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Tag: Afenifere

  • Why Southwest should support Buhari, by Afenifere

    Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has urged the Yoruba to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid because of his “landmark achievements.”

    It said the Southwest had never had it “so good” following the “juicy federal appointments given to Yoruba sons and daughters.”

    These were contained in a communique by Mr. Awa Bamiji, issued at the end of its national caucus meeting at Senator Ayo Fasanmi’s House in Osogbo, the Osun State capital

    The meeting, according to Bamiji, also considered the “historic convocation of the Yoruba Summit that will reflect every shade of opinion within and outside Nigeria by January in Ibadan.”

    He noted that after the meeting, the Afenifere leadership visited Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who pledged his administration’s support “towards ensuring that every dream of Afenifere becomes a reality for the good of Yoruba Nation.

    “Thursday January 17 was suggested for the convocation of the Yoruba Summit at Ibadan. Elders’ Committee was formed while each state was requested to submit five names each of which various committees would be raised for the summit.”

    At the event were Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Chief Pius Akinyelure, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman, Odu’a lnvestment Limited, Engr Sola Akinwunmi, who represented Chief Bisi Akande, and Chief Akin Fasae who represented Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    Others were Prof. Bayo Ademodi, representing Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Awa Bamiji representing Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Elder Yemi Alade, Chief (Mrs.) Monisola Oloro (Nee Fayemi), among others.

  • Ohaneze, Afenifere leaders parley in Owerri

    Leaders of apex Igbo and Yoruba socio-cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere on Monday night met in Owerri, the Imo State capital to forge national unity and peaceful coexistence.

    The groups were led by the respective National Presidents, Chiefs Nnia Nwodo and Ayo Adebanjo.

    Other prominent Igbo sons and daughters were also in attendance.

    Receiving the entourage at the Government House, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha charged the Ohaneze leaders to “take the needed steps to ensure that the rest of Nigerians see Ndigbo as part and parcel of them”.

    He added that “until other Nigerians begin to come to Igboland to invest like the Igbo do in other parts of Nigeria, the gap will continue to exist”.

    According to him, “Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation like Afenifere and Arewa. Ohanaeze could relate and marry these organisations and use them to launch the campaign that would truly make other parts of Nigeria to see Igbos as fellow Nigerians in whom they should be well pleased.

    “We are highly misunderstood and until you come to an Igboman’s house you will not know how hospitable he is.”

    Nwodo said: “Ohanaeze is interested in seeing how our people who are in government have fared. We owe it to our people to tell them who has done well and who has not.

    “We can rightfully say that Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done very well in the area of infrastructural transformation of Imo State as Imo has changed greatly and is now appealing to foreign investors.

    “Rochas Foundation during the government of Chief Igariwe promised to build headquarters for Ohanaeze.

    “One would have thought it was a political statement, and sometimes such promises are not fulfilled but not for a man like Governor Okorocha.

    “As I speak to you now, that headquarters is already roofed, tiles have been erected, doors are been fitted.

    “Only three weeks, he removed the roofs of our hall and redesigned the hall. Right now he is giving us a fence better than that of Government House of Imo.

    “Governor Rochas has a very large heart. It will go on record that no Igbo leader has been as generous to Ohanaeze as Rochas Okorocha. I seize this moment to thank him.”

     

  • Fasheun was a great patriot, selfless leader – Afenifere

    The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has described the late Founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasheun, as great patriot and a selfless leader.

    Prof. Banji Akintoye, Chairman, Political Committee, Afenifere Group, said this in an interview with our reporters in Lagos on Monday.

    Akintoye said the late OPC founder was a lover of the nation and had put his life on line to defend the interest of the Yoruba race.

    He said Fasheun lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation, saying that his death came as a rude shock to the group.

    “Fasheun was a friend, a great patriot, a lover of his nation, a straight forward man, a true and selfless leader of his people.

    “We thank God for all he had been able to do and memories he left behind.

    Read Also: OPC founder Fasheun is dead

    “We want his family to know that we will always honour his memory, as we will miss him greatly,’’ the Afenifere chieftain said.

    Akintoye urged Nigerian leaders to emulate the late OPC founder’s leadership quality devoid of personal gratification and embezzlement of public funds.

    He said the frailty of the country’s political leaders hinged on excessive push for personal aggrandisement and unending opulent consumption pattern which continued to threaten the potential of the country becoming a truly wealthy nation.

    “Leaders want to become rich by sharing in the stolen public money and they want to live a life bigger than life; this is bad.

    “Nigerian leaders must learn from late Fasheun, his selfless leadership style and contentment, ‘’Akintoye said.

    NAN

  • Burden of the Yoruba is Afenifere

    SIR: Afenifere, the body that pretends to fight for the Yoruba is in fact the burden of the race. Born in ideological stereotypes, Afenifere has become the irredeemable problem of Southwest. Today the likes of A.M.A. Akinloye, D.S. Adegbenro, Ayo Rosiji, E.A. Babatola, Adesanya and others would shiver in their graves if they knew what the original concept has come to be. The original meaning of Afenifere was an attempt to give Yoruba interpretation of the Action Group and later the UPN. It was not meant for reactionary, money spinning concept which today’s Afenifere has turned to.

    The Action Group and later the UPN which was conceived and nurtured by the indefatigable Obafemi Awolowo, perhaps Nigeria’s most patriotic politician has turned to be a tool in the hands of political profiteers and tune-coats. Starting under the Jonathan administration, the new Afenifere is now a profit-making venture pretending to be advocates of the Yoruba cause in Nigeria. Meeting by day and night under shady atmosphere is a group of Yoruba reactionaries, mostly octogenarians and a few pretentious social critics and fake advocates of social justice.

    Never in short of ‘new ideas’, they are now leaders in the ‘restructuring’ of the Nigerian polity. What is restructuring, they have failed to explain and interpret fully to Nigerians. As a result, many Nigerians especially in Southwest can only rely on guess work. Are they canvassing a return to the original three autonomous regions?  Are they making a case for complete resource control? Or are they postulating a confederal Nigeria which will assume quasi, strong regional governments with a token federal government?

    The only success which the new Afenifere can lay claim of is a new ideological marriage between them, Southeast, and South-south politicians. But what they don’t know is that it is because political power at the centre for now does not lie with ambitious politicians of South-south and Southeast extraction. The moment the presidency or vice presidency of Nigeria tilts to either of the two blocks, the marriage across the Niger would dissolve immediately.

    To come nearer home, one would like to observe that majority of political positions and appointments that come to the Southwest under the Buhari administration go to Ogun State and to a lesser extent, Lagos State. The remaining four states in the Southwest: Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti have probably less than 20% of what ‘belongs’ to the region. Equally important was that two of the most important personalities in the present political arrangement are from Ogun State. Or who can downplay the role and importance of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Governor of Ogun State under the present dispensation?

    What continues to baffle many Nigerians particularly those of the older generation is the role being played by the Tribune Group of Newspapers. It is without doubt that these newspapers are the most visible official organ of Nigeria’s opposition party and also of Afenifere. To many people, this is an aberration if not heresy. Previously the Afenifere was a mouthpiece of progressive politics in Nigeria. The Tribune Group is now a shadow of its glorious past.

    Let the Afenifere and its few but vocal adherents know that Nigerians are no fools. We trust that our big brothers in Ondo and Ekiti State who are the nominal heads of the group will sooner than later understand the motive of our big brothers in Ogun State. After all, we in Ondo and Ekiti states have from time immemorial been on a wrong side of the political rewards for our faithfulness and commitment even to the original Action Group or UPN. In these two enclaves our word is our honour as we are not on all fours with mercantile politics. For now and hopefully for all time we remain so.

     

    • Asiwaju Deji Fasuan, Ado-Ekiti

  • That Afenifere, for selfish reasons, may not lead Yoruba into internal slavery

    The same group took President Jonathan’s money in 2015 but did not win even in their own wards

    I shall soon be writing fully on Afenifere and the very distinct possibility of it leading Yoruba into internal slavery, turning Yorubas into nothing more than an outsider in political reckoning in the country, all for the selfish interest of its members.

    Today Yorubas are in charge of some key ministries  and agencies of government but since the holders of these key appointments  are not the sons and daughters of these our past political heavy weights, Afenifere sees them as less than Yoruba, and are, therefore, dispensable even where one is the husband of Awo’s granddaughter. It will matter nothing to them if Osinbajo is supplanted by an Igbo as long as their ego is massaged. This is how far contemporary Afenifere would go in ditching Yoruba just so they can, in their twilight years, exit the political Siberia they now populate in a region where we used to swear by their names. It is, to them, of no consequence, if the Yoruba nation, once again, becomes of little or no political relevance in the country. For this and other reasons best known to them, they are prepared to work their hearts out for Atiku’s victory even if it would mean returning Yorubas to the unenviable status we had during the inglorious years of both the National Party of Nigeria and the PDP. No Yoruba would easily forget that these elders had to go on begging pilgrimages to the Villa for any Yoruba to be appointed into any non constitutionally prescribed post, a good example being the appointment of Chief Seinde Arogbofa’s brother as a tokenist Chief of staff by President Jonathan. This will be the result of their eagerness about restructuring to prove, I think,  that they are more Nigerian than Igbos who are rallying around Obi, Atiku’s Vice Presidential candidate whilst they, in turn,  are fighting Osinbajo to the death. But to be acceptable to their new suitors, it is not even enough to canvass restructuring everywhere you find them; they must also expel any of their members who did anything to make the suitors doubt their fidelity to PDP since Atiku must have insisted on nothing but complete loyalty. That is the fate that recently befell Omisore who, together with a few other Yoruba PDP members they had to, willy nilly, romance for their promiscuous relationship with PDP to materialise in 2014.

    Omisore , just  like Awo would have done, had disdained a situation where an F9 hugging, dancing dude, currently in court on charges of impersonation at  a public examination, could have – mother of all abomination – emerged  the governor of a state in Yoruba land. That was too much for Afenifere which, on no occasion has considered it worth their while to ever consult on any issue, whatever, with the generality of the Yorubas they claim to represent. I cannot fathom what they will tell Awo. Nor have I come across any document, whatever, conferring Yoruba mandate to commit them on any matter on Afenifere. I cannot, for the life of me, see how their manner of operating can be described as democratic. The good thing , however, is that we saw Afenifere do all these things  in 2015 and Nigerians know, only too well,  how they successfully  made  President Jonathan’s re-election a roaring success.

    All  I will be doing in this piece is  publish some comments – I call them appetizers – on Afenifere’s current political relevance, or otherwise, to indicate how far Atiku should reasonably depend on  them in his life time ambition to be president of Nigeria.

    But first, a picture perfect panegyric to how exactly the PDP sees Yorubas, as ably crafted by the indomitable Chief Bode George, the party’s one time poster boy in Yoruba land, until the bubble burst.

    Wrote George  when he was overlooked for the party’s chairmanship, originally zoned to the Southwest until Governor Wike, then PDP’s undisputed owner, moved, inflicting Secondus: “The Yoruba people have been openly maligned. They have been savaged, tormented, treated with contempt, scurried, scoffed at, humiliated and denigrated by little men whose sun will soon set.”

    That is the party our eminent Afenifere elders are happily tying their apron strings to; but truth be told, Yorubas have not seen anything yet. They should wait till a Yoruba-loathing Obi, as Vice President, takes over responsibility for the Nigerian economy in an Atiku administration, which God forbid.

    The Appetizers

    A WhatsApp chat by Ayekooto Akindele (rendered mutatis mutandis)

    Buhari gave South West VP, Afenifere said it is Greek Gift.

    He honoured MKO Abiola with GCFR and declared June 12 Democracy Day, Afenifere said it is Greek Gift.

    He gave GANI GCON, they called it Greek Gift.

    He transferred FG Assets in Lagos to Lagos State, it is Greek Gift.

    Unlike when Yorubas were at the periphery of political relevance, Buhari appointed from amongst them, ministers of Finance, Works, Housing and Power, Health, Communications, Information,  Solid Minerals, FIRS CEO, Chief of Defence Staff etc. To Afenifere these are all nothing.

    Buhari  approved $1.4b for the construction of Lagos-Ibadan railway. As you read this, work is on going on the following roads which not even Obasanjo did, but to Afenifere they are all Greek Gifts: Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, Ota – Abeokuta, Lagos – Abeokuta, Oyo – Ogbomoso, Ogbomoso – Ilorin. Construction of Osun and Ekiti State link Roads, Lagos- Badagry Expressway, and a big Water Project in Ilesha, Osun State.

    Yet all Atiku has promised his PDP friends and Afenifere, in Yoruba land, is a miserable Secretary to the Government of the Federation. And doesn’t Afenifere believe we must roll out the drums?

    Irohin Oodua.

    Sources told Irohin Oodua that Afenifere has already taken a position to support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 poll. Observers believe that Omisore’s suspension will have no impact, whatever, either on him, or on the elections, especially as Afenifere has lost all political relevance in Yoruba land and Omisore’s decision is well in keeping with the importance Awo placed on education in Yoruba land.

    John M. O. Ekundayo, PhD

    The same group took President Jonathan’s money in 2015 but did not win even in their own wards. The seasonal bazaar is here again and Atiku will be the next victim.

    Wole Olujobi

    Of what worth is this group? Whoring as the “two shillings” of old? They burnt their boat when they chose Jonathan in  2015. Encore loading.

    Ayodele Omowumi

    Do members of the group still have relevance politically?

    Well, Atiku, like GEJ, will be hoodwinked into donating humongous amounts of money in order to secure votes in the south west.

    Dr Biodun Adu- a London based Consultant Gynaecologist.

    I call them the AFENIFEBI. A group that is in it for themselves and will dance with any wolf as long as the lyrics of the music have dollar in it.

    Concluding, if Afenifere’s problem, or better put, main problem is truly restructuring, are they more Nigerian than Igbos or any other Nigerian ethnic group? If Ohanaeze Ndigbo is rooting for Obi why is Afenifere headed the opposite direction, doing everything to shoot Osinbajo down? And have they asked themselves this question?

    Or is it simply bad belle or the punishing loss of political relevance in Yoruba land?

    Yoruba Ronu!!!?

  • Afenifere leaders visit Obasanjo

    Leaders of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere yesterday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

    The group said the visit was part of its consultations ahead of the 2019 elections.

    It promised to name its preferred presidential candidate after the consultations.

    In 2015, the group supported former President Goodluck Jonathan who lost the election. It failed to get the majority votes in Yoruba land.

    Giving a hint on the candidate it will support, spokesman of the group Yinka Odumakin said after the meeting with Obasanjo: “The 2019 election is going to be interesting but what is paramount to the Yoruba race is restructuring and clearly, you should know that Afenifere will always support a candidate that is ready to restructure the country because without restructuring we are going nowhere.

    ”We have heard someone saying that 2014 report was kept in the archive and we have also heard another person saying that Nigeria can be restructured clearly, so we know where to go. We are going to make a pronouncement very soon. The pendulum is swinging and we will know where it will swing.”

    The group said some months ago Obasanjo visited one of its leaders Chief Ayo Adebanjo and we discussed some issues and today we are here to as well to visit him (Obasanjo) and appreciate his visit to Lagos the other time.

    ”We are trying to further the friendship so that there can be harmony in Yoruba land so that our people can know that leaders across divides are coming together to discuss the way forward,” Odumakin added.

    The meeting which started around 3.30 p.m lasted about two hours.

    Odumakin added: “A few weeks back, Obasanjo came to Lagos to visit Pa Ayo Adebanjo and we are here again today to return the visit in order to further strengthen the friendship with the group.

    “The meeting also aims at creating a harmonious position in Yorubaland over the leadership of the country in respect of the 2019 elections.

    “The elections are around the corner and leaders across Nigeria are coming together to discuss the event, which is so crucial to the life of the nation.

    ” All hands must be on deck to get the country re-established and all grey areas must be ironed out,” he said.

    ” The pendulum is swinging and we will let you know where it finally settles,” he said.

    Members of the group at the meeting are former Osun state Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Hon.Oladipo Olaitan.

    Dr Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosunmu, Sen. Femi Okurounmu, Prof.Banjo Akintoye, Dr. Amos Akingba and Mr. Supo Sonibare

  • 2019 Polls: Afenifere group in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

    Members of the Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Afenifere, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun, over the 2019 polls.

    The meeting which started around 3.30 p.m lasted about two hours.

    Mr Yinka Odumakin, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the group after the meeting, said the group was in Abeokuta to pay a return visit to Obasanjo.

    The former president had recently visited Chief Ayo Adebanjo, one of the leaders of the group, in Lagos.

    He said the meeting, which centred around the 2019 polls, was meant to harmonise the position of the Yorubas in Nigeria concerning the 2019 general elections.

    ” Few weeks back, Obasanjo came to Lagos to visit Pa Ayo Adebanjo and we are here again today to return the visit in order to further strengthen the friendship with the group.

    “The meeting also aims at creating an harmonious position in Yorubaland over the leadership of the country in respect of the 2019 general elections.

    “The general elections are around the corner and leaders across Nigeria are coming together to discuss the event, which is so crucial to the life of the nation.

    ” All hands must be on deck to get the country re-established and all grey areas must be ironed out,” he said.

    Odumakin described the 2019 presidential race as “exciting” in the light of the candidates, who have emerged from the two major political parties.

    He, however, said “the most important thing to the Afenifere group is the issue of restructuring.”

    According to him, the group will support any candidate, who prioritises restructuring, because Nigeria cannot realise its dream without restructuring.

    He said the group would soon adopt its preferred presidential candidate, saying “an official pronouncement would be made on the decision.

    ” The pendulum is swinging and we will let you know where it finally settles,” he said.

    Members of the group, who attended the meeting are a former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Hon.Oladipo Olaitan.

    Others are former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosunmu, Sen. Femi Okurounmu, Prof.Banjo Akintoye, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and Mr. Supo Sonibare
    (NAN)

  • Bafarawa pays homage to Afenifere leaders

    …vows to transform Nigeria

     

     

    A Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Attahiru Bafarawa Monday visited the leaders of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere in Akure, Ondo state capital.

    The former Sokoto State Governor vowed to overhaul the ailing Nigeria’s economy, if voted into power.

    Read Also:Bafarawa: I left N13bn in Sokoto State Government’s treasury

    According to him, Nigeria economic policies would be diversified in such a way that alternative sources of driving the economy shall be explored.

    The former governor said the Nigeria’s economy had been traumatised, stressing that it was only PDP that could correct the mistakes made by the ruling APC’s administration.

    He said, “When we come in power we are going to take our time to do the damage control, all our ideas is to correct where mistake had been done, we are not going to winch out anybody.

    “We shall de-emphasize over dependence on oil and look towards, agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing as potential drivers of our economy”.

    On restructuring, Bafarawa promised to implement the 2014 national conference report saying “when we are talking on restructuring we are talking about development”.

    “We are going to laisse with the National Assembly and the judiciary to work on the outcome of past national conference and discourse, with a view to restructuring our nation to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.

    “We shall strength the principles of separation of power and ensuring strict adherence to the rule of law,” he said.

    The former Sokoto state governor also promised to create enabling environment for efficient and sustained security within the shortest time if voted into power.

    Bafarawa however called on Nigerians to join in his vision towards rescuing Nigeria and placing her on a robust path of development.

  • Police raid Edwin Clark’s Abuja residence

    …Afenifere, Ohanaeze, middle belt, Northern elders condemn raid

     

    The Abuja residence of the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark was raided Tuesday by the police.

    The Police men, numbering six, it was learnt came from the office of the Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris.

    They were from the IGP’s ‘Special Tactical Force’ STF, Guzape, Abuja, which reports only to the Inspector- General of Police.

    The 91-old former federal commissioner was at home when the police came calling at about 12.30, in a 18- Seater Hiace Bus and a four Runner Car, with registration number EU 979 ABC.

    Read Also:Open letter: E. K. Clark warns mischief makers against manipulation

    Clark, No 43, Haile Selassie Street, Asokoro residence was turned inside out as the police searched for about two hours without finding anything incriminating.

    The Police men were led by Kolo Yusuf, said that they were with a Search warrant that was obtained from the court.

    Speaking after the incident, Chief Clark said, “I was in the house, in my bedroom when my boys came to inform me that there were police men downstairs and in the parlour, I said what do they want, they said they came from Inspector- General of Police, IGP Tactical Squad with a warrant and with their office in Guzape, So I said what do you want?

    “They said I was selling weapons in my house so that’s why they went to court to obtain a search warrant and they showed me the search warrant, I said, go ahead. So they went down,  searched everywhere, my most important part of it, my secretary, Miss Dorothy Koko  was in the bank, they said they must see that room and her bedroom and the office. So she had to come from the bank to open those rooms for them to search. Then after they came up, searched my wife’s room, my children’s room, my other parlor upstairs and everywhere, this is what happened.”

    On whether the Police at the end of the day discovered arms and Ammunition, Chief Clark said, “They didn’t find anything; they made a statement that they’ve come here with a warrant to search the house for ammunition, but they have searched the house they found nothing and they themselves took away nothing. Three of my people signed it and three of them signed it that’s what happened.”

    When asked if the search could be related to last week’s meeting of Elders and Leaders of various socio- cultural groups in the country, Chief Clark said, “I believe because of the various meetings we’ve been holding about the state of the nation, otherwise why would they expect, am not in Delta where I come from, that militants have come to keep ammunition in my house, but no sensible man will think that a 92 year old man in Abuja, will be keeping ammunition in his house to fight the government, overthrow the government, this is ridiculous, shameful.

    “I am not saying that people don’t keep arms, but am not that kind of person, I speak my mind on issues affecting this country, I believe in advocacy, I believe in peace. When our boys, calling themselves avengers and so on, vandalized  pipelines, I formed an organization known as Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF to stop these boys and I led about 100 people including leaders, traditional rulers, everybody.

    “Since then, there have been peace in the Niger Delta, oil production has increased, is that why I should be treated like this, perhaps this is the time I should mention, it has been the policy of the federal government, the presidency to congratulate Nigerians who have attained certain age, I attained the age of 91 on the 25th of May this year.

    “What I said earlier on, was that I am a man of peace, I believe in peaceful coexistence in this country, I have been doing everything possible to see that Nigeria remains one that’s why we’ve been forming various organisations to keep Nigeria together. I started PANDEF on the 19th of August 2016 to advice the youths who were vandalizing pipelines, to stop them from vandalizing pipelines.

    “Oil production in Nigeria which had gone down low to about 900 barrels per day has increased to over 2 million, everybody knows that. I have led meetings with Mr. President, with our people, I led a total number of 100 traditional rulers, politicians, past governors to meet with the President on the 1st of November 2016, I was looking for peace, but nobody can stop me from speaking my mind or associating with people to see that there is good governance in this country.”

    “It is dangerous to say where we are going, we are moving into a police state.  What worries me is that those who are surrounding Mr. President,  I do not think they wish him well with the way they are going, President Buhari  is the President of the whole Nigeria, not one part of this country. I do not think with his greatest respect and having honored my late friend, Alhaji Maitama Sule, I do not think one police man whether IG would have gone to kano to search his house, Why this type of discrimination, it is very unfair.”

    “I will never, I said it is my top slogan that when you are 70 and above, you are at the Lounge, waiting for your boarding Pass,  I would say I have gotten my Boarding pass, but God has delayed it, NOBODY can do me anything, I will speak my mind on anything that is unjust in this country, against injustice, against oppression, discrimination, religious  bigotry, ethnicity anything that will affect the unity of this country, peace, peaceful existence of this country I will speak against it.

    The elder statesman has not ruled out taking a legal action against the government and the police as he noted that, “My lawyers will look into that.”

    The Policemen on arrival demanded to see the Secretary to Chief Clark, Dorothy Koko who had gone to the bank as that the time they came, even as they requested that they must see her and at this time, a call was made to her to come back to the office which she did immediately.

    According to the source, when Dorothy Koko arrived, the policemen asked her to open her office, she did, they searched, thereafter went to her bedroom and toilet to search for everything, even as the rooms were turned upside down.

    The source said further that soon after they finished with Dorothy Koko, the Police men now climbed up to Chief Clark’s bed room where they also carried out a search in his room, the toilet, his wife’s room, the Children’s room, al, the parlours, among other places.

    At the end of the two hour exercise of putting the residence of Clark into such traumatic and horrifying situation, the Police men left without finding anything incriminating against the Elder Statesman.

    Three Police men were said to have signed a legal document indicating that neither arm nor ammunition was found in the house of Chief Clark or anything incriminating, while three persons from the side of Clark also signed the document before they took it to the office.

    Those who signed on behalf of Chief Clark were Ambassador Godknows Igali; Secretary General of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Dr. Alfred Mulade and Mr. Mac Emakpore.

    Reaction has continued to trail the invasion as Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum expresses shock over the incident. The Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Middle Belt Forum and Northern Elders forum strongly condemned the police.

    In a joint statement by the groups, the police action was described as shameful.

    The statement was signed by Yinka Odumakin, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, Dr Isuwa Dogo  and   Dr Junaid Mohammed.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum is flabbergasted by the gestapo-like raid on the  Abuja home of 91-year -old elder-statesman and Leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF) ,Chief EK Clark by men of the Nigerian Police on the spurious allegation  that there were “arms and ammunition” stockpiled in the house.

    “At the end of the shameful invasion of the home of the former Minister and Senator in the worst signal of Nigeria becoming a police state, the police could not find more than a kitchen knife regularly used to slice tomato and onion.

    “We view the provocative search as not arising from any intelligence report but a sheer act of intimidation on a home that has served as meeting point for patriots across Nigeria who are engaged in peaceful consultations to save Nigeria from the edge of the precipice.

    The raid is a sad reminder of the era of full blown dictatorship in 1984 when the home of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was ransacked in Ikenne by solders and officials of the dreaded NSO whose conduct has only been rivaled by the DSS under Daura before he was removed when the President was on vacation abroad.

    “The traumatization of Pa Clark at 91 is yet another proof that mad power has taken over our polity and its desperation now walking on four with all boundaries of decency collapsed for raw display of beastly tendencies.

    The Nigerian Leaders and Elders Forum demands an immediate apology to Chief Clark by the Nigerian Police whose leadership at the moment has shown serial unprofessionalism and dark age policing.

    “We want to sound it loud and clear to the administration that if the object of this intimidation is to send fear signals to patriots who are demanding better leadership for our country ,it has backfired .We all counted the cost before we chose to embark on standing up for the country
    Our battle cry remains : no retreat, no surrender !”

  • Only Atiku can restructure Nigeria, says Afenifere

    Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has reiterated its resolve to support the candidature of former Vice-President and frontline presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar, in 2019.

    The group made its position known yesterday when it hosted Atiku in Lagos.

    A leader of the group and prodemocracy veteran, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said Afenifere had taken time to screen the aspirants, and looking at the dossier of Atiku, there was a consensus that his desire for restructuring was genuine.

    He said: “You (Atiku) have been writing about restructuring over a decade ago. You gave me your commitment to restructure Nigeria within six months in one of our meetings years ago.

    “When people talk about good governance and promise good road, agricultural development and all that, we just laugh. There must be a country first before any development. Nigeria cannot have peace and stability without restructuring.

    “We know that there is no greater champion of restructuring from the North than Atiku.”

    Atiku said his commitment to restructuring was absolute, adding that his position once got him a query when he was the vice-president.

    “In all my political career, I have not seen Nigeria in a state of danger that may affect its existence as a country as at today. This is because – just like a house- if you get a faulty foundation that building is not likely to last. This is where we find ourselves.

    “As a vice-president, I came to Lagos then to discuss why we should restructure this country so that we can survive and provide leadership for West Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. That lecture earned me a query from my boss then. I can assure you that I will restructure Nigeria within six months of my administration,” he said.

    Present at the event were Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Prof. Akitoye, former Minister Adeseye Ogunlewe, among others.