Nasarawa United midfielder Aminu Abdulkadir has scored his first goal of the season for the Glo Premier League club, and he’s dedicating the goal to his family.
The attacking midfielder who joined the Solid Miners from Kogi United before the on-going campaign commenced was on target for his team as they won 2-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League match against FC Taraba on Wednesday.
The youngster told News24 that it was his first league goal of the season and revealed what this ‘special goal’ meant to him.
“I am very, very happy, extremely happy. But what’s more important is that we won the game and the goal was the opener,” he said in an exclusive interview with News24.
“It was my first goal of the NPFL season, it’s for my family. It’s a special goal for me, first goal in a long time. But what’s more important is that we won the game.”
“The goal wasn’t meant to be a statement and I know one goal doesn’t automatically give me game time. Whatever happens from today onwards, I will always try to give my best for the team and I’ll just take it one game at a time.”
Aminu grabbed a total of ten goals for Kogi United in the 2013/14 Nigeria National League season before he was snapped up by Nasarawa United.
Following a seven-day trip to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE’s) commercial city by Morireoluwa Davids and her family for winning the second edition of Cussons Baby Moment, the Brand Manager Cussons Baby, Oluwaseun Ayeni, has said the brand has fulfilled its promise to the winner and is ready to offer more to its customers.
Describing her experience as interesting, the winner’s mother, Funmilayo David, urged mothers to participate with in the Cussons Baby Moment contest, saying it is life-transforming.
She said: “It was fun-filled and interesting. We went to Dubai Mall, which is the biggest mall in the world and afterwards to see the dancing fountain, behind it was the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa). It was awesome and beautiful.
“The whole trip has been eventful filled with sweet memories. We are saying thank you to Cussons Baby for this opportunity to explore Dubai, which I heard was a beautiful city and I have confirmed it is really beautiful.
“It was a fun experience and the family had so much to look forward to anytime around.”
On the objectives of the competition, Ayeni said it is about rewarding the customers and giving parents the opportunity to showcase their beautiful babies.
She said: “It is all about giving families an opportunity to showcase their beautiful bundles of joy for a chance to go on an all-expense paid trip. It is also about providing a platform to communicate one on one with our consumers and the opportunity to meet new consumers.
“We are almost done with preparations for season 3. As such, parents should keep taking pictures and recording videos of their cute babies and they shouldn’t forget to keep visiting the Cussons Baby Facebook page for more information.”
The Ambali Bakare family of Ogombo community in Etiosa Local Government Area of Lagos State has accused embattled Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu of taking over their land.
Kashamu, who is embroiled in a dispute with the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), reportedly bought 175 acres of the Bakares’ land in 2008.
Addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, yesterday, the family, led by Shafiudeen Bakare, claimed that the land was bought through a questionable source.
Bakare said they have all the documents relating to the land and vowed to challenge the senator-elect in court.
The land, he alleged, was bought by Kashamu in the name of one of his companies from Chief Yomi Adejumo, who is not a member of the Ambali Bakare family.
Bakare also accused Kashamu of intimidating and harassing them with members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) from Ijebu Igbo.
Bakare said: “We are here to tell of the fraudulent buying of our land at Ajah by Buruji Kashamu under the business name of Bukas Kasmal International Ltd.
“When some of those who purchased parts of the land from us sued us, the court ruled that we, the original owners, should be in court.
“So, we have been making arrangements to revisit the case.”
According to the documents shown to reporters, a Lagos High Court heard the case in 2012.
It had the People of Lagos as plaintiff and three others, including Kashamu’s company- Bukas Kasmal Int’l Ltd- as respondents.
Bakare said the family is returning to court because it is not satisfied with the case being struck out by the trial judge partly on technical grounds.
The family of late Justice Chuba Ikpeazu, two-time Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) marked with fanfair his 10th year memorial service at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Friends, family and a large number of admirers flocked to the residence on Sunday to be part of the service.
The late jurist and football icon died in 2005 at the age of 92.
The late Ikpeazu was appointed NFA chairman by the late Head of Government, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1964, a position he held until outbreak of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War in 1967.
He was reappointed chairman in 1987 by a former President, Ibrahim Babangida.
In a sermon at the service, Pastor Onyechi Mbamali of the Lunch Hour Fellowship, Lagos described Ikpeazu as “a man who pursued his dreams of excellence in law practice and sports to its logical conclusion.’’
He said Ikpeazu would be remembered for his contributions toward the growth of football and the legal profession in the country. “He was a legend”.
Onyechi Ikpeazu, a SAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his late father, was one the first Nigerians to establish and run a privately-owned football club “The Ikpeazu Redoubtables’’ in the 60s.
According by him, the club went into extinction, but had since been revived by one of his son’s, Odi.
Onyechi recalled that the revived team participated in the just- concluded Federation Cup qualifiers in Anambra State.
He said that old Redoutables had challenged the best teams in the country and almost won the Challenge Cup in 1958, but lost via a penalty shootout at the finals in Ibadan.
He said his father as the NFA chairman then contributed immensely “to the Miracle of Dhaman”, where the national team — the Flying Eagles was losing 0-4 to Russia at half time. But Nigeria eventually won that match, 5-4 at full time.
Ikpeazu (Onyechi) notes: “It was a combination of the half time intercessory prayers and pep talks from the chairman that gave the Eagles the victory.
“We celebrate the life and times of an intellectual, tenacious advocate and yet a flamboyant socialite, a just judge and football team proprietor.
“An accomplished two time NFA chairman, a financier of noble causes, a strict and loving husband and father, an indigene of the proud and historic land of Onitsha,’’ Ikpeazu said.
Odi Ikpeazu, the second son who revived his father’s club, said his father helped to employ the Dutch duo of Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo in 1988 to improve Nigerian football at the time.
“Recognising the technical shortcomings of Nigerian football at the time, he became the first NFA boss to employ the services of professional European coaches to train the national side, then known as the Green Eagles,’’ he said.
It was a very bad day for the people of Umuosu, Afugiri, in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State as 54-year-old blind Prophet, Onyenonachi Ihezukwu Agwu, his wife and children were found dead. His landlady and three chickens were also found dead in his four-room apartment.
Prophet Ihezukwu, the founder and General Overseer of Faith Healing Tabernacle Ministry at Nkwoegwu hailed from Umukabia, but lived in Umuosu Afugiri, while running his ministry at Nkwoegwu.
The development baffled residents who have kept asking how the blind prophet, his 50-year-old landlady, Mrs. Hannah Okpara, his wife Comfort Ihezukwu who was in her 30s, his 11-year-old son, Emmanuel Godwin Onyenonachi and his 13-year-old daughter, Miracle Onyenonachi Ihezukwu, all died with him.
The irony of the deaths was also the death of three of his fowls which were found dead in the bathroom area of the apartment.
A source close to the venue of the incident who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said the five corpses were discovered in different places, while the three fowls were found dead in the bathroom area.
Our source said: “We were called up in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, this year in the morning and when we got to Umuosu Afugiri where they lived, behind the Methodist Church, we saw hundreds of sympathisers who were crying over the unfortunate incident. We also met policemen from Afugiri division.
“When we inquired from the police, they told us that they met the generating set on, on arrival. The power generating set, we were told, was bought on Thursday, which is three days before their deaths. The set was found along the passage inside the bungalow and the policemen told us that they were the ones that put the set off.”
Our source also said the police told them that they suspected that the victims died as a result of exhaust fume from the power generating set, adding that the late prophet was the only surviving child of his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Ihezukwu Agwu.
“We are his only direct relations, running around for their burial.”
The corpses were found in different locations in the apartment. The wife and daughter were found in a room, the prophet was found in the dining room, the landlady was found around the passage, close to the power generating set, the three fowls were found clustered within the bathroom area.
On what must have been another possible cause of death, beside the fume from their power generating set, our source said they cannot think of any other thing, as they are not suspecting any foul play, even as he said there must be speculations in a situation like that.
The landlady was said to have been invited by the Prophet, who informed her that her two children were sick and when she came and suggested that the children should be taken to the hospital, the Prophet turned down the suggestion, that he suspected spiritual attack which he said he was going to handle that night through prayers, adding that after the prayers, they would be okay.. The Landlady was said to be a regular visitor to the house, where she usually goes to hold night prayers with the Prophet and other people at regular intervals.
That night, they were said to have had a meal of rice prepared in the house before going to sleep. Based on information at hand, the only thing one could hold on to as the cause of their death is the fume from that power generating set.
The family source said it was only through autopsy or other scientific methods that one can guess the real cause of their death. But from what I was told by police men, when they came in that morning, they were the ones that broke the door into the apartment and they found the generating set on. So, the power generating set is the prime suspect in this matter.
On what he was doing before going into ministry, our source said: “He lived in Kaduna for a long time; since the 90s. So, he came back around 2012 and established his ministry and was living at Nkwoegwu. But sometime last year, he relocated to Afugiri.
“I don’t know if he had a call to the ministry, but about seven years ago, we heard that he had opened a ministry in Kaduna and that the ministry was flourishing and in 2012, he came back to establish the ministry at Nwkoegwu. I don’t know what profession he was into before establishing the ministry because I was still a kid when he left home.”
He was not born blind, the blindness developed after the death of his father in August, 2002, after a year or two, he developed sight problems which led to blindness.
When his father died in 2002, he did not come home during the burial, even though the mother had been dead long before then. He had married before going completely blind.
The controversy surrounding the demolition of an old building belonging to the Omotoso family in Afao-Ekiti, the hometown of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, has refused to die. While the family is accusing the governor of being responsible for the demolition, the community has absolved him of any wrongdoing. Odunayo Ogunmola reports.
The building was a cynosure of all eyes when it was built. Apart from standing at a strategic location in the community, it was a beauty to behold because it was a built at a time when one-storey or two-storey buildings were not common.
The house apart from serving as a place of abode was also a place of refuge, a place of pride and a monument of identity.
Decades after, modernity set in and children sired in the home grew up and left for other cities within and outside the country for the proverbial greener pasture while the aged died one after the other.
Sooner than later, the once beautiful one-storey building became old, derelict and decrepit but still housed some artifacts and some personal effects.
The community felt that the house had to be demolished in public interest expressing fear that the house could collapse anytime endangering the lives of pupils of two primary schools nearby.Apart from this, the community said the house has become a hideout for criminals who hide there to perpetrate their nefarious activities.
May 2, 2015 was the day of decision. Bulldozers roared to the site of the building and pulled down the house in a matter of minutes reducing it to rubbles.
•Omotoso
The Omotoso family cried foul claiming that it was not carried along before the house was demolished.
The community maintained that the family was carried along and that the demolition was an agreement reached by sons and daughters of Afao Ekiti, a community located in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
A web of politics has been woven around the Afao demolition saga as the spokesman of the Omotoso family alleged that the pulling down of the house was politically-motivated.
Afao is the hometown of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose.
The Afao demolition saga has created two warring camps and both camps are baring their fangs ready to throw everything in their arsenal to win what promises to be a big battle ahead.
On one side is the governor, the traditional institution of the community and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and sympathisers and the Omotoso family and All Progressives Congress (APC) members and sympathisers on the other hand.
Pastor David Oluwafemi Omotoso, the eldest son of the family who owned the building is the APC Secretary in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State and he said the family is suffering for their membership of the opposition party.
Contrary to the claim of the town union, Omotoso said no member of the family was contacted before the building was demolished.
He explained that since the demolished building had become old, a new building was undergoing construction at the back which he was constructing to serve as new abode for family members anytime they come to their hometown.
Omotoso is enraged that the new house under construction was not spearedby the rampaging bulldozers as it was also pulled down.
This, according to him, is part of the conspiracy to victimize the family because of their membership of the APC.
He explained that the operation which he claimed was carried out in the night further raised suspicion as to the intention of those who pulled it down.
Omotoso said the battle would be fought to a logical conclusion because some of the family’s ancestors were buried within the precincts of the demolished building.
The excavation of the tombs of the forbears, Omotoso went further, was a clear evidence that the government of the state in collaboration with the community has a hidden agenda to take over the land and erase the family from Afao history.
•Fayose
But the Afao Community has risen in stout defence of its illustrious son, Governor Fayose exonerating him of complicity in the demolition of the structure.
Acting under the aegis of Afao Development Council (ADC), the community said the demolition of the building became necessary as it has constituted a threat to pupils of a nearby primary school and has become a hideout for criminal elements.
Led by the traditional ruler, the Alafao, Oba Joseph Ademilua, they advised Omotoso not to politicise the demolition maintaining that Fayose has no hand in it as official application was made to appropriate government agencies before the action was carried out.
Apparently disturbed by the tension generated by the demolition saga, the ADC led by its President, Chief Alex Akintunde and Secretary, Elder Bisi Agunbiade, condemned Omotoso for dragging the governor into the matter and politicising a community development effort.
Addressing a news conference at the Alafao’s Palace, ADC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tope Anjorin, stressed that the community has no intention to take away the land from the Omotoso family as the family is free to erect any structure it desires on the land.
Anjorin said it was uncharitable for Omotoso to claim that the one-storey building was demolished because he holds political beliefs that run contrary to that of the governor.
The town union spokesman claimed that the patriarch of the family had other children who are members of the PDP.
While explaining that the building was demolished in public interest and agreement of natives of the town, Anjorin disclosed that representations were made to Omotoso and other siblings.
Anjorin said: “The late owner of the building first daughter, Mrs Florence Aduloju was the Women Leader of the PDP for two consecutive terms in Afao Ekiti while his son, Pastor Sunday Olowoyo is the present Caretaker Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government under Fayose.
“Can these people allowed their family to be victimized by the same party they belong to?”, he asked.
“We had tried to reach out to the family on the need to demolish the building, but Mr Omotoso, being one of the sons made the arrangement difficult.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that Fayose has nothing to do with this demolition. They are all out to tarnish his good image.”
According to Anjorin, the demolition was done based on the request of the town in a letter addressed to the Governor and dated February 16, 2015.
Anjorin explained that the community stated the status of the building and the danger it posed to the pupils of St. David’s Nursery and Primary School and SUBEB Model Nursery and Primary School located within the vicinity of the palace.
The letter signed by ADC President, Chief Alex Akintunde and Secretary, Elder Bisi Agunbiade , requested the government to pull down the structure because efforts to reach out to the children of the late owner to repair the house had proved abortive, since a rainstorm blew off a part of the house in 2005.
He also clarified that what the town had done was mere demolition to avert danger and not outright seizure of the land as being claimed by Omotoso in his publication.
However, more intrigues were added to the saga when Mrs. Aduloju denied Anjorin’s claim that she is the Women Leader of the PDP in Afao Ward.
In a statement refuting the ADC image maker’s claim, Mrs Aduloju revealed that she had ceased being a member of the PDP since 2004.
She said: “My attention has been drawn to the allegation by one Mr. Tope Anjorin, P.R.O. of Afao Development Council (ADC) on Premium Times that I am the Women Leader of the PDP in Afao Ward.
“To set the record straight, I had left the Afao PDP since 2003/2004 hence the insinuation that I am a PDP member is not true.
“Further more, the Interim Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Sunday Olowoyo, is not a member of the Omotoso family and hence cannot take any decision on behalf of the family.
“This is for the information of the general public”.
But Fayose himself did not keep quiet in the demolition saga saying it was wrong for anybody to insinuate that he ordered the demolition of the building.
According to the governor, the demolition of the building was an “internal affair” of the Afao Community and has nothing to do with him.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said the decision to pull down the building was that of the community’s traditional cabinet, the Alafao-in-Council and the town union, Afao Development Council (ADC).
Fayose said: “The attention of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose has been drawn to allegations made by one, David Oluwafemi Omotoso that the governor was responsible for the demolition of his family house at Afao Ekiti.
“Except for some people who will tend to believe the story, we decided to put the record straight.
“It is true that Governor Fayose built the Alafao Palace some years ago on the land provided by the Afao Development Council.
“However, the demolition of the said building is purely an internal affair of Afao Community having nothing to do with Governor Fayose.
“It is totally wrong for Mr David Omotoso to assume that Gov Fayose had ordered for demolition of their family house.
“It is the Alafao in Council and the Afao Development Council which felt that the 100 year old dilapidated roofless structure of Omotoso family was posing danger to the pupils of nearby primary schools who hibernated under the building.
“The community also claimed that the building has become a haven to criminals who often hide there to perpetrate crime.
“What has that got to do with Fayose? Is it because Fayose is from Afao or because he built the palace?
“Nobody in this country can claim not to know the antecedents of All Progressive? Congress (APC) as a party which specialises in fabricating lies and to malign people using their propaganda machinery.
“When the party has failed in all directions to bring the government down through their much advertised impeachment project, it is now intensifying campaign of calumny against the person of Governor Fayose.
“Incidentally, as explained by the Afao Development Council, the step taken to pull down the building is about safety and security which has no political coloration. Three PDP leaders are members of that family.”
However, the battle may be heading for the court of law according to information from the Omotoso family.
The family has concluded arrangement to drag the community’s traditional ruler, the Alafao to court for demolishing the house without the family’s consent and for going ahead to pull down a house under construction at the back of the old building.
The family said the destruction of the building under construction alongside the ancient family building smacked of malice adding that the claim of pulling down the building in public interest no longer holds any water.
Briefing reporters last Thursday in Ado Ekiti on the demolition saga, the family’s eldest son, Pastor Omotoso, reiterated his accusation that Fayose masterminded the demolition to victimize family members for their membership of the APC.
Omotoso insisted that the demolition of an uncompleted building he was constructing at the back of the old building was an evidence that the action was politically-motivated.
He further explained that not less than six corpses were excavated by the demolition squad saying the initial intention was to take over the land from them but was dropped following the outcry and media hype the matter generated.
Omotoso argued that the claim of the Alafao, his chiefs and town union that Fayose was not involved was an aftert thought recalling that the governor had during the Afao Day Celebration held on December 13, 2014 declared his intention to demolish the house on grounds that it was blocking the palace.
The Lagos APC stalwart maintained that the family was not consulted before the house was pulled down wondering why the new building being constructed at the back of the demolished house was also reduced to rubble.
He added that the suspicion was further heightened by the fact that the evacuation of the tombs of the family’s forbears was done at night after the demolition saying the action was an attempt to wipe out the Omotosos from the memory of the Afao people.
The cleric-turned politician said the aggrieved family is heading for the court of law to sue the Oba and seek compensation for the damage done to their artifacts and other valuables which wouldn’t have been destroyed if they had been carried along.
He said: “This house was built in 1953 but it was blown off by wind about two years ago. The administration of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi intervened and assisted the family with a sum of N10,000 to reroof the building, which we did.
“ It was when we realized that the house was weak that we decided to build a new one behind it. The land belonged to our forebears and about six tombs and other artifacts were inside which they destroyed in the cause of demolishing it.
“ But it was disheartening that we were not given any notice before carrying out the act . There were more dilapidated houses in Afao which they did not demolish.
“It was during the first term of Governor Fayose that they encroached on our land and built the new palace. Even the fencing encroached on it, but we took that for peace to reign.
“The Governor had earlier made pronouncement during the 2014 Afao Day that Omotoso family should not do anything on that land and he said we should come and see him. He even said that our family house must give way for the palace .
“I came on December 27, 2014 to see him and I was told he travelled out of the country. I then wrote a letter and sent to him by one Tope Anjorin, but there was no reply . And I did not receive any correspondence from the governor acknowledging my letter .
“Only to be called on the 2nd May, 2015 that my father’s house had
been demolished and that nothing is standing again on that land, including even the new one that we are erecting. This is totally mischievous and unacceptable.
“We are warning them not to build anything on that land because it belongs to us. The claim that the place posed danger to the pupils is to cover up their mischief.
“All they wanted to do was to erase our family’s name in Afao Ekiti. We are going to challenge this injustice in Court.”
Another member of the Omotoso family, Mrs. Yemi Oluwayose, expressed anger that their father’s belongings were demolished with the building.
She said: “My father’s properties were still in that house, we wanted to construct a new house with the intention of moving the properties.
“Lost in the demolition are artifacts, academic gowns and other personal effects. Definitely, we would seek legal redress.
As the controversy rages, there are many questions demanding answers. If the litigation starts when will it end? Won’t this battle turn brothers against brothers and sisters against sisters? Can out-of-court settlement be struck before legal fireworks begin?
Was it right to have pulled down a new building under construction if the dilapidated one was pulled down in public interest? On whose interest was the new building pulled down. Will the community settle with an estranged family as the matter is being taken to court.
Will Governor Fayose use his exalted office to facilitate reconciliation of the community leaders and the Omotoso family? Will Afao’s image remain the same if court battle starts and it continues to drag? Interesting days await both parties.
Atinuke Adigun was one of the First Class graduates at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) convocation. This achievement may have stunned many who do not know her family history. She was only following in the footsteps of the father and brother. JOSEPH ESHANOKPE writes.
•Son, daughter follow dad’s footsteps
For members of Adiguns family in Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State, academic excellence runs in their genes. About 31 years ago, the family head, Mr Supo Adigun, was the best graduating student in the Economics Department of former University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. He made a First Class.
Last year, Adigun’s son, Olanrewaju, finished from the Computer Engineering Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) with a First Class. This year, Olanrewaju’s sister, Atinuke, 21, followed in their footsteps. She graduated with a First Class in Economics at UNILAG convocation about two weeks ago.
Atinuke was among the 10 First Class graduates in the Economics Department. Her Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) was 4.68.
At the convocation held at the Multipurpose Hall, Atinuke, along with other First Class graduates, received the school honour for excellence. She was also given a presidential handshake by the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof Jerry Gana, who chairs of the UNILAG Governing Council.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Rahamon Bello, described the First Class graduates as the institution’s shining stars. Atinuke said she felt on top of the world by the discription.
She recalled her encounter with the VC: “It was nice; it was the first time I would meet the VC. This makes me happy that my achievements could take me far. Hearing those words of encouragement from the head of the school, I was touched and felt on top of the world.”
The feat, Atinuke said, is humbling. Her inspiration, she said, is her father, adding that her journey to academic excellence started in 2010 when she was admitted into the university. She was 16 and the only thing she could hope for was excellence.
“I prayed to God to give me the grace to finish on top of my class. I worked towards it by studying hard for it,” she said.
But did she burn the proverbial midnight candle? “No,” she said, adding: “I made a First Class by prioritising my time for reading and other engagements. But I dedicated more time during the day for reading. I also attended professional seminars. They made me to be more focused and helped me in achieving my goals.”
For Atinuke, the feat was not easy to come by. She faced challenges like her colleagues, especially in final year when she was under pressure to complete her project and participate in class work. Besides, a newly-introduced course, Econometrics, was a tough subject she had to pass.
What is Atinuke’s plan after Bachelor’s degree? She said marriage is not on her cards for now, hoping to build a career in either academics or investment banking to take after her father, who recently retired from First Bank.
Mr Adigun, who is now in private practice, gave glory to God for his children’s feats. He said the achievement made him to remember his days at OAU, saying the blood of academic brilliance runs in the family.
His wife, Toyin, was all smiles during Atinuke’s graduation. She gave thanks to God, saying: “It is a thing of joy for me to turn out two graduates in succession and all of them made a First Class. I am so blessed. All glory be to God. Today is the best day of my life.”
Adigun’s former classmate in the secondary school and Manager of UNILAG branch of Ecobank, Tunji Jayeola, said: “We are proud of Adigun’s family. I am happy that Atinuke has repeated the father’s feat. She knew what she wanted and went for it. This also shows anyone can achieve his dream in life if he is focused and have the right attitude. This is what Atinuke’s achievement indicates.”
A 62-year-old retired police officer, Baba Jacob Wangte, his wife, Mrs. Ruth Jacob, 50, and five other members of the family have been killed by suspected gunmen.
The incident occurred on Sunday night at Sabon Layi in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Government troops said two Fulani men were ambushed and killed in the renewed fighting in the local government. This brings the casualty figure to nine.
The Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, accused the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis of failing to protect the victims and failing to arrest the suspects.
The victims included the son of the retired police officer, Katop Jacob, 27, his wife Rachael, 21 and three of his grandchildren.
Loman said: “The attacks started since last week in some villages and continued on Sunday. About 10pm, Baba Jacob and seven members of his family were attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who killed the entire family.
“The deceased would have been saved if operatives of the STF had responded to a distress call when residents noticed the gunmen a day earlier.”
The council chairman confirmed that the retired police officer belonged to the Mupun ethnic group from Pankshin Local Government Area of the state and lived in Barkin Ladi since he retired.
He said he wondered why such a big family could be wiped out in one day.
According to Loman, “women protested the inability of the STF to stop the attacks on their communities on that day.
“That protest was not enough to attract the government troops in charge of the area. Unfortunately, that night, the gunmen returned and wiped out an entire family. Instead of going after the gunmen, the soldiers were chasing villagers, who gathered to defend themselves and their community.
“The soldiers were busy arresting youths, while the Fulani, who launched the attack, were allowed to escape.
“The women were angry when two of their children were apprehended. Instead of arresting the attackers, the soldiers arrested innocent youths, who were defending themselves.”
He said he had informed the authorities to take action on the behaviour of the STF members. He condemned the incident, saying the attackers were well-known to some members of the STF. The spokesman for the STF code-named ‘Operation safe haven’, Capt. IKedichi Iweha, who confirmed the attacks and killings, denied STF complicity as alleged by Loman.
He said: “The attack started three days ago in Rim, Sho and environs. Our men were deployed there to restore peace. We contained the attacks and reprisals. However, two Fulani men were ambushed and killed. The attack and counter-attack continued this morning, but our men are trying their best to restore peace.
“The STF will do its best to prevent further killings. We urge the residents to give information to the security agencies and desist from taking the law into their hands.
“We have arrested some people in our efforts to restore normalcy. We arrested two youths with AK 47 guns. We don’t think these youths have our permission to use such weapons in self-defence. So, the claim of the women that the weapons were for self-defence is not acceptable to us.
“We will continue to do our best to stop further killings. It is unfortunate that some have died. I don’t know if the victims were members of a family.”
Ahamdi Nweke is the senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia Central District. His opponent is Governor Theodore Orji of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with reporters in Aba, Nweke speaks about his preparedness for the contest. SUNNY NWANKWO was there.
How are you going to square up against the Governor Orji at the senatorial contest?
I am going to be contesting the Abia Central senatorial seat with a number of other people and the current governor appears to be interested in that seat. People talk of the power of incumbency, but that’s an imaginary power as far as Abia State is concerned. People will look at your antecedents; what you have done when given power before voting for you. Abia today is not the Abia of 2007; not the Abia of 2011. The people of Abia are better informed today, than they were before.
This is an Abia where people have seen that civil servants have not been paid for months; pensioners have not been paid their entitlements; many of them are dying without getting the payment that they worked for in the course of their career.
If you are travelling on the motor way, the moment you enter Abia you will know, because the roads have become deplorable. It is an Abia where the school system has virtually failed; there is hardly any school, except the ones that are being shown as show biz where the blocks are not dilapidated, the building collapsing on our children.
This is an Abia where the hospitals have shamefully dilapidated; no hospital bed, no provision for people (patients), no drugs. This is an Abia where unfortunately it would appear that governance and government have failed and I am going to contest with the people who are responsible for this and you are talking about power of incumbency?
What motivated you to enter the race?
I contested the governorship election in 2007 on the platform of the PDP, as some of you know. The PDP didn’t form the government at that time. Unfortunately, someone who didn’t actually contest — who was imprisoned during the electioneering campaign — became the governor and since then because things have not been working well in the state. Today, things have become worse than it used to be. That was motivated me to come out then.
Today, Abia has been languishing for eight years. In Abia Central, we need somebody who will understand lawmaking. Someone who will have empathy for the people and propose laws that will alleviate the sufferings of the people. If you have been given an executive power and you mismanaged it and the mismanagement is because you didn’t care about the people. Is it when you are going to make laws that you will remember them?
What will you do to improve the welfare of Abians, if elected?
People do not seem to understand the difference between the executive and the legislature. The major responsibility of a member of the Senate is over sighting what the executive is doing. They ensure that they (executive) do what they have stipulated in their social contract with the people; making sure that government provides basic amenities for them.
If given the opportunity, I will ensure that the various ministries and parastatals that provide services and amenities do their job. In terms of the constituency projects, which are provided for, I will ensure that the projects are properly monitored to ensure that they are done properly and that the intention for executing them are realised.
Many of you would have known that before my governorship contest that I had and still have the Udo Abia Foundation. Through the Udo Abia Foundation, I have extended scholarship programme to people, I have empowered the youths among other things and these and more are some of the things I will be able to do when I enter the Red Chambers of the Senate.
What is your unique selling point?
My edge over others is that I will provide a breath of fresh air on the political scene. My edge is that I am empathetic to the plight of Abians. I am a part of the people in Abia State who feel that things are not working the way that they ought to work. My edge is that I am a lawyer and the work in the Senate is about lawmaking. Professionally, I have been prepared for this job than the people contesting with me. I was for over 14 years a Justice of the Inner London Commission… I was trained in England. My professional training, my experience and exposure, my reach nationally and internationally prepares me much better than anyone contesting the Senate today in Abia Central.
Do you have confidence in the INEC to deliver free and credible polls?
First of all, we are very excited by the political development in Nigeria. We have been told time again and we believe the INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega that electronic card readers will be applied this time around. This is no longer the period where thugs are used by the government to snatch ballot boxes, run down to somewhere to write results and submit. A lot of that opportunity has been denied them.
Secondly, people today are yearning for a change wherever you go in the state. I am glad that you journalists are part of the Abia society today. You can feel it in the air that people can’t wait to see good governance from Abia State.
The ruling party is threatening people that there will be violence and mayhem like a way of discouraging them from coming out on election day and we are saying to them that nothing will happen. It has threatened to use the army; if you go into the local communities, members of the ruling party are threatening to kill people that will try to come out and vote on that day. There will be no such thing. We are not in a state of war. I doubt that soldiers will be used in this election to intimidate people. APGA will not fold its hands and watch such intimidation.
The choice of the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu looks set to be a long drawn battle as some aggrieved members of the Lasoro Ruling House have taken the Oba-elect, Chief Kabiru Shotobi to court contesting his right to the throne..
The applicants in the suit now before Justice Akintunde Savage of Ikorodu High Court are from the Lambo Lasunwon royal family of the Lasoro Ruling House whose turn it is to produce the next Oba for the town.
Chief Shotobi and other defendants in the suit are from Adegboruwa royal family of Lasoro ruling house.
Sources close to the warring members of the ruling house disclosed that the matter came before Justice Savage last Thursday.
It was learnt that the trial judge has fixed February 19, 2015 for commencement of hearing in the matter.
It was gathered that the applicants are contesting the nomination of Chief Shotobi, who is also the Odofin of Ikorodu and who until the present development was a very important member of the kingmakers.
By virtue of this position, it was alleged that he was not expected to vie for the Obaship of the ancient town.
The claimants are also contending that the Oba-elect allegedly breached the terms of an agreement signed by some elders of the two royal families which formed the basis of a judgment delivered by Justice Habeeb Abiru (now a Justice of the Court of Appeal) in 2007 in suit number IKD/57/2007.
It was said that when the Oba-elect was to become the Odofin, the Lambo Lasunwon royal family challenged his right to the title.
Sources close to the family said one important aspect of the agreement which later became judgment of the court was that when next a traditional title came the way of the ruling house, the Odofin should not vie for it.
It was alleged that the Adegboruwa royal family conceded the right to vie for the next traditional title to the Lambo Lasunwon royal family in the agreement.
The Olisa of Ikorodu who is also the regent of Ikorodu, Chief Oludele Odusogo insisted that the Kingmakers did all that was required of them before selecting the Oba-elect.
Chief Odusogo told The Nation that the name of Chief Shotobi was among 24 names presented by the Adegboruwa royal family to the kingmakers and that his choice was a unanimous one.
He said the kingmakers have forwarded his name to the state government for approval.
Asked about the 2007 agreement between the members of Lambo Lasunwon and Adegboruwa royal families which formed the judgment of the court, Chief Odusogo denied knowledge of the judgment insisting that he is not a member of their family.
When contact on Monday night on phone, the Oba-elect, Chief Shotobi directed all enquiry to the family.
There are two ruling houses, Rademo And Lasoro, that can vie for the royal stool of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu.
The Lasoro has two royal families viz the Lambo Lasunwon and Adegboruwa royal families.
It was gathered only the Adegboruwa royal family has been producing the obas so far from the Lasoro ruling House owing to an historical antecedent which led to the exclusion of the Lambo Lasunwon royal family.
Sources said after some mediation, the issue was resolved and the family was included to vie for chieftaincy titles in Ikorodu.
