The Nation Newspaper

Tag: aide

  • How Wigwe’s aide escaped death

    How Wigwe’s aide escaped death

    That Faleye Olusola, personal assistant of the late Access Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, is alive can only be ascribed to divine intervention. 

    Olusola, despite having his name on the manifest of the crashed helicopter that killed Wigwe, his wife Doreen Chizoba,  son, Chizzy and  Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members, opted to travel by road.

    He flew with the Wigwes and Ogunbanjo from London, to Palm Springs in California, United States.

    But on getting to Palm Springs, Olusola decided to accompany the luggage of his boss and others to Boulder in Nevada by road.

    Read Also: We will probe Wigwe’s death in traditional way, says Rivers community

    What worked in Olusola’s favour was that the combined loads of passengers exceeded the maximum take-off weight of the ill-fated Eurocopter EC 130B4.

    As a P.A., Olusola’s role included running errands, managing calendars and responding to correspondences for Wigwe.

    In his tribute to Wigwe, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, gave insight of how Olusola became Wigwe’s P.A.

    Otti wrote: “Since this news filtered out, I’ve not been able to put my head down. I spoke to Peggy, who was broken but strong. I refused to believe. Many confirmed but they were also reporting other people. Then comes this call minutes ago from Sola Faleye, my younger friend who you ‘acquired’ as you took over Diamond Bank.”

    “You had shared how one of the best things about acquisition of Diamond Bank was Sola. He was with you everywhere you went but alas, Sola was unreachable throughout yesterday (Friday, the day of the crash). For some reason, he had to step down from that ill-fated chopper to accompany the luggage by road. His name remains on the manifest.”

  • Why Ortom left APC, by aide

    •Governor: I left over killing of my people

    The Special Adviser to Benue State governor on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, has explained why Governor Samuel Ortom defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said Ortom left because of alleged lack of internal democracy and hijack of APC by Senator George Akume, as well as incessant killings by herdsmen.

    Agerzua spoke in an interview.

    He said: “Governor Ortom left the APC owing to reasons bordering on the party’s lack of internal democracy in Benue State, failure in governance and unwarranted killings.

    “Governor Ortom, having consulted with a wide spectrum of Benue stakeholders, was advised to leave the party.

    “The choice of PDP followed careful consultations which showed that the party was next to the APC in terms of strength and spread, coupled with the fact that the party had also been rebranded to meet leadership challenges.”

    On Akume’s allegations of non-performance against the governor, Agerzua described such as laughable and tantamount to giving a dog a bad name to hang it.

    He noted that Ortom, who was a product of the people, has done well in the education, security, Infrastructure, among others.

    “If Akume says his issues with Ortom borders on non-performance, then please ask him what were the issues that made him fall out with his former close political associates like Senators Iyorchia Ayu; Barnabas Gemade; David Mark; Prof. Steve Ugbah, Alhaji Usman Abubarkar; Mr. Orker Jev; Emmanuel Udende; among others.

    “So you can clearly see that all he does is that once he wants to achieve any of his inordinate ambitions, he is ever ready to trade whoever is around him to achieve same no matter what the individual does to avert same.

    “The APC in Benue State has been hijacked by Akume, who has excluded all others, including state and National Assembly members, as well as stakeholders who have been suffocated and forced to look for fresh air elsewhere with the PDP being a major beneficiary.”

    Ortom has hinged his defection from APC as a rejection of a party treating the killing of his people with kid gloves.

    He spoke at St. Michael’s Catholic Rectory, Ameladu, during a thanksgiving service in his honour.

    The governor noted that he is being persecuted by the Federal Government and APC because he refused to surrender Benue land to herders.

    He alleged the agenda of the invaders is not grazing, but to take over land from the real owners.

    Ortom, however, reiterated he will never be party to such evil agenda.

    The governor reassured the people of his administration’s commitment to protecting their interests, no matter the level of intimidation and threats.

    He acknowledged the spiritual and humanitarian work of the priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asue, saying his interventions in health, education and empowerment have complemented the government’s efforts.

    Fr. Asue urged those who God has blessed to always assist the needy.

    He admonished Christians not to allow material things hinder them from inheriting the kingdom of God, but rather use their material possessions as a stepping stone to Heaven.

  • Oni will fulfil promises, says aide

    Oni will fulfil promises, says aide

    The Director-General of Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) in Ekiti State, Dr. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, has assured the people that the former governor will deliver his campaign promises to Ekiti residents, if given the opportunity to serve again.

    A statement yesterday by the campaign’s media aide, Mr. Steve Alabi, said Oni spoke when he hosted some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members from the 16 councils.

    Oni, who was Ekiti State governor between 2007 and 2010, is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.

    Arowosoge said Oni had been receiving calls from interest groups like teachers, civil servants, local government workers, retirees, as well as youth and women, to take another shot at the governorship, given his performance between 2007 and 2010.

    He recalled that Oni championed the cause for peaceful co-existence and provided social services and education during his first tenure.

    The former governor’s aide urged the electorate to always ensure that politicians fulfil their promises.

  • Ambode’s aide advises youths on drugs

    Ambode’s aide advises youths on drugs

    The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Christian Religion, Rev. David Kolawole Verrals, has urged youths to abstain from hard drugs

    Verrals, who spoke at the weekend in a lecture organised by the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, said it was unfortunate that youths used drugs to destroy their lives.

    He said that was why Lagos YOWICAN organiseda lecture, tagged: ‘Menace of Drugs Among Youths’, to discourage them from hard drugs.

    Verrals said: “The youth wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)in Lagos State, at our last council meeting, discussed ways to assist youths in contributing to nation building. We observed that youths are not mentally prepared for activities that can make their voice to be heard on national issues. We observed that socio-economic problems have allowed their condition to deteriorate; engaging in cultism, robbery, drug abuse, militancy, kidnapping and others.

    “This appraisal of activities of youths and the need for their contributions to nation building led to the initiative to organise a lecture to advocate a solution to the menace of drug abuse among them.”

    CAN’s Secretary in Lagos State Elder Israel Akinadewo, who delivered a keynote address, said the environment and peer influence shaped youth behaviour.

    He said parents should serve as role models to their children, to discourage them from drug abuse.

    Akinadewo enjoined the government to tackle unemployment among youths

    He said if they were employed,they would not engage in drug abuse, “because an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.”

    Chairman of the event Dr. Dele Ajayi and the Vice Chairman of YOWICAN in Lagos, Apostle Mike Akinluade, said youths should imbibe virtues.

    Primary and secondary school pupils attended the lecture.

  • Villagers petition Obasanjo over land row with aide

    Villagers petition Obasanjo over land row with aide

    An aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Sheu Oladunjoye, and residents of Akinbiye, Ikalugbase and Ikereku in Ogun State are fighting over 53 acres Oladunjoye allegedly bought from them.

    The residents have written to Obasanjo.

    Oladunjoye said Obasanjo informed him about their letter, saying that the villagers misrepresented and defamed him in the letter.

    The aide added that the petition, signed by a lawyer, Innocent Okoihue, and dated December 11, accused him of fraud.

    The petitioners, according to him, claimed that efforts to stop work on the land failed.

    According to him, he (Oladunjoye) drove them away and deprived them “rights of access to their family land”.

    Although Okoihue admitted that the petitioners (villagers) were given N3 million “for transport” during a visit to Oladunjoye to discuss the land, they want Obasanjo to intervene.

    Addressing reporters and residents in Abeokuta, the capital, at the weekend, Oladunjoye threatened to sue the villagers, if they failed to retract “defamatory materials” in their petition.

    He claimed to have paid N5 million to their representatives for the land, valued at N10.6 million, pending a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before the balance would be paid.

    Oladunjoye wondered how that became an issue.

    He added that some of them, including Chief Aremu Makinde and Moruf Muritala (representing Fatoki family), were paid for a section of Ikalugbase  land while Mr Semiu Babalola reportedly received part-payment for the portion at Ikereku-Onigbongbo.

    According to him, he moved started work on the land because buyer and sellers hailed from the same area.

    Oladunjoye hoped that once the MoU is signed, the balance will be paid.

    On behalf of the villages, Semiu Babalola, who was in company of 13 other residents, admitted that they collected N5 million from Oladunjoye.

    Babalola denied knowledge of how the petition to Obasanjo against Oladunjoye came about, but pledged that the matter will be resolved.

  • Olubadan urged to check media aide against inflammatory statements

    Olubadan urged to check media aide against inflammatory statements

    A Socio-cultural group, Oyo Development Initiative (ODI), has urged the Olubadan of Ibadan to caution his media aide for allegedly using abusive, derogatory and denigrating words in reaction to issues, especially to elders.

    ODI likened words to eggs, saying when broken, they have no remedial value.

    In a statement at the weekend by its Coordinator, Dr Adesola Okanlawon, the group said verbal aggression and words deployed by the Olubadan’s media aide in the wake of the Oyo State government’s 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration review and subsequent elevation of some traditional rulers and chiefs were inflammatory and inciting.

    It noted that such disrespect for elders was unknown to the Yoruba culture and that they was at a variance with the noble role of the palace in the preservation of the people’s culture.

    ODI said such disrespectful and abusive use of language would end up heating up the polity.

    The group recalled that the statement credited to Mr. Adeola Oloko, the former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rashidi Ladoja and now Media Assistant to the Olubadan, in which he said members of the Ibadan Elders’ Forum were serial liars and opportunists, was one taken too far.

    It said such a statement was unbecoming of a Yoruba man to his elders, adding that his utterances towards the elders on behalf of the palace fell short of moral and cultural standards of the Yoruba concept of “Omoluabi”, the thoroughbred.

    ODI said: “The abusive statements credited to Mr. Oloko against Ibadan elders, traditional chiefs, among others, have not helped in any way to douse the tension but rather escalated the disagreements. We all know that Ibadan people know how to resolve their differences. However, seeds of discord sown through verbal and abusive words, especially against elders, might be irreparable.”

  • Ishaku’s media aide Giwa buried

    Sylvanus Yakubu Giwa, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, was buried in Takum at the weekend.

    Giwa died on June 23 after a brief illness. He was 54. He is survived by his wife, Namuma and three children.

    Dignitaries, including Governor Ishaku and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, attended the funeral.

    The deceased served the three civilian governors – Jolly Nyame, the late Danbaba Suntai and Ishaku – as media aide.

    He was a reporter with the Taraba Television (TTV) from 1992 to 1993 and General Manager between 1999 and 2006.

    Ishaku described the deceased as patient, hard working and loyal.

    His words: “Sylvanus was a humble, patient and hard working person. He was vibrant and very sensitive to issues and always tried to do his best. He would always bring his works for corrections.

    “Any day he brought work and I didn’t make corrections he went out a very happy man, yet not satisfied, he would return to confirm whether I was really satisfied.

    “Nobody can take your life except God. Let us count our days and wait for our moments so that when the time comes, we shall be at the right hand of the Lord.”

    Former Governor Jolly Nyame, who sent his condolences, was saddened by Giwa’s death.

    “Giwa contributed immensely to the development of Taraba State,” he said.

  • Buhari’s aide seeks support for Disability Rights’ Commission

    Buhari’s aide seeks support for Disability Rights’ Commission

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Disability Matters, Samuel Ankeli, has called on the Federal Government to establish the National Disability Rights’ Commission, by passing and signing into law, the Disability Bill.

    Ankeli stated this when he visited National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    According to Ankeli, his visit was to seek support for his office and for appointment of more people with disability into leadership positions.

    Chief Oyegun promised that the resources required by Ankeli’s office will be provided.

     

  • German prof, aide kidnapped in Kaduna

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers yesterday killed two persons at Jenjela, Kagarko Local Government of Kaduna State.

    A German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunij and his aide, Johannes Buringer, were also kidnapped.

    Prof Breunij is the leader of a four-man team from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, working with with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments, and other institutions on the relics of Nok culture.

    An eyewitness, who is part of the team working with Prof Breunij, said they had just resumed work at a site when five gunmen emerged from the bush and ordered them to lie down.

    “They started coming one after the other, the first two with machetes, then the others with heavy guns. There were many people at the site so they ordered us to lie facing down and shot into the air.

    “Later, they asked the professor and his associate to follow them. They led them to the other side of the road and went further into the bush.

    “One of us, who is a hunter, asked us to go after them but only one of us followed him. When the kidnappers realised they were being followed, they turned and opened fire, killing the two,” he said.

    According to him, the matter had been reported to Kagarko police station.

    Police spokesman Usman Aliyu said he would contact Kagarko division to confirm the development.

  • Policemen, thugs invade Oshiomhole’s aide’s home

    The Director of the Edo State Poverty Alleviation Agency, Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe, has said that her life is in danger, following the invasion of her residence in Benin City by suspected thugs.

    She complained that hoodlums were after because she had criticised the party primary thatb produced Godwin Obaseki as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Igbafe alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was behind her travail.

    The governor’s aid, who expressed surprised that the security personnel attached to her were withdrawn the day before the unfortunate incident, said she received the shock of her life when when she noticed the presence of strange persons around her compound.

    Igbafe said:” I was just sitting inside the room. I saw people from my Close Circuit Camera Television (CCTV) moving round my compound. I said where are those one coming from and they said they were opening the gate for my friend. A retinue of thugs mixed with policemen.

    “I interrogated the policemen. They said the Commissioner of Police said the governor said that they should come and pick my official car. I said official car? I replied by saying that the official cars were purchased by the tax-payers money. And all the structures he is going about with were bought with tax-payers money and I can never give you the key to the car.”

    Igbafe  wondered why the government had to engage the services of thugs to harass her, adding the governor has been misled to believe that she was against his succession plan.

    She vowed to take a legal action against the governor and the flag bearer for an allegedly violating his fundamenrtal rights.

    Igbafe said: “I am taking a legal redress and I’m going to get a powerful lawyer that would stand for me. Then, he will know that the state is not calm for him. You could imagine a man who is preparing for an election, yet, he is looking for people to sack. Is he prepared for the election? He is not prepared for the election. Why are we deceiving ourselves?”

    She said she has no confidence in the APC reconciliation committee, although she said the chairman, Anselm Ojezua, is a good man.

    The Director -General of Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organization,  Osarodion Ogie said the rift is a family matter that will be resolved.

    He said the reconciliation committee will pacify aggrieved aspirants and chieftains and unite the party, ahead of the poll.