The Nation Newspaper

Category: People & Politics

  • Pat Utomi to chair symposium

    Pat Utomi to chair symposium

    Renowned Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert, Prof. Pat Utomi, has been selected to chair this year’s edition of ‘For Love of Country (FLOC) Symposium’, scheduled to take place in Lagos on April 24th, 2023.

    The FLOC Symposium is a platform that seeks to encourage discussions on nation-building in Nigeria with the aim of generating actionable steps towards the country’s growth and prosperity.

    With this year’s theme focused on “Our Human Capital: Equip, Engage and Involve,” the symposium provides a vital avenue for key stakeholders to deliberate and offer solutions to pressing issues affecting Nigeria’s development.

    The one-day event will feature keynote addresses from renowned speakers, including Dr. Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, a global leader in economic development, governance, and education.

    Other notable panelists include the MD/CEO, Fifth Gear Plus, Niyi Adesanya; Nigerian political scientist and public administrator, Tunji Olaopa; Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Human Resources professional, Adetoun Ogwo.

    They will share their thoughts on the theme and provide insights into how to equip, engage and involve citizens in the nation-building process.

    Speaking about the event, Convener, the FLOC Symposium, Atinuke Odjenima expressed her excitement about the discussions that would take place.

    She said: “The FLOC Symposium is a platform for citizens to come together and engage in conversations that will shape the future of Nigeria. We are optimistic that the discussions at this year’s edition will provide actionable steps towards the rapid development of our country.”

    “The FLOC Symposium seeks to equip citizens with the right orientation to take proactive steps towards nation-building and to encourage developmental conversations and re-orientation among citizens, ultimately generating actionable steps that will catalyze Nigeria’s growth and prosperity.

    “The symposium will also draw attention to priorities that will ensure sustainable economic growth, prioritize investments in human capital, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, health, ICTs, and transportation, and improving access to quality education and healthcare services to ensure that its citizens have the necessary skills and knowledge to compete in the global economy,” she explained.

  • My regrets, frustrations as lawmaker — Ex-Ondo Majority Leader Araoyinbo

    My regrets, frustrations as lawmaker — Ex-Ondo Majority Leader Araoyinbo

    Otunba Gbenga Araoyinbo is the current president of the Ondo State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONDOCCIMA). He was also the Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, representing Akoko North West Constituency II. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he talks about his business and political career, especially his trying times as the Majority Leader of the state assembly.

    IT will be interesting to know what a successful businessman like you is doing in politics.

    I found myself in politics because of the love I have for my people. Although as a businessman I was trying my best to impact the lives of my people  I realised that my personal best could not really impact them very well. I decided to get involved in politics so that I can use political power to impact on them better than I was doing when I was a private person.

    Some would argue that going into politics is not worth it because the electorate makes so many demands. What is your take on this?

    Yes, you are right. People make demands when they notice that you are representing them. Yes, you are their leader. Yes, they need to enjoy the dividends of democracy where you are representing them. Even if you are not representing them, they still make demands. Those demands are a result of the level of poverty in the country.

    The level of poverty in our society is really high and it has eaten deep into our system that people can hardly have three square meals in a day. So, whosoever God has given the opportunity to have one or two things should assist others, and that is what they have been doing. They make demands because of the level of poverty in our society.

    That brings us to the issue of corruption. The saying has been that politicians are corrupt because of the people they represent…

    It happens. But we can’t say that because our people are making demands from us, we will not contest or we will not give them quality representation if the opportunity comes. If somebody has decided not to contest and has been giving out to people before he found himself in politics, he wouldn’t say he will not contest again. If such a person stays off, the spirit of giving is not in that person.

    Our people can be so terrible, but what we need to do more is to tell them what democracy, representation means in the actual sense of it.

    We should tell them that it is not about you making such demands, because by the time you start making demands and you want somebody to go and represent you after he or she gets into that position, he might not even remember you again because you have collected those things he believes you ought to live on him to represent you well. So, we need to continue to educate our people. We need to continue to sensitise them. We need to continue to let them know that representation is not about immediate gain alone; there are lots of things that have to do with representation, which are greater than you demanding something from your representative.

    Right now we have three or four prominent political parties in Nigeria mostly tailored along ethnic lines. When we had two parties, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC), things were a bit better. What do you think the current arrangement portends?

    You are very right. During that time we had a two-party system, NRC and SDP. It was not ethnicised as it is today. Then, the two parties were given to us by the military. In a popular democratic setting, we should allow political parties to spring up so that people can contest. Let there be a multi-party system because there are people who would want to contest from various localities for the fact that the existing popular political parties might scheme them out of things. In view of this, they may go to smaller parties and contest maybe as members of the House of Assembly, the Senate or just to represent their people. They might be the choice of the people but because of bureaucracy in the bigger political parties, they might be denied. But with the existence of another smaller party, he might decide to go to a smaller party where he can realise the objectives for representing his people. It is always like that.

    I have seen a lot of people out there who the bureaucracy in the bigger party would not allow to contest and they go to smaller parties to contest and win elections, even against the candidates of bigger parties. Multi-party system is cool because it gives everybody a sense of belonging. There is no need for anyone to say this is our party.

    I want you to assess the three political parties and considering the stiff opposition your party is facing, particularly from the Labour Party, do you think it will do better than it did in the last election?

    I don’t see the Labour Party as a strong political party. It is not about a party this time around; it is about an individual going everywhere. Maybe the youth believe that they want to support this person. When you look at the supporters of the Labour Party, they make it look as if it is an ethnic party which is not. But because of the person, the followers of that particular person, not the followers of the party, it is the followers of that individual we should be talking about, not the political party. Before the emergence of Obi as the candidate of that particular party, they did not have any representative in any state of assembly in the whole of the federation not to talk of the House of Representatives or the Senate. We cannot talk about governor or any other thing. So that party was no party before now. That is to tell you that it is not about the party, it is an individual that people are talking about.

    If you are looking at it from that perspective, the Accord Party was relatively unknown but it made an impact in Oyo State…

    That is what I was telling you. It was not about Accord as a party, it was about Ladoja as an individual, as a personality. We were in the state when Mimiko contested an election under the Labour Party in Ondo State. It was not about that party, it was about Mimiko, it was about his antecedents. When Mimiko left that party, what happened to that party?

    What happened? Why did your party lose the Osun election?

    You lose some, you win some. We won in Ekiti State, nobody is talking about it. That is what I’m saying. Our party lost in Osun not because people hate our party, it was because the people of Osun had one or two things against the governor himself. You can go and verify, you will understand exactly what I’m talking about. It was not about the party, maybe the people had grouses with him which is very glaring, and we understand that. Maybe he did some miscalculations, maybe that was what people did not like about him. They said ‘okay, we want to show you, we want to vote for the PDP, but when it comes to the presidential election, APC is our party.’

    Are you now admitting that your party lost the election in Osun?

    Well, the umpire, that is INEC, said we lost the election, who am I to say no? If experts want to go into technicalities of how we lost, how PDP won, and now believe we can still get something out of that election, so be it. But originally, the INEC has said look, they won. That is where I stand today. But if the court of law or tribunal says we won, based on whichever technicality, we will take it and be happy.

    You were a member of the legislature in Ondo State, precisely, Majority Leader of the House. Considering the security situation in the state, how much advice did you give to the governor as a security expert?

    I am a security expert. When I was in the House, I was once vice chairman of the House Committee on Security. I was also the chairman of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee. That means my committee covered every part of the state, especially the grassroots and local governments. Then we did advise the government.

    I must be sincere, the present governor is doing his best in terms of seeing to the security of our people. We all know what is happening in our state. Right now, when we talk about security, it is not that easy. We still need to be very careful when we discuss security issues. Security issue is an issue that concerns everybody. But in this part of the world, we always believe that our security is in the hands of the government. Operatives cannot do anything without intelligence, without information and they can’t gather the information without we the people.

    Security is mostly in the hands of the people. The people need to synergise with security operatives in order to be well secured. Security is not the business of the government alone; it is the business of everybody. The earlier we realise that it is the business of everybody, the better for us. We should not harbour criminals. All the criminals live within us. If we have the kind of society that is highly proactive about giving out information to security experts, I think this nation will be better for it.

    The Southwest governors created a security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, but what they can do is very limited…

    But that is not in Ondo State. You can go and verify. The outfit is really working. They are doing their best and the governor is really supporting them, I must confess to you. Let’s leave politics aside when it comes to Amotekun in Ondo State.

    But the kind of ammunition they have are inferior to what these criminals have

    Even our conventional security, police and others, do they have the kind of sophisticated weapons those bandits use? They don’t have it. So it is not peculiar to Amotekun. Amotekun is still trying, they don’t have it. We need to look into all those things, but Amotekun is still trying when it comes to crime fighting. Most of the kidnappers’ hideouts, it is the Amotekun that has been busting them and has been arresting them, smoking them out of their hideouts.

    Recently, the northern governors joined in the call for state police. What is your take on that?

    Sincerely, I agree with them 100 per cent. You know it was the Southern governors that have been agitating for this for a very long time. It is good that the northern governors now realise that. We need to have state police. When you have state police, let’s say somebody living in Niger to come and police part of Lagos, he can’t know this place more than those in Lagos.  He will just be going up and down getting information from people who live around. But if you have a Lagosian to police Lagos, he will do it far better than somebody coming from outside. I think that is why we need state police.

    But some would want to argue that the politicians will abuse this…

    That will depend on the law that will create such an outfit. When we talk about state police, it should not be something that someone will just stay somewhere and say we are creating state police. There should be enlightenment, serious advocacy and serious debate about it. We must discuss it very well. We have different states with different peculiarities, and the way we operate here is different from the way they operate in Kaduna State. If we want to police ourselves we should look at our peculiarities, what type of state police do we want? So, it depends on the law that creates the outfit. Nobody can turn it into his tool when the law is there. We should come together to discuss the type of state police that we want. We should not rush into it because if you rush into something, you won’t get the best out of it.

    Many Nigerians would think that with the acquisition of Tucano fighter jets, the issue of banditry ought to have ended. As a security expert, why is it that the war against banditry is dragging?

    Tucano is available now and we are not seeing the impact? Let me tell you one thing, when we are talking about war, we have conventional war and we have asymmetric war. The kind of war you fight and you know your enemy, you face your enemy directly, that is conventional war. The asymmetric war is the one you fight and you don’t even know your enemy. Boko Haram will be with the people they capture, you would not want to go there and bomb them and bomb the people they captured. They would be within a particular community, they have innocent citizens, and you cannot bomb them and bomb the innocent citizens. Tucano is not the kind of equipment that can do such a thing. We don’t have the kind of equipment that can do that kind of operation. We don’t have the wherewithal to acquire such.

    The equipment the American government used in taking out Osama bin Laden was very expensive. Go and find out. The war we are fighting against terrorists is not the conventional warfare; it is an asymmetric warfare. We have to be very careful.

    We need serious intelligence gathering. Tucano is normally used when there is conventional warfare. As it is, our security outfits are really trying. They are giving it back to the terrorists and bandits.

    Was there a time your life was threatened as a member of the state assembly?

    Not really like that in terms of the opposition. But there was a time we had an issue with the executive arm of government when we decided to impeach the speaker. I was the leader of the House and we decided to impeach the Speaker because we realised that the guy was not representing us well. Unfortunately, the executive arm of government rose in his defence. They denied that they ever did that, but we believe that they sent the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to invade the House, beat legislators, drive them out of the complex. That was too bad. It wasn’t too good for our system. That was the only time I felt threatened.

    We wanted to exercise our rights as legislators in the state House of Assembly. Anybody can be the Speaker. We can decide that we want a change. It is our right. Maybe the governor saw something in him that we did not see. They said those people should go in there and destabilise the House, beat, machete, it was so serious.

    We thank God it wasn’t more than that anyway. And at the end of the day, we were unable to impeach him because of that, but some of our demands were then met by the governor.

    What are your regrets as a politician?

    As I said, the bad aspect of it as a legislator was just what I just narrated now. The executive arm of the state pocketed the legislative arm of government in the state, which was not good. It is like that because the legislative arm is not autonomous when it comes to funding and every other thing. You go to the executive arm of government to beg them for funds. If they (legislative arm) have their autonomy, I think things would not be like that. So those are the areas I don’t really like. There, most of them are rubber stamps.

    You were elected to speak for your people, but the executive arm chose to pollute the mind of your people. Your people would tell you that they didn’t send you there to fight the governor.

    I could remember telling the executive arm of government that what it was doing was not good. I could remember that they sponsored people from my locality to abuse me on the radio, telling me that they didn’t send me there to fight with the governor.

    Houses of Assembly need to be autonomous, that is when we can see proper governance in the states. Presently, governors are like kings; nobody is checkmating them. The state assemblies are meant to checkmate and balance the activities of governors. Even though it may interest you that the legislative arm of government is the mirror of every democracy because in every kind of government, there will definitely be an executive and there will be a judiciary, but when the legislature is absent, we should not call that democracy any longer.

    What makes a government a democracy is the legislative arm of government. Legislature is the mirror through which you see through democracy. Without it, there is nothing like democracy.

    With all the lapses you just reeled out, were you frustrated?

    Yes, I was. That was exactly what I was telling you. When I was unable to perform my duty when you say I’m representing my people and I tell you what my people want and you tell me I don’t have the rights.

    Things were not even provided for me to do that job. The executive arm of the government provided everything for themselves to do the job. You even need to go and prostrate for them to get things to even work with. It was as bad as that.

    I will still continue to advocate that the state house of assembly should be autonomous.

    Are you planning to seek higher positions?

    Yes, by the special grace of God. Everything is in the hands of God. When God says yes, nobody can say no.

    I know you have investments here and there. How would you describe the business climate in Nigeria?

    You can’t discuss business without adequate security. It is not too good presently. It is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. It is not too good for business people out there. But we are trying to be in business.

    You talked about insecurity. Do you think private security outfits have a role to play here?

    Very well. They have a lot of roles to play. I don’t know why they are not given any chance.

    Tell me about your early life

    It was rough, but I thank God with what He has done in my life.

  • Cultural splendour at Osun monarch’s coronation

    Cultural splendour at Osun monarch’s coronation

    The rich cultural heritage of the Modakeke community was on display on Thursday November 3, as the ancient town witnessed the coronation of Oba Olubiyi Joseph Toriola (Ajibise Ogo 1) and 20th Ogunsua of Modakeke. On that day, the kingdom stood still as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola presented the Staff of Office to the new monarch. TOBA ADEDEJI reports

    THE ancient town of Modakeke in Osun State, the community of warriors and generals, stood still on Thursday November 3, 2022. That day, those indigenous to the town were like hordes of soldiers waiting for the last command on the battlefield. It was the day the Staff of Office was presented to Oba Olubiyi Joseph Toriola (Ajibise Ogo 1), the 20th Ogunsua of Modakeke.

    The sons and daughters of the community were thrilled as they basked in the euphoria of a new dawn. Indeed, it was a day of prayers, laughter, reunion, and the offering of libation to the gods of the land. The coronation ceremony of Oba Toriola would remain evergreen in the history of the town, as dignitaries thronged into the town to participate in the exhilaration that is usually experienced once in a very long time; when another warrior is installed on the stool of his forebears.

    The coronation ceremony was held at Modakeke Civic Centre. The ceremony reached a climax when Oba Toriola was adorned with the symbolic Akoko Leaf in Modakeke in April 2022. He succeeds the late Oba Moses Oyediran III, who joined his ancestors in March at the age of 95.

    The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who presented the Staff of Office, led his cabinet members to the ceremony. The 80-year-old Oba Toriola was born on April 3 1942 to the family of the late Chief and Mrs Samuel Bolarinwa Akano Toriola of lle-Ogo Compound, Modakeke.

    He attended St Stephen’s Primary School, Modakeke, and had his Secondary Education at Gbongan and later sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) O/Level and Advanced Level that qualified him for further studies. He won a United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) scholarship to study at the Centre for Museum Studies, Jos. He holds a Higher Diploma in Taxidermy from North Western School of Taxidermy Omaha, United States. He later proceeded to Bern, Switzerland, to complete his studies in Science Museum Technology and then became the first Nigerian taxidermist in 1971.

    He started his museum career in the field of conservation and preservation of Nigeria’s natural and cultural heritage in 1962 under the Nigeria National Commission for Museum and Monuments, having worked at Lagos, Ife, Esie and Owo museums. In 1971, he joined the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) as one of the pioneer members of staff of the Natural History Museum, the University of Ife.

    Governor Adegboyega prayed for long life for the monarch as he wished him a successful tenure. The governor commended residents of the community for supporting his administration, even as he enjoined the people of the community to continue their support for Oba Toriola to ensure progress, unity, peace and the overall development of Modakeke.

    He vowed that his government will not relent in its effort to play its role in this regard. He said: “Today opens another chapter in the history of the great and ancient town of Modakeke. It is an occasion that His Royal Highness and the people of this community have been waiting for.

    “I am proud to be a part of the history and I congratulate the royal father on being considered worthy of ascending the throne of your forefathers. There is no gainsaying the fact that this presentation is made possible because of the cooperation and peaceful co-existence of the people of this community. I am, therefore, appealing to all the people of this community and beyond to continue to sustain the existing peace and shun all acts of violence.”

    He then presented the Staff of the Office to Oba Toriola and the community hailed the new monarch of Modakeke. The President of Modakeke Progressive International (MPI), Yemi Animasaun, reiterated their commitment to upholding the legacies of their forebears and a firm commitment to the preservation of the town’s heritage. He said the installation of Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola has presented all of the residents an opportunity to work in unison towards the development of Modakeke across all sectors of life.

    “Before his ascendance to this historical position,  Oba Olu Toriola has always demonstrated both in words and actions that he believes in the Modakeke project. This is evidenced by his huge investments, which have not only given our ancient town a facelift but also provided sources of livelihood to hundreds of our sons and daughters; even when he had the opportunity to divert these important interventions to major cities in the country for greater patronage and profits.

    “For us at Modakeke Progressive International in the United States of America, it is gladdening that our Kabiyesi’s ascendance to the throne of his forebears has presented him with greater opportunity to lead from the front, and also challenges him to do more than ever before. We hope that we are all prepared to do more for Modakeke. This is the only way that can guarantee sustainable development.

    “As members of Modakeke Progressive International USA, we reassure Kabiyiesi and all that is indigenous to Modakeke that we will not leave you alone in these herculean tasks. We promise to continue to collaborate and facilitate the needed development of our land through youth education; youth empowerment; infrastructure development; improvement of the local economy; and peace-building among others,” Animasaun.

    He pleaded with critical community stakeholders to jointly work together to take Modakeke to greatness. He noted that, for many decades, self-funding has always been the major tool for community development. He said: “It is possible to recommit and rededicate ourselves to this path of honour for the prosperity of all and the greater good of our community.”

    Animasaun appealed to the youth to shun violence and false lives, stressing that crimes and social vices are not the right way out. The MPI President intimated the community that several projects are ongoing such as the drilling of boreholes at strategic and remote areas of the community, annual scholarship awards for hundreds of senior secondary school students of Modakeke, ICT and skills acquisition training for students and provision of free health care access to those indigenous to Modakeke.

    Oba Toriola saluted Governor Oyetola and his deputy for their support. He also praised the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi for championing global peace. He said: “I greet our father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II (CFR), globally-acclaimed Champion for Peace, the Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, the authority without whose consent no Ogunsua can be appointed and crowned.

    “That we are here today is because there is peace in Ife land, which God made possible through the efforts and the attitude of good community leadership. Peace in Ife land is often predicated on the stance and attitude of community leadership. For the peace reining now, we thank God who gave us the present Ooni. Long may you reign, Kabiyesi.”

    He also commended the Oyo royal stool that was represented at the event by High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola. Oba Toriola said: “Oyo is represented here today in a dual capacity. First, representing the Office of the Alaafin of Oyo and, in his personal capacity, as the head of Oyomesi, the kingmakers of Oyo.”

    He said his focus as the monarch of the ancient town will centre on working for peace, the safety of life and properties in our community, harnessing Modakeke resources and human potential (home and abroad) for the accelerated socio-economic development in the community and our villages; particularly with appropriate emphasis on small-scale industrialisation that will reduce the embarrassing level of unemployment, especially among our educated youths.

    Oba Toriola said: “I will focus on creating an environment conducive to raising the profile of Modakeke through socio-cultural rejuvenation that will attract our children back home along with investors and tourists.”

    Continuing, he said: “Realising these agendas will require all hands to be on deck. We will run an open administration. The task ahead is enormous and challenging. I crave your prayers for guidance and enablement by the Almighty God. We will do all it takes to encourage, welcome and support ideas, innovations and pursuits that can help in transforming our communities into the Modakeke of our dreams.

    “I call on all our Chiefs and residents to be ready for more interactive engagements on the way forward. We look forward to seeing more of you at home and we will be available to honour your invitations to events outside Modakeke; as long as we are assured that a better future for us all is being promoted.”

    He stressed that today would not have turned out as it did if the leadership of Ile-Ogo, his family compound, did not push him forward as their Arole. That was how this journey to the throne started when he installed the Arole Ile-Ogo on March 27 1979.

    “My journey from Arole to Ogunsua has taken some 43 years of rising through the ranks by promotion, as is our tradition in Modakeke. I hope that this serves as a metaphor for patience and that it ministers to our youths. In life, not everything will be available in short order. Enduring things require patience and the blessings of God. May our future be fulfilling and glorious.”

  • Why I’m still celebrating my wife 10 years after her death —MicCom boss Ponnle

    Why I’m still celebrating my wife 10 years after her death —MicCom boss Ponnle

    •Speaks about marital life with ex-Osun deputy governor

    OCTOBER 29, for most people, is just another day on the calendar. But not so for Prince Michael Tunde Ponnle, founder of Nigeria’s first fully indigenous cable company. For the boss of MicCom Cables and Wires Limited, October 29 is a date that steers nostalgic feelings, being the day his beloved wife, Engr. Olufunke Ponnle, passed on exactly 10 years ago.

    To his credit, he has set the day apart to celebrate the life of his departed heartthrob, and anyone in the know of the great asset she constituted to him, their family and humanity in general would not be surprised at the impelled not just by the affinity they shared as husband and wife but the circumstances of their meeting before they engaged each other in a blissful marriage that lasted 47 years.

    A decade after her death, it would seem that the force or influence of time has done nothing to lessen Prince Ponnle’s affection for the frontline female engineer. Indeed, if the attention he has given to the anniversary of her death in the past 10 years is anything to go by, it is safe to say that the boss of the popular Ada Golf Course in Osun State has demonstrated more love for her late wife than many men do for their living partners.

    Explaining why his love for his late wife has not waned a decade after her demise, the MicCom boss attributed it primarily to the place she occupied not only in his heart but also in his life.

    He said: “Whatever I am or whatever MicCom is today, we did it together. Because of me, she studied engineering as well. So when we started our engineering business, we were together. She did one thing and I did the other. She was managing the factory while I was going out for marketing. In everything, we were really, really compatible.”

    Prince Ponnle also said the fact that he managed to survive in her absence is something worthy of celebration because many people, including their children, who knew how close they were, had feared that he would not be able to survive the shock.

    He said: “We were so close that my children thought I would not last one year after her death. So that calls for remembering her every year.

    “The first seven years when I was alone was terrible. I moved to the village and played golf, but golf is not something you do 24/7. Even if you play it every day, it is only for four hours. So when you are back to the house, you are lonely.

    “And in the village, there is no one at your level. So it was a very lonely life until maybe the lady herself sent somebody exactly like her to me in the person of my present wife (former Osun State deputy governor, Titi Laoye Tomori). Their behaviour, their Christian pattern, their prayer life, everything is the same. So my children always say ‘your wife sent somebody to you’.

    “Since she has been living with me about three and a half years now, there is no difference. Sometimes, I think she is a reincarnation of my late wife. So I thank God I have no cause to regret, and the children are doing well.”

    Asked about his marital experience with the former Osun State Deputy Governor, Prince Ponnle said: “Our marriage has been very interesting and helpful. It is a lesson to young people like you that when you are marrying, you should take your wife as a partner and not as a slave.

    “If there is a disagreement between you, settle it with her and give her confidence and she will help you. The idea of second or third wife should not come in if you love each other. If you love a woman, she will be faithful to you.

    “Money is the root of all sins and the root of all problems between husband and wife. Once the issue of money is out of it, 75 per cent of marriage problems are solved. I don’t care what my wife does with the money. She has children, so whatever she bought either to my knowledge or without my knowledge belongs to the children.

    “So for young couples fighting over property, I think it is because they don’t see the future. When the future comes and you need a partner and the property is there, you will see that it is your children or your relations that will benefit from it.

    “So why not take it as important from the start, but not so important as for one to cheat the other?”

    Asked how easy it is to manage a wife of the caliber of a former deputy governor, he said: “That is why I said she is God-given. She is so humble that you would not know she was once the deputy governor of a state.

    “My relations are always surprised when they come around and she kneels down to greet them. She is a typical well brought up Christian lady. I would even say she is more humble than my late wife.”

    He believes that with more people like her current wife in politics, the political terrain would be less dreadful.

    “If we have more people like her in politics, our politics will be better. I hope she does not quit politics but remains to teach other women the morals that you do not have to sell yourself to become something,” he said.

    Incidentally, the former Osun State deputy governor is on the list of the campaign council for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the head of the grassroots women mobiliser.

    Asked how prepared she was for the task, she said: “Of course, I appreciate that it is a huge task. But if my presidential candidate is somebody you know well, you will realise that he is not a difficult product to sell to the people because of his good nature and antecedents.

    “God willing, he is the next president of Nigeria.”

  • I kept touch with tradition even during my sojourn in UK —New Olowu of Owu

    I kept touch with tradition even during my sojourn in UK —New Olowu of Owu

    •Vows to mobilise Owu sons, daughters home and abroad for growth

    As Owu sons and daughters eagerly await today’s presentation of staff of office to their new Olowu, Oba Saka Matemilola, Otileta V11, the monarch has said his selection and announcement as Olowu-elect did not come to him, his friends and family members as a surprise. He also shares his plan to bring development to the area in an audience he had with a few journalists at the Olowu Palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Assistant Editor BOLA OLAJUWON was there.

    WHAT was your immediate reaction when you heard of your election by the kingmakers as the 14th Olowu?

    When the announcement was made, I was excited. I expected it anyway, because I knew I had worked towards getting to that position. It seemed to me that it was kind of natural, and by that I mean it is something that I have been trained for in the family for quite a while. And it is a thing that my friends and associates have said, that ‘Saka, we want you to become the next Olowu of Owu Kingdom so that you can represent us and be a great Olowu for us.’ So, somehow, my mind has been prepared for it for quite a while. So it was quite exciting, and finally here we are.

    What qualities do you think actually prepared you for the throne?

    There are a number of things really, and one of them is public service, which I have been involved in from when I was very young; doing things for people; doing things because you want to see smiles on people’s faces; because you believe this is the right thing to do. And I have done this a lot, both in private and organisational levels and beyond the call of duty. So that is one of them really.

    The other is the fact that when I was leaving Nigeria, I was very young. And one of the things that made me return to Nigeria in 1996 was because I believe that no amount of public service I offered in the United Kingdom would touch my people.

    I was not focused on being the Olowu at a time. Rather, I was focused on my people.  So, that was why I left where I was in the university in the UK. And since then, I have been engaged in public service, including lecturing pro bono at universities, supporting education and health. The key thing I have focused on was public service.

    What striking message do you think your coronation will bring to Owu Kingdom and Yoruba land in general?

    I think service goes beyond the Yoruba race, especially for those who have things to offer. One significant thing I want to say is that when you are in public service, you need to focus on your people. You can do a lot for the whole world, which is great and fantastic. But when you do it closer home, you make much more impact. In my case, I thought I have done quite a bit, and rightly so. And I thought I had retired just cruising along in terms of public service. But when I took on this role, it made me feel that I have not done enough, maybe because my people have not been touched sufficiently the way I would have loved them to be.

    So, for me, it seems I am just beginning my public service.  My message generally is that people who have that public service mindset need to start from home. That is when it will make the most significant impact.

    What area of public service do you intend to go into during your reign?

    Before now, I focused my attention on education and health. But now it is about unity, because there is nothing you can achieve in this kind of role without unity. Hence,  the number one thing is to ensure unity among the people. It is only when you have a united people that you can have unity of purpose.  You can then co-own whatever you intend to deliver, because when your followers identify with this cause, it becomes easier for them to work with you to deliver on those goals.

    Capacity development is very vital. So, when you want to develop a people, capacity-building comes first. When the people are developed, those people will support in developing the economy, infrastructure and the rest. So, the first thing is to develop capacity, and you may say due to my background, because if you don’t develop the people, you just build roads and rail, which is fantastic. But without the awareness, knowledge, the extent to which you can touch people’s lives will be limited.

    So, it is the people first, after that you have unity of purpose and ensure the people have the right education, including market women, whom you are expected to develop their businesses and by so doing the economy and other things in the city. And I am not talking about Abeokuta by the way, but the whole of Owuland- which is far beyond Ogun State and, as a matter of fact, beyond Nigeria. You may not know, there is Owu in Benin Republic and other parts of the sub-region. It is about coming together to ensure we co-develop ourselves, the economy and the rest.

    A lot of people would wonder that somebody who is highly educated and exposed to Western world is still in tune with the traditions of his people. What message do you have for those who might think that what you are doing now is outdated?

    If you don’t know yourself, where you are coming from, then what is your identity? When you say you are someone from somewhere, that somewhere has a history and culture that makes your people what they are and that is your pride. For me as an Owu man, it is about how Owu evolved its history and heritage. That is my pride. That is what I identify with.

    And it will be surprising to me for people to say knowing and identifying with one’s background is not something to be proud of. So, it is very important to understand where you are coming from. That is the only way you can identify with your people and that will be a motivation to actually help to do things in your community. If you don’t have that at the background, then where is the pride?

    For instance, look at the people who want to leave or cut off their roots from Nigeria. Most of the time, it is because they do not know who they are; they don’t know their origin or their heritage. That is why they want to leave and become slaves to other people. Where you are going to was developed by some people. Some people made you want to go there. What are you doing to ensure that where you came from is also developed to that level so that people can also come to the place?

    Given that the major role of traditional rulers is preservation of culture and tradition, how do intend to tackle the issue of cultural imperialism during your reign?

    It is all about mindset really. You see, when you get to that, from time immemorial, human beings, right from time, like to dominate. And when people are conquered, the conquered people always look up to those who conquered them. It is a natural thing for a lot of people. But for people who actually appreciate their culture and heritage, it is always the other way round. And I think it is one of the reasons why some people would say I want to be like the Europeans, because they don’t appreciate where they came from. People should be proud of their own heritage.

    So, what we are going to do, which is what we are doing already, is to go back into our history; this is what we are and these are our cultures, and make them available to the whole world. For example, when Oodua was actually sending out his grandchild, Ajibosun, he said  each of those people have good governance and administration. The instruction was ‘go and establish a kingdom for me.’ And each of those people, in addition to certain individuals who accompanied them, played different roles.

    So, even till we came to this area and the Egba were here with us, we were working together until the Europeans came and did all they did at that time. And again, it goes to the mindset I mentioned earlier where the conqueror imposed their culture on the conquered. That was the only way they could dominate. They make you feel that they are much better than you or superior to you. It is up to you to say, no, you are not. We just have to keep our heads up, develop ourselves and make sure that we do not allow those imperialists to destroy our culture.

    By God’s grace, and all my people are behind me on this, we intend to bring back the beauty of our culture and heritage to make our children proud of who they are. We are already doing it by the way.

    How do you intend to transit from scholarship to monarchy?

    I don’t see it as a transition in that sense. It is about the mindset. When I was in the academia, by the way, I straddled both the academia and the industrial sector. Where I was then, I was a captain of industry, and when you occupied that role, it was about how you utilise it to deliver on your mandate. Long before thinking about ascending the throne of Olowu, I was already thinking about how the administration would be. What does this role involve? What do I need to do to deliver? So, since that race started in January, I had already prepared my mind. In fact, my agenda was already drawn.

    The day I actually indicated interest, I already had a programme. I have a profile which contains the details of what I intend to do. Those are the key things – not too many of them – just about five points. So, the mindset is what is the role about? What do I need to deliver to ensure that people feel the impact of my reign as soon as possible? And we are doing that already.

  • POPULAR AMERICAN DANCER MALEEKA HARRIS: How I became Sango worshipper

    POPULAR AMERICAN DANCER MALEEKA HARRIS: How I became Sango worshipper

    •Says I’m learning Yoruba to understand ifa divination better

    Maleeka Harris, a popular dancer in Harlem, United States of America, was in Osogbo, Osun State recently for the town’s annual Ifa festival. An adherent of Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder, Harris, who currently works at the New York African Chorus Ensemble in Harlem, spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about her love for the African religion, her Nigerian experience and how she came in contact with Sango.

    HOW did you come in contact with Sango?

    It started with my curiosity in African traditional religion. It started back in my college days when I met Chief Adewunmi. I learned that she was an ifa priestess and I started asking questions about orisa. Eventually, I met Baba Oluwo, Dr. Ifagbenusola Atanda. I was able to find out about orisa and I found out that I’m a child of Sango.

    That helped me greatly because I was thinking about moving away from arts and culture and go to something in the opposite, but I realised that I was becoming more unhappy as I was finishing school and trying to figure out my next step. I found that I was a child of Sango and that made me to stay in what I was doing in arts and culture. So knowing that Sango is somebody of music and dance, that is what naturally makes my spirit happy.

    Yes, I know I have other skill sets. Making sure that I’m doing something that is organic to me and finding out that Sango is the orisa on my head confirmed that I need to stay where I am and keep on growing and developing. 

    What I naturally knew since I was a child was dancing and music. I started when I was about eight years old. My mum put me in a dance school. I did it all the way through high school and college and then I stopped. Spiritual art kind of put me back to my first love in addition to other skills.

    How did your parents react when you embraced Sango?

    My parents support everything that I do. To be honest, they don’t know much about African traditional religion, but they see my mummy No 2, Chief Adewunmi, they met Baba, Chief Ifagbenusola Atanda, and they see how they carry themselves. They see the efforts and the changes that I made and in terms of leaving the storm and they see everything positive. They don’t say much because they embrace everything that I do. My parents are very supportive and flexible. They are not strict. They don’t say ‘you can’t do this or you can’t do that.’ They trust me, and they trust the family I am with because of their character. They didn’t think much about it.

    How about your friends? How receptive were they to your new ‘love’?

    It is the same response because they are also into art and culture. When you understand the art you affect other people. They might ask questions, depending on what they ask and the answers. But we remain friends. They have been part of the experience. And also because I was in the documentary on African religion, they could not understand this fully until they saw the video and they wanted to make a trip back to Nigeria themselves when they are ready too. This screening created a sort of inspiration, something to look forward to doing. Thank God it has been positive for me so far.

    What are out to achieve with this?

    Ifa has taught me to have a better understanding of myself. Since I was little, I have always wanted to seek knowledge. I don’t want to be limited. Learning ifa made everything possible. I don’t know as much as Baba and Chief, but I am on a journey and I am using the tool and the wisdom they give to me to define my character because nobody is perfect.

    I want to make it close to being my best self and that is what ifa gives to me. I want to touch myself and have my own personal experience but they didn’t answer the question in the way I felt was good enough. So when I learnt about ifa, I felt like I was getting full answers, I thought more organic, something more original. You can practice ifa at any time or period; it doesn’t matter if it is in the past, present or future, it applies to life. I’m practising something my ancestors have been doing since the beginning of time of God. I want to take it with me to the next generation, pass it down to my family and whoever is open to hearing and understanding will pick part of it to better their lives.

    How much of positive influence have you had on your community and peers?

    In learning tradition, in doing different projects, I have been able to help other people too. The community receives something from people too, and right along assisting those people. Then I get positive feedback as well because I’m there to serve and assist.

    For you to have a better understanding of Sango and ifa, you have to be versed in Yoruba language. How versed are you?

    Baba (ifa priest Chief Atanda) translates, and that makes it easier for me to understand. I also make efforts to understand Yoruba by training and learning Yoruba songs with my chief. I also ask questions which are explained to me and I’m able to pronounce some of the words. It is a gradual process. You have to be the type of person that feels ‘oh, I want to learn the language.’ I’ve been coming here (Osogbo). I have been able to pick some things and understand the language better. It doesn’t stop me from knowing that the essence of tradition is good character. So anything I want to know, anything I want to understand is just ask and they will explain it to me and provide this in Yoruba.

    I sing Sango songs. I studied the songs and asked for the meaning. I ask questions As Baba always says anyone who asks questions will not get lost. It is not a major barrier how much you want to learn. I know people before me that studied never spoke Yoruba and now, years later, they are speaking Yoruba as well.

    If I want to reach that point I can do the same. But it doesn’t stop me from learning the foundation, isese, taking care of your parents, honouring God, honouring your ori, the way you carry yourself, the way you treat people; that is the basic in nature. Language is not a barrier; it is how much you want to learn.

    How do you resolve the conflict between your new found love, isese, and the one you were accustomed to?

    You mean my faith before? To be honest, I was never committed to Christianity. I need to be honest. When they were preaching, I was falling asleep. When they were jumping about the Holy Ghost, I would just be looking. I was just a child, open and needed to learn before I jumped into anything.  I wanted to know everything before I decide which is comfortable with me. Ifa is most comfortable.

    How does it interfere?

    It does not because I always ask questions for understanding and I have peace of mind.

    What are you going to do with the knowledge you acquired?

    The knowledge I have acquired so far has made me able to control my reactions. Sometimes I get emotional. The knowledge has made me respond and navigate to different situations better with the knowledge of ifa. There are so many teachings in ifa that explain how to handle different situations and I have to use that and apply it to real life.

    For example, the way I speak to big mummy. If I want her blessings, I have to carry myself in the right way, respect my elders; that is part of the culture. In America sometimes they get lost because people do whatever they want.

    How would you describe your experience in Nigeria?

    My Nigerian experience has been fantastic. It was a positive experience.

    Before you left the United States, you must have had expectations. Would you say your expectations were met?

    I can’t remember if I had expectations.

    Were you disappointed when you got here?

    No. I wasn’t disappointed. I was welcomed by four kings. I’m humbled. I know where I am  is a good place to be.

    Yes. It was exciting. I wasn’t afraid. Except that I wanted to know if we were going to sleep in the dark but Baba Oluwo said no.

  • Abdullahi Abubakar: I got national honours doing something we all should be doing

    Abdullahi Abubakar: I got national honours doing something we all should be doing

    Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the Chief Imam of a mosque in Yelwan Gindi Akwati village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, was among the  447 Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari conferred with national honours on Tuesday. Abubakar, conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) alongside his assistant, Umar Abdullahi, who is Fulani, saved the lives of 262 Christians when suspected bandits attacked some communities in the local government area. The reported attack took place on June 23, 2018 on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages where scores of persons were killed by suspected bandits.

    On the day the incident occurred, Imam Abdullahi was said to have just finished midday prayers. He and his congregation heard gunshots and went outside to see members of the town’s Christian community fleeing. Instinctively, the Imam ushered 262 of them into the mosque and into his personal home next door. He hid 262 Berom Christians in his mosque and in his house as herdsmen launched a bloody attack on 10 villages in June 2018.

    According to reports, the mosque has since become home and refuge for many of the people hidden by the Imam. Many of those the Muslim cleric provided shelter for were from the Berom ethnic group, which is predominantly Christian. In this interview with INNOCENT DURU and GRACE OBIKE, the respected cleric spoke about his childhood, marriage to three women and the unpleasant living condition in Nghar, his community in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. Excerpts:

    • Says I never dreamt of National award

    • ‘I have more than 100 grandchildren, great grandchildren’

    Congratulations on the national honours given to you by President Muhammadu Buhari. How did you feel getting the award?

    I am really grateful for the honour given to me. I blessed President Buhari and thanked him when he shook my hands and handed me the award. I prayed for peace in Nigeria and all over the world.

    How did you get to know about the award?

    We heard that I was going to be conferred with the award on social media. In fact, we first got the information on Facebook.

    I never dreamt that I would be called out and given an award in my life, and then being awarded for doing what we should all be doing. But I am thankful and I wish people all over the world will do everything in their power for peace to reign, because that is all we need.

    Are there things the award would make you to start doing differently?

    I am not going to be doing anything differently after today.  I would continue to live my life like I have always done, by living and loving everyone the same, because we are all God’s creations and wishing for peace.

    Tell us about your background.

    I am 86 years old.  I was born in Bauchi where I began my Western education and also attended an Islamic school where I learnt the Quran. But I had to abandon my Western schooling in class four at the request of my father who at that time was living in Yelwa. I remember clearly, it was the same day that the former King and father of Queen Elizabeth died. At that time, we were not taught in English language but Hausa language in our schools, so I cannot speak English language. I relocated to Yelwa in Plateau State to be with my father, and as a student of the Quran, I travelled to several parts of the country in my quest for Islamic knowledge. I still travel around for it because it is part of being an Islamic scholar.

    Aside from being an Islamic cleric, what other things do you do?

    I have always been a farmer. I still farm unaided at my age. Apart from farming, I was a miner as a young man, in fact, I rose to the rank of the captain of all the mine sites around my community. My job was to take records of everyone and all that was mined on behalf of the white man. In fact, I did that job for a while while still studying in different Islamic schools.

    Tell us about your marital life.

    My father married three wives for me in succession and they had 18 children for me. Two of my wives are late now and I have over a hundred grand and great grandchildren. Some of my children are educated and attained Western education.

    In fact, my youngest is also a graduate.  He has completed his youth service but he is, unfortunately, yet to get a job. He is always with me and accompanies me on my travels.

    What made you to rescue the 262 Christians under attack in your community?

    We are all God’s creation: Muslims, Christians, animals and plants. I don’t see why people should fight or dislike themselves because of their religious beliefs or culture. We are all equal before God, and that is why it is important we love one another and work to create peace in the world.  When the attack was launched and I saw that people were being killed, I did not care if they were Christians or Muslims. I tried to hide as many people as I could in my house and mosque. I was not bothered about their religions. Although I ended up saving about 262 Christians in my home and mosque, the number of people that took refuge were about 300, including Muslims. My only thought was to save them because they are my brothers and sisters. I did not care if I was attacked; I just knew that I needed to help, which was what I did.

    What is life like in Nghar, where you have lived for many decades?

    Life in my community is not rosy. We need water, light, schools, hospitals and a good road network. The roads are so bad that a 10-kilometre road will take you more than three to four hours to navigate in a vehicle or motorcycle, and I pray that something is done to alleviate the suffering of my people.

    Which day would you describe as your happiest in life? 

    I don’t think that I have a day that I can call my happiest, because as long as God gives one life and food in his belly, we should be happy. But my saddest day was the day of the attack and the lives that were lost.

    What is your wish for Nigeria?

    My wish for Nigeria is the same for the world, and that is for peace to reign for everyone to live together in love and harmony.

  • Adejare Adegbenro: Nigeria needs benevolent dictator

    Adejare Adegbenro: Nigeria needs benevolent dictator

    Otunba Adejare Adegbenro is a man of many parts. Aside being a businessman and security expert of repute, Adegbenro is grandson to Chief Dauda Adegbenro, a late premier of the old Western Region on the paternal side and grandson to late Pa Alfred Rewane, a prominent National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) figure on the maternal side. In this interview with GBOYEGA ALAKA, he shares his views on security, corrupt practices and wastages in the Nigerian system as well as the 2023 Elections and his assessment of President Muhamadu Buhari‘s performance so far.

    As a widely exposed Security Expert, what is your overview of the security situation in Nigeria today?

    First of all, without doubt, Nigeria is going through challenges especially on security. The immediate past service chiefs faced a great danger; and the current ones are also working tirelessly day and night to nip this in the bud.  But we still need to encourage them, morally, financially and psychologically. Some of what we do here is always politically motivated. There is no doubt that there are saboteurs sabotaging the current administration in power.  The president has done all the needful from his side. He has approved all the needed logistics required to win the war. He has given all the necessary approval but there are those who hate to take actions, and we don’t know who they are working for. Are they really working for the president and the nation or are they working for themselves for their selfish end?

    Let the National Security Adviser (NSA), be special adviser on security to the president. Let everybody individually do his/her own job. Let security chiefs be on their toes. Additionally, let all of them sit down and synchronise their operations and seek information regardless of their ranks and superiority because we have the singular objective of bailing out the country from its predicament. The battle is to be won collectively not in separate manner.

    Nigerians have to prick themselves by discarding the pull-him-down politics for the country to move forward and for Buhari to succeed. The Nigeria I once knew is not the Nigeria of today; hence, my advice to my elders in politics, the ministers, governors, senators and the rest of them is that they should be unselfish in their approach to governance. They should plan for the future, embark on projects that will outlive them and thoroughly serve Nigerians.

    What exactly do you mean by projects that will outlive them?

    For instance, we don’t have sufficient manpower for security in this country, but alas, look at the convoys of the governors, the ministers, heads of parastatals; look at the VIPs going round town with security personnel attached to them as private individuals! It is not supposed to be like that. We are supposed to cut cost of governance. May God help this country. We should all sit down and look at what we can do to make this country better and working. As I always say, I am a Nigerian and my tribe comes second.

    All the sectional notions of I am a Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, Hausa or Fulani should be thrown out. We don’t need that. For instance, we are going towards a crucial election and nobody is talking about anything that would benefit the country and her people. That is why I keep saying we need a benevolent dictator that will enforce discipline. Nigerians are not stupid. We are highly intelligent people. However, this impression in some quarters that some people are above the law is beyond stupidity.

    Can the average Nigerian, including your honourable self, be exonerated from the current rot?

    I agree I am part of the problem; I admit that I am not a perfect person. So, I must also correct myself, knowing the background I come from. Everybody has a voice, so everybody must come out for a peaceful election and choose the right person that could move the nation forward. People should not look at stomach infrastructure in voting because if they give you money today to vote for them, you would not see them again till the next four years. Why has none of the presidential candidates gone to the security agents to ask them what the problem is? All the billions they are spending all over the place, why can’t they give the money to the security agencies or the paramilitary outfits to fight insecurity?

    It is not only to be done by President Muhammadu Buhari alone. Security challenges should be fought collectively. So, we should join hands to combat the menace collectively. This is what we call patriotism. We are not talking about another country that is not ours. Nigeria is the only country we have. For instance, I went to our airport and saw a big banner and I marked it out and spoke about it. How do we allow a banner advertising passports of three different countries at our own airport; the gateway to our country? I mean the international airport in Abuja. That was about three weeks ago. Somebody must have read my protest because the bill board has been brought down. Unfortunately, no one was sanctioned for such an anomaly. We have Ministers of Information and Aviation, association of outdoor advertisers or what are they called in charge of such things, and we have the MD of FAAN; all these people should have been queried for permitting such. Nigerians are condoning all these things. Some people must have seen it and just smiled and gone away. True, Nigerians are emigrating in droves in search of greener pasture, but the fact remains that wherever you go, you will be a second-class citizen. Let us stay here and do the right thing. If Nigerians make money and invest it here, the country would be self-sufficient. But no, everybody wants to make money here and take it abroad. They believe it is a safe haven.

    What do you think should be done along that line?

    That is what the presidential candidates should be talking about. I mean how to bring the exchange rate down, how poverty and hunger would be wiped out and how security challenges would be nipped in the bud.

    What is your reaction towards the ammunition comments of the ex-service chiefs?

    We all read it in the media that the ex-service chiefs said they did not meet any ammunition in the armoury when they assumed office. But they were all rewarded with ambassadorial positions, and now they have received National Merit Awards. I ask, why the honour when they should be put behind bars? Meanwhile, the present security chiefs are doing a fantastic job. So, we should be supportive of them. It is not time to make bogus statements.

    In your own assessment, do you believe there is a lot of wastage going on in the country?

    Nigeria is quite wasteful in resources. For instance, the President went to the UN as a speaker. He normally could be accompanied by his aides, Ministers of Finance and Trade and Investment, the CBN Governor and National Security Adviser (NSA); but it turned out a jamboree from Nigeria, making us a laughing stock across the globe. Governors and ministers who didn’t have mandate to talk at the UN were also there. What was their business there if one may ask? The money they wasted, why couldn’t they put it to better use? There are millions of IDPs starving, millions of out of school children scavenging for food. We should be prudent in managing our resources. It is sad! I mean what is a minister doing with a convoy of four cars with security people? It is very sad! I am sorry but that is the honest truth. What is the minister afraid of? What are the permanent secretaries afraid of? What are all these people afraid of? In Nigeria of today, men of the customs service would say they have intercepted two trailers of illegal arms; but do you know how many other trailers with that consignment are remaining in the port? They would impound the consignments and burn them in some cases instead of making proper investigation. Any bullet and any gun manufactured has serial numbers of the manufacturers. And you could, from that information, know who paid for them. But nobody is brought to book and the guns and bullets are sold everywhere. We have porous borders; the question is what are the customs officials doing about it? Kick away the custom boss if he cannot do his job well and put somebody else there.

    What is your observation about those working with President Muhammadu Buhari?

    Some of them do not wish him well. It is about their selfish interest. As far as I am concerned, this National Merit Award should be scrapped and the minister in question should be called to question.  It appears his collection bothers on corruption by including some people’s names. A merit award is not supposed to be so. It is sad. How can you give a corrupt person a merit award? I don’t even know what to say about it, and that is why I don’t watch television. When I see what is trending, I feel so sad. You listen to news every day, and there is nothing positive coming out of it.

    If you ask me, Nigerians should wake up and let us make this great country really great as the powerhouse of Africa. As the giant of Africa, we need to seriously wake up from our slumber. I beg all Nigerians to heed the clarion call. We need somebody to come out and bail the country out. We seriously need somebody. Nigeria is a prayerful country, and that is why we still remain indivisible. It is because God is answering our prayer that we are still existing and surviving.

    Let us all put our hands together to make this country truly great. It is sad that in the whole of West Africa, that we are where we are today. Nigeria is where you can do anything and go away with it. You steal money, you take it out; you do anything profitable, you take the proceeds out. Why taking it out? Why can’t you believe in your country?

    I pity Buhari’s successor. I wonder how they are going to manage the amount of debt we have right now. We must invest back in our country. People make money here and stack it in offshore accounts. If you can leave it here, it will have trickle effect because the masses here would feel the effects. That is how you do it.

    I call on all our traditional institutions, all clerics-Muslims and Christians; everybody should come together as one and say the honest truth as it is said in the Bible and the Qur’an. Preach the right things and not be silent when they see things that are not going right in the country. Let us see how all of them would make their input to make this country great.

    Taking a critical look at the recipients of the current National Merit Awards, are you comfortable with the list?

    National Merit Award is to give Nigerians that have helped Nigeria and still helping Nigeria the honour of recognition. And there are so many of them. However, I do not think some of the honourees deserve the National Awards. Some of them have questionable characters.  Some of them have court cases. Even the immediate past service chiefs who could not save the country from security challenges before they were posted out as ambassadors in some African countries were included in the list by the minister. It is ticking time bomb we are playing with.

    It seems you are absolving President Muhammadu Buhari of the blame?

    The president has done a lot of good things for Nigeria. We should commend him. I will soon clock 50 and I cannot remain silent. I will always talk about what is right. I was brought up in a political home both from Premier side of my father’s house and my maternal side of the financier of NADECO who I emulate. I know all these people and I know their characters. This is not what my grandparents stood for; nor the way I was brought up. I would not leave a Nigeria that my children and grandchildren would not be proud to look at and say; this is Nigeria, my fatherland.  And that is why I say, what Nigeria needs now is a benevolent dictator. He should come and balance the country up and straighten things up.

    I therefore call and appeal to the president to make sure he is leaving this government far better than he met it. I say this because of the good work he has done as a decent president surrounded by saboteurs. I don’t know who the saboteurs are, but surely they are in his government. It is sad because this man has done his best for this country. That is my take.

    How can Nigerians support Mr. President as we are transiting toward the general election?

    We have to assist the president to leave office with proper transition of power through free and fair 2023 election. For this to happen, security challenges must be degraded. It cannot be eliminated 100 per cent but can be reduced. Government functionaries should stop peddling lies. Do not say the worst is over when nothing suggests so. Simply say ‘we are working on it.’

    The president has to hear this. It is sad. Lives of people are now seriously at risk. It can be one of your family members tomorrow or even yourself. We should protect ourselves. Let’s put the round pegs in round holes. There is no safety in Nigeria right now because of mediocrity. I am sorry to say this, but this is my thinking for now. I am an angry man; yes, I am because I want my country Nigeria to work. You cannot expect the president to do everything himself, he is an elder statesman. Look at COVID-19, look at how much he spent, look at how much the private sectors put into it. Part of the money was mismanaged and embezzled. Maybe they did expend 20per cent properly. Where did the rest go to? And the blood of those who died would be on the hands of those who mishandled the COVID-19 protocol.

    That was how they assassinated my grandfather but I don’t care. I will be saying the honest truth. People would keep saying Nigeria is bad, Nigeria is corrupt and so on. I can tell you with honesty that there are more corrupt people outside than those in jail. They should be locked up and the key thrown away. Let them realise the gravity of their sins against the country and humanity. Why the granted pardon? Everything needs to change. We need to overhaul ourselves and hold ourselves tight. Why is it that we amass a lot of wealth? Why is it that we have four cars and the four cars would be on the road at the same time? What happened to the Even and Odd number system? That was how we grew up. If you had two cars, one will go out today and the second one would go out the other day. Now we are so rich and we don’t know what we are doing. We are spending so much that we don’t think about what we are leaving for our children. Do you think they would be secured? They would be worse than us because of what they are living in and what they are seeing. And if they do not see, they take to other things.

    We need to start encouraging them. There are some viable people that are ministers. You can see their works everywhere. You can see some of them who should not be in government. They should be thrown far away. It is sad. This is what I have to say.

    Do you have anything to say about the ASUU strike?

    Students are at home for how long now because of ASUU strike. What is the Minister of Education doing about it? What do you expect the students to be doing? What is the government doing? What is the Ministry of Education doing about it? What is the Minister of Labour doing about it? They would just talk and get off. These are not the kind of people we need in government. We need those who can dialogue and talk the right sense to the lecturers and all that.

    It is so sad because I am very passionate about my country. And that is why my slogan is there and I will surely die with that slogan: I am a Nigerian and my tribe comes second.

  • The grand lady of old Grandma School

    The grand lady of old Grandma School

    UNIVERSAL folklore tends to cast their type in dim tabloid lights. Hence, the pejorative — “old wives’ tale”. Just to perhaps insinuate the proclivity of old womenfolk for a whole lot of apocryphal legends, passed down by ancestors, some of which appear to be calculated to pacify cranky kids and are, in turn, expected to be transmitted to the next generation in, well, the service and nourishing of superstition.

    But from Chief (Mrs.) Jadesola Ibidapo we learnt an entirely different ethic: the evangelism of “iwa” (Yoruba for virtue) and “suru” (Job-like patience). There is no stone, she would often philosophize, that patience cannot cook into an edible. Her sagacity was not only to be measured from the thought behind that metaphor, but also in the manner of expression: a certain knowing chuckle.

    According to the one we all came to fondly address as “Grandma”, trouble increasingly afflicts marriages today and the community is broken only because of the deficit of patience.

    Alas, like all mortals, Mama joined her ancestors on September 13, at age 90. In the days ahead, family and the vast community of those impacted by her moral example would undoubtedly assemble to celebrate this exemplary nonagenarian.

    With the force of character and the exemplification of hospitality and compassion for others, Mama Ibidapo could be said to have succeeded in investing the honorific “grandma” with greater substance in a way that drew effusive testimonies not only from those with whom she shared biological consanguinity, but also with everyone in her community.

    This writer counts himself among those Mama impacted positively. Before she became too enfeebled by age, Mama, alongside her late spouse, no doubt constituted a formidable moral force in the entire Fasoro, Surulere community in Lagos. Not a few came for wise counsel or mediation during communal conflicts. Not to mention her compulsive charity to the needy and immeasurable giving to Christian causes.

    To assuage the tantrum of a vexing young bride who came for either counsel or counseling, for instance, she would recall, from a photographic memory, countless irritations and transgressions she either overlooked or forgave in order to build her own home or keep her marriage for close to 70 years. After which she would revert to her signature countenance: that knowing chuckle. As if to say, “There is nothing new under the sun!”

    To the pranks or delinquencies of the little ones — members of the third or fourth generation of Ibidapos — who constantly streamed to her Surulere sanctuary on family visits, Grandma would rail in mock wrath from her rocking chair and thereafter fix the target of such anger with a stare that was actually half laughter, expressed by her unblinking eyes darting above her little, square reading glasses. No one ever took offence, though. They knew it was her own expression of tough love.

    Some of them were on hand to repay those decades of affection by keeping vigil at Grandma’s bedside in her final days. And in her final years, she undoubtedly radiated joy that could only come from a deep sense of fulfillment.

    Watching her being constantly doted upon by loving children and grandchildren, it would be no exaggeration to conclude that indeed she savored, one morsel after another sumptuous morsel, that proverbial bounteous fruit said to get ripened only by the earlier toils of diligent parenting.  So much so that, at her 88th birthday at the outset of COVID in 2020, she told an interviewer: “I’m now awaiting death”.

    But that was still not sufficient to keep tears from flowing freely among those truly close to Grandma following the news of her passing, jolted no doubt by the sudden realization of the loss of such a colossal treasure, climaxing a compelling life-story that could, in a way, also be said to partly mirror the evolution of colonial and post-Independence Lagos in the 20th century.

    It is impossible to map Mama Ibidapo’s enchanting universe without reference to half of its two hemispheres — her lifelong partner and confidant, Pa Meshack Ibidapo, who had predeceased her in 2018. The one she romantically called “Emi mi” (my heart). But let it now be said that there was one other Grandma’s exclusive sobriquet for Grandpa. I will come to that later.

    Even in death, the supremely symbolic gesture of closure between the two love-birds should not be missed. Romeo died four months shy of his 90th birthday. Now, Juliet made 90 and added six months to boot, as if to avenge on behalf of her co-marathoner who had succumbed just a few inches to the 90th milestone.

    Theirs was indeed an extraordinary story of love at first sight. Born into the popular Onigbanjo family of the Olowoogbowo area of Lagos Island, she was by implication a member of the old Eko aristocracy. She was just 17 when they met, he was four years older.

    But the journey to matrimony two years later would tax the forbearance of the young lovers.

    Having migrated from distant Owo (Ondo State) and not bearing the bloodline of any known member of the Eko nobility meant that her beau was simply derided as “Ara Oke” (a provincial from the hinterland). It was the old colonial Lagos, when class counted a lot in amatory adventures and transactions. The “Ara oke” were not considered a good match for the scions and dazzling princesses of the old Eko aristocracy. Though Romeo often dandily turned out in a bespoke ensemble as a young banker at Barclays, her family still sniggered at him.

    So treacherous was the pervading climate around their home then that Grandma would recall, in a voice enlivened by nostalgia, how her relentless “Emi mi” often awaited dusk to mount reconnaissance around and adopted whistling as a covert signal to communicate with her from outside, in an extraordinary resourcefulness which parallel could perhaps only be found in the lead characters in the magic-realist novel by Gabriel Marquez entitled “Love in the Time of Cholera”, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. Only that their own pursuit of love, unlike Marquez’s throes of a plague, was in the ferment of Nigeria’s struggle for independence.

    Eventually, love somehow triumphed. But their union was tested by adversity soon afterwards as the young husband lost his job following the arrival of two kids, such that the wife had to resume her petty business to augment their income. That setback would mark a turning-point for the young dad as the desire to fend for his family sharpened his entrepreneurial instinct to become self-employed.

    Relying on his training in civil engineering at Yaba College of Technology, he soon launched a construction outfit. His diligence and knack for excellence, with obsession for details, marked him out in Lagos’ burgeoning real estate market in the countdown to Nigeria’s Independence in 1960 and the intensification of the indigenization policy. So much so that he caught the attention of the colonial authorities who recruited him to help out when the contractor engaged to build the pivotal Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) was stalling. Panic had gripped the government as the complex was already listed as the venue of the Independence ceremonies.

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    Pa Ibidapo delivered. So, rolled in more big contracts like the construction of the iconic Ahmadu Bello Way and Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road. These fat jobs immediately helped him secure a pre-eminent perch in the post-Independence construction industry as well as established him in the millionaire club.

    But admission into the club of the new rich in Lagos hardly altered the character of the Ibidapos, nor tempted Grandma to join the ostentatious high society for that matter. All through middle-age to the hoary years, her jewelry, for instance, remained unobtrusive. Such affinity with modesty, backed by shrewd investment in an extensive property portfolio during their active years, only helped secure a guarantee for her and her spouse to spend the remainder of their lives in relative comfort.

    For Grandma in particular, the ensuing financial freedom created more incentives to focus more on home-building. In fact, when her brood of four boys and three girls began to marry and have their own kids, she practically converted their Surulere home to a daycare centre. And that home, ornate upholstery, had a unique air around it: orderly like a barrack, serene like a monastery.

    Without hesitation, she chose to apportion to herself all the hard, dirty jobs. At a time, one of her grandchildren, a toddler, was diagnosed with a rare condition that required the diligent administration of Cod Oil for a minimum of nine months to heal. Whereas the parent soon began to loathe the idea of having to endure the foul-smelling portion daily, Grandma zestfully took over the task. And six months later, the kid was completely cured of the impairment.

    By continuing her life of sacrifice even at old age, she afforded her adult children the latitude to pursue their individual careers. They include Prof (Mrs.) Yemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU); Mr. Kunle Ibidapo, a retired pilot; and Mr. Tayo Ibidapo, a renowned accountant.

    Growing up, her last boy, Yinka, recalled: “Mum never tired of reminding of us in Yoruba to ‘Ranti omo eni ti iwo nse’ (remember the child of whom you are).”

    When Dr. Yemi later had to pursue a one-year post-doctoral fellowship in the U.S. in the 90s, for instance, it was Grandma that seamlessly took over the grueling job of raising her three young kids in her absence.

    For Grandma, the self-assigned chore of baby-sitting actually provided a unique opportunity to pass on the family values of honour, integrity and respect to the third generation of the Ibidapos. For them to, in the words of Albert Einstein, know the value of things, not hanker after things of value. Attested Mr. Tunji Bello, one of her sons-in-law, “If our children turned out well behaved with impeccable character, the credits surely go to Grandma for all her labour of love,” and, with a tinge of emotion, he added: “Once you married any of her children, you had become her own child to the extent of sometimes favoring in-laws over her own biological children.”

    On a personal note, being a fellow Arian, she took a special liking to this writer. Beginning as their tenant — first at a mini flat at Olateju (near Vono) and then a bigger apartment within their Surulere redoubt; later growing into the status of an adopted son. My transition from “downtown” Olateju to more respectable Surulere in the 90s actually resulted from a conspiratorial “packaging” masterminded by —who else? — Mr. Bello (then my editor at Concord Press doubling as elder brother and closest friend) based on “insider knowledge”.

    A vacancy was about to open up downstairs at the Surulere house. It was already a trying moment at Concord with irregular salaries following the incarceration of MKO, our publisher. Following Mr. Bello’s coaching to the letters, I then approached Daddy (Grandpa) and, summoning the effrontery (given that I was already in arrears of rent at Olateju), requested that I be permitted to transfer my tenancy from Olateju to Surulere on the bogus grounds that “I’m preparing to get married soon.”

    Ever so generous, Daddy didn’t just approve right away, but also wrote off my debt at Olateju on the presentation of a token as a mark of commitment for the new apartment. That “debt forgiveness” was his own way of demonstrating solidarity with June 12 since I was working for MKO then.

    Now, my new abode simply meant I had come directly under Grandma’s radar, day and night. For the five years I lived with them, I was in a position to observe the uncommon bond both Grandma and her lifelong partner shared: how Daddy never stayed outside beyond 6P.M. and, sometimes, overheard the old couple chatting till late into the night, every day.

    Their constantly looming shadows were, let me now confess, such a restraining influence on me as a young bachelor with a glamorous job as journalist, comfortable apartment and a nice car. As grandma herself once put it in one of our lighter moments together, it was such an enduring puzzle that I didn’t end up becoming her own son in law.

    That proximity only meant that for five years, I spent every Sunday evening in “fellowship” with Daddy upstairs in the company of Grandma, except when I was out of station or he was not in town. At such chat, I usually would update Daddy and Grandma on political trends during the week by drawing from my professional pouch as practicing journalist in exchange for Daddy’s often rich anecdotes on key issues in business and outstanding political figures in Nigeria’s history through the 60s, 70s, 80s, some of whom he interacted with personally.

    Of course, such outings by a member of “OPEC” had “serious implications” each time. Ever a generous host, Grandma always ensured steady supply of roast meat, adequately lubricated with sweating cold “barrels of crude” (Guinness), even when a “quorum” was not formed on account of the absence of the “Life President” (TB) and Comrade Kayode Komolafe (Vice President).

    Now fully “retired”, Daddy understandably abstained from indulging in the “lifting of crude oil”, though retaining his nominal title as the life chair of board of trustees of “OPEC”. It would seem consistent with her modest nature that Grandma categorically chose not to accept any honorary title from “OPEC”, despite all the invaluable support.

    On her own part, Grandma had her own unique ways of lightening things up during those convivial Sunday evenings by sometimes recalling her Romeo’s other very “naughty” pursuits in the province of love as a dashing yuppie around Lagos decades earlier.

    Only under those extraordinary circumstances did one get to hear Grandma’s cynical inflection of “Hmm” and, finger pointing accusatorially, refer to Daddy as “This Baba Landlord”. To which her now old Romeo laughed boyishly at the resurrected ghost of very classified memories. To Daddy’s pregnant laughter, Grandma would revert to her trademark: that knowing smile.

    Overall, it was a measure of Grandma’s very accommodating spirit that, for all the five years I lived with them, not once did she have cause to quarrel with or ever frown at me.

    Adieu, the ultimate headmistress of the Lagos “Grandma” school.

     

    –Odion is the Senior Technical Assistant on Media to the President.

  • How I survived assassins’ bullets -NNPP candidate

    How I survived assassins’ bullets -NNPP candidate

    • September 21, 2022 began like a normal day for Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, the immediate past commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Nasarawa State. There was no inkling of any danger sort awaited him until some gunmen opened fire on his car as he was returning from a visit he paid to some members of his Doma Sout1 Constituency displaced by flood.

    Abubakar, who is in his early 40s, had contested the Doma South Constituency’s House of Assembly ticket on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) before withdrawing his aspiration on the party platform to pick the ticket of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    He had temporarily relocated from Lafia, the state capital, to Doma South to canvass support from the grassroots. On the ill-fated day, he had called his family members to crack his usual jokes with them, after which he promised to see them on his return from the rural communities where he had gone to donate relief materials and cash to victims of floods within the communities he is seeking to represent.

    Musa then proceeded to the parts of Doma South where many communities were displaced and interacted with the people until late night to ensure that the relief items he donated were distributed as instructed.

    Satisfied with what he had seen, he departed the rural area and headed back to Doma main town when he sighted some heavily armed men on the road.

    That became the beginning of the aspirant’s trouble as the gunmen immediately opened fire on his car, pumping bullets into his stomach. Miraculously, he survived the attack until he was admitted into the intensive care unit of the hospital where he has since undergone several operations to remove some bullets that lurked in his body.

    Uneasy calm prevailed at the premises of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia when our correspondent visited as family members were seen in pensive mood. In the prevailing circumstances, it was an arduous task getting Musa to talk to our correspondent about his travails, particularly because he was in serious pains.

    Upon the reporter’s prompting, however, he spoke briefly about his ordeal and the miraculous way he survived the bullets of the gunmen he believed were assassins whose desire was to eliminate him.

    With tears rolling down his cheeks as he sat dejected on a wheelchair, Musa recalled that his seat in the car was riddled with bullets.

    He said he was returning from Rukubi to Doma town around 5:30 pm when the incident occurred.

    He said: “I am in pains, but I want to disclose to the world that on the 21st of this month, I went to Rukubi Town and donated relief materials including cash and other items to victims of flood disaster in my local government of Doma.

    “After the donation, I was going back from the town to Doma when about nine gunmen opened fire on me from different directions. The bullets hit my car from the front, which was blocked by my GSM handset, but they shot and hit me on my elbow and back.

    “The target was clearly me, as the gunmen shot directly in my direction, and I was badly affected by the bullets, which led me to conclude that they had only one objective: to eliminate me.

    “Forty-six bullets hit and penetrated my car. The incident occurred at about 5:30pm close to Igbabo Village about 20 kilometres to Doma Local Government Headquarters.

    “I was taken to the hospital where tens of pellets were removed from my body. It is just by God’s grace that I’m alive today.

    “If you look at the seat where I sat, you will appreciate the huge miracle? Bullets had gone into the seat where I was sitting. All those bullets would have been on my chest or head if not for God.

    “I insist that the perpetrators are high profile politicians outside my party.”

    Musa, who holds the traditional title of Dankaden Doma, said after he was shot, he accelerated the car and lowered his head. He said his car stopped when it had nearly reached Igbabo village where he came down an ran towards the people, calling for help.

    Following his call for help, some good Samaritans came to his aid by taking him on a motorcycle and rode for 20 kilometres to Doma  and then to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH ) in Lafia, the state capital.

    Hon Musa said he was thankful for the first aid provided by the people who used a cloth to tie him because of the blood he was losing.

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    At DASH, three bullets, including two from AK-47 bullets from his ribs and one metal ball from his back, were said to have been removed from his body. Doctors were  also said to have detected another bullet below his ribs while he still needs to undergo another surgery.

    He, however, expressed faith in God that he would not die unfulfilled.

    He said: “I believe that I have not accomplished the mission for which I was created. I won’t die without accomplishing my mission.

    “But why would somebody want to kill me? Why would somebody kill another person if truely politics is for service?

    “If people see politics as a call to service, there will be no need to spill blood to be in power. Those who see politics as their only engagement can be desperate.

    “I want to thank God that the devil is a liar and his children will always be protected. Thankfully, I’m still alive.

    “But this is a stark reminder that the 2023 political season has started and those who can not win on the field, will seek other ways to attain power.

    “Let me assure my well wishers and my supporters that untill I’m dead, what happened will not deterred me. Rather, it has made me more committed to the cause of representing them and their interest at the assembly.

    “I’m clearly a threat to a high profile politician in the state. But that high profile politician and his cohorts will soon be exposed.

    “In the mean time, I’m asking for prayers and support of my constituents.”

    The Executive Chairman of Doma Local Government, Architect Ahmad Sarki Usman, said: “When the news broke, I was shocked to hear of gunmen attacking people, especially at the peak of election. We are peace-loving people who do politics without bitterness.

    “I can confirm to you that the matter has been reported to the police authorities,” he said.

    The Police Public Relations officer (PPRO) Ramhan Nansel, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “I can confirm the attack on Hon Musa Ibrahim and we are investigating incident to get the perpetrators to face the law.”