The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Why our father committed suicide, by children of deceased Nasarawa church worker

    Why our father committed suicide, by children of deceased Nasarawa church worker

    THE children and relatives of Danladi Anva, a 55-year-old indigene of Sabon Peggi Shabu, Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, are left to mourn his demise after he committed suicide.

    Anva, who until his death worked as a security guard with ERCC Church in Shabu, was said to have gone into depression, which eventually culminated in suicide, because of the pressure he suffered from selling a plot of land to two different buyers.

    Realising that he would have to refund the money to at least one of the buyers and seeing that he had no way of refunding the sum involved, he hit on the idea of taking his own life by drinking herbicide.

    Anva’s immediate younger brother, Mr Useni Usman, told our correspondent that his sudden death came as a rude shock to him and the entire family.

    “His sudden death is indeed worrisome to me and the family,” he said.

    “The day he was to die, we were together till at about 5 pm. He came and told me that he needed N2,000, saying that was his only problem.

    “I gave the money to him and left, but he never told me the purpose for which he needed the money urgently.

    “He never told me anything, but I know that he sold one plot of land to two different people. I was aware of it and it was resolved at the police station that he should refund the money to the last person who bought the land.

    “Whether he didn’t have the money to refund and that made him to kill himself, I don’t know.

    “Whether he used the N2,000 he collected from me to buy the herbicide with which he killed himself, I also don’t know. But we saw the herbicide container in the corner of his bed.

    “By the time we realised that he had taken something to take his own life, he was already affected to the level that he could not even talk or tell us what led to his decision.”

    Entering Anva’s residence at Sabon Peggi Shabu on the evening of June 29, one could easily read the pensive mood of family members. Their sad disposition made it difficult to get them to talk about the ugly incident.

    Anva’s eldest son, Yohana, sat on a long bench in the compound, tears rolling uncontrollably down his cheeks. His mind was probably occupied with the thought of shouldering the burden left behind by his father.

    He sat back on the bench, cleared his throat and narrated the misfortune that had befallen the family.

    According to him, the 5th of June began like any normal day for the Anva family as everyone woke up without any inkling of the tragic incident.

    He added: “The whole thing is still like a dream to me. It is still hard for me to believe that my own father committed suicide. I’m shocked because he was a very healthy and lovely man.

    “It happened that he sold a particular plot of land to two different people. He first sold the land for N150,000 to a woman living in our neighborhood in the year 2021, then he later sold the same land for N230,000 to another person early this year.

    “When he told me that he wanted to sell the same land in January 2022 to another person, I warned him and told him the implications of his actions, but he said nothing.

    “When he eventually sold the land, I expected him to return the first buyer’s money to her to avoid trouble.

    “At the end of May, the first buyer came to our house and angrily told us that somebody was farming on the land she bought from our father

    “The woman said she went to inspect the land only to find that an unknown person had planted crops on the land.

    “At that time, my father was not at home so I pleaded with her to come back later and meet my father so they could sort out the matter.”

    Yohana, however, said the next thing the woman did was to invite the police who arrested his father and detained him at their station.

    “I can tell you that we really suffered before he was released from detention,” he said.

    He recalled that when his father was released after four days in detention, “I noticed that he was always moody and I asked him what was wrong but he didn’t say anything.

    “He was a very quiet man; he hardly talked to us about his challenges.”

    Yohana added: “On the 5th of June, 2022, after we returned from church, he was at home with us until 3pm when he had his bath and went out.

    “Although he did not tell us where he was going, we knew he was not going far because he wore a casual dress.

    “It was on a Sunday, so my siblings and I did not go anywhere throughout that day. We were all at home doing our domestic chores.

    “To our surprise, our father who went out healthy returned home as someone who was very sick. He had no strength.

    “I told my younger ones to take him to his room to rest, so could find out what was wrong with him.

    “After a while, I went into his room to be sure that he was stable, but to my greatest surprise, I noticed that his mouth was foaming and I sensed the odour of the herbicide (Gramoxone) used for killing grasses.

    “I then searched and found an empty container of the chemical by the corner of his bed. At that point, he could not talk to us because he was very weak and almost lifeless.

    “We rushed him to the hospital where he was admitted and he died the next day.”

    Giving details about the family’s condition, Yohana said: “I am 27 years old and a secondary school dropout. I am married and I work with a block industry to eke out a living.

    “My parents had six children made up of three males and three females. But we lost one, so we are now five.

    “My late father was working as a security guard at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) located here in Sabon Peggi Shabu.

    “He also engaged in petty farming to augment his meagre salary at ERCC in order to feed us his children.

    “I watched helplessly as he groaned at home and in the hospital before he died

    “His sudden death has robbed us of everything. We are finished. We need divine intervention. God, show us mercy.”

    Asked about their mother’s whereabouts, Yohana said she died during labour about  seven years ago. “Now our father has joined her.

    “He left our hopes shattered. How would I take care of the younger ones he left behind?

    “He was managing with his job at ERCC on a salary of N10,000 to feed us his children.

    “The money was never enough. We are all not in school due to lack of money. Our future is bleak and without any hope.”

    Yohana regretted that his father did not tell any member of the family about his worries and did not confide in anyone his plan to take his own life.

    stopped him at all cost.

    “The only known challenge we knew about was that of the land issue, and we did not imagine that he could take his own life because he sold one plot of land to two different people.

    “We are still shocked. Accepting the reality that he killed himself was not easy for me, but my siblings and I have accepted our fate.

    “He is gone now. Although it is painful, we have to move on with life.”

    Recalling the death of their mother, Cecilia, Yohana said: “Her death was very shocking for my father and the entire family because she really supported our family while she was alive. We missed her.

    “I have spoken to the pastor of ERCC about my desire to take over my father’s job and they assured us that after we must have finished mourning, either me or my brother can resume work.

    “It has not been easy for us since our father died. My siblings have been crying since that day.

    “We are still very young but we have become orphans in this difficult world. At my age, I have suddenly become their father and mother.

    “But I believe that God Almighty will always come to our rescue whenever we call on Him.”

    A daughter of the deceased, Ruth (15), told our correspondent amid sobs that “It has been three weeks since my father took his life but we are still grieving. We are fighting long and hard not to let his suicide diminish or weigh us down.

    “On many days, it is a battle. We are still grieving. On some days, it is anger. On other days, it is sadness that we indeed lost a breadwinner.”

    According to her, the late Anva was “an amazing father who loved us all. He may have left us abruptly, but he will always be our best friend.

    “Whenever I miss him, I close my eyes and reminisce about my favorite memories of him.  He always made his family the centre of his attention.

    “Any time he went out, he brought some food for us from eateries and he was always jovial. These cherished memories help me to savour the good moments we had with him.

    “What came over him to take his own life, he never told any of us.  If he was suffering from depression, he should have shared his problem with us.

    “He quietly planned his exit from this world and left. It is painful and we will miss him.” Another of Anva’s daughters, 19-year-old Stella, said “his death will always remain a scar in my life.

    “Some things in life will change you forever; my father’s suicide will do just that.

    “I have come into terms with it. Accepting it gave me the ability to savour the life I had with him before his death and move forward to create a reality that he is no more and there is time to think ahead.”

    Yet another of the deceased, Lydia (17), said: “What my father’s suicide taught me is the strength in asking for help. I wish he never isolated himself from us. I wish he told us he needed help to solve his problem.

    “My father carried too much burden and I wish he knew he didn’t have to move through moments of darkness alone.

    “He was my father and best friend. But first and foremost, he was a human being who needed a hand to guide him back to light in a sea of dark hopelessness.

    “But he left without a goodbye. We will miss him, and may his soul find peace wherever he is.”

  • I made fortune selling ice cream in America – Canada-based real estate mogul Gboleru

    I made fortune selling ice cream in America – Canada-based real estate mogul Gboleru

    Canada-based Nigerian real estate expert, Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru, is one of the contenders for the vacant Akirun royal stool in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun State. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Mortgage Centre, Canada; Choice Financial Inc. and Georgia One Financial Mortgage, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The founder of SDA Gboleru Nigeria Ltd, Ikirun, Osun State is working in collaboration with a South American medical university in the Caribbean Island to establish Gboleru University in Ikirun. The former ice cream hawker tells GBENGA ADERANTI his grass to grace story.

    At what point did you decide to travel abroad?    

    I left the country in 1985. I had to leave to find greener pastures and have a better life. My parents were traders. We had little opportunities to make it in life. We had to struggle all the way to get a better life. That was my main reason for travelling out of Nigeria.

    Getting out of Nigeria wasn’t easy either. As a matter of fact, when I first got abroad, there wasn’t any place for me to stay. The person I wanted to go and meet gave me an address, on getting there, I knocked many times but there was no answer. I was outside for four hours and it was very cold. I was so confident that I would see the person I came to meet because three days before my arrival, I had called the person. Unfortunately for me, all the apartments in the house were empty. His neighbours who were coming into the house around 3 am were drunk. As they tried to climb the staircase, they saw me and were scared. They just ran away.

    Later, they returned. That was when they eventually summoned enough courage to ask me questions. I introduced myself and told them that I came from Nigeria. They said who are you looking for? I said I was looking for Bernard. They told me that they had just moved into the apartment and there was nobody living in the apartment. But they were happy to see someone from Africa and they told me to come and stay with them.

    The first thing that attracted my attention was the leftover bread that they kept on their table. They gave me hot tea, and I quickly ate the bread. At that point in time, I was seriously hungry. The second day, they asked me what I wanted to do. I said I did not know but I knew I had some people in Atlanta and I would call those ones, which I eventually did. They took me to the airport and bought a first-class ticket for me at their own expense.

    To cut the long story short, the person that bought the ticket for me had to go through divorce. We’re still communicating. He called me one day and said that he wanted to move to Atlanta because real estate was booming there. Lo and behold, when he came, he taught me real estate business which I’m still doing up till today. When he came, I accommodated him. The man is a multi- millionaire today.

    How did you survive in the US?

    Staying in the United States wasn’t easy at the beginning. It was not easy as I was going to school and at the same time working. I was doing three different jobs. Former Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, had a convenience store at  Campbellton Road, Atlanta, Georgia where I was. He was selling biscuits and other things. I would go and collect ice cream, deposit some in his store. Other Nigerians taught me how to sell ice cream. Fortunately, the majority of them are doing very well now.

    If you want to go to school, you need to survive. To shock you, this time I’m talking about, we had no papers but we needed to work in order to survive. The jobs we were doing then were menial. I was doing three jobs every day. The first job I did was to wash the floor at Walmart Store. I would do this from 12 midnight till 6am. Sometimes, if I was fast, I would finish washing the floor by 4.00am and would just get into my vehicle and sleep for two hours. After resting for two hours, I would go to Burger King to flip hamburgers. I would do that till 12 noon. After that, I would return to the parking lot, enter my vehicle and sleep till 2 am.

    Let me tell you a story about my vehicle. I needed the vehicle to go to school, I needed the vehicle to go to work, I also needed the vehicle to sell ice cream. I had to buy a used post office van. It was cheap. The one that was in good condition was being sold for 300 dollars, and if you use it to sell ice cream, you can make a profit of more than the amount you used in buying that vehicle in a day.

    I felt that instead of buying a luxury car, let me buy this vehicle because I would use it to sell ice cream. Selling ice cream could be rough. Except you do drugs, that is when you can make the kind of money we were making selling ice cream. In a box of ice cream, we have about 60. You may not get it for more than five dollars but when you are selling each, you sell for one dollar. And if you get to a neighbourhood where you have a lot of children, by the time you sum up what you sold, you could be getting up to 600 dollars. At times I would make 700 dollars.

    After I had finished selling the ice cream, I would go for lectures. My face would be red due to lack of good sleep.  I would also have a serious headache due to lack of sleep. But because we knew what we were pursuing, we could not give up. Whatever you are doing that you are making money from, you would be happy to do it. This ice cream hustling would only last for six months or less than six months in a year. By the time the weather was getting cold, the ice cream business would become very dull, that was the period I would have the opportunity to sleep.

    The first day I entered my first apartment, I slept soundly. Before then, I had no apartment of my own. I was sleeping inside my vehicle. If I had to sleep in a house, I would just call a friend who was not going to work to have a short rest in his house.

    How did your parents react when you decided to leave the country, considering the fact that you are a prince?

    At that time, I did not look at myself as a prince. I was a hustler. I never for once considered that. But my mum was happy that I wanted to travel. And when I got there, I never joked with my mum. I took good care of her. As at then, my dad had passed away. But my only regret is that I never fulfilled my dream of bringing my parents abroad.

    Would you describe that as an unfulfilled dream?

    I would better regard that as the wish of God. The only regret is not being able to bring my parents abroad before they died. It has always been my dream.

    I understand you had a relationship with the late monarch of Ikirun, Oba Adedeji. What was that relationship?

    Before the monarch passed on, any time he came abroad, he would stay with me. We were very close, and each time I came to Ikirun then, all my investments in Ikirun: Gboleru Farm, Gboleru Factory, it was the late monarch that helped as witnessed when I bought those lands from different families.

    Could you give a little insight about your family background?

    My great great grandfather, Osunpidan Gboleru, was the seventh child of the late Oba Gboleru. His other siblings were Oba Kolawole, Olatunji, Aderibigbe, Adesina, Torera, Baba Ola and Adeleke. So, Osunpidan Gboleru left home in his early age for a masquerade expedition. He left Ikirun for Osogbo. He was living in Balogun Agoro compound where he picked a wife. There he gave birth to Salami, who was my grandfather. He refused to return to Ikirun. He lived and died in Osogbo.

    It was in Balogun Agoro that Salami, his only son, married and had a child, Adejumo Gboleru. When Salami died because things were a bit rough, Osunpidan’s sister, Wuraola, decided to take her brother’s son with her because he had nobody to take care of him. Wuraola married to Ojomu Compound in Ikirun. Wuraola had four children: Omosalewa, who got married to Alfa Ajagidi in Odofin Compound; Adepoju, father to Aduke; Wulemotu known as Iya Alaga; Dejò, who died young with no child, and Salami Gboleru, my own grandfather, who Mama Wuraola raised as his foster parent at Ojomu’s Compound, where she was married to.

    This is why some mischievous elements are distorting my life story, saying I’m from Ojomu’s Compound, that I’m not from Gboleru Ruling House. She raised Osunpidan’s son, Salami, in Ojomu’s compound in Ikirun. That was why my grandfather grew up in that compound. He never stayed at home. Later, my grandfather relocated to Osogbo and got married. He married three wives, two of them gave birth to female children and his mum gave birth to a male child called Bamidele Adejumi Gboleru, who happened to be my father. My dad also lived in Osogbo. He grew up there and did everything there.

    There was a time he wanted to relocate to Ikirun. He tried but he could not come. He eventually died in Osogbo. That is the fact. Osunpidan Gboleru, my great great grandfather, gave birth to Salami Adetunji Gboleru. My grandfather gave birth to my father Adejumo Bamidele Gboleru, who gave birth to me, Adesegun Tajudeen Gboleru.

    Why then are some people saying you are not from Ikirun and that you are from Ojomu Compound, not Gboleru Ruling House?

    Whatever they like they can say. Whoever wants to run for a political office or ascend a royal throne would be lied against. The opponents and detractors would rewrite his life story for him just to diminish him and reduce his chances. I am not perturbed because this had been done to a lot of obas in Yorubaland in the past. They said the same of the late Olufon of Ifon-Orolu, Oba Adekunle Almaroof Magbagbeola, that he was Fulani. They spoke against the revered Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, before he mounted the exalted stool of the Ooni of Ife. I don’t care about whatever they say.  I want to stay focused.

    I have told you my brief life story from my great great grandfather. I have told you how many children Oba Gboleru had. He gave birth to eight children. His first born, Kolawole, gave birth to 15 children known as Wuraola, Jimoh Popoola, Segilola, Okunlola, Laanni, Abiola, Raji Afolabi, Ladejo, Kasali, Olaniyan, Laisi Abefe, Olawale Mudasiru, Ayisatu, Bolatito and Olarinre. I have the list. Those of them who are now claiming to come from Gboleru family should show us where they belong in the names I just mentioned. If they can’t fault it, let them go to the Daodu of Gboleru family compound Oke Afò and identify where they belong. Which of the eight Gboleru’s children do they belong to?

    The second king from Gboleru Ruling House, Kolawole, had 15 children, which of the 15 children do they belong to? I just traced my roots, let them come out and trace theirs. The first oba was Gboleru from our royal house. That is why I bear Gboleru. The name in my dad’s birth certificate was Gboleru. My own birth certificate bears Gboleru and all my children are Gboleru.

    In summary, Prince Tajudeen Adesegun Gboleru’s life story is this: the first Oba Gboleru was my great great grandfather; his direct son, Osunpidan Gboleru, was my great grandfather, and Salami Adejumo Gboleru, was my grandfather, giving birth to Bamidele Adejumo Gboleru, my own father.

    What is delaying the announcement of the new Akirun of Ikirun by the Osun State Government?

    It is not the Osun State Government that is delaying; it is those people who are bent on scuttling the peaceful succession process that are frustrating the process. They created new families to join those from the ruling house to also lay claim to the kingship right.

    Another argument is what somebody like you, who has stayed abroad for a very long time, could contribute to the community when you don’t know so much about the place.

    I have been contributing to the development of that town for more than two decades. I have Gboleru Farm in the town, which is providing employment to people. I am proposing a radio station in the town. How about the Gboleru University which I have almost concluded in collaboration with a South America university in the Caribbean Island? The late kabiyesi, Oba Olayiwola Adedeji, was still alive when I started these projects and other things we have been doing. We have started a process of empowerment programme for the people in vocational training and skills.

    We learnt that there are three ruling houses in Ikirun on a rotational pattern; can you give us an idea on how the rotation operates, because there are conflicting stories about the kingship process in Ikirun?

    There is no other way to do it than to do it better than the way the late Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Adeyemi, who reigned before the immediate past Akirun did it by passing a gazette during the regime of Chief Bola Ige of Oyo State.

    He said while he was on the throne, after him Adedeji would succeed him, the one that just passed. And after Adedeji, it would be the turn of Gboleru. I happened to be one of the candidates that came out from Gboleru, and it is the turn of Gboleru right now.

  • Kuje prison attack: Aregbesola in the eye of the storm

    Kuje prison attack: Aregbesola in the eye of the storm

    Tuesday, July 5, residents of Kuje Area Council in Abuja, startled to the shriek of the wild. Around 10pm, about a hundred gunfighters, of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of Boko Haram, invaded the peace and quiet of the area. Their target was the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre.

    Using explosives and guns, they breached the facility, leading to the escape of 879 of the 994 inmates on that Tuesday night. During the attack, they also freed 64 of their colleagues who were being held in detention.

    For about three hours, they operated unhindered thus asserting to the world, their dreaded reach and might.

    While the Tuesday attack may pass as one of many in recent times, it is instructive for both its fatality and resonance: five people were killed and 16 sustained grievous injuries.

    “A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large,” disclosed spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar.

    According to him, the deceased include one security official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and four inmates of the correctional facility.

    The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of terrorist group, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The terrorists claimed the responsibility in a video released Wednesday night.

    The 38 seconds video showed how some of its members shot their way into the Kuje prison.

    Few months earlier, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had boasted – through an aide, that,  “anyone who attacks any correctional facility in Nigeria now is on a suicide mission.”

    Presumably miffed by the slew of attacks on correctional centres across the country, Aregbesola, speaking through his Special Assistant on Innovation/Delivery, Ademola Adeyinka, read the riot act to prospective jail breakers.

    Aregbesola’s boast, however, falls flat on the face in the wake of the Kuje Prison attack; when the minister bragged, he clearly wasn’t referring to ISWAP.

    Although NCoS spokesman, Abubakar, disclosed that 443 inmates of the fleeing prisoners have been recaptured, the incident further highlights the shortcomings of Aregbesola’s leadership and management of Nigeria’s prisons service.

    Despite Aregbesola’s claims otherwise, all is clearly not well with his administration of that sector of Nigeria’s interior. More than 7,000 inmates have escaped from Nigerian prisons since 2010; in the last 15 months, Nigeria has recorded about 15 jailbreaks, of which nine were successful.

    The recent incident at Kuje prison is particularly worrisome, given the precision with which the ISWAP invaders operated at the facility. Tuesday’s attack on the prison revealed serious shortcomings in the security architecture of Nigeria’s correctional facilities on Aregbesola’s watch.

    The lack of a functional Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the correctional facility makes it pretty difficult to gain retrospective views of the incident.  As the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, rightly noted while inspecting the facility after the attack, the lack of a functional CCTV means there is no record of what happened, save the narration of eyewitness – which could be highly unreliable.

    “But if we had CCTV, at least the records would have been there and analysis made, and arrest will be based on the information from the CCTV,” he said.

    The attack on the Kuje correctional centre could only have been possible with the collaboration of insiders within the nation’s correctional system, stressed Lawan, faulting the NCoS for not providing CCTV at the Kuje prison and others across the country.

    Read Also: Ike Ekweremadu: Lawmaker on wrong side of the law

    There is no gainsaying Tuesday’s attack on Kuje prison is an indication that the security architecture at the country’s prison, has failed. Nigeria’s penitentiary system has long been saddled with a multitude of problems.

    More worrisome is the state of the facilities; the Nigerian penitentiary system is adjudged as one of the most overcrowded globally, with the country ranking 49th on a list of 206 countries in the World Prison Brief, published by the University of London’s Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research.

    The Ikoyi prison, built in 1955 for a capacity of 800 people, now accommodates approximately four times that number, according to recent findings.

    By the official records of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the current population of inmates across correctional facilities in the country is 70,237. This figure is way higher than the 57,278 inmates carrying capacity of correctional facilities in the country, as revealed by the Interior Minister, Aregbesola earlier in 2021.

    The absence of a public security surveillance system has also placed the burden of ensuring security on manual monitoring by security personnel, who are underpaid and underequipped.

    According to the NCS, there are currently 70,653 prisoners across 240 centres nationwide. Only a third of them have been convicted while the rest are filed under “awaiting trial”. The latter category is local legal parlance for suspects who have been jailed for years for petty crimes such as shoplifting and traffic offences without conviction. In some facilities, those “awaiting trial” represent up to 90 percent of the total prison population, whose true number is believed to be much higher than the official one.

    “There are individuals in these facilities who don’t know when they are going to go out, some [are in] for offences that they would’ve been discharged even if they were convicted,” said Uju Agomoh, director at the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) group.

    “So you see a situation where within, there is tension because of this disproportionate number of persons who have not been convicted and it begins to be overbearing on the infrastructure, cell spaces, water, health – everything.”

    The consequences has manifested, overtime, in a series of riots by inmates over their subhuman living conditions, and incessant attempts at  jail break at correctional centres across the country. This includes invasion by armed groups like ISWAP, Boko Haram and so-called unknown gunmen of southeast Nigeria.

    Prior to the Kuje prison attack, the most recent jailbreak occurred on Sunday, November, 28, 2021, at the medium custodial centre in Jos, Plateau State.

    A group of unidentified gunmen pretending to be on a visit to the facility engaged the officials in a shootout at the gate,  to gain access into the facility, and subsequently released 262 inmates. At least 11 people died during the encounter including one security guard and 10 inmates.

    This occurred in a facility bordered by security outfits such as the state Police Command, State CID, headquarters of Department of State Services, DSS, Police A Division as well as the Police and prison barracks. The gunmen engaged security agents in a shootout that lasted over an hour as residents and passersby scampered for safety.

    It will be recalled that some inmates had earlier this year escaped from the facility that is situated in the heart of Jos City and were yet to be recaptured.

    On October 19, 2020, the deputy comptroller of correction in charge of Oko Prison, West Amayo, said at 9 a.m., an attempt to break into the jail was repelled. The attack was unsuccessful. But two days after the Oko Prison attack, the Benin Prison located along the Benin-Sapele Road was attacked by hoodlums and a total of 1,993 inmates escaped from the two facilities.

    In October 2019, a jailbreak was triggered by a flooding incident at the Koton-Karfe prison in Kogi, south of the capital, Abuja. More than 200 inmates escaped as floodwaters overwhelmed the prison fences, prompting Lazarus Ogbee, the federal politician heading a committee on reformatory exclamations, to say: “This nature of jailbreak is first of its kind in the whole world and to say the least, embarrassing.”

    Correctional centres in Kogi have also been attacked by inmates and by Boko Haram, twice.

    The attacks often result in many casualties. In the latest incident in Kuje prison, at least five people were killed and 16 were critically wounded.

    It would be recalled that the Interior Minister Aregbesola, admitted recently that the facilities have “shot above the capacity by 18 percent.”

    The former governor of Osun State, who called for an introduction of a parole system, also said some of the jails outside the big cities of Kano, Port Harcourt and Lagos are under-populated.

    Till date, none of the measures flaunted by Aregbesola, including the NCoS name change, has been able to remedy the manifest shortcomings of the Nigerian penitentiary system.

    According to him, “Sometimes you may not be able to forestall a jail attack 100 per cent. What we are concerned about is that if anybody escapes, they can only run from the law, they cannot hide from the law. That is what we are trying to achieve,’’ the minister said.

    ‘’For instance, the federal government has declared all custodial centres as critical national assets. And being critical national assets, we are mobilising extra armed guards to protect these national assets. We are not likely to experience any other jail attack in this country,” said Aregbesola few months ago, precisely December 2021.

    Barely seven months after, ISWAP belies his claims, courtesy its attack on the Kuje correctional centre.

  • Seven things ladies must do after s3x

    Seven things ladies must do after s3x

    Just like clearing the dining, wiping the table and washing the dirty dishes in the kitchen, there are things to do immediately after engaging in coitus, especially for ladies.

    Here are seven things to do after having a swell time:

    *Empty your bladder

    During sex, bacteria can get into your urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body. That can raise your chances of an infection. But when you urinate, you flush those germs out.

    So if you are the type that loves to enjoy some cuddling after the act, don’t stay too long on it before heading to the bathroom to pee and when you wipe, do it from front to back to stop the spread of bacteria.

    * Wash up

    Gently cleaning yourself after s3x can protect women and men alike from infections like of the urinary tract (UTIs).

    Wash the area around gently (not inside) with plain warm water.

    Note: Never douche
    Some women think they need to clean inside their vagina after sex with water or prepackaged fluids. But douching can lead to more infections. That’s because it upsets the natural balance of bacteria that protect your vagina.

    *Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly

    READ ALSO: UK varsity confers honorary degree on Tiwa Savage

    It’s the best way to get rid of bacteria you might pick up from touching your or your partner’s genitals. That’s key to stop infections from spreading. Wash with soap and water, and make it part of your post-sex clean-up routine.

    *Ingest liquid, water preferably

    Since it’s a good idea to pee after a roll in the hay, don’t forget to drink water.

    When you stay hydrated, you’ll pee more, which means that more bacteria will wash out of your body before infections can flare up.

    Drinking cranberry juice can also reduce the chances of UTIs as it helps fight against bacteria.

    *Check for signs of pain or bleeding

    Double-check for any sign of post-intercourse trauma like pain or bleeding.

    Be sure what the pain is indicating if it’s from the friction of the genitals or infections so as to proffer appropriate treatment.

    And if you notice bleeding too especially if it isn’t due to your menstruation or breaking of the hymen, do see a gynecologist.

    *Double check with the condom

    This is to ensure while you were being taken on a ride through the clouds, your protection helmet didn’t decide to give way or even get stuck in your honeypot which can pose a grave health risk to you.

    So you must check to ensure its still intact and just incase it’s not, you know you have to take other post-protective measures especially if you’re not planning on being a mother at that point.

    *Wear loose-fitting clothing

    Hot, sweaty places are perfect spots for bacteria and yeast to thrive.

    So after some pleasurable moments with your partner, wear underwear and clothes that let air in.

    Avoid pantyhose, girdles, and panties that are too tight. Cotton undies work well for women and even the men as they’re breathable and absorb moisture.

    Or better still, skip underwear if altogether it’s almost bed time.

  • When marriage isn’t sitcom…Funke Akindele’s second marriage hits the rocks

    When marriage isn’t sitcom…Funke Akindele’s second marriage hits the rocks

    Estranged celebrity couple, Funke Akindele-Bello and Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz were in the public eye this week, especially on social media platform. Speculations had initially made the rounds that the celebrity couple whose union was recently blessed with a pair of twins was having troubles in their marriage.

    It would be recalled that JJC Skillz, in April, dismissed rumours of a crisis in their marriage.

    However, he announced his separation from Akindele, an actress notable for her stellar performance in popular sitcom, Jenifa’s Diaries,  during the week, disclosing that their marriage had been problematic in the last two years.

    JJC Skillz stated that he had to move out of their home three months ago after Akindele insisted he did, and had not been able to discuss with her since the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards on May 14.

    Announcing their separation, JJC Skillz wrote: “Dear Friends and family, I need to let you know that Funke and I have separated. While it lasted we shared a lot of things together and have created 2 beautiful children.

    “The last two years had been extremely difficult for us. I know I have tried my best to fix things but I believe it is beyond repair now.

    “Three months ago and at Funke’s insistence, I moved out of the house and apart from AMVCA have not been able to get Funke to sit down in an amicable manner to discuss the future of our relationship.

    “I’m making this announcement so that the public is clear that we both are pursuing separate lives.

    Read Also; Mercy Aigbe’s marital soap opera

    “We still have issues that need to be addressed such as the custody and well-being of our kids, which is paramount as well as business interests which need to be disentangled but I have no doubt that these will be resolved one way or the other.”

    The announcement generated controversy as different narratives made the rounds on social media.

    Recall that the now-estranged lovebirds got married in 2016 and welcomed a set of twins in 2018.

    Meanwhile, Akindele is yet to make any official statement about the news of their separation, just as she has ignored several speculations regarding their troubled union.

    Funke, who is also a lawyer, is one of the most successful Nollywood actresses in contemporary times. She starred in the sitcom ‘I Need to Know’ from 1998 to 2002. She, however, rose to fame for her role in the movie titled Jenifa, which earned her the nickname Jenifa.

    She has hit series like Jenifa’s Diary, My Siblings and I, Aiyetoro Town and hit movies like the record-breaking Omo Ghetto: The Saga, all coming from her production company, Scene-One Production.

    Although Funke’s sail through the world of marriage has not been a smooth and easy one, she has forged on regardless.

    Recall that the 45-year-old actress was previously married to Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede but divorced in July 2013, due to irreconcilable differences.

    She got married to Oloyede, a Lagos-based businessman, in 2012 and the marriage lasted for only 413 days.

    Her ex-husband broke the news of their separation on his Facebook page.

    The post read: “It’s with a heavy heart that I am announcing the separation of me and my wife, Mrs Olufunke Akindele; we’ve both agreed to go our separate ways because of irreconcilable differences. We are still best friends, and we 4ever(sic) remain good friends”.

    Reacting, to JJC SKillz recent announcement of his separation from Akindele,  fans of the celebrity couple expressed sadness over the duo’s sweet love gone sour.

    Popular actor, Samuel Jemitalo, advised men against marrying women who are successful, independent and established. The movie star also warned men about women who are “social media freaks.”

    Also reacting, Funke’s stepson, Benito, who had on several occasions dragged his controversial step mum on social media, wrote a cryptic message.

    Benito has been in the public eye after he alleged that Akindele, his stepmom, was a horrible person.

    The 17-year-old son of the music executive and director, who had once accused his father of physical assault, gloated at the separation after the senior Bello confirmed the marriage crash in an Instagram post.

    Benito wrote, “I spoke the truth mehn,” under his Instagram stories.

  • Ex-CJN Tanko: Bowing out in a storm

    Ex-CJN Tanko: Bowing out in a storm

    The abrupt resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammed as the 17th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) manifested as a rude shock to everyone during the week. It sent many tongues wagging. His resignation from service did not come without intrigues. The 68-year-old reportedly resigned on the grounds of ill health. His resignation comes about 18 months before his retirement in December 2023, when he will clock 69.

    Recall that Tanko was sworn in as substantive CJN on July 24, 2019, about six months after he assumed office in an acting capacity. His predecessor, ex-CJN Walter Onnoghen, was suspended in controversial circumstances by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2019 over allegations of non-asset declaration.

    According to Tanko’s profile on the websites of the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council, he studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1976-1980 and then at the Nigerian Law School where he was called to the bar in 1981.

    Tanko served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 2005 and the CJN since 2019. He was formerly a Justice of the Nigerian Courts of Appeal.

    He was born at Doguwa-Giade, a local government area in Bauchi State.

    In a swift replacement, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has since been sworn in to replace Tanko. The new CJN is said to be the most senior justice of the Supreme Court. He was born on August 22, 1958.

    Ariwoola took the oath of office before Buhari to run the Judiciary while awaiting the Senate’s confirmation of his appointment as the 22nd CJN. He is the third Supreme Court Justice to occupy the top position under the Buhari-led Administration.

    Read Also; Suspected memory disorder forced ex-CJN Tanko to quit

    Buhari in his remarks while accepting Tanko’s exit said history would be kind to the ex-CJN. In line with the usual custom, Buhari bestowed the nation’s second-highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Muhammad.

    “History will be kind to Justice Tanko Muhammed for his modest contributions to Nigeria’s Judiciary, the strengthening of our democracy, and national development.” the President said.

    Before Tanko’s resignation, there were hushed rumours in some quarters. Justices of the country’s apex court had jointly accused him of corruption, maladministration, and incompetence.

    The 14 justices decried the poor condition of service they were faced with. The Nation exclusively published the content of the protest letter on June 13.

    But Tanko denied the allegations raised against him by the Supreme Court Justices.

    The denial was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Ahuraka Isah, titled, ‘Re: State Of Affairs In The Supreme Court And Demand By Justices Of The Supreme Court’.

    Tanko’s resignation raised eyebrows. It also elicited mixed reactions. Many argued that Tanko’s resignation was a swift one to avoid being consumed by his current travails.

    Reacting, the Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, called on the National Judicial Council and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to probe the corruption allegations levelled against Tanko.

    Also, a senior lawyer and son of a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Emmanuel Ogebe, took a swipe at Tanko’s tenure, describing his voluntary resignation on Monday as the “end of an error”.

    Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) pledged its readiness to collaborate with the new CJN and the Judiciary “in cleansing the Augean Stable and addressing the ills that have continued to plague not just the Judiciary but the entire legal profession.”

    A few weeks ago, Tanko’s two sons — Siraj Ibrahim and Sani Ibrahim — emerged as Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively, in Bauchi State.

  • Matawalle’s curious gospel of self-defense

    Matawalle’s curious gospel of self-defense

    Overwhelmed by the continuous attacks from bandits and terrorists, Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Matawalle, during the week, resorted to self-help, directing residents of the state, particularly farmers, to acquire guns to defend themselves against marauding criminal elements.

    Banditry and kidnapping have in the past months assumed a frightening dimension in Zamfara as the residents lament persistent bandit attacks almost every day of the week.

    Matawalle, confronted with a seemingly helpless situation, decided to put the fate of security in the hands of the residents.

    This move elicited mixed reactions. While some believe Matawalle’s move is a strong challenge to the federal government and relevant security agencies to act swiftly and tame the marauders.

    Some others argued that granting residents permission to carry arms could open up a state of anarchy and lawlessness across Nigeria.

    But the bottom line remains that the continuous bandit and terrorist attacks have left many victims agitated, bitter, and traumatised. Bereaved families have accused relevant authorities of displaying lackadaisical attitude in handling the matter.

    Read Also: Matawalle signs death sentence for bandits

    Matawalle, in response, urged the citizenry to defend themselves against bandits in the interest of keeping people safe.

    The governor had ordered the Commissioner of Police in the state to issue licenses to residents willing and fit to bear arms, to protect themselves against the armed criminals.

    But the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, said the embargo on firearms licenses is still in force, noting that the police have stopped issuing licenses to citizens who wished to own guns.

    Matawalle approved the immediate closure of all markets and some filling stations, and banned the use of motorcycles in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts as well as Yandoto emirate in Gusau and Tsafe local government areas of the state, respectively.

    The governor ordered security agents to shoot violators of the ban on sight and went a step further by inaugurating four committees to implement all strategies designed by his administration to counter banditry and restore peace to the state.

    The committees are Intelligence Gathering on Banditry, Community Protection Guards (CPG), Prosecution of Banditry-Related Offences, and State Security Standing Panel. He donated 20 new Toyota Hilux vans and 1,500 motorbikes to enable the members to commence operations.

  • ‘My abductors cut my long hair with machete, fearing it was my source of spiritual power’

    ‘My abductors cut my long hair with machete, fearing it was my source of spiritual power’

    One of the church workers recently abducted at the Celestial Church of Christ, (SBJO) Oschoffa Parish, Wasinmi, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State shares his heartrending experience with KUNLE AKINRINADE who caught up with him in Lagos shortly after he was freed by his abductors.

    • Church worker narrates ordeal in kidnappers’ den

    • Says I didn’t drink water or defecate for six days

    Oluwasegun Ajose’s hope of having a good rest in the  night of Monday,  June 13 was dashed by dare-devil hoodlums who desecrated the hallowed premises of the Celestial Church of Christ, Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa (SBJO) Parish in Wasinmi, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, where he serves as the Assistant  Shepherd in charge of the church.

    The 38-year-old priest, who said it was earlier revealed to him in a trance that a member of his household would be abducted, said he had prayed to God to avert the terrible revelation, not knowing that he was the one about to be kidnapped.

    He said: “Before the incident occurred on June 13, I had received several revelations that one of my children was abducted.

    “My wife also told me that she had a dream that my child was abducted and dumped at the roadside by an acquaintance and she eventually brought the child home.

    “From that moment, I started praying that God should not allow any member of my family to fall into the hands of kidnappers.

    “That very Monday, June 13, when the incident happened, I asked my wife to sleep in our room at the church, while I decided to sleep in the church auditorium.

    “I avoided falling into deep sleep because I would have to ring the bell to call members who were around for usher’s vigil as the service conductor.

    “Suddenly, around 11 pm, I started hearing some voices outside the church auditorium. When I looked outside I saw six herdsmen bearing arms and dangerous weapons.

    “One of them attempted to hit me with a rod in his hand but I managed to give him some blows and he fell down.

    “Their age ranged between 25 and 35 years. Two of them were armed with AK47 rifles while another one had a double-barrelled rifle with no fewer than 200 rounds of live ammunition and six machetes.”

    Within moments, the invaders stripped Ajose and other church members of their white garments to prevent people from recognising them as they led them at gunpoint into the forest.

    Ajose said: “They seized me and a Sunday school teacher, Ayobami Dagunduro, and manhandled us. They led us away at gunpoint and stripped us of our garments so that people would not recognise us as they dragged us through the forest that night.

    Read Also; How kidnapped Plateau poly students, one other escaped from abductors

    “Around 5 am, we arrived at a location inside the forest and slept there while they threatened to kill us if no ransom was paid to secure our freedom.

    “They spoke Yoruba, English and Fulfude. They demanded a sum of N50 million as ransom and moved us again the next day.

    “They took my phone and used it to talk to my wife. They then smashed it on the ground after they had exhausted the call credit on it.

    “They also removed the SIM card and seized my partner’s (Ayobami’s) phone, transferring the sum of N14,000 they found in it.

    “They gave us a small phone to speak with our family members so they could raise the sum demanded as ransom for our freedom.”

    The abductors resorted to torturing their victims before asking them to speak with their family members on the phone.

    “They tortured us mercilessly with the flat side of their machetes and rod.

    They beat us two or three times every day, asking us to speak with our family members so they could quickly provide the ransom.

    “I continued to pray and wondered why such fate would befall me despite the prayers I made to forestall evil in my life.

    “On the third day, they continued to move us around forests. At some point, they cooked rice, noodles and spaghetti in some pots in their kitty and stuffed their bags with Indian hemp, cigarettes and a popular alcoholic drink. I however refused to eat their food.

    “At a stage, I told Ayobami that we must continue to pray for our freedom but he said that he could no longer hold his hunger or continue with the fasting we embarked on since our abduction.

    “He pleaded with me to eat the spaghetti prepared by the hoodlums and I used the tip of my fingers to take some of the meal into my mouth and swallowed them.

    “They also offered me chinchin which I ate and threw the rest away. I did not drink water or defecate throughout the six days I spent in the kidnappers’ den.”

    While their fate hung in the balance, Ajose launched into his church hymns to keep his hope for providential intervention alive. In the course of doing that, he said, the kidnappers complained that they were held back by divine forces from killing him and the other victim. Hence, they cut off a portion of his long hair, which they suspected was his source of spiritual power.

    “On the fourth day, they reduced the ransom from N50 million to N10 million. On the fifth day, the kidnappers threatened they would kill us with their guns and machetes. They moved us to several locations within the forest and at a point, I was just singing Celestial Church’s hymns to strengthen my faith in God.

    “The kidnappers asked for my source of spiritual power. They said they suspected that my bushy or long hair was my source of power because some unseen forces were holding them back from killing us.

    “Hence, they used their machetes to cut off some of my hair hoping that I would become powerless. Unknown to them, God had asked me to keep my hair and I haven’t cut it in a long time.

    “In the afternoon on the fifth day, they reduced the ransom to N1 million and demanded cartons of noodles, five packets of Benson cigarettes and rice.

    “On the sixth day of our abduction, our relatives provided all the items and the sum of one million naira each. They took their time to count the money paid as ransom to ensure that it was complete, following which they released us exactly around 11.15 pm which, incidentally, was the time they abducted us at the church.

    “They moved us through the forest from Itori to Sagamu. For about one and a half hours, we were wading through a vast swamp and we were almost submerged in the swamp.

    “They took us back to Itori and moved us across the road to the Aga community, which is just a stone’s throw from the Dangote Cement factory at Ibeshe.

    “I asked them for my SIM card and they gave us a small phone to call our family members to pick us up and left.

    “They warned us not to return to our church for now because they said they still have a mission to accomplish around the community where our church is located.

    “They have a boss they defer to, whom they spoke to on the phone in Fulfude several times. It was their boss that instructed them on what to do.”

    Like a dog that escaped from the den of Tigers, Ajose thanked God for his new lease of life after regaining his freedom.

    He recalled how he began work as a priest over a decade ago at the same church where he was abducted, and thanked the shepherd in charge of the church and numerous others for their prayers and empathy while his travails at the hands of his abductors lasted.

    He said: “I am from Imeko/Afon LGA of Ogun State. I started work as a priest in December 2009. I was a videographer until I received the divine call to become a priest and work in His vineyard at the Celestial Church of Christ, Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa Parish in the Wasinmi area of Ewekoro Local Government.

    “I have been confronted with a lot of tribulations and I really thank God for my shepherd, Oluwatosin Olugbebi Ehuwaojomo, for standing by me in many difficult periods of my priesthood.

    “I also thank all the people that stood by us especially men and women of God that prayed for my freedom.

    “My travail is a lesson that we should not desist from praying to God for His protection at all times because there have been cases of victims killed by kidnappers even after ransom was paid by their family members.”

  • I would have been job-hunting if I hadn’t dropped out of school – Man converting fuel cars to electric cars in Maiduguri

    I would have been job-hunting if I hadn’t dropped out of school – Man converting fuel cars to electric cars in Maiduguri

    Feats such as making or converting fossil-fuel buses into electric cars used to sound like tales from foreign lands. However, thanks to 29-year-old Mustapha Gajibo, a University of Maiduguri Mechanical Engineering drop-out, such thinking is now in the past. Our Correspondent, Joel Duku in Maiduguri caught up with the enterprising young man, who shed light on his adventure, driving force and challenges facing his e-transport company.

    Your feat of converting petrol vehicles to battery-run vehicles is daring and has been welcome by many. How did it all begin?

    From the time I was a child, I’ve always been a creative person. Because I enjoy making things and solving issues, I was exposed to these interests as a child. When I reached a certain point in my career, I discovered a company that promotes innovation, and I joined it. The company’s mission is to reduce the harm and danger that fossil fuel cars cause to society, and we came up with the idea of switching to solar-powered electric cars to mitigate this harm.

    Was this sometime you planned to do or it just came unexpected?

    Let me say it was actually planned, because I am someone who loves to solve problems. My goal was to solve the problem of high cost of transportation in our country. You would notice that the energy crisis is also a challenge for the people. The cost of petrol has kept going up and I thought something needed to be done, which was why I came out with the idea.

    How many times did you try this idea before you finally got it right?

    Wow! Really I cannot count how many times I failed. We first started with prototypes; and then we continued doing amendments and building on it. God willing we are improving every passing day.  Even up till  now, I cannot say we are at our best. However, we will keep working on improving the performance, speed, range and other customer comfort.

    Tell us about the feedback. How well have these vehicles been received?

    The feedback has been very impressive, especially from outside the country. We have had calls from different people from all over the country and other countries that battling high cost of fuel. These other countries even fancy our products than our countrymen.

    You dropped out of school. Does that make you see yourself in the light of Bill Gates and others?

    If I had not dropped out of school, I wouldn’t have been talking with you now. Maybe I would have graduated and roaming the streets of Abuja or some other part of the country looking for a job. But I took my decision and I have no regrets at all. As for me being a Bill Gates, I am just myself and maybe I will also get to the level of Bill Gates God willing.  I attended a primary school in my hometown, Gajibo. After completing secondary school, I applied to the University of Maiduguri and was accepted to study Mechanical Engineering. I only made it as far as 400-level before deciding to drop out and focus only on my ambition. I’ve chosen to put my schooling on hold for the time being and concentrate on this instead.

    What influenced your decision to start making electric cars?

    When I decided to start converting cars, I was influenced by the high cost of living, high cost of transportation, high cost of energy, and its impact on the environment and health of the people. Before then, I had been running a sustainable energy company for approximately ten years. So the idea just came naturally to me. The notion of converting gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles was born three years ago when I witnessed the influx of tricycles from China and India into Nigeria. It seemed to me that the importation of tricycles from other countries was costing the Nigerian economy a great deal of money, so I decided to start making them myself to alleviate some of that tension.

    Using locally sourced components, we began creating electric tricycles three years ago and have now succeeded in producing a model that is superior to the imported ones, with a range of 200 kilometers on a single charge. Some of our tricycles are being used for business purposes as we speak. The idea of converting existing buses to run on electricity was another one we developed, and it was a success. To God be the glory, we were able to make the first prototype, test it, and the results are excellent. We have made roughly 15 units while we have also produced 50 tricycles that are currently in use. This method has allowed us to convert these fossil-powered fuel buses to totally electric.

    How do you source your materials. Is it locally or you import?

    Because we are an indigenous company aiming to develop local content, we decided to acquire our raw materials locally rather than importing them from other countries when we first started converting these buses. In order to do this, we began constructing the body of the bus using locally available materials and creating its chassis, as seen above. This is Nigeria’s first locally produced electric bus, and it is currently 80 percent complete. It will have a range of 200 kilometers when finished. At least 80% of the raw materials used in the construction of this bus were sourced locally.

    What makes your buses different from others?

    The battery, motor controller and other components of an electric vehicle make up the bulk of the vehicle. Traditional buses require gasoline, gas, or diesel to run; however, our buses just need to be charged for 35 minutes using solar light or electricity and they can travel a distance of at least 200 kilometers before needing a new charge. Our bus does not generate any carbon monoxide, has no emissions or noise, and its operating costs are lower than those of fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks.

    We dubbed it ‘Electric transportation’ in light of the global trend towards autos powered solely by solar power and therefore eliminating the need for gasoline altogether. We’re looking at ways of reducing the emissions from petrol automobiles because they have a significant impact on human health and the environment. We employ small, lightweight dry cells or batteries with the newest technology. These twelve volt connections, which are mounted on the vehicles to charge things like traffic lights, radios and air conditioners, are referred to as twelve volt lines. Electricity is used in recharging the vehicle’s main battery.

    How did you access fund for such a project? Did you take a loan from a bank?

    No. We have not received any loan from any financial institution. Up to this point, all of the vehicles have been built using only funds provided by my company. About ten years ago, the company began working with renewable energy across the country. The majority of the money we used in producing these vehicles comes from the renewable energy company’s profits.

    What is the staff strength of your company? What are the criteria for recruiting staff?

    In our organisation, we put so much faith in the  skills and abilities of our employees. We  don’t place much stock on credentials. We don’t hire people based on their educational qualification  but rather on their skills and experience. We had a situation when a new model screen from the year 2021 broke beyond repair and we realised we would have to order a replacement from China. Of course, we panicked. Fortunately, a young man of about 16 years of age was introduced to us as a potential replacement. Our company’s R&D team was able to hire him because of his shrewdness. This is how we’ve been able to find new employees for the business.

    We have departments and teams. Our organisation is organised into Electrical and Mechanical Division, Design,  Research and Development divisions. At the moment, our company employs 17 full-time employees, but we also employ a number of temporary employees for special projects. We have a list of people like this since we only hire them when we really need them.

    Rather than having an agreement or formal contract on how much we pay our employees, we pay them depending on the services they provide and the quantity of vehicles we produce. As a whole, our company’s team is made up of people who have bought into the idea and have a clearer sense of where we’re headed, so they don’t worry about money.

    What have been the impact of your buses on the people?

    Maiduguri, for example, has seen a significant increase in the cost of transportation, from N50 to N100 per drop; however, our electric buses charge only N50 and so are in high demand. Instead of taking the regular buses, passengers board ours after waiting at specified bus stops. Like I said earlier, the first bus we successfully converted was a 7-seater, and it can travel 135 kilometers on a single charge.

    That means the bus can travel from Maiduguri to Damaturu?

    Yes, it can travel to that distance; but the buses are not meant for inter-city transportation. They are meant for intra-city mass transit. The next one we are making will be a 12-seater, and it can travel 200 kilometers on a single charge. Our buses are mostly used for transit within the city, and not for inter-city travel. Depending on demand and the number of customers using the bus, we charge it two or three times daily.

    What are your expansion plans? Do you have a local or international partnership?

    We haven’t started selling the vehicles yet, but we have set up charging stations where we have employees in charge of leasing them to drivers who bring them back every day. While some have expressed interest in partnering with us to make use of our vehicles, we are looking into the prospect of having individuals purchase buses that our firm e-ride would administer. We’re looking into potential uses for the vehicles. We’ve signed contracts and are just awaiting the arrival of raw materials, so that we may begin production of additional automobiles. With the launch of our commercial operations and vehicles, we hope to expand our personnel. Our output will be increased from ten cars per month to fifty or more with the help of the investors we have attracted. All of our vehicles will be converted to run on solar power in the future. As you know, the world is going green, so we want to take advantage of the globalisation movement and use recycled wastes to manufacture raw materials for the vehicle parts.

    In addition to the income from the renewable energy firm you mentioned, do you have any other sources of funding?

    Getting people to believe in and work together to make this initiative a reality is a major challenge because it is the first of its kind in this part of the country. Another key issue we have is securing sufficient funding. Because of your financial plight, as you are aware, more and more people and organisations are beginning to show interest in partnering with us.

    What difficulties have you encountered while working on this task?

    The government should implement manufacturing rules that will help new and small enterprises maintain their footing in the market. Small business owners and manufacturers should be able to take advantage of low-interest loans with no collateral and no prepayment penalties. Government should also eliminate red tape in the manufacturing sector.

    Access to foreign currency is another problem we have when purchasing raw materials. And this problem is compounded by the difficulties encountered in importing these raw goods. These are areas government authorities should address.

    What was your family’s reaction when you dropped out of school, and especially now that you are recording successes?

    Of course no father or mother will support the crazy idea of their ward dropping out of school. All my siblings are graduates, both the older and younger ones. But today, my family have realised the potential of my dreams. I am really happy with the level of progress the company is making and I hope to take it higher. Even my school mates took me on seriously when I dropped out. Today, my workshop manager is my classmate back in school.

    Why did you choose Maiduguri, considering the power problem here and the insecurity?

    I chose Maiduguri because I wanted to make a statement to the world. The power problem here and the insecurity has even challenged us to do more. Our thought is that with our current capacity and what we are doing here in Maiduguri, it will be a walkover if we go to cities like Lagos, Kano or elsewhere. Most importantly, we want the world to know that we can make it even in this difficult situation. Our target is to solve our local problem and therefore our local environment is key to the vision of our organisation.

  • My survival weapon in boardroom politics – O’dua Group Chairman Segun Aina

    My survival weapon in boardroom politics – O’dua Group Chairman Segun Aina

    Former Chairman of O’dua Group of Companies, Dr. Segun Aina, undertakes an assessment of his time as the chief executive of the conglomerate in an interview with GBENGA ADERANTI. He also speaks about his childhood, his survival weapons in boardroom politics, and why he has avoided any involvement in partisan politics.

    You just signed off as the Chairman of Odu’a Group. How would you describe the experience?

    From day one when I was nominated by the Osun State governor to represent Osun State on the Odua Board following the dissolution of the preceding board the month before, I knew it would not be an easy job, especially after I made some private enquiries about the state of affairs of the company. But I was given assurance by Governor Gboyega Oyetola that all the six governors representing the six owner states had resolved to professionalise the board and support the board to transform the organisation and chart a path for future growth and relevance, including fundamental changes in the corporate governance practices based on best practice. So the fundamentals for success had been laid by the governors, and the South West must be proud of all the current six governors all of whom are accomplished professionals who have led and run organisations before going into partisan politics.

    Looking back two years when the current board was inaugurated on 7th May 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and comparing it to what we have today, O’dua Investment Co Ltd and some of its subsidiaries have been substantially transformed, although a lot of work still needs to be done. Three new subsidiaries focusing on agriculture, that is South West Agric Company; oil and gas by name BITA Oil and Gas Exploration Co, and information technology- South West Information Technology Company, have been created while a social impact non-profit organisation -Odua Investment Foundation – was equally incorporated.

    It’s been lot of hard work, more than normal board meetings, that last for hours on end, and I must commend the board and management for their focus and determination to turn things around and do things differently as we all bought in on the vision to make Odu’a Investment a world-class institution and enhance the legacy for the benefit of future generations.

    I will be ending my tenure as Chairman of the Board at the Annual General Meeting coming up on 22nd June 2022. I am happy that my succes sor in office, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, has been part of the team in the last two years and has contributed in no small measure to the progress we have seen.

    In 2021, while delivering your welcome speech during the group’s 45th-anniversary celebration, you talked about moving the conglomerate from regional to global power. To what extent have you achieved that?

    Quite a lot of steps have been taken towards achieving this goal which actually has been translated as our vision. O’dua Investment vision is to be a world-class institution. Towards achieving this, we are working with the top four global consulting firms towards ensuring all our activities and plans are tailored and compared to the best institutions. For instance, KPMG has handled our corporate governance and organisational reforms, PwC is now the new external auditors, Deloittee handles the company’s whistle-blowing and related programmes while Ernst and Young is also dealing with us in other matters. Of course, as appropriate, we give opportunities to credible indigenous professional firms to handle engagements for us. We are benchmarking the company with others in the same line of business and same focus while we are strategic in our choice of business partners. All of these have gone a long way in improving the brand image, changing the perception, and, of course, have led to increased financial performance. The company is on the right course.

    Forty-five years on, Odu’a Group is still in existence despite its occasional crisis. What would you describe as its staying power?

    The resilience of the group can be attributed to the solid investment foundation laid by the Western Region Government in the 50s as these investments were transferred to O’dua Investment Co Ltd when it was formed in 1976. While some of the subsidiaries have performed poorly, the associate companies and a few of the subsidiaries have done excellently and consistently well.

    This has made the company withstand the vicissitudes of business over the last close to five decades. The current board, in line with its determination to enhance the legacy for future generations, has ensured improvement in the performance of the companies within the group and created new ones to create other avenues for revenue and social impact.

    How far have you gone in your plan to dilute ownership in some of the investments where you currently have 100 per cent?

    You must be making reference to some of the policy statements we unveiled after our strategy sessions. Yes, indeed, we decided to do a thorough evaluation of our investment portfolio and holdings in subsidiaries and reduce our stake in some of them. This is in line with our appreciation of the fact that O’dua Investment Co Ltd as an investment holding company will perform better as a non-operating entity rather than what we met on ground where the holding company was involved in suboptimally running businesses, particularly property business, and somehow competing with its real estate subsidiary, Wemabod. Odua Investment is being restructured to a lean holding company while the investment in subsidiaries will be diluted perhaps to become minority shareholders where necessary, and the investors to be onboarded will have the technical expertise to manage the subsidiary company more efficiently as we have seen in two of our investee companies- Lafarge Africa and Nigerite. Clearly owning 20% in a

    highly profitable company brings better returns compared to holding on to one hundred per cent holding in a loss making entity.

    How did you manage to perform your roles as Chair of Odu’a Investment, President of Africa Fintech Network as well as other global assignments like Global Banking Education Standards Board?

    I agree there are just 24 hours in one day. But if the use of the 24 hours is properly planned and well utilised, one will still perform well irrespective of the number of roles. I pay a lot of attention to each of my current leadership roles, including other corporate boards you have not mentioned, including state and community related assignments such as Chairman of Osun Development Association, including educational development serving as Chairman of Advancement Board of Federal University of Technology Akure in the last 10 years or so, also giving back to my alma mater as I have in the past two years been the President General of Ibadan City Academy Old Students Association, of which my tenure will come to an end in the next two weeks or so.

    I thrive well and I’m at my best when I handle multiple and unrelated tasks at leadership levels, bringing people together, coordinating activities, learning from others and working with teams to deliver organisational goals. In any case, the quality of the people you work with to support you in your leadership assignments matters a lot, and I have been very lucky in this regard.

    Are you thinking of taking a shot at politics in the near future?

    I would have gone into partisan politics if I wanted to many years ago, immediately I left active service as a bank CEO. But I decided to impact lives and serve society in other aspects of life and not as a card-carrying member of any political party. The straight answer to your question is I don’t intend to go into party politics and in any case, age is no longer on my side. What we have been doing over the years is to encourage and support young and bright minds to play the partisan political game as I hope we will give opportunities to more people in their thirties and forties all over the country the opportunity to be involved in leadership roles in government; elective and ‘appointable’ positions.

    People often talk about boardroom politics, to what extent did this affect you?

    There is politics everywhere even at the family level, not to talk of the boardroom. Wisdom and tact are required in dealing with emerging issues on the board and getting your colleagues to align without any disruption or disunity on the board. I found out in my experience that being open and transparent to colleagues on the board ensures you earn their trust and confidence.

    Have you ever experienced frustration from the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country?

    Of course, the challenges of the country are overwhelming. Is it the insecurity or the lack of electricity supply or the state of education? Name it. Almost all sectors are challenged, and the only hope is in the creativity of our youths reflected in the exploits in the creative arts, technology, and a few other areas. It will take a lot of guts for the political leaders to do things right and do the right things, different from the norms we have seen over the last two to three decades.

    In 2019, you predicted that there would be a financial crisis in Nigeria and all over the world. Do you still hold this view?

    I don’t know the occasion you are referencing where I made that prediction. But what I know is that I had highlighted severally that the financial crisis is cyclical and happens to nations and economies every seven to ten years generally. The global financial crisis happened in 2008/2009 with all the consequences and indeed the next global financial turmoil has been triggered about 11 years after by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now exacerbated by the Russian-Ukrainian war. Various countries of the world today, Nigeria inclusive, are battling with a serious economic and financial crisis, and how long it will last will depend on the appropriateness of the measures, fiscal and monetary policies that are applied to address the problem. Quality of leadership is critical at times like this.

    To what extent has your upbringing affected your accomplishments?

    I was raised in an environment that puts a lot of premium on honesty, hard work, and fear of God. I learned from an early age that you don’t have to cut corners before you can succeed in life; that it is honorable to be straight and respected than to be crooked, because at the end of the day, and in most cases, your nemesis will catch up.

    I was brought up to believe that nothing good comes easy and that one should strive to be the best and always aim to be on top at all times while appreciating how to learn and handle failure and see it as a lesson for greater accomplishments.

    Was there a time in your life you felt like abandoning education because of one challenge or the other?

    Not at all. I have always loved education, and my parents were extremely committed to spending all their money to ensure that my siblings and I were well educated. Hence all four of us are professionals and are making giant strides in our various fields and callings. And, thanks to God,  schooling was very easy for me as I did not only do extremely well but based purely on merit, got scholarships for my secondary education from the then Western State of Nigeria without applying while the Federal Government also gave me scholarships for my higher education,  which I ended up not using.

    It is generally believed that you cannot get to the top in Nigeria without being crooked in one way or the other. How would you react to this?

    In the world of work, particularly in my banking profession and in the Nigerian environment, the temptation to be crooked is very high. But with divine guidance, courage, good upbringing with the necessary values, you can navigate and come out clean. But I can tell you, it is tough. It was better in our growing up years but very worrisome today.

    Is it that you don’t like being addressed as Chief or you were never honoured with a traditional title?

    Indeed, a lot of people address me variously as Chief, Otunba, and so on. But the truth is I have not accepted any chieftaincy title so far.

    In our culture, it is a great honour and due recognition to be offered a chieftaincy title. I have had the rare privilege and honour to be offered no fewer than six chieftaincy titles by different high-ranking traditional rulers in most cities including my home town of Otan Ayegbaju, and not only within the Yoruba speaking areas alone in recognition of what they referred to as my immense contributions to the communities. In fact, the first chieftaincy title was offered to me in 2001 by the late professor who was Obong of Calabar during his first year anniversary. I have not yet accepted to be conferred any chieftaincy title as I have not seen the need up till this point in time.  Perhaps in the future.