The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kashamu

  • Alleged drug charges: Kashamu accuses U.S. of plotting to abduct him

    Alleged drug charges: Kashamu accuses U.S. of plotting to abduct him

    Southwest Director of Mobilisation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ogun East Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the United States to have him abducted and taken to the U.S. for trial over his alleged involvement in illicit drug deals.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had, in a letter to out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, alleged  that Kashamu was wanted in the U.S. for his purported complicity in drug related offences. Kashamu later initiated a N20billion libel suit against Obasanjo before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over the allegation.

    The trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, on the basis of the suit, stopped Obasanjo from publishing and selling his book – “My Watch”, which Kashamu claimed contained similar allegations. The court lifted the restraining orders against Obasanjo on April 15, with the substantive case still pending.

    Kashamu, in a fresh petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), accused Obasanjo of working with  U.S.’ security agencies to have him extradited to the country for prosecution on drug related indictment.

    He is praying the NHRC to investigate the alleged move to abduct him and forcibly take him to the U.S. to answer charges on drug related offences.

    The letter dated April 15, 2015 was written for him by his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, and titled: “Prince Buruji Kashamu: Abduction plans by United States of America agents in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.”

    Kashamu, in the letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, alleged that the U.S. security agents had reached out to the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria,  Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, to assist in his (Kashamu’s) abduction and delivery to the U.S. officials in Nigeria, for transfer to the U.S.

    Kashamu stated that the plan to abduct him is an admission by the U.S. authorities that there is no case against him.

    He accused Obasanjo of instigating the plot to abduct him, alleging that the ex-President seeks revenge against him because he is perceived to be responsible for the humiliation he (Obasanjo) suffered in the PDP.

    He said pressure on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) before now to have him extradited did not work because, up till now, the US authorities has failed to make a formal request for him to be extradited to the US as required under the Extradition treaty between the US and Nigeria as well as the Nigerian Extradition law.

    Kashamu said  several people close to the AGF had warned him to watch his back, because there are moves to have him extradited to the US.

    Part of the letter reads: “Kashamu has instructed that we bring certain important facts and records to your attention with regard to the illegality of this plan and the malicious and unpatriotic motives of those behind it and seek your urgent intervention in accordance with the jurisdiction expressly given to your commission by the National Human Rights Act 1995 (as amended) to carry out an inquiry into the matter in order to establish the culpability and compromise of certain institutions in this despicable plan and to protect our client’s fundamental human right to liberty, life and dignity of ther person.

    “Kashamu’s enquiry revealed that indeed there had been moves by US officials within the region, to secure the assistance of the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Mr Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, for the arrest and delivery to the US officials of Kashamu for transportation to the US without following the due process required by the Nigeria Extradition Act.

    Kashamu said despite several decisions both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which exonerated him from the alleged offences, politicians had been putting pressure on the AGF to instigate an extradition process against him.

  • Four Kashamu’s aides arrested

    Four aides of billionaire hotelier and South West leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu, were arrested yesterday by security operatives for alleged electoral-related offences.

    The quartet, which include Kashamu’s driver and nephew, were apprehended in Ijebu – Itele in Ogun East local government area of Ogun state during the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The two others were alleged to have adorned uniforms of the Mobile Police (MOPOL).

    It was gathered that the suspects were riding in an unmarked jeep belonging to Kashamu, who doubles as the Senator-elect on the ticket of PDP for Ogun East.

    But Kashamu, who spoke with reporters shortly after casting his vote at Ward 06, polling unit 26, in Ijebu – Igbo, admitted that his aides were arrested while on a legitimate errand at Itele community.

    He said they were in the area to deliver money meant for the payment of the PDP party agents working at the polls.

    According to him: “We all know for sure that I am the South West chairman Mobilisation and Organisation Committee and of course, I am entitled to INEC pass. But I am a little bit ill and did not go out.

    “And last night when they were trying to distribute money to party agents, they couldn’t have enough money and I was told that Ijebu East remained N500, 000 which I gave to them.

    “I sent one of my nieces with two colleagues and a tag on my Range Rover vehicle.

    “From there, they arrested them and another party agent that supposed to perform in his ward.”

  • ‘INEC announced rigged results by Kashamu’

    ‘INEC announced rigged results by Kashamu’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State rejected the results of the National Assembly election for the Ogun East Senatorial seat.

    The party also rejected the results of two federal constituencies – Remo and Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside – all in Ogun East, vowing to challenge the outcome at the tribunal.

    Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Dapo Abiodun(APC), Senator Gbenga Kaka of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) and other candidates from fringe political parties contested for the Ogun East Senate seat. Kashamu was the declared winner.

    In the House of Representatives election, APC candidate Olayinka Ganiyu lost to Ladi Adebutu (Remo PDP) and in Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, Sulaiman Ismail (APC) was defeated by Segun Adekoya(PDP).

    Addressing reporters at the party secretariat on Olorunsogo road, Abeokuta, the Deputy Director-General of Amosun Campaign Organisation, Bisi Adegbuyi, said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the affected areas were “predetermined, manipulated and fictitious”.

    Adegbuyi, a lawyer, accused the “rigging machinery of the PDP, led by Buruji Kashamu,” of “forging and manipulating the results,” which INEC relied upon to declare winners for the National Assembly elections in Ogun East in favour of PDP candidates.

    Adegbuyi said: “The election put our democracy on trial. While members of our party joined other Nigerians in overlooking the inadequacies in the arrangements made for the election, we have been compelled to make public our position on some of the unfortunate occurrences, which made the results in some of the constituencies not reflective of the true wishes of our people.

    “We are particularly compelled to notify the world of the undemocratic practices that attended the elections in Ogun East Senatorial district.

    “The APC categorically states that last Saturday elections in the Ogun East Senatorial district was marred by gross irregularities, inducement and intimidation of voters, manipulation and falsification of results.

    “The results that were announced by INEC do not reflect the wishes of our people in Ogun East Senatorial district.We reject the results of the National Assembly elections, particularly the one for the senatorial seat and the two federal constituencies

    “We want the world to know that the results as announced by INEC reflect predetermined, manipulated and fictitious figures forged by a rigging machinery of the PDP, led by its senatorial candidate, Buruji Kashamu.

    “The APC is determined to challenge the results of the Ogun East senatorial elections and the two House of Representatives seats within the confines of the law. We have incontrovertible evidence of manipulations that took place and the roles played by certain individuals.

    “We will pursue the complaint to the highest level as permitted by the laws of the land. We will not give details of our plan at this point. The charade, falsehood and misrepresentation of the wishes of our people will not stand.”

    But reacting through his Media Adviser, Austin Oniyokor, Kashamu dismissed APC allegations as “totally unfounded” and “lacking in substance”.

    Kashamu said: “If they say there was rigging, intimidation and manipulation during the election, they should supply the details, rather than hiding under some nebulous excuses that say nothing.

    “At any rate, the Electoral Act has made provision for the ventilation of issues arising from an election. They should go to the tribunal to prove their case. We will meet them there.”

  • Ogun East: Kashamu faces fresh hurdles ahead senatorial poll

    Ogun East: Kashamu faces fresh hurdles ahead senatorial poll

    Barely weeks to the April National Assembly Elections, Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is facing fresh hurdles threatening his ambition to represent the Ogun East Senatorial District at the red chamber, reports, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    A FRESH lawsuit challenging the eligibility of Prince Buruji Kashamu to contest the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election and unending rejection of his candidature by groups and individuals within the Ogun East Senatorial District he seeks to represent, may be creating fresh worries in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongman.

    Sources told The Nation that anxiety gripped Buruji’s political family, the Omo-Ilu group, as well as leaders of the PDP in Ogun State as the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, last Wednesday, commenced hearing in a suit filed by two members of the party seeking his disqualification as the party’s candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District.

    Although the hearing was stalled following arguments by Kashamu’s counsels that their client was yet to be served the processes of the court, The Nation learnt that the commencement of the proceeding, after Kashamu had allegedly vowed that the case will not see the light of the day, scared his supporters stiff.

    “When we first heard of the case, we were bothered. But when our leaders assured us that it will not be heard before the election as things were being taken care of, we relaxed. But when we got to court on Wednesday and the judge said he was prepared to entertain the case, fear gripped many of us,” a supporter of the politician said.

    Signs that things may not go the way Kashamu’s supporters expected showed when the defendant’s counsel, Ufoma Eze, urged the court to first thrash out the matter concerning its jurisdiction to hear the case as already raised in her notice of preliminary objection, before considering the applicants’ originating summons and motion on notice.

    Swiftly, counsel to the applicants urged the court to hear the issues raised in the originating summons, the motion on notice and notice of preliminary objection at the same time.

    Rather than accede to Eze’s demand, presiding judge, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo, however, adjourned further hearing to March 12 to enable the applicants’ counsel reply to the notice of preliminary objection filed by the applicants’ counsel, while insisting that the main case will be heard on its merit.

    The two PDP members, Dele Ajayi from Ward 08 in Ijebu North Local Government Area and Saula Adeniji Wasiu of Ward 003, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state, last week, dragged Kashamu to court and prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him as the candidate of the PDP for Ogun East.

    Sources within the party in the state also revealed that leaders of the PDP are worried of what will be the lot of the party should the Judge grant the prayers of the applicants barely three weeks to the rescheduled elections.

    “The concern by party leaders is based on the fear that an injunction restraining any candidate at this time will greatly injure the chances of the party not only in the senatorial election, but in other contests. Kashamu is one of the flagships of the party in Ogun state.

    Stopping him now under any guise will harm the PDP. That is why all hands are on deck to ensure that he surmounts this current hurdle. As a party, we are solidly behind him and determined to field him as our candidate,” a member of the elders’ caucus of the party told The Nation.

    But another prominent chieftain of the party, Hon. Dave Salako, is opposed to what he called the political antics of Kashamu and his camp. According to the former House of Representatives member, anything short of justice for those opposed to Kashamu’s manipulations will spell doom for the PDP in the state.

    “Like I always say, Kashamu needs to be honest and he should be far away from anything that is politically fraudulent. He has done so many things that I have seen that are very wrong and he is getting away with it. I have also taken him to court but instead of him backing out, he is bringing another dimension into politics of Nigeria.

    He always gets people who are ready and eager to compromise in many things that they know are wrong. Check out all the candidates he fielded in his so-called list; they are all weak aspirants who can never win any election. Even Kashamu himself cannot win Ogun East Senatorial seat for PDP. He is not even qualified. We cannot be under the same umbrella with him unless he goes back to mend his ways,” Salako said.

    Expressing worry over the readiness of PDP members to dump the party and move to the opposition, Salako said “our people are daily telling us they want to move to another party because they don’t want to stay under the same umbrella with Buruji. If they do, we cannot stop them and we will lose that election again.”

    Also on Wednesday, some members of the PDP in Ogun East Senatorial District dissociated themselves from Kashamu’s senatorial ambition. Speaking under the aegis of PDP Elders and Youths Coalition, at a meeting in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government, they denied any support for Buruji Kashamu’s ambition.

    In a communiqué, the leaders of the coalition, including Tola Alausa, Wale Soile, Segun Odujirin, Segun Adekoya, Emily Sholaru, Dan Akitan and Moshood Adebayo, urged the national leadership of the party to stop the candidacy of the politician before he plunges the party into more crises.

    The communiqué read in part: “We hereby reject the leadership and candidacy of Prince Buruji Kashamu in Ogun East. It is instructive to state here that with him as the leader and or candidate of PDP in our zone, the party will fail to get the vote of the highly intelligent and self-respecting people of Ijebu and Remo kingdoms.

    “While it is public knowledge that the coming of Kashamu into the PDP in Ogun state has brought more damages than good into the party, we urged the national leadership of the party to stop the candidacy of the politician before he plunges the party into more crises.”

    The group condemned what they called the damaging support being enjoyed by the Kashamu faction from the national leadership of the party. They argued that unless the PDP leadership calls Kashamu to order, PDP in Ogun state will remain in the opposition for much longer.

    The leaders, who pledged their loyalty to the party, said they would not work with the Kashamu-led faction of the party. Sholaru, a former chairperson of the party in Ikenne LGA, warned that “Kashamu and his co-travelers are working hard to end the hope of our party returning to its winning ways in Ogun State.

    But responding to the current developments, Kashamu said nothing will truncate his desire to represent the people at the senate. According to him, he remains the man to beat at the polls.

    According to the business mogul-turned politician, the ongoing attempt to stop his aspiration through the courts will fail because the allegations against him are baseless and frivolous.

    In a statement, he said: “I have not been charged or convicted of any offences whether here in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. The Interpol and other relevant agencies, including the courts in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, have exonerated me of the unfounded allegations.”

    Kashamu said his lawyers are addressing the issues at the court, urging his supporters to remain calm and be focused on winning the forthcoming elections.

  • Ogun 2015: Jonathan, Fayose unite Daniel, Kashamu

    Ogun 2015: Jonathan, Fayose unite Daniel, Kashamu

    The almost five-year rift between former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and Prince Buruji Kashamu, the Chairman, Mobilising Committee of the South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been finally resolved.

    The national leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, brokered the truce some days ago; a development sources in the party said was quite timely, with the April 11 governorship election just about four weeks away. The first leg of the peace meetings, which was held in Lagos at the instance of Fayose, commenced Saturday evening at about 9:30pm till about 5am penultimate Sunday.

    The delegation later moved to the State House in Marina, Lagos, to brief the president on the decision reached. Members of the delegation include Fayose, Daniel; PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Chairman, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Jide Adeniji; Ogun State PDP Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo and Kashamu. At the parley, the president expressed delight at the rapprochement and reportedly urged them to work together in the interest of the party.

    Following the resolution, sources say Daniel will now lead the party’s campaigns in the state ahead the 2015 general elections. Speaking on the development, Kashamu blushed, “I am the happiest person today. I am delighted that I and my leader and brother, His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, have resolved our differences. As a two-term governor of our dear state, His Excellency remains our leader and by God’s grace, he will lead us to victory in the coming elections.” Now the big poser:

    Does the Ogun PDP have what it takes to dislodge Governor Ibikunle Amosun next month?  Ripples’ take: only time would tell.

     

  • ‘Disqualify Kashamu’

    ‘Disqualify Kashamu’

    Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State- Dele Ajayi and Adeniji Wasiu- have approached a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, seeking the disqualification of Prince Buruji Kashamu from contesting the March 28 National Assembly elections.

    Kashamu, who is the Southwest PDP chairman, Mobilisation and Organising Committee, is seeking to represent Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

    The duo are asking the court for an injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from according Kashamu recognition as the PDP candidate in Ogun East.

    The applicants also prayed the court to disqualify Kashamu from participating in the National Assembly elections and in future elections to be conducted by INEC.

    In the motion dated February 23 and supported by a 15-paragraph affidavit as well as the originating summons, the duo urged the court to disqualify Kashamu from contesting on the grounds that he does not possess the requisite academic qualification among other things.

    The court has  fixed March 4 to hear the motion on notice.

  • Kashamu faults Mbaka on Jonathan

    Kashamu faults Mbaka on Jonathan

    The Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu, has faulted a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, following his call on President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon his re-election bid for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

    Mbaka, who heads the popular Catholic Adoration Centre in Enugu, said this in his New Year message.

    Kashamu said he wondered why the cleric would abhor a healthy contest for such an escape route, stressing that it was unthinkable that a supposed man of God would advise a democratically-elected President to abandon his constitutionally-guaranteed right for a former military head of state to assume leadership through the back door.

    He said it was regrettable that a cleric could make such a statement.

    Kashamu added: “It was not good that at a time when all well-meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigeria should rally round the President to defeat terrorism, a cleric can be talking as if he is a politician.

    “Thankfully, the best that Rev. Mbaka can be said to be is a man of God and not God Himself. He has said his own, but God has the final say.

    “Nigerians know that insecurity was orchestrated by those who believe that the nation’s leadership is their birthright. Once they can not get it, they must bring down the whole house.

    “From recent revelations, it is clear that some northern elements are recruiting their wards into the Boko Haram sect for pecuniary gains.

    “We, Nigerians, are not fools. The sympathisers and masterminds of Boko Haram will not be allowed to benefit from the problems they created in the first instance.”

    He said while the Federal Government intensified efforts in the rescue of the Chibok girls, Nigerians should not lose sight that the girls were abducted because of the irresponsibility of the Borno State government.

    His words: “It is sickening that everyone is blaming the Federal Government as if there are no levels of government and interventions. The Jonathan administration has taken the lead in the fight against insurgency and the efforts to rescue the abducted girls. It should be supported and encouraged, not vilified.

    “The general elections should not be made to look like a referendum on the efforts of the Jonathan administration to combat insurgency. It is more than that as shown in its respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech, agricultural transformation, revamping of rail transportation, steady growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.”

  • Ogun PDP boils again as Kashamu, OGD renew rivalry

    Ogun PDP boils again as Kashamu, OGD renew rivalry

    The face off between Ogun State former governor, Gbenga Daniel, and  Prince Buruji Kashamu over the control of the party in the state is not yet over, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    THE political face-off between former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and the chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, continues to tear the troubled party apart barely two months to the next general elections.

    Barely two months after the duo announced at a well attended rally in Abeokuta that they have decided to close ranks and work together to ensure the victory of their party, the PDP in the state come 2015, issues like who would become the governorship candidate of the party and who would fly the PDP flag as candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial District have once again pitched the two old foes against each other.

    The latest rounds of rivalry followed alleged attempts by OGD to get the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to anoint him (OGD) as the senatorial candidate of the party in Ogun East; a ticket that was won by Kashamu at a disputed primary election weeks back.

    Although the PDP reportedly sent Kashamu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the district, The Nation learnt of alleged moves by the former governor to hijack the ticket of the Ogun East Senatorial District.

    These moves, party sources said, are infuriating Kashamu who has consequently vowed to once again see the back of OGD from the PDP. In the days leading to the 2011 general elections in the state, Kashamu had forced OGD and his supporters out of the PDP after weeks of political bickering between the duo.

    OGD who moved on to become a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) after a brief stint in the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), only returned to the PDP few weeks back allegedly after assurance from the national leadership of the party that the party structure in the state would be handed over to him to control.

    But events shortly after the unity rally in Abeokuta revealed how unwilling Kashamu is to let go of the PDP structure in the state. This pitched him against OGD’s political family. And when it appeared Kashamu would always win in any fair contest within the party in the state, OGD pulled out of the senatorial contest few days before the election to give Kashamu an easy victory.

    Daniel, according to the state PDP Chairman, Chief Bayo Dayo, had, two days before the senatorial primaries, written to formally inform the party of his withdrawal from the race.

    But the party members, most of whom also voted as delegates during the last primaries, endorsed Kashamu’s candidacy by affirmation. The party members are from the nine local government areas making up the senatorial district.

    Drawn from Ijebu North, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ikenne, Remo North, Odogbolu local government areas, the party members who converged on the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre in Ijebu-Igbo, voted to endorse Kashamu.

    Consequently, Kashamu was declared winner of the Ogun East Senatorial ticket for the PDP. But following protest from some quarters, a primary election was ordered by the party.

    Held at the BATO centre in Ijebu Ode, it saw delegates and party faithful from the nine local governments that constitute the Senatorial district casting their lot for Buruji. At the end of the voting, the Ijebu Igbo born businessman, polled 365 votes out of a total of 370. The other aspirant, Mrs Nike Oriola, polled only four votes and one vote was voided.

    And few days back, when the Ogun State INEC released the list of candidates from the state to be fielded by political parties for the National Assembly election in 2015, it said Buruji Kashamu, would vie for the Ogun East senatorial slot that Daniel had been eyeing. Other senatorial candidates of the PDP on the INEC list are Waliu Taiwo (Ogun West) and Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark.

    But political parties still have up till, January 13, 2015 to either withdraw candidates or substitute them. This explains the anxiety in Kashamu’s camp over alleged moves by OGD to hijack the senatorial ticket won by their principal.

    “There is no way the party will know peace if the ticket is taken away from Kashamu. The national leadership of the party must be wary of the action they will take over the matter. Kashamu won the ticket. OGD is just trying to create problems and we must warn all those involved to be very careful.

    As far as the Ogun East ticket is concerned, OGD is just chasing shadows. Kashamu has made it clear to all calling on him to step down that he will not do anything like that. He won the ticket and he intends to contest the general election,” an aide of the businessman said.

    Another issue that has pitched Kashamu against OGD is the declaration of Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as the gubernatorial candidate of the party by the Kashamu faction of the party. OGD and many other leaders of the party in the state are still insisting that GNI, as he is fondly called, was imposed on the party by Kashamu and as such, his candidacy cannot stand.

    “The battle for the governorship ticket in PDP is still on. The December 8, 2014 primary election was rejected by other aspirants based on suspicion that it was influenced by Kashamu to favour Isiaka. Even the National Executive Council of the party is yet to accept his candidature.

    Only Buruji cannot force his will on the entire party. OGD has nothing against him. But as he has always done, he is merely insisting on the rule of the majority. Democracy is not about an individual or group of individuals but about the majority.

    “As long as he is convinced that the primaries that produced any candidate are not free and fair, OGD will complain. Not only him, other chieftains will complain and only Buruji will not force his way on them. That is the situation now,” an aide of the former governor told The Nation.

    But an associate of Kashamu said there is nothing undemocratic about the primaries held by Ogun PDP. According to him, OGD and others are merely bad losers out to create unnecessary problems within the party.

    “Yes they are calling on the national body to cancel all the elections and impose their candidates on us. We are saying no. This is not just about Buruji. It is about the entire party against a few people.

    However, whether or not others like it, Kashamu’s choice is what will be finally approved by NEC because that is the choice of the majority of party members. The election was conducted in the first place and the winner is still the same Isiaka. Kashamu has submitted his name in Abuja,” he said.

    Speaking recently on the alleged crisis between OGD and Kashamu, another aide of the former governor, Steve Oliyide, said, “There is nothing like that. OGD is like a father with many children. All of the aspirants like OGD and he stands as a father to them all. He can’t pick one and leave the rest. Even GNI is OGD’s boy. So, what are we saying? All the man stands for is transparency and due process in determining whoever emerges the party’s standard bearer in the forthcoming guber election in Ogun State.”

  • Don’t drop Kashamu, Ogun PDP warns

    Don’t drop Kashamu, Ogun PDP warns

    •’I’ll sacrifice my blood’

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun East Senatorial district – comprising nine local governments- yesterday warned the party not to drop its candidate, Buruji Kashamu.

    They argued that should the party yield to lobbying to substitute Kashamu with a yet-to-be-named candidate, the result would be counter-productive.

    They said the PDP should forget their votes, if the “detractor” wishes were carried out.

    The people said: “No Buruji Kashamu, no vote for PDP in Ogun East.”

    They were responding to a request by the state Chairman, Dayo Bayo, who sought their consent at a political gathering yesterday in Ijebu-Igbo.

    The chairman said:  “Some individuals are pressuring and working in Abuja that Kashamu should sacrifice his ticket.

    “I don’t see what I can do now after the conclusion of the exercise (primary).

    “I want to know your thoughts. Now I have heard you, I have heard what the nine local governments have said.

    “I remember in 1987 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo died, Chief Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu wrote in the condolence register that he (Awo) was the best president Nigeria never had.

    “I don’t want that to happen to Kashamu, he is our leader and he is the best. I will communicate your decision to the appropriate quarters, he is not stepping down.

    “Nobody is perfect, you will see people saying all kinds of things about him, people who can’t come close to him.

    “He has not travelled to the United States but people are saying all kinds of falsehood about him and drugs. We do not have another senatorial candidate for Ogun East save Buruji Kashamu.”

    Kashamu, who was at the meeting, said  he would “sacrifice” his “blood” for the ticket, warning that any attempt to rob him would mean defeat for the PDP in Ogun East.

    He said if the plans of the detractors  succeeded, it would weaken the PDP’s chances in the state.

  • Kashamu should write his own book

    For a book that is so explosively controversial, the reviewer, Patrick Okigbo, was correct in describing My Watch, the new three-volume autobiography by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as “thought-provoking and revealing,” although he probably never intended certain meanings.  To start with, it is remarkable that a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest pillar, Prince Buruji Kashamu, moved to legally restrain Obasanjo from publishing his book. Also, it is striking that Obasanjo on December 9, despite a restrictive court order, unveiled the book at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

    Interestingly, there was a dramatic continuity as Justice Valentine Ashie of the Abuja High Court, in reaction gave Obasanjo 21 days “to show cause, via affidavit, why he should not be punished for contempt committed by publishing and distributing for sale to the public, the book, My Watch, in plain disregard of the pendency of the substantive suit and the order of this court made on December 5, 2014, restraining him from doing so.”

    Still dramatically, Jusice Ashie ordered the Inspector General of Police (IG), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DG,DSS), and the Comptroller of Customs to recover the published book from all book stands, sales agents, vendors, the sea and airports, and deposit them with the court’s registrar pending the determination of the substantive suit. It is not clear how far this particular order has been carried out, and whether the mentioned officials may also be eventually accused of contempt.

    It is noteworthy that the pending substantive suit in question is a libel case brought by Kashamu, relating to Obasanjo’s public letter to President Goodluck Jonathan in which he alleged that Kashamu is a fugitive wanted in the United States. Also, it is worth mentioning that Kashamu’s action to stop the publication of Obasanjo’s book was based on his fear that it would contain a reproduction of the allegedly libellous letter. So, his anxiety was a product of anticipation.

    The developing drama expanded when the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in a statement by Mr Vitalis Ortese, said: “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to state that the media report which conveyed the impression that he intended to “dare or confront a judge or the judiciary” is highly misleading. Far from this, on the contrary, the former president is a law-abiding citizen, who will only pursue his rights within the law and will not “dare” a judge or knowingly flout an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.” The spokesman further said: “The former president wishes to make it clear that in the first instance, no formal order from Justice Ashie was served and received by either himself or by proxy regarding any injunction restraining the publication of the book, “My Watch” which from the records was already in circulation.”

    More importantly, however, Obasanjo himself said at the ceremony to release his book: “The book had already been published and printed three months ago, only for the court to be asked to put a stop to it. Buruji went to a court to stop the book from being published and the hearing was fixed for yesterday (Monday). When that was not enough, he went to another court by 5pm on a Friday and got an injunction, saying the book should not be published. Unfortunately, the book was already completed three months ago. Secondly, I want the judge that gave such an injunction to be penalised.”

    Against the background that Obasanjo has challenged the “contempt of court” charge, and indicated his intention to seek a suspension or stay of execution of the court’s orders, it is clear that the unfolding show is far from a finale. Indeed, there may well be even more fascinating twists and turns before the denouement.

    Of course, the thought-provoking quality of Obasanjo’s book is not limited to these extra-literary gyrations. In content, the book is a veritable trigger of contemplation. To illustrate this point, it will suffice to concentrate on Obasanjo’s pictures of his immediate successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, and the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded him.

    Obasanjo wrote in his book: “I was heavily involved in the transition and exit process that saw me leaving office for my successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, as recounted in Chapter 37, the ninth chapter of the second volume of this book. The unprepared and unplanned transition from Yar’Adua to Jonathan was a more difficult exercise in some respects. One reason was the ‘cloak and dagger’ manner in which Yar’Adua’s illness was handled.” He continued: “The illness of a President cannot be regarded as private. His health has implications for the security and wellbeing of the nation. For the president and those around him to have attempted strenuously to keep the fact of the severity of his illness from public smacks of ignorance of the enormity of what the job entails and the level of provinciality of their understanding, attitude, and approach.”

    On Jonathan, Obasanjo wrote: “Jonathan is lacking in broad vision, knowledge, confidence, understanding, concentration, capacity, sense of security, courage, moral and ethical principles, character and passion to move the nation forward on a fast trajectory.”  He added: “Under Jonathan we seem to have gone from frying pan to fire. If in the past corruption was in the corridors of power, it would seem now to be in the sitting room, dining room and bedroom of power. If what is called ‘corruption’ is stealing, under the watch of Goodluck Jonathan, then government has become legalized and protected robbery.”

    There is no doubt that these portraits have revelatory features, but not only concerning the portrayed characters. In a profound sense, they also represent a self-portrayal by the portraitist, who is fixated on the canvass and cannot appreciate that he may need to remove the log in his own eyes, which suggests a hypocritical hypnosis. Obasanjo was fundamentally, and perhaps culpably, the prime puppeteer in the plots that produced Yar’ Adua and Jonathan; and so he may, with believability, make magisterial pronouncements on their political careers. However, he cannot offer these insights in order to achieve self-exculpation.

    It is conceivable that others have their own stories too, which they could tell by writing books. Sadly, an enduring minus of the country’s political class is the poverty of mind that prevents many of its major players from documenting their experiences for whatever it may be worth.