The Nation Newspaper

Category: People & Politics

  • Second journey to armageddon (ii): Scandal rocks Libya returnees’ resettlement programme

    • Millions released for training, ID cards shrouded in controversy
    • Returnees accuse govt officials of stuffing beneficiaries’ lists with names of family members
    • Niger Delta Ministry, Senator roll out conflicting figures
    • Edo Attorney-General: returnees’ allegations unfounded

    Millions of naira meant for training young Nigerians recently repatriated from Libya and other foreign countries is enmeshed in a scandal.

    Supposed beneficiaries of the training in poultry and fishery organised for them in Edo and Oyo states are accusing government officials of hijacking the training for the benefits of their family members and other relations.

    Participants at the training programmes were meant to receive the sum of N300,000 each besides other benefits, but smart government officials replaced the names of many of the returnees with those of their relations.

    The aggrieved returnees are also accusing the Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce officials in the state of inflating an ID card contract executed by the body to their detriment.

    The trend has compounded the apprehension of many of the returnees who are now threatening to return to the perilous journey from which they were earlier rescued.

    For instance, some of the returnees who spoke with our correspondent claimed that they had no knowledge of a training programme organised for them in Ibadan and Benin, funded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    The lawmaker representing Edo South, Senator Mathew Uroghide, was said to have been involved in the project as part of his constituency project.

    One of the returnees, who identified himself as Fatai Yusuf, said he was not aware of the training programme despite the fact that the organisers had his telephone number

    Yusuf said: “I was not informed about any training by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Ibadan. They chose people who are related to them and picked women from different places to attend the training.

    “Everybody in the government house has my number. I told them to call me anytime they have something to do.

    “I used to leave Kano to go to Benin for training. If I could do that, is it Ibadan I would not be able to go? They can send me to Lagos to be asked useless questions on television.”

    Another returnee, who gave his name simply as Sunny, alleged that the training programme was only another opportunity by government officials to enrich themselves.

    He said: “Those people are only using our group’s name to sign out money from government’s purse. We didn’t benefit from the training.

    “This is our group and we know ourselves. They should make public the names of all the beneficiaries and let us see how many returnees are on the list.

    “I can bet that most of the names you will find on the list would be those of their relations and girlfriends.

    “This is a clear case of fraud and injustice, and we will resist it.”

    Another returnee, who gave his name as Sam, said: “This is a clear case of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.

    “We are daily agitating in the rain and in the sun on empty stomach while some people are exploiting our plight to enrich themselves, and you say we should continue to keep quiet. That will never be possible.”

    Sam also flayed the government officials for telling the public that many of them were invited for the training but they failed to turn up.

    He said: “We were surprised that they said they contacted us but we refused to go. They have the names and contacts of most of us.

    “We are more than 3,000, so there is no way they would reach out to 1,000 and at least 200 would not be willing to go. You can see through their lies.

    “If you multiply the sum of N300,000 received by each beneficiary by the total number of participants, you can guess what the figure will be.

    “This excludes the monies they collected and spent on feeding, transportation and accommodation during the two-week training.”

    Two other returnees, Ngozi Nwachukwu and Blessing Gabriel, also denied getting invitation to attend the controversial training.

    “I didn’t attend the training in Ibadan. They didn’t invite me and I have been quarreling with them over this,” Ngozi said.

    Blessing on her part said: “I was not aware of it and didn’t attend the training in Ibadan.”

    Niger Delta Ministry, Senator contradict each other on number of trained returnees

    In separate interviews with our correspondent, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Senator Uroghide gave conflicting figures about the sums involved and how many returnees benefitted from the programme.

    Both also declined comments on the total sum approved for the execution of the training programme.

    While the ministry said that a total of 104 returnees were trained, Uroghide said they were 200.

    Contacted, the spokesperson of the ministry, Stephen Kilebi, said he had been moved to another ministry but offered to get the necessary response for this reporter.

    He later called back and said: “The total of people trained is 104 for both Ibadan and Edo. They were trained in poultry and fishery. Each of them was given N300, 000 as starter pack. That was what the department told me.

    “The ministry would from time to time check to know if they are doing what they are meant to do with the training and the empowerment.”

    Asked what the total budget was, he said: “I would not be able to get that one because I am not even there. I am just trying to help you write your story.”

    When The Nation reached out to the Community Development Department of the ministry, using the mobile telephone number on the ministry’s website, a lady at the other end demanded to know what the reporter wanted.

    After explaining to her, she said the appropriate person to respond was not around.

    The reporter later called back but she responded angrily, saying: “You called me earlier and I told you that the person that was supposed to speak to you was not around.

    “Excuse me! I think I’m done with you. I have other things to do.”

    Contrary to the ministry’s claim that they trained 104 returnees, Uroghide said 200 returnees were trained.

    “The Libya returnees that were trained were actually 148.  The remaining 52 others were unemployed youths from Edo South, my constituency.

    “The ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was already training people in the region for one reason or the other.

    “As a member of the committee, I told them that some people came from Libya and that the government documented them.

    “Then they said the state government should submit the names of those returnees. The state submitted the list. Ninety-six names were sent but they found that some of them didn’t come.  These returnees are not in a camp. They are all around.

    “Then they had another 104, because it was not the same organization that did all the training. Fifty-two of them were Libya returnees and the other 52 were people in my constituency whose names I put together.”

    Corroborating the ministry’s remark on what the participants were paid, the lawmaker said: “The participants who were trained in fishery and poultry had got starter packs of N300,000 and had their money paid into their accounts by the government.

    “Twenty of the returnees whose names were on the submitted list didn’t report to Ibadan. When I was informed, I said I still have thousands of people who are waiting to be trained. We had to tell our youths to go and take the place of those that didn’t go.

    “Many of the returnees are not documented by the state government, so how would you know that they are returnees?

    “Even if we had taken all the returnees, we couldn’t have trained all of them because they are in thousands.

    “More trainings are coming and they must be properly coordinated.”

    Despite facilitating the training, Uroghide said he did not know how much was budgeted for it.

    “I don’t know the budget for the project. I don’t award contract. It is the Ministry of Niger Delta that will know that.

    “I don’t even know the people who facilitated it. If you ask the Director of Training in the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Ataya, he would be able to tell you.”

    Following the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Senator Uroghide’s inability to give the total budget for the controversial training, this reporter reached out to the Ministry of Finance to obtain the information. Calls to the mobile number of the spokesman of the ministry, Hassan Dodo, were neither answered nor replied. He, however, responded later via a text message after The Nation informed him about the unanswered calls and the purpose of calling him.

    “Hello Mr. Duru, I was held up in a long meeting where I went to represent my boss.

    The Permanent Secretary (PS) may likely help out on this, but he wears two big caps: that of the minister and his. These have, however, made him truly busy outside the office, but hope is not lost. Let’s see what happens tomorrow (Tuesday), please. Regards,” the text message read.

    Buoyed by the assuring tone of the  message, the reporter on Tuesday reached out to Dodo, trusting that the details of the budget would  be made available after exchanging pleasantries with him.

    But that did not happen as Dodo regaled the reporter with tales of how the two Permanent Secretaries working in that section have been very busy. One of them, according to him, is on pilgrimage. Asked if there was no other person that could provide the requested information aside from the permanent secretaries since the details of the budget must have been stored in the ministry’s computer.

    He said: “You know we have hierarchy in government. The permanent secretary, this one in particular is the accounting officer. It is even good I am discussing with you now verbally. If you had written to that effect, the letter wouldn’t have come to my office yet because he has to be there to sign and send it back to me. That is how the government runs and we cannot circumvent any of the processes.”

    When this reporter asked that it appears he would not be able to provide the information going by how he sounded, Dodo replied: “I wouldn’t know. Everybody has his or her own duties. Even the PS would most likely refer you to a particular director. I wouldn’t even know who he would be. He has to get a directive from him. Nobody would just act on his own, especially when it comes to talking with journalist. If the instruction comes from the PS or the minister, it would be immediately attended to.”

    Controversy dogs N7.4m ID card project

     

    Aside from the controversy over training, the returnees have also accused the anti-trafficking agency in the state of inflating the sum for the ID cards issued to about 3,000 members of the group.

    They claimed that the contract which gulped about N7.4 million was outrageous and another way that government officials have continued to feed fat on the group.

    Sam said: “The money they claimed to have used to produce ID cards is shocking. They claimed that one was done for N1,500 when an ID card costs between N300 and N500 here in Benin. If you now have to produce for as many as 3,000 people, the cost should even be lower.

    “I told you that our group has become their ATM card. Whenever they need money, they would use our names to get as much as they want. We need explanation on why the ID card project gulped so much.”

    Fatai also condemned the ID card, project, saying “I have the Go Getters ID card. I can print that ID card for N200 here in Aduwawa. Which useless ID card is that? Is it a military ID card or ambassadorial ID card?”

    Returnees’ allegations unfounded – Edo State Attorney General and taskforce chair 

    Edo State Attorney General and chairperson of the anti-trafficking taskforce, Prof Yinka Omoregbe, described the allegations of the returnees about the ID card project as baseless.

    Responding to our reporter’s request for the total money spent on the ID card project, Omoregbe said: “I can’t remember the exact amount, but please do your arithmetic. An ID card for N1,500 that gives you a data base is not a N100 ID card. The ID card has a data base attached to it.

    “If I want to look for anything for my family, it is not all this. I come from one of the most educated families in Edo State. My father was the first Benin graduate and lawyer. He had an unblemished reputation. I will not be the child to bring it down for anything.

    “My mother as well is a medical doctor. I was also in NNPC as secretary to the corporation and legal adviser. I left there with my name intact.

    “I am an energy lawyer, and in energy law, it is not naira they pay. I don’t have money but my reputation is intact.

    “It is a non-issue, and how it is generating all the noise, I sincerely don’t know. It is absolutely a non-issue. ”

    Also responding to the returnees’ allegation about the controversial training, she said: “I have known Senator Uroghide since, and he is a childhood friend of my husband. He is a PDP senator. If I was not there, would a PDP person call an APC person to bring people for training?

    “They called the returnees, but if what you are calling them for is not next door to their house, they wouldn’t go.

    “For example, Junior’s Hub, one of our trainers, has rented a place where people are supposed to go and set up their business in the GRA, but because they don’t live around there, they didn’t go.

    “I have been telling them that they have to move to their market because that is where they would make their money.

    “When they called the returnees for the training, they said they didn’t have money to go because it was taking place in Ibadan. About 12 of them who were smart went there.

    “The organisers gave money for transportation, money for feeding every day while they were there for two weeks, and at end of the day,  they gave each of them N300,000.

    “When the ones that didn’t go heard this, they all went very crazy, saying that task force people must have put their relations there. When I heard it, I went mad.

    “I don’t know how many people’s names were sent for the training. Once I get something, I pass it to the secretariat.

    “I didn’t even add a human being to the list.  I would only add if I see a traumatised person and I may have done this once or twice.

    “If they want to investigate the names of people that attended the training, let them do that. It is curses that come on the head of the person who bites the hand that has fed him.

    “That is just what they are putting upon themselves by abusing the state government and the task force.”

    A Lagos printer, Ken  Ikpowonsa, who was shown a soft copy of the  controversial ID cards, said it does not have any features of a database card.

    “This is just an ordinary plastic card. A database card would ordinarily have microchip that can be used to get information about the owner when  slotted into a computer. This particular one should not cost more than #300 if the number to be produced is much.”

  • How my nomination as monarch divided Anyim, Ajimobi, others —Osun monarch Oba Abolarin

    Youthful looking traditional ruler of Oke Ila Orangun Osun State, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, is a modern day monarch in every sense of the word. He had trained as a lawyer and built a career in the legal profession before he became the Personal Assistant on Political Affairs to former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim. Then he got a call from his kinsmen in Ila Orangun to return home and become their monarch. The self-confessed lover of R&B music told PAUL UKPABIO the events that culminated in his emergence as a royal father, why he has not given up on style and why he still teaches History and Government in secondary school even as a monarch.

    Could you recall where you were the day you learnt that you would become the next traditional ruler of Oke-Ila Orangun?

    I was in Abuja, working as the Personal Assistant on Political Affairs to the then Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim. The news came to me as a shock because it was the last thing on my mind. As a matter of fact, I never thought that such a thing could happen to me in this lifetime.

    But you knew all along that you are from a royal family?

    That is true. But it just didn’t come to mind. It is not something that I remembered or had in mind, especially for someone like me who was already set for leadership at the national level in the country.

    What were the first thoughts that came to your mind?

    They were difficult thoughts. I didn’t know where to start from because there were so many things that came to mind. The call was sudden.

    What was the immediate reaction of your immediate family?

    For a whole year, the reaction was not so pleasant because it was unexpected. I became hypertensive. There was unhappiness in my nuclear family and even my extended family. My mom too was not in tune with it until after a long time.

    But why so?

    We were not prepared for it. I had prepared for leadership and my family knew that, but not at the traditional level. But then, what will be, will be. Leadership at any level is sacrifice, tolerance and service.

    Did your family later have a change of mind?

    Yes, but that was after a long period time. And I must confess that it led to one or two negative things in the family, which I do not readily discuss. But it is all the sacrifice for being on the throne.

    What happened immediately you got the news?

    I had to move immediately. But it was a different experience entirely for my family. I never liked a dull environment. I had always been an active person in terms of activism and participation in national affairs. I did not go to school to become a monarch. I didn’t even wish it for myself. I rejected it in my heart, but again, the pressure started to mount. My predecessor had joined his ancestors and it was the turn of my family to present a candidate for the Orangun of Oke Ila. Eventually, I became the king.

    I was someone who was looking to serve at a different level, but here was another service that I was called upon to take on. What I have realised about life is that you don’t run away from service, despite the fact that I didn’t wish it for myself.

    Where did you grow up?

    I was born and bred in Ibadan. I had never spent seven days at a stretch in Oke-Ila before I became the king. It was a different kettle of fish when I got here as the king.

    So after a decade as the royal father, how would you describe the journey?

    I will actually be 12 years on the throne in December of this year. Like I said earlier, service is service. If you are ordained by God to actively shape people’s destinies, you should be happy. I thank God for the opportunity because I have found myself in a place where I change the attitude of a people, mould and re-direct their future, using the past to build a template for the future. It is a wonderful experience.

    But again, it is not all a bed of roses in terms of followership. It is difficult for people to change their erstwhile patterns of life. I have realised that it has to be gradual. Development itself is gradual. But all said and done, I am happy doing what I am doing.

    While you were working in Abuja, was becoming a full blown politician on your mind?

    Not really. I was not in politics. I was working as a professional lawyer. However, I was very close to the political class by virtue of my training as a political scientist, a scholar of International Relations and a lawyer who was interested in the development of the parliament. I was a lobbyist and a legislative attorney. I had the choice to mingle with the political class and the people who were interested in shaping the polity.

    Didn’t some of your friends think that going to Oke Ila to become the Oba would be a waste of your educational attainments?

    Yes, a lot of my friends in the political class thought so. The then Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, who was my boss, never liked the idea. The present Minister of National Planning too, did not like the idea. But in fairness, there were some other people who I also consulted in Abuja, who fell in love with it and said that service at any level is service. That it is not only when I stay in Abuja, New York, Toronto or Canada that I can be of service to the people. They said being at Oke-Ila would also be a service to the people. Some of the people who urged me on were Senator Ajimobi, the present Governor of Oyo state, the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University who later became a Senator and other well experienced scholars of the bible said it is important for people like me to be in leadership at the traditional level so that we can gradually re-construct the institution for the good of the people.

    After 12 years as a traditional ruler, what do you think of the traditional institution?

    I think it is a great institution to develop our people in social, political and economic areas. We are the grassroots people. A whole lot of us have left our people for too long in terms of provision of leadership. When I got here, I found that it is a place where I have to think of development from the bottom and not from the top.

    As one who has seen the world and had developed a cosmopolitan taste to comfortably resettle in Oke-Ila means that there must be something unique about the place. What is the unique thing about Oke-Ila?

    Man itself, the epicentre of development even in his rustic form, is an attraction here. And to change the mentality of the people is tough and challenging. But the Yoruba say that ibi t’o ba le la n b’omokunrin (it is in tough situations that you find the real man). It is challenging. But to the glory of God, we are here.

    You have always been a man of style. Has life in the palace affected your sense of style?

    I have been a lawyer. But even before becoming a lawyer, I did not joke with style and looking good. I’ve kept my style. I enjoy looking good, and as a Yoruba monarch, I have a sense of responsibility to look good and project the advancement of the Yoruba culture and tradition in terms of style.

    What vanities of life can you not be without even when you are in Oke Ila?

    (Laughs) There are two important things that I do not joke with. I don’t joke with my sunglasses; it’s a Rayban, and my Aramis cologne, not only in Oke Ila but every other place that I am. These are two things I got used to early in life.

    What part of the arts appeal to you?

    I listen to all sorts of good music. I like R & B. I love the kind of music that my children are producing these days; they all make sense to me. I don’t joke with my son Davido’s music. There is beauty in our culture and there’s greatness in our language. The rustic nature of our Oke-Ila is beautiful; it is the most beautiful place in the world. There is waterfall, lush greenery; the environment is beautiful and lovely to be tapped into as a lucrative tourist destination. It is very good for rural tourism. A lot of our children do not even know what cocoa pod is.

    We hear that you own a school and the students don’t pay school fees…

    None of the students in my school pays a dime. The school is totally free. I beg people, friends to assist in one way or another to send the children to school. At the last count, we had 94 rural indigent students. And to the Glory of God, in the coming school year when we will be having children in SS2, we are going to have 114 in the school. It is a boarding school. What we are doing at Abolarin College is our humble contribution to the society. I actually teach in the school. I teach them Government and History because I am conscious of the fact that we want to raise great leaders among the poor.

    It generally believed that a traditional ruler is entitled to as many wives. How have you managed to handle women who try to be your wife?

    The choice is mine as a king or royal. It is a fundamental right of each soul to practice and do what he wants to do. I am okay with my Olori (wife). With the 114 projected students that I will be looking after, there is no way I will be able to consider having multiple Oloris. I cannot afford it. Culture is not static; it is dynamic. I am thinking of the future. I want a glorious future for the children around me. I want Nigeria, through these children, to be the best place in the world. It is doable. All hands should be on deck. The fear of children school fees has made me not to seek more Oloris.

  • Why girl-child education is hindered in the North – Founder of Nasarawa-based Radio Wadada

    Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Nasarawa, in the lower legislative chamber between 2003 and 20011, speaks with KUNLE AKINRINADE about his early life, his reasons for establishing an FM radio station in his hometown, the girl-child education and other issues of national interest.

    At what point did you decide to go into partisan politics?

    My going into politics dated back to my growing up days. I had always been the rallying point within my environment since my boyhood. In my primary school years, I was a prefect, and in my secondary school too, I was a prefect. Twice, I was the director of socials of Keffi Students Union, when I was at the Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa, where I earned both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration and Management. I was the founder and coordinator of Association of Better Keffi. My going into politics was largely influenced by my concern for a better situation in my society, and the country at large.

    Were there challenges you faced in your early life?

    Well, there is no life that is not faced with challenges. However, my own community, Keffi, has never been a village. Keffi has been a cosmopolitan community from time immemorial. My primary school in Keffi was attended by the people I can refer to as my grandfathers. So, Keffi is quite an historical town. But that does not mean that I did not face challenges in my growing up days.

    In terms of infrastructure and facilities that could make life meaningful, I had access to them in Keffi while I was growing up. The only thing that I could not see or enjoy in Keffi was full fledged electricity. Before I even completed my primary school, electricity was not available. So, after my primary education in Keffi, I went to Jos for my secondary education and I had the privilege of enjoying modern life with electricity.

    What informed your decision to establish a radio station in Keffi?

    Having been a humble player within my local community, my local government, my state and the country at large, I came to the conclusion that in most of the events that happened in our terrain, the low level of education and enlightenment of our people is what politicians take advantage of. I saddled myself with the responsibility of ensuring that my core focus is electorate enlightenment and education. And talking about enlightenment, you cannot underestimate the role of radio stations. When I acquired the radio licence, I decided to establish the radio station in my hometown so that it could be closer to the people, and that makes it faster and convenient for programmes to be rolled out so as to deepen and grow public enlightenment in the country.

    In what way have you been able to uplift the education sector in your state?

    The only thing you can give your people to make their lives better is education. I have also discovered that the privileges I enjoy today were through the education I received. I went to public schools when I was growing up, and they were good schools. But the conditions of public schools today, not only in Nassarrawa State but in the entire country, are appalling. So, during my sojourn in the National Assembly, I came up with an educational foundation to cater to the needs of children with less-privileged educational backgrounds so they can acquire good education.

    Again, I know that you cannot be really appreciated as a leader if you are not close to the people. Therefore, I have developed a kind of bonding with my people by getting closer to them and by being there for them at all times. The only oxygen mask at the Federal Medical Centre in Nasarrawa State was procured for the hospital by me. I know that I cannot really mention all that I have done for my people right now, but I have been able to touch the lives of so many people in the state. So my records speak for me.

    What was the motive behind your decision to establish a polo club in the state?

    My understanding of good modern day leadership is that you either take civilisation to people or take people to civilisation. For my immediate environment to enjoy good things, I decided to leverage on Polo in order to open my community, Keffi, to the rest of the world. I host two polo tournaments yearly in my community to support education and to support orphans. Permit me to say that each time we organise the tournament, players come from foreign countries, including Dubai, South Africa and England. So, that is one of my key contributions to the development of my community and my people. However, I believe that Polo is the only sport that can make a difference in my community because I could not have taken football there and expect any difference. And for me, my perception about life is that anything that would not make a difference to my life and immediate environment is not worth going into.

    That Polo is an elite sport is a wrong perception and that was one of the reasons I decided to take the game to my community in order to discountenance such notion about the game. There are many good Polo players in the country who cannot speak good English, and that is enough to disabuse the mind of anybody that perceives Polo to be for only the elite.

    There has been agitation for the upliftment of the girl- child education in the country, especially in the northern part where Nasarawa is located. What’s your take on this?

    What has been hindering the educational development of the girl- child in the northern part of the country is just religious ignorance. As a Muslim, I know that Prophet Mohammed (SWA) says that when you educate your daughters, you educate the nation. So, it is unfortunate that that is happening in the northern part of the country to date. But like I told you, I have an education foundation that sponsors children of low privileged educational background, and also that I have been staging two Polo tournaments to support education and orphans. So, we have been contributing our own quota to educational development, which encompasses girl – child and others in the society. You were once a governorship aspirant in your state. Will you throw your hat into the ring again as the 2019 elections approach?

    I am the aspirant to beat in the APC and the candidate to beat in the governorship race, because I have always been in touch and socialise with my people. As a matter of fact, I established both the radio station, Maloney FM, the polo club and my farm in Keffi after I left the House of Representatives in 2011, and I have bonded well with my people. So, there is really nothing for me to fear.

    Vying for elective position does not start and end with being declared the winner; communicating constantly with the people is far more important. So, Insha Allahu, I will be victorious this time too. No juggernaut is greater than God to determine my fate. And I am the candidate to beat because of my antecedents in Nassarrawa State. I am not just coming out from the blue. Within my senatorial district, I am the most experienced politician with track records for the post of governor, and no one can contest that.

    You mentioned earlier that you established a farm in Keffi. What kind of crops do you grow there?

    We have cabbage, tomatoes and animal husbandry section where we rear cattle. So, it’s basically fruit production and animal husbandry that we do there.

    How do you juggle your political career with family obligations?

    Well, I have a very understanding family that knows what it means to be in politics. They attend my rallies with me, hence, I have been able to manage the two very well. When it is time for politics, I play it and give it the fullest of my time. And when it is time for my family members I equally give them the time that they need. So I have been able to reconcile both in such a way that politics has not taken anything away from my private life.

  • Biblical Esther is my role model —Ms Nigeria United Nations

    Ms Nigeria United Nations, Hadassah Ibinyingi Alaputa, spoke with OKORIE UGURU about her life as a beauty queen, her motivation and her desire to impact positively on the society. Excerpts:

    What would you say of your background?

    I am a beauty queen; the Ms United Nation Nigeria. I am also a make-up artist and event manager. I hail from Rivers State, Bonny to be precise. My mum is Kalabari. I am an Ijaw woman. I grew up in Port Harcourt and studied Mass Communication at the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. I have an advanced diploma in broadcasting and presentation. Currently, I am the executive director for Hope for Single Mothers Initiative. I am also the founder of Girls with a Purpose International Network.

    What is Ms Nigeria United Nation all about?

    It is a very unique pageant with different categories. You have the Miss, the Mrs. and the Ms. They also have Miss Tourism, Miss Teen. The United Nation pageant Nigeria is a pageant that brings people from all over Nigeria under one platform to share ideas, initiate projects just like what the United Nations stands for: peace, love within your community and so on. The pageant looks out for young women who would work diligently within the community and impact positively on it.

    What prompted you to contest the Ms Nigeria United Nation pageant?

    While growing up, I always wanted to be a beauty queen, but one with a difference.

    One with a difference?

    Yes, when I decided that I wanted to be a beauty queen, I had to make a lot of research about beauty queens; I mean real royal queens. So, I was actually able to identify the things that can actually make me different or outstanding. The United Nations beauty pageant had been there for a long time, but Nigeria started participating in 2015.

    One thing I love about the United Nations pageants is that there are different categories of beauty queen. Secondly, they don’t do the bikini stuff…

    But some people would ask what a beauty contest is without the bikini segment.

    No, I am not comfortable with that. I wouldn’t like to do that. That is my personal opinion.

    That means if there was a bikini call you would not have contested?

    Yes.

    Is there any special reason for that?

    I can’t just expose my body to everybody in the name of beauty pageant. I believe more in inward beauty than outward one. That was why I made a lot of research about real beauty queens. Who were they? What was their role and what were their responsibilities as beauty queens? So, I have a different opinion about beauty queens.

    And what is your opinion?

    Beauty queens are not prostitutes; they are role models. Beauty queens are leaders who must be intelligent enough to make impact and touch people’s lives. That is one of the reasons beauty pageants are created. Take Queen Esther in the bible for example. That is my role model and that is the manual for the things that I do and stand for. You are beautiful, yes, but you are there to touch lives. You are there to make a difference.

    How well have you been able to fulfill these ideals using the platform that you have now?

    I enrolled for some training programmes to prepare myself because I wanted to be an outstanding beauty queen. I had to get involved in things that would build me up, so I enrolled in a finishing school. I also got some training on public speaking, effective communication and leadership skills. I have also started working on my projects. My focus is on unmarried teenage mothers in our society. I realised that we have a lot of young girls who have children or are pregnant but nobody is responsible for them or they have been abandoned by whoever got them pregnant.

    You would also find that a lot of our young girls find themselves in abusive relationships and they are not able to move forward. They are no longer able to accomplish their dreams and goals because of these abusive relationships or because of their children. My focus is to inspire these young girls to dream again. Yea, you had a dream before but something happened and it failed. You don’t need to dwell on self-pity. You keep depending on people to support you? No, you can actually do something for yourself.

    That is why I called it Girls with a Purpose International Network. It is for young girls. It is a character building social organisation and an advocacy club for girls. We use the platform to teach our girls what is their true  purpose in life. You have to identify that early enough so that even if you had distractions along the way, you still fall back to who you are. I have been able to reach out to 14 communities in Rivers State and I have over 400 girls that have identified with my organisation. My vision is to inspire every young Nigerian girl. I also want to make people realize that beauty queens are not just what they think.

    What do people think they are?

    A lot of people think that beauty queens are just beauties without brains, who do not know why they are there and no impact.

    There have been issues with beauty queens in the past to make the society form this kind kind of opinion about them. We’ve had cases of sex scandals and so on. Don’t you think these affect the society’s perception of beauty queens and pageantry?

    Of course, it does. It also affects the young girls that are coming up, because once they see that this is what is happening out there, they are not encouraged. Even parents discourage their children from participating if they have that ambition. But I think individuals can make the difference, no matter the perception people have. I believe it is time for us to start building new beauty queens. This is one of the areas I am going to focus on.

    Let’s talk about your dress sense. What influences what you wear?

    Whatever cloth I am going wear has to be beautiful, elegant and must be worn for a purpose. That is what I stand for. In your dressing, you have to be purposeful. I also love simplicity. What I wear also must be something that I am comfortable in and I could go to anywhere with it. You know, there are clothes you put on that you cannot attend certain functions in. As a beauty queen, you have to look responsible and approachable.

    How do you deal with male admirers?

    I have been able to cope with them. You have to be nice, polite, sociable and, at the same time, set a standard for yourself.

    So, you are choosy in terms of where you go?

    Of course. A queen cannot be found anywhere.

  • Some PDP leaders deserve to be flogged –APC’s Deputy National chair Segun Oni

    Some PDP leaders deserve to be flogged –APC’s Deputy National chair Segun Oni

    The Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship hopeful in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, told select journalists why he wants to run for the coveted seat. The former governor also touched on some national issues, especially the kind of governance visited on the nation by the former President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, with a verdict that all those who participated in Jonathan’s government deserve to be punished publicly. PAUL UKPABIO was there.

    You were once a governor in Ekiti State. What was the experience like?

    It was very interesting. I contested for governorship because I had ideas that I wanted to try out. So, I was very excited that I had an opportunity to try out those ideas. They worked, and I’m very grateful to God for that.

    If given the chance to be the governor again, what would you want to correct?

    Most of the ideas that we had, had been abandoned. The only thing that might need my immediate correction is the micro-credit scheme that we did. We are not going to bring micro credit back the way we did it before, but definitely, we have to do something to give people access to credit, which is what one was trying to achieve. The scheme would undergo complete repackaging. What is important for me now is new thinking. All over the world, we have not given enough attention to young people. We are bringing children into the world and their standard of living is much lower than our own, but we are not bothered. We want to survive first before we think of our children. Time is ticking. This is not an Ekiti problem. It is not a Nigerian problem. It is a problem for all humanity. That is why you see people, out of frustration, being trafficked. The trafficked person is first and foremost a frustrated person. Even when you tell them, don’t allow yourself to be trafficked, a frustrated person wants a way out. Whether that way is reasonable or not is not his immediate concern. Many of them pay to be ferried across the Meditarenean, and they know that not more than one in two would get to the destination. Some even go through the desert where they are exposed to extreme danger and some die in the process. But they are not bothered. And if you check their age, the average age of these desperate people is below 40. So, it is the failure of our system not only in Nigeria but the world over. We must provide for the younger generation. Even if you look at the so-called terrorists, what is their age? They are young people. If you look at the one that we call home boy terrorists, which nobody wants to admit to that they are homeboy terrorists; the guy who on his own enters a night club, brings out his pistol and decides to level up a few heads before he is over-powered. They would say he is not a terrorist but has gone bunkers. The guy who all on his own drives into a crowd and he is not a jihad terrorist, he is definitely going to be a home boy terrorist. What is their average age? It must have suggested that they are people who are in their productive years but are frustrated. The energy they would have used to serve themselves and humanity, is what they are diverting to all that. So, this is the time for us to call for attention to the plight of the youth, and we are not going to do that by singing on the pages of newspapers. We have to create an opportunity here to affect the youth, to make the youth a frontline agenda and to do our own martial plan for the youth. That, for me, is the most interesting challenge I want to go for. I’m not saying I know the answer, but they are beginning to come from people I have thrown this question to and were challenged also that yes, we can solve this problem. That is more important to me than building roads. Nobody has built more roads than me in this state. I did the blue hospital. I did the best eye hospital in Africa here in Ekiti, and in the short period it operated, it recovered many sights, both from within the South- West and all over Nigeria; even from outside the country.

    People say it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo who imposed you as governor the first time you came. What is the story behind your emergence at that time?

    When we were going to have the primaries or before the primaries, three years before the primaries, I was doing micro credit. I started a free JAMB forms and lecture in the state. Every year, I was giving qualified people free JAMB forms and 15 weeks of coaching in every local government. I was paying. If you do your arithmetic, you will discover that it runs into millions of naira. So, I’m sure the delegates picked my name� by goodwill. After the JAMB, I started a scholarship scheme, because many of them did well in JAMB and needed to go to the university. In terms of goodwill, I have never had any coma or dent in my career. I worked at Xerox and many places. So, if there is any screening about who will be the party’s candidate, I don’t think I will fail it. But you would remember that the PDP had been embarrassed by the fact that it had to support the determination of the tenure of a governor here and they think that okay, we are not just going to do with primary, we would combine the primary with the assessment of the individuals. Chief Ropo Adesanya was the Chairman of the party at that time. Unfortunately, before the primary, he had a problem and he was on crutches. On the day of the primary, he climbed the dais to address all the aspirants, and he said it very clearly that the party had said he should address us that the primary was not everything; it would be combined with the assessment of individuals to know who would represent the party. So, 1, 2, 3 and after three, I think the next gap was more than 500 marks between me and the next person who came fourth. If they exercised what they had told us about and they now picked one person, how does that become an imposition? I was there when they opened the ballot box. There were three boxes, and I had more than 40 per cent, and we were about 16 contestants. I had more than 40 per cent of the call in the first box, and they stopped. They met. I don’t know what they discussed. But some of them are still alive. Immediately I saw that, I believed that they had made their decision. It was not local government voting, so you cannot say that delegates were not voting according to their local governments. We had just three ballot boxes for the 16 of us. You just dropped your ballot in any of the three boxes. By the time they resumed, the story changed. The guy who was representing me was very naive. He was not conversant with the procedure. He was not asking to see what was going on. He was just calling and calling, and what I heard was that, that was when the people did whatever they had to do. But I never complained and I did not say anything. So, I believe, and I’m saying this now, that I didn’t lose that primary. If I was not made the governor, I would not have also talked about it. Immediately I was told the result, I asked my team to go inside our save and take N1 million and give to the person who came first, because it should be normal that the person who came first is the one we are all going to support. The primary was not conclusive. Because to be conclusive, you have to score more than 50 per cent. None of us scored as much. Yinka Akerele scored the highest, Prof. Ojo followed and I came third. Oni from Okemesi came fourth. And I said they should go and give N1 million to Akerele, and I told my people to also give him two buses, because I would say that we were the most prepared of the groups that were there. I also told my people to let us go round and thank all our delegates and tell them that this is the person you will vote for at the gubernatorial election. But eventually, that was not to be. I think the lesson for me is that human beings can only strive, it is only God that can strike. And if He strikes, nobody has an option. I’m saying this for the first time. I don’t mind the controversy, but individuals will justify their actions. So, when I kept hearing that I was imposed, it sounded so annoying. Because on rating basis, which of the candidates would have rated higher than me? What had they put in the lives of other people, young or old, that would have made them rate higher than me? So, if I rated number one in goodwill, and I was number three by the result of the primary, what stops me from being number one? And I don’t think I was number three. But let us assume I was number three, what stopped me from being number one? Let me also say categorically, until I became the candidate, I was not close to Baba Obasanjo. People would just say all sorts of things without being fair to the old man. He was doing what was best for the party so that the party would not have a candidate that would go the way of the previous person in future. I was not imposed by Obasanjo. Anybody who wants to counter all have said now is free and we would talk. But in terms of goodwill, I was number one. Let us also not forget that the primary is supposed to be an indication of popularity, because the party did not want to risk giving its ticket to somebody who could not win an election. And then at that time, the people of the state knew who was in the best position to command votes. More than 10,000 candidates benefited from the free JAMB forms and coaching for the three years the programme lasted. And also in our strategy room, we said if every person who benefited was 18 years and above, let us assume that they would have parents and two other siblings. So if you assume that five votes would come on account of one beneficiary, that is 50,000 plus votes. The number of votes you needed then to be governor of Ekiti, and it is not much different now, was not up to 200,000. So it means my personal goodwill was already worth more than a quater of the votes, whether I’m in party A or party B. So, people who decided this thing knew what they were doing. Ask any other person who wants to querry it what was in the basket of the goodwill of any other person. I don’t want to keep talking this way. That I’m quiet does not mean that what they are saying is true. It is not true. And if the party wants to take a decision again tomorrow on this same issue, I believe that they would have taken the decision they took.

    There is this story making the rounds that your governorship ambition is being backed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. How true is this?

    I’m being backed first by God. And let me say very clearly that nobody could have achieved what we are seeing on the field now, if he does not have the backing of God. And I believe, I will be backed; note my answer, I will be backed by Asiwaju Tinubu. I will be backed by Baba Akande, just as I know that I will be backed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and also by the Vice President and by everybody who wants the party to win and have a good run here. I am not backed yet, but I will be backed, and I’m working towards that. But I’m not backed by anybody yet. I’m backed only by God the Almighty. But it is a very good run so far.

    You were known to belong to the PDP before you crossed over to the APC. Recently there was this statement made by someone that APC’s governorship ticket is not for somebody who does not have a progressive background, which was believed to be a veiled reference to those who defected from other parties. What is your reaction to this statement?

    My reaction would be to ask who has a progressive background? Fortunately, I have been governor of this state. What is progressive politics? Progressive politics is about care and attention to the under-privileged. It is about equity and equitable distribution. When I was governor of this state, I was the first to start a scholarship scheme. There was no scholarship scheme before I came to this place. The state that was then called Fountain of Knowledge. I started the scholarship scheme. Bursary was the only thing the state was doing, and I told the local governments to take over bursary and they were doing it. So, in addition to bursary, we have scholarship. I introduced subsidy for parents in terms of nutrition for their children twice a week with chocolate tea and egg. Yet I’m not a progressive, I did free health care. I introduced quarterly free surgeries and we had more than 2,000 people who underwent surgeries, who are alive today but would not have been alive. Yet I’m not a progressive. I abolished the practice of carrying bench and desk to school and ensured that every pupil had full complement of desks and benches. I ensured that every school had full complement of library, and not just ensured that free textbooks were given to students at senior and junior secondary, we opened the gate to ensure that the rich and the poor had equal level of access. Yet I’m not a progressive. I recruited more than 4,000 people into the civil service in one day, and I said it must be by merit. I did not appoint one and I did not allow my colleagues to do. I said everybody whose child had the advantage should take the advantage because I wanted equity. Yet I’m not a progressive. I can just continue. Things that meant subsidy, openness, fairness were and still my principles. If Baba Awolowo was a progressive because he did education, education was virtually free here then. I was supplying free textbooks, free food and furniture. Other people who are progressives, what would they have done? And if anybody is a progressive and he’s running for this election, we should show what they have done for the people. Even before I became anything, I told you about free JAMB, free coaching and scholarships. So let all the progressives who are contesting show their credentials. What did they do, whether they were in public office or not? I did not respond because I thought it was not worth responding to. But then, it was not because I don’t have progressive credentials. I believe that without mincing words, nobody faults my credentials.

    In view of the southern agenda in the state, how are you going to overcome the mounting opposition to your ambition?

    Well, I would say that, that agitation is legitimate and fair, because you cannot preach brotherliness when some people are feeling short-changed. But I want to say very clearly that every opportunity at contesting election in this state, I have never excluded any zone. It wasn’t that people from a particular zone were asked not to contest. All the three contested before me and against me. Right from when Otunba Adebayo contested, there were only three parties. Incidentally, the three gubernatorial candidates came from the three zones: Otunba Adebayo from the Central won; Prof. Adeniran from the North came second and Dr Olowoporoku from the South came third, and that was the first governorship election in the state. There has never been a time when any zone was excluded. But even then, I believe it is our responsibility as leaders to prepare a marshal plan to help our brothers and sisters to have access to it. But for us now as a party, as APC, the most important thing is to win and take power; it is not to allocate power and lose it. If we allocate and lose it, God forbid, we would have done ourselves a very grave injustice. I believe that we should be looking for who can win for us, not necessarily where that person comes from. I will tell you that in terms of love for the south, those who are talking, including those from the south, would need to labour to prove their love for the south over and above what I have done. When I was governor, apart from the deputy governor, the three most important positions in the state were held at the same time by people from the south: the positions of minister, speaker of the House of Assembly and Secretary to the Government. It had never happened. It didn’t happen before me and it did not happen after me. So, the people of the south would know that I’m indeed a friend. If I was born there, I would not do more than that. Apart from that, I was a member of the PDP and around 2012, I was informed that PDP survey showed that my reputation was intact and that I have tremendous goodwill. Therefore, the party will find it more convenient to have me run for election for them, but I said no, I would not run. They asked why I would not run and I told them to go back to Ekiti, ask for Adeyeye, Bejide, Aluko 1 and Aluko 2. They said who are these people? I said Aluko 1 is the former Deputy Governor of the state while Aluko 2 is a former Senator. Pick any of those four and I will back them and I would work ruthlessly hard to deliver that person. All these people that are talking, how many of them would be offered the governorship ticket of a state on a platter and he would look away? I looked away because I felt we should go in there, but I learnt a lesson: it is only what you have in your hand that you can give out, otherwise you waste it. That is why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m doing this out of conviction. I don’t want us to waste this opportunity. So I believe that if I run, I would win. I don’t know of any other person.

    There is this insinuation that you are planning to defect back to the PDP…

    Let me say this, it is good that all these questions are coming in. But if I were the one they are telling outside, I would ask how did they know? Did you attend a meeting with him, where he planned the evil? People who are saying these are exhibiting what I would call low intellect. Why will I be trying to go back to PDP? Did I owe PDP money which I have to go and pay to them? Why will I be going there? I have been here. We fought the PDP out of power with everything we have got. Many of these people who are talking were either bystanders, people who didn’t believe in the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari and who are now trying to find ways of rubbishing people who believe. Let me tell you, wherever I am, is where I am. I am a member of the APC and by the grace of God the Deputy National Chairman. I don’t know any other party. People have asked me. They have come to me to say these people who are trying to tarnish your image, why don’t you show them where the people of Ekiti are by leaving this party? Pick any party, we would support you. And I said to them, don’t come here to insult me. I said honour is the greatest virtue, I said if I don’t pick this ticket, I would not go to any other party. I don’t have a plan B. They would say let’s have a plan B, me, I don’t have a plan B. My plan A is APC. My plan B is APC. If there is a plan C, it will be APC. That is me, because I’m not desperate. Why would I be desperate? I know that honour has no equivalent. So if anybody says he will go to the PDP, the question you should ask is, did he tell you so? Did you hold a meeting with him?

    Do you have any romance with Governor Ayo Fayose?

    Romance? How can I have a romance with a man? I don’t have any political relationship with him. But I regard everybody as a brother. I don’t have enemies. One of the things people see in my politics is that I don’t have enemies. I try as much as possible to affect people positively, because access to me is very simple and easy. Even by my opponents. So, if anybody is talking of me having a romance with Governor Fayose, that is not true.

    You are the most attacked aspirant in APC. Are you comfortable with this or what do you think is responsible for that?

    If I were not the most attacked aspirant, I would be afraid, because I’m the leader, the one in front. You want somebody to be throwing stones backward as we are running? He would be throwing his stones forward. Whoever is in front of him, he would throw his stones at. So, I’m not surprised. I’m not discouraged. That is the way it should be. I should be attacked by everybody coming behind, throwing their stones at me, trying to malign me, trying to lie against me, and so on. It is only me who has a responsibility to show maturity. I should not attack anybody. In fact, other than clarifying issues, I should not throw stones at anybody. I should not malign anybody. Who would I be throwing stones at? I’m not surprised. I’m not angered by it. Except that I can always take time to explain issues away, so that they don’t become facts. That is why I’m even saying some of these things, because when falsehood becomes translated into different languages, it is fast becoming a fact and you must curb it. That is why I have taken time to respond to the issues you have raised.

    If given the APC ticket, how do you hope to overcome the influence and power of incumbency of Governor Ayo Fayose?

    Let me say this very clearly, and I also would challenge you journalists to go out there and talk to people. The people of Ekiti State have made up their minds on what they want, and they are saying it very clearly everywhere—beer palours and other public places. Go and find out. If you conduct a short survey in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere and all other major towns in the state, you would know what people are saying. That would tell you how difficult or easy it could be. That is the reason I decided to give in to the pressure to run. I didn’t want to, but I know that if I didn’t come or answer the people’s call, I would have been the man who was responsible for our defeat, God forbid. So, find out. Feel free. Talk to our people. Find out. I would suggest that as you are leaving here now for Ado-Ekiti, take different public transports, put your question to them and find out what people would say. That is what Ekiti people are saying at the moment.

    Some people say Buhari’s performance would make it difficult for your party to win the election. What is your take on this?

    I disagree with that. I would say President Buhari has performed excellently well. The economy that we inherited was prostrate, completely down. The pilferers and the thieves of the last government had taken it down completely. I’m sure if people remember where we were coming from, all they would be doing is clapping for President Buhari, even at the level the economy is today. There is no economy in the world where you would take so much money out as if we are running the economy of America, and where people would steal so much. They said they took 56 buildings from somebody and Nigerians are even not talking. Who paid for it? The Nigerian economy. And if they are taking all those money out and siphoning them into private pockets, do you think this economy would stay? The economy we inherited was a hollow shell. They have destroyed it completely and it is now the responsibility of President Muhammadu Buhari to raise it up. It is like waking up a dead body. If you wake up a dead body and you are successful at waking it up, that body would not begin to run the moment you wake it up. The people we should be angry with are the people who plundered this country so hard; people who when they stole the budget and they were not satisfied started stealing crude oil, exporting crude oil with zero cost of production to the Far East and other places. When your cost of production is zero, you can export at any price. And they were now doing it and Nigerians were not talking about them. God forbid that they continued. Maybe they would have sold the reserve itself and then we would have nothing to even look at in future. Nigerians have to be very grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for stopping that rot and for rebuilding the economy. You don’t expect the economy to do better than it is doing at the moment. It is doing very well. It was bottomed out and it is now moving up. No magic could have done more. And if anybody wants to quarrel about the state of the economy, he should bring the PDP people and flog them. Honestly, Nigerians should bring a bench to the Eagles Square and ask the youths whose future they have destroyed to flog those who plundered the economy of this nation. You all know those who should go on top of this bench for thorough flogging.

  • How a five-hour punishment I received from dad changed my life’

    How a five-hour punishment I received from dad changed my life’

    Rev. Sunday Oludare Matilukuro is the Primate of First African Church Mission (FACM). A former lecturer who had also worked with Rank Xerox and NCR Nigeria, a technology-based ompany, spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about his journey into gospel work, his childhood experiences and the debate concerning polygamy in the African Church

    At what point did you decide to take up the job of a primate?

    There is tenure for the office of the primate. The maximum you can spend is 10 years. We had been using the title of Archbishop. The first primate was to retire last year, and there was a need for a successor. Since I was already a bishop, I qualified to vie for the office. I indicated my intention along two other archbishops. By divine providence, I went through screening and election and I came first. Last year, precisely October 2, I was presented as the Primate of The First African Church.

    How has it been as a primate?

    It has not been easy. But with God, nothing is impossible. Our church has gone through seven years of trials and travails. For seven years, the church was in crisis. There was serious crisis all over the nation. But to the glory of the Almighty alone, we were able to resolve the crisis. In February 2016, we came out of the crisis and the change of baton process started. Having gone through crisis for seven years, you will know naturally that it would be anything goes. That was exactly what happened. So, before I came in, I knew it was going to be tough. But I was prepared. By the grace of God, we have surmounted the storm.

    Would you let us into the details of the crisis?

    My brother, I won’t want to go into the details of things that happened. You know that in the house of God, the devil is always around. That was why Jesus Christ prayed that prayer in John 17: “This one thing I ask of you that they may be one.” One thing the devil is always looking for is how to disorganise and disintegrate. That was what happened. A small issue that would have been resolved amicably exploded and became a national issue. You know the beginning of war is what you know; nobody knows the end of it. And when it comes to a church like this, a religious organisation where freedom of association is seriously allowed, anybody can come up and do what he or she pleases. It is not easy or almost impossible for a court to resolve religious crisis. I won’t want to go into details of who and who or what led into it. But we’ve reviewed the laity headship. This church started 14 August, 1891, and it started with clergy headship. Sometimes in between, clergy headship was truncated and we went into laity headship. We had the spiritual father but the real people presiding over the church were the laymen, which was not the design of God. We were like that for 100 years before we said no and came on to clergy headship. And you know when you have gone through such for a long time, change is inevitable. Change is not easy. Some people still believe in this and that, and those that emerged could not manage the emergence, and it led to crisis.

    Is it a full time job or a part-time one?

    It is completely a full time job. Once you become a bishop, you cannot work anywhere again. That is the rule here. That is the procedure. As a bishop, you are in a full time employment.

    What is your area of specialisation, I mean your background?

    I have been in the church all this while. I started as a choir boy at age 5. I became a lay reader, lay preacher and pastor. I had worked as a banker. I did banking and had AIB. I read Business Administration up to M.Sc level. I had taught in a tertiary institution. I’ve worked at both Rank Zerox and NCR Nigeria, both multinational companies. But along the line, the urge was there until I found myself going into seminary and bible school before going into the ministry. Along the line, I came in as a part time minister. I was still doing secular jobs here and there, running business here and there until it got to the climax that I could not resist this full time ministerial job.

    You had a good career working with a multinational company, but you abandoned that luxury to work in the vineyard of God. What could have been the attraction?

    You see, if you have a calling, you will just see yourself getting closer and closer. It was like a child’s play. If somebody had told me five years before I became a minister of God, I would have doubted it, because I was comfortable where I was working. For me to have worked in a multinational company like NCR Nigeria, you know that I must be comfortable. But the call was too much on me, such that at the end of the day, I had to quit what I was doing. If you have the calling, it is natural. If you have a calling, you have to do it. If you don’t do it, you might find yourself in a disturbing situation. So it was the love for the things of God, the zeal for it, and above all, the calling that drove me into it, and today, here I am.

    Do you sometimes feel like going back into your secular job considering the flamboyance and perks of the job, especially banking?

    Let me tell you something: the Orthodox Church, which we were part of originally, the focus was on the salvation of souls. But when the new generation churches started coming, they started looking at prosperity and all that. Because you are saved does not mean you cannot prosper. But the ultimate is salvation, and that is where we stand. We have millionaires, we have multi-millionaires in our church. But be that as it may, as a servant of God, you are compelled to employ moderation. If you are not moderate, you will be selling yourself and not Christ. You will be projecting yourself and not Christ. Yes, we have ministerial ethics. You need to be neat. You neat to be okay. You don’t have to be seen as a pauper or wretched. But be that as it may, you don’t need to be flamboyant. Christ was not flamboyant. He was a simple person to the extent that they could not even identify him among his disciples. Judas had to reveal who Christ was among his disciples. That is our approach. Fathers of faith in the ecumenical order were like that. You see what is happening now. I’m not out to criticise or condemn men of God, but I’m telling you the scripture. There should be moderation in everything. That is our aim and that is what we preach. I will not go back. I will remain with God. As a matter of fact, I reached the peak. I have a definite assignment. If I go back, I’m finished. What I’m I going to tell God? I’m carrying the whole load of the church now. I’m responsible for so many souls now. What am I going to tell the One who has called me? It is not my business; somebody put me there. I am only standing in for the owner of the church, and the owner of the church said ‘I will build my church’. He is using me as a person to build the church. So, if I withdraw, I’m finished. I know it and I cannot quit.

    How did your wife react to your decision to go into full time ministry?

    She had no choice. I came from a Christian home. My father too was once a teacher. He was once a layman in the church. For so many years, he was a worker with the railways, and at the end of the day, he also came into the ministry. My father was ordained in the church. My wife also came from a Christian home. Her parents were leaders in a white garment church. By the time we were married, she met me doing the work of God and she keyed into it. I have been so much overwhelmed by the work of God right from my youthful days, and I have no regrets about it.

    You’ve lived all your life in the church and you appear to be a gentle man. Tell me a particular incident in your life you will never forget while growing up

    Let me tell you frankly, I was very rascally when I was growing up. The only thing I would want to run away from stealing. But in terms of being rascally, I was. I had very few friends who were not as strong as I was. There were times they would come and call me and I would go and fight. I could lay an ambush. I could fight anywhere. If there is something I would not forget easily, it is my father. God used my father to really mould me. I committed an offence one day and my father punished me as if he was not my father. He punished me as if I was a condemned criminal, and that was the turnaround in my life. I was already in secondary school then, but he punished me from 12 mid-night to about 5 am. By the time I came out of it, God ministered to me and I became a simple person.

    Before First African Church was founded, it transited from the Anglican to African Church, then First African Church…

    (Cuts in) Majority of the founders of the church which was initially called United Native African Church (UNA) metamorphosed into First African Church in 1984. Most of the founders came out of the Anglican Church. Only one or two came from another denomination. What brought them out of the Anglican? Well, a few of them had more than one wife. It was in the colonial era, and they were people of substance who had influence and money and they were being treated as third class citizens where they were. The white people were the ones that were really in control. Some of them really wanted to worship God, singing, drumming and clapping, but that was not allowed in those days. So, they came out and they were charged to court by the colonial masters. The natives won the case in court with Psalm 150 which talks about praising God. Since then, UNA came into existence in 1891 and it happened to be the first church founded by indigenous Africans. There were nine founders.

    What is your attitude to polygamy and the attitude of the church?

    Polygamy? Before now, the church did not preach polygamy but it tolerated it. But today, the church does not tolerate polygamy. Today, you cannot be a minister in the First African Mission if you are a polygamist. Before, yes. But now, no. In essence, when we’re solemnizing marriage in the church, we emphasise during counseling and the solemnization ceremony that you cannot divorce, you cannot marry another person. If you go to Genesis 2:18, God perfected the institution when he saw that Adam was living alone and He said that it is not good for a man to live alone, I will make for you a help mate. If God saw the need for two, three or four, he would have made available 2 or 3 for Adam. He gave him only one and he said the two came together and they became one. We do not tolerate polygamy in First African Mission. No.

    How then do you handle the issue of members with more than one wife?

    We do not send people away from church because they are polygamists. Mark my word, the bible is so clear if you go to the book of Timothy. If a man desires the office of a bishop, that one is so direct; you must be a man with one wife. There is hardly any church you will see today that you will not find polygamists. Even those who say they don’t practise or tolerate it, there is hardly any you will not find polygamists. But if a servant of God is a polygamist, that is highly questionable. Don’t forget that we are in the world, we are not of the world. Therefore, we must apply wisdom of God when we are in the world. If you want to preach and you want people to do what is operational in Paradise, you are likely to incur the wrath of the law. I cannot go to anybody and say you cannot marry more than one wife. If I say if you want to be a member of my church, you cannot marry more than one wife, yes I can say so. But tell me the church where you will not find one member that has more than one wife. They may not showcase it, but they practise it. There is a saying in Yoruba that it is what happens outside that will teach a child how to behave. You don’t need anybody to tell you. If you want to practise polygamy this day, continue. When you see the problems of polygamy, nobody will teach you. Our grandfathers, great grandfathers were polygamists, but how many of us now are polygamists?

    The tendency in many churches today is to break away and establish new ones because of people’s desire to become shepherds. How do you react to this?

    Let me be frank with you, there is no denomination in heaven, and our Lord Jesus Christ says when the end is near, many will be led astray. Many will come out and claim to be doing so many things in my name. I do not subscribe to the idea of you breaking from one church to establish another church. Where you are, why can’t you make an impact there? Why can’t you stay there and preach the gospel? People hear from telephone and they say they’ve heard from God. People hear the horn of vehicles on the highway and they will say God has told them to plant a church somewhere.

  • Osinbajo: Portrait of the professor as a politician

    Osinbajo: Portrait of the professor as a politician

    •An evening with associates

    The atmosphere inside the banquet hall of the Lagoon restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, changed immediately Professor Yemi Osinbajo walked in with his entourage. It was on the evening of January 9. Friends and associates of the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) organised a town hall meeting for him. The Professor, as he is fondly referred to, wore a blue suit, a white shirt and red tie and was immediately mobbed by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. He spent  considerable time greeting them one after the other, some he pumped hands with and others he hugged.

    Sometimes, he would express a look of surprise on seeing a particular guest and to others, he would clench his fist, especially if they were not within his reach. Everybody stood to have a glimpse of him and possibly say a word to him; he obliged them all.

    The strength Osinbajo showed as he tried to satisfy his enthusiastic supporters was suprising. A day before, he had been on the campaign trail speaking to thousands of voters in Edo state about change which he said “ Nigerians deserve.” His itinerary the next day was no less daunting; series of political campaigns spread across several states in the federation. It would be non-stop meetings people and marathon speaking engagements.

    Osinbajo was also admired by many in the gathering because he had never campaigned for any elective post before being nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of the APC. Many in the crowd remarked that he “has carried on this duty well.”

    The meeting at which Osinbajo was billed to speak was convened by some of his closest aides and supporters who are also professionals. It was not planned as a political rally in the strict sense but an evening of intellectual discussion with the best minds in Lagos professional and political circuit. It was also meant to raise funds for the campaign.

    And many of Nigeria’s best minds were there: Professor Pat Utomi, Ricky Tafa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), Prof. Bolaji Owasanloye, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) etc. The cream of the political class was there too: Lagos state Deputy Governor, Adejoke Adefulire; her predecessor, Adebisi Sosan; the Attorney General, Ade Ipaye; his predecessor, Olasupo Shasore and many top members of the APC in Lagos state.

    The compere of the occasion, Adeniyi Adegbomire, made a compelling case for the candidature of Osinbajo as soon as the programme kicked off. “This is a defining moment for Nigeria, if you present a good candidate, there is a great chance you can change a sitting president. We present Osinbajo not as a professor but a politician with the capacity to change Nigeria,” he said to a general applause.

    Fola Afoworin, a former colleague of Osinbajo and childhood friend, was lavish in his introduction of the candidate; his flawless and humorous introduction was a great revelation of the character and capability of the man who wants to be Nigeria’s second citizen. Afoworin believes that Osinbajo’s history and experience have prepared him for the job he now seeks.

    “When he was the Attorney-General and I had the privilege of working with him, he brought in fresh ideas that some people thought were hot air. But in the seven years we worked together, all the justice reforms we have in Nigeria started with this man here,” he said. The Professor bowed slightly in the midst of the applause.

    Afoworin painted a picture of a calm and hardworking Osinbajo, who worked late into the night researching and writing memos asking for change in Lagos judiciary. “We would write until 2 am and when we approached the governor, he would say ‘my panel beaters have come’.”

    He said Osinbajo was the moral centre of the cabinet. “That is what Nigeria lacks today; he is a rare Nigerian, a man you can trust with your affairs,” he said. The crowd appreciated this delicate attributes so robustly canvassed by Afoworin as imbibed by Osinbajo by a prolonged applause which took the intervention of the compere to subside.

    Former Attorney-General, Olasupo Shasore, stressed the character of Osinbajo. “What Prof. lacks in height, he has in character,” he said and turned to face the Prof on the podium: “I am sorry sir,” he said.

    Shasore said he had the “misfortune” of taking over from him at the Ministry of Justice but he was able to succeed because he stood on the shoulders of “giants” like Osinbajo.

    It will be difficult to know if Osinbajo had ever contemplated himself in the role he currently plays, but what is certain is that little of his past life prepared him for the rigour and stress of political campaign. “ I had thought that being a lawyer and a pastor, I will be able to talk for a long time, but those two cannot compare to addressing a rally,” he said. Again, the audience understood.

    He excused that his voice was getting husky – due to  ceaseless speaking engagements – and someone brought water in a sparkling glass which he drank. When he spoke, his voice was better.

    “We can win this election and we will win by the Grace of God. what is happening now is historic because for the first time, we have an opposition that is capable of taking over power.”Osinbajo said those words very calmly but its sincerity and faith had a euphoric effect on his audience. More applause, more shouting.

    Osinbajo spoke for a little over 30 minutes during which he showed a survey conducted by AKDP in October 2013 which indicated that the APC has a 65 percent favourable disposition over its rival, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Also before the APC presidential candidates were announced, the APC had a 51 percent lead on the majority votes and is more popular except in the South east and the South south which, according to Osinbajo, is changing.

    He also spoke about the man who would be his boss if the APC wins the election as the man who can truly bring the change to Nigeria, he spoke slowly at this point. ‘’When we talk about change, the question we should ask is change for what? I had interacted with General Buhari several times before my nomination for several hours over different issues. One thing is that he is absolutely committed to this country and that is very important for me because I don’t want to be engaged in any enterprise, especially of this magnitude, if you are not sure of the kind of leadership you will get.

    “The second thing is his strong stand on transparency; he once said in a meeting of top leaders of the APC that we must take the issue of corruption and transparency very seriously,” Osinbajo said.

    The room suddenly went quiet; many may have heard of the General’s famous anti-corruption stand but hearing it from the man who would be his deputy, it suddenly took on a more serious connotation. Osinbajo waited a few seconds and said: “The room was as quiet as this.”

    But there is the other thorny issue of Buhari being an Islamic fundamentalist, which Osinbajo attributed to PDP’s propaganda. “Many of us know General Buhari from his days as the Head of State and until about five years ago, nobody ever accused him of being a fundamentalist. The other thing is there was a great deal of pressure to join the Organisation of Islamic Council (OIC) because of the economic problems of the country, despite the fact that he could do so, he refused. It was only a while after in 1988, General Babangida found a way of getting the country into the OIC, but strangely, nobody ever accused Babangida of being an Islamist, strangely.”

    There was general laughter at this almost ironical speech but he was not done yet.“When you look at the interactions of Buhari, the people that he referred to as his mentors and I have taken the trouble to check everything out, both General Gowon and TY Danjuma are Christians from the North Central and they are the closest to him up till today. If you tell them General Buhari is an Islamist, they will dismiss it.”

    In the limited time he had, Osinbajo tried to articulate his party’s policies and how the party would solve the myriad of problems of Nigeria if voted into power. Never had the problems of Nigeria been so intelligently articulated and simplified; one begins to wonder why it has been impossible to fix them. The answer, Osinbajo said, is corruption which makes political will impossible.

    “There are great ideas all the time, great projects all the time but they fall because the leadership wants everything for itself. Nobody would do it for the nation and corruption is so pervasive. This government has not shown the will to stop corruption and what is taken away from this country is far more than what is earned. The primary issue for General Buhari would be transparency.”

    He also gave an inkling into what the APC might do when it gets into power: “When Gen .Buhari was asked what he will do, he said look if we get to office and we start by investigating people we will never get anything done. How many probes will you start? you will never do anything for four years.”

    But this didn’t sit well with some people who are angry that those who looted the nation were about to be let off the hook, Osinbajo explained: “ Of course those who have committed heinous crimes will be made to face the law but you cannot spend the whole of your time instituting one probe panel after another; that is why leadership is important, when there is the will from the top it will definitely go through the whole.”

    But the APC-led government would also tackle other problems, Osinbajo said from research, the major yearning of Nigerians is employment. “All our survey shows that the major concern is employment; 80 percent of graduates and 40 percent of non-graduates have no work. Government must provide hope and we will offer some reliefs by creating 20,000 jobs per state. We will also provide stipends for youth corps members a year after their service if they haven’t found jobs.”

    In the Agriculture sector, the APC will revert to the commodities Board system where government will create incentives for agricultural production by buying specific produce from farmers. This will “encourage people to go into that industry because there is a guaranteed market,” he said. There will also be social security for the aged of between N5,000 and N10,000 monthly. Under this scheme is also the Conditional Cash Transfer for parents to send their children to school and agree to immunisation. This will lower the cost in public health and also educate millions of Nigerian children.

    Osinbajo believes that if the problems of power are fixed, then there will be boom in the economy and the APC is looking at power from the angle of decentralisation. This is already a working model in Lagos with different Independent Power Projects (IPP) fixing power problems in different areas.

    “Lagos state has a model of that. We can determine the power needs of all local governments, if you do a proper survey around the nation of the actual power needs. I am sure the generator we all imported is 20 times or more over the actual power needs; so that is important to do. We have taken a good look at the power sector and we know what to do. We must power industries so that industries can create jobs, if we need to re-write regulations, we will.”

    There are other sundry issues that the audience wanted Osinbajo’s clarifications. Is true that in choosing him, Gen. Buhari has factored in the votes of about six million members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and millions of other Christians? What will he do if he ended up as an “extra tyre” unneeded vice president? Does he support the return to the regions system?

    There are other weightier issues like how the government would deal with the issue of Boko Haram and the obvious issue of rigging. For Osinbajo, being a member of the RCCG does not automatically convert all the votes on him. “There are people with different opinions but one must still earn every single vote of the church,” he said. Also he doesn’t believe he would end up an extra tyre. “It is a real issue,” he conceded, but quickly added: “ He ( General Buhari) really wants to work as a team and as I can see, he uses the best I bring to the table. I also told him I don’t know how to betray people, I expect we will work well together.”

    Osinbajo proved he is not a Professor for nothing. He addressed questions not arithmetically but merged issues that are similar together irrespective of the time the questions were asked. Also, when answering a question, he knew the sitting position of those who asked and would turn and face that individual directly. Somebody in the audience remarked that Osinbajo knew how to connect!

    He provided an insight into why the present government has failed to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. “ We will get the government behind us; the mistake this government makes is accusing the opposition about Boko Haram. the Commander in Chief must lead from the front, this issue must be given priority. The Chibok girls were not given priority. I have two daughters and I cannot imagine them being somewhere all these months and I will not go and visit the place,” he said.

    This was a punch line many in the audience have been expecting; many clapped, others stood up and all agreed with him. But he was not done, he stressed the need to equip the military and deal with the pool of youngsters who are daily joining Boko Haram.

    But the evening was also about raising funds for the campaign. A pledge card was distributed by the ushers and people were encouraged to make pledges to support the cause. An account number was projected on the screen and at the bottom was written: “Thank you and God bless you.”

    Dapo Akinosun, a close associate of Osinbajo and one of the organisers of the event said the call for change must not stop with such town hall meetings. People need to get involved; he said change comes “if we all put in our contributions”; he spoke at length and spoke from the heart. Many people are already joining the campaign, there were the Yemi Osinbajo volunteers, and some others printed posters and flyers, while others made shirts and caps. But there is still space for more, Akinosun pleaded.

    The evening wore on but the Professor must be preserved for a longer political engagement the next day. In all his engagements, he has exhibited an extraordinary vigour and intellectualism. Despite being his first political campaign, he has carried on well, looking regal and presidential in every way. One cannot accuse him of lack of rigour or intellectual depth.

    He is a man much in demand; after the event he was literarily mobbed by supporters; some were there to congratulate him on a well thought out presentation. many others were there to identify with him; everyone wanted to claim a part of him.

    The distance between the podium and the entrance was about 200 feet but it took Osinbajo the whole of 20 minutes to walk  this distance because of a wedge of enthusiastic admirers on his path. a throng of supporters were waiting and the chant of change filled the air.

  • Remembering a good man

    Remembering a good man

    The fifth year remembrance of the Elegushi of Ikateland, Kusenla II, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, was held on Sunday at the Elegushi Palace in Eti-Osa, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was there. 

    THERE is something about royalty–class. When it has to do with royalty, you are sure to find dignitaries. And so it was at the Elegushi Palace in Ikate, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Sunday. Political giants, captains of industry and the royalty were there in their numbers.

    Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)officials had a hectic time controlling traffic around the Ikate Elegushi Bus stop on Lekki-Ajah express way.

    The Palace of the Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III was hosting the fifth year remembrance of the late Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, Kusenla II.

    The late monarch, whose reign heralded the transformation of Ikate, joined his ancestors on November 17, 2009. He was 69.

    He was a descendant of the Elegushi Royal Family, which roots were traced to Kusenla,  a descendant of King Olofin of Iddo. Olofin’s other descendants, known in history as the Idejo chiefs, were the autonomous rulers of their  territories. They were, and still are, the landowners of Lagos and its adjoining districts.

    Kusenla was given land at Egbere, which is known for the growth of the Ikate tree. Kusenla, therefore, became known as owner of lkate – EIegushi of lkate.

    Itinerant drummers sang the praises of kings and other guests as they entered the palace. They were rewarded handsomely. Some women also made money from clipping ribbons on people’s chest.

    About 20 small tents with tables and chairs were arranged on the streets leading to the palace’s pavilion. They were decorated in red, white and gold colours. There were two large tents for dignitaries on the open grounds beside the palace. Gold chairs covered in white net material were set around the tables which had gold overlays and white vases containing gold, green and white flowers. There were beautiful artificial trees around the tents. The tree trunks were white with sparkling gold branches. The colourful lightings around the tents  complemented the aesthetics of the arena. Projectors and flat screens were at strategic points. Standing fans blew cool air.

    Many of the guests wore the red, brown, black and yellow Ankara fabric chosen for the occasion. Most of the women made a fashion statement with their yellow head gear. The men donned yellow and black striped caps.

    The ceremony started with prayers  conducted by clerics from Alamani Society of Nigeria. It was anchored by the duo of Alhaji Muritado Mahyahshau and Alhaji Alefa Abdulahi Taru.

    Oba Elegushi entered in style – with other monarchs and their Oloris (queens). Guests rose to honour them till they took their seats at the front row. The Oba looked charming in the uniform Ankara; he had royal beads on his neck, a horse tail in his hand and wore a black pair of shoes and sunshade.

    Alhaji Waliu Ajikobi said the opening prayer at 12.44pm.

    Ustadh Sulaimon AbdulMumuni recited the Quaran and thanksgiving followed.

    In a lecture, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa, said “we only know when we came to this world but we don’t know when and how we will leave; “He said people must serve God with all that they have and also be of good character.

    He asked: “What is left after death? How will you present yourself before God?

    Onikijipa urged the guests to leave a worthy legacy, saying the deceased did well.

    Sheikh Onikijipa went on: “Hold on to God and let Him be with you always. Train your children well; what they will do after your death is one of the things God will use to judge you.

    “Develop a good character and serve God. You will account for how you got and spent all the money you have.”

    All Progressives Congress (APC)leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu entered while the lecture was on. He smiled and waved to guests as he greeted those in the front row and the clerics on the high table.

    After the lecture, Sheikh Onikijipa prayed for the deceased and his family.

    At the reception outside the palace, there were about 20 serving points.

    King of Fuji music Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe (KWAM1) entertained guests.

    DeeJay Baggio and the Ultimate Life Band also entertained guests. The reception was anchored by the movie star, Saidi Balogun and Arogundade Taofeeq, a.k.a Imaliah Boy II.

    Tinubu described the deceased as his confidant, friend and not just an Oba.

    “I miss him dearly for his good deeds and I wish the new Oba Elegushi would supersede the good life his father lived,” he said.

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker  Adeyemi Ikuforiji described the late Oba Elegushi as a father to all.

    Ikuforiji said the deceased stood by the government.

    “He was a father to each and every one of us and he was a man of respect,” he said.

    Oba Idowu Oniru of Iruland described the deceased as a man of many parts who was dear to him.

    “I miss him greatly; he was a sincere man, hardworking and straight forward,” he said.

    The Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, said he would always remember the deceased for his outspokenness, willingness to promote and project the image of Eti Osa and for continuing to plan its development.

    One of the late monarch’s wife , Olori Senatu Titilayo, described him as a good man whose name would always be mentioned when talking about the history of Eti-Osa.

    “People will always talk about his good works which we are all reaping from today,” she said.

    The third wife of the deceased, Olori Modinat Omotilewa, said he was her mentor whose presence was always noticed wherever he went. She said he was a cheerful giver who she can never forget.

    “He was always helping people,” she said.

    Another wife of the deceased, Olori Ganiat Omowunmi, said he was “a real and solid” man.

    “When he ascended the throne as Oba, the ancient town of Ikate was transformed to a modern town; a lot of people were influenced by him to buy and develop their land,” she said.

  • A daughter’s homecoming

    A daughter’s homecoming

    Ijero, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was agog on July 18. It hosted one of its own, Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, a professor of Educational Administration, to a civic reception. Prof Adelabu’s media aide BUNMI OGUNMODEDE revisits the ceremony.

     

    IT was sweet home-coming last Thursday for Ekiti Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adeola Adelabu at Ijero-Ekiti, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti state.

    Prof Adelabu, who is married to an Ijero Prince, was treated to a rousing reception by members of the local chapter of the ruling party in the state – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The reception, held at the Ijero Sports Stadium, drew the who-is-who in the politics of the locality. They included royal fathers, top government functionaries, market leaders, youths and school pupils among others.

    Prof Adelabu’s guests were received by community leaders and royal fathers from Ipoti, Ara, Epe, Ilukuno, Araromi, Temidire, Iroko and Oke Oro. High Chief Femi Oyebanjo represented the Ajero of Ijero. He presented gifts to the deputy governor on behalf of the communities.

    Pupils from CAC Grammar School, Ijero, Ijero High School, Doherty Memorial High School, Ipoti High Schoool and Babatope High School, Ikoro, thrilled the audience with a march past and spectacular displays that drew cheers from the crowd.

    An array of jesters and praise singers also found their way into the stadium. They spiced the reception with comic reliefs.

    Opening the floodgate of goodwill messages, Mr Jekoyemi Bankole, who is the chairman of the local wing of the ACN, urged members to remain united and always respect the positions taken by their leaders.

    Others who took turns to deliver messages included: Mr Biodun Omoleye; ACN Women Leader Mrs Bose Yakubu; and Mrs Dupe Bakare as well as the leader of youths in the area.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the Civic Reception Committee, Dr. Adebayo Orire, said the event became necessary for Prof Adelabu’s kinsmen to show their love and appreciation.

    His words: “We would like to use this opportunity to formally congratulate this woman of virtue and profound intellect, who has proved her mettle in academics and now doing well in the public arena on her appointment as the deputy governor.

    “We wish her resounding success in this new assignment and in all future endeavours. She is an epitome of humility, meekness, perseverance, respect, honour, virtue and godliness; no wonder she is inheriting the earth. She is set apart for glory and greatness in all ramifications.

    “To the people’s governor, we say a big thank you for this honour and privilege for considering our own worthy of being appointed as the Second-in-Command in our dear state – the Land of Honour. May the good Lord continue to imbue you with the wisdom to pilot this great state to loftier pedestal.”

    Dr Orire urged the state government to turn Ijero council area into a pot of cash by developing its vast potentials.

    Responding, Prof Adelabu thanked the gathering for the reception.

    Apparently thrilled by the turnout of party supporters, well-wishers, the defection of members of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the outpouring of encomiums, the deputy governor described the reception as simply amazing.

    “I must confess that this reception is amazing,” Prof Adelabu said while responding to the display of love from all the communities that make up the council area.

    She preached unity amongst party members, warning them against polarisation and division.

    She said the ACN family in the state remained one indivisible, saying members should look beyond returning the Fayemi administration into office next year, but create the enabling environment for continuity after 2018.

    The deputy governor, who had earlier inaugurated a recreation centre built by the local government under the chairmanship of Mr Bode Agbeleye, praised the council chief for replicating the Fayemi administration’s programmes at the grassroots.

    Those at the event were: Commisioners Dapo Kolawole (Finance); Mrs Ronke Okusanya (Arts, Culture and Tourism); Dr. Eniola Ajayi (Environment); Mrs. Fola-Richie Adewusi (Women Affairs, Gender Empowerment and Social Development), Special Adviser to the deputy governor, Hon Bamitale Oguntoyinbo; the lawmaker representing Ijero State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola; and the Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof Francisca Aladejana.

     

  • Entertaining Speech

    Recently, I watched a TV programme in which a celebrity was interviewed. She was asked several questions, but a particular one caught my attention. She was asked what she wanted in her “man”. Well, the question did not interest me as much as her response did. This celebrity mentioned a number of virtues she expected in her man, but she kept on emphasizing that he must have a very good sense of humour. This got me curious. What’s with a sense of humour anyway? But then, after discussing with several ladies, I discovered that our celebrity was not alone. Most ladies prize a good sense of humour in men. So, where does that leave some of our boring friends?

    The reason they want humour in men is not farfetched; they want someone who can lighten up the seriousness of life on a permanent basis. I’m sure you realise that you “somehow” prefer your friends who make you laugh or give you interesting gist. This crystallizes the importance of entertaining speech, even in our daily lives. I understand the uniqueness of human nature, not everybody is a “joker.” Nevertheless, we will learn in this topic over the next few weeks that it can be learnt. Learning to use humour appropriately aids your ability to carry on a good conversation.

    Entertaining speech is one that the audience is supposed to listen to without any care in the world. It does not require the listeners to learn or to act; they are simply expected to relax and enjoy themselves. Before going further, it is very important to mention that, more often than not, you have a mixture of the different types of speeches. An informative speech can have elements of entertainment. What determines the type of speech we are dealing with is the percentage of each that goes into the speech. For instance, in an entertaining speech, not less that 85% of the content should be entertainment based.

    Entertaining speeches can come in the form of welcome addresses at luncheons, stand-up comic acts, red carpet interviews and toasts at wedding ceremonies, among others. The most important element of this type of speech is the ability to captivate, interest and amuse the audience. Have you ever seen a comedian struggling so hard to impress a crowd and only very few of them are laughing? It can be demoralizing. That tells you how difficult it can be to attempt to entertain people.

    Considering all the above, it becomes very important to understand the nature of entertaining speech. Here are some of its characteristics:

    •Entertaining Speeches are Brief: as far as this type of speech is concerned, moderation is the key. Even if you are extremely funny, you will tire your audience out if you don’t know when to stop. That’s why you realise that MCs only make short but interesting remarks in-between different programmes, toasts at weddings are brief, and comedians don’t take forever to speak.

    •Entertaining Speeches are Simple: you cannot be invited to a science exhibition as the key-note speaker and you want to deliver an entertaining speech! You will seem like a joker. Likewise, how can you have just two minutes to toast to the happiness of a new couple and you want to talk on “seven steps to successful marriage?” Whatever you will talk about needs to be simple enough, so that your listeners don’t need to try before they understand. Your speech should contain information that they can easily relate to.

    3. Entertaining Speeches Should Reflect the Audience: it is very important that you relate your presentation to your audience. If you are trying to be funny for instance, you should consider the demography of your audience and the nature of the joke. A joke about a bad wife may “fly” among a male dominated audience, but may earn you hostility among women dominated audience. Don’t tell stories of somewhere far way that they cannot relate with, rather, localize your stories. Make sure that in your entertainment, you treat your audience with utmost respect. Sometimes you see some comedians walk into the audience and pick on one or two people. You may even see a Best-man mention a few guests while telling the story of how a couple met. All of these are done to make the audience a part of the fun. You should, however, be careful to use this only in a complementary manner.

    •Entertaining Speeches are Creative: you don’t have any restriction placed on your creativity. If your speech is to entertain, you can sing, dance or even act. Your main aim is to entertain your audience, and that you must do. First evaluate your audience and determine the kind of creativity that will impress them. If you are the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of your organization, and you are expected to make the guests at your company’s luncheon feel comfortable, your creativity must be displayed in such a way that your employers will not consider it an embarrassment.

    The key to successful delivery of an entertainment speech is deep desire to interest your listeners. If you focus on what you enjoy instead of what they enjoy, you may find yourself laughing at your own joke while they are all looking at you with a straight face. We will continue this topic next week by discussing what you should avoid when presenting an entertainment speech. Don’t miss it.