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Tag: crisis

  • 26 years after, CAC crisis nears end

    Hope is rising on the final reconciliation of the 26-year old crisis in the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) fold.

    The warring factions that had been at logger heads with the mainstream General Executive Council (GEC) met at the Pastors’ conference recently.

    The Pentecostal Church had been in crisis since 1990 when its leadership dismissed some Pastors including late Prophet Timothy Obadare, Pastors J.O Adegoroye N.E Udofia, J.A Akintola and P. Alayo over alleged anti-church activities.

    The aggrieved factions went to court for resolution of the disputes, the last of which favoured the GEC adjudged as the authentic ruling body of the church.

    Also, the criminal case against its leaders was resolved in their favour when the Federal High Court, Ibadan dismissed the suit.

    However, a delegation of the Supreme Council led by Pastor Henry Ojo visited Ikeji-Akeji conference for a solidarity re-union where he delivered the message of their leaders to the GEC.

    Among those in the delegation are Pastors Henry Ojo from Port- Harcourt, James Onagwa and Matthew Olaseinde while another team was led by Pastor Paul Obadare of World Soul Winning Evangelistic Ministry (WOSEM).

    Ojo appreciated the rousing welcome accorded them at the confence, stressing the delegation acted on directives of the Supreme Council faction.

    He said it was high time the CAC put an end to the protracted crisis, pleading for reciprocal visit by the GEC to Supreme Council Pastors’ conference at Alasepe Camp Ground, Ikire.

    Obadare urged all factions to reconcile to fulfill the CAC’s motto “one fold and one shepherd”.

    Akinosun expressed happiness for the visit by the other factions, stressing the crisis was a sad commentary on the church.

    According to him: “I have always believed that court cannot be the best alternative to solve the problems within the CAC.

    “All human efforts to unite the church using human wisdom had failed but God had resolved to end the crisis in His own time.”

    Akinosun promised the delegations if the church finally reconciled, no one would lose its status or ranking.

  • Jobs crisis: Agric entrepreneurship to the rescue

    Jobs crisis: Agric entrepreneurship to the rescue

    Nigeria has a large economy with a  growing youth population .The bigger challenge is how to absorb the large number of unemployed youths. Experts believe agric entrepreneurship will tackle the problem. This was the focus of the 20th annual lecture of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) held in Ilorin, Kwara State. Daniel Essiet writes.

    For aspiring agric entrepreneurs, a new dawn is here. The 20th annual lecture of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), held in Ilorin, Kwara State could not have come at a better time. The forum brought together successful entrepreneurs who are making impact uplifting and economically empowering women and men.

    It was to bolster economic renewal, job creation and innovation through agric entrepreneurship.

    Analysts at the event noted that Nigeria was a major economy with a growing youth population.  However, they believe that there is little evidence to suggest that the economy will absorb youths across the spectrum of skill levels and education.  They say the solution to youth unemployment is in the agri-food value chain.

    One of those who shared this view was the Chairman, Board of Directors, FirstBank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika. She was the keynote speaker. She spoke on the topic: Promoting Agripreneurship Green Alternative: A Catalyst for National Security and Sustainable Development.

    She said the youth employment deficit left thousands of graduates produced by tertiary institutions jobless. Against this backdrop, she said agriculture has the capacity to absorb unemployed graduates.

    She described agriculture as an alternative to the much=touted economic resources derived from petroleum.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a very fertile land, but it is saddening to know that majority of its youths are jobless,” she said.

    According to her, the stability of Nigeria depends on the nation being able to sustain its citizens’ food production,  which would translate to social stability.

    Mrs. Awosika further said Nigeria has all  the fundamentals needed to grow in agriculture, saying, “we need to know the time of oil is long gone”.

    She said Nigeria has opportunities for young workers to start new businesses, create quality jobs, improve their quality of life and wellbeing, strengthen their sense of belonging and integrate themselves into the community. From cash crops to grains, fruits and vegetables, livestock and others, she noted that there are countless opportunities along the value chain.

    Currently, she said, the potential of the agric sector is highly underutilised.

    Mrs. Awosika noted that agriculture has evolved into what is now known as agribusiness, which is centred on making profit through maximised productivity.

    She called for entrepreneurial skills development for profitable agriculture and agribusiness enterprises among the youth.

    Mrs. Awosika said the time had  come for institutions to play their part in developing entrepreneurs,  adding that the society requires a re- orientation to enhance the entrepreneurial mindset to boost startups and create employment.

    To her, entrepreneurship has been widely acknowledged as an important mechanism for economic growth and employment creation.

    A motivational speaker, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, listed the characteristics of an entrepreneur to include vision, hard work and focus. For her, one must be focused to be the best in the market. With a good vision and great execution, one’s dreams can come true.

    A discussant at the lecture and Managing Director of Thelma Farms in Ijebu-Ode, Mr. Babatunde Ogunyemi, emphasised the need for Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture, “On my 350 hectares of land in Ijebu-Ode where I grow fresh indigenous vegetable for exportation, I feel depressed that not enough is done in agriculture.

    “Even with our huge production we can only meet just nine per cent of the demand.

    “When I met with Mr President some weeks ago in Abuja, I told him that though Nigeria is winning the war against insurgency, but how do we fight the war of feeding our citizens,” he said.

    The Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, called for the overhaul of the agriculture sector to boost the economy, saying if government can overhaul the sector to bring appropriate intervention, agriculture will be a life saver for the nation.

    He said  the institute is working to empower Nigerians to explore opportunities in the agric sector.

    The aim, according to him, is to help Nigerians create jobs, combat food insecurity and poverty by expanding agribusiness, increasing  food production, and supporting entrepreneurship .

    Oladunni said through its training, the institute focuses on the key gaps inhibiting growth in agribusiness,  as it enables smallholder farmers to raise their incomes and yields, while also creating jobs for young people and raising incomes for women.

    He said ARMTI supports the development of a vibrant and diversified commercial agriculture as a means to move away from subsistence agriculture, often synonymous with poverty for a majority of rural households.The forum aimed at raising awareness on the importance of engaging youths in agribusiness, making a case for agribusiness as a solution to the high youth unemployment rate, and building consensus around initiatives to address unemployment, contribute to economic growth, and poverty reduction.

  • Religious leaders declare three-day fasting, prayers over Ibadan chieftaincy crisis

    Religious leaders from the Christian, Islamic and traditional faith have declared three-day fasting and prayers for a resolution of the crisis on the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration review.

    Following a meeting with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at his palace at the weekend, the religious leaders pledged to broker peace between the monarch and Governor Abiola Ajimobi due to imminent crisis if the feud between the duo was not contained.

    Those at the meeting were representatives of Islam, led by Chief Imam of Oyo State Ansar-U-Deen Society of Nigeria, Dr. Basiru Olanrewaju, and Alhaji Daud Amao Alaga. The Christian body was led by Pastor Samuel Abiara, of Christ Apostolic Church, and Pastor Sunday Popoola of World Communications Ministry (WOCOM).

    Members of Traditional Religion Worshippers’ Association in Oyo State were led by Chief Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode and Dasola Adefabi.

    Addressing reporters, Popoola said the delegation urged adherents and residents to fast and pray for three days.

    The cleric said this would ensure that the chieftaincy review did not lead to a crisis.

    He said: “We have observed that there has been some misunderstanding over the issues of the newly appointed obas in Ibadan. We know it could degenerate into a crisis. As religious leaders – Muslims, Christians and traditionalists – we have come to meet the kabiyesi to appeal for peace.

    “We also plan to see the governor.

    “But what we have concluded today is to go and have three days of fasting and prayers.

    “Muslims should fast and pray on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and Christians should fast and pray in all churches in Oyo State on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, we will meet the governor.

    “We believe we are the people who can resolve this matter, and by the grace of God, we believed God will, through us.”

    On the possibility that the monarch may not agree to allow the sleeping dog lie, Popoola said he could not say anything about this.

    He said: “I am not going to speak on that until we are able to meet the governor and do our prayers.”

    Popoola said the meeting was meant to include only religious leaders, adding that they decided not to include groups, such as Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and the mogajis (family heads), to avoid politicising the matter.

    He said: “Yes; it’s because we don’t want to bring in politics into this, but religious leaders only. We are neutral; we are not for the governor. We are not for the kabiyesi; we are for the people of Oyo State. And we want peace. That is all. So, we don’t want to bring in any of them.”

  • A national crisis that never was

    We are grateful to God for intervening in stopping what could have been the greatest bloodbath known in the history of mankind”.  Those were the remarks of Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu when he visited the Press Centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Umuahia on Sunday, September 17 to commiserate with them over their altercation with soldiers.

    Why would the Governor make such a claim? What was he talking about? I’ll explain.

    Sunday, September 12, the peace of Abia State was suddenly shattered seemingly out of nowhere. Soldiers drafted to Abia State in preparation for the commencement of a military exercise codenamed Operation Python Dance II decided to parade around the city of Umuahia in their full fearsome might complete with heavy equipment’s and armoury and the resultant effect was chaos that would last for a week and only just thawing.

    In the cause of the parade on Sunday, skirmishes ensued with locals who felt intimidated by the display. Next day, Monday, the phalanx marched to the home of Nnamdi Kanu, the Major Domo of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and almost inevitably, a confrontation ensued between Kanu’s supporters and the troops on parade. Tuesday, similar confrontations occurred at Ubakala and Aba as the Pythons were still dancing and were rubbing people who were not used to seeing pythons dance in the open the wrong way.

    As soon as the crisis spread to Aba, all bets were off. The crisis took a new dimension that required deft moves and a masterful yeoman’s job.

    Rumours soon began to circulate of Hausas being attacked and killed by Igbos in Aba in retaliation for Igbos allegedly killed by the soldiers. Soon, tempers were high nationwide and leadership became imperative to avoid a national bloodbath.

    Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu at this point took personal charge. He ensured that northerners in Abia State were safe and kept in constant touch with his colleague governors in the North assuring them of the safety of their people while pleading for the protection of Igbos in the North.

    Governor Ikpeazu immediately imposed a four-day dusk-dawn curfew on Aba thus curtailing the ability of mischief-makers to congregate and implement their mischief which is usually at its peak in the dead of the night. The northerners in Aba were equally herded to a safe location where they were kept protected. The few that got injured before the curfew was imposed were treated with the governor footing the bill. They were dissuaded from returning to their states and told to wait until tension died down and because of the sincerity of who they were dealing with, remained.

    Kudos must go to the governors of Northern Nigeria at this point under the leadership of Alhaji Kashim Shettima. They met and agreed to take steps to foster peace and ensure that no harm befalls any Igbo in the North and by all genuine accounts, no life was lost.

    Imagine if this was happening under intemperate governors? The youths of Aba would have had free reign to unleash havoc on the Hausa Community. The northerners would have mounted trailers and returned to the North with their dead to tell tales of death and destruction of lives and property. Upon their arrival at home, Northern Youths would have hit the streets in search of Igbo people to kill and burn their properties in retaliation for those killed in Aba.

    The tension would soon spread all over as whenever there is crisis in the North, virtually every non-Hausa is labelled an Igbo person and thus, a candidate for attack. Inevitably, corpses of those killed will start returning home to different parts of Southern Nigeria and even more violence will be unleashed on Northerners in other locations and the cycle will continue.

    But to the glory of God, all that was averted.

    Governor Ikpeazu would always preach that the reason why he cannot toe a hard line on any issue concerning the North is first and foremost because of the number of Abians in the North. While there may be 1,000 Northerners in Abia State, there are conversely, over two million Abians spread across the northern states of Nigeria.

    While the investment of Northerners in Abia State may be N20m collectively, those of Abians in the North and Abuja will be in the region of N100billion including hotels, malls, housing estates, residential houses, cars and landed properties.

    What that then means is that the effect of crises against northerners in Abia State will leave Abians and Igbos at great disadvantage because of their exposure in the North. Abians and Igbos own properties and businesses in the North compared to itinerant northern traders in Abia State. The reprisal damage would have been devastating.

    It is not cowardice. It is a leader toeing a line that is beneficial to the greater good of the greater number of his people.

    Monday, September 18, five governors of northern Nigeria came to Umuahia to commend Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his sterling leadership in ensuring that the crisis was nipped in the bud and that it did not escalate. Speaking on behalf of the governors of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Plateau, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who is also the chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum, thanked Governor Ikpeazu for the proactive steps he took towards securing the peace of Abia State and the safety of northerners in Abia State.

    The northern governors also briefed Governor Ikpeazu on steps they took to ensure the safety and security of Igbos in their states and together, all the governors made a commitment to the unity of Nigeria and safety of all in their domains pending when an amicable discussion can be held on the Nigerian question.

    Speaking on behalf of the northerners’ community in Abia State, the Chief Imam of Aba noted that there had been several crises since their sojourn in Abia State but at no time have they ever felt as safe as they felt last week due to the personal involvement of Governor Ikpeazu and urged the governors to thank him.

    As peace and calm returns to Abia State, we cannot but give immense thanks to God Almighty for His wisdom, guidance and protection throughout the tense period when the crisis lasted. Anything could have happened with one wrong step but God said no and averted danger.

    Kudos must also go to all the parties who played one role or another to avert the escalation of the crisis.

  • Ugborodo crisis: Committee calls for probe of death, others

    The Ugborodo Administrative Committee (UAC) has accused the Austin Oborogbeyi-led Ugborodo Community Management Committee (UCMC) of orchestrating the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, August 22, 2017, in which Samuel Mayomi died.

    The UAC, in a statement signed by its chairman, Jolomi Metsegharun, who is president-general of Ugborodo community, also accused the leadership of UCMC of forging the signature of the Eghare-Aja (oldest man in the community), Pa Wellington Ojogor, alleging the Eghare-Aja is incapacitated.

    But in a reaction to Metsegharun’s allegation, a member of UCMC, Alex Eyengho, described the allegations as attempt to divert  attention from the real issue, involving responsibility for the death.

    Metseghanrun alleged the signature of the Eghare-Aja was forged in an advert publication in a national newspaper in line with the constitution of the community, noting that the man could not physically and mentally perform such role.

    He, however, accused the Oborogbeyi-led management committee of causing the incident of August 22 and urged security agencies to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident.

    “Apart from forging the signature of the Eghare-Aja, the decision to have a general meeting ougt to emanate from the community where you want to hold the meeting and not from Warri-based elders who claim superiority over the council of elders in the community.

    “We call on the Federal Government to investigate the council of elders in Warri on where and how they arrive at the decision of calling for a general meeting that would hold at Ode-Ugborodo without the input of the council of elders living in Ugborodo”, he said.

    Meanwhile, the UCMC has described the allegations of forgery and orchestration of the August 22 disaster, being tagged on it by the Metsegharun group as laughable and a diversionary tactic, aimed at watering down the effect of the guilt associated with being responsible for people’s is having on them.

    Member of the UCMC, who has been speaking on the group’s behalf since the incident occurred, Alex Eyengho, while responding to the issues raised by Metsegharun, said the allegations were false.

  • LAUTECH crisis and the pseudo-patriots

    The plethora of commentaries and armchair analysis on the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, (LAUTECH) unfortunate crisis is as interesting and unpleasant. The situation, no doubt, presents some sworn critics the opportunity to showcase their unwarranted disdain for the workings of the governments of Oyo and Osun, the proprietors of the institution under reference. Inciting statements and related diatribes that are impertinent to the issue at hand are being freely and maliciously employed to disparage Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola of Oyo and Osun states respectively, as visitors to the university. The development has presented elements from otherwise comatose and dead opposition political parties in the two states to yell at and condemn the perceived ineptitude of the proprietors at resolving the imbroglio, which portends serious dangers to the future of the students of the great institution.

    It is even more amazing that some of these critics, who once had the opportunity to administer the university directly and indirectly shouted louder in the unfair condemnation of the owner states government, instead of burying their heads in shame for largely contributing to the sorry state of the institution by their actions and inactions.

    I am particularly disappointed with the negative attitude of one of the uninformed commentators who alluded to ethnic coloration and introduced same to the whole harrowing episode. The fellow reasoned that LAUTECH at Ogbomoso is now being deliberately replaced by the Technical University, Ibadan.

    This sordid dimension is a reflection of how myopic and confusing the thoughts and feelings of some supposedly educated and influential people could be in this kind of situation. Such unfortunate outburst is capable of fanning the embers of ethnic disaffection between the indigenes of Ogbomoso and Ibadan if this person had not been well known for such divisive antics long before this time.

    He compounded his ignorance of the whole scenario when he made a veiled reference to what he called the deliberate unwillingness of the two owner-states to make public an alleged agreement that once ceded the ownership of the university to Oyo State. He further claimed that the agreement was allegedly signed by ex-Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo and Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, in a litigation involving the two owner states at the Supreme Court. That the said agreement was at the instance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I doubt if the fellow is aware that such a paper that has no ingredient of endorsement in the court registry or Justice Department is not valid and as such inadmissible as an exhibit in the court of law.

    The present poor State of LAUTECH is a direct consequence of the gross mismanagement of the university’s resources over the years from what I found out. The successive administrations of the institution had failed woefully to do the needful in making the institution self-sustaining or viably independent. Aside from the fact that the university has an over bloated workforce, some insiders claim that expenses on imprest, estacodes and other sundry allowances are normally accorded priorities  over statutory payment of the staff salaries and allowances. Keeping and operating 97 bank accounts by the university, some of which are said to have closed shop with the university’s funds therein entrapped, is not healthy for the growth of the university. It amounts to sheer wastage. It is mind boggling that the university which collects regular subventions from the governments, rakes in school fees from the students (regular and part-time) and research grants from the Non-Governmental Organizations could be run aground. In my own view, the pervasive inadequacies in the university system are part of the reasons why the labour unions were said to have blocked the auditors hired by the governments to carry out forensic audit of the institution from carrying out their duties. One of the findings reveals that the university is still operating manual accounting systems up till now. It is equally worrisome to note that the audit reports on the university’s finances for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively are not ready.

    With the discovery of all these inadequacies that have impeded the smooth administration of the of the great institution and which had consequently precipitated the lingering crisis, I am of the conviction that the critic under reference could not have resorted to “argumentun ad hominien”, but for his complete consumption by fires of hatred against Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola respectively. Pretending to be championing or promoting primordial interests, in a feat of a demagogue in this kind of situation, can only be self-serving. It is capable of generating unnecessary heat in polity.

    What moral justification can explain the workers’ action of preventing the governments’ forensic auditors from carrying out their duties? They were definitely wrong to have acted as dogs in a manger. It is crystal clear and regrettable too,  that there exists a cabal within  the university workforce that is hell bent in sabotaging the efforts of the owner state governments and well-meaning Nigerians at resolving the crisis once and for all.

    One can only take solace in the fact that the matter shall soon be amicably resolved once as for all by the University’s Governing Council that has just been constituted. The council, no doubt, consist of erudite scholars and administrators with proven track records of efficiency in crisis management. It is my candid opinion that the whole blame regarding the pitiable state of the institution cannot be wholly placed at the doorsteps of the owner states, but, the university management that created bulk of the crisis. So, the critics should take note of this.

    It is pertinent at this juncture to postulate that forensic auditing and proper screening exercise of the university personnel must be carried out with the objective of moving the university out of the present crisis. The outcome of the exercise shall avail the owner governments the unique opportunity of taking concrete steps aimed at normalizing the situation and make improvements. The university management should embark on austerity measures to conserve funds. This includes suspension of imprest accounts, embargo on paying salaries to staff on sabbatical leave, nominal staff promotion exercise till the university can stand on its own, etc.

    Blocking all the financial leakages will undoubtedly reinvigorate the financial strength of the institution. The Osun State government should also try to complement the efforts of its counterpart in Oyo that has been meeting up with its financial obligations to the university on regular basis. Even in the face of recession, and in the midst of this crisis, Oyo State government is said to have still deemed it imperative to release the subvention of over N150million naira to the university. Although Oyo State had slashed the subvention to the university by more than half, it is noteworthy that it has not reneged on paying the amount it promised the university. Moreover, the labour unions in the university, as stakeholders, should allow the government auditors to carry out their assignments without further delay. We cannot afford to be stagnant and expect miracles in this circumstance.

    Today, the pseudo-patriots should rise above sheer pettiness and partisan interest to contribute their genuine quota as solutions to the problems at hand. They should refrain from making inflammatory statements capable of misleading the members of public and pitching same against the owner state governments.

     

    • Akeem sent in this piece from Ibadan.

  • Bad leaders behind Mushin crisis, says ex-lawmaker

    What happened in Mushin during the last local government election does not give cause for alarm, a former lawmaker, Muyiwa Fedeyi has said.

    Fadeyi, who was in the Lagos State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, said the controversy over who got the ticket to run, was uncalled for.

    He praised former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for re-directing Yoruba politics and putting the Southwest in the mainstream of national politics.

    He urged the Yoruba race to rally round Asiwaju in his plan for the Southwest region recently occupy in the political setting of the country.

    “Ordinarily, I refrain from commenting on issues that are controversial in nature, but l am now being forced to comment because those who are in a position to intervene when things seem to be going wrong but decided to keep quiet, are themselves culpable when eventually the walls come down collapsing,” Fadeyi said.

    “What goes around comes around, most of the people shouting imposition are themselves past beneficiaries of imposition. That’s the truth,” he said”.

    He noted that in the past, the Yoruba had always been in opposition while other ethnic group enjoyed the spoil of controlling the Federal government, especially during the first and second republic.

    “Indeed, at the inception of the present dispensation, despite the fact that a Yorubaman in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the president, a large percentage of the states in western region were in opposition, including our beloved Lagos State. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu redirected the western region politics and what we have now is a situation where you have the Yoruba at the thick of things in Abuja we even have a Yorubaman as Acting-president.

    “To my mind, Asiwaju is a personality to be respected and put in the highest esteem by every right thinking Yorubaman and other Nigerians. It is therefore appalling to read on the pages of newspapers, our fellow Yorubamen writing rubbish about Asiwaju in the press. If the ladder they used to get to the top is weak, they should rally round such ladder and make it stronger,” Fadeyi said.

  • When ’ll Lagos PDP crisis end?

    When ’ll Lagos PDP crisis end?

    Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s search for unity has not produced the desired results. The protracted crisis has made it difficult for the party to play its role as the opposition voice.  Musa Odoshimokhe examines the issues causing frictions in the party. 

    Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not known peace for quite some times. It has continued to sink in crisis and there is hope in sight. The division has hindered it from playing its role as the leading opposition party. It has weakened the party on other fronts. For instance, analysts say the recent local government election in Lagos State was PDP’s worst outing since it came into existence.

    In the prelude to the council polls, members loyal to the chairman, Moshood Salvador, went into alliance with the Labour Party (LP), to field candidates for the election. The decision was reached in order not to deny their members who actually wanted to serve, but could not do so under the banner of PDP.

    Segun Adewale, the factional leader, had taken over the secretariat when the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sherriff and was mandated to coordinate the council elections in Lagos.

    When the Supreme Court finally made its judgment, the Modu-Sherriff camp lost out. This configuration opened new challenges for the Lagos PDP. It was obvious that Adewale would have to leave the secretariat.

    Last week, in a letter the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Ben Ndi-Obi, to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, directed that the keys to the secretariat should be handed over to former National Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.

    The letter urged other party members to be present during the handing over by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. The handing over ceremony which was held in the Police Commissioner’s office, lasted over an hour. Salvador was present. Adewale was absent.

    When they came out, George told reporters that the meeting was fruitful and would put an end to the lingering crisis. He said the party was doing everything possible to accommodate all shades of opinions.

    The PDP chieftain was interrupted by another Board of Trustee (BoT) member, Mrs Aduke Maina, who said she was not comfortable with George’s position.

    George said he would hand over the keys to the authentic Lagos PDP chairman, Salvador. But, this did not go well with Maina, who told George that as leaders of the party, all members must be present before he could handover the keys.

    Both leaders tried to explain their positions on the matter to reporters. Observers wondered whether the closed door meeting with the police commissioner had calmed frayed nerves, in view of how the party washed it dirty linen outside.

    Maina, who later left the scene, murmuring and blewing hot, left nobody in doubt that that party  may embark on another phase of battle. It means PDP is yet to get its acts together and must wake up from its slumber to hit the ground running, ahead of 2019, observers say.

    Reacting to the conduct of Maina, George said the PDP leader had allowed sentiments to becloud her sense of reason. He said every action he took was approved by the PDP in order to forge ahead, noting he would not do anything contrary to the interest of the party as directed by the National Caretaker Committee.

    George said: “I must thank the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, for providing good leadership to his command. Let me assure all our people in Lagos that there is peace in PDP. I have collected the keys in the presence of Mrs. Aduke Maina, who is also a BoT member.

    “I will handover the keys there to our people to operate. The secretariat is opened to all and sundry. The notion that there is crisis in Lagos PDP is not true. I understand there is friction, in any political setting it is bound to happen like that. But, the national secretariat is still alive to moderate all the activities of the party.”

    Maina said: “Let me caution at this point that, the people representing the party here are not the only party members. There are still numerous party members, who are absent from this gathering. So, if you want to handover these keys for peace to reign, you have to get every other person to be present.

    “You cannot hand it over to just one person, every person must be present, and we should not shy away from doing what is right. We are elderly people, who should be able to resolve our problem. We should be able to sit down and resolve them amicable.

    “Temper is high right now in the party, let every one of them who want to hold meeting at the secretariat hold meeting at different times. After sometimes, we will all work together. That is my own suggestion,” she said.

    But, George who cautioned that her suggestion would be counter-productive, expressed confidence that the PDP would bounce back.

    He said: “The only state that is yet to have congresses without faction congresses in the Southwest is Oyo State. When you see those who are with Modu-Sherriff and they are coming back to the party now that the Judgment had settled the matter, they behave strange; we can see their cacophonies of voices.

    “Everybody may say whatever they want, we still have caretaker committee, who will decide what is to be done and they are going to do exactly what is right. I Bode George, a member of the BoT, that provides the moral leadership of the party, I have collected the keys and I am going to hand over the keys to Salvador.

    “The other people, if they have grievances, there are procedure of resolving it and not to come here and be talking like somebody who is aggrieved. Is she personally aggrieved? PDP is not my personal property, but the party has directed that the keys should be handed over to Chief Bode George,” he said.

    The factional chairman, Adewale maintained that Salvador must come out with a proof that the directive was from  the National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Markafi.

    He said: “I am ready to step down tomorrow, if Salvador can show me the same letter that was given to me at when I was elected as the Lagos PDP chairman prior to May 15, 2016 or let me even fast forward it to when the Supreme Court judgment was pronounced.

    “If I can have a letter from Markafi, saying Segun Adewale, you are not my chairman because you did not support me, you supported Sherriff and because Salvador supported me, he is my chairman, I will resign.”

    He said most people lacked an understanding what was happening in the Lagos PDP, stressing those who never bothered to find out were accusing him of causing trouble in the party.  The PDP chieftain added that he was elected by the people to serve as the chairman of the party.

    He called on the national leadership to make declarative statement, expressing the voidance of the May 15, 2016.

    “If they say that my emergence at that congress is unaccepted, I will leave the secretariat for Salvador. I have worked very hard for this party and the results are there to prove.

    “Even in the recent Lagos council polls, I produced some councillors for the PDP. When I contested the 2015 Lagos West Senatorial election, I produced five House of Representatives members and Seven House of Assembly members.

    “I am the authentic PDP chairman. What Chief Bode George does regularly is that, for every congress, he will just choose the chairman, but we refused this time around. We had our state congress and former governor of Kano State Ibrahim Sekarau came to supervise our election.

    “A PDP BoT member, Mrs. Aduke Maina, was part of the congress, the six PDP House of Representatives members voted during the state congress,” he said.

    Salvador said the Supreme Court had cleared the way for the peaceful existence of the party.

    He maintained that the judgment indicated that light would prevail over darkness. He called on all members to unite to build the party which would be repositioned for electoral successes and good governance.

    Salvador said: “Let me take it from the judgment of the Supreme Court, you can see that the judges made their verdict from the constitution of our party. All the decisions taken were made from what our constitution says. And I can confidently tell you that it is the constitution that allows me to be the chairman of the party after our congresses.

    “Regardless of all the lies, I have the receipts of payment for the ward congresses. I have the receipts of payment for all the nomination forms which are with me. During the 17th August, Convention in Port Harcourt, I was listed in the convention programme as state chairman of PDP in Lagos.

    “Segun Adewale was listed as a national delegate representing Alimosho. At what point did he become chairman of the party in Lagos State. This is act of impunity, so I don’t join issues with what is not necessary an issue. This is why we have to go through it procedurally and in a proper manner.

    “We are all members of PDP and we are going to accommodate as much as possible, so let me give you that assurance. You journalists were present, when we had our congress, who among you was present at the purported congress held by Segun Adewale?

    “I am very sure none of you can beat his chest that he or she was present at Adewale’s congress. I must say that they are just like the Kashamu of Ogun PDP because they want to create problem which is not good for the party.  I want to say reconciliation committee has been constituted and I can assure you that everybody will be pleased with the outcome,” he said.

    Obervers said what is happening to the PDP, showed that it is a spent force. They said things have fallen apart for the party and the centre could no longer hold. They believe that Lagos PDP which also inherited part of the crises that emanated from the national body, may be consumed in the façade.

    The combatants in the Lagos PDP crisis seemed not to have given up on their stance to work at cross purposes. If the situation remains as it is, PDP would need a person with outstanding diplomatic mien, to douse tension and unite the party.

  • Fatherhood crisis

    Several years ago, I used to sit “at the feet” of a retired war time army general discussing various societal issues, especially the problems of Nigeria. In one of our discussions, a guest joined us and informed the general that his son – who was a commissioner in his home state – has been accused of embezzling public funds. Without blinking an eye lid, the general said: “that can never happen, I didn’t raise my sons to be thieves. Go and tell the governor to investigate him.” He continued our discussion as if nothing had happened.

    About a month later, the general – who is now late – sent for me and handed me an open newspaper without uttering a word; there was also another newspaper on his lap. The news story I read was the outcome of a probe panel set up by the state government to investigate if the commissioner (the late general’s son), or his accomplices embezzled public funds. When I was done reading the first story, he handed me the second newspaper.

    The news story – which was about the panel report – did not find the commissioner culpable in any act of embezzlements of public fund and he was allowed to continue serving the state in that capacity.  The second story – a feature story written by the same reporter – was quite detailed from an entirely different angle. The reporter focused on the family background of all those accused – that is the commissioner and his perceived accomplices. That of the commissioner was quite instructive.

    The reporter wrote about the general, his long years of impeccable service in the military with particular reference to his civil war records and how he treated his men. He also focused on the commissioner’s other brothers and how they are excelling in their chosen fields of endeavour. What he succeeded in doing was to draw a strong correlation between ones conduct and the family one was raised in. He did this without even interviewing the general; he only interviewed close associates of both the general and his son which further added impetus to his report.

    After I finished reading the two stories, he delivered a strong sermon on fatherhood to me which has been helping me since I became a father myself. He told me he was confident in the sons and daughters he raised ensuring they lived, not only within their means, but to be content with whatever they have. He also informed me that he taught them not to focus on his earthly properties but strive to have theirs and train their own children along that line. I wasn’t surprised when he passed on that his house was put up for rent – all because his children were encouraged to strive for theirs or rent one until they have theirs.

    Slightly over a year ago, I – alongside other customers – was on the queue at a supermarket waiting to pay for purchases made when a young man in his twenties walked past all of us to the cashier to make payment. The gentleman in front politely asked him if he’s not aware of the other people in the queue. He simply waved and said “so?” The visibly angry man pushed him away and told him to join the queue. He was trying to cause a scene when we all insisted he joined the queue. He didn’t but simply walked away.

    I have witnessed incidences of queue jumping and other deep societal challenges to arrive at the conclusion that we may be facing a fatherhood crisis in the country. Many of our young men and women are behaving as if they do not have fathers. As a result, we should – more than ever – be concentrating on the family backgrounds of those committing crimes in the country. I will also like to encourage my colleagues in the media to go the extra mile – like the reporter of the general’s son did – to investigate the family backgrounds of those that have been involved in looting our treasuries. Isn’t it time we seriously look in this direction?

    Why are most families struggling and suffering? They are because fathers are absent and their absence impacts the critical development of their sons and daughters. Fathers are as much critical to their daughters as well as their mothers. Obviously, fathers provide half the genetic material for personality development. Studies show that fathers are primary and most valuable support persons for the mother during pregnancy and childbirth. Also a healthy relationship between children and their fathers are important for good development.

    Children from homes with absentee fathers are more likely to run away from home or live on the street. Studies have shown that achievement level, sense of mastery, and marital happiness of girls correlate with the presence of an involved father. Security regarding females and their fathers is a key element since it greatly shapes their development

    Dearth of statistics aside, I am convinced that millions of Nigerian fathers struggle as adult parents because they lacked a model of effective fathering in their own lives. Men who experienced this form of parental neglect from their own families of origin oftentimes becomes emotionally and physically absent to their own families formed through marriage.

    There is thus the importance of preparing such fathers for fathering by first helping them overcome detached relationships they had with their own fathers. One would argue that the key to becoming a father isn’t merely commitment to wife, children and family, but about prior and primal step of manhood in becoming a son.

    Without realising it, a lady in a public transport I was in blurted out: “they will not allow you have peace if you don’t have a son, are all these not sons?” She was referring to a group of miscreants popularly referred to as “area boys” squabbling over a bag that they apparently snatched from a lady. Though everyone in the bus burst out laughing, but the import of what the lady said should ring out loud. Apparently, she must have been harassed by her in laws for not producing a male child.

    The “area boys” syndrome should point us in the direction that we are a people under siege; siege of illegitimate fathers who continue to have children they can’t cater for. The kids drop out of school, start to roam the streets, end up at bus stops and begin to eek a living as touts. Soon they are old enough to impregnate a girl. The girl gives birth to another tout/area boy or another girl that would almost certainly be impregnated by a tout. And the cycle continues creating an endless supply of terrorists, gangsters and pimps for the underworld.

    Beyond traditional fatherhood, we are now dealing with another crisis – single parenthood. Look around you and it will surprise you the number of single ladies that now have children. Most often than not, the fathers of these children are hardly present – that is those who accept responsibility in the first place.

    Demographic studies on father’s absence and divorce indicate that children – especially boys – growing up without fathers usually have problems in the areas of sex-role and gender-identity development, school performance, physical adjustment, and perhaps in the control of anger and aggression. Equally too, the age at which a daughter loses her father is meaningful since it influences her perception of male, the world as well as her academic advancement – all because of missing the key element of a father.

    A single mom raising her son alone once told to me her son has no contact with his biological father. As a result, she notices he has hostility toward his father based on very limited past contact. She went further to explore emotional and social consequences the absence of a father is having on him.

  • Death toll in Kaduna crisis now 33

    •Police parade 55 suspects

    The death toll in the Kajuru council, Kaduna State, crisis has risen to 33, it was leanrt yesterday.

    Commissioner of Police Agyole Abeh spoke yesterday while parading suspected criminals. He condemned the crisis, describing it as barbaric.

    According to him, 32 persons, mostly women and children, were killed in the attack.

    “On July 11, a young herder was attacked by some youths. His father, who came to rescue him, was assaulted and died in the hospital.

    “The problem started when some youths claimed they saw a Fulani man with a bag, which they said contained military camouflage, but he ran away.

    “The matter was reported and investigation was on when we got information on Monday evening that that the Fulani attacked a remote village in retaliation. Six persons died and two others were injured.

    “The youths immediately mobilised into the bush, killing and burning down any Fulani settlement within sight. The police was contacted but before we got there, 26 Fulani, mostly women and children, had been killed.”

    “I assure you the police will ensure the culprits face the full wrath of the law.”

    The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the previous attack, which left four herdsmen dead, followed the abduction of two Fulani indigenes in the area.

    Ibrahim added that the gunmen also attacked Tsonho Damishi community in Chikun council, where they destroyed houses.

    He described the attacks as unwarranted and provoking, and appealed to members of the association to remain calm, and called on security agencies to bring the killers to justice.

    The suspects, aged between 15 and 23, were arrested on the Kaduna-Abuja; Kaduna-Zaria and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways, while committing crime.

    Vehicles, locally-made pistols, revolvers, local guns, AK-47 rifles, fake dollars, vehicle batteries, army jacket and burglary tools were recovered from the suspects.

    Abeh said the suspects will soon be charged to court.