The Nation Newspaper

Category: Weekend Treat

The issue of compatibility in a relationship
With Rois Ola

EVERYONE has imperfections, no human being is perfect, we just keep trying to do our best. A lot of people have various ideas on what they think defines capability, from a thriving sex, always laughing around each other, and lots more.

I mean I find basket mouth and Alibaba funny but that doesn’t mean I can marry them or I am compatible with them. It might feel a lot like love when the person you’re dating is funny, smart, and likes play station 4 games as much as you do, but true compatibility means so much more than liking their traits.

It’s easy to get caught up in romance of saying “love is blind”, but “forever” is a long time to be with one person, I mean a really long time.

Whether you’ve been with someone for a week, married for 20 years, or are single and ready to mingle, here’s some tips to help you to know if a relationship is truly compatible.
1. Having complementary imperfections can cause incompatibility and fights that lead to breakups, or they can determine compatibility from the start.If your partner understands or helps improve your flaws, and you can tolerate and pick up the part where your partner falls short, it’s a pretty good sign that it could be a lasting relationship.so long and short is where you are weak I am strong and where you are strong your strength compliments my weakness.
No two people are perfect match by nature. It’s absolutely normal for you to feel difficult sometimes, especially when you find a number of big differences between you and your partner.

But that does not mean you are not compatible with your partner necessarily. There’re also a number of very important factors which determine for how long your relationship can last.

Below are the 15 signs for reference for you to see whether you and your partner are compatible.
1. Having different love languages is no big deal. As long as you understand this difference and know how to work on showing love in the way your partner feels it, you can still have a long and happy relationship.However, your partner should understand your “language” in terms of humor, values, and beliefs. If you feel like you have to explain yourself, defend yourself, or prove yourself, you’re spending a lot of your relationship trying to translate who you are.
2. In the end, finding a compatible life partner is not really an issue of searching for a soulmate or a complicated compatibility test when its not like you are doing WAEC or JAMB. It’s simply two people whose idea of “happiness” line up.It’s more than agreeing on the big things like kids, where to live, or travelling (that should be a given). It’s about all the specific things: what a “happy” family looks like; what you both want out of your careers; where you want to be in 10, 20, and 50 years; how you’d spend a quiet Sunday morning with nothing to do. True compatibility comes down to finding a plus one to your happiest life possible.
You know you love your partner, and you know they love you – and there is no doubt in your mind about either of these things.

You are secure and happy in your relationship, and even if you are a worrier by nature, you never question how your partner feels about you.

From your embarrassing stories to intimate details about your life, sharing secrets can show how compatible you and your partner really are.

Honesty is important in a relationship, but actually wishing to tell them secrets shows your partner that you are truly invested in the relationship.

You respect your partner as an individual, and you don’t want to try to change them. Sure, they may talk in their sleep or dress in a way you don’t like, but you love them, and you can deal with it.

If you want to change your partner’s personality or appearance, it could mean you and your partner aren’t compatible.

When you start a great relationship, it can be hard to step away and spend some time alone. If you and your partner hope to be in a long term relationship, however, it is essential that you also enjoy spending time away from your partner.

During such time you can see friends and family, or pursue interests of your own. If you love watching home videos or marathon races and your partner hates it, try to do this in your spare time.

While it is important to have your own hobbies and interests, compatible partners make the effort to spend time together doing things they both enjoy.

Having common ground with a partner helps in long term relationships – from supporting the same team, to cooking together, to sharing a love of the same film show or movies/series.

And you’re not afraid of it! If you tell your partner you disagree with them, they should listen to you and take you seriously.

If they still don’t agree with you, that’s totally fine – because it’s just a disagreement, and it won’t change the way you feel about each other.

Often big issues can be raised in long term relationships, including money, religion, or where you both live. Most issues like these can be solved if the partners are compatible and are willing to compromise.

It is important to work together until you reach a decision you’re both happy with – and for both people to be happy, it is likely that both have to compromise.

Your partner should be able to make you a better person; compatible couples keep pushing each other forward. Whether you are learning how to cook a new dish, or getting a promotion at work, your partner should always have your back and support you, and vice versa.

If you and your partner are compatible, you should be able to truly be yourself whenever you are around them.

Whether you feel happy, hyper, sad or angry, you should be able to comfortably express these emotions to your partner, without worrying about the consequences.

While sex obviously isn’t everything, it’s important to be physically intimate with your partner. From holding hands to kissing, compatible couples regularly show each other affection. In other words – there should be a spark, even if it is small!

You try to get along with each other’s families

If you genuinely love your partner’s family, that’s a great sign. Being in love with someone doesn’t always have to mean you love their family, though.

And it’s fine if you don’t – but it isn’t fine if you don’t even try. Most people come with a family, and if your partner is going to be in your life for a long time, their family probably will be too.

Compatible couples often go the extra mile as it shows their partner they care, and can help to make them feel appreciated. I wish you all the best.
October 31, 2020
Sexual purity gives you power to have all you could ever wish for! (III)

DEAR Sister Temilolu, You are a blessing to this generation and pray God increases in you in Jesus name. As a Muslim woman with deep understanding of both religion, I’m pleased to be associated with you. I must thank you for the good work you’re doing. May God be pleased with you always and continue to grant you His wisdom to walk with Him to the end in Jesus mighty name!

Olubunmi Kadri

Dear Ma,

I love reading your articles but I have my doubt about your last article- “Sexual purity gives you power to have all you could ever wish for!” There are so many poor virgin girls out there. Does it mean they can’t use their power very well?

Zipporah, 22, Lagos

My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian daughters,

Whewww….I love, love, love wonderful Zippy’s question! Believe me, if only the average female knew the type of power she carries, no one will teach her to refuse to be polluted/contaminated, to preserve her virginity till her wedding night- FOR JUST ONE MAN, MAJORLY IN HER OWN INTEREST and not because she wants to please her husband! However, sadly, we are in a depraved world which gets worse by the day but the amazing thing is that there’s so much glory and unexpected rewards made available by God for those who refuse to defile His temple and follow Him absolutely in spite their hardships and pressure from men! Isn’t He the owner of all the gold and silver in the world and the maker of the men a lot of ladies are running after for money at the detriment of their destiny and the gold mine God has made them? Hmmm…Lord have mercy… (shaking my head)!

Babes, to start with all females are gold mines specially created with certain spiritual gifts and innate abilities to create wealth. We are created with this “dangerous” spiritual perception that can make things happen, that can build nothing to a wonder. We have the power to build up an empire and destroy one! Do you think it’s easy to carry life in a womb for 9months, incubate it and birth it into the world? Do you know the type of spiritual power attached to that? With due respect to men, do they have that privilege? If I begin to explain the type of power we’re naturally imbued with, you may think I’m delving into witchcraft but what I’m carrying inside of me is a lot more gargantuan than the stupid, bad devil and its smelly and disgusting witchcraft! In actual fact- it’s God-craft and the earlier you know how to use it the better for you! On the other hand, I know you must have read about the industry of the virtuous woman in the bible- Proverbs 31. Have you ever read anywhere about a virtuous man? Hmm…THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER! I’m coming back to answer your question in full force. I will answer you appropriately next Saturday. May God bless you and make you very great in Jesus name!

To be continued.

I invite you to follow me on Facebook –TEMILOLU OKEOWO Instagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.

October 18, 2020
TOYIN ARALEPO: My mission to empower Africans

Our Reporter

STRATEGIC Finance Expert, Toyin Aralepo the pillar behind Africa Finance and Strategy Hub (AFSH). AFSH has debuted with a vision to help entrepreneurs put structure to their businesses and experience financial stability.

She goes down memory lane to explain how she came about the idea of the finance hub: “Beyond passion, I see this as a call to support businesses especially SMEs, to access and enjoy the same value of a multinational CFO. This led to setting Africa Finance and Strategy hub as a support platform for SMEs”.

She added: “The platform will give them access to professional financial management skills and tools that’ll assist them to understand, manage and scale their businesses. “

“It will also help them make smart financial decisions to grow profit and attract investors for funding and expansion. Business owners struggling with the performance of their businesses will be able to build sustainable financial structures for profitable growth, she says.”

Aralepo, a first class accounting graduate and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), is bringing her over a decade of corporate experience in financial management to support the growth of entrepreneurs.

“There’s no doubt that the Small and Medium Enterprise(SMEs) sector are the drivers of growth in any economy today. They are a source of entrepreneurship abilities, innovation, and creation of new jobs. “

Some studies, she explained postulate that two in every business fail within the first 2 years. These failures and eventual collapse are known to be caused by internal and external factors among which are poor management skills, lack of finance, poor preparation, poor knowledge of the sector, poor accounting and book-keeping, lack of production manuals among others’.

Her words: “According to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), SMEs contribute 48% of national GDP and 96% of employment. Sadly, players in this sector are faced with an array of challenges that make them either struggle or die.

The London School of Business (LSB) alumni, observed that one major area where SMEs are struggling is financial intelligence, which deals with understanding their numbers and the implication of the various financial decisions taken in the operation of their businesses.

Sharing thought on the critical role financial management plays in business sustainability, she explained that business finance are those business activities concerned with raising, managing and conserving funds required to meet the financial needs and overall objectives of a business enterprise. Hence, finance is a fundamental pillar of support for businesses to run their operations successfully.

“No matter how intelligent a business idea is, it will not soar beneath its wings without having the right amount of money. Cash is the lifeblood of any business and business would not function unless there’s adequate money accessible for use.

“We must understand that financial management entails planning, organizing, controlling and monitoring the financial resources of the business to achieve the objectives set.

“Many have the impression that financial management is just about keeping accounting records. But it’s beyond that. Many SMEs don’t give attention to financial management and as such has led to running into trouble such as not being able to fund their businesses”, she says.

Aralepo also points out that one critical skill required understanding and tracking business operations and performance is financial intelligence.”We can compare the role of finance in business to maintenance of a vehicle. If you don’t put in quality fuel and oil and do regular servicing, the functionality of your vehicle will be affected and not serve you well. If neglected, the vehicle will eventually breakdown and fail to reach its intended destination.

October 18, 2020
ADERONKE SOLOMON: Day I dressed old man who had stroke

Our Reporter

IT was a very colourful event. Women dressed in shades of blue looking radiant and colourful. Venue was the installation of Mrs. Aderonke Rahmat Olarenwaju Solomon, wife of Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon as the 14th District Chairman of district 912 at the Rotary center, Ikeja, GRA.

The event kicked off with the call to order, song renditions and processions of the different groups of the ladies clad in shades of green looking glamorous. This culminated in the procession by the incoming district Chairman, Mrs Solomon with her husband and children to the podium where her citation being read and a video of some of the humanitarian activities carried out show. Next the Immediate past president, Bola Oyebade gave her account of stewardship urging others to join hands to make her tenure memorable by touching the lives of the vulnerable in society.

Making a presentation of the theme for the year, titled: Lead the change team, Mrs Solomon read out her plan for the year and inducted her team. This was followed by the Inner Wheel Anthem as well as a presentation by the Guest Speaker , Mrs Abiola Olufunke Aberuagba.

In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, the newly installed District chairman who had contributed immensely to the hospitality sector takes you through her passion for humanity, empowering women and young people. “To God is the Glory, I feel great. It’s a mix feeling. We really plan to have a grand installation but we can’t blame God. When things come your way like this, you have to immediately plan your plan B and so we had to do a miniature installation. This is because if you have projects to do, we would definitely source for funds. And this is the only arena that you can source for funds.”

Happily, she goes down memory lane to talk about COVID-19 and how her members are coping and mitigating the threats. “We are meeting people underground and everybody has been under the carpet of COVID-19. We had already planned what we wanted to do for the year without knowing that this was going to happen. When it happens, you just have to find the way out”.

Solomon continued: “We assumed office July 1st and we have been doing fantastically well. We are still doing more and today we are launching six desktops for our beneficiaries. It will be given to those doing the Computer program at the Vocational Center at Amuwo Odofin”.

Already they have twenty students as beneficiaries at the center at Amuwo Odofin. “So, we are launching six desktops today and this would add to those that are already there. So, that we would be able to meet up with the target. We still need more. That is why I am still soliciting for people to who have desktops, laptops to donate to us to add to what we have. At the end of the training, we plan to give the five best youths the laptops”.

Solomon explained that: “I believe that it is better for you to be transparent, to let people know and they would know the needs and where to back up your plans.

Our star project is going to be a very big one and by the special Grace of God, we would carry it out on our Inner Wheel day. On that day, we usually go to the hospitals, visit the first baby and then we would stop over and do our usual visits”.

This year, it is going to be a different one and they would be donating phototherapy machines to health centers. “This is because sometimes the baby might be born with jaundice and by the time they are referring them to LUTH and other places, the baby might give up on the way. So, that is why we want to assist some hospitals in Lagos state with this machines .Also in some hospitals , they do not have enough beds, so they still put the babies besides the mothers and we want to give some baby cots as well’.

That is not all. “That day we are going to do trainings for the expectant mothers on hygiene and so many other things. These also include how to care for this baby as well as how to teach the baby, right from the womb. So, we are going to give them Mama and kids kits, and take away the burden from them. There are some people that cannot just afford all this and it is a very huge plan. So, that day we are going to donate all this things to them. Here we are looking at 100 mothers as beneficiaries for this project”.

She added: “There is so much to do right now. We have a song that I really love and I would say come and join us to make a difference. Together we can lead the change. Together we can make the world a better place, together we can make the world strong. If you have any woman who is passionate to serve, it is the place to be. It is a voluntary organisation and if you love charity that is where to be. That is what God loves most, HE loves charity. So, if you join us to join hands together we would do more and it would extend to so many less fortunate people in the society.”

Just before she leaves, Solomon talked about the contributions of Nigerian women in diaspora to the organisation. “We also have women in the Diaspora that are committed. We have active members as well as those we call active, but silent members, who use their time and resources for charity. So, if you join us we would assess you, your business and see if you are somebody that cannot be coming. However, we only have our meetings once a month, if you are available, we have our meetings together. If not, you send whatever you have to me. It is good to serve; when you serve you get fulfilled”.

She added: “You don’t wait until it is big before you serve, don’t wait for something big before you stretch hands to people. Sometimes, it is not even money; it could be counseling, lectures. When we went to Ikorodu, there was an old man that needed to be touched. I was the one that dressed him up, He had stroke and I even taught him how to wear his facemask, when people come visiting. So, that is the interesting journey in Inner wheel. I also gave them palliatives that can last them for one month or more”.

October 18, 2020
How INEC official, 39, died trying to save son from Lagos gas explosion

A father of three, who tried to save his son from the gas tanker explosion that rocked Baruwa area of Ipaja, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State penultimate Thursday died together with the son at a point he thought that they had escaped the tragedy, KUNLE AKINRINADE reports.

The brave act of a father who rushed into a burning building during the gas explosion that rocked Baruwa area of Ipaja, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State penultimate Thursday counted for nothing at the end of the day. Thirty-nine years old Olushola Amos Adeleke and his two-year-old son, Martial, died in the incident at a point they thought that they had managed to survive the tragic incident.

No fewer than five persons were confirmed dead in the gas tanker explosion that shook the community to its foundation. The explosion had occurred at dawn when an LPG tanker was discharging its inflammable content at the Best Roof Plant Station on Candos Road in Baruwa. The explosion was said to have been triggered by the generator of the gas station, which was said to be on while the LPG tanker was discharging its content.

The explosion, which razed several vehicles and buildings, including a nursery and primary school, threw the discharging tanker across the road and spread the fire to adjoining buildings. Many residents were rendered homeless in the wake of the blast.

According to the Acting Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, three persons were rescued while five bodies were recovered from the explosion.

The rescued persons, including Adeleke and his son, were taken to a hospital after the initial first aid treatment. The 39-year-old employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was said to have been woken up from bed by his wife when she saw smoke billowing from the scene of the incident.

The wife was said to have rushed out of the house with their five-year-old daughter, Sharon , to avoid being trapped in the spreading fire which by then had got to their building. An eyewitness said that Adeleke had rushed out of the building just like his wife and daughter before he realized that their son was left behind in the house, hence he decided to rescue their son from the house.

He was said to have rushed back into the building and was about coming out with the son when fireballs from the burning tanker landed on him and his son, inflicting them with severe burns.

They were rushed by sympathizers to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, where they were admitted at the intensive care unit (ICU). Adeleke however died from the fatal injuries in the early hours of Saturday, October 10, while his son breathed his last the next day.

Family sources described the death of Adeleke and his son as a monumental loss.

One of them said: “Shoshy, as Adeleke was fondly called by residents, was one of the illustrious youths of Baruwa. His gruesome death alongside his son is nothing but a monumental loss.

“He had rushed out of their home with his wife and daughter after his wife alerted him to the explosion in the neighbourhood. But on realising that they had left their son behind, he braved the fire to rescue his son, Martial.

“He was about taking his son out of the compound when flames from the burning tanker landed on his body and also burnt his son fatally.

“They died at LASUTH a day apart and have since been buried.”

Another resident, Fred Alade, described the deceased as “a very energetic young man who related well with other residents in his lifetime and made visible impact in youth development in the community. We will all miss him for his eager disposition to things that could uplift this community.”

Unfulfilled dreams

Until his death, the deceased INEC official, according to impeccable sources, was planning big for his 40th birthday in February next year. He was said to have planned to move into his new house at Ajibawo in Atan part of Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, after a housewarming scheduled to coincide with his birthday.

A family friend said: “He initially said he would move into his new private residence by the end of this year, but he later changed his mind and rescheduled his relocation till February 2021 to coincide with his 40th birthday, which he termed ‘housewarming cum birthday’.

“Unfortunately, his remains were interred in the same house he had planned to open with fanfare on his 40th birthday.”

“He is survived by an aged mother, wife and two children,” the source added.

The deceased was described as an unassuming young man and ardent fan of the English Premier League team, Manchester United.

His love for the top English team, popularly called ‘Man U’, was said to have made him to name his son after the club’s centre forward, Anthony Martial.

“Adeleke’s love for ‘Man U’ was second to none. So much so that he named his son after the team’s mercurial player, Anthony Martial,” a resident who identified himself simply as Omowale told The Nation.

However, contrary to the official casualty figure released by NEMA, investigation revealed that no fewer than 10 persons lost their lives in the fire disaster.

Like Adeleke and his son, a 79-year-old, Pa Broderick Unuajohwolia, and his 39-year-old son, Otuene Unuajohwolia, also died in the blaze. The aged man and his son were said to have been trapped and died from the flames of fire that engulfed their apartment.

The list also includes a 36-year-old woman, Ayo Aderinsoye, and her two children, Olamikun Aderinsoye, 4, and Mowa Aderinsoye, 2, while the identity and whereabouts of the woman’s husband could not be ascertained at press time.

Others include Mohammed Abubakar and an unidentified security man killed by the ravenous fire.

A special interdenominational memorial service at the instance of community leaders was held in the evening of Thursday October 15 in honour of the deceased victims at the scene of the explosion at Unity Bus Stop, Baruwa.

At the event, various Christian and Muslim clerics offered prayers for the repose of the victims’ souls amid outpouring of emotions by residents, community and political leaders who attended the ceremony hosted by the traditional ruler of the community, Chief Khalid Baruwa.

“We organised the memorial service to honour the victims of the gory incident as well as to pray against a reoccurrence of the incident in the community,” a leading member of the community’s development association, who did not want his name mentioned, said.

Lagos has witnessed a number of gas explosions with heavy loss of lives of property since the beginning of this year.

In March this year, about five persons including students were reportedly killed in a gas explosion that also ravaged buildings, including Bethlehem Girls College, and vehicles in Ado Soba village in Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

Barely three weeks ago, an explosion caused by a gas tanker swept through Ajuwon area of Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, killing a number of residents, while no fewer than 30 persons were injured and 23 buildings destroyed.

October 17, 2020
Our experience as interns under late FRA Williams — Uko Udom, SAN

Barrister Uko Udom (SAN) and his brother, Essien Udom (SAN), have so many things in common. The greatest is their striking resemblance which intrigues those who come in contact with them. However, they are not twins. But there is always the possibility of mistaking one for the other because they also work together in the same office as co-founders of Udom & Udom Legal practitioners. While celebrating Akwa Ibom at 33, the state government recognized the Udoms’ contribution to the state as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, Uko Udom reveals what it felt like to be under the tutelage of Chief FRA Williams and other sundry issues.

LET’S go a little down memory lane. What was life like for you, growing up in the Eastern part of Nigeria? Would you consider yourself a privileged child?

I was actually born in Ibadan, in Oyo State. My father was a senior staff member of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan. We lived at the University campus until the riots and political crises that led to the civil war. I had my primary school education in Ibadan and started my secondary education there. However, we relocated to the east before the war started. I guess you could call my childhood a privileged one, by Nigerian standards.

What do you recall about your early life?

I was privileged to grow up in a Nigeria that people dream about today. We lived in an area called the Senior Staff Quarters at the University of Ibadan campus. We rode in a school bus to school and we had free lunch and fresh milk served at school. The milkman delivered fresh milk at the doorstep of every house at the staff quarters. On Sunday afternoons, an ice cream truck went around selling ice cream. The only power outage I can recall that we ever had was caused by political thugs during the “wetie” crises in Western Nigeria, around 1964.

In what way did your childhood influence the person that you are today?

My formative years were in a residential environment that was multi-ethnic. We had friends across ethnic groups, attended the same schools, and ate in each other’s houses. Every family subscribed to the same high moral and ethical standards. Growing up in this social environment shaped my world view and mindset. My parents were very strict disciplinarians, like most parents of those days. We were taught that there was no substitute for hard work. If you came second in class, my father would ask why you were not first. The day you struggled to be first, my father would just smile and look away. He always tried to hide his emotions. But he had a way of surprising us, like when he took us to watch Millicent Small and Fela and the Koolalobitos when they played at the University of Ibadan.

In those days polygamy was popular. Was that the situation in your house?

No. We grew up in a monogamous home.

What was your educational background?

We saw education as part of growing up. We all went to Abadina School, Ibadan for our primary education, then most of us ended up at the International School, Ibadan, before joining the exodus to the east before the start of the civil war. After completing my secondary education at the Holy Family College, Abak, in today’s Akwa Ibom State. I did a diploma course in Company Administration before proceeding to England where my brother and I took a degree in law at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

The Nigerian civil war has been written about severally; what are your memories of the war?

My first impression of the war was that it was a disruption of the cushioned life we were used to in Ibadan. I was too young at the beginning to fully understand the politics of it all. But then, losing almost two years of schooling, facing the scarcity of essential items, and watching people succumb to disease and deprivation, all these took its toll and reformatted my perception of life as a Nigerian.

Were there occasions that you thought you would not survive the war?

Not really. My parents and older siblings probably felt more endangered. We were at least 15-20 kilometres from the nearest active war fronts, although we faced occasional air raids. My father had constructed a very large underground bunker that could take the entire family and our relatives. Each time there was an air raid, we would all run into the bunker, which was covered with planks lined with vegetation. One of my brothers had built a periscope that we would use to see what was happening on the surface while we were underground. We faced more danger from defeated soldiers retreating from battle. They would raid our compound taking all the food and livestock they could find. They would demand to know whose side we were on. Our answer always depended on whose side the rampaging soldiers were on.

After all that, were you able to return to Ibadan to reunite with friends and acquaintances?

I went to Ibadan for the first time after the war with our state’s basketball team for the National Sports festival in 1979. I could not go around because of camp restrictions. But in the ’80s, I went back and visited my primary school, Abadina School, and International School. I went to see our family house at No. 25 Amina Way, at the University of Ibadan. I was transfixed and covered in goosebumps as memories of my childhood flooded back. Somebody came from the house and asked what I wanted, and I apologized and told him I used to live there.

Any regrets about the war?

Yes, I deeply regret the war, because so many people died needlessly. Worse still, our country has not learned any lessons from the war. Today, Nigeria is tottering at the precipice of a worse crisis; a war with no geographical boundaries. It could be a class war, or a generational conflict, or another internecine conflict. Our leaders must learn that no society can survive without justice and equity. The future of our young ones is mortgaged to feed the insatiable greed of a corrupt political elite.

You had to go abroad at some point for your studies, how did you find life over there, compared to Nigeria?

Yes, and for me, it was a low point in my life. I always wanted to study Engineering at the University of Ife but could not get admission. So I ended up in England, where my brother and I were admitted to study law.

What motivated you to return to Nigeria?

It never occurred to me not to return. In those days, we loved our country and wanted to be part of its development. We headed straight back after our final examinations and enrolled at the Nigerian Law School.

Did you and your brother share similar motivation?

Studying law was clearly fortuitous for both of us. We never went to England to study law. We were actually considering a degree in Business or Economics. The Student Affairs people advised that we were qualified for consideration in the Business, Economics, and Law faculties, but that the different faculties would make the decisions. So we got in the lift and headed up to the faculty offices. Law was on the 3rd floor, Business on the 5th floor, and Economics was on the 7th floor. At the law faculty, we were offered admission after a review and interview, so we decided that there was no point going to the other departments. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Why did you both decide to work together in the same law firm?

Once we decided to practise law, it was only natural that we practised together. When we were in college in England, all our friends called us Udom and Udom, and one of them, a Kenyan guy actually said back then, that we would in future practise law as Udom and Udom. We both did our Law School pupillage at the firm of Chief F.R.A Williams where the late Chief had three of his sons in his practice.

What was working with Late Chief FRA Williams like?

I did not actually work with Chief FRA Williams. It was a pupillage. It was an internship. It was a great experience that served us well in all our years of practice. Chief Williams was a gentle giant. In court, he was always well prepared and very intimidating. In the chamber, he was very gentle and considerate. He would speak with us as we read and reviewed files in the library. He made us all attend the “Black Table Conference” every week, where all the lawyers reviewed and prepared the cases for the next week. He would even listen to our opinion as law students, on each case.

Working with Chief FRA Williams, did that make your fellow lawyers see you as privileged? And did you feel being privileged?

We did flaunt it at our friends at the law school that we were interned at Chief Williams’ Chambers. It was a privilege because it was one of the top chambers in Nigeria.

When you started out as a young lawyer was it your dream to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria?

To be honest, as young lawyers, it was not our dream to become SANs. We were more focused on building a solid practice and excelling in our specialized areas of the practice. We naturally applied and took silk when it was clear that we were qualified, and had attained the standards set by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.

Two brothers in the same profession and both are SANs, do you have other lawyers in the family?

As a matter of fact, there are four of us who are lawyers in our family. I have a senior sister who is about 46 years at the bar, and our last sister, who studied law in England but chose not to practise law.

How do you and your brother handle those who mix you up for one another?

Yes. This happened to us a lot. Most people assumed we were twins since we were in the same class in most of the schools we attended. Sometimes, we would be mischievous, and answer to each other’s name.

But who is older between you and your brother?

I won’t tell you who is older. We normally use the information to get free drinks.

What led to both of you being ready for the university at the same time, and being in the same class?

While in Primary 5 at Abadina School, I took the Entrance Examination into International School, Ibadan, and was admitted. So, I skipped Primary 6. From then on, we were always in the same class.

If you were not a lawyer, what else would you have loved to be?

Like I said earlier, in my younger days, I had always wanted to be an engineer. But looking back today, if I were not a lawyer, I would have loved to be God. (I’m sorry if I blaspheme). But there is so much in the world today that I would love to change.

Your role models?

My father was my role model, and I always wanted to be like him. My heroes, however, are Martin Luther King, Jnr, and Nelson Mandela.

And what do you do for leisure?

For me, nothing beats listening to cool jazz music and dreaming of Arsenal Football Club winning the Champions League.

October 17, 2020
Tonye Pela wave’s beauty’s magic wands

Our Reporter

Starting a day with a glimpse of goodness and beauty did no wrong, as beauty is said to be a culture, one of which is fascinating. Nevertheless, there are various skincare brands of which more good has been done. One of such brand is Pels International Luxury Skincare Products whose mission is aimed at creating the best skin products to aid the enhancement of a woman’s beauty.

The goal of the brand stands out for being every woman’s go-to plug in terms of struggling with all skin conditions.

Okiemute Tonye Pela

The skincare brand is spearheaded by Okiemute Tonye Pela who is seen to be one of Nigeria’s best cosmetologists, a beautician and an admirer of esthetics. He formulated the objectives of which active participation and enthusiasm have brought interest in his skincare products.

READ ALSO: Inside Tonye Pela’s luxury, skincare empire

Impressively, Okiemute Tonye Pela holds the magic wands of beauty that had been passed down to him from prehistorian existence. He had sought for a missing beauty essence in Nigeria, of which lies in the vast production of efficient and exquisite skincare products.

Tonye Pela owns a luxury and lifestyle brand through which he sells and provides high-toned jewellery and precious metals, with top-flight leather merchandise made from the best exotic leather in the world.

Furthermore, Pels International Luxury Skincare Products brings its clients with foremost ancestry ideas saddled with effective components.

October 16, 2020
ANITA OKURIBIDO: Why we are working on special fund for women

Anita Nana Okuribido is the CEO of SIMANS Engineering and the current National Coordinator of the Association of Nigerian Women’s Business Network (ANWBN), a coalition of about 50 Women’s organizations across the country with membership strength of about 4 million women.

In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talked about the First Nigerian Women’s Business Summit, mitigating the threats of COVID-19, launching the Women’s Business Agenda, the Women’s Economic Empowerment Fund for Female entrepreneurs and a resource and Industrial park amongst other initiatives.

YOU just had a Summit for women entrepreneurs across the country, what is the message for Nigerian women?

The expectations of the women would actually commence from so many of our initiatives that ANWBN would be launching. First and foremost, is the Women’s National Business Agenda that is being reviewed to go with the trending of the new normal since our businesses got hit by the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s a rude shock to women in particular. Like I’ve always said, this coronavirus pandemic has the face of a woman.

So, the expectations for women at the summit, is for them to learn so much from all the wonderful speakers that we brought from government, from the private sector, global institutions, global organization, academic institutions and security institutions. And the fact that we are now working with the five pillars, the priority issues of the Women’s National Business Agenda. Each of the priority, starting from the insecurity insurgency which COVID-19 has now taken big chunk of, was discussed in detail. The second one is the infrastructure and road network, lack of electricity and the fourth one is the inclusion of women in governance, the fifth and not the least is lack of access to finance.

For finance, ANWBN is already planning to have a Women’s Empowerment Fund.

So, I am sure that the speakers would show us the roadmap of how we can have our own empowerment fund. The same with governance, women inclusions and a lot of policy framework would need to be reviewed and by the time we get talking, the expectation would be so high that ANWBN would be promised the 35 percent affirmative action on women at all levels of governance.

Even if we have to go into energy efficiency programs and initiatives in renewable energy, having one rural community, one solar hub, one Nigerian child, one solar lamp for education. So, we must have some specific initiatives confirmed through the supply of electricity forming community based organisations so that we can have the supply of electricity for occupational clusters in the communities.

Also, we are having stakeholders in the renewable energy sector to also show us the entrepreneur aspects of how we can achieve having electricity supply and also make some money with the supply of electricity. So, it cannot be in the hand of the government alone. Individuals can now come in and be operators and be part of the Green economy. I am also a consultant, a specialist in the Green economy itself, a big player in it and by the grace of God, I will definitely lend my own voice to my beliefs and give the roadmap that I think women should tie and be energy independent, energy sufficient and energy efficient. Coming back to the road network and transportation. We have all seen the decadence in this type of infrastructure. Most women for their road safety would have preferred to have more of their produce being transported by railway corridors, by the sea and others. So, you just get to the port or railway with well packaged produce, with your waybill and send your produce to another station within the country or even outside the country. When we have such infrastructure, it would be seamless and have the ease of doing business seamlessly. What we have now because of infrastructure, you have to follow your goods to be sure that your goods get to the next station. We don’t need all that; you can spend your time doing some other things giving your other services productively.

Now with the lack of infrastructure productivity is very low. We would be able to open up and strategies on how we can fill that gap of decadence in infrastructure, so that our women can now have a seamless road transportation, sea, air, and other forms of transportation that we need to apply to get our roads from one place to the other.

Let’s talk about the other projects that have been carried out?

I’m very happy, enthused to state that ANWBN happens to be the very first organization to stage and organize a webinar in Nigeria, Africa, or probably all over the world during the announcement of COVID-19 lockdown. We were not deterred at all. Normally, before the COVID-19 set in, the National executives, regional and zonal and state excos met physically periodically, to move the organization forward. But with COVID-19 we were very proactive putting on our thinking cap quickly and with the help of our consultant for the Women National Business Agenda (WNBA) the researcher, Mrs. Bimbo Osuchukwu we had the first webinar and it was well attended.

There we discussed the validation of WNBA and it was the right time for us to discuss COVID-19, to look ahead of it and suggest ways to mitigate the threats when the new normal comes in and how we would be able to tackle it. And the communiqué which now happens to be the first project for ANWBN, the new normal is the digital skill acquisition for women. We discovered that, that is the way forward for the new normal post COVID-19 and we have been able to follow this. We have had series of webinars thereafter. We were also able to have a lot of conferences, workshops on Innovation having world renowned Innovation guru, Morris Langdon from the US and business consultant, Angela Faloye also from the US. We then had a huge conference with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), our international partner, the International director, Barbara Langley attended. From the government, we had the presidency represented by the Senior Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefuliere.

We have hand series of conferences. We have also had collaboration with banks like Union bank, Alpher, the gender desk. Here, we have been able to have some projects coming up for our women Agropreneurs. We are discussing how to have a pilot in Ogun State, where we would have incubators for our women in agriculture starting from cultivation to harvesting to packaging, branding, certification and for them to be export ready. It’s a project that we are working on right now. We also have alats with WEMA banks, women’s desk and we had a webinar on how to manage funds for our women, we are still on it. That is not all. We had another webinar with UPS, international SheTrades for women exporters and other series of webinar that are not directly organized but because of the spread of our women in the 774 local government, a lot of organisations have partnered and collaborated with us.

Let talk about the organisations under the coalition, you started with 18 now you are 50, what is the magic?

There is no magic, it is just proper planning and we discovered that many women business and professional organisation are springing up in Nigeria and it is good to harmonise this organisations. So, it is the purpose of harmonization and for us to be able to articulate them very well, so that we can now have a common voice when we are doing our advocacy, policy, briefs that actually informed the increase. We then planned to have a membership sensitization forum in July 2019 which was very successful. We had it at Radisson Blu, Ikeja and we wanted only about 60 participants but the hall was full and we were about a hundred. We discovered that women organisations were now yearning to belong to an umbrella organisation that would make them have a common voice to achieve a lot of their visions and mission and that has been really successful.

I think what made it to be sustainable at that magic figure was when we had the initiative to go to Addis Ababa to attend the international SheTrades convention. That really got the women together and when we got to Addis Ababa, CIPE our institutional partners were so magnanimous to come all the way from Washington DC, they had a wonderful meeting with us and it gave us a sense of belonging. They now took ownership of ANWBN and about 12 organisations out of about 50 that came for the membership sensitization were in Addis Ababa. That was very impressive. From there a lot of things started happening particularly at Addis Ababa. We had the communiqué and the march on order to commence the first women’s international resource and industrial park for women which CIPE through the spokesperson, Barbara Langley gave their nod to and we didn’t just rest with letting the communiqué sit in Addis Ababa, as soon as we got to Nigeria we commenced work on it and by the special Grace of God we now have a parcel of land in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state courtesy of the wife of the deputy Governor and of course, she has the support of her Excellency, the first Lady of Oyo State. It’s actually because of the increase that propelled the Oyo State government to really want to be part of this project.

Let’s talk about the ongoing review of the Nigeria 1999 constitution, what is ANWBN’s position on this?

For me, this invitation to be part of the review of the National constitution is an icing on the cake because we have been working and preparing on the review of our Women National Business Agenda with the five priority issues. It makes it now so seamless for us because we would now present our women’s agenda and tweek it into the different clusters that we are going to work on with the constitution. The women really thrashed it out at a very strategic meeting we had a few days ago.

I am so excited because we have been working on the WNBA for the past one year; we never knew this would come. We just love that we would be called to the conclave to defend our proposal when the time comes.

The proudly made in Nigeria goods is one of the first priority issues at the onset, how do you see ANWBN’s impact here?

Honestly, I feel very enthused about this because during the first publication of first Women National Business Agenda, I was the Deputy National Coordinator, my predecessor, Barrister Nkiru Okpala took us all to Abuja to present the document to Dr Bukola Saraki and he promised that the senate passes it into a bill and from a bill to a law and by the special grace of God, being a man of his word, he did just that. Within three months, the bill was passed and it was sent to the presidency and was now passed into law and the ministry of information started the campaign for patronage of Made in Nigeria goods and it has really been a huge success. At least, something I am very sure of is that nobody wants to eat imported rice anymore. It started from ANWBN and I am also sure that some other produce and services tagged Made in Nigeria now because of our move on it. So, I am very happy.

The second one then was the harmonization of taxation. Women should not be made to pay taxes on their labour. They should have some palliative that would be enticing and would make women come into business and be encouraged.

October 11, 2020
Why people break up in relationship

By Rois Ola

In relationships, not all will last forever because everyone has a different tolerance level. Some will be able to withstand the trials and tribulations while some will not be able to because generally, if they cannot, then the relationship will end. People break up for so many reasons, but the major reasons to take note of are sex, money and morals.

When two adults decide to come together and have a relationship, they tend to have different views and opinions on sex, money and morals because quite a number of may not be objective.

Therefore, a lot of subjectivity is applied. If couples cannot find common ground and are unbending in any one of these areas, it can deeply damage the entire relationship. Communication in any relationship as I always advise is key.

If this breaks down, then restoring health to the relationship will be hard. Many couples who are friends apart from being lovers are able to withstand these pressures. If friendship ends, then communication breaks down. Your partner must be your friend.

Couples who do not operate as friends start competing with each other which translates into envy and resentment because they no longer have a common ground.

Communication with each other

In every relationship, communication is the foundation. No matter how bad things are, if there is communication, you can overcome the challenges. When communication gets staggered, many parts of the relationship start to suffer. Arguments become frequent and some of the issues end up being unresolved. Thus creating a gap and both of you becoming strangers to each other in the end and if not resolved leads to a break-up.

Growing apart from each other

The constant thing in life is change. People must change and evolve. Someone you know today can change tomorrow; no one really stays the same. We have to keep exploring and rediscovering ourselves and trying out new things. There are times when you grow alone without your partner. It may be a small growth or a big growth. We grow and learn more about ourselves. It should be top priority of any relationship to grow with each other and not away from each other.

Trust between each other

Trust is a serious issue for couples when trust is low between each other. It can break the relationship. If any relationship keeps experiencing or has experienced cheating and other problems, it will reduce the trust and spoil things between them, making things fall apart.

It is even worse when one or both refuse to apologize or worse even admit their faults.

Inadequate love between each other

When only one person is making all the efforts to give love and is not receiving, this makes the relationship unhealthy. Relationship is all about “give and take.” It is not every day you will be in the mood to give love. That is when the other partner should step in.

But when you give today, give next year and nothing comes in return, then it becomes difficult to maintain the love and sustain it. At some point, one person will realize this love is no longer worth fighting for at all.

It is important for both partners to have a healthy level of self-esteem. If one person lacks this, it will definitely affect the relationship and things will turn sour because the person with less self-esteem will start doing negative things to gain their self-esteem back which in turn will affect the relationship in a bad way.

The goal of both partners is to understand each other. You both need to, from time to time, evaluate yourselves as a team and see if you are both heading in the same direction.

You both need to have maybe not exact thoughts, but see each other’s visions and support yourself in achieving them. Find a way where both of you can come to the middle and understand each other.

Take time to decide if you may change your perspective in the future. Then, discuss solutions with your partner and be willing to let go if compromising is unfeasible. The last thing you want to do to anyone you care about is string them along and cause more pain for yourself and for them. It ends up being loads of wasted time for both parties.

If you notice at some point that little things no longer excite you. In addition, that you prefer being away from your partner than being with your partner then it may be that you are due for a self-reevaluation. You have to be sure that you have not sacrificed your happiness for your relationship.

In relationships, there must be sacrifice and compromise, but not to the point of losing your own identity. Keeping the relationship afloat is the job of both parties and not one person alone. Find out if the relationship is the reason of your unhappiness or if there are other underlying issues.

There is no relationship made in heaven. Every good one you see entails hard work and constant moves to keep things spicy. The grass may look greener, but the fact remains that if you and your partner do not consciously and intentionally work on the issues, then break-up is imminent. I wish you all the best.

October 10, 2020
Igbo can’t take presidency by force — Ex-Delta commissioner Ekiyor

Dental surgeon and former Delta State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, is also a former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide. In this interview with Southsouth Bureau Chief, BISI OLANIYI, the Benin City-based former Chairman of Patani Local Government Council, Delta State declares that cannot remain one after another civil war. Describing himself as a strong believer in a united Nigerian state, Ekiyor says there is need for equity, fairness and justice. He recalls that it took divine intervention for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a minority (Ijaw) from the Niger Delta to be the President of Nigeria, noting that a President of Igbo stock will emerge at the appropriate time but not by using force. He also explains why the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) should not be jettisoned, among other issues.

WITH benefit of your experience in relating with militants in the oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, how do you think that banditry can end in Nigeria?

Any President of Nigeria, it does not matter where he/she comes from, whether minority or majority, must be patriotic and faithful to the Nigerian state. I am convinced that President Muhammadu Buhari has that spirit. He does not want to lead a country that is balkanised into sections or run into another civil war/unrest, and he will not want another country to be carved out of Nigeria under his watch. President Buhari is compassionate and concerned about the security situation in the country. As a citizen of Nigeria, I am concerned that the efforts the security chiefs are making have been heavily politicised. Nigerian military personnel who stood out in special peace-keeping operations outside the country have the capacity to protect Nigerians against bandits.

Funds are being approved by government for security but with little to show for the efforts. So, the service chiefs need to be re-jigged by President Buhari. You cannot be doing the same thing always and expect different results. The security chiefs may have run out of ideas on what to do to secure Nigerians. President Buhari must take a bold step as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to re-jig the positions and re-energise the system by way of appointing new service chiefs and given a mandate with an ultimatum, failing which the service chiefs should get repercussions.

If I am given a mandate to stop the conflicts in Nigeria, within a timeline of six months to one year, they will be over. The whole of Sambisa Forest can be cleared for the purpose of dealing with the terrorists and bandits. The terrorists and bandits are getting emboldened every day. Nigerians have courage in their hearts. What is lacking is motivation, not in terms of money in their pockets, but in terms of approval to do the necessary things in war situations and to be provided with the needed equipment. Arms, ammunition and authorisation to use must be dealt with.

You do not need bombs to win the current wars in Nigeria. All the military personnel need are their AK-47 rifles and strategic secret planning. Two men with AK-47 rifles and enough ammunition can hold a whole battalion to ransom. What the military personnel lack are proper intelligence/covert operations, motivation and the required equipment, especially modern arms and ammunition.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) should properly coordinate the activities of the security agencies, in order to have better results. The Federal Government should also recalibrate the intake process into the security training institutions to reflect passionate and patriotic citizens who are willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of the country and other Nigerians. The ragtag bandits and terrorists should not continue to hold Nigeria and Nigerians to ransom.

The deradicalised/debriefed Boko Haram fighters should not be enlisted into the Nigerian military, at this time of war, as they may be pretending to have been deradicalised. Herders are being emboldened because there are militias among them. I grew up in the North and I know that the Fulani are not violent people. The Fulani protect their lives, but not at the expense of human lives. Mercenaries might have infiltrated legitimate herders and blackmailing them to look like marauders. Let us identify the genuine herders and find ways to co-habit with them. We need to deal with the criminals as provided for by the laws of Nigeria. The criminal-herders are now involved in kidnapping and armed robbery.

In 2018, I was shot at, at two different times by persons who dressed as herdsmen on the East-West Road, while my wife, in 2019, also once survived similar attack between Ughelli and Patani in Delta State on the East-West Road, between 6 pm and 7 pm, on her way home from Benin City, with bullets piercing her car, but she narrowly escaped being killed by the criminal herders.

The people of the Southwest zone are also beginning to lose faith in the national security architecture by creating their own security outfit, Amotekun. It is a regional security outfit, but if we are not careful, it can become a monster. If the national security is not sacrosanct, then regional security outfits will take over. When militancy started in the Niger Delta, it was not to confront the Federal Government, it was to protect the citizens against the oppressors. Most citizens of Nigeria have lost faith in the national security architecture. So, top officials of the Federal Government need to restrategise.

We do not want a repeat of the nasty experiences of the Civil War, between 1967 and 1970. The wounds are still fresh, but our people are now wiser. Another Civil War cannot keep Nigeria together. I am a strong believer in a united Nigerian state, but there is need for equity, fairness and justice. Policies of government also need to be fair to the citizens. President Muhammadu Buhari loves Nigeria and Nigerians, but whenever he says anything, it must be followed to the letter.

Would you say the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has actually benefited Niger Delta youths?

Most of the troubles in the Niger Delta are caused by the people of the crude oil and gas-rich region. For want of power, greed and economic gains, Niger Deltans are not considering how to sustain the gains made so far, but we are now balkanising the region with our greed. A lot of Niger Deltans will rather be moles to a system in order to bring down their brothers and sisters so as to access power. They will rather be in government at the expense of the truth.

President Buhari earlier stated that he had no problem with finding a justifiable way to know whether the funds deployed in the Niger Delta are producing the desired impact. Mr. President directed the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and ordered the investigation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Maybe tomorrow, President Buhari may order the investigation of the activities of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA). While carrying out the investigations, the administration must also look at other agencies of government like TETFUND, PTDF, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to know if they are living up to expectations.

While carrying out the forensic audit of NDDC, the genuine contractors in the Niger Delta who have delivered their projects must be paid. Auditing an agency does not mean that the agency will be stopped from functioning. Although, the forensic audit of NDDC is a necessary evil that we must deal with, the auditing of NDDC should also not be shrouded in secrecy.

Members of the National Assembly are also auditing the auditors of NDDC, thereby turning the exercise into a vicious cycle. Unless President Buhari breaks the barriers and call to order the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and to demand that he does the right things, real progress may not be made in the region.

Quite unfortunately, the output from the PAP is not clear. Policy direction should be placed on PAP to achieve the objectives. If that is not done, PAP may not be different from what we are currently seeing and hearing about NDDC.

The East-West Road is one of our biggest gains in the Niger Delta region, but the parts that Setraco Construction Company did, quite unfortunately, are now failing. You cannot drive from Warri to Port Harcourt, without suffering from the bad road. People of the Niger Delta are living with the pain and it does not look well for the Nigerian government. Having the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs does not mean that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing should not embark on legacy projects in the Niger Delta, to show that the Federal Government has interest in the region.

I am glad that crude oil and gas have been discovered in the Chad Basin in commercial quantities. So, it will be a matter of time that the people of Chad Basin will demand certain rights, like the people of the Niger Delta.

Could equitable distribution of Nigeria’s wealth be responsible for agitations for a President from the Southeast zone in 2023?

Biafra died with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. No section of Nigeria can survive on its own, as we are today, because it will be swallowed by international conflicts. At this critical moment, no section of Nigeria should consider being on its own. Igbo people have the right to feel deprived, but they also need to change their attitude and become more patriotic to the country and win more trust. Because of the civil war, there is still mutual suspicion among the people of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

It took divine intervention for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a minority (Ijaw) from Otuoke in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State in the Southsouth zone/Niger Delta region, to be the President of Nigeria. The Igbo people must remember that in everything that we do as humans, there is a divine hand. At the appropriate time in Nigeria, we will have an Igbo President. It will not be by using force.

When will the appropriate time come, bearing in mind that most Igbo people are clamouring to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023?

Most Nigerians did not know that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan could be the country’s President, but by divine intervention, it happened. The Igbo people have the right to clamour to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023. I am happy that many Northerners are saying that there should be no zoning in 2023. It is a good omen. Without zoning, let Nigerians vote. We saw it during June 12, 1993 election, when the presumed winner of the election, Chief Moshood Abiola, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), from the Southwest, picked Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, who hails from the Northeast, as his running mate, both Muslims, without thinking about religion or tribe, with Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) defeated with a wide margin and he (Tofa) quickly congratulated Chief Abiola for emerging victorious.

Other Nigerians are willing to allow the nation’s President of Igbo origin in 2023, but they cannot take it by force. They need to lobby and campaign. The Igbo cannot threaten national security with agitations for Biafra Republic. If such a thing must happen, it must be through referendum, where we will sit down and say we want to go our separate ways, not through the barrels of the gun. If Igbo people opt for Biafra agitations, without lobbying to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023, they will not get the support of the people of the South-south zone.

Niger Deltans rose against the Federal Government of Nigeria for many years, especially between 1991 and 2009, and we insisted that the crude oil and gas-rich region was marginalised. The agitation for fair share for Niger Deltans actually started in 1957 and it is still on till date, thereby giving birth to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among others. But we are still part of Nigeria. So, the Igbo people can demand their rights within the Nigerian state, including producing Nigeria’s president in 2023, not contemplating breaking away, because it will lead to another civil war that will last more than three years.

In the civil war of 1967 to 1970, the Igbo lost over three million people. I do not want Nigerians from the Southeast to again lose their lives in another avoidable war. So, agitations for Biafra Republic will not help their cause. The Igbo people need to always bear in mind that there are more sophisticated weapons now, compared with the civil war era.

You are a former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide. Is IYC still on course?

IYC is a movement. So, it cannot die. We will have strong and weak leaders from time to time, but eventually it will evolve. Movements are not born by political intentions but by the need to survive. IYC may have its internal conflicts but the vision for the survival of our people and protection of our rights as a people can never be killed even if they kill everybody in the organisation. Ijaw people will rather die fighting than kneel down and beg for crumbs.

Government must always look at us (Ijaw people and other Niger Deltans) with a lot of magnanimity. I can boldly say that about 60 per cent of Nigerian politicians who are in office, elected or appointed, are there for their own self benefits. That is why the country is where it is. Our politics is yet to be driven by ideology but by ambition, greed and power. Today, you are in PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), tomorrow, you are in APC (All Progressives Congress).

Biafra Republic. If such a thing must happen, it must be through referendum, where we will sit down and say we want to go our separate ways, not through the barrels of the gun. If Igbo people opt for Biafra agitations, without lobbying to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023, they will not get the support of the people of the South-south zone.

Niger Deltans rose against the Federal Government of Nigeria for many years, especially between 1991 and 2009, and we insisted that the crude oil and gas-rich region was marginalised. The agitation for fair share for Niger Deltans actually started in 1957 and it is still on till date, thereby giving birth to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among others. But we are still part of Nigeria. So, the Igbo people can demand their rights within the Nigerian state, including producing Nigeria’s president in 2023, not contemplating breaking away, because it will lead to another civil war that will last more than three years.

In the civil war of 1967 to 1970, the Igbo lost over three million people. I do not want Nigerians from the Southeast to again lose their lives in another avoidable war. So, agitations for Biafra Republic will not help their cause. The Igbo people need to always bear in mind that there are more sophisticated weapons now, compared with the civil war era.

You are a former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide. Is IYC still on course?

IYC is a movement. So, it cannot die. We will have strong and weak leaders from time to time, but eventually it will evolve. Movements are not born by political intentions but by the need to survive. IYC may have its internal conflicts but the vision for the survival of our people and protection of our rights as a people can never be killed even if they kill everybody in the organisation. Ijaw people will rather die fighting than kneel down and beg for crumbs.

Government must always look at us (Ijaw people and other Niger Deltans) with a lot of magnanimity. I can boldly say that about 60 per cent of Nigerian politicians who are in office, elected or appointed, are there for their own self benefits. That is why the country is where it is. Our politics is yet to be driven by ideology but by ambition, greed and power. Today, you are in PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), tomorrow, you are in APC (All Progressives Congress).

October 10, 2020