The Nation Newspaper

Tag: beginning

  • Is invocation of the god of thunder beginning of wisdom or a means to an end?

    I feel for my country Nigeria. Not because I have become a pessimist from my avowed incurable optimist’s position but because there are times in a life when your power of endurance is stretched to a breaking point.

    I pray we haven’t gotten to the point of a smouldering cauldron about to boil over; and I beseech our dear President to rise up to the current situation and prove the patriotic zest of which he’s reputed. I know the man has the temperament of a cool and calculating manager but there are times when there’s virtue in quick-silver thinking and action.

    The time is now: the tempo of the activities of herdsmen across the country has heightened to the point that government should rein them in now, so that the roof of the super-structure called Nigeria is not brought down on everybody’s head.

    Cattle colony? What does this mean? Do we have cattle colonies in the U.K. and other parts of Europe as well as America where the number of cattle, mules, etc is many more than we have in all Africa put together.

    The problem we have at hand is akin to a festering sore that requires a surgical operation and the Buhari regime is advised to take prompt action that transcends primordial or ethnic considerations before people resort to self-help.

    A post on social media, credited to veteran newspaper manager, Akogun Tola Adeniyi wrote about a traditional ruler, Attah of Igala who was said to have invoked the wrath of thunder that instantly struck down dead their herds of cattle. That’s self-help, if the story is true, and urgent steps must be taken to arrest the situation before it gets out of hand.

    Gani Adams earned his title as the Are Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland not cheaply; his exploits with Dr Fredrick Fasheun in mobilising the Yorubas under the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) in those heady days, belonged to the realm of legends and those who experienced that orgy of violence in defence of a race, will not pray for a recourse to that era. And similar deadly militant groups are spread across the country that must not be inadvertently provoked to dastardly action of reprisals.

    A return to peace across the land is a task must be accomplished – for the sake of the privileged and the supposed underdog!

     

  • In the beginning

    I have been privileged to write as a columnist in all manner of  newspapers for close on four decades but certainly not in the continuous, unbroken manner I did,  first with Comet, and  now for a much longer period  for The Nation on Sunday, where I have not missed a week in some eight years.

    “Femi, a special day, a special landmark, all for a very special friend! We give God the glory for the journey so far. With you, what you see is what you get, no airs: uncommon candour, genuineness, consistency, loyalty and  an uncompromising embrace of your core values and beliefs, all fusing  in the patriotic zeal that burns brightly at the tip of your admirable  pen. Your effervescent personality is admiringly infectious. It is a privilege, and honour, to call you my special friend. My darling wife and l wish you happy birthday and the very best for the future in robust health, peace and God’s abundant grace. Pity we are not able to join you in the ‘knees up’ on Sunday. Do have a blast as we raise a glass or two to the ‘baffday boy’. – Dr Biodun Adu, a U.K -based Consultant Gynaecologist, and my very good friend, and classmate, at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, obviously writing for all the 59-63 Boys.

     I have been privileged to write as a columnist in all manner of  newspapers for close on four decades but certainly not in the continuous, unbroken manner I did,  first with Comet, and  now for a much longer period  for The Nation on Sunday, where I have not missed a week in some eight years. My foray into  regular columnising had started with Niyi Oniororo’s, Akure-based,  totally irreverent  PEOPLES NEWS  which was the only community newspaper in the  old Ondo State of the early 80s; a period of great political ferment in our country. Suffice it to say that the state was volatile enough to have, unarguably, accounted for the demise of Nigeria’s Second Republic.  Dare Babarinsa, has since elegantly captured the era in the ‘House of War  in which this writer got a decent mention.  Of course, I had before then written regularly in THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE during the editorship of the erudite journalist, Banji Ogundele, and for the Sunday Sketch, when Uncle Jide Adeleye was editor.

     Niyi Oniororo and I had met early in life at the prestigious Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, where he was a year ahead of me. A scion of the Oniororo family of Otun -Ekiti and younger sibling of Comrade (Dr) Ola Oni of the University of Ibadan, Niyi was simply an enigma, absolutely in a class of his own. Given the thoroughly Christian bend of Christ’s School, it was obvious he was not going to complete his studies there.  But Niyi would not be an Oniororo if that little matter of an expulsion, over some boyish frivolities, was to delay him at all. He soon found his way to Eastern Europe and returned a few years later, a fire-eating, Marxist – Leninist and human rights crusader. I knew no door Niyi could not open and before long, he was sucked into the mix of the high and the mighty in government, something am still unable to explain.

    Working with the likes of Bayo Kumolu-Johnson, a medical doctor and human rights campaigner too, he soon found the National Council for National Awareness and became the Director of the National Orientation Movement on the brutal murder of General Murtala Mohammed.  A master at pamphleteering, Niyi wrote no less than fifteen books. Without a scintilla of doubt, however, PEOPLES NEWS was his magnum opus. It was published with hardly any regard for the extant laws of sedition or defamation.  He knew neither Jew nor Gentile; nor was anybody too big for him to hammer in his withering column. At varying times, he took on the state governor, the revered Papa Adekunle Ajasin, just like he would later descend heavily on Chief Akin Omoboriowo, the deputy governor.  He was as iconoclastic as they come!  Indeed, as a prosecution witness in a case instituted by Chief Omoboriowo against Oniororo, Chief Obafemi Awolowo testified that although he believes in freedom of the press, he had doubts as to Niyi’s journalistic intelligence. Said Awo: ‘I believe you wished me well in my political career, but your newspaper suggested otherwise. Your vicious attacks on the former deputy governor of Ondo State were not the right thing for the UPN.’

    However, those who accuse Niyi of being motivated by mercenary instincts certainly didn’t know him. He thought nothing of money.  I knew of days he did not have a dime nor did I benefit a penny writing for his paper.  Indeed, PEOPLES NEWS, published in Ibadan, and ferried weekly to Akure, was run absolutely on a shoe string and many a time, it took Niyi’s very doting wife to pay for the printing. Without a doubt, the fear of PEOPLES NEWS was the very beginning of wisdom for public servants in Ondo State simply because its publisher feared nobody, acting purely from inner convictions.

    On my part, the paper was very handy in drawing attention to a series of unethical things going on in some ministries and departments of the state government. There was, in particular, the pharmacy department which gave out outrageous contracts to some friends of some of the officials who usually came in from outside the state.  Aside my column in the PEOPLES NEWS, I was a regular face on the state television and had acquired a reputation for saying things exactly as they are.  This made me a recipient of several confidential information. Writing about such things, however, carried risks of their own as I was certainly not a Niyi Oniororo who, I sometimes believed, had a death wish.  For instance, I can  never  forget  the day I barely escaped  Bode Olowoporoku  who  came  to my house  with some people to protest an article I had written  against a  particular ministry  – not his own – where, unknown to the  highly regarded  commissioner,  some clandestine, anti-social activities were  going on.

    Sadly,  Oniororo would  die  a very painful death at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan,  Sunday, April 17, 2005, the consequence of a stroke he suffered consequent upon  the unresolved, very  gruesome death of  Yomi, his adorable and brilliant 29-year old  son, a  doctorate  degree  holder  who was  on the  staff  of  the National Intelligence Agency. The manner of Yomi’s death killed Niyi long before he joined the saints triumphant but he, no doubt, left his mark as a journalist of conscience. Niyi lives on in the many memorabilia he left behind as well as his sterling contributions to the campaign for human rights in the country in which he will, with considerable justification, be called a pioneer.

    My next major effort at column writing would be in the early 90s when an evening newspaper, floated in Lagos by the Ibadan- born Alhaji Balogun, had as its Managing Editor, my good friend, Banji Ogundele,  formerly of  Sunday Tribune. This again happened to be at a period of frenetic politicking. It was in the era of the two political parties – SDP and NRC, both the result of General Babangida’s harebrained political experimentations. My column here was so well received that a senior journalist, Segun Adelugba, wrote his project, in part fulfilment of his Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos on it.  Hard hitting, it was a veritable space for propagating the superiority of the candidature of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the SDP Presidential candidate, over and above his opposite number, Alhaji Bashir Tofar, of the NRC.  One issue which enjoyed considerable mention was who, between Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe should be Chief Abiola’s running mate.  The column unapologetically rooted for the more cerebral Kingibe to whom I had actually, earlier,  been introduced by his friend, and my senior at  Christ’s  School,  the Late  Leye Adegite, the  witheringly brilliant  Chemistry professor  of the University of Lagos, when  the idea of my becoming an aide to Baba, in the manner of  Ojo Madueke and the lawyer, Sola Akinyede, was mooted.  I, however, demurred because my sympathies were with the Chief Ajasin -led PSP, not the PDM though both would later merge in the IBB abracadabra politics. That little conscientious objection also accounted for my refusal to join in a PDM membership recruitment drive to Ondo State for which those who agreed were generously, financially rewarded, in my presence.

    • Culled from my forthcoming book: SIMPLY A CITIZEN JOUNALIST, in commemoration of my 70th birthday this past week.
  • PDP in search of new beginning

    PDP in search of new beginning

    After being in charge of the country in the last 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went into the last general elections poorly prepared, but it threw everything at its disposal to win the contest. Its rejection at the March 28 polls was shocking for the party, which had vowed to rule the country for 60 years. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines its recent efforts to reposition itself for the new role of opposition.

    Since the March 28 presidential election, when Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for change, the former ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has been trying to grapple with the reality of the verdict and has been making efforts to live up to its new role as the main opposition party. In recent times, chieftains of the party have been taking stock of what led to its failure during the recent general elections. They have also vowed to set the machinery into motion to rebuild the party before the next general elections in 2019.

    Some of the names being touted to replace Muazu include a former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili; immediate past Cross River State Governor, Mr. Liyel Imoke; and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Some observers have, however, cautioned the party not to think of replacing the former National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, with a chieftain from the Southsouth, otherwise it would reduce the PDP to a regional party.

    In this regard, the Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in the last election, Mr. Femi Olukayode, has suggested that it would be in the best interest of the party to appoint the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, as its national chairman. Olukayode (former Fani-Kayode; he changed his name to Olu-Kayode following his acquittal for money-laundering charges), said: “The best thing that our party, the PDP, can do now is to draft in Nuhu Ribadu as our national chairman. We need credibility and strength.” Ribadu and Muazu, who resigned on May 20 amidst calls that he should quit, are both from Bauchi State. Former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, has been acting since Muazu resigned.

    Secondus is from the Southsouth, where the party controls five of the six states in the region. Like in the Southeast, the party produced almost all the National Assembly members in the Southsouth. On the contrary, the party controls only three of the 19 states in the North. The states are Taraba, Gombe and Kogi. In the Southwest, the PDP is at the helm of affairs in Ondo and Ekiti, out of the six states in the region.

    But, other observers argue that it would be better for a Southsouth person to occupy the chairmanship to pave the way for a Northerner to emerge as the Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman. This is against the backdrop of the fact that the party may likely field a Northern candidate in the 2019 presidential elections, to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, if he decides to re-contest. The BOT chairmanship was vacated by Chief Tony Anenih, from the Southsouth, ostensibly for former President Jonathan to take over. All the issues pertaining to the reorganisation of the party would be settled next month, when the party holds its next national convention.

    But, according to observers, the PDP leadership has a long way to go in its effort to reposition the party to provide an alternative platform to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Enugu-based lawyer Mr. Enechi Onyia believes the PDP is not prepared to be an opposition party. He said: “The mere fact that it wants to be relevant in government has disqualified it. For instance, it allowed its member, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to become the Deputy Senate President. With this, the party has become part of government. That is not very good for a healthy democracy, because I don’t think there is going to be a viable opposition.”

    Onyia, who was involved in politics during the Second Republic, said the PDP must first of all study Nigeria’s position in the world, vis-à-vis where it ought to be and fashion out its programmes and policies, if it wants to become a virile opposition. He added: “Secondly, it must try to align itself with what Nigerians want: Nigerians want a government of service, not a government of sharing. These are the issues; it not a question of whether one is an Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa. It should be able to position Nigeria in world affairs, as the country with largest population of blacks.

    “You do not build a nation by sharing its wealth, rather than increasing the wealth of the nation. I have not seen the indication that suggests that it wants to turn a new leaf. I have not seen signs that it wants to enthrone internal democracy.”

    The Enugu-based lawyer said the current situation in Nigeria shows that youths and intellectuals are forging ahead to align themselves with the dynamics of democracy. So, I believe an opposition would emerge very soon.

    To the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, it is a welcome development that the PDP is doing something to come back to reckoning. “Some of us have been doing it for a long time. But, it would take a long time for Nigerians to begin to look at them differently,” he said, adding: “Nigerians expect them to play the role of providing an alternative government. But, it must not forget that it gave Nigeria nightmares for 16 years and no matter the level of reorganization, if it thinks it can return to power after four years, it must be day-dreaming.”

    To be able to get it right, elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, is of the view that the PDP should go round the country, if possible state by state, to find out why it failed during the recent general elections. He added: “Thereafter, the party should summon an emergency meeting, to dissolve its executives from top to bottom and then appoint caretaker committees to run its affairs. The caretaker committee should be given a time-span to reposition the party, by inviting more Nigerians to join the party.

    “This would help to inject fresh blood into the party. This should be followed by the election of officers from the bottom to the top in its chapters across the country. They should try to appoint a national chairman and reconstitute the board of trustees, by bringing in more people.

    “Also, they should start looking for genuine party supporters who can contribute generously to the success of the party from the ward to the national level. The problem of the party is from top to bottom, so the reorganization should be holistic.”

    A finance and investment consultant, Mr. Akintunde Maberu, equally said the PDP must sit back and look at where it failed in the last 16 years, if it wants to succeed in its new found role of becoming a viable opposition party, adding that it is still indulging in the blame game.

    To get its acts together, Maberu said in the first instance, the party has to rewrite its rules, refocus their objectives and now come up with constructive criticisms. He said: “It must take up specific areas of the economy and provide an alternative viewpoint to whatever the government in power is doing. As an opposition party, it must thrive on objectivity, for it to galvanise knowledgeable Nigerians into believing what it is saying.”

    Since the party was formed in 1998, it has been faced with one internal crisis or the other. The crisis started after the party’s Jos Convention in 1998 where Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the party’s presidential candidate, at the expense of the former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme. Many of the party’s founding fathers were not comfortable with Obasanjo’s emergence, saying it was a coup by powerful individuals in the North, who were behind the candidacy of the retired general.

    Thus, right from the outset, there was no attempt to enthrone internal democracy in the party. As a former military dictator, Obasanjo’s approach to governance did not brook any contradiction; he was highhanded. Under his administration, the party was always moving from one crisis to the other. During this dispensation, members of the party indulged in all sorts of undemocratic practices. Terms like adoption, imposition, consensus, affirmation and proclamation were very common in the party’s political lexicon; indeed, they found their way into the party’s constitution.

    Owing to the fact that the opposition was fragmented and weak, party chieftains did not see the need to imbibe democratic tenets and processes. Political godfatherism and the do-or-die brand of politics were the order of the day. Political jobbers had a field day; founding fathers of the party like Ekwueme were either sidelined or expelled. In this state of affairs, governors under the party’s platform were demigods, who could do no wrong.

    Nevertheless, the major crisis that caused the downfall of the party was the one that preceded the 2015 general elections. After Jonathan succeeded the late Umaru Yar’Adua, the North was initially opposed to his bid to contest the presidential election in 2011. The argument was that the North had only done one term and that a candidate of Northern extraction should be allowed to complete the remaining four years. But, former the President Jonathan allegedly pacified stakeholders from the region by agreeing to do only one term.

    Indeed, a chieftain of the PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh said the recent general election was a battle between the North and the South and that the one-term pact allegedly entered into between Jonathan, supported by former President Olusegun Obasanjo then, and the Northern bloc within the party was the major issue that decided the outcome of the election.

    Ojougboh, who is the PDP’s Vice Chairman (Southsouth), lamented recently that if Jonathan had kept to his promise to do only one term, the party would not have lost the recent general election. He said even the Christian North turned against the former President in the 2015 polls because of the “injustice” of reneging on his promise.

    Jonathan had denied entering such a pact and challenged his accusers to provide evidence. But, Ojougboh maintained that Jonathan did make the promise after succeeding the late Yar’Adua, who passed away after spending about three years in office.

    Ojougboh said: “Jonathan himself said he will do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that power can shift to the North. When the time came, a lot of macabre dance started. People started putting pressure here and there, and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest. Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerve to say, no.”

    Thus, despite the vigorous and unprecedented campaign mounted by the PDP, Jonathan lost the contest to President Muhammad Buhari. PDP also lost massively in governorship and National Assembly elections. While the APC has taken control of 22 states, the PDP is in charge of 14 states now.

  • A new beginning for a long-standing partnership

    A new beginning for a long-standing partnership

    I was delighted to attend on Friday the inauguration ceremony for President Buhari. It was a privilege to represent a new British Government, bringing the best wishes of Prime Minister David Cameron and those of the British people, at the moment when the Nigerian Government changed hands.

    The rich partnership between Nigeria and Great Britain is long-standing. But occasions like this allow us to reflect upon not just what has made our friendship so strong in the past, but also what will strengthen it yet further into the future. A new beginning for a long-standing partnership.

    I had the opportunity to give my warm congratulations on his election victory in person to President Buhari. The British Prime Minister David Cameron met him last week in London to do the same. In addition I would like to congratulate the people of Nigeria for their participation in and commitment to these elections.

    It was an historic election which was a great credit to the famous innovation, persistence and energy of the Nigerian people and which has brought about Nigeria’s first democratic transition from one political party to another; a transition that was achieved with civility and in peace. This was not only a huge achievement for Nigeria, but also one that will be held up as an example for others to follow.

    This is an important moment for Nigeria. As President Buhari outlined clearly in his inauguration speech, there are many serious challenges ahead.

    In our conversations with him and his team both before, and since, the election, we have found many points of agreement on both the size and shape of these challenges, and the way to address them. In particular we agree with President Buhari’s top priorities: tackling corruption; addressing the root causes of instability in the North East; and stabilising the economy in the face of low oil prices.

    The UK’s relationship with Nigeria is both deep and broad. Our strong historical ties have spawned wide-ranging cultural and personal links: we are proud of the vibrant and active British-Nigerian community in both countries. The recent election in the UK has seen four MPs with Nigerian ancestry elected to the British Parliament. On trade, we export more to Nigeria than any other European country and are its fifth largest export partner overall. Our bilateral trade is over £7 billion per year. Big British businesses operate here and tens of thousands of British Nationals live, work and visit here each year, not to mention the 250,000 strong Nigerian diaspora in the UK. Because of these strong bonds we share Nigeria’s concern over the threat of terrorism and regional instability that Boko Haram has brought to North Eastern Nigeria in recent years.

    So we stand ready to support President Buhari and his new government as they begin their programme for a secure and prosperous Nigeria. As we have been increasingly doing over the last year, we look forward to working closely with the Nigerian government and security forces to help them tackle Boko Haram and bring lasting stability to the North East. We will share our experiences in building a strong security architecture accountable to an informed political system; the two need to work in harmony, to an agreed set of objectives and standards. And we will continue to support the training of Nigerian soldiers to improve their ability to defeat Boko Haram on the battlefield.

    Stability is not delivered by an effective military alone. We are also working extensively with many States throughout the country on development programmes which bring health, education and employment opportunity to communities threatened by instability. It is heartening, too, to watch President Buhari’s positive efforts to discuss regional stability with Nigeria’s neighbours.

    We also stand ready to help where we can with the government’s priority of tackling the diversion and leakage of money so that Nigeria’s wealth can be spent for the benefit of all.

    As a clear mark of the UK’s commitment to this new partnership, we are building a new, modern, High Commission building in Abuja. This will provide a base for our support to the new Nigerian Government for many years to come.

    Nigeria can and should be one of the great African success stories of the 21st Century. The UK is determined to be a close partner as Nigeria reaches that goal. Together we should seize this moment of renewal, and strengthen yet further our long-standing partnership.

     

    This piece is being rerun due to a technical hitch.

    •Hammond is British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  • The beginning of a new beginning

    The elections of last Saturday, particularly the presidential election won by the candidate of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, were a watershed in the annals of democratic elections in Nigeria.

    The election of Alhaji Buhari as president is the culmination of the struggle for the enthronement of a people-driven democratic governance in this country. It is also the fulfillment of the prophetic insight of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who in 1983 predicted that the progressive elements in the North and South would come together for the liberation of this country.

    Indeed, the progressives have always wanted to come together but their march had always been stopped by cruel fate. The coming together of the progressives under the United Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the First Republic was cut short by military rule in 1966. The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) was also brought to an end by the military in 1983. The progressive tendency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) produced the Chief Moshood Abiola presidential election of 1993. It was also brought to an abrupt end by the military after the election was annulled. The APC however, is an idea whose time has come and there can be no stopping the match of history. It is significant that Chief Awolowo was instrumental to the formation of UPGA and PPA. Awoists formed the bulk of SDP in the South West. Also, the dominant party in the South West that became a major partner in APC was an offshoot of Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I congratulate you all for being part of the making of history.

    It is greatly significant how the election went in Osun. Your enthusiastic response, determination, orderly procession and conduct, peaceful disposition and commitment to the defence of democracy all shone through.

    We saw the various categories of people, young, old, men, women, the aged and the physically challenged, all trouped to the various polling stations to perform their civic duties. Because of vehicular restriction, many had to trek for long distances to get to their polling stations, in order to vote.

    You all willingly sacrificed a whole day to be able to cast your votes to elect the president and federal lawmakers, in order to help shape the direction of the governance of our nation in the next four years. You voted and stood by your votes until they were counted and defended the integrity of the election. Your enthusiasm did not wane, even where voting started late and continued till the next day.

    The pattern of the election was consistent with what obtained since our coming to office, first, during the 2011 general elections and secondly in last year’s governorship election. In 2011, you enthusiastically supported our candidates. Then, our presidential candidate won convincingly in Osun. You did the same this time again. This is in spite of the divisive campaign of ethnicity, religion and regionalism embarked upon by our opponents. You have demonstrated the same consistency in your support of the progressive cause since the days of the Action Group and have been passionate about us as you were about Chief Obafemi Awolowo. You have our profound gratitude for this uncommon love and support you have shown us.

    There were reports of pockets of violence and attempted manipulation of votes in some parts of the state. These are the handiwork of agents of destabilisation and political brigandage. The security agencies are looking into this and will stop at nothing in order to bring the perpetrators to book. Popular participation and freedom of choice are the essence of democracy and are guaranteed by the constitution and protected by our law. We affirm every man’s right to have these. However, criminality, disruption of voting, political violence and denial of other citizens their right to political choice will not be tolerated. You have my assurance that whoever wants to disrupt the peace of Osun will have the mighty force of the law to contend with. We shall defend democracy and the right of all to participate in politics and freely make a choice.

    In spite of the efforts of these outlaws, however, you refused to be provoked and you let peace reign. Local and international observers noted your commitment to peace and determination to deepen democracy. I am very proud of you.

    Indeed, we are well pleased with the exercise in Osun and especially the mammoth support we have received from voters all over the country that led to the election of our presidential candidate. Given what we witnessed on Saturday, we have a measure of assurance that political power is now returning to the people through the democratic process. We must build on this; defend and guide it jealously. We should now gird our loins and give total support to the government of the people in order to have the life more abundant that we all earnestly hope for.

    I must express my profound gratitude to all the people who voted for our candidates in the other elections into the National Assembly. The officers so elected will, in the best tradition of progressive leadership, provide the best representation to their constituencies.  We want to assure you all, however, that irrespective of the political party you voted for, our mandate to govern covers every inch of our soil and covers all the people, irrespective of ideological and political affiliation, ethnic and religious identity and colour of skin. We shall continue to serve to the best of our ability, to provide leadership, defend your interest with all our might and bring life more abundant to you all.

    I will like to thank all the people who made the elections a huge success in our state, beginning with all the political parties, women and their groups, market women, traders, artisans, workers, civil servants, teachers, students, transporters, drivers, commercial motorcyclists, employers of labour, organised private sector, the business community, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, youth organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, the international community, Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all people of goodwill.

    I must not fail to commend the leadership of the legacy parties especially my mentor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the master-mind and chief strategist of this great victory of the progressives, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, my colleagues in the Progressive Governors Forum and a host of other leaders too numerous to mention. I thank you all.

     

    • Text of the broadcast by the Governor of the State of Osun and the South West Coordinator of Buhari-Oshibajo Presidential Campaign, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to the people of the state, on the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, on Wednesday April 1, 2015.

  • A new beginning for optometrists

    The Department of Optometry of the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri has held an induction for doctors. EKENE AHANEKU (200-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

    Lemon green was literally the only colour at the Imo State University (IMSU) last Friday when the induction of the graduating students of Optometry was held. The graduands were clad in lemon green academic gown as they walked to the university auditorium, which was also draped in lemon green ribbons.

    The graduates were joined by their parents and friends. The event started with a procession of the principal officers, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie. He was represented by Prof Jerome Okonkwo, his deputy on Administration, and officials of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

    Guests at the event included the Dean of Health Sciences, Prof Jonathan Nnadozie, President of Nigeria Optometry Association, Dr Damian Echendu; Registrar of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), Dr Sam Ntem, and the head of Optometry Department, Dr Godwin Agu.

    Prof Awuzie congratulated the students for successfully completing their programme, urging them to use their knowledge to impact positive change on the world.

    Prof Nnadozie urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution, saying their objective was to use their expertise to save people from preventable blindness. He told the graduates to further their studies in the profession to become an authority.

    The guest lecturer and former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bertrand Nwoke, challenged them to exhibit productive habits, stressing that they must strive to be the best in the field.

    The highpoint was the administration of the oath on the graduands, which, Ntem said, signified the formal investiture of the graduates as members of the ODORBN. More than 100 graduates took the oath, after which the Registrar presented them with licence of practice. Some of them, who did well in various areas of the discipline, were honoured at the occasion. The overall graduating student went to Chigozie Ekenze, who was adjudged the best in diagnostic optometry, pharmacology and contact lens. Chigozie was presented prizes, including cash and gifts for the feat.

    Others were Wisdom Atulegwu, best in physiology; Chiamaka Ibeneme, best in ocular anatomy and histology; Bright Nnadi, was best in vision science; Hannah Uzoma, best in research and thesis; Joy Obia, best in medical microbiology, Ndubuisi Ibeanu, best in ophthalmic optics; Stanley Mbachu, best in ocular therapeutics and toxicology and Chioma Unakalamba, best in general pathology.

    National and IMSU chapter presidents of Nigerian Optometric Students Association (NOSA), Mbadugha Hardy and Christian Duru, both 500-Level students, encouraged their graduating colleagues to work hard and invest time in knowledge.

    Chigozie, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, described the best graduating student award as a dream come true for him. “I feel happy and honoured. It is a dream come true and a product of hard work with sheer determination. I advise our colleagues to shun distractions, set high targets for themselves and work very hard to actualise their aims in life,” he said.

    Some of the graduands, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE after the event, said the occasion was not the end of their quest for knowledge. Nnamdi Alozie, one of them, said: “I feel a sense of satisfaction. I believe that no matter how long the road may be, one will always get to his destination with determination. I am proud being called a doctor of optometry.”