The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Allegation of bribe for ministerial appointment laughable, says Jack-Rich

    Allegation of bribe for ministerial appointment laughable, says Jack-Rich

    President of Belema Oil, Tein Jack-Rich, has denied claims that he was bribing members of the party, including the President for ministerial appointment.

    An online newspaper had claimed that Jack-Rich had offered about N500 million as bribe to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, in order to be appointed as Petroleum Minister.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, in a statement by his media office, described the allegations as a figment of the publisher’s imagination.

    According to him, the allegation is not only laughable and untrue, but also quite baseless and spuriously unfounded.

    The statement said: “As a senior stakeholder in the ruling party, the APC where he contested for the presidential primaries and lost to our incumbent President and having worked assiduously to help his great party to win the elections, Mr. Tein Jack-Rich has all it takes to merit an appointment into any office as would be deemed fit by our dear President, and so do not need to bribe anyone in the party jointly he built with others.

    “Also worthy of note is the fact that Mr. Jack-Rich is a worthy APC party-man who hasn’t been a member of any political party in history. His first political journey started with APC in 2014 and have remained faithful since then till date, despite the headwinds and tailwinds of politics.

    Read Also: Jack-Rich hails Tinubu at 71

    “Those who called APC names, those who called Jack-Rich names for following APC yesterday, those who didn’t see anything good in APC have suddenly woken from their sleep to see wealth in APC, hence this vociferous campaign of calumny against the family of a great national promoter.”

    Jack-Rich, therefore, stressed that he would never need to bribe anyone for any political appointment in a party he just recently served as the Vice-Chairman Finance Committee of the Presidential Campaign.

    “So, there was just no need for anyone to sponsor such a campaign of calumny and blackmail against him, except for extreme desperation.

    “It is quite shameful that in their quest to derogate Mr. Jack-Rich’s personality, the sponsored publication equally made references to his family; something so petty and quite unfounded.

    “Again, l state without any equivocation that, all the references made thereto in the referenced publications to his wife, are all fabricated and cooked up by the publisher/author to satisfy his/their sponsors.

    “Again, none of their convoluted lies and falsehood ever happened, and will never happen,” he added.

  • X3M Ideas’ ingenuity earned us Cannes Lion award – Eigbe

    X3M Ideas’ ingenuity earned us Cannes Lion award – Eigbe

    The truism that ideas rule the world is certainly not a ruse but a point of fact. Little wonder that men of great ideas are forever cherished wherever they are because like the golden fish, they have nowhere to hide.
    Hard as they may, such men who hitherto hide their talents under the bushel, literally away from the prying eyes of the public are soon uncovered.
    This short anecdote becomes apposite in describing the great feat attained by the team at X3M Ideas recently when the agency broke a 70-year-old record by winning the most coveted advertising award prize, which is the Cannes Lion award for the first time in the West African subregion.
    Interestingly, Anthony Eigbe, the agency’s Creative Director led the team that worked on the project which earned X3M Ideas a pride of place in the most sought after awards in the global advertising space. In this interview, an elated Eigbe shared interesting insights on how he led his team to victory. Excerpts:

    Your team at X3M Ideas just won the highly coveted Cannes Awards. Tell us more about this award and the category in which you won.

    Well the Cannes Lion International Festival Of Creativity as it’s called in full is the biggest and most prestigious advertising award in the world. It’s definitely one of the highest honours one can receive in the ad industry so winning a first-ever, not only for Nigeria but West Africa, is no mean fit. X3M Ideas won in the Health and Wellness Category, which is of course one of the most contested categories. But with regards to the work that won, it was for a project we did for the people of Rivers State to support them in their ongoing battle with Soot. The campaign was titled “The Soot Life Expectancy” and it used critical soot data obtained by the German Environmental Protection Agency and spanning 40 countries to calculate and re-issue a new life expectancy based on time spent (inhaling soot) in Rivers state. The campaign’s main component was a website where visitors can visit, input their information and get real-time life expectancy results. The website was connected to LED Billboards in major states so when people checked their life expectancy, it popped up on those billboards for the world to see. Each person who checked their new life expectancy also had a letter sent on their behalf to 80+ senators urging them to take action and curb the soot epidemic.

    How does this win feel?

    It feels surreal! It’s an incredible honour to lead the core team that did this historic work. To have worked in advertising for a little over 10 years and then do something that hasn’t been done in 70 gives one goosebumps just thinking about it. It’s nothing but a dream come true for me and I’m forever grateful to the team for their fearlessness and commitment to doing such important work for a vulnerable community. Special thanks to the client as well for being equally bold and even bigger thanks to my boss Steve Babaeko for pushing us to execute great projects that resonate globally. It reinforces my long-held belief that creativity is indeed a tool to accelerate positive change.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s creative agency, X3M Ideas, makes world’s top 40

    What does this award means to Nigeria’s advertising ecosystem and X3M Ideas in particular?

    It’s huge! First, it cements X3M Ideas as an agency with serious global potential, because like I said it’s us getting awarded on the global stage. A good comparison for the layman is that it’s like winning the Grammys. For clients and brands out there, it gives a resounding shot of confidence that we as an industry are indeed on the ascent and that we have what it takes to adapt to globalised thinking. It means that we can, in fact, create work that shifts brands from local to global and vice versa, ‘glocal’ if you like.In terms of the broader impact within our own industry, this feat definitely puts the global spotlight on Nigerian advertising. Brands from all over the globe can now rest assured that Nigerian agencies can indeed think with a global mindset even while being local. It also has serious ramifications for projecting our industry talents to the world. It breaks open the gates and gives us a seat at the table. Think about this, X3M Ideas competed against over 1200 entries from around the world in the Health and Wellness category and won.

    As the saying goes the reward for hard work is more work. Where do you go from here?

    Doing it once is great, repeating the feat again is legendary. My biggest assignment as the Creative Director of X3M is clear; to lead creativity and innovation that is consistent with X3M Ideas’ goal of being first, a strong continental player, and eventually a dominant global powerhouse. This is a huge leap in the right direction. Though we’re headquartered in Lagos, we have offices across Africa and Dubai, so we’re poised to truly consolidate this achievement in our ascent to penetrating the global space.

    Tell us the process of creating the award-winning campaign. What hurdles did you have to cross or was it a smooth sail?

    Definitely wasn’t smooth. The idea all by itself is based on using statistics to determine to re-issue a life expectancy based on time spent in a soot-infested location. It’s almost like what World Health Organisation’s scientists do to determine life expectancy and advise governments around the world.Getting to do that as an agency with limited human capital and for a client with even more limited financial capital is not an easy thing. Obtaining hard data from an institution like the Environmental Protection Agency of Germany takes time. Processing that data, cross-referencing it with the air quality index of Rivers state, tracking the year soot became a serious environmental problem in the state, acquiring the email addresses of 80+ senators, building a website that is responsive… it one complex ball of science with so many moving parts and we converted it into a social campaign. We did a thing!Cheers to the team, and cheers to X3M Ideas!

    How did you come up with something that bold and technical? What made you think that is what should be done as opposed to something else?

    Well, we visited Port Harcourt to shoot a documentary on the same issue, and while we watched the clips of people talking about their plight, we realised that while most of the residents knew soot was bad, they didn’t know just how bad it is. But if you turn to the studies, you quickly see that soot is actually a latent form of gas poisoning. Soot, especially in Port Harcourt sometimes reaches a level 40 times worse than the WHO’s guide for 24-hour exposure. So we thought, why not show people exactly how soot impacts their lives, or more correctly, shortens their lives, and this is on top of Nigeria’s life expectancy which Is already short at 53.The team gathered around this thinking and produced the work. I need to especially thank the team leads on this; Kelechi Uduma, Samuel Oluwagbemi, Oladunni Williams, Sodiq Sheu, Pelumi and the rest of the team. Well done guys, we did it!

  • Tinubu’s bold moves on fuel subsidy, naira rates way to go, says Edo PDP chief Aziegbemi

    Tinubu’s bold moves on fuel subsidy, naira rates way to go, says Edo PDP chief Aziegbemi

    Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s bold decisions in removing fuel subsidy and the unification of naira exchange rates.

    He noted that the policies of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) administration of Tinubu would give Nigeria excess of N2 trillion in a short time.

    Aziegbemi, an Economist, yesterday at an interactive session with reporters in Benin, insisted that the President’s decisions were the best way to go for the country.

    He stated that many Nigerians were worried about the nature of paliatives that the Federal Government planned to put in place, in order to ameliorate the suffering of citizens as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

    The PDP chairman also expressed concern that there were too many crooks around, while admonishing him to be wary of such people, while he should endeavour to keep the strong men at the back seat of governance, so as not to create bad image for his government.

    Read Also: Dogara, Osoba back petrol subsidy removal, Service chiefs

    He declared that it was reprehensible for the top politicians made by the PDP to throw mud at the party, for not getting what they wanted.

    Aziegbemi stressed that character mattered in politics, while declaring that the tyranny of the vocal minority in Edo and other parts of Nigeria had to stop forthwith.

    He pointed out that members of G-34 that formed the PDP in 1998, especially Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Alex Ekueme, Chief Tony Anenih, would be turning in their graves, seeing what some errant politicians were doing, but he assured that Nigeria’s main oposition party would not die, but would become much stronger, going forward.

    The chairman asked governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in the state to be calm, maintain decorum, give peace a chance, and slow down their consultations, in view of the precarious situation of PDP, and the forthcoming local government chairmanship and councillorship elections in Edo, and urged leaders in Edo not to align with any aspirant at the moment, in order not to be accused of taking sides.

    Aziegbemi noted the Edo helmsman, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was the most misunderstood governor in Nigeria, but had achieved the most, while stressing that “Obaseki phenomenon” was about hard work and due process, among others.

  • Kid Alpha releases new single “MANYEWU”

    Kid Alpha releases new single “MANYEWU”

    London-based Afrobeats artist Kid Alpha releases a disruptive new single titled ‘Manyewu’.

    Following the successful release of his previous two singles ‘Colours’ and ‘Closer’ which have both amassed over 13 Million Streams on Spotify alone (and millions more on the other digital streaming platforms), Kid Alpha follows up in style with ‘Manyewu’.

    Read Also: Pheelz releases new single “YOLO”

    As his first official single of 2023, Kid Alpha makes a statement with this record which is driven by Alphas’s melodic vocals which he glosses over a vibrant yet potent mixture of Afrobeats & Amapiano production by Orakle.

    According to Kid Alpha, “I am so excited to give my fans some new music. I’ve been writing and recording over the last 7 months to return and disrupt the music space. I intend to be a disruptive force that uses his sonic imprint to impact African & global music.”

  • NANS urges OAUSTECH Governing Council to maintain peace

    NANS urges OAUSTECH Governing Council to maintain peace

    Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) External Affairs, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez has urged the Governing Council of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) led by Prof. Akinbo Adesomoju to ensure peace on campus.

    Akinteye admonished the council to desist from acts that could truncate the peace and development of the institution.

    In a statement, he lauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa for repositioning the school,and as such the Governing Council should cooperate with him to consolidate on his progress.

    “It is pertinent to set the record straight at this point that anyone with love of OAUSTECH at heart would not do anything or part of whatsoever process that would jeopardize her growth.

    “For some of us who know you too well,our expectations are high as we’re always of the belief that having a former Acting Vice of Chancellor of the institution as the Chairman Governing Council would birth development that words cannot in anyway express but it seems the status quo is otherwise and it’s disheartening.

    “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.

    Without mincing words, peace is one thing that has been evident on OAUSTECH campus and every growth enthusiast must work towards it.

    “Sadly the OAUSTECH Governing Council wants otherwise which is suicidal to the growth and development of the institution

    “The Vice Chancellor,Prof. Temi Ologunorisa has laid that solid foundation for OAUSTECH to thrive, develop and grow and it is expected that anyone with the love of the school at heart would follow suit.

    Read Also: Students’ loan scheme: NANS seeks adequate funding of education sector

    “He has done all in his capacity to put behind the institution’s inconsistent academic calendar, putting in place swift and time-to-time payment of staff in order to see to the smooth running of the institution without elongation of sessions and academic calendar and as such we expect a proactive governing council to follow suit,” he said.

    Akinteye also hailed the employment of the school’s First Class graduates, adding that they should not be sacked without cogent reasons.

    “The employment of OAUSTECH First Class graduates is one that we must applaud and their sacking is one that must be generally frowned at.

    They’re our products and it’s not out of place to have them working in the school.

    Any move against them is one that would be considered as anti-OAUSTECH growth and development policy hence we call on the institution’s governing council to desist from such (sacking of OAUSTECH First Class graduates and other staff, both teaching and non-teaching without convincing reasons).

    The VC is a man who has proven beyond reasonable doubt that his major goal and aspiration is to see OAUSTECH succeed, hence we expect maximum cooperation from the governing council and not otherwise.

    OAUSTECH must thrive, develop and grow,” he added.

  • Why govts should invest in tourism, by cleric

    Why govts should invest in tourism, by cleric

    Government at all levels have been urged to harness tourism potentials across Nigeria to boost the country’s economy.

    The planter of the Christ Apostolic Church, (Adamimogo Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain) World-wide. Prophet Sam Olu Alo, who gave the advice, lamented that the nation’s tourism destinations were largely left untapped.

    He called on the governments to invest on and develop our culture, historical sites, prayer mountains and other tourists delights to create employment and generate more revenues.

    Prophet Alo spoke in Jerusalem, Israel, where he led some pilgrims from Nigeria on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

    He said: “We have things that can make our country great and successful in this nation . Ikogosi Warm Spring, prayer mountains, historical spots, better than those in foreign countries we are travelling to but we don’t attach any importance to them and this is bringing challenges and discomfort.

    “My advice to our leaders, the President, governors, National Assembly
    members and House of Assembly members can use the privileges they have to develop our tourist sites by investing heavily on them, tourists will be visiting all these places.

    “Take Israel for example, tourists from across the world always come in their numbers to visit the country, it is because their government developed their tourist sites to make it attractive to the visitors. And through that, they generate employment for the their people. this is also what is happening in Mecca. Some of the things they developed as tourist attractions represent their culture , tradition and history.

    “If we can emulate them and work on those things God has blessed us with in Nigeria, I believe they will glorify God in our land , increase government source of revenue and help in generating employment for our teeming youths”.

    The man of God charged his co- pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Jesus wherever they are with good works and character.

    Read Also: How LASUTH is reducing medical tourism, by CMD

    You have received another name: JP as a person who had visited the holy land, the city of God , use this and the lessons learned here to win souls for Jesus.

    “The most important aspect of it is for us to love one another. It is still missing in our country Nigeria and is causing problems and pains in the country, if we search for the love and find it, our families, homes and country will be better for it”.

    The cleric was commended by the Daily Post state correspondent, Mr Toyin Anisulowo for sponsoring him and many other media practitioners (journalists and broadcasters) on the pilgrimage.

    “He is a man of God that will pray for you and give you logistics. Among men of God, his style of of helping people is unique. I pray God will renew his anointing, grace and send unto him destiny helpers”.

    Prophet Alo also travelled to UK from Israel to attend a programe organized to mark the third year anniversary of the Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain and Glorious Generation Partners, UK and EU chapter.

    He was at the Abuja House, the Headquarters of the Federal Government in the United Kingdom on the visitation of Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Alhaji Sarafat Tunji Isola

    The Man of God who received a warm welcome from the envoy used the opportunity to pray for Nigeria and encouraged everyone to work towards peace and love of our country and the present government.

    He prayed that Nigeria will witness comfort, peace and joy in this government of President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

  • Group salutes Tinubu on subsidy, Nigeria’s unity

    Group salutes Tinubu on subsidy, Nigeria’s unity

    The Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has commended President Bola Tinubu for taking the bold step to remove fuel subsidy.

    The group said the President demonstrated strong political will and the desire to address the country’s challenges in an audacious manner that frees it from the clutches of fuel importers and marketers.

    The GAW made this known in its country situation report signed by its director, Isaac Ikpa and made public on Thursday.

    “One of the critical decisions taken by the Bola Tinubu administration was the announcement of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit,” the report said.

    “The Global Amnesty Watch commends the decision, which resonates with the necessity of time given that the subsidy regime was not sustainable and fraught with irregularities that take a large chunk of the country’s resources, running into trillions of naira.

    “The removal of subsidy on petrol is a step in the right direction. It was a demonstration of strong political will and the desire to address the country’s challenges in an audacious manner that frees the country from the clutches of fuel importers and marketers.

    “It is a statement of the fact that the decision by President Bola Tinubu is a step that would put the country in good stead economically. This is on the heel that savings from the removal of subsidy would be channelled to other sectors begging for attention.

    “President Bola Tinubu, with the action on subsidy removal, indeed sent a positive signal to the international community on what to expect in the years ahead with regard to policy formulation and implementation.”

    According to Ikpa, the decisions taken so far indicate the preparedness to address the socio-economic challenges in Nigeria and have restored hope in the country towards achieving sustainable growth and development.

    Read Also: My associates thought I was joking when I said subsidy was gone – Tinubu

    He said the international community has already shown a willingness to partner with the country in ways identifiable, adding that the President’s recent trip to France shows that Nigeria is back on an upswing on the global scene.

    On the economy, the report added that: “The steps taken so far with the suspension of the governor of the Central Bank and the reversal of some monetary policies boosted investors’ confidence and the consequent improvements in the economic rating of the country.

    “The Global Amnesty Watch recognizes the necessity of the economic decisions taken so far and their impact on the economy. President Bola Tinubu is conversant with the economic implication of nonaction in addressing the economic challenges in the country. “

    The report further hailed President Bola Tinubu for rejigging the security architecture by appointing new service chiefs and the National Security Adviser.

    Ikpa noted that “the quality of the appointments was top-notch as it reflected balance and competence” adding that the President has taken the necessary steps to address the security challenges in the country.

    He, however, tasked the current administration to ensure the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that would give succour to the generality of Nigerians regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations.

  • Gunmen kill community leader, seven others

    Gunmen kill community leader, seven others

    Kolade Adeyemi, Jos.

    A community leader in Barkin-Ladi, Agwom Mazat, and seven others in Mangu and Riyom councils of Plateau State have been killed in attacks by gunmem.

    The gunmen were said to have struck at the early hours of yesterday.

    The armed men, it was gathered, shot Mazat while he was working at his farm alongside his kinsmen.

    A source who pleased anonymity said: “The community leader Agwom Mazat was killed in his farm  today (yesterday) at about 8:35am. The gunmen shot him at close range and made sure he died before they escaped. “He was the only one killed while other people working with him in the farm escaped unhurt.

    “The entire Mazat has been thrown into mourning, the attack on him was a big shock to us, we want to believe that the militias have been trailing him and the community before they struck.”

    The rampaging gunmen were said to have attacked Sohon Kareng community, Kareng District in Mangu around 7:40pm on Monday. Sources said they held the community hostage for over 30 minutes shooting and destroying properties.

    A witness claimed that five persons were killed in the attack including a couple, adding that the militias also set houses ablaze, destroyed farms before fleeing.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct nine passengers, kill two, rob others

    The gunmen, it was gathered, invaded the community through the Swan Water Bottling Company, Kerang, and were armed with sophisticated weapons.

    Another source said the militias stormed the community around 5pm shooting sporadic, claiming that they were in the village between 5pm and 8pm.

    A community leader, Joshua Michael confirmed to The Nation that five people including a man and wife were killed by the terrorists between 5pm and 8pm on Monday.

    He said the victims were killed at different points by the gunmen before they escaped.

    The marauders equally invaded  Wereng Camp and Wereng in Riyom local government area of the state, where two people were killed on their farms.

    It was gathered that the attackers raided the two communities simultaneously and killed the two people identified as Chuwang and Amos Dung, while 18 others were injured.

    According to the community leader, the victims were given mass burial yesterday morning.

    Spokesman for Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo said: “We are doing something. We have raided their hideouts, those places pointed to us. At least, we are seeing results. Now, it’s a bit calm, compared to what you know before. The command is doing something, as I speak, the CP is talking to his management team.”

  • Peseiro: Chukwu, Okpala make case for home-based Super Eagles

    Peseiro: Chukwu, Okpala make case for home-based Super Eagles

    Two former Nigeria International defenders and members of the historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team, Christian Chukwu and Sylvanus Okpala, believed the mandate of Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro must be reviewed even as they canvassed integration of home based players in the national team.

    Signed up in May 2022, Peseiro’s one-year contract will elapse on June 30th and there have been growing concern about his future after Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau said at the weekend that his fate would be decided by the fans.

    “ I think his contract must be reviewed and he should be made to stay in the country to monitor players in the local league,” noted Chukwu who assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof to secure Nigeria’s second AFCON title in 1994.
    “ When Westerhof was here, he was living in Nigeria to watch the local league and electing good players and that was why he succeeded,” he said. “If they want to give this man ( Peseiro) new contract, they must find accommodation for him in other to live in Nigeria in order to watch our leagues an monitor the players because that is how to discover good players

    Read Also: Super Eagles: Babangida, others fault NFF over fans’ votes to oust Peseiro

    “But this one , you’ll only see him few days to a match and he will only call foreign based players without using the home-based players and I’m not in support of that,” Chukwu a.k.a Chairman, added.

    Similarly speaking about home –based players, Okpala said the NFF must mandate Peseiro to use only home-based players and fringe foreign-based players in Super Eagles’ last AFCON qualifier against Principe & Sao Tome.

    “ What I would advise is for the coach to use home-based players and some fringe players in the last AFCON qualifier against Principe & Sao Tome since we have already qualified because how do you know the capability of other players when you don’t use them?” he said.

    Both Chukwu who captained the Green Eagles’ 1980 AFCON winning team and Okpala who was fondly called Quick Silver in his playing days for the national team spoke on Lagos-based sports radio station, Brila FM.

  • APC to Afenifere: put your house in order first

    APC to Afenifere: put your house in order first

    • •’We know nothing of letter, crisis’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has urged the Afenifere to first put its ‘fragmented house in order’ before dabbling into issues concerning the party and its members.

    A statement by the Secretary, Aderibigbe Tella, reads: “The biased reaction to our position on the recent condemnable interview granted by former Governor Gbenga Daniel has made us query the interest of Afenifere in this issue and in APC. 

    “Our immediate reaction is to ask what the interest of Afenifere in APC is, and whether Afenifere is now a political party or the masquerade behind OGD? One would have expected Afenifere, a supposed Yoruba interest group, to frown at the disloyalty, treachery and anti-party activities of Daniel, rather, the group wants the former governor to be patted on the back for working against his party and benefactors, and also being audacious about his disloyalty.”

    The party accused Daniel of sponsoring the statement, adding that the act itself exemplifies the sorry state of the group.

    “It is our belief that the reaction of Afenifere was spurred and sponsored by Daniel, who never expected the avalanche of reactions that have greeted his syndicated and ill-motivated interview by well meaning individuals and groups. 

    Read Also: Afenifere: Nigerians may forgive Buhari if he alleviates their suffering before May 29

    “Afenifere and its pliable organising secretary, Kole Omololu, should be reminded that APC has its constitution, rules and regulations that guide the activities of the members. Verbal condemnations are the least the party could do pending further possible actions against a supposed party leader who sold out for monetary gains,” the statement added.

    But the Afenifere denied knowledge of the party’s internal crisis and issuing the said statement.

    A statement by the Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, reads: “Afenifere is not aware of any such misunderstanding between the two eminent Yoruba personalities. In the event of such occurrence, which is not unnatural, Afenifere has time-honoured Yoruba modus operandi for result-oriented interventions, part of which is not taking side or playing to the gallery.

    “The statement credited to the Afenifere was not made by the organisation and we are utterly surprised that, by your position, you may not know that the office of the National Organising Secretary is vacant, the last holder thereof having been dismissed and his membership suspended as disciplinary measures for unauthorised and embarrassing public statements.

    “Besides, you may also wish to know that it is not part of the functions of the National Organising Secretary to speak for the Afenifere in public communications.”