The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • APC: Members need NIN for party registration

    APC: Members need NIN for party registration

    By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

    Registrants at the forth coming ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration update and revalidation exercise may be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) just as the actual kick off date is still uncertain.

    Secretary Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, had announced tomorrow (Monday January 25th) for the take-off date for the nationwide exercise.

    But uncertainty has shrouded the take off of the exercise, as many of the activities prelude to the actual registration, update and revalidation exercise are yet to be in place.

    Unveiling the guidelines for the exercise in Abuja on Friday night to the Forum of State Caretaker Committee Chairmen, the Chairman of the exercise Mobilisation/Sensitization Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello, said the party was committed to the success of the exercise by putting all structures in place.

    Read Also: Kwara APC: Uncertainty mounts as crisis deepens

    He however said that the actual registration will be after the inauguration of zonal, state and local registration committees and training of all Registration Officers (ROs).

    According to Gov. Bello, “The exercise will start on 25th January, 2021 with the inauguration of all of the Committees that are going to various States and geopolitical zones. Thereafter, all the officers and officials who will go and conduct the exercise shall be trained and after the training, materials shall be deployed to the various nooks and crannies of the country for the exercise.”

    Also the Secretary of the Committee Professor Prof. Al-Mustapha Medaner, who is also the APC Director of Organization said that while the exercise will be conducted in strict compliance to Covid-19 protocol, registrants are to provide their National Identification Number (NIN), he however said that the provision of NIN is not complusory but is needed where available.

    A reliable party source on Saturday confided in The Nation, that the exercise may be delayed for another one week. This is to enable the National Secretariat inaugurated the various committed, conduct the train-the-trainers workshop and distribute the registration materials to all the 36 States of the country.

     

  • Nigeria to spend $80m to fight terrorism, banditry in the north — Buhari

    Nigeria to spend $80m to fight terrorism, banditry in the north — Buhari

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    The federal government is committing $80 million to the fight  against terrorism and banditry in the northern part of the country this year, President Muhmmadu Buhari announced on Saturday.

    Buhari spoke during the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government virtual Summit.

    The President, whose speech was read by Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyema, expressed worries over the spate of terrorissm in some countries of the region, emphasizing the need for the countries to work together with a view to stamping  out the menace.

    The President also said a total of $20 million already been contributed to the ECOWAS pool for security action plan to execute the war against terrorism in the region.

    The region, according to him “ needs to commence immediate implementation of ECOWAS Action Plan on the fight against terrorism.”

    He urged member states to pay their voluntary contribution into the fund dedicated to the implementation of the 2020/2024 Action plan.

    He added: ”We have already directed the immediate remittance of the sum of $20 million pledged by Nigeria to the pool account of the ECOWAS Action Plan to fight terrorism while the sum of $80 million is to be disbursed for the fight against terrorism in the Northeast and banditry in the Northwest of Nigeria for the year 2020.”

    Speaking on the global health challenge, he charged West African countries to prioritize and acquisition and local manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines for citizens of the region.

    Read Also: Buhari renews commitment to end banditry

    He challenged the ECOWAS Commission to work with the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), to see to the acquisition of the vaccine, its storage and effective distribution among member states.

    He lamented that the effect of the pandemic on the economies of countries within the region had been seriously affected, which he said would in turn affect the economic fortunes of the organization, hence the need for ECOWAS to readjust its priorities.

    His words: ”The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the ECOWAS region.  ”Now that vaccines are soon to be available, I call on all member states to ensure that we prioritize the acquisition of the vaccines for our citizens while at the same time increasing efforts to develop our own vaccines so that we can build hard immunities against the COVID-19 pandemic in West Africa.

    “We urge the ECOWAS Commission to work with WAHO, the West African Health Organisation to assist member states in acquiring the vaccines and provide facilities to store and distribute the vaccines within the region.

    “Efforts should also be accelerated for the region to start producing rapid diagnostic test kits of international standards to be made available to all member states. It is important for the region to evolve effective measures and avoid total lockdown at this critical time that our economies are gradually recovering from the first wave of the pandemic.”

  • Ondo vs. Fed Govt

    Ondo vs. Fed Govt

    Editorial

    The brouhaha between Ondo State and the Federal Government over the quit notice issued to herdsmen to leave the state’s forest reserve is unnecessary. After all, the primary purpose of government, according to section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) is “the security and welfare of the people”. So, if officials of the federal and state governments bear this fundamental responsibility in mind, in their actions and inactions, then there should be no basis for any quarrel.

    We therefore urge both governments to ensure that words and actions are in tandem with that provision of the constitution. The controversy was sparked following a directive from Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to herdsmen to quit the state’s forest reserve. In his words: “As the chief law and security officer of the state, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the state.”

    The governor went further: “we decided that all the criminal elements who hide under various guises to aid the destruction of farmlands as well as perpetuate other violent crimes such as kidnapping, drug peddling and other nefarious activities, must be stamped out of our dear state.” Reports said the governor consequently ordered herdsmen to vacate the forest reserve within seven days, as well as stop night grazing. The government also ordered herders to register their activities like other farmers.

    Surprisingly, to the consternation of many, including the state government, the president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, quickly disagreed with the directive of the governor on behalf the president. Shehu said: “There is little to be said other than to call for restraint on both sides and urge the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities to continue their dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state.” He claimed that the governor’s action could “set off a chain of events which the makers of our constitution foresaw and tried to guard against.”

    We disagree with the president’s spokesman that the directives of the governor could set up a chain of events detrimental to security and welfare of residents of the states, including the Fulani communities, whom Shehu mentioned. By his utterances, it appears Shehu is more concerned about the Fulani communities more than other residents of Ondo, particularly the victims of the kidnapping, drug peddling and other nefarious activities, which the governor spoke about.

    It is even more disheartening that by his disingenuous inference, Shehu is equating the criminal elements which the governor is working to stamp out with the Fulani communities. We doubt if the governor by his words and conduct is seeking to evict the Fulani communities living in the state, and we urge Shehu not to make such inference. If however, Governor Akeredolu intends such an order, he would have infringed the constitution and other extant laws.

    But it is within his powers as the state governor, to preserve the sanctity of the properties of the state, including the forest reserve. So, if persons, regardless of their tribe or religion have been using the state’s private property for decades, we doubt if that long stay expropriates the rights of the owner. Such persons remain trespassers, and the argument that a trespasser on a private property who has stayed very long on a property acquires proprietary rights adverse to the owner, flies in the face of logic.

    Even more worrisome is the request for dialogue in the face of proven cases of armed banditry, kidnapping and sundry crimes. What the president’s spokesperson should have offered instead are words of encouragement to the people of the state, and an offer to collaborate with the state government to stamp out the criminals masquerading as herders, so that both the Fulani communities and the other residents of Ondo State, could live in peace.

    It is instructive that Ondo State government has reiterated the instruction for herders to comply with the lawful directive of the governor, and we urge them to do so. The herders who are engaged in lawful activities in the state deserve to ply their business in peace, and they should join hands with the state government to isolate the killer herdsmen. They never appointed Garba Shehu as their spokesman, and we doubt if he spoke the mind of the president on this issue.

    We consider it strange for Shehu to compare the lawful directive of an elected governor with that of unlawful or fringe organisations, who are clearly seeking relevance. If, as admitted by Shehu, Governor Akeredolu “has fought crime in his state with passion and commitment, greater sensitivity and compassion for the four years he has run its affairs”, we urge the Federal Government to cooperate with him, rather than clog the new tactics the governor has proposed to deal with a debilitating menace.

  • Naira Marley is an intellectual, says Zinolesky

    Naira Marley is an intellectual, says Zinolesky

    By Gbenga Bada

    One of the music acts signed to Naira Marley’s music label, Zinolesky says his boss is an intellectual.

    He said, “So, you know it’s a family thing, he’s a very intellectual person that looks at all angles, spiritually every angle left, morally.”

    Read Also: Naira Marley is excited about Marlian First Lady

    In a recent chat with DJ Cuppy on Apple Music 1, Zinolesky, who has two hit singles, says being an artist on Marlian music is an experience.

    “Being signed to Marlian Music is, trust me, an experience like no other. Because Naira Marley doesn’t take us as an artist, this is like his brother or his brother like his family,” he said during the chat.

    Currently making waves with his new single, ‘Kilofeshe,’ off his debut EP, ‘Chrome,’ the 25-year-old strongly believes being on Naira Marley’s imprint is a perfect decision. “I think I’m in a perfect place, perfect place, and I’m very happy I made that decision.”

  • 2023 Presidency: Who will run from Southeast?

    2023 Presidency: Who will run from Southeast?

    Although most of the Southeast politicians currently believed to be nursing presidential ambition in 2023 have come out to deny being involved in electioneering campaigns, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that the search for a possible President of Nigeria in 2023 from the Southeast zone has gained more popularity

    Although 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is still two years away, it has been observed that some aspirants and interested geo-political zones have raised their game in a bid to clinch the choice position.

    One zone that has been at the forefront in the quest is the Southeast zone, which is telling whoever cares to listen that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next president of the country.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has led many other organisations and top politicians to make case for the Igbo and for the Southeast zone in particular. Just late December, the then outgoing President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said of the zone’s quest, “this is a democracy; people are free to say what they want. But what is important is how the will of the nation will be distilled to ensure that there is justice. Nobody here is a second-class citizen and Ndigbo are not. So it is our turn in 2023.” He said this in Nnewi at the public presentation of the official biography of the town’s monarch, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, entitled The Peace General, authored by Azuka Onwuka.

    Another top politician that recently insisted it is the turn of the zone is Hon. Simon Atigwe, the lawmaker representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State.

    He recently told journalists in Abuja that “If equity should come to play, it is not disputable; it is the turn of Southeast. If it comes to the South and it doesn’t go to the Southeast, then there must be a very serious reason. I don’t think anybody can proffer such reason to convince people easily. I don’t think anybody has that reason that it should not go to the Southeast.”

    Notwithstanding the verbal demand for the 2023 Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, The Nation investigation shows that it is still difficult to identify an aspirant that is determined enough and prepared enough to win the presidential ticket of any of the leading political parties. Close observers of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that as at this weekend, the aspiration of most of the known politicians from the Southeast zone remains at the speculative level. “Do not be swayed by the noise; I can tell you that in the ruling APC, no Southeast aspirant’s interest has gone beyond media speculation. You can say two years is still a long way to go, but I can assure you that in other geo-political zones, I, for one, can point at some serious and fully prepared aspirants for the party’s presidential ticket. I am yet to identify any from the Southeast. So, why should I join the agitators to say it is the turn of the Southeast,” asked Dr. Fredrick Mba, a political analyst in Lagos.

    Mr. Dominic Egbe, a rights activist and PDP supporter also confided that even in the PDP, it is doubtful if anyone can say for sure that a particular aspirant from the Southeast has built enough structure and followership ahead of the 2023 presidential contest. “Ordinarily, one would expect the PDP to hand over its 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast zone, given the strength of the party in the zone, but from what is happening and the reports that the North may still cling on the party’s ticket in 2023, it appears Southeast qualified aspirants are not enthusiastic enough to come out for the ticket. I need not tell you that power is not given. You will have to demand for it and contest for it before it would be left for you. That is the way it works. But you will agree with me that even the Southeast top politicians that have been associated with the quest so far have all denied it. Yes, that may be understandable since this is just 2021, but we all know that anyone that seriously want to preside over Nigeria in 2023 must by now have verifiable structure and followership. Presidency is a serious matter. I am yet to see such an aspirant in the PDP from the Southeast,” he said.

    Game of denial

    Since 2020 when observers started bandying possible aspirants for the top position from the Southeast zone, virtually all of them have made haste to deny the suggestion.

    As far back as August 2020, a political association, the Igbo for President Solidarity Group (IPSC), became specific when it listed about 11 politicians from the zone it considered fit to contest for the office of president in 2023.

    According to the association, “IPSC has come to the conclusion that in 2023, a man or woman of Igbo extraction will become the president of Nigeria.

    “IPSC will engage in consultations across the six geo-political zones, visitation to Emirs, Obas, Eze, Obi and chiefs, to discuss and examine the characters and integrity of the eleven persons suggested,” the group said.

    Some of the politicians suggested by the association are Dr. Ogbonaya Onu of Ebonyi State, former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, Dr. Chris Ngige of Anambra, Sen. Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia; Sen. Ike Ekweremadu of Enugu, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Sen. Andy Uba of Anambra and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu of Anambra State.

    Besides such specific mention, it is observed that nothing tangible has been seen around most of the mentioned aspirants to suggest they are fully in the race. Even the most visible of the alleged aspirants had formally denied suggestions linking them to such quest.

    This drama of denial trailed the politics of the zone in the last quarter of 2020 and peaked mid-January, 2021 when the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, denied authorizing posters bearing his picture and name as a 2023 presidential aspirant.

    Powered by a group known as Nigerians Ask for Anyim with Facebook and Twitter names as piusanyim2023 and with www.nigeriaask4anyim.org as its website, the campaign posters, tagged Progress 2023 with the picture of the former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, lighted the political scene as soon as it flooded the social media.

    But although the said Nigerians Ask for Anyim 2023 campaign organisation is alleged to be championed by a former House of Representatives member in Ebonyi State, Anyim swiftly disassociated himself from it..

    In a statement he personally signed, Anyim said even if he is interested in running for president in 2023, the time for campaign has not come.

    As he puts it: “My attention has just been drawn to posters and stories circulating in the Social Media. One of them has the inscription “Progress 2023 Anyim Pius Anyim for President…” with my picture on it;

    “I want to state very emphatically that I do not have a hand in those posters or campaign and did not authorise any such publications.

    As a law-abiding citizen, I am fully aware that it is not the time for the campaign for 2023 elections.

    “The government at the federal level has spent only a year and seven months out of four-year term, grappling with issues of governance and so should not be distracted”.

    Anyim therefore charged the general public to disregard such posters and or publications.

    Also, when Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, the circumstances surrounding his action brought to the fore the sensitive issue of who would suceed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 and if APC would zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast in 2023.

    This was mainly because of the reasons Umahi gave for his defection and choice of political party to join. It would be recalled that Umahi had alleged that one of the reasons he decided to dump the PDP was because the party was not planning to pick its 2023 presidential candidate from the Southeast, which has yet to produce a president since democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999.

    Describing the party’s action as “insensitive and insincere,” Umahi argued that “for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, the region should be allowed to take a shot at the presidency” since, according to him, “other regions have done so.”

    As the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Umahi’s utterances attracted attention of political observers and various stakeholders. Many concluded that Umahi has presidential ambition and probably had the belief that he would be given APC ticket. He however shocked many when he denied harbouring plan to be a beneficiary of his agitation for Southeast’s turn to produce the President. He rather said he was prepared to be the “sacrificial lamb.”

    As he puts it: “It is absurd that since 1999 going to 2023, the Southeast will never be considered to run for presidency under the PDP. And this is my position and will continue to be my position. It had nothing to do with me or my ambition.

    “I want to clear the air that I never sought PDP presidential ticket and I will not. So whoever said that I moved to APC because they refused to zone the ticket to me is being very mischievous.”

    Anyim and Umahi are not the only top Southeast politicians that have denied posters advertising them as 2023 presidential aspirants.

    Former Governor of Anambra State and the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP in the last presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, also had to do so in 2020.

    When a campaign poster circulating online associated the former Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), vice presidential candidate, as contesting alongside former Governor Rabi’u Kwakwanso ahead of 2023 presidency, he promptly denied having a hand in the publication of such poster.

    The campaign poster, which surfaced online, has Obi running for president while Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor is his running mate.

    The slogan on the campaign poster reads: “For equity and fairness 2023” with Obi and Kwankwaso running for presidency on the PDP platform in 2023.

    In his reaction, Obi, the former Anambra State governor, denied involvement in the poster.

    Obi in a short statement on his Twitter page wrote: “I am not a part of the poster being circulated – PO.”

    Even the former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had similar experience. When a poster, also circulating on social media, purporting that he would run for the vice presidential position with the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal as his presidential candidate, he said it was false.

    In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor, Chidoka said, “I did not produce any poster nor did I authorize anyone or group to produce any on my behalf.

    “I did not directly or indirectly authorise anybody or group of persons to produce or circulate any posters for any campaign,” he said.

    The search goes on

    The denials notwithstanding, we learnt that more than ever, the search for an acceptable aspirant or aspirants for the office of Nigerian President from the Southeast is currently ongoing. As Dr. Mba explains it, “though party chieftains, for the fear of offending party guidelines may tell you it is still early in the day, I can tell you that Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership and Igbo elders consider the emergence of Nigerian President of Igbo extraction as a task that must be fulfilled.”

    Even Ohanaeze Ndigbo, under the new leadership of Prof George Obiozor, has been reported as stating clearly that one of the mandate handed over to them is to produce a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

    The newly elected spokesman of the body, Alex Ogbonna, was quoted as saying, “The only aim is to convince Nigerians to consider Igbo for 2023 because we have been tasked to carry and portray the awareness and consciousness of the Igbo. Fortunately, the consciousness is to produce Igbo president. There is no need to delay or coming up with a new mandate. “There is no time to be negative about the goal. We are very hopeful that we will achieve it. The mandate is an already started one and it is very clear to all of us. It is an unwritten agreement that must be achieved.”

    The search is on. It therefore remains to be seen who the zone would finally present to the rest of Nigeria.

  • 12 APC govs, Senators, Reps want new generation chairman

    12 APC govs, Senators, Reps want new generation chairman

    •Oppose candidacy of Sheriff, Yari, Ebri, other ex-governors, contestants above 65 years
    •Favour North-Central for chairmanship slot

     

     Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

     

    A COALITION made up of 12 governors, influential leaders, Senators and House of Representatives members has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the national convention of the party in June.

    The aim of the coalition, The Nation gathered, is to enthrone a new generation chairman for the party.

    The governors and other stakeholders involved are said to be opposed to anyone older than 65 years leading the party.

    The coalition is also seeking the understanding of APC leaders to concede the national chairman slot to the North-Central zone because both the North-East and the North-West have had their fair shares of political offices.

    Some of the aspirants who fall in this category include a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and former Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari; a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and former governor of Cross River State, Clement Ebri, among others.

    The coalition is also not interested in any national chairmanship aspirant who has served in any executive position like governor, deputy governor, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or chief executive officer of a ministry, department or agency (MDAs).

    They may also resist imposition by APC governors of any candidate as national chairman at the convention.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that members of the coalition tagged Movement for a New Generation of Leadership in APC have met secretly twice in Abuja on their proposed reforms at the convention.

    During one of such meetings, they made a case for the North-Central to produce the next national chairman of the party because, in their view, the North-East and the North-West have had a fair share of political offices.

    It was learnt that they have started lobbying for the buy-in of key APC leaders and stakeholders on the need for younger elements to lead the party.

    According to a reliable source, the same group will soon reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on its leadership template for APC.

    The source said: “We are forming a coalition to effect sustainable reforms in APC. We will not leave the governors alone to lead the initiative of effecting changes in our party.

    “We have formed a coalition comprising like minds, including governors, influential stakeholders, senators, members of the House of Representatives and others.

    “We have met twice and we have resolved to form the Movement for a New Generation of Leadership in APC. We do not want any aspirant or candidate who has been a governor, deputy governor, minister, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or CEO of any MDA to lead the APC.

    Read Also: Buni to Rivers APC: cease fire on suspensions

    “We are seeking a clean slate. We will reject old aspirants like a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (ex-governor of Zamfara State); a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and ex-governor Clement Ebri, among others.

    “We believe that those who have held executive positions in the past should take the back seat. We want to try something new in APC.

    “Also, anyone from 65 to 70 years and above has no business managing APC. We want a new national chairman without any baggage so that we can run APC like a normal party is run anywhere in the world.

    “This is the main agenda we are selling to all APC stakeholders, including governors, in order that the party may outlive all of us.

    “We are asking for a new generation chairman because those who have shown interest so far are old and cannot offer anything new to the party.

    “Some of these aspirants have started having problems because APC leaders from their states are against their ambition.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “As I speak with you, we have 12 governors behind our demand for a young leader for our great party.

    “We will not operate covertly. We will soon address the press to enable APC members know where we stand.

    “We are consulting on a fast note and our idea is that we don’t want those who wielded executive powers in the past. We want a national chairman with an unblemished record.”

    It was also gathered that the coalition may resist imposition of a new national chairman on the party.

    The source said: “We are already encouraging members to come out for registration in order to press for change in the party.

    “This coalition will not allow imposition of party leaders as being planned by some governors and a few stakeholders. We have had enough of that.

    “We are happy that about 12 governors are backing this agenda. We are trying to get President Muhammadu Buhari to buy into this project for fresh hands and new thinking in APC.”

  • Sexual harassment: Why OAU victim is yet to graduate – Source

    Sexual harassment: Why OAU victim is yet to graduate – Source

    •VC did not ask Akindele to go on sabbatical leave during meeting

    •How OAU Senate gave Monica Osagie waiver

    •Our disagreement with sexual harassment victim—OAU official

    •Explains OAU’s deal with ICPC

    Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

     

    FRESH facts emerged on Saturday that Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is yet to award sexual harassment victim, Monica Osagie, a master’s degree because she has not fulfilled the necessary requirements.

    The university claimed that Osagie failed a Mathematics course which cannot be waived.

    Although she had failed the course twice, the university Senate decided to give her a third chance in view of the peculiar nature of her challenge.

    But she allegedly wanted to be awarded the degree, having established a sex-for-grade scandal.

    Also, the university said the Vice Chancellor’s meeting with the jailed lecturer, Prof. Richard Akindele, was not to persuade him to go on sabbatical leave.

    Akindele had offered to resign but the VC insisted he should defend the allegations against him since he claimed he was innocent.

    These details are contained in a tell-it-all brief made available to The Nation by an OAU top official.

    The brief explained how the university management pardoned Monica and all students who failed to register on time.

    It clarified that after the pardon, Monica’s studentship was regularised after paying the required fees.

    The top source, in the brief, said: “It is true that Miss Monica Osagie was not a registered student of OAU by the time she took the exams, but she later paid the required fees and her studentship was regularised.

    “This was disclosed to ICPC in the course of investigation and was never part of the reason for not issuing a certificate.

    “Miss Osagie was not the only student that failed to register, and all the students affected were pardoned. Why would the university single her out for punishment?

    “Referring to the issue is just to whip up sentiments and mislead the reading public.

    “Around March 2020, her solicitors also engaged in similar publicity. We wanted to respond but the university was advised that it could further traumatise Miss Monica Osagie to read her academic performance on the pages of newspapers after what  Professor Akindele did to her.

    Read Also: OAU VC to dislodge land grabbers

    “We may now have to respond publicly to these innuendoes, if only to put the records straight and disallow this matter from distorting the hard stance of OAU on anti-sexual harassment and other social vices.”

    The source, in the brief, explained that the post-graduate student failed a Mathematics course which cannot be waived

    The source added: “The course that she failed was not Professor Akindele’s and she had failed the course before the Akindele saga.

    “She repeated the course while the Akindele issue was on and failed a second time because she never attended any class (which was understandable because of the prevailing circumstances at the time).

    “In-course assessment constituted 40% of the final mark. Although only two opportunities are allowed, we agreed with ICPC that she will be allowed to take the course for the third time, with a waiver from the Senate and under the full protection and supervision of the university management.

    “We promised that she will be assisted with all facilities available. The course she failed is mathematical and her first degree is in the arts, hence the need for her to have the lectures becomes essential.

    “The ICPC, I am sure, communicated to her solicitor the willingness of the university to give a waiver, but what she wanted is to be awarded a degree for which she has not fulfilled the necessary requirements.

    “There is no reputable university that will condescend to that level and OAU will definitely not award such a degree.

    “OAU will continue to champion the anti-sexual harassment campaign and no amount of negative incursions will discourage us.

    “We are determined to make a difference working with people of like-minds and the national leadership of our country…”

    On what transpired between the VC and the jailed lecturer, Prof. Akindele, the brief said the VC never asked him to go on sabbatical leave to cover up.

    The university admitted that although the VC met with Akindele at the VC’s Lodge, their discussions only bordered on the lecturer’s plan to resign.

    The VC said since Akindele was sure of his innocence, he should go and defend himself before the panel set up by the university.

    The source added: “It is particularly disheartening to read in a report  that “In a statement Akindele made before ICPC, he said the VC instructed/advised him to go and apply for his ‘two years accumulated sabbatical leave’ so that he would go away and by the time he comes back, the whole noise would have died down.”

    “This must either be a figment of the imagination of Akindele (if  he actually said that) or that of the writer of the article if he made it up.

    “The truth is that Akindele came to the VC at the lodge to request that he “be allowed to resign from the university” and the VC told him it can never happen under his watch.

    “Since a panel had been set up for him and he claimed to be sure of his innocence, he should go before the panel to defend himself and prove his innocence. He will be free to resign only if the panel returns a verdict of not guilty and Council upholds such a decision.

    “It is surprising that the writer never asked for the views of OAU except for a telephone call to the PRO yesterday night, asking why Miss Osagie has not been issued her certificate.

    “There are a lot of distortions, inaccuracies and half-truths in the sponsored article. The article has definitely maligned and defamed the VC and OAU in a manner that has never been done before.”

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is currently probing the circumstances behind the withholding of the results of Monica Osagie, three years after she was sexually harassed by Akindele.

    The Professor of Management Accounting was jailed by Justice Maureen Onyetenu for 24 months in 2018 for soliciting for sexual benefit from the female student to pass her in his course  He pleaded guilty to four counts filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

    Although Akindele completed his jail term in April 2020, OAU is yet to determine the fate of Monica Osagie.

     

  • Obaseki governing under a cloud

    Obaseki governing under a cloud

    Paul Ade-Adeleye

     

    Just before the end of his first tenure as Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he won the elections in 2016 to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to that defection, however, he had been sparring with the state’s chapter of the APC. Unfortunately, the governor, according to analysts, ran roughshod over law. He got away with it by cleverly capitalising on the internal struggles within the national APC ranks, particularly the controversial ostracising of former national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. When the APC sought to beat him at his own game of playing foul, he simply jumped ship and landed in the PDP where analysts say he has not relented.

    One of his earliest extralegal steps was the blitzkrieg of Edo House of Assembly. The state’s legislature is an arm of government constitutionally coequal and mutually exclusive from the Government House, which domiciliates the state’s executive arm of government. In principle, the legislature should check the excesses of the government, but the irony of the Edo state case is that the excesses of the executive were visited upon the legislature. Acting innocent and unaware, observers say the governor craftily crippled the legislature to prevent an impeachment. With the state legislature lamed, he has since carried on governing the state with what appears to be one arm of government and no system of checks and balance. It therefore fell to the opposition to check his every step in the best way they can.

    They have pelted him with accusations that he has not been able to convincingly reply. An example was the accusation last week that he was governing the state without a legislature. But, seemingly lacking a complete understanding of the concept of democracy, he has carried on impervious to criticism. More, they have accused him of governing without a cabinet months after his re-election, but he has not responded. When accused of secretly trying to obtain a loan of N18 billion despite obtaining a N25 billion loan in December, he ignored them. The best that appeared as a reply was a doltish and virtually jejune statement by Edo PDP’s publicity secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare.

    For long, Governor Obaseki has governed in a pampered way, riding his luck and getting away with everything through clever but anti-democratic stratagems including demolition of opposition businesses and selective media briefings. The country is, however, beginning to take notice and he will have to rethink his politics or risk his strategy eventually backfiring against him. He may want to take particular care to heed the request by a civil society organisation, Civil Empowerment & Rule of Law Support Initiative (CERLSI) and ensure there is fiscal and policy transparency in Edo state. He has largely underwhelmed and not shown the depth of character or care that he was thought to possess, so questions are being asked. For how long will he dodge them and will he have the answers when the time comes?

  • OYEKOLA: My rough journey from ‘Okada’ rider to world boxing champion

    OYEKOLA: My rough journey from ‘Okada’ rider to world boxing champion

    After a thrilling fight to win the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Super Featherweight title on December 27, 2020, for Nigerian Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola, it was a long walk to stardom having experienced an extremely rough ride. Life has not been so rosy for Oyekola who showed his great potential with an outstanding win over Argentinean Lucas Mattias Montesino in the fight tagged ‘Fight of the Year’ by WBF.

    Oyekola secured a unanimous decision against Montesino after ten rounds of action packed bout to win the coveted WBF title in Ibadan-Oyo state. He also created history as it was the first time after 57 years that a Nigerian will be winning a world boxing title on local soil after late Dick Tiger.  

    Before life smiled on Oyekola, he had tasted the bitter end of existence. He hawked drugs, then, poultry and was a commercial motorcycle operator.

    Armed with only a secondary school certificate, Oyekola had little parental support as a youngster, and to make ends meet he had to do menial jobs to survive.

    He said: “After I finished my secondary education at Islamic High School in Bashorun in Ibadan, I used to sell drugs at Agbeni in Ibadan. We call it ‘chemist work.’ I started as an apprentice but when I graduated there is no money to establish. So I started to hustle and when there was no job I moved to Lagos to sell cockerel, broilers, and layers around Mowe. We used to put them inside a cage and hawk them around Mowe and Ibafo that time. I left the trade when I fell into a pool of water and the chicken died, and I lost all I had made from the business.”

    In between amateur boxing and turning professional, he also operated commercial motorcycle. “I got into ‘okada’ (commercial motorcycle) business in Ibadan. I used to ply Gate-Bere-Molete to Challenge-Orita-New Garage-Podo routes. It was when I met my promoter Olusola Ayodele that I stopped riding ‘okada’ and he took care of me to get to this level.”

    Boxing promoter Ayodele recounted how their path met, “I met Ridwan when he was working as an ‘okada’ rider. I flagged him down at Gate area of Ibadan. On our way I saw some people hailing and calling him ‘boxer’. Out of curiosity I asked him if truly he was a boxer and he said yes. When he dropped me at my office in Imalefalafia area, I paid him and he left but to my surprise, he resurfaced again with a polythene bag and showed me some of the medals and certificates he had won as a boxer. I was moved and impressed by what I saw in him wondering how someone could have all these medals in his kitty and still be suffering. I saw medals he had won for Oyo State at National Sports Festivals and other boxing competitions yet cannot make ends meet. I decided to promote his boxing ambition and I realized he’s a faithful and sincere person, we thank God he has become a champion today.”

    After his feat Nigeria President Mohammadu Buhari and Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde after winning the vacant WBF World title belt.

    Though, Oyekola grew up in a tough environment of Oje-Ibadan where the ability to defend oneself against bullies comes naturally, he would have not gone into boxing, if his girlfriend and pride were not on line.    

    He said: “I started boxing because I was being bullied in my area in Oje in Ibadan. It happened that one Sunday I was escorting my girlfriend and a guy intimidated me. I challenged him and the boy, who I did not know was a boxer, beat me blue-black. He embarrassed me in front of my girlfriend and her friends and I was ashamed. That drove me to train in boxing.”

    Of course, his parents would not hear of it and they discouraged him. “When I started, my parents were against it. They won’t give me food or money because they believed only irresponsible boys do boxing. They would ask if I wanted to be a street fighter, that a responsible person doesn’t do boxing. However, I was focused and was going for training without their knowledge. So while I was learning how to sell drugs, I would still go for training in the evening. After training, I would jog home.”

    Oyekola improved within a short time and got the attention of Oyo State Sport Council and began to represent them at amateur meets.   

     “One day my Dad saw one of my fights on television. He was happy and he gave his blessing. My father and mother were at ringside during my WBF fight at Ilaji Resort. They are extremely happy after I won the belt. They are proud of my accomplishments. I am happy that I have made something of myself through boxing. I am yet to reach my target in boxing. I am aiming higher. I have the full support of my parents because whenever they walk on the street, people hail them as ‘daddy Scorpion’, and ‘mummy Scorpion’. I now support my parents and siblings financially.

    Like they say, ‘success has many friends,’ the girl that left him for a better fighter is planning a comeback into his life now that he’s famous.     

    “She has gone her way but recently launched a comeback when she got to know I’m now a famous boxer. Though, we got married and had a kid together, she left me due to my financial status, then. Women are not my focus right now. I have career to develop.”

    Oyekola spoke more on his sojourn to stardom in the interview with Olanrewaju Agiri, excerpts:

     

     How do you manage advances from ladies now that your status has changed for the better?

    I politely turn-off advances from ladies. I want to focus on my career and make headway in boxing before thinking of settling down with a woman. I handle advances in a polite manner.

    Will you allow your kids to take to boxing?

    Only God knows the path everybody will take to be successful in life. If God says one of my children will box, all good. But, if He says they will make it through other means, no problem. However, it is my wish that one of my kids take to boxing.

    How did you feel after beating Lucas Matias Montesino?

    I was very happy. I can’t really describe my feelings that night. I just know I’m happy to emerge victorious, the guy came very prepared.

    Montesino really gave you a real fight?

    Yes! He gave me a tough time. No fighter has ever given me a tough time like he did. I never laboured like that since I took boxing as a career. But, I prepared well, trained hard and fought very well too and then God was on my side. Montesino really rattled me, I must tell you the truth but I was more determined and returned all his punches with multiple knocks expecting him to give-in especially at the third round that my right hook landed and he fell into a corner. I had to dig deeper. He’s a good boxer.

    How can you describe the support you got from your fans?

    The fans were morale support. I have a large fans base in Ibadan; if not for the Covid19 protocol they would have come en-mass to support me. Their support really propelled me to put everything I have into the fight; I thank them very much for their love for boxing. Now, in Ibadan, they watch boxing than football because there’s no amount of money they cannot pay to watch boxing. People pay as much as N5000 to 50000 to watch boxing and the same cannot be said about football.

    What was going through your mind when coming into the ring?

    All I was thinking is how to destroy my opponent, because I know what is at stake. I watched his training in Nigeria and I understand that he’s a good boxer. I had a plan and as I walked into the ring, that was plan was uppermost on my mind.

    How do you intend to spend the money you got from this big win?

    Boxing money is not what you can spend alone. I will extend it to many people. At the end of the day, I will have to be contented with what is left, but I believe there will be more good things to come with this belt. For example a fan, Abdulwahab Adekunle Hamex gifted me a car that is worth N6 million. I’m grateful to him. Before the fight he had been telling me that he’s going to give me a car if I win. He also whispered it into my ear when I was walking the ring.  They are part of what motivated me to destroy my opponent.

    How did you prepare for the fight?

    Ha! I prepared very well. Big thanks must go to my promoter, Core Afrique Boxing Promotion and my trainer, Coach Sunny Bruce for the training and care they gave to me prior to the fight, I was in closed camping for three months ahead of this fight. I trained morning and evening and abstained from women throughout.

    What is your pro record like?

    I have fought six fights since I turned professional. I fought Lukman Hogan Jimoh Jr at Boxing Night 13 and knocked him out in 17 seconds. My second fight was at another boxing show against Prince Lion Nwoye at Police College in Ikeja. I defeated him but because he was at home, it was declared a draw. He challenged me again in Ibadan at the GOtv Boxing Night 15 and I defeated him. I faced Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai in a national lightweight challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 17 that was held at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos and beat him. I dethroned long-reigning champion, Taofeek ‘Taozon’ Bisuga at the GOtv Boxing Night 18 to win National super featherweight belt. I fought Sikiru ‘Omo Iya Eleja’ Shogbesan at National Stadium in Lagos on October 12 and lost controversially to him before my fight against Montesino.

    Now as a world title belt holder, what is your advice to other boxers?

    I want to urge boxers in the country not to relent. There will always be challenges. I went through a very tough time that I almost gave up, but I never did. When I was an amateur boxer with Oyo State Sports Council, I was getting half salary that could not sustain me for a week not to talk of the whole month. I will walk to training and back. Most of the time I sleep on empty stomach and wake up with nothing to eat, I didn’t give up on my training. They should not relent, keep praying, when you pray, there is nothing God cannot do. I want to advise them not to take drug; it’s a fast killer of career. I have never smoked or taken any substances in my life. When God answers one’s prayer, it will get to a stage that people will not know how you make your money. Favour will just be coming from right, left and centre. You just have to endure, and there is no job that does not have its obstacles. Perseverance is the key to success.

    So, what is your next target?

    I am back in training; I train morning and evening. I’m going to the next level. I’m ready to fight anyone to defend my belt anywhere in the world and I know God is behind me. I don’t have any other job than boxing, so I’m ready for anybody that wants to challenge me. And let me use this medium to thank people that contributed to mu success; the media, my promoter, the Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hamex, Dotun Sanusi and my fans around the world.

     

    OYEKOLA’S TOP 10

     

    Favourite Food:  Eba and Okro Soup

    Favourite Colour:  White

    Favourite Boxer:   Floyd Maywheather

    Favourite kind of music:  Fuji Saheed Osupa

    Favourite Car:   Mercedes

    Favourite Designer:   Versace

    Favourite holiday destination:   Las Vegas

    Mentor:   My Coach and promoter

    (Coach Sunny Bruce & Sola Ford)

    Low moment:    My Fight with Shogbesan in Lagos where I was robbed

    Happiest moment:    My fight against Montesino

  • As the Sagamu-Abeokuta road again comes to life

    As the Sagamu-Abeokuta road again comes to life

    By Bolu Adeosun

     

    THE importance of quality roads to the development of the Nigerian society is constantly in the national discourse, and so needs no repetition here. In Ogun, as in every other state, there is apparently a veritable need for good roads to link communities and create an enabling environment for investment to thrive. Since coming on board as the fifth democratically elected governor of Ogun State on his 59th birthday on May 29, 2019, Prince Dapo Abiodun has left no one in doubt about his desire to make Ogun State an investment destination and development hub ready to live up to its billing as  Nigeria’s Gateway State.  Underrated by many based on the false notion that a billionaire business mogul attuned to years of boardroom presentations would not make it in the murky waters of politics, a notion easily disproved but nevertheless tenaciously held on to by naysayers, Abiodun has unveiled an ambitious acronym ISEYA philosophy; “Building our future together”, solidly anchored on business models and the notion  of governance as problem-solving, setting up new institutions and intervening to make extant institutions more relevant and able to deliver on their social mandates.

    Bad roads, Nigerians have come to learn time and again, are a major bane of the economy. Vehicles get spoilt on the roads almost as a daily ritual even as the movement of goods from one place to the other is perpetually imperiled: as if by compulsion, perishable produce rot on farmlands. Happily, though, long abandoned roads are receiving attention in Prince Abiodun’s Ogun where campaign promises have become articles of faith. As has been previously remarked, anyone visiting Ogun in recent times will readily attest to the fact that it is gradually becoming a huge construction site. In this regard, it is crucial to remark on the ongoing rebuilding of the Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange road for a moment. Constructed by the Gbenga Daniel administration and Obasanjo inaugurated by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, the road had suffered from the normal wear and tear over the years. Last year, as part of the efforts by the Abiodun government to rehabilitate existing roads in the three senatorial districts of the state, attention quickly shifted to the Sagamu interchange- Abeokuta road, which had become notorious on account of its state of disrepair and the nightmare of travellers.

    The road, 42 kilometres long and 14.6 meters wide, is strategically important as the major route linking Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, as well as the Eastern parts of the country. It originates from the Government House, Abeokuta, and traverses the densely populated business districts and residential areas of Ibara, Kuto, MKO Abiola Stadium, Oke-Mosan, Laderin, Kobape and Siun, terminating at the interchange. The two-lane dual carriageway separated by a two-meter median boasts of state-of-the-art architecture, including standard drainages and functional streetlights. There is of course the reconstruction of existing earth drains with adequate turn outs where necessary. And, again, there is a divider on the road with ornamental trees planted to create aesthetic appeal. When the construction began, as noted by the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akisanya, three milling machines were sited on it to remove the entire asphaltic portions and replace them with new asphalt overlay of both binder and wearing course, to ease traffic congestion in the area, as well as improve the socio-economic development of the people along that corridor. The rehabilitation of the road became necessary in order to alleviate the hardship of riders and motorists plying the route and, in any case, the people along the corridor stood to benefit a great deal, as the rehabilitation would improve their socio-economic status.

    Apart from commercial motorists plying the corridor who lauded the Abiodun administration for embarking on the construction of the road and eliminating the hardships previously faced by motorists and other road users, the communities along the corridor have been witnessing exponential growth and development.  That is the main point that this essay wishes to draw attention to. Remarkably, even though the project has hardly extended beyond 70 per cent completion, users are already singing happy tunes. In the past, if you were going to Abeokuta from Sagamu you would spend about an hour and 25 minutes: but now, because the road is smooth and boasts modern road architecture, the journey takes only about 30 minutes. Invaluable man hours are no longer wasted in nerve-wracking hold-ups. Accidents have reduced to the barest minimum, and the potholes that caused motorists so much despair have disappeared. Industrial estates are springing up along the corridor:  all of a sudden, the place has become an industrial hub. Distilleries are doing well there. Many people are now coming there to establish businesses, which is facilitating development. The lesson is clear: you must have a good road network for businesses to thrive.

    Apart from this, roads are of course being built across all the local government areas in the state. Last September, while inspecting the laying of asphalt on the ongoing reconstruction of Adigbe road in Abeokuta South local government area, Governor Abiodun promised to continue embarking on projects that would attract more development into the state. As he noted, his administration had commenced full rebranding of the entire state, and road construction was ongoing in various parts of the state, including Sagamu-Abeokuta road, Adigbe road, the reconstruction of which has been extended to Obaada in Ewekoro local government area to enhance the economic value of the axis; Oba Erinwole road in Sagamu, Obantoko road, and Ijebu-ode/Epe road. The Adigbe road was initially awarded by the Ibikunle Amosun administration but was abandoned by the contractor due to non-availability of funds. Besides, Governor Abiodun also approved the reconstruction of 12 roads across 11 local government areas of the state. The roads included the Ijebu Ode-Epe/Sagamu-Ore Interchange Flyover in Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu, the 1.2km Ilishan Market Road in Ikenne, the 2.0km Itori Junction-Total road in Ewekoro, the1.3km Joju Road in Ado-Odo Ota LGA, the 3.41km Olomore Junction-Sanni Road in Abeokuta North, the 5.9km Sagamu Junction-Iperu Roundabout road in Sagamu/Ikenne, the 3.0km Iperu Roundabout-Ode Road in Ikenne, and, of course, the 7.0km Ago Iwoye-Oru-Ijebu Igbo road in Ijebu North. Others were the 5.7km Somorin-Kemta, Idi-Aba Road in Odeda, 3.8km Ilashe-Koko-Alari road in Ipokia, the 8.0km Orile Oko road in Remo North, and the 2.3km Obafemi Awolowo Way-Mada-Takete in Remo North.

    Without noisemaking and without any frills, Governor Abiodun is proving critics wrong. He is no doubt a silent achiever who loves the state passionately and wants to make a mark. And make a mark he certainly will.