The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Sade Kazeem back on social scene

    Sade Kazeem back on social scene

    With a sparkling smile like an expensive diamond, Sade Kazeem, one of the top society ladies, is presently enjoying her share of the spotlight with an amazing wit and elegance. Without doubt, those who have been on the lookout for Sade can now heave a sigh of relief. You will recall that until a few years ago when she decided to slow down on her bubbly activities, Sade Kazeem was what many loved to describe as a Lagos big gal. This was on account of her pedigree, as well as her social clout. Her father, Ade Kazeem, founded the now defunct fast food chain, Kas Chicken, a restaurant outlet that reigned supreme in the 80s and 90s.

    But she suffered several setbacks after her father was murdered, and later quietly bowed out of view. Sade was, however, sighted at a function in Lagos on Sunday in company with CMC furniture boss, Yinka Osobu.

    Contrary to the gist making the rounds that Yinka and Sade are not on good time, Celeb watch gathered that the duo are still together as friends.

  • From me to my facebook friends

    Don’t end up with the dumb girl whose only contribution is to wait for the pay cheque

    To you young men who are yet to get married, don’t follow the footsteps of some brothers before you o. Because that woman is intelligent, hardworking, sophisticated and sociable you think she’ll make you feel inferior so you avoid marrying her. Don’t end up with the dumb girl who appears quiet and reserved. The only contributions she will make to your life is to wait for the pay cheque and kill you with no ideas even when your business needs a sharp brain to get it going.

    That social one will mix with the best brains and you will tap from that. She will add 2 plus 2 and your business gets 22. And the sophistication! People will respect you because they think to have married her, you must be rich.

    •42 Likes: Ebun Adebayo, Taofiq Ademola Mustapha, First Lady Chizzy Ibebuike Ada-Biafra and 39 others like this.

    •Hydee-id Idowu Bakare: This is good, however, love and personal affection must be established regardless of the background of the girl!

    Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: Gooooosh why is it that all your post just have to minister to me….thenks…Mummy G.O.

    Adeola Agoro: I have seen marriages with solid love crashing out of poverty and lukewarmness to matters of finances by the woman. You come home and bring a business idea – no contributions. You need instant cash to help secure a business – no assistance from her. Very soon, you will wonder if love is enough to keep you afloat. It’s so easy for a man to fall when the woman is empty.

    •Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: Jeeeeesus.. See how she talked Hydee-id Idowu Bakare’s opinion Wait…who is this lady called Adeola Agoro? Your approach to issues atimes makes me wonder…where you came from….

    Adetilayo Oridupa: Nothing explains it better. Another good the dumb girl does is using more children to tie down her man; God knows where that mentality comes from.

    Adeola Agoro: Proverbs 31:10-31:

    10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

    11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

    12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

    13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

    14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

    15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

    16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

    17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

    18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

    19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

    20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

    21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

    22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

    23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

    24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

    25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

    26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

    27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

    28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

    29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

    30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

    31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

    •Adeola Agoro: Adetilayo Oridupa, I wonder o. Imagine getting pregnant every year and not giving the man enough space to enjoy the money he brings.

    Emmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun: I said …Mummy G.O. Adeola Agoro..pls just note that I’m always good at the ushering unit and also girls coordinator. ..Lol.. Mon sere ni ooo

    Adeola Agoro: Emmmanuel Enitan Seun Adedokun, I’m just doing what God sends me to do. Islam is also clear on the kind of wife you should be seeking. The Prophet e said: “A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion.

    Hydee-id Idowu Bakare: ‘Deola, haven’t you seen a man that married a rich lady, but because there’s no love in between the rich lady is dumped for a lady of choice….please don’t make women with money believe they can purchase husband!

    Adeola Agoro: Hydee-id-Idowu Bakare, I have said my own. Whichever marriage is bound to break up will find its way down the hill with or without money.

    Munir Etu: Spot on, my mistake initially but wiser now sister

    Balogun Danjuma OmoBaale DaleKatunsa: I still prefer the quiet and reserved… lobatan

    Kunle Bolarinwa: I need quiet and reserved one… Homely Woman… That’s my type….

    Adesoji Ogunkola: You are right ma

    Monzur Olohungbebe: It’s no all about money though I agree the woman must be able to complement the man positively

    David Ayodele Bolarinwa: Lovely piece here with thanks…however, being quiet or reserved is not equivalent to being dumb neither is being a social butterfly synonymous to being smart…they are all different qualities at different zonal classifications.

    Dupe Zeniat: Even though you’ re making sense Hajia but the ego in our men ‘ll not allow that, more so some men ‘ll prefer those ladies dat they ‘ll be able to toss around like coins.

    Abiodun Alaran:Men get it clear madam said intelligent and sophisticated woman

    •Adeola Agoro: My brothers, go and do your survey – most hardworking women may be shy, respectful and carry their husbands on their heads, but they’re not quiet and reserved. Quiet and reserved people cannot make it to board meetings neither can they survive the wuruwuru nature of the business world.

    Most times, those who claim to be quiet may actually, not have anything to say. Common Facebook, they don’t have friends because they don’t have nothing to post. So how can they advise you as a man and what ideas would they pass to their children?

    •Ayoola Adebowale: Well, you are right and you are wrong because some ladies are both introvert n extrovert…So are you saying the quiet ladies should get wild just because they want to make their husband rich?

    Adeola Agoro: Not being quiet and reserved does not mean wild. It means being friendly, accommodating and lively. I know what I’m talking about.

    Ayoola Adebowale: Now you are talking… you don’t have the right to say quiet people are dumb. It’s wrong

    Adeola Agoro: Ayoola Adebowale, I take your point.

    Ayoola Adebowale: Smiles…

    Omolara Oshodi Tolu: Very good point

    Idris Nasir: Hhmmmmmm!!!!!

    Kehinde Ayodele Olabintan John: God bless you for your super brain. Nice advice.

  • Wedding across the Atlantic for Atiku’s son

    Wedding across the Atlantic for Atiku’s son

    The eaves of Dubai creaked with excitement and merriment recently when almost all the who-is-who in the Nigerian political and business class stormed Dubai to honour the Atiku Abubakar family.

    Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and some other chieftains of the party, including senators and businessmen, as well as some state governors were in Dubai at the weekend to attend the wedding of the son of the former Vice President, Abubakar Abba.

    The much-talked about prestigious Conrad Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) came alive as Abba wedded his heartthrob, American Mariyana Silver. The dignitaries seized the opportunity of the occasion to offer prayers for Nigeria to overcome its current challenges.

    In a short speech, Atiku described the day as one of the most significant in his life, just as he congratulated Mariyana for “pinning down Abba.”

    Other dignitaries at the event included the national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande: former governor Ali Modu Sherriff and the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who was represented by Senator Mohammed Bindawo Jibril.

    Also present were Senator Ahmed Barata; former Senators Musa Adede and Rufa’i Hanga, Mrs Aishatu Buhari, the wife of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Murtala Nyako, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba and the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda.

    Other high profile guests included the wife of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, HAJIYA Amina; wife of Governor Nyako, Hajiya Zainab; the wife of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Hajiya Zainab, as well as the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmed Fintiri, who was accompanied by six members of the Assembly.

    Other guests were the Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE, Alhaji Ibrahim Awwalu; former Ambassador Yahaya Kwand; former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aadoakaa, the former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service and Sardaunan Adamawa, Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha and Professor Ishaq Akintola of the Muslim Rights Concern MURIC.

  • Happy times for Sade Alesh

    Happy times for Sade Alesh

    The history of Lagos social space will never be complete without the mention of this top Lagos gold merchant. Penultimate weekend, the famous society lady, Folasade Adunni Risiquat Adesoye (aka Sade Alesh), celebrated her 52nd birthday anniversary with a modest open-house party to mark the event. The celebration continued last week when Sade led her family and a powerful team of notable personalities to partake in the introduction ceremony (writing-in) of her first son, Abdul-Azeez.

    Interestingly too, Abdul-Azeez’s fiancé, Adejoke, is the daughter of Moroophat Kalejaiye, one of Sade Alesh’s best friends and a wealthy textile merchant in Lagos. The modest but classy introduction ceremony took place last Sunday at Kalejaiye’s home in Lekki.

    Celeb Watch gathered that the wedding ceremony between Abdul-Azeez and Adejoke is slated to hold later in the year

    Sade Alesh is one of the most celebrated society ladies in Nigeria. Her jewelry store, Jewelry Affairs, is situated within the premises of the Civic Center on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island.

    A veteran of more than two decades in the jewelry business, she started operations in her home before moving to her store in 2007. And over the years, she has come to win the love and adulation of most society ladies who patronise her. Beyond her good sense of business style, Sade is also an embodiment of humility and warmth.

  • Osogbo: From rurality to modernity

    Osogbo: From rurality to modernity

    You begin to feel the splendour of the Osun State capital, Osogbo, right from the satellite towns. On the median of the express road that leads to the town are neatly arranged and beautiful street lights, which have combined to add colour and beauty to the road. On either side of the express road are beautifully designed houses and offices.
    You do not need a soothsayer to confirm to you that Osogbo has benefitted from the cordial relationship between Osun and Lagos states. The ubiquitous exotic vehicles with Lagos registration number surely elicit curiosity. And one out of seven private cars you see in Osogbo is likely to have Lagos registration number.
    Explaining the trend, a resident of the state capital, Alade Jacobs, said the presence of private cars with Lagos registration number is largely connected with the influx of people who have seen hitherto absent opportunities in the state capital. “Of recent, people from Lagos are trooping here probably because of the business opportunities and the peaceful atmosphere that pervades the town. Here, crime is not something that you hear often.”
    Ever since it took over the reign of power in Osun State a little over three years ago, the present administration has made no pretentions about its determination to turn around the fortunes of the state capital from its agrarian setting and make it stand shoulder to shoulder with other capital cities around the world.
    And with sure-footed measures, Osogbo is gradually wearing a look, which many have agreed has fast-forwarded the status of a city, which prior to this time had only been made popular by the Osun Osogbo Festival.
    Today, entering Osogbo, you would but appreciate the transformation that it has witnessed in recent times, especially if you have been away from there for sometime. For the first time, Osogbo is looking like a true state capital.
    And everywhere you turn, the air of security around you gives an added assurance to both old and new residents, both day and night. The presence of patrolling anti-crime policemen in well-maintained Hilux vans and the Armoured Carrier Personnel (APC), manned by Swift Action Squad (SAS) is a warning sign that there is no room for crime and criminality in the state.
    A few years ago, Osogbo, like other towns of similar status, goes to sleep as early as 10pm, leaving night crawlers with no other choice than an early romance with their beds. But all that have today been consigned to the dustbin of history. Even as early as 3am, you are sure of getting commercial motorcles (Okada) to wherever you are going.
    Driving in Osogbo from the Iwo Road axis going to Stadium road, you need not go through the town, because you have the newly constructed East bye pass of the Ring road; Capital-Awosuru will also afford road users who want to avoid the Okefia axis to burst out to the Gbongan-Ibadan express way.
    Another is that of the newly-constructed Capital – Tinumola estate road that links the newly completed Oroki estate- LAMECO junction road.
    Going through the Mainland of Osogbo, you will have the Isalegbemu-balogun Agoro-Oluode terminating at Boorepo Ayetoro axis. You will also avoid the main road and traffic going through Okebaale beside eid praying ground to Oke-abesu road.
    On the Ogooluwa axis is that of Omigade area, Guarantee trust side road and FOMWAN- Okoso road.
    The list of the newly constructed roads which were left unattended to before the advent of the aregbesola administration have been completed to service people within the capital city.
    Like a typical state capital, the atmosphere in Osogbo during the working hours is always busy and serious. But as night approaches, the business and official lifestyle fades, giving way to an atmosphere of robust, but simple energy.
    Done with the day’s work, fun seekers quickly pull off the official suit and tie and change into simple night attire before converging on the different clubs that have sprung up in the town. For instance, The ‘Pavilion’ and ‘The Place’, located along Olusegun Obasanjo Way and Dada Estate, have become the hotspots for fun seekers. According to a resident and patron of the clubs, Taju, ‘These two places have become unarguably the biggest spots in Osogbo.”
    When our correspondent visited ‘The Pavilion’ at about 8 pm on Sunday, activities at the club were at their peak. At this moment, the barrier of class, sex and age was broken, as guests, young and old, male and female, the rich and the not so rich mixed freely, enjoying the cool night breeze to the fullest.
    Unlike other places where social activities and night crawling have become a thing of the past, in Osogbo, whatever time you want to move out, you do not have to entertain fears of being mugged or molested. Little wonder, no time is too late for both male and female to walk on the street.
    Wherever you visit in the town, you are sure to be confronted with one construction site or the other, with all the constituencies experiencing one form of developmental project or the other. Added to these are scores of roads that have been completed.
    Also, aesthetics have found meaning in Osogbo. Today, you cannot ignore the neatness of the city. The urban renewal programme already put in place by the present administration has really helped in shaping the town.
    Schemes such as O’Clean and the beautification scheme of the environment ministry have been responsible for the city’s cleanliness.
    A new comer to the Okefia and the old railway station (now Freedom Park) areas of Osogbo will appreciate the turnaround that has taken place in there. Just a little over four years ago, those places were congested, littered with old buildings and shanties, which gave the city an image of ancientness.
    Okefia and Freedom Park today wear beautiful and modern looks befitting a state capital. For the first time in the history of the state, lovers of football and the European football leagues can watch the beautiful game live on the two large LED screens installed in the areas.
    Popularly called ‘big television’ by local residents, the LED TV screens give the city a beautiful outlook at night. “You can see that the big televisions have given us the opportunity to watch football with our friends in a beautiful atmosphere. The first time that the televisions were put on at night, I almost did not believe that I was still in Osogbo,” a resident told our correspondent.
    While the TV screens give the residents a new outlook of modern life, the Freedom Park offers them a new rendezvous that was hitherto unavailable to them. At the end of the day’s work, fun seekers who cannot afford the highbrow clubs in town converge on the park. With neatly arranged chairs and tables and, of course, cool music blaring from music boxes, the people can relate with the experience that has long been denied them.
    The giant TV screens at Okefia and the one at Freedom Park are crowd pullers anytime there is a big football match, especially the one involving Nigeria. Whether you are in Osogbo for business or pleasure, the allure of the town will surely make you want to come back.
    Speaking on the trend, the Director of Bureau of Communication, Semiu Okanlawon, said: “Massive developments and transformations! That is the only way to capture the the new looks that Osun wears in almost all the facets of its life at the moment.’’
    He added: ‘’Miffed by the degree of decay in almost all sectors when it came in, the Aregbesola administration had said there must be renewal of its urban centres in a manner that will be attractive to investors, tourists and others. Cities like Osogbo, Iwo, Ilesa, Ejigbo, Ikire, Ile-Ife, Ila, Ikirun, Ede each in the nine federal constituencies were marked for the demonstration of how modern cities with economic values must look.
    “Osun in partnership with UN-Habitat, is implementing structural adjustments and replanning nine cities in the state. The manifestation of the afore-mentioned is conspicuous in the state capital, which hitherto could not live up with the status of a state capital, but with the coming of the present administration, the story is now changing.
    “It all started with the beatification exercise in Osogbo with all the roundabouts in the state capital, which was like home to destitute persons, now wearing a different look as you enter Osogbo from all the entry points. The present administration of Aregbesola has completed about 700 kilometres of roads out of about 1000kilometeres of roads it has embarked on.”

  • What makes you win the heart of your spouse – food, character or the sexual intimacy?

    •Matured audience… Rated R!!!! Tayo Adedeji-Phillips asked this question via Facebook and here are the responses.What do you think?

    •Folake Jubril: Both and more, your character speaks volume regardless of whether you are good in the first two. Imagine having a nagging partner who can cook and good in intimacy, I’d rather you spend your money on mamaput than living wit a crazy spouse.

    •Bode Adebola Asake Flakky Twinkles: Nice expression

    •Tayo Adedeji: Phillips Folake Jubril , well said paa! Character! Character!! Character!!!

    •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: We also have to remember that some spouses are blessed with good character and equally good in cooking with seasoning but they have a very low ‘libido’ for sexual intimacy. So how do you compensate such people, Bode Adebola Asake and Folake Jubril ?

    •Bode Adebola Asake: There so many factors that lead to low libido…which I suggest should be ironed out between spouses…

    •Toyin Folly: Both ni o…..

    •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: Stress and lack of sufficient estrogen may also be a factor including death of a loved one and depression.

    •Aji Amachree Ihetu: This question isn’t for women I guess?

    Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: Spouse!

    •Aji Amachree Ihetu: Ok. I think it is a combination of good food, crazy sex, intelligent conversations and a peaceful and clean home. That’s what keeps him. What keeps me is simply the Benjamins. Mmmmmm, maybe throw in security and peace.

    •Tayo Adedeji-Phillips: I think you’ve just nailed my own preference as a guy…intelligent conversations! Thus, such conversation will transit to good intimacy because it arouses curiosity. Nice one Aji Amachree Ihetu .

    •Folake Jubril Tayo Adedeji:-Phillips on that level, all they need do is teach one another what to do, visit a sex therapist, sometimes lack of sexual libido could be a medical situation…

    •Tayo Adedeji:-Phillips It may also be genetics…

    •Rele Abudu: All of the above….but character and the koko is very ……very…..very….very…..key gan ni.

    •Rele Abudu: Me like character, intelligence, the koko, education and cleanliness.

    •Adeola Agoro: Folake Jubril. Right on point.

  • Light plane crashes in eastern Indonesia, kills 2

    A small plane crashed while taking off in Indonesia’s Papua Province on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring five, a church group that operated the aircraft reported.

    An official at the local Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Sakul said that the plane was on a charity mission when it went down at an airstrip in the town of Sentani.

    Sakul, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the fatalities were the U.S. pilot and a passenger.

    Report says that jungle-clad Papua relies on air transport because accidents are very common.

  • Sanusi gets May 20 verdict date in suspension suit

    Sanusi gets May 20 verdict date in suspension suit

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed May 20 for judgment in the suit by suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

    The judge picked the date yesterday after a six-hour legal battle by lawyers to parties in the case. Proceedings began at 11.30 am and ended around 5.30pm.

    The court took arguments on both the defendants’ preliminary objection and the substantive case.

    Sanusi is challenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan. Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) are co defendants.

    Plaintiff’s lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN) argued that the President lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the CBN Governor despite his alleged offence.

    He argued that the President’s exercise of the executive powers provided in the Constitution was subject to the Act of the National Assembly.

    He contended that in this case, the President was expected to exercise his power to remove the CBN governor in accordance with the provision of the CBN Act.

    “There is contention that there is no power to suspend the CBN governor under the CBN Act. The ACT in section 7(4) has provided when somebody can act in the place of the CBN governor,” he said.

    Awodein argued that the since there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN governor in the CBN Act implies that the President has no powers to suspend the governor.

    He further argued that the express mention of one thing is the exclusion of the other, to support his position that the non-reference to suspension in the Act implies that it is not allowed.

    “If it was the intention of the law to give the President the power to suspend, it would have expressly provided that,” he said, stressing that the CBN Act has effectively prohibited the President from suspending the governor of the CBN.

    He argued that under Section 1(3) of the CBN Act, the bank is made an independent body with the intention of making the bank operationally independent, so that there will not be interference of any sort in its operations, except as permitted under the Act.

    Awodein contended even if the President was to exercise control over the bank, which include the suspension of its governor, such must be done with the support of 2/3 majority of the Senate.

    He urged the court to hold that his client has made out a proper case for the court to void his suspension.

    Responding to the defendants’ objection to the suit, Awodein argued that the defendants misconstrued the plaintiff’s suit.

    He contended that the suit simply seeks the court application of its interpretative powers to interprete the provision of the CBN Act vis a vis the action of the President.

    Awodein argued that the defendants were in error when argued that the case was employment related and should be struck out.

    He argued that as against the position of the defendants, the plaintiff. Is not an employee of the President to have qualified that case as a dispute between an employee and an employer. He said his client is an employee of the CBN,

    He urged the court to dismiss the defendants’ objections.

    Defence lawyers – Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Solomon Umoh (SAN) had while arguing the preliminary objections, urged the court to strike out the suit because it was employment related.

    They argued the by virtue of Section 254(1)(c) of the Constitution, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdictional powers to hear the case.

    The defence lawyer further argued that the plaintiff’s claims were caught by the exclusivity confered on the National Industrial Court by 4ection 254(1)(a) of the Constitution.

    On the main suit, they argued that the suspension of the plaintiff by the President was within his powers. They contended that the CBN was an agency of the Executive arm of the Federal Government, whose powers as contained in Section 5 of the Constitution is vested in the President.

    They contended that the plaintiff is a public officer and an employee of the Federal Government by virtue of his appointment, was not immune to the control of the President.

    They argued that the President, in suspending Sanusi did not terminate his employment, but merely asked him to step aside to enable the Financial Regulatory Council (FRC) a statutory body, perform it’s it’s role of investigating allegations of procedural and financial breaches raised against him.

    The defence lawyers noted that the suspension was intended to enable an unbiased investigation of allegations that Sanusi awarded contract of about N163billion, amounting to 63 per cent in excess of the CBN’s authorised share capital.

    They urged the court to hold that the President acted within his powers and dismiss the suit.

    Before the commencement of proceedings, the judge denied insinuations that he was under pressure from the defendants in his handling of the case.

    There had been rumours that in view of the last victory recorded by Sanusi before a Federal High Court in Lagos, the judge in Abuja was being put under pressure to determine the case in the Abuja FHC against Sanusi

    Justice Kolawole yesterday dismissed the insinuations, insisting that he was not under pressure from any of the defendants in the suit.

    The judge said he would gladly yield the case to be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge if parties in the case were doubting his integrity.

    “Is it by the President, or the AGF, or the IG? Is it the Federal Government that is pressurising Justice Kolawole to do a case against a party?

    “I am saying this to give the plaintiff the opportunity to go to another court. I have spent several years on the bench and I can tell you that nobody pressurises me – nobody is pressurising Justice Kolawole on this matter.

    “I said I will mention this not to create sensation but for anybody who is not comfortable to go to another place.

    “If I am being pressurized, it is by my own conscience. None of the parties should be under the impression that I am being pressurized by the Federal Government.”

    “Anybody who does not have confidence in Justice Kolawole in this case should go back to the Chief Judge (of the FHC).

    “This kind of thing is highly demoralising. You do your best for your country and yet all this kind of things keeps coming up. Must every judge be corrupt?” the judge said.

    He noted that if he was unfair to all in the manner he was handling the case, he would not have adopted an accelerated approach by choosing to hear the preliminary objections and the originating summons simultaneously.

    In their separate reactions to the judge’s comments, lawyers in the case assured the judge of confidence in him. They said they had never and would not question his integrity and ability to dispense justice to the case.

    Sanusi’s lawyer, Kola Awodein, SAN, said he was ready to go ahead with the case before Justice Kolawole.

  • Mixed reactions trail proposed merger of aviation agencies

    Mixed reactions trail proposed merger of aviation agencies

    There were mixed reactions yesterday on the proposed merger of three aviation agencies– Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET)–into the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA).

    Scores of aviation workers discussed the fate of their jobs, if the government implements the merger.

    The workers were scared that should the merger hold, they would lose their jobs.

    An industry player, who spoke in confidence, said the proposed merger was at variance with Article 8365 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The article stipulates that the aeronautical agencies should function and exist independently.

    The operator noted that at a time global aviation was going digital, Nigeria returned to the Stone Age.

    He said industry players were still studying the technicality of the issue to know the position to take on the matter.

    It was learnt that some stakeholders might contact ICAO President, a Nigerian, to prevail on the Federal Government to reverse the proposal.

    Aviation sector unions held an emergency meeting on the effect of the proposed merger.

    But some airline operators said it was a welcome development because the affected agencies were within the same purview in developed world.

    A former Airport Commandant at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said whoever advised the government to merge NAMA and NIMET with NCAA did not understand the reality in the sector.

    The advisers, he told reporters, probably forgot to include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in taking the nation back to the era of self-regulatory.

    Ojikutu said: “(Steve) Oronsaye must have been wrongly briefed by some egg heads. How do you merge operators of the industry with the regulator? This merge completes what (former Aviation Minister, Ms Stella) Oduah started: bringing the industry under the jackboot of the government. Must the government drive the policy, regulate and operate the industry? We must be in a world of our own and out of the Earth planet.

    “We should get the private operators to invest more in the industry or commercialise government operators, such as FAAN and NAMA, as recommended in the Privatisation and Commercialisation Act of 2000. The government, instead, is appropriating the industry to itself alone.”

    The General Secretary of the Nigerian Aviation Professional Association (NAPA) Comrade Abdul Rasaq Siedu said the decision was shocking because a similar step in the past was unsuccessful.

    He said: “It didn’t work by the former minister, Air Marshal Nsika Eduok (retd). It was practised and it failed. Secondly, the recommendation of Steve Oronsaye cannot work in our aviation industry because Nigeria’s aviation is not for Nigeria alone. Aviation is global and it is regulated by international bodies, such as ICAO, IATA and others. If they do that, Nigeria will lose Category One.”

    Captain Dele Ore, President of the Aviation Round Table, a think tank group in the industry, said: “What the government is planning to do is wrong. It will take us back to the 1995 era. And whether we like it or not, I give them two years, they will return back again.”

    “You don’t merge a regulatory body with a service provider. NAMA and NIMET are service providers; you cannot merge them with NCAA, which is a regulatory body, this is at variance from international laws laid them by ICAO and other relevant international bodies.

    “Who are the experts who did the report. Did they even give consideration to international convention and international best practices? Those are the questions one would love to ask. And whatever they do may be a big slap to our faces.”

     

    He said the decision should be jettison otherwise they will be disgraced.

    Also Ekanem Ekanem, the Chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), the issue is not a question of merging NCAA, it ought to have being an autonomous body since NAMA provides the equipment to make the airspace safe.

    “Merging both agencies will make their administration very cumbersome. What the industry need is to optimise the operations of the agencies.”

    He said “Nigeria is an emerging economy, we should be allow to grow at our own space.

    Aviation is not where you carry out experiment because it is a global industry.”

    Ekanem reiterated it will give Nigeria the impression that things are not done here with seriousness. Government should rather invest in modern equipment and put in technically sound personnel in both agencies and also strengthen the regulations to make the more effective.”

    Other affirmed that If government is trying to save cost, it should not be at the expense of the operators and flying passengers.

    They maintained that the Federal Government would never mean it because they are going to resist it.

    “we will not allow Cat One to be toy with, NCAA autonomy has an act that establish it, NAMA has it own that establish it, FAAN has it own that establish it now has all these been cancelled.”

    Meanwhile, Aviation unions and stakeholders are strategizing to ensure that the recently announced merger by the Steve Oronsaye committee will not be implemented in the aviation sector.

    The committee in its recommendation proposed the merger of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA and Nigerian Meteorological Agency NIMET to be known as Federal Civil Aviation Authority FCAA.

    In a swift reaction, the aviation unions and stakeholders have described it as unrealistic adding that it will be senseless to merge service provider and a regulator in the aviation sector.

    They declared that all over the world there was no where merger existed except for some small countries stressing that meteorological service in the country does not cover only aviation but agriculture, industry among others.

    According to them, over 55 county’s navigational providers were on their own saying that the government had ulterior motives.

    They urged the government to looking into the unemployment situation in the country adding that the merger will lead to loss of jobs in the aviation sector.

    According to them, the country was yet to know her fate on the recent FAA re-assessment of the country’s aviation category one status adding that the country was going back to the dark old days of five airports.

    They said those who recommended this to the President did not mean well for the country as President Goodluck has used the aviation sector to boost his achievements.

    The government on Monday said it accepted the recommendation to scrap some agencies, it was contained in a Government White Paper by the Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.

    The Steve Oronsaye committee advised the government to merge the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET) into a single regulatory body.

    The new agency is be known as the Federal Civil Aviation Authority, FCAA with their respective enabling laws to be amended accordingly to reflect the new name.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • No credible alternative to Fayemi, says Rep

    No credible alternative to Fayemi, says Rep

    House of Representatives Communications Committee Chairman Oyetunde Ojo has urged the people of Ekiti State not to be deceived by “the aberrant populist attitude” of a former governor of the state.

    Ojo spoke with reporters in Aramoko-Ekiti while inspecting ongoing work on a 20-bed ward he donated to the Aramoko General Hospital.

    The lawmaker representing Ekiti West/Efon/Ijero Federal Constituency said it was “a confused strategy of governance” for a governor to distribute money to people on the streets.

    He said: “How many would receive such money and how much has been budgeted for such a happy-go-lucky attitude, where someone suddenly stops his car at a market place and begins to eat roasted plantain with the traders?

    “While a governor can do that occasionally if occasion demands, as Governor Kayode Fayemi has been doing, this does not equate real governance through which development can be brought to the people.

    “In the case of the former governor, this was all he spent three years doing, leaving the actual governance of the state to the demons. This is why today, the former governor has been going in and out of court to answer questions on an amount of money he mismanaged, which would have been enough to make many lives meaningful today.

    “Our people now know and see what it takes to govern a state well. The opposition should not believe that Fayemi will be voted out because he does not dole out money on the streets.

    “Fayemi’s achievements speak for him and will speak for him when the time comes. With the way he has executed his eight-point agenda, I see no credible alternative to him among the contestants.”

    The legislator said Fayemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), “remains the best among contestants for the June 21 governorship election because of his unpretentious and blunt attitude to governance.