The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2015

  • People of the Year 2015 (1)

    The 2015 general elections began like a much-awaited suspense/action Hollywood movie with many actors featuring. However, while many feel that the real heroes 2015 election and the peaceful democratic election are the trio of President Buhari, former President Jonathan and Professor AttahiruJega, I feel that the primary protagonists in this true-life movie set in Nigeria were the Nigerian people! All over the country, teeming Nigerians from 18 and above trooped out en masse on that faithful election day to make history. Eligible voters in all the 6-geo-political zones in the country certainly knew they had a date with destiny as they came out to exercise their suffrage.

    After 16 years of PDP rule since the return to democracy in 1999, majority of the Nigerian voters went to the polls eager to overturn this dominance. During the March 28 and … general elections, Nigerians who had been thirstily awaiting the poll heeded the call for “change” and voted for the APC. They then went ahead to protect their votes to make sure that the results reflected their desires. This epochal and watershed event would be the first time since our independence that an opposition party has successfully wrestled power from a ruling party. Millions of Nigerians achieved this rare feat in Africa, despite fatal attacks by insurgents, widespread technology challenges and the alleged hacking of the national electoral commission’s website.

    However, this feat wasn’t achieved without its fair share of drama. The “Nigerian factor” present in most things “Nigerian” expectedly reared its ugly head. The election, which was first scheduled to be held on 14thFebruary was postponed by the electoral commission by six weeks. This was mainly due to the poor distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, and also to curb the ongoing insurgency in certain North Eastern states. The federal government also closed the land and sea borders from midnight on 25 March until the end of the polling date and the election was further extended to 29 March due to delays and technical problems with the biometric card readers. Nevertheless, the Nigerian voters persevered and remained adamant that their votes must count.

    Over the years, the discernible Nigerian voter had been disillusioned with the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Majority had lost hope and saw elections as an extension of the hydra-headed monster of corruption, where only powerful politicians reap the benefits. Voter apathy was the usual norm as many eligible voters declined to exercise their rights. However, the build up to the 2015 general elections was never before seen in our clime. The emergence and amalgamation of some parties to form a single unit – the APC – and their mantra of “change” resounded with a lot of Nigerian voters who were fed-up with the 16-year PDP rule. From Makurdi to Maiduguri, Abakaliki to Abuja, Nigerian voters voted massively for the party with a broom as its logo. Even in areas that were traditionally referred to as “strongholds” of the PDP, the Nigerian voters defied this custom. Instead, they placed their mandate on the burgeoning party.

    Retrospectively, before the elections, there was fear about the foreboding effects the elections were going to have to the unity and existence of Nigeria as a country. Western countries such as the US and the UK, issued several statements to this effect. The overheated polity prior to the elections through political vitriolic and shenanigans by some politicians, seemed as if the doomsday prediction of these countries was at hand.  However, when it was seemingly becoming clearer that Nigeria was heading towards it’s foretold doom, the Nigerian voters rose up to the occasion. Armed with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), Nigerian voters patriotically and peacefully queued up in single files in different polling units across the country, waiting to be accredited, so that they can be able to cast their votes for their preferred political parties/candidates. Apart from skirmishes and pockets of violence in certain wards and poling units across the country, the election was largely seen as credible, free and fair by international as well as domestic observers.

    The Nigerian voters inadvertently became the heroes who ushered in the present “change” dispensation. They were the heroes that unsentimentally cast their votes and stood by their votes in making them count. They were the heroes who voted in the spirit of unity and oneness as the results of the election reflected this. They were the heroes who used the social media to canvass for support for their preferred political parties and candidates, in ensuring that they get elected.

    That 90-year old woman who braved all odds to cast her vote on Election Day with the hope of creating a better future for the present, future and generations yet-unborn, is certainly a hero in my book. That 18-year old who just became an adult and eligible to vote for the first time and voted on election day with hopes of a better tomorrow for himself, family, generation and country, is indeed a hero in my book. That blind man who on Election Day insisted that he must vote and his vote counted, is also a hero in my book. That pregnant woman who on Election Day insisted to vote with her unborn child, with the hopes of a better tomorrow for herself and her baby is a hero in my book. All eligible Nigerian voters who voted peacefully and in an orderly manner on Election Day, and who protected their votes to the latter, ushering the present change-led administration are definitely the biggest Nigerian heroes of the day.

    ‘…FOR THEIR TENACITY, SENSE OF SELF, LOVE FOR KIN AND COUNTRY, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, PATRIOTISM, DESIRE FOR CHANGE THROUGH PEACE AND UNITY, “THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE AND VOTERS…” ARE MY PERSONS OF THE YEAR FOR 2015.’

     

    NON-NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR 2015:‘SAFYRE TERRY’

    Safyre Terry is an 8-year-old American girl who survived a house fire in 2013, which left her with burns over 75% of her body and killed her family. Her father and three of her younger siblings all perished in the fire. As the fire ravaged Safyre’shome, the little girl’s whole family was trapped in the apartment. Safyre survived because her father hugged her tight in his arms shielding her from breathing in fumes. He ultimately saved her life.

    Safyre has undergone more than 50 skin-graft surgeries resulting from that tragedy. She has also lost her right hand and left foot. She has basically lost everything but instead of being bitter, Safyre looks at life with optimism. When asked what she wanted for this year’s Christmas, rather than ask for something material, Safyreasked for people to send her Christmas Cards.

    Her simple request should remind us how important the little and simple things in life can bring joy and happiness to a person. Safyre will continue to face life alteringdifficulties but she teaches us that it takes very little to make a young child feel loved and happy.

    “… FOR GIVING THE WORLD A STORY TO LISTEN TO, WHICH CHANGES OUR FOCUS FROM THE MATERIALISTIC ASPECT OF LIFE TO ITS HUMBLE, INSPIRING AND BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY; AND FOR BEING BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL AND OPTIMISTICE DESPITE THE CHALLENGES SHE FACES,  ‘SAFYRE TERRY…’ IS MY NON-NIGERIAN OF THE YEAR, 2015.”

  • About some Nigerian demons (2015)

    About some Nigerian demons (2015)

    Why the Igbo would be more pained by President Jonathan’s electoral loss than the Ijaw nation completely beats my imagination.

    It will be worth our while, this last Sunday of the year of our Lord 2015, to recall some words that speak to the very depths of some of our country’s many demons. Before  that, however, let me, most profoundly, thank my very dedicated readers, beginning from those  with whom I started, gingerly, a decade ago in the COMET newspapers, and those who have since joined us on the voyage. Without mincing words, you have not only been wonderful, your being ever there has been a source of great encouragement to do this unfailingly, week in, week out. Certainly not as easy as it seems, and, not a few of you have, indeed, suggested that the offerings on these pages be committed into a book; something which, God willing, could see the light of day in 2016. If that happens, you will, of course, be a ringside guest at the public presentation. In its relatively short life, the column has never held back from talking truth to power, nor can I ever forget an entire Ekiti Council of Obas, under the then chairmanship of the Alaaye of Efon-Ekiti, calling an emergency meeting of the council a bare 48 hours after an article, critical of some of its members, appeared on these pages. Members  not only threatened fire  and brimstones, they were, in fact,  going to sue,  until a distinguished, learned member, indeed a former Chief Judge of the state, told them that would be an exercise in futility as  there was nothing to sue for in an article  in which  the author cleverly praised the entire council to high heavens. Of course, more critical articles were aimed at even the federal government. The interesting thing though, is that none of such articles was adversarial; rather they were intended to point some people in the path of rectitude. Although the column declared, unabashedly, long before he emerged APC’s presidential candidate that Nigeria needs Muhammadu Buhari more than the obverse, it will not think twice, if there is justified cause, to call the President’s attention to any faux pas. That will just be in the columnist’s character.

    Here then are some of those words on marble

    “A good politician needs not be an intellectual but he should be able to explain without seeking to seduce; he should humbly look for the truth of this world without claiming to be its professional owner; character and integrity should be more important to him than academic brilliance; he should alert people to the good qualities in themselves, including a sense of the values and interests which transcend the personal, without giving himself an air of superiority and imposing anything on his fellow humans; he should not yield to the dictate of public moods or of the mass media, while never hindering a constant scrutiny of his actions – Dr John Kayode Fayemi in:  Intellectuals in Politics-African perspectives (Accra, Ghana, July, 2015)

    “* Incontrovertibly, Bishop Kukah has lost it. It is tragic that some people can’t purge themselves of their innate weaknesses. That a man is acknowledged as a good public speaker is not a licence to profess divisive tendencies. Barely six months into a new administration and with the sordid revelations, I expected Kukah, a member of the National peace Committee, to propose a more reasonable approach to the subject of human rights. Some people waited out the terrible marginalization of the Jonathan administration. The Yoruba, for instance, was pushed to the wall but survived it. This time  around, when all hands are on deck to reposition a nation that was brought down on its knees by  Kukah’s friends, he is now supporting someone who has given more hate speeches against non Igbo ethnic groups than was recorded in the build up to the Rwandan genocide.

    One thing stands out here: the President’s resilience to allow democracy at its fullest. If this blackmail is about demands for appointments, it is another misguided adventure to destroy the Igbo political future. Very soon, the sponsors of the insurgence will be unmasked. Already, the Sultan and some Emirs have tried their best to ensure that there are no reprisal attacks after mosques were attacked and a Dangote vehicle destroyed somewhere in the East.  We expected Kukah to use that occasion to join in the plea for peaceful approach to individual or group agitations. Certainly, this Kukah has gone beyond Catholicism. He is now absolutely self serving. Since that Presidential debate, where he could not hide his disdain for Buhari, till now, it is obvious his motive is beyond Biblical traditions. His is now cassock ethnocentrism. The Catholic Church remains a vibrant institution for justice, peace and development. The Church has never compromised. More than any other religious institution, it has remained exemplary in terms of timely, appropriate and constructive engagements on issues of governance and peoples’ rights. This profile is  far too salutary than be permitted to  be stained  by anybody, even a Bishop –  Dr Sikiru Eniola on Bishop Matthew Kukah’s  support for  Kanu  on his  hate- spewing  agitation for a state of Biafra (December, 2015)

    As if the  writer, a university don, were a prophet, the sponsors are already unmasking themselves as  some Igbo leaders, in a classical demonstration of  the quip that we  never learn  from history  except as tragedy,  showed  up this past week,  Ojukwu-like  again,  leading  a landlocked Igbo against its own best interests. Under  a retired Justice Eze Ozobu-led  governing council,  with Dr Dozie Ikedife, Brig. Gen. Joe Achuzia, yes, the same Achuzia of the Biafran war fame, Eze Iheanyi  Nwokenna and others as members,  rather than counsel their restless youth,  announced the formation  of  what they called a  CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT of Indigenous People of Biafra  which they,  very disingenuously, conflates with the establishment of Sharia,  a religious tenet, in the North a few years ago. In this their government, they claim to have ministries and liaison offices in all parts of an indeterminate Biafra land – the current  Biafra map spreads as far as Igala land  and  includes the entire  South south despite the disclaimer by the Rivers State government.  Yet they claim not infringing on any Nigerian laws. Now that some Igbo elders are sowing the wind, one hopes that before the entire Igbo race again begins to reap the whirlwind, others, especially their elected officials, will point them in the path of rectitude. Why the Igbo would be more pained by President Jonathan’s electoral loss than the Ijaw nation completely beats my imagination. It, however, speaks more to self-love than any sympathy for the former President  – who has since responsibly settled down into  respectful international engagements –  as if these people were living on planet Mars when Igbos and their extracts  were ministers of the most powerful ministries and headed more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies.

    “A country which cannot refine its own crude oil, produce electricity from gas which it flares or produce toothpick from wood, certainly does not deserve to have credit/debit cards that function outside its borders. It is that simple – A commentator on CBN’s Ban on the Use of Naira Credit and Debit Cards Abroad (December, 2015)

    “We live in a society that hardly employs scientific methods in the advancement of its national well being. When Obama came to power he promised that the US would cease to be at the mercy of oil producers before the end of his tenure. Today, the US is a net exporter of oil. This was achieved through a scientific programme, driven by appropriate government policies  which led to the production of more fuel efficient vehicles, the development of technologies that  enhanced prospecting for hydrocarbons at deeper levels under the ground, and processing of sand oil that has hitherto been regarded as commercially unviable. Here in Nigeria, those in authority think only of sharing money, rather than using our resources to mobilise the productive and creative energies of our people for development. No wonder we are now falling on our faces in our dependence on a resource whose exploration and processing we have made no conscious effort to master. Compare, for instance, the NNPC with PETROBRAS, its Brazilian counterpart, and get a picture of the utter cluelessness of our political leadership – Ayo Omowumi on why Nigeria remains consigned to underdevelopment. (December, 2015)

    Till we meet in 2016, God willing, here is wishing all a Happy New Year.

  • What celebs rocked in 2015

    What celebs rocked in 2015

    IN a few days, 2015 would be gone. Interestingly, this was a year when a number of our celebrities rocked and created unique styles for themselves. In the collection you found them spotting smart and trendy gowns that took a number of years from their ages. The bridal satin, chiffon, lace and ankara fabrics also got more dramatic, churning out all kinds of trending styles that left a lasting impression on many.

    Have you ever gawked at the outfits of the celebrities and divas of the Nigerian scene and wished you could have their style and look fantastic? Unlike models who are paid to bring many different styles of clothing to vibrant life, celebrities are personalities who use clothing to help define their personal style. If it’s true that clothes make the man, it’s doubly true that fashion makes the celebrity.

    Everyone has a viewpoint on fashion. This week, we take a closer look at the stars that set the pace and dictated the fashion trend in 2015.

    On the roll call here were the likes of Agbani Darego, Omotola Ekeinde and Funke Akindele who stepped out in dresses that were simply terrific. Also stunning and  red-carpet worthy Geneveive Nnaji had heads turn when she stepped on the red carpet or at any gathering.

    Others included Dakore Akande, Toke Makinwa,Betty Irabor, Bolanle olukanni, Tonye Garrick, Lilian Unachukwu,Mo Abudu, Nkiru Anumudu, Toyin Lawani, Osas Ajibade and South African hottie and media celeb Bonang Matheba.

    If you are a fashion buff, then you cannot ignore the other selling points offered during the year. It was the year when French lace, dry lace and sequined fabrics and other accessories reigned supreme. As usual, our celebrities created designs that were exclusive to them and made fashion statements from this. For instance, we have a a red cape dress by Ini Edo with images of the same gown worn by Lupita Nyong’o looking really good.

    The cropped top also became a show stopper and it came in different designs and colours that our celebrities just could not resist.

  • 2015 in RETROSPECT: ARTISTES WHO MADE IMPACT

    2015 in RETROSPECT: ARTISTES WHO MADE IMPACT

    That Nigerian music has come of age is not in contention anymore. And 2015 was a consolidation on the efforts of the musicians. JOE AGBRO JR., OVWE MEDEME and DUPE AYINLA OLASUNKAMI capture some highlights of the year

    2Face Idibia ‘Election No Be War’ Campaigned becomes tool

    TUFACE Idibia can be rightly said be part of creators of the modern Nigerian music. However, the artiste made use of his voice in 2015, to encourage youths not to be used as tools for violence was Tuface Idibia, with the flag-off of his ‘Vote not fight  Election no be war” campaign, geared towards a violence free electoral.

    The timely initiative was officially unveiled at a press conference held in Lagos on the September 30, 2014.

    The campaign was put together by the 2face Foundation in partnership with Young Stars Foundation, National Democratic Institute (NDI), and other partner organisations.

    The voter education campaign was aimed at promoting peaceful participation by Nigerian youth in the 2015 elections. The campaign seeks to encourage youth to make a commitment to shun violence and embrace peace.

    Known for his uniqueness the legendary singer also made headline with his Fortyfied concert; celebration of a living legend, to mark his 40th birthday while also highlighting his achievements thus far, with the launch of a book.

    The event attracted top notch personalities and colleagues from around the globe.

     

    Adekunle Gold

    Adekunle GoldADEKUNLE Gold whose real name is Adekunle Kosoko has continued on a success path following his breakthrough into the Nigerian music scene with Sade 2014. Signed under YBNL Records, Adekunle followed up with Orente and early December, he released his third single,Pick Up, an inspirational song asking God to answer his desires.

    His exploits enabled him to clinch the ‘Revelation of the Year in Africa’ award at the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA 2015. Unknown to some people, Adekunle is also a graphic designer and designed the YBNL logo. As an artiste however, he enjoys regular airplay on radio and performs regularly at shows

     

    Small Doctor

    SMALL Doctor comes raw, direct and full in your face. Known by his moniker, ‘Akeweje Oganla’, his peculiar style of music which blends fast tempo beats with street lingo and slangs has made him popular. And it is this street credibility that ensured the Mosquito crooner got a 2015 Headies nomination in the ‘Best Street Hop’ category, his first major nomination for an award. He however, will be battling for the title with Olamide (Bobo), Reminisce (Skilashi), Falz (Ello Bae) as well as as Masterkraft’s Indomie which features Olamide, CDQ and Davido.

     

    Olamide

    Olamide
    Olamide

    FOR Olamide whose real name is Olamide Adedeji, 2015 has been bountiful. The artiste who records his songs in Yoruba with a high dose of street slangs continued endearing himself to a growing global fanbase. His effort was rewarded with the award of ‘Best Male Artiste in West Africa’ at the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA 2015. MTV Base also named Olamide at the Hottest Nigerian artiste 2015.

    In November, he dropped his fifth album Eyan Mayweather. The founder of burgeoning music label, YBNL, also got seven nominations  the highest for any artiste  at the 2015 TooXclusive Awards. And in December, Google also recognised Olamide’s videos of Bobo, FalilaKetan, MeloMelo and Lagos Boys in its YouTube Rewind of 2015 which reviews videos that shaped the world in 2015.

     

    Yemi Alade

    Yemi Alade
    Yemi Alade

    SHE might not have found her Johnny, but musician Yemi Alade is blazing trails in the industry. She clinched the Best Female Artist in Western Africa at the All Africa Music Awards in November. Earlier in July, the 26-year old songstress got Best Female Artiste in Africa at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards, MAMA.  In 2014, she released her first album, Kings of Queen which have garnered some awards.

    D’banj

    AFTER a brief hiatus from active music scene, Dapo Oyebanjo, more popularly known as Kokomaster D’Banj, released a visula EP titled ‘An Epic Journey’ to mark his 10 years of being an entertainer. In July, he won the Legendary Award at MTV Africa Music Awards, MAMA 2015.Confidential, one of the tracks on the album, features Hollywood actor, Idris Elba and rapper, Shadow Boxer.

    D’banj who was appointed as Agriculture Ambassador by the Nigerian government last year also became the Brand Ambassador of Slot, and he received a brand new Porsche for that. After a spending seven years with Mo’Hits records with Don Jazzy, D’banj signed to Kanye West’s Good Music record label.Also, after a two-year break, D’banj is also set to revive his Koko Concert, taking the show to five Nigerian cities between December 5 and December 29.

    The maiden edition of Koko Concert took place in 2010 in the United Kingdom while the subsequent year’s concert was held in Nigeria. The 2012 concert saw D’banj bring to Nigeria G.O.O.D Music acts Big Sean, Pusha T as well as Tinie Tempah and Idris Elba.

    Supreme Mavin Dynasty

    Arguably the most successful music group in Nigeria, the Supreme Mavin Dynasty led by Don Jazzy continued to be impressive. Though SMD’s first lady Tiwa Savage put to bed a baby boy and wasn’t so much active, it wasn’t the case for the rest of the crew.

    The family – Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D’Prince, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks and Korede Bello  came out with a single, Jantamantafollowing the mould of Dorobucci and Adaobi.

    In August, Don Jazzy and Reekado Banks won the City People Entertainment Awards respectively for ‘Special Recognition’ and ‘Most Promising Act of the year (Male)’ categories while Mavin Records got the Record Label of the Year Award. Reekado Banks and Korede Bello’s videos have garnered over 1.2million and one million views respectively on Youtube. Tiwa Savage and Reekado Banks were also nominated for the 2016 KORA All-Africa Music Awards in the Best Female (West Africa), Most Promising Male Artiste of Africa categories respectively while Mavin’s Adaobi was nominated for Best Collaboration.

    On their individual capacities, Don Jazzy became a Johnnie Walker Ambassador while Korede Bello was practically everywhere as his hit single, GodWin, trended on virtually every platform. GodWin won ‘The Song of the Year’ award at the 4th Annual Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA). Bello who is back in school for his HND even performed at President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration.

    Reekado Banks, famed for his singles  ‘Chop Am’ and ‘Katapot’  also did a foreign collaboration with one of Jay Z’s artistes.

    Wizkid and Davido end rift

    wizkidThey are contemporaries yet the music industry has cast a sort of rivalry between Wizkid and Davido. This has made the young musicians to be pitted against each other to determine whose music is better, who is richer, who has the most awards and who has more fans.

    Though this rivalry may be good for business, those expecting a collaboration had waited a while. The fans however, got their wish as Wizkid and Davido stunned industry watchers when they both performed at the grand finale of the Remy Martin club tour which held at Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos early December.

    Though their new albums are due to be released in 2016, fans enjoyed the sight of Wizkid and Davido on the same stage at the same time before 2015 wound out.

    ONE campaign

    ONE Campaign, inspired by an advocacy organization ONE, made headline in the year 2015, with its focus on using prominent singers globally to preach against the impact of poverty on gender equality.

    The campaign had seven prominent African singers -Victoria Kimani from Kenya, South African Judith Sephuma, Waje from Nigeria, Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania, Arielle T from Gabon, Gabriela from Mozambique and Selomor Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe – recorded the song ‘Strong Girl’ to address the gender inequality that they believe goes hand-in-hand with poverty.  They sang their hearts out in the song.

    The song is inspired by a recently released report by ONE, an advocacy organisation that aims to fight extreme poverty and preventable diseases  particularly in Africa  titled Poverty is Sexist: Why girls and women must be at the heart of the fight to end extreme poverty.

    Lead singer of legendary Irish band U2 and founder of One Campaign, Bono, also paid a visit to Nigeria; Bono who is the front runner of One Campaign’s philanthropic movement to alleviate poverty in Africa got to meet with some of Nigerian celebrities like Cobhams Asuquo, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Waje and D’banj.

    ‘Strong Girl’ was produced by award winning music producer Cobhams Asuquo.

  • 2015 in RETROSPECT: ARTISTES IN POLITICS

    2015 in RETROSPECT: ARTISTES IN POLITICS

    A lot has been said about the relationship between the arts and politics but when a number of entertainers decide to throw their resources into seeking political offices, the motive is called to question. As veteran actress, Clarion Chukwurah posited, those artistes who sought political offices did so just for financial gains.

    Making the entertainment scene more interesting this year were a number of entertainers who sought to be elected into various positions. Though they turned out in their numbers, only a few made it through the primaries held in December last year. Entertainment guru, Dayo Adeneye aka D1, for instance, lost the APC House of Assembly ticket for Odogbolu area of Ogun State. Kenny Saint Best also lost her bid. Others who lost the primaries in their states were Kate Henshaw and Abolore Akande aka 9ice.

    Of the lot, only two prominent entertainers prevailed through the primaries; Nollywood actress, Funke Adesiyan and actor and filmmaker, Desmond Elliot.

    Adesiyan, won the All Progressive Congress, APC, ticket to vie for a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly. She however lost the election which was said to be keenly contested.

    Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Desmond Elliot on the other hand emerged successful in his first shot in politics. He contested for and duly won the election as a lawmaker on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

     

    M-Net shelves BBA 2015

    ORGANISERS announced that the popular M-Net reality TV show, Big Brother Africa (BBA), has been put on hold, even though the regional Big Brother shows, including Big Brother Angola and Big Brother Mzansi still held.

    Though no concrete reason was given for the development, it is rumoured that M-Net had to cancel the highly critiqued TV show for want of sponsors.

    According to its management, though the move to regionalise the show allows producers to re-evaluate its direction, Big Brother continues to captivate audiences in each market in which it is produced.

    “M-Net wish to thank Big Brother Africa fans for their continuous support and assure them that in the future further announcements will be made,” a statement from the body reads.

    Last year, the annual show was almost marred when what was described as a devastating fire engulfed the Big Brother house.

    The 2014 competition, dubbed Hotshots, saw Tanzania’s Idris emerging winner after 63 gruelling days in the house. Coming closely behind him was Nigeria’s Tayo who came a few points short of clinching the prize.

    Glo X-Factor replaced with Dance With Peter

    THE maiden edition of X Factor, one of Nigeria’s singing reality TV show, which saw sensational rapper Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch, crowned Africa’s first X Factor winner in 2013, this year witnessed a change.

    The reality show was replaced with one of the telecom’s ambassador pet project tagged ‘Dance With Peter’; a dancing competition organised in collaboration with Africa’s dance star, Peter Okoye of the P-Square fame of the duo singers P-Square.

    While the winner of the show wins a brand new Toyota RAV 4 sports utility vehicle, N3million cash prize and the rare opportunity of featuring in P-Square’s next music video. The first and second runners-up will receive a Honda Civic car with N2million and a Kia Rio car with N1million respectively.

    GUS 2015: Brand gives back to consumers

    UNLIKE the previous years; reality TV show, Gulder Ultimate Search which has had several editions since 2004, the show took a different direction this year, with the company putting up for grab 11 brand new Hyundai Elantra cars; as a way of giving back to their consumers.

    The Gulder promo kick-started the 2015 edition of the Gulder National Consumer Promotion, with the display of one of world’s biggest poster in Enugu;  which beats the previous largest poster in the world which measured 4,793.65 square meters and was achieved by Global United Media Company Pvt Ltd (India) in Kochi, India, on 27 June 2015.

    The promo had a journalist, Mr. Chuka Nnabuife who works with National Light newspaper, Anambra State, emerge the winner of one of the Hyundai Elantra car.

    The company also this year unveiled three new ambassadors: Yemi Blaq, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Ill Rhymz.

    K-Peace crowned Nigerian Idol Season 5 winner

    THE fifth edition of the Nigeria Music contest sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria ended with Kunle Ogunrombi, known as K-Peace, emerging winner.

    K-Peace smiled home with a brand new SUV car, cash prize of N7.5 million and a recording deal with Universal Music Company.

    K-Peace follows the likes 26-year-old Oneyka “Yeka Onka” Gilbert Elizabeth Onwuka from Ohafia who was announced the first Nigerian Idol in 2011.

    Other Nigerian Idol winners are Mercy Chinwo, Moses Obi Adigwe, and Evelle.

     

     

    THIS year, Nigerian artistes made their mark on the award platform. Some of the top platforms include the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Music of Black Origin (MOBO) and the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) with other awards being Too Exclusive Awards, Top Naija Awards.

    And Nigerian artistes got their fair share. At the 2015 AFRIMA

    At the 2015 MAMAs, Yemi Alade (Africa’s Best Female Act), P-Square (Best Group), Patoranking (Best New Act) and D’Banj (MAMA Evolution Award) represented Nigeria.

  • Bimbo Akintola, Gideon Okeke to host BON Awards 2015

    AHEAD of the December 13 date for its seventh edition, organisers of the prestigious Best of Nollywood Awards (BON AWARDS) have unveiled versatile screen goddess Bimbo Akintola and talented actor Gideon Okeke as the hosts.

    The event which takes place at The Dome in Akure, Ondo State will play host to Nollywood stars, government functionaries, corporate personalities and select guests.

    There will be exclusive performances by some highly-acclaimed entertainers, and comedians to add spice to the event.

    Akintola who made her Nollywood debut in the 1995 blockbuster Owo Blow has become a phenomenon in the industry while Okeke carved a niche for himself in Nollywood after appearing in MNET Africa’s Tinsel.

    Some previous hosts of BON Awards include Fred Amata and Gbemi Olateru, Nonso Diobi and Slyvia Nduka.

  • HOW 7UP THRILLED GUESTS AT FELABRATION 2015

    HOW 7UP THRILLED GUESTS AT FELABRATION 2015

    AS Nigerians gathered to celebrate the life and times of music icon and Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti at the annual Felabration, soft drink brand, 7Up decided to throw its weight behind this year’s festivities.

    The weeklong celebration which took place mainly inside the African Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos, witnessed quite a number of activities including a debate for Senior Secondary Schools titled Poverty is Not an Accident like Slavery and Apartheid, a symposium as well as a drama presentation titled Fela Son of Kuti.

    Felabration 2015, tagged Just Like That started on Monday October 12 and ended on Sunday October 18, attracting international icons such as Seyi Shay; Rainmaker, Majek Fashek; Tuface Idibia, Third World, MI, Sandra Izsadore, Daddy Showkey and king of Afrobeat, Femi Kuti and London based London Afrobeat.

    Others are Yemi Alade, who continued her “search” for ‘Johnny’; Afrobeat Prince, Seun Kuti, dancehall MC, General Pype amongst many other acts that performed at the 7Up sponsored Felabration.

    The massive crowd at the shrine could fill up a standard football stadium with many fans outside who couldn’t get in but still remained as they enjoyed ice cold 7Up and also got 7Up branded T-shirts with pictures of Fela on it.

    In the words of the Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston, “Fela is an international brand who made a difference in this world with his music and 7Up is an international brand that continues to make a difference in the life and passion of people globally through music, education and sports.”

    One of the highlights of the festival was the return of the Rainmaker, Majek Fashek who did not disappoint teeming fans as they screamed with excitement with every tune the legend sang in reminiscence of the musician’s hay days.

    Felabration is the annual music and entertainment concert which started in 2000 and dedicated to the ideals of Fela who died in August 2 1997.

  • CHI Limited wins 2015 customer service award

    CHI Limited, the makers of Chivita, Hollandia, Capri-Sonne and SuperBite range of products, has won this year’s Nigeria Customer Service Excellence Award for being the best Customer Service Company in the Beverage sector.

    CHI Ltd, known for its quality products, loved brands, and excellent customer service, has received numerous awards over the years as recognition of these values, like The African Quality Achievement Awards in 2014 and The Generation Next Awards in 2013 to name a few.

    The Nigeria Customer Service Awards (NCSA) is a prestigious annual award that celebrates service excellence in Nigeria, by recognizing companies that deliver effective and exceptional customer services. Speaking at an award ceremony held in Lagos, Co-ordinator, Nigeria Customer Service Awards Limited, Dr. Aliyu Ilias, disclosed that the fruit juice market leader was adjudged as the winner of the award having fulfilled all the stipulated criteria and received vast majority of nominations from customers on the various voting platforms.

     

     

     

    According to him, “CHI Limited emerged as the best Customer Service Company in the FMCG/Beverage sector through appreciable feedback from the following criteria: nominations from Nigerians; customer feedback, review of employee job satisfaction/performance standards; and mystery shopping services” he stated

    The Managing Director, CHI Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said the company thrives on the support and patronage of its customers and would therefore stop at nothing in ensuring that customers get excellent product and quality services.

    “This award is a testament to the hard work and strategy employed by the company to satisfy the needs of our esteemed customers and fulfill their expectations. It is dedicated to our numerous customers who believe in our relationship with them and support us to actualize our vision of creating value that is timeless,” Deepanjan stated.

     

  • 2015 Agrikexpo holds Nov

    Agrikexpo, the foremost event for agribusiness development in West Africa,  will hold in November at the Eko Convention Centre, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Now in its fourth edition, the 2015 Agrikexpo is chosen and partnered by the European Union (EU-Nigeria Business Forum, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    According to the Director, Public Communications, 151 Products Limited, the organisers of the expo, Mr. Alex Oke, the event  is a rallying point for agribusiness development, and is coming at a time the nation is focused on taking agriculture to the next level.

    He said this year’s event would feature several seminars that would focus on poultry, agrochemicals and food technology, as West Africa is indeed, a fast emerging destination for agricultural investments in view of its vast arable land.

    The Coordinator, Nigeria Agriculture Business Group (NABG), Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, said he is proud to be associated with the event -AGRIKEXPO/FOODBEXT, hence he has invited all stakeholders and members of the association to the event.

    The NABG is the umbrella association for all agribusiness stakeholders in Nigeria determined to see to the total transformation of the agric sector.

    AGRIKEXPO is coordinated by Foodbext West Africa, which is totally dedicated to food/beverage products/services, including processing and packaging product, and has been endorsed by the various market associations for food and beverage products from Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

    The Head of Delegation, EU delegation to Nigeria/ECOWAS, Mr. Michel Arrion, said the synergy between the EU-Nigeria Business Forum and Agrikexpo is a good opportunity for European companies to interact with Nigerian firms for the maximisation of value with both events.

    Sam Ohuanbunwa, Chairman, 151 Products Limited, used the opportunity of the recent interaction with newsmen to thank the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and NAFDAC for their continued support and collaboration, especially at this time the nation had intensified the focus on agricultural development.

    “It is clear that agriculture holds a great potential for Nigeria as globalisation continues to erase the economic boundary between nations,” he said.

  • Intrigues, cash crunch delay cabinet in 24 states

    Intrigues, cash crunch delay cabinet in 24 states

    For more than 100 days now since they were sworn-in, most of the state governors are yet to appoint commissioners. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu with Austine Tsenzughul in Bauchi, Bisi Olaniyi in Port Harcourt, Yusufu Aminu Idegu in Jos, Okodili Ndidi in Owerri, Okungbowa Aiwerie in Asaba and Sunny Nwankwo in Aba, uncovers some of the reasons behind the delay in the constitution of cabinets in most of the states

    Although there may be no section in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which states categorically that a governor must appoint commissioners or form his cabinet within 100 days of assumption of office, some Nigerians, who spoke to The Nation at the weekend, are worried that most of the currently elected governors have run their states without commissioners in the first 100 days of their administration.

    Out of the 29 states where new chief executives were sworn-in on May 29, 2015, only about five, an insignificant percentage, have formed cabinets as at Friday. The five states where the new governors have appointed all or significant number of commissioners and special advisers include: Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

    There are few others that appointed only a small number of commissioners. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for example had to submit list of his commissioners to the Delta State House of Assembly in two batches. In June, he submitted a list of twelve commissioner nominees to the lawmakers for screening. It took almost a month before he forwarded another list of eight commissioner nominees. In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has only appointed few commissioners thereby heightening the pressure on him to name the remaining members of the cabinet.

    As at yesterday, the states where the new governors are yet to name their commissioners include, Lagos, Oyo and Ogun in the South-West; Imo, Ebonyi and Abia in the South-East; Cross-River, Delta and Rivers in the South-South; Kwara, Plateau, Niger and Nassarawa in the North-Central; Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Jigawa in the North-West; and Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe in North-East.

    Even before the inauguration of the new governors in question, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State in the South-West has been running the affairs of his state without commissioners since last year when he was re-elected in office. Since then, he has been making use of permanent secretaries and heads of departments to run the government, explaining that the tactics is a reaction to the challenging economic realities of the time.

    Nigerians who spoke to The Nation over the matter said it is necessary for a governor to appoint members of his team as quickly as possible “since two heads are better than one.” As some of them reasoned, a governor that has his team is likely to provide better governance to his people than a sole administrator, who is prone to act like a dictator.

    But spokesmen of most of the governors have defended that the law did not make it mandatory for their bosses to constitute a cabinet within their first 100 days in office. Their position seems to be drawn from the provisions of the Constitution in Section 193 sub 1, which says amongst others that the governor of a state “may, in his discretion, assign to the Deputy Governor of the state, or any commissioner of the government any business of the state, including the administration of any department of the government.”

    Wide consultations, cause of delay in Bauchi

    In Bauchi State, where Governor Mohammed Abubakar, a lawyer-turned politician, is presiding over the affairs of the state, some people expressed concern that 100 days after the inauguration of the current state government, the governor is yet to announce his commissioners.

    Our checks during the week show that there is no hint that a cabinet will be in place in the next few days.

    Faulting the argument that the governor was not obliged under any law to appoint commissioners within 100 days after assumption of office, critics of the development in Bauchi said “for purposes of honesty, accountability and transparency, leading to good governance, there are certain provisions in our law that require Executive Council’s resolutions, especially, on issues of bilateral agreement or issues that concern fiscal responsibilities.” This being the case, it is pertinent, they reasoned, for a democratically elected governor to appoint his cabinet as quickly as possible.

    Leading the critics of Abubakar over this matter are members of the opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They have alleged that the delay in the constitution of the cabinet in the state was because “the governor wants to get back the funds he expended on his election campaign”. Since the publication of N8.60 billion bailout for the state, the critics have not ceased to express concern over the possibility of Abubakar’s just utilization of the resources without a state executive council.

    But Governor Abubakar’s Director of Press, Alhaji Ibrahim Sani, said such criticisms have no substance and that the governor is only being meticulous in approaching issues in governance.

    His words, “the absence of commissioners is not strange to Bauchi State. The delay is to put square pegs in square holes, besides, many states and the federal government are yet to appoint commissioners or ministers. But Bauchi’s case is based on wide consultations.”

    “It is also, meant to form a cabinet that will stand the test of time, have commissioners or advisers that would assist the governor to fast tract deliverance of the contents of the people’s mandate.

    “In order to make a well informed decision, there has been ministerial, departmental and government agencies’ briefings to the governor. This is being done so that Gov. Abubakar will understand the operations of government, its challenges and formulate right policies and people-oriented programmes with the correct people to ensure their adequate implementation”.

    Abubakar’s spokesman also stated that “the act of governance is not as easy as people see it from afar. Abubakar was a senior civil servant in the state civil service and knows what the government is and has to work policies in compliance with the change mantra.

    Therefore for now, it is a game of ‘wait and see’ or, as they would say, it’s “sit down look” kind of situation in Bauchi.

    In Rivers, Wike awaits tribunal judgment

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is one of the governors yet to constitute a full cabinet. His critics have attributed the delay to the fear of losing his position at the tribunal.

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the April 11 election in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, who described the poll as a sham, dragged Wike to the tribunal, sitting in Abuja

    Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is insisting that he won the election and he is admonishing Rivers people to support his government.

    Besides appointing ex-Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Kenneth Kobani, as Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and two-term Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council of Rivers State, Emeka Woke, as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state governor has so far appointed four commissioners: Dr. Fred Kpakol (Finance), Emma Okah (Housing), Onimim Briggs (Agriculture) and Emmanuel Aguma, SAN (Justice and Attorney-General).

    The Rivers chapter of the APC then noted that “Wike’s 100 days celebration kicked off with so much self adulation, distorted facts and misrepresentations in the media.”

    Rivers APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, in Port Harcourt, declared that Wike was not ready to deliver good governance to the peace-loving people of the state.

    It reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari, as someone who is focused and with a clear plan for governance, shortly after his May 29, 2015 inauguration, announced that he would appoint ministers in September.

    The party stated that the same could not be said of Wike, a former Minister of State for Education.

    The Party therefore called on Wike to constitute the state’s cabinet by appointing commissioners and make other statutory appointments, irrespective of the fact that his stay as governor was highly likely to be truncated by the tribunal, since government is a continuum.

    The party declared that the excuse Wike offered that he would wait till the tribunal in Abuja gives judgment before constituting his cabinet was only a facade to pull his grand scam on the good people of Rivers state and deceive even members of his PDP.

    Mixed reactions in Abia   

    In a recent chat the Chief Press Secretary of the Abia State Government, Godwin Adindu had with members of the Aba Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he promised that the state government would soon appoint commissioners for various ministries.

    However, the inability of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu’s administration to appoint the commissioners after 100 days in office has been causing a lot of concerns among Abians.

    While many respondents condemned it, others believe that appointing commissioners to head ministries is a waste of the state economic resources.

    They advocated for the use of permanent secretaries or good hands in various ministries in order to save cost and limit people with no or less experience from heading the activities of various government parastatals in the state.

    According to Mr. Chukwuma Ngama, “I am not a politician, but I believe that even if the governor fails to appoint commissioners and the state functions well under the leadership of permanent secretaries, that will save us (the State) a lot of wastages. The truth is that some of these commissioners may not really know much about the ministries they are appointed to head. Imagine when they appoint a bio-chemist to head say ministry of works. I am of the opinion that government should scrap both ministerial and commissioners’ positions. Let them use permanent secretaries. That will save us the dangers of putting square pegs in round holes”.

    Mr. Nwogu, who do not agree with Ngama’s position, opined that the importance of commissioners and ministers cannot be over emphasized as he noted that both governors and the president need to have commissioners and ministers respectively to oversee some of the ministries to avoid “gap in governance”.

    “Those who are against the appointment of ministers and commissioners by the President and governors should ask God why he went about spreading the gospel during his own time with His disciples. That shows that the importance of ministers and commissioners for every government cannot be over-emphasized.

    Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, in an interview said, “It is not only Abia State that has not appointed commissioners. If you look around, many states have not appointed commissioners and even the federal government has not appointed ministers. So that should not be an issue for anybody. At the right time, the governor will appoint his commissioners.

    On the insinuation that the government might be doing it to cut cost of governance, Adindu said, “I don’t think that is the case. It is just that the governor is taking his time; he is doing things according to his own time table. So, at the right time, when he must have identified the right people to work with him, the appointments would be made”.

    On the vacuum lack of commissioners is creating in governance, he added, “the absence of commissioners is not causing any hindrance or having any negative effect on governance. Abia governance is going on smoothly; our projects have been going on smoothly. The governor has mapped out the things he wants to achieve. The permanent secretaries are there working with the governor to achieve those things. The governor is acting as the overall supervisor and director of all his projects. He equally has a body of aides, special advisers and inspection officers, the SSG, the Chief of Staff and other aides. They are all busy working. He is following his own timetable; there is a template which he is following. So, at the right time the appointments would be made,” Adindu said.

    Ayade’s meetings with interest groups, cause of delay

    In Cross River State, where Governor Ben Ayade is yet to constitute his cabinet, we gathered that the delay is primarily because of wide consultations. A source close to the Government House, informed that the governor had just concluded the consultation exercise with important stakeholders and as a result, expectations are high in Calabar that Ayade will likely name his commissioners anytime from this September.

    Our source said “because of the hard fought elections, the governor thought it wise to consult widely in order to carry everyone along. He consulted with wards and local government caucuses. The local government caucuses were asked to nominate two candidates each for consideration.”

    Lalong may first reduce ministries to manageable size

    Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has been unable to constitute his executive council members within his first 100 days in office.

    Though Lalong never promised he will appoint commissioners for the government before the expiration of his first 100 days as governor, it has been the expectation of citizens of the state who cannot wait to see a full APC government in place in the state having used their PVC to effect a change from PDP to APC.

    This has given most citizens a lot of concern and most of them are already expressing some measure of disappointment in the Lalong-led administration. The PDP-led opposition has decried the absence of commissioners and has therefore described Plateau as a state without a functional government.

    But it seems Lalong is not bordered by such criticisms over his inability to constitute his cabinet within the first 100 days in office.

    Among the earliest appointments made by Lalong so far are Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Rufus Bature, Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. John Dafan, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lalong, Samuel Nanle, Director-General, Research and Documentation, Prof John Wade.

    Apart from these appointments, Lalong has appointed new leadership for the 17 local governments of the state and also reinstated the Vice Chancellor of the state university, Prof Danjuma Dognaan Sheni, even as he reconstituted the governing council of the state university under the Chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega.

    According to Mr. Samuel Nanle, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Lalong, there are three major reasons for the delay in the composition of the state executive council; first, the state governor set up a transition committee to ascertain the true position of the state, it has taken the committee over two months to complete the assignment and submit its report. That report was needed for the smooth take off of the administration.

    Secondly, government thought of restructuring the entire state; we need time to study all government ministries, agencies and parastatals, there could be need to merge some of them, there is the need to scrap some of them to a manageable size. And until that is done carefully, government cannot just appoint commissioners without knowing its numbers of ministries.

    Thirdly, the issue of availability of funds, the government inherited empty treasury and the first thing to do is to raise the revenue profile of government because that will determine how many commissioners you can pay. They require official vehicles, furnishing of office and other logistics. The poor state of government’s purse as at the time we took over, made it difficult to think of appointing commissioners. Government also had to give priority to the seven month salary arrears it inherited so as to boost the morale of the state civil servants who were on strike before May 29 when we took over. Government had to source for funds from wherever to pay that liability before talking of appointing commissioners, the commissioner cannot resume office when civil servants are on strike.

    The fourth and most important reason is the need for wide consultations on who to appoint as commissioner. Such appointment should be community-based, this government resolved to allow the people to do the selection; this government will not want to impose any commissioner on any local government. And so government asked the people to do wider consultations among themselves and select for government. That is the standard in a democracy like ours.

    Cash crunch, reason for delay in Kwara

    In Kwara State, where the governor is also yet to name commissioners, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said publicly that with the financial crisis in the country and with the current difficulty in the payment of salaries of civil servants, it would be out of place for him to appoint commissioners and other office holders who would become another financial burden to him.

    He explained that the current financial situation “called for proper planning on how to prudently run the government.” As a result, since he assumed office,he had made only five appointments.

    Speaking during his monthly media chat broadcast live on the state radio stations, the governor said “Ordinarily as a second term governor under a smooth running system, where you don’t have financial constraint, I would have appointed commissioners the next day I was sworn-in. But you see, no matter how much plans you have in running government, resources must be available.

    It is interesting to note that as a result of this position, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has threatened to drag Ahmed to court over his delay in appointing commissioners and other political appointees. Iyiola Oyedepo, Chairman of the party in the state, said the governor, being a second timer, has no excuse not to have appointed commissioners, alleging that the action of the governor can breed autocracy and fraudulent practices as the work to be done by many is being done by one.

    Okorocha still consulting stakeholders in Imo

    The non appointment of Commissioners by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, one hundred days after he was sworn in for his second term in office, may not be unconnected to the cash crunch that have hit most of the states.

    According to a reliable source close to the state government, who preferred anonymity, “there is no portion of the constitution that mandates the governor to appoint commissioners within a particular time and moreover with the current state of the economy, the appointment of commissioners is not the immediate priority of the state government”.

    The source continued that, “the state government is more interested in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people than appointing a new set of commissioners, when it is still grappling with the payment of workers’ salary”.

    The delay may also not be unconnected with the plan by the state government to reduce the number of ministries by merging some together to reduce the cost of governance.

    However, the governor, in a recent media chat with journalists in the state, promised to announce the list of commissioners as soon as possible, but noted that the number may not be the same as in the past.

    The Nation also gathered that the challenge of carrying all interest groups along, especially members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who supported the governor against their party’s candidate, may be responsible for the delay as the governor may be making wider consultations.

    Okowa’s example

    Although Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, now has commissioners to work with, the way he formed the cabinet explained, to a very large extent, why many state governors are yet to name the commissioners and advisers they would be working with. Reports from Imo, Plateau and many other states have shown that most of the governors, faced with the current economic realities are consulting widely and may have resolved to restructure and reduce the ministries and departments with the view of reducing cost of governance.

    That is why, in spite of the fact that Delta is one of the oil-rich states in the country, sources confirmed that cash crunch informed Okowa’s resolve to appoint his commissioners in a way an analyst described as ‘piecemeal.’

    While some state governors, who are facing severe cash crunch, are still unable to appoint their commissioners since assumption of office on May 29th, Okowa assembled his cabinet in a novel manner.

    He resorted to appoint the commissioners in two batches. He also reduced the number of commissioners from 32, as was the case during Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration, to 20.

    It would be recalled that in June, Okowa submitted a list of twelve commissioner nominees to the Delta State House of Assembly. He forwarded another list of eight commissioner nominees two months later.

    A source confirmed that the main reason behind Okowa’s ‘piecemeal’ appointments of commissioners “may not be unconnected with the economic situation,” adding that had Okowa appointed all the commissioners  in one fell swoop, he would have had to provide accommodation, vehicles and pay their salaries and other emoluments.

    To further compound the dire financial situation, is the fact that residences allocated to commissioners was stripped bare by their past occupants.

    Aside from financial worries, pressure from political stakeholders also conspired to slow down the process of appointing commissioners as many interest groups are jostling for key positions.

    In a bid to appease stakeholders, it was learnt, that Okowa is taking his time in fully constituting his team.

    Another source informed that the delay in appointing more commissioners may be plans by the present administration to downsize the number of ministries from the unwieldy 32 to 22 in a bid to reduce duplication of duties by ministries and save cost.

    This seems to be the same picture in most of the states in the country, especially the states where the governors are foot-dragging before appointing the commissioners and other members of the state executive council. Our investigation shows that most of the affected governors resorted to this style of governance primarily to save some funds following the economic downturn that has affected their states.

    The reasons given for the delay in appointing commissioners and other members of cabinet notwithstanding, most Nigerians are worried that the current situation may lead to a form of quasi-dictatorship. As a result, they are calling on the governors who are yet to name their commissioners to wake up to the aspirations of their people and constitute their cabinet as quickly as possible.