The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Versatile in Ankara Jacket

    Versatile in Ankara Jacket

    By Yetunde Oladeinde

    The contemporary Ankara design keeps changing. It has moved from the simple to corporate designs that are now sought after locally and on the international scene.

    Dresses, skirts, trousers are other accessories are now very dynamic. One asset you cannot do without in the wardrobe these days are trendy Ankara jackets.

    Jackets are versatile and they can help you to achieve a variety of looks. A bright jacket can help to brighten a dull and simple dress while jackets in dark colours helps to tone down outfits that are bright or multi coloured.

    Interestingly, the Ankara jacket is the rave of the moment. They come in a variety of designs depicting our rich cultural heritage and style.

    To appreciate the uniqueness of the Ankara jacket, you can have a collection inspired by your personality, the kind of events that you want to wear them and the impression that you want to make.

  • Fosla headlines thrills of National Principals Cup

    Fosla headlines thrills of National Principals Cup

    Despite losing in four straight sets to Sadiat Akeem of Oyo State in the girls’ singles, 10-year- old Ize Sezuo of Government College, Ibillo in  Kogi State, was the toast of the table tennis finals at the National Principals Cup. The surprise for organisers, technical  official and spectators was how the Junior Secondary School 2 student mustered the college to defeat various opponents through the state, zonal qualifiers and into the national finals.

    President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Ishaku Tikon who sat through the competition was full of admiration  as he beamed with the joy in the assurance the wonder kid as well as Sadiat  represent the future of the game in Nigeria.

    Similarly in the boys’ singles, Timileyin Ajibade, representing the North Central Zone, exhibited uncommon calm, confidence, artistry and tactics to shake off Samuel Boboye of Bayelsa State’s first set lead to finish at 4-2.

    Samuel had earlier paired with John Matthew to win the Boys Doubles just as Sadiat also won the girls doubles with Kabira Ayoola.

    Equally outstanding was Marcus Victor of Rivers State who showed class to win gold in the boys 100m and 200m in very good times for his age.

    In the football semi-finals in which Folsa Academy of the Federal Capital Territory pipped City College Owerri to set up a final clash with Christ Comprehensive College, Kaduna who trounced Orile Illugun Comprehensive College of Ogun State 3-1 in the second semifinal.

    Director of Grassroots Sports in Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Ademola Are, enthused that notwithstanding the winners and losers in the events, the most important thing is the discovery of young talents to be nurtured in order to  attain fulfilling careers in sports in the future.

    Reacting about some of  the discoveries, Oritshe Tony Pemu, Managing Director of Hideaplus, marketing partners and coordinators of the National Principals Cup, promised that the outcome of the pilot edition of the event was a revelation of the exposures which the competition was designed to provide for young talents in Nigeria.

    “On our part, we are committed to elevating the event both in organisation and visibility as a strong brand with beneficial accommodation for corporate organisations and top brands to partner with government in delivering on the potentials and expectations on Nigerian sports,” he said.

    The National Principals Cup’s football event  came to a close with Folsa Academy beating Christ Comprehensive College 2-0 in the final of the football event.

    “We are so proud we have impacted on the lives of many of these athletes and beyond that we are very proud about the standard exhibited,” Dr. Are remarked. “Many of these talents might never been seen at national level if not for this event.”

  • Polaris Bank raises the bar with Unity Cup Golf Championship

    Polaris Bank raises the bar with Unity Cup Golf Championship

    Golf, like every other sports, is a veritable tool to facilitate unity among diverse regions, like we have in Nigeria, and that is the idea behind Unity Cup Golf Championship; the brainchild of current captain of Ikoyi Club 1938 (Golf Section) Dr. Meckson Innocent Okoro, and he found a worthy ally in Polaris Bank, sponsor of the three-day tournament that took place last weekend. He is broad-minded, a thinker and a doer. Anytime Okoro dreams, it must come to pass. Though it might take a while, and difficult atimes, as its always the case on the golf course, it is the result that matters.

    Okoro dreams unity, he dreamt oneness, he admire an opportunity to gather golfers from across the country as a unifying force. To achieve this, he came up with the idea of ‘Unity Cup Golf Championship. However, he also reasoned, “no matter how beautiful an idea is, it needs fund to succeed”.

    In an economic climate where Covid-19 pandemic has dealt many individuals and corporate organizations huge blow, funding such unique idea is sure to be tough. However, Okoro found worthy partner in Polaris Bank Nigeria Limited, a financial force in Nigeria’s banking industry.

    Golf, like every other sport, brings people together. In it, it does not matter whether you are black or white – from the North or down South – Yoruba or Hausa, Igbo or Fulani; it matters not whether you are a Christian or a Muslim or even a traditionalist.

    It cares less about your age; it does not matter whether you are young or old, come from a rich family or from a poor background. Once you step on the course, ‘you are a golfer’.

    Golf has the power to change the world and unite people. Golf creates friendships between people who would not normally communicate.

    Sports, just like golf, do not have a language. It does not need words; the attraction is the bonding it creates. That was the dream Polaris Bank bought into and with the Bank’s backing, Okoro set up a committee.

    He found Peter Eben-Spiff, a former Lagos Open Champion; a Golfer with numerous other trophies to show for his prowess in golf to lead his Planning Committee. Tade Adekunle: experience amateur and the current Golf Section’s Competition Secretary was with him on the Planning Committee, so also were others. Vice Captain, Tony Oboh. He was not only visible,  but active.

    Being a technical sport, MI, as the Captain is fondly called, brought in Falcon Golf Development Company, an agency that organizes and promotes golf.

    Being the first of its kind, Okoro tells whoever cares to listen that that the Unity Cup; the committee Inaugural tournament, will be a huge success. Barely one month in office, putting together such event, was definitely a herculean task, but MI remained undaunted.

    Well, with the machineries in motion, invitations were sent out to all Clubs in the Country. IV’s went to as far as Kano, to Jaji in Kaduna, to Eket in Akwa-Ibom states, NAF Golf Club in Kaduna were not left out. Even golfers from Riverine Bonny Island were glad to be invited. Golfers from IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja led by its Captain, Sola Awoyungbo in company of Julius Fadairo flew in early. Alex Shaiyen and 9-handicap Austin Aigbotsua were in his team.

    Expectedly, they all showed up for the mini golf festival. Okoro was happy, the guests were impressed. With the immense backing of Polaris Bank, the game was soon on auto-pilot.

    But the most interesting thing was the race for the tournament’s coveted trophy; the first of its kind in Nigeria. Naturally, in an event of this nature, names like; Tim Ayomike, Remi Olukoya, Ewi Akpata always pops up. Atimes, it’s easy to predict where the leaderboard would be heading in a tournament of this nature. Yet, golf can be unforgiving. But when the god of golf smiles on you, every bad shot turns positive, doglegs become open fairway and every bad putt finds the Cup.

    Golf is no respecter of name nor age, it has produced the least expected as champions and promoted the most unlikely winners across the globe.

    Now, Rotimi Obajimi is not an unknown quan tity in golf, not only in golf but in sports generally. He is a former athlete and former athlete coach; one that produce some of the most popularly athletes of yesteryears. For most part of 2020, golf was the last thing on the mind of the man. However, sometime in January, he returned to golf looking very fit though. Of course being an athlete, nothing less is expected.

    He headed to the course early Saturday morning, happy and friendly as usual, hoping for a good day on the Course. Playing off handicap-12, Obajimi cannot be discounted, yet not many will give him the chance of winning. After four hours on the course, Obajimi carded 81-gross score for 69-net. With the result, he is definitely the man to beat. By the time the last player holed out, no other golfer that came behind or before him could better his score.  He won.

    Everyone present was happy, the sponsor; Polaris Bank were elated, Okoro was impressed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Okoro roared into the dark dead night at the events closing ceremony, the “it’s been a wonderful week”, he said at the well attended gala night.

    “When you look at this country today, you’ll notice that there are challenges bedeviling us a country. Thus, we felt we should also do something that will help unify this country. Our belief is that if you play golf with someone for four-to-five hours there will be some kind of bonding that goes beyond religion, region and ethnicity. If we all take this message home, then we would have achieved some form of unity that should be built on”, urging everyone present to replicate the idea in their various Clubs.

    In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Mr. Innocent C. Ike was more forthcoming. “As a leading and innovative retail Bank in Nigeria, we are excited to partner with Golf Section and by extension, Ikoyi Club 1938”, adding that, “for us at Polaris Bank, this partnership marks the beginning of a historic journey filled with opportunities and shared benefits. Apart from helping to forge national unity, we will leverage this tournament for brand visibility, bonding and networking amongst Golfers from different clubs across Nigeria”, “the event’, he concluded will also promote family leisure and ultimately, social cohesion.

    With the speech, the maiden Unity Cup Golf Championship came to a thrilling end. But the message, analysts say, will continue to reverberate for time to come.

  • What’s in an award?

    What’s in an award?

    By Abiodun Komolafe

    An award, scrutinized without bias, is “a recognition, or reward, for certain excellent, or outlandish performances.”  Aside the fact that an award serves as a motivation for the awardee, the utility value of such an award is as good as the perception of the people over the credibility value of the giver. Put differently, awards and/or institutional recognitions attached to them are as good as the integrity profile of the institutions, which confer the awards on people. Thinking a lot more clearly, what is at stake is the sincerity of purpose. Truth be told, we are in a world where awards are now 10-for-10k in nature, content, and context. As a matter of fact, anybody can ‘win’ laurels. While many awards, these days, are given for sycophantic reasons; or, as an upfront payment for futuristic advantages, some are seriously unnecessary and irresponsible, simply because the givers as well as the takers are unworthy of the core and the import of such a gesture.

    In a world where development has become a refuge of scoundrels, it is an endless tale of people just converging to give awards, without appreciating their complexity, philosophical or crucial sociological imports.  If an award is given by a non-credible organization, whatever the name ascribed to that award is equally unworthy. But then, there cannot be a counterfeit or fake denomination of a two thousand naira note, because there is no original of it. Impliedly, if there are fake and irresponsible awards, there must also be original and worthy awards in circulation. Thus, a worthy award is the one given by a “worthy giver” to a carefully, and rigorously selected recipient.

    The highly coveted and socio-politically esteemed ‘Best Governor of the Year 2020’ Award, won recently, by Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun, refers. To be sure, lots of scrutiny, debates, facts-finding, arguments and counter-arguments, to mention a few, must have gone into the final selection of Oyetola as the choice of the panel of judges. There is no doubt that the panel, which chose him as the winner, was insightful and mindful of the burdens of its media and social responsibility, not to betray the trust of the society. In a free society, landmark achievements are made, which become standards for the society. The stage is set for everyone to contribute, aspire, and attempt to surpass the extant recorded landmarks; and when that is done, pronto, the celebration of another notable achievement. That is how developed nations are built; landmark achievements are continually built upon by succeeding generations of other people. Of course, this is where vision becomes important.

    Using good governance as the benchmark, the judges were able to find this astute administrator, with aversion for noise making and self-aggrandizement, worthy of the coveted prize. It is in this respect that yours sincerely joins other well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating past winners of this prestigious, first-among-equals award even as we also congratulate Oyetola for being the newest recipient. The newspaper must also be commended for having the forthrightness and capability to decipher values that must have influenced its decision to make this governor, whose humanness is unrivaled and progressive ideals are undiluted, its choice. One can only hope that it’d sustain the high standard and credibility profile of both the newspaper and the awards it confers on selected worthy Nigerians.

    In times like this, the finesse that Oyetola brought into governance is worthy of mention. He has brought responsibility and accountability to the office of ‘Mr. Governor.’ In fact, he has shown the people how to lead by responding to issues promptly. What is happening now is that this governor, who carries power gingerly and responsibly, has shown that government truly exists to serve the people. Even the state’s bureaucracy has taken its cue from the leadership traits of this noiseless achiever and progressive administrator. ​

    Broadly speaking, Oyetola’s achievements in the last two years are as breathtaking as they are  outstanding. The governor started with the health sector, believing that ‘health is wealth’; and that, if there’s to be any meaningful development, it must be powered by healthy people and to be enjoyed by a healthy citizen population. Through the World Bank Assisted funding, the health sector has been reinvigorated in Osun. Currently, it has a functional, well-equipped Health Centre per every delineated Electoral Ward in every Local Government Area of the state.

    The Education sector, where, on the policy level, Oyetola reversed some previous decisions that were deemed contentious or controversial, after a thorough scrutiny and consultation with the stakeholders and eggheads in the sector, has not gone unnoticed! Now, indigenes and residents alike are feeling proud with what is on ground. As we speak, the process of recruiting new, qualified teachers for public primary and secondary schools in the state is also at an advanced stage; and this proposes to employ about 3,000 qualified people into the teaching profession.

    It is also gratifying to note that Oyetola is paying deserved attention to tourism in the state. He has built a connecting bridge between the State of Osun Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the people. Before now, most people perceived the relevance of the Ministry in the abstract sense. But now, through campaigns and effective orientation, people are getting to understand what tourism entails and are buying into the socio-political economy of the sector. In Osun, particularly in Osogbo and its environs, real estates, hotels, and other hospitality-based activities are springing up rapidly, as many people are now being attracted to the state through tourism.

    In the Works and Transportation sector, undoubtedly, a major government Ministry, the governor has raised the bar. In the present dispensation, works and contracts are now monitored and projects are executed and delivered on schedule and according to preset standards.

    On the security situation in the state, the governor is proactive, always making frantic efforts towards ensuring that there is synergy among the stakeholders. His efforts at ensuring that illegal mining ends, so that the state can make money and use it to energize development, have also gone a long way in demonstrating that the fortress of the future is conquerable. Needless to repeat that Osun workers and pensioners are currently having the best of situations! In compliance with his campaign promises, the governor has continued to pay full salaries and pensions to the state’s workers and retirees, despite its being at the bottom four in the Federation Revenue Allocation Table. Added to this is that Oyetola’s administration has not added to the loan burden that he inherited, even as he has not for once defaulted in the repayment of the loans he met on ground.

    Given the few aforementioned achievements, the panel of judges might not have found it stressful to make Oyetola its pick as he whom the cap fits in the 2020 edition of the Awards Ceremony.

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, make Gboyega Oyetola’s Administration the best in the history of the State of Osun!

    • KOMOLAFE is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oyetola on Media (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk; 07087941459 – SMS only)
  • APC: A thorny road to national convention

    APC: A thorny road to national convention

    By Emmanuel Oladesu

    The All Progressives  Congress (APC) is afraid of its shadow. Twice, it has postponed its national convention. Feelers suggest that the third postponement is imminent. When will the ruling party hold the mandatory national congress?

    There is division about preparation for the convention. The National Caretaker Committee is pushing for postponement. It is also plotting tenure elongation. But, the state chapters are disillusioned and disenchanted. The state caretaker chairmen are disposed to an early and speedy process that will culminate in the inauguration of a substantive democratic National Executive Committee.

    If the exercise is not organised in June, as previously announced by the national caretaker committee, led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, the party may now target December.

    It therefore, means that throughout this year, the convention would be a bone of contention. Rationalising further postponement would become problematic. The suspense and suspicion will deepen the division and tension in the fold. Accusations and counter-accusations about real or imagined hidden agenda will be rife and trust and confidence may diminish.

    When the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) set up an interim leadership committe chaired by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna State, it was mocked by the APC throughout that one year. PDP never denied the reality of the crisis that had assailed it. But, little did APC guess that a similar crisis would threaten to tear it apart, despite being the ruling party. It is because it failed to learn from the tragedy that befell the main opposition party.

    Judging by it’s current composition, the APC National Caretaker Committee is an imposition. It is erected on a shaky pillar of legitimacy. It is not a product of consensus. Although its tenure should be brief, the inclination towards a sight tight culture has motivated an ill-advised elongation, based on what observers describe as political prevarication.

    If the idea of a caretaker committee was not initiated by the presidency, it was the presidency that was responsible for its actualisation.

    Ruling parties in Africa often delude themselves into thinking that the presidents they had produced, and not a convention of democratically elected or selected delegates, should have supremacy or the last say in party affairs. It is typical of a weak political culture that encourages power-loaded presidents under a presidential system to personalise power and inadvertently set themselves above the parties.

    Ultimately, whether the convention would hold in June or December is up to the president.

    As the “tenureless” caretaker entrenches itself, party administration is systematically centralised. Elected state executive committees that were suddenly derobed and tyrannically converted into an interim executive will continue to coordinate the affairs of state chapters, many of which are crisis ridden.

    The road to convention may be laced with thorns as intra-party battles have to be fought to make it a reality. The scheming for positions will become intense. The convention also becomes the key to intra-party preparations for 2023 electioneering. The distribution of party offices based on zoning or rotation will point to whether the presidential slot of the party will be zoned or thrown open to all regions.

    The generality of party members received the news about the inauguration of the caretaker committee with shock. But, party chieftains had to defer to the president, who was said to have embraced the idea as suggested by a clique very close to him.

    The terms of reference include reconciliation, party membership registration and validation.

    How has the caretaker committee accomplished these tasks? Efforts at reconciliation have not yielded full results as many state chapters are still polarised and many chieftains still at war. The membership registration has even deepened the crisis in many chapters. Now, it has been extended by three weeks. Ordinarily, without the resort to ceremonies, party registration  should be a silent, peaceful and continuous exercise.

    But, curiously, despite the problems confronting the APC, the party has been receiving defectors on weekly basis from the PDP, until the PDP moved to stop the defections, following the setting up of the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Panel.

    The National Convention is the most powerful organ of the party. It is the acclaimed final authority saddled with the ratification of party policies and programmes. At the national congress, party officers can be elected and removed and constitution amendment is approved by delegates. It can delegate its powers to the National Executive Committee(NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), which the party currently lacks.

    According to the APC Constitution, the National Convention of the party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee, subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The constitution also states that the National Executive Committee may summon an emergency National Convention at any time, provided, at least, seven days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.

    The national convention is not held in isolation of coordinate activities, which must pave the way for it. It contrasts sharply with the mid-term convention, which appears to have been jettisoned.

    Ahead of the national convention, the party is expected to be democratised from bottom to top. In other words, there should be transformation of the current ad hoc or temporary leadership structures to democratic executive committees at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels. The more the caretaker committee remains in office, the more the impression that the crisis that had hit the party is not over.

    If 36 chapters of the ruling party can discredit the desirability of tenure elongation and postponement of the convention, it is akin to a subtle vote of no confidence.

    APC National Caretaker Committee should not become the undertaker. Sincerity of purpose is required. A split party deprives itself of cohesion and peace. It may bring a monumental electoral disaster upon itself, which the so-called overwhelming presidential influence, or what is described as power of incumbency, cannot avert. Power of incumbency, as experience has shown, also has limitations.

     

  • Ondo residents threaten massive protest against BEDC

    Ondo residents threaten massive protest against BEDC

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Members of the Parliament Estate Residents Association in Akure, the Ondo State capital have issued two weeks ultimatum to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to energise a newly acquired transformer in their locality or face massive protest.

    The residents who carried placards to protest in Akure said the BEDC was provoking them to storm its headquarters in Benin City, the Edo State capital and shut it down.

    They protested through the estate and some streets in Akure. Speaking during the protest, Chairman of the Parliament Estate, Titus Falana said they contributed money to buy the transformer in 2019, and all efforts to get the BEDC to power it has failed.

    Falana stated that the BEDC forced them to submit original receipt of the purchase of the transformer and made them write a letter of willingness to donate the transformer to the power firm as a condition to connect the transformer to the national grid.

    He said the entire landlords would storm Benin City to disrupt activities at the BEDC headquarters if the transformer is not powered.

    He said: “We bought poles, cables, and all necessary things. We have made every arrangement but they are saying some people here are owing. They should migrate the debtors to the metering arrangements so that they can pay little by little. We will carry out a bigger protest to Benin, the BEDC headquarters. It is terrible that we spent N10m to buy transformer and others facilities and nothing has happened.”

    “A bigger protest is coming that will embarrass them if they do not energise this transformer within two weeks. They did not contribute any money to the project. For over two years they have not done anything here even though we contributed our money. We are appealing to the government to ensure this transformer is connected.”

    But a spokesman for the BEDC in Akure, Mike Barnabas, said the protesters paid N600, 000 electricity bill out of over the N1m debt owed.

    Barnabas added the transformer would be energised immediately the debt is paid.

  • Suspected robber nabbed for killing okada operator

    Suspected robber nabbed for killing okada operator

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Men of the Ondo Amotekun Corps have arrested a suspected robber, Sunday Ayenitaju, for killing a commercial motorcycle operator.

    Ayenitaju was said to have stabbed his victim to death at Omin-nla area in Ore, Odigbo Local Government area after which he snatched his commercial motorcycle.

    He was apprehended by Amotekun operatives while fleeing on his motorcycle.

    Speaking shortly before he was handed over to the police, Ayenitaju said it was his friend that lured him into robbery.

    “My childhood friend, who is popularly known as Akaba invited me to join him in snatching okada in Ore.

    “He told me he had been in the business for a very long time and assured me that it was a lucrative business. He showed me over 60 bikes he had acquired and asked me to join him. Although he has been inviting me for a very long time, I refused.

    “On that fateful day, we met at a hotel in Ore and agreed to take any okada operator to a lonely place where we could carry out the operation as he promised to give me a huge share.

    “The very moment we got to a lonely place, we sighted an okada operator and stopped him. My partner immediately threw a dagger at me which I used to stab the man in his stomach and he fell down and died.

    “My friend ran away when he saw that the man was dead. As I was still standing by the dead body to plan how I would take his motorbike away, I got a call from my partner that I should run for my dear life.

    “But as I was on the verge of running away, men of the Amotekun caught me.”

  • The Lekki Tollgate ‘Massacre’: What Next?

    The Lekki Tollgate ‘Massacre’: What Next?

    By Tiko Okoye

    I knew the great risk I was taking when I wrote the piece titled “Amnesty International: Quo Vadis?” published in my blog yesterday. The reason is that a vast majority of my physical and spiritual constituencies have come to equate the federal government of Nigeria with Muhammadu Buhari – a man they’ve since loved to hate.

    Praise the government and they’d immediately tear you apart for seeing anything good in Buhari; and demonize the government and they will high-five you for speaking the “truth.”

    But the good thing is that I write as I’m moved without caring a hoot for the tide of public opinion – a variable so fickle that the same crowd that shouted “Crucify him” at a man today would have no qualms shouting “Hossana!” at the same person tomorrow. I write for the records and posterity and not to please men.

    The #EndSARS street protests hit the nation like a wild fire. At the beginning, it was a popular uprising that gave vent to the suppressed sentiments of majority of Nigerians suffering the hardships of a comatose economy.

    But when miscreants hijacked the protests and the movement equally experienced a mission creep, a lot of the goodwill was lost, except of course those who had the cross hairs of their bazooka guns permanently aimed at the twin devils of the government and Buhari.

    And before anyone could say ‘SARS,’ allegations of a massacre of hordes of protesters gathered at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos had gone viral on the social media spearheaded by the likes of DJ Switch, who attained the status of national heroine for her ‘courageous expository’ using the most horrendous video clips anyone has ever seen.

    Not wanting to be outdone, the major opposition political party, Peoples Democratic Party, and several civil society organizations wrote letters of petition to the UN and EU as well as the governments of the USA and Great Britain reporting the Nigerian government for committing (not alleged) human rights violations.

    They implored these international agencies and foreign governments to ‘deal’ with the Buhari administration. This isn’t the time and place to debate the pros and cons of such a misguided manoeuvre.

    Well, the jury is finally in. In a report titled “2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,” the United States Department of State yesterday disclosed that “THERE IS NO VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE ON THE REPORTED KILLINGS OF #ENDSARS PROTESTERS AT THE LEKKI TOLLGATE ON OCTOBER 20, 2020.” (caps mine for emphasis).

    How does Amnesty International (AI) fit into all of this? Well, according to the US Report, “Amnesty International reported that 10 persons died during the event, but the (Nigerian) government disputed (AI’s) report, and NO OTHER (CREDIBLE) ORGANISATION WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE CLAIM.” (caps mine for emphasis).

    But don’t hold your breadth if you’re expecting AI to apologize to the Nigeria Army and Commander-in-Chief Muhammadu Buhari. Some organizations and people only know how to criticize and tear down but not how to build up.

    The US Report goes on to read in part: “Although the protests were allowed to proceed unimpeded in most places, civil society observers reported the arrest of some peaceful protesters in Lagos, Osun, and Kano states on charges of ‘conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.’ ALL of those arrested were released within days of their arrest.”

    Left to me, the federal government – armed with the US Report – should immediately approach an American court to sue the Cable News Network (CNN) for attempting to overthrow the government of Nigeria and/or dangerously fostering animosity and instability with its special report that “Soldiers shot at protesters at Lekki Tollgate, killing many.”

    There are several aspects of this Lekki Tollgate made-up massacre that annoy me no end.

    First is that if reason and sanity had been allowed to prevail over partisan bleating, it should’ve been very obvious ab initio that the entire saga was no more than brewing a storm in a teacup. Why? Because despite the “many” protesters reported killed, NOT A SINGLE family came out to publicly identify a ‘dead’ member!

    But people who tried to raise such germane questions were easily browbeaten into docility and submission by the belligerent antics and utterances of the angry mob baying for the heads of Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu!

    Second, is that these wailers that reported Nigeria and her government to foreign leaders and international agencies were too blinded by partisan politics to see the contradiction in their action.

    What exactly have Britain and the USA to teach us about respect for human rights given the global protests that were going on about the same time for racial justice in their respective countries (George Floyd, etc)? Shouldn’t it be a case of “Physician, first heal thyself”? When the blind leads the blind they both can only end up in a ditch!

    • Okoye, a Boston University (USA) Hubert H. Humphrey Graduate Fellow, wrote in from Abuja (tkooziks@gmail.com)

     

  • Southwest PDP congress should hold as scheduled, says Makinde

    Southwest PDP congress should hold as scheduled, says Makinde

    By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor, and Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee (NWC) for its decision to hold the Southwest Zonal Congress which has been scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2021.

    Makinde praised the NWC for its decision, stating that the party leadership “bowed to superior reasoning regarding the congress.”

    He, however, warned the NWC against allowing divisive elements within the party to “unduly influence party decisions on the national level.”

    The governor said in a statement by his media side, Taiwo Adisa, that “any attempt to shift the date of the PDP National Congress from April 10 is a signal to party loyalists that the hierarchy has been compromised,” an action which would lead to “dire consequences.”

    Makinde said: “As the only serving PDP governor in the Southwest and an invested party in the PDP’s growth and development, I commend the National Working Committee (NWC) for the decision to go ahead with the Southwest Congress.

    “I am glad that they bowed to superior reasoning regarding the congress. I am also happy that the congress will be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in line with our party’s constitution and as stipulated in paragraph 8 (1) (g) of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention for the purpose of electing Party Executive Committees at all levels which was issued and signed in January 2020. We look forward to hosting other members of the Southwest PDP, come April 10.

    “However, it has come to my notice that some divisive elements within the party are trying to unduly influence party decisions on the national level. It is shameful that while the peace and reconciliation committee is going about trying to bring the party together, some people are determined to factionalise it. The NWC must not reward these individuals who are working against the party’s overall interests.

    “I must warn that any attempt to shift the Southwest Congress’s date from April 10 is a signal that the hierarchy has been compromised. Such an action would have dire consequences. For one thing, we will be forced to take all necessary measures to take back our party.

    :Let me restate that the PDP is the best alternative for Nigerians. At this moment, we should be expending our energies in positioning our party and gearing up for leadership at the national level. We must show Nigerians that we are the real deal.

    “The NWC should rise to its responsibilities and prevail on the person or persons acting as clogs in the wheel of the party’s progress. Remember, the PDP is greater than any individual.”

    Meanwhile, the chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming South West Zonal Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Eddy Olafeso, has  cast doubt on the proposed date for the election of new executives for the party in the region.

    Olafeso, whose ambition is backed by a group led by the ex-governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose, said a certain court order hanging on Congress has made the proposed date doubtful.

    Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo after a meeting with stakeholders of the party loyal to the Sunday Bisi-led executive at the Osun State PDP secretariat, Olafeso urged the group to prepare for a good outing whenever the congress is held.

    According to him, the venue and time of the congress would be known after the court had made a final pronouncement on the matter before it.

    He said, “the party is yet to determine in finality the date of the Congress by the virtue of the fact of a court order on the South West Zonal Congress.

    “By the time court takes a decision, we will know when the congress will hold. It is when the court decides that we will know the venue and time. My mission in Osun is to appreciate the leadership.”

  • Bandits kill Miyetti Allah leaders in Nasarawa

    Bandits kill Miyetti Allah leaders in Nasarawa

    By Linus Oota, Lafia

    Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Hussain and his counterpart in Toto local government area, Mohammed Umar have been killed by suspected bandits.

    They were murdered in Garaku, Kokona LGA on Friday night during an attack.

    Nasarawa Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ramham Nansel, said: “On 2/4/2021 at about 7pm, information was received that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits attacked and killed one Mohammed Hussaini, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Nasarawa State and Mohammed Umar, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Toto LGA at Garaku market.

    “Upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bola Longe swiftly deployed Operation Puff Adder II personnel to the scene where the two corpses were recovered and taken to the hospital”

    He said the corpses were deposited at Anthony memorial Mortuary for post Mortem examination after being confirmed dead by a medical doctor.