former Military Head of States, General Ibrahim Babangida has eulogised ace reporter and former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba at 80, describing him as a “civilian general” who has the “knack for unraveling the unknown.”

Babangida also described the All Progressives Congress(APC) chieftain as a press officer, who knows so well how to cultivate friendships across tribes and religions to derive happiness even from a gloomy situation.

The ex – military President stated this in a letter he personally signed and sent to Osoba to celebrate his 80th birthday anniversary.

Babangida said the octogenarian is imbued with various talents for solving hard situations, disclosing that Osoba is one of the few Nigerians who are not concerned about the tribe one belongs to before reporting  credible information.

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He also  extolled the virtues of former Managing Director of Daily Times and later The Sketch, as one who  practiced the journalism profession with credibility and diligence when technology was still a huge challenge.

Babangida stated: “As young minds in those days, we socialized maximally without thinking about tribe or religion. We made good use of our prime and ensured that we left no stone unturned.

“Even as military officers we had good company in our ‘bloody’ civilians who complimented our networks. Chief Osoba was one of such ‘civilian generals’ who knew so well how to cultivate friendship and derive happiness from a seemingly gloomy situation.

“He has a knack for unraveling the unknown. When we needed to feel the pulse of the Nation, Chief Osoba became handy. He was more like a bridge between us and the people.

“Despite being ‘stubborn’ with extremely brilliance, he has a boss that understands his ‘wiles’ and ‘tricks’, both in letter and spirit. All credit must go to his wife of quintessential orientation and unknown humility. Her ability to manage Osoba’s excesses till date deserves more than a golden award and a standing ovation.”

An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has sentenced a man, Obinna Udefi, to 14 years imprisonment for the 2009 death of his younger sister, Oluchi.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye convicted Udefi on a one-count charge of involuntary manslaughter after discharging him of the offence of murder.

The judge upheld the defendant’s argument, made by his counsel Mrs Grace Adenubi, that he did not deliberately kill Oluchi, as claimed by the Lagos State Government.

The State alleged that Udefi stabbed Oluchi in the stomach with a broken bottle because she refused to give him food, following which she died.

He spent nine years in prison custody during the trial which began before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, but was concluded by Justice Akintoye.

But dismissing the state’s allegation, Justice Akintoye upheld Udefi’s argument that after he pushed Oluchi, she fell against a crate of empty bottles and landed on some of the bottles, which had broken on the floor.

A few hours later – and in unclear circumstances – she was dead.

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The judge held: “The prosecution has been unable to prove that this act of the defendant was intentional…

“I further find that while the prosecution was unable to prove a case of murder, they have been able to establish a case of manslaughter.

“Once the deceased failed to answer the defendant or give him his food, he ought to have walked past her and got his food himself…

“It is clear that the act of the defendant caused the death of the deceased, albeit inadvertently.”

She noted that there was no medical report to show the exact cause of death.

Nevertheless, the judge emphasised that although Udefi’s push “was done without intent to cause grievous bodily harm or death,” he was responsible for the consequences.

“Obinna Udefi is hereby found guilty of manslaughter and is accordingly convicted,” Justice Akintoye said.

Before sentencing, Justice Akintoye asked if Udefi wanted to make an allocutus.

Adenubi, of the Legal Aid Council (LAC), prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

She said: “The defendant lost his father due to grief after Oluchi’s death. His mother is elderly and ailing. She is bereaved of her daughter and husband, now her son has been in detention for nine years.

“He has been in custody since 2009. She had to relocate to the village. We pray your lordship to not send him back to send more years in prison. The defendant has been very well-behaved while in custody and has even become a pastor in detention.”

Following her plea, the judge said: “The defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, less the period of remand from 22nd of May, 2009.”

Udefi was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Adebajo in June 2010, on a count of murder contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2003.

He pleaded not guilty and trial commenced.

Following the judge’s retirement, he was re-arraigned before Justice Akintoye and the case started anew.

Again, Udefi pleaded not guilty.

During examination-in-chief by Mrs Adenubi, Udefi testified that the incident occurred on February 16, 2009 at the defendant’s home in Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos.

He was working in his dad’s shop but became hungry and came back home for food. He entered their mother’s restaurant, which was sometimes used as a kitchen. He sat on a chair, called Oluchi to give him something to eat, she did not answer him.

He called her the second time but she did not answer him. He became angry, stood up, came close to where she stood behind the counter where the food was.

Udefi said: “I wanted to push her away and get food for myself. I pushed her in anger and she fell, but to guard herself, she held on to a row of empty crates packed by the wall. The crates fell and some of the bottles broke.”

He added that she fell on a broken bottle which injured her.

He rushed her to a clinic but the doctor asked for a N200,000 deposit before he could do anything.

“I pleaded with him to accept the N50,000 I had with me, but the doctor refused. So, we came out to look for another hospital,” Udefi said.

He stated that on their way out of the hospital, his younger brother joined them. As they left, a crowd gathered and asked what happened and he said it was an accident.

According to him: “A particular man was insisting to know what happened. I told him said it was accident and he said he would help him. He made a call, stopped a commercial bus and asked us to go in with him. Unknown to me, he asked the driver to take us to a Police Post.

“When we got to the Police Post, I told the man, “this is not a hospital, I’m going to a hospital and you brought us to Police Post.”

He said at the station, he and his brother were put behind the counter and their sister was left in the bus.

They were afterwards taken to Sabo Police Station, Yaba.

He claimed that Oluchi was alive in the bus when they were put in the cell, but that afterwards he did not know where she was taken to.

“That same day, in the night, we were informed that Oluchi was dead. We were transferred to State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba and after one month, my brother was released. I was taken to court after three months,” he said.

The federal government aims to earn $150 billion non-oil revenue in the next 10 to 15 years if its implementation goes well.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja at the weekend.

Also towards diversifying the Nigerian economy away from oil, the meeting was to fine tune plans to achieve ‘zero oil’ by gradually reducing the percentage contribution of oil to the economy in comparison to other sectors.

Awolowo, who briefed State House correspondents, said: “I came to see Mr President to brief him on the zero oil implementation plan and what we have been doing.

“Because, he had raised questions on where we are and how we are going to be able to really diversify the economy.

“I briefed him on the setting up of national committee on export promotion by NEC chaired by the governor of Jigawa State and what we are working in order to diversify the economy.

“What we hope to achieve is to raise more revenue for Nigeria from other sources. You know 90 percent of our revenue is from oil and we cannot survive. Even though oil prices are rising a bit because of Iran, there is problem there.

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“But we should not rest on our oars because, those days of $140 per barrel is gone forever. So we have to look inwards and produce more.”

According to him, the zero oil plan is about raising production and productivity.

He said that 22 sectors have been identified where foreign exchange can be earned apart from oil.

Awolowo explained: “We are hoping that in the next 10-15 years we will be able to raise $150 billion from sources outside oil.

“That is what we are working on and we are galvanizing the whole states behind us in other to raise production and productivity.

“We are working with the relevant MDAs to achieve this. You know the CBN just announced an initiative on five of our products and giving them low interest rates to farm and raise production.”

Asked to list the sectors, he said: “The sectors are particularly cocoa. Cocoa is an immediate win for us because it’s been our number one none oil revenue making. But we are on less than 300,000 metric tons, Ghana is heading to 900,000, Cote d’ Ivoire almost two million metric.

“So, how do we compete? Meanwhile if you see the landmass in Nigeria you can imagine what we can do.

“Another sector is sheer nut, cashew is another breadwinner for us, so let’s raise production, let’s give our farmers, plantations low interest loan so that they can raise production for us.

“We are also looking at value addition for all because that is the way you create jobs, we cannot continue to sell the raw materials.”

He went on: “I was happy to present to Mr. President some tomatoes and Bell peppers from a green house in Benin.

“I also presented him Casanovas, which is cassava chips which a cottage industry is producing in Idu Industrial Estate that is already being exported to Germany.

“And that is the future for Nigeria. We are about to enter into   African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, which is the biggest in the world, we don’t want to be a dumping ground and that is why Mr. President refused signing until we are ready.

“We must be competitive, we must produce more, and we must help our manufacturers get into this market.”

Police in Anambra state on Sunday dismissed as untrue report alleging a gun cache belonging to herdsmen was discovered at Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

Police spokesperson in the state, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, asked members of the public to disregard the story, describing it as figment of imagination of mischief makers.

There was palpable tension in the area on Saturday following the story claiming that a cache of guns reportedly kept by herdsmen for a possible attack was discovered by some children who went to fetch firewood in the area.

The report alleged that no fewer than 50 pieces of AK47  guns were discovered.

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But, Mohammed in the statement, warned those circulating such stories to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

The statement partly reads: “The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a story that some children went to fetch firewood at Okija in Anambra State and discovered about 50 pieces of AK 47 guns hidden by Fulani herdsmen in wait for their planned assault.

“That the children reported to some elders who handed over the rifles to the Police.

“The story is false and orchestrated by mischief makers who are bent on creating chaos in the state in order to achieve their selfish desires.

“Persons circulating this inciting publication are warned to desist forthwith as any one apprehended will face the full wrath of the law.”

The Command reassured the people of the state of adequate protection and urged them to disregard the fake news and go about their legitimate business without fear of any molestation.