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  • Actualiser at last? 

    Actualiser at last? 

    • The Tinubu govt can’t afford to miss the opportunity of making Ajaokuta work

    Our past leaders recognised the importance of steel development but lacked the political will to achieve its objectives”. That was the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, speaking when he assumed duties on August 21, shortly after President Bola Tinubu swore in the ministers.

    Audu hit the nail on the head. But beyond this is the need for the present government that Audu is serving to rewrite the Ajaokuta narrative. What Ajaokuta needs now is an actualiser that would ensure that the project actually comes on stream, in line with the aspirations of its founding fathers.

    Ajaokuta Steel Complex was started in 1979 and commissioned in 1983. It is a matter for regret that despite the over $10bn spent on the project said to have reached 98 per cent completion as far back as 1994, the steel plant has not produced a single sheet.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Tinubu to ministers: Roll out policies that will revive Nigeria’s economy

    Just like our equally moribund refineries that the Federal Government keeps spending on, Ajaokuta too has continued to gulp personnel and other costs. Each year between 2016 and 2023, personnel costs alone gulped about N30billion, according to The Punch. Also, the government has continued to make provision for electricity and other expenses.

    The company has been bogged down by one problem or the other. For instance, the 10-year concession tenure that the Obasanjo government entered into with MESSRS SOLGAS ENERGY of USA in June 2003 was terminated in August 2004 for alleged non-performance. Similarly, another concession arrangement entered into by the same government with Global Infrastructure Nig. Ltd (GINL), an Indian company, to operate Ajaokuta Steel and the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Co. (NIOMCO), Itakpe, Kogi State, was again terminated by the Umaru Yar’Adua government, unfortunately without meeting the requirements precedent to such  revocation. This led to a prolonged legal battle that the Muhammadu Buhari government was only able to resolve in 2016. Even at that, not much has happened to make the plant functional. It has remained moribund.

    We expect Mr Audu to break the over 40 years jinx. The minister has, among other things, promised to set a roadmap for the development of the steel sector, aggressively pursue the completion of Ajaokuta steel, as well as facilitate the enactment of requisite laws to regulate the steel sector.

    We urge him to swing into action immediately. The steel sector is too important to the country, especially at this time when it is beset by serious economic challenges. We must revive Ajaokuta Steel not just to enable us produce steel but also to provide jobs for our youths, most of whom are either roaming the streets or are desperate to leave the country in search of better life in other lands. Yet, the company is said to have the capacity to provide direct jobs for over 10,000 technical personnel and indirect jobs for more than 500,000 others when fully operational. This is a lot.

    The separation of the steel sector from the former Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, would seem an indication of the importance the Tinubu administration accords the steel sector. Although it might mean increased cost of governance as some people have observed, but would be worth it if the minister and the government demonstrate the political will to break whatever seems to have so far jinxed the steel plant. The minister now has only one thing to concentrate on: steel and nothing but steel. He has been saved the distraction that the Mines sector would have been to him. So, he has no excuse not to deliver.

    Ajaokuta holds innumerable benefits that the country cannot afford to continue missing. Steel production has contributed immensely to the industrialisation efforts of several countries. The Tinubu government would therefore do Nigeria a lot of good by rewriting the Ajaokuta narrative. It would also etch its name in gold for succeeding where others had failed.

  • Shettima’s ‘first and last words’

    Working with a newspaper for about 10 years, I had the learning experience of reporting and managing reporters across the north-east, the Niger Delta, and some states in the south-east geo-political zones. At work, I met different categories of people and seen scenarios. Of particular note, I have monitored relationships between governors and appointees in the north and south. I have seen humiliated appointees get running stomach on the mere sight of governors.

    Just when I wished I never had to share the experiences of these appointees, I was appointed by a governor in February, 2012. Leaving Port Harcourt for the political office, my prayer was never to face the kind of humiliation I had seen appointees face under two particular governors, one in the Niger Delta and another in the North-east.

    Incidentally, I came face to face with my fears a month after my appointment. Governor Kashim Shettima had given me some specific assignments. They were complex. The man’s standard, especially on writings, is very high. Shettima reads line by line, takes copious note of accuracy in names and dates, corrects punctuation marks, restructure paragraphs and he screens every sentence in a plagiarism checker he has on his laptop. Being a university lecturer, Shettima is very tough on plagiarism and insists on citing sources even if he paraphrases what someone unknown once said. Meeting these standards, the assignment kept me indoors for a whole day. I had done substantial part of it but there was something I couldn’t achieve.

    Governor Shettima was reading some document when I walked into his office one night in March, 2012. He collected the papers I brought, looked at them and didn’t say anything. It was my vest first major task under him. I stood by the side, watched him drop the documents I gave him and shifted his attention back to what he was reading before I came in. His mind wasn’t with me anymore. I was totally disappointed in myself, thought I should leave but I didn’t want him to see me leaving. I thought of vanishing but didn’t have witchcraft or some Nollywood powers to disappear. Humanly, I decided to leave noiselessly; taking steps as soft as a cat and as quite as an unarmed thief whose safety would only rely on how quiet he is able to sneak. I retired home. Just when I had perfected plans to avoid the governor for a number of days, I got phone calls from two persons, one a security aide and a commissioner, calling my two lines. I picked that of the security aide and he said, ‘Oga dey call you’. It was a troubling invitation. I returned the commissioner’s call and he said the same thing in Hausa, ‘Oga na kira, kazo yanzu yanzu’ (the governor wants you now now). As I was driving to the Government House, I was recalling how aides get humiliated.

    Back in 2008, I had seen one governor in Borno State publicly calling his commissioners stupid. I had seen one commissioner rushing to the mosque near a governor’s office to seek divine intervention after he was told a governor in Borno was calling him. That governor was feared like Mr. Fir’auna (a.k.a Pharoah). He was feared because he could say just about anything to humiliate his aides and he never humiliates privately but publicly. His commonest insult in public was, ‘You are very stupid. Idiot’. I just couldn’t imagine reacting to that kind of humiliation.

    Finally, I arrived Governor Shettima’s office, met three persons in his office. Soon as he saw me approach his seat, he said, ‘Honourable, sorry, I didn’t know when you left my office. Actually when you came in, I was reading a security intelligence report, my mind was completely on the report. I called you back because I forgot to say thank you when you delivered that work. I have gone through it, I noticed the one you didn’t address but I will do it tonight when I get home. I will be closing as early as 8pm tonight so I can work on it at home. I am very grateful and I deeply appreciate your good efforts’.

    I was confused. So, I said, ‘Your Excellency, but I don’t know why you asked me to come back’. He said there was nothing else, he just realized he didn’t thank me and it was for that he sent for me. The governor said he didn’t want to speak to me on phone. ‘Ikon Allah!’ I sighed. When he closed a little after 8pm, I got home wondering. However, my instinct as a journalist said to me, the governor was probably acting drama. I found it unbelievable that a governor would invite his own appointee to ‘merely’ thank him. Of course I knew that most people, particularly politicians, have two (oftentimes, distinct) sides. There is ‘who they are’ and there is ‘who they want you to think they are’. So, I secretly decided to monitor Governor Shettima’s relationship with not just me but all of his aides. In over five years of working with him, Shettima’s ‘last’ words to aides who impress him, is ‘thank you so much’. My monitoring led me to identify he not only uses ‘last’ words but also a ‘first’ word. This first word is ‘PLEASE’. Governor Shettima will never ask anyone, (including his messengers and drivers) to do any task without using the word, ‘Please’. This is known to all. If he is not speaking in English, he will say ‘dan Allah’ (because of God) which is the commonest alternative for ‘please’ in Hausa.

    There is the common evidence that Shettima’s ‘first’ and ‘last’, are part of his unconscious normal but perhaps unknown to him, these words define the willingness with which aides sincerely key into his vision for Borno.

     

    • Gusau is Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to Borno State governor.
  • Tough people last

    Tough people last

    Tough times don’t last but tough people do. This quote by Robert Schuller is a timeless lesson. I believe that tough people last because they understand the dynamics of time. Time is dynamic! Time is imprintable, it can carry a positive or negative charge based on our actions or inactions, there are resources placed in time and it takes a deep understanding of the concept of time to enjoy the vast potential. Times and seasons change but principles don’t change. The defining characteristic of a principle is that it is true for everyone and it never changes. Like the laws of gravity, there are universal moral laws that are inescapable..hmm..the law of Karma or cause and effect says what you sow is what you reap. The point is tough people anchor their actions on moral principles. I wonder how life would be if there were no tough times…films having a lot of suspense are more thrilling, I make bold to say that tough times help us appreciate the peaceful times better, of course without darkness you cannot fully understand the beauty of light. Problems, difficulties and hardships are a part of everyone’s life. Yet some people handle them better than others. They have developed mental toughness that allows them to push through hard situations and successfully face adversity. A tough person is strong, determined and can tolerate difficulty or suffering. He/she is not easily broken or defeated. I have been through some tough times and I know you can recall tough times and maybe are going through some tough times right now, but they don’t last.

    I recall an encounter I had with a nest of wasps. While doing a general cleaning in my compound I discovered a wasp’s nest on the fence, close to my bedroom. I was as angry as a wasp! Did you know that wasps are capable of stinging multiple times and are known for their single-minded pursuit of vengeance. This was really scary, I sought help from the two security guards around but perceived they were totally oblivious of the danger looming. They responded ‘we will do something about it before the next weekend’ I was shocked at their response, how on earth will I sleep this night with these ‘strangers’ close by? The thought of calling a nearby fumigation agent was a respite until I remembered it was a public holiday yet I stretched my legs to confirm, it was locked. Now I had to take the bull by the horns, thanks to google, I did my research online and got the necessary details to confront the wasps. I got a cover for my body. Got a long stick and shut all the doors and windows. Fully aware of their pursuit of vengeance I made an escape route for myself when they attack. So I launched out with the stick and with a mindset of ‘if I perish I perish’…I strategically held the long stick and hit the nest. I missed the first attempt and I saw the wrath of the wasps as they came looking for me..of course I escaped. After about 20 minutes they were back in the nest and I decided to trouble them again, this time I sharpened the stick and launched out…yes! The nest came down and the wasps unleashed their full wrath..I ran for my dear life..in fact I ran outside the gate, panting and shouting ‘They are down’…immediately the two security guards I earlier approached for help suddenly summoned courage to spray an insecticide to kill the wasps. What a battle.. I was stunned..that was the end of the wasps nest.

    One vital lesson I got from the wasp encounter is that until you make up your mind to take responsibility and drive the change you desire, the situation most likely will not change for good. Experience has taught me that the battle is not to the strong but the tough..the good book corroborates this; By strength shall no man prevail. Toughness is not a function of your size, you can whip up a batch of biceps, call it 6 pack muscle, that does not make you tough. Mental toughness is a function of mind building. In the words of Amy Morin’ mental strength means that you regulate your emotions, manage your thoughts and behave in a positive manner, despite your circumstances’.

     

    • Continued online
  • Last quarter sales rush begins

    Last quarter sales rush begins

    Sales are usually high in the last quarter of every year. Retailers take advantage of such periods to make profit. As the quarter begins, retailers are positioning themselves for mega profits, just as the yuletide sales rush is at the corner, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    Fierce competition, requiring creative marketing and sales promotions to woo customers  and entice them to make purchases, usually characterises the last quarter of the year.

    Friendly customer service representatives, fast service and an appealing selection of merchandise, paired with special pricing structures  help retailers achieve  a profitable sales season anytime.

    The last quarter of the year is usually the time for bumper sales in shops; with many outlets and malls giving all manners of bonanzas and freebies to woo buyers. Not wanting their stock to spill over into the new year, most outlets usually start clearance sales in September to signal the beginning of the last quarter of every year.

    But realising the state of the economy, most retailers have decided to get prospective shoppers early by starting their pre-Christmas sales to get into shoppers’ wallets. By so doing, such traders are able to cut off  their competitors by promoting wide selection, good pricing and a calm, relaxing shopping environment this last quarter.

    A visit to several retail stores across Lagos was insightful, revealing that regardless of the economic recession,  people are optimistic that by the end of this quarter in December, they would have achieved their aim of destocking, restocking and most importantly, making huge profit.

    They have made shopping this season a fun-filled  and pleasurable experience. Some of them even offer freebies to early shoppers. Jewellery shops give away not too expensive ornaments, some others have initiated a promo regime, giving out raffle ticket for a prize drawing. Findings also revealed that some others have slashed prices momentarily, offering buy one, get one free (BOGOF) deals and others selling combos for half the price.

    The strategy has made some retailers optimistic that turnout of poptential customers in this last quarter would be encouraging to boost their sales. Although some traders said they recorded more window shoppers at this same time last year, nevertheless, their strategic awareness has gained enough ground to stimulate better sales this year.

    A sales person at Poise Store, an upscale makeover and beauty store, who asked not to be named, told The Nation Shopping that most retailers have come up with one sales strategy or the other, hoping it will help them make huge sales when the Yuletide eventually comes in.

    “Our promotional offers began few days ago like every other store. We do this yearly so that we can have bountiful sales. We are pushing out as many items as possible by slashing their prices into three, sometimes four, just to lure customers,” said another source in a high-end boutique.

    With this, the source further explained, her boutique will be able to do away with old stock, old designs and then bring in new ones for the New Year.”

    From observation, these shops have not stopped restocking. For instance, clothing stores such as Mango; Tommy Hilfiger; Nike; Ruff ‘n’ Tumble; Kids country, among others, as well as online stores, who only sell clothes, have brought in new key fashion trend in the fashion market, which attracts customers. With this, they are hoping they will make their revenue figure rise close to double of  what is expected as most of them said they were optimistic they would boost their last quarter earnings outlook.

    A sales person at ‘The Accessories 2 die 4’, a jewelry store’, Uduak Osere, said: “We can only be optimistic that sales will not be too different from the usual and we have come all out with various strategies to help us achieve that,” she said.

    From investigations, only a handful, representing roughly 10 per cent of the Nigerian retail industry, report monthly sales when it is not festivity or specific sales period. That is why they all take the last quarter more seriously.

    A shopping analyst, Mrs Debola Majekodunmi, said: ”Yes there are undecided shoppers and procrastinators, but we want to be pleased with the sales we will make this time just like we were last year. This period is long awaited for”

  • Peace at last

    University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG) President Peter Oji has been reinstated by the parliament, three months after he was suspended for misconduct. KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) reports.

    The crisis rocking the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG) have been resolved following the reinstatement of the suspended union president, Peter Oji, last week.

    Peter was suspended in May over the allegations of gross misconduct and financial mismanagement levelled against him by members of the Student Representatives’ Council (SRC) – the union’s parliament.

    Ekene-Peter-Oji
    Ekene-Peter-Oji

    But the inability of the parliament members to adopt the report of a panel set up to investigate the allegations led to Peter’s reinstatement.

    It was learnt that the report of the panel found the embattled union president guilty of the allegations, but the parliament could not get a quorum to adopt Peter’s impeachment as stated by the union’s constitution.

    But, Peter denied the corruption allegations when he spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, identifying communication gap between members as the cause of the crisis rocking the union. He said his intention was misunderstood, adding that his controversial activities were done in the best interest of the union.

    According to him, things fell apart in the union when members could not agree on budget harmonisation.

    He said: “Apart from the lateness of some members of executive to the union meeting, what caused the disagreement was the expectation of some people, who wanted us to disburse all the money in the union’s account to all offices. I was opposed to this thinking and maintained that all members of executive should source for fund for their respective projects. Controversies broke out and exchange of strong words followed.”

    On the allegation of unapproved letting of the union building, Peter said: “I leased out four shops in the building at the rate of N250,000 per shop and I went out to source for interested parties. The money was to be used to renovate the building, but many of the parliament members thought the school released money for the project.

    “I suggested that the union could use only three offices, in which every member of the executive and leadership of the parliament would be entitled to a desk when the renovation work is completed. The remaining spaces should be let out to business operators to raise money for the union’s activities. But some people opposed this suggestion, saying they preferred every member should have partitioned office.”

    Peter said he had resolved the thorny issues with his colleagues in the executive arm of the union, noting that the union had emerged united.

    Godwin Nwangele
    Godwin Nwangele

    A 300-Level Electronic Engineering student and a member of the parliament, Godwin Nwangele, told CAMPUSLIFE that Peter’s action to bypass the union’s procedure led to the crisis. Godwin said some of the allegations levelled against the president were blown out of proportion.

    He said: “There were a lot of allegations against Peter. But from my understanding, some were blown out of proportion. He truly made some mistakes, which, in my judgment, were just evasion of the union’s procedures. Peter did not make proper consultation before taking steps, which seemed to him as being proactive. He breached procedures in most cases. I believe he has learnt his lessons. In leadership, everybody must be carried along.”

    The union’s Treasurer, Eberechi Nwachukwu, a 300-Level Civil Engineering student, who fought the president, blamed the crisis on Peter’s failure to carry other executive members along. He said some of Peter’s intentions were later found out to be good but the embattled president, he said, left members of the union in the dark.

    Eberechi Nwachukwu
    Eberechi Nwachukwu

    An English and Literary Studies student, who simply gave her name as Confidence, faulted Peter’s suspension. She said: “I think the suspension was motivated more by personal interest. The suspension did not stop corruption in the union and this is why I think it was self-serving. Campus journalists must delve in and investigate the issues at stake.”

    Peter said his reinstatement did not come as a surprise, praising some members of the parliament, who, he said, stood for justice by throwing out a “doctored report” of the panel.

    It should be recalled that the union was restored a few months ago, after almost 10 years of proscription by the management.

  • A governor’s last seasonal act

    A governor’s last seasonal act

    Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) last Sunday hosted the yearly Thanksgiving Service at the Open Grounds of the Lagos House at Alausa, Ikeja. It is the last time he will be doing so as governor as his eight-year tenure ends on May 29. The event attracted A list personalities, writes MIRIAM EKENE-OKORO

    It was his valedictory yearly Thanksgiving Service as governor of Lagos State. Last Sunday, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was in his element as he hosted the colourful event on the open grounds of the Lagos House at Alausa, Ikeja. The event attracted Politicians, Christian leaders and captains of industry.

    Among those in attendance  were the All Progressives Congress (APC)  presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), and APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Guests began to file into the large field at 3pm.

    The background decorations, showcasing the predominant colours of the state caught guests’ attention, as they walked in.

    The entrance of Governor,  Fashola, his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife, Folu and other top dignitaries about 4.30pm signalled the start of the service.

    It began with an opening prayer by Rev Ephriam Ademowo; it was followed by praise and worship by one of the invited artistes.

    The 15-minute praise and worship ignited the atmosphere as guests danced and gave thanks to God.

    Governor Fashola flowed with the mood. In his welcome address, he tested his vocal skills as he sang a song in “Yoruba titled Oye ka dupe meaning ‘we must give thanks, to the admiration of guests.

    He also noted the excitement of some dignitaries, particularly former Commissioner for Women Affairs and APC Women Leader Mrs Kemi Nelson, who danced to her heart’s content.

    Fashola was nostalgic, recalling when the first service was held during the administration of his predecessor.

    “I can see some of the people here  today who were with us then when the first thanksgiving service under the administration of my predecessor was held. And it gives me joy to see that we have continued with this trend.

    “It was just like yesterday that we all gathered here on January 5, 2014 to give thanks in an annual tradition that has now survived one and a half decades.

    “Today, 364 days after, when girls have disappeared without trace, bombs have exploded in mindless orgies of violence. Nigerian towns and villages have been sacked. Our brothers and sisters have been displaced from their homes. Young children have died in stampedes while looking for jobs.

    “Some of our brothers and sisters in the military have lost their lives while trying to defend you and I and the Fatherland.

    “I ask you all what else we can do than to give thanks, express our gratitude and praise God for surviving.

    “We are alive not because we are better, we are alive because of grace and mercy, and we must never take it for granted.”

    He said there were many things to be thankful to God for in 2014, adding that our appreciation must be reflected in our gratitude.

    Governor Fashola said while some parts of West Africa today, are battling the deadly Ebola Virus disease, God gave the state victory over the disease.

    “These countries are smaller than Lagos, Lagos is in fact bigger than many of them combined.

    “Yet the same virus afflicted us, we sadly lost 13 lives, but today we are not under lock down.

    “We can sit side-by-side, we can shake hands and we can move freely.

    “Again there was grace, there was a coming together across ethnic, religious and government levels to address a common problem.

    “This lesson is important for all of us to remember in 2015.”

    In his sermon titled: ‘Jesus the Truth’, Pastor Adeboye charged the congregation to recognise that God is greater than any challenge that might confront them in the year.

    He enjoined Nigerians to embrace God and ask for His mercies, adding that it is the only way to ensure continued peace and harmony in the face of societal ills.

    He prayed for the continued peace and unity of Nigeria particularly the conduct of next month’s elections Pastor Adeboye urged the Almighty God to grant the nation the grace to conduct peaceful elections that would produce credible leaders.  Wife of the governor Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade and wife of the House of Assembly Speaker, Mrs Mayowa Ikuforiji read some Bible passages.

    Special prayers were said for the Governor and his family, Lagos State Government, civil servants, local governments and legislature, security services, children and youths and for peace to reign during the elections.

    Musical performance by the RCCG and DayStar Christian Centre mass choirs added colour to the service.

    Others present were some members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze; former governors of the State, Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson; Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohamed.

    General Overseer of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission  (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo; Most Reverend Samuel Chukwuemeka Kalu; Mrs Mercy Ezekiel.

  • Since Thursday of last week

    Moseyn Ekiw knows of his many an enemy. He is quite sure Governor Timiro Ihceama of Waters State, whom he served as Controller of Staff, is the number one. But since Thursday of last week, he has become increasingly worried about the enemies inside. As the Sole Administrator of the Umbrella Peoples Party (UPP) in Waters State and a Junior Minister of the Federal Republic of Niagra, things should have been easier for him. His quest to fly the party’s governorship flag should have been a walk-over. But the enemies within are bent on frustrating him. Yet, they were all nowhere to be found when he was wresting the party’s structure from his ex-boss.

    He scratches his head, looks at the mirror in front of him and from the mirror he sees a copy of a newspaper with the event of Thursday of last week as its lead.

    “Rain of blows at UPP parley,” the headline screams. He picks it up and reads the two quotes on the front page.

    “I came here to defend a petition before the reconciliation committee and Ekiw’s thugs prevented me from doing so and Ekiw personally punched me,” reads the first quote by a former commissioner in Waters State.

    “How could I have done that? The meeting went peacefully. Everything was peaceful. Everybody who had something to say was allowed to say it. A man of my status could not have done that,” reads the second quote which the newspaper took from a telephone interview its correspondent had with Ekiw.

    He shudders after reading his response and thinks aloud: “How many people will believe me?”

    By intuition, he grabs his Galaxy tab and opens the website of another newspaper to see the comments of the people to the event of Thursday of last week.

    The first comment makes him sad.

    “Why is UPP always prodding up thugs as their arrowheads? Their arrowhead in a state ordered his thugs to tear a judge’s suit; now see what this one has done.”

    He hisses after reading this and goes ahead to see what others have to say. Of the 90 reactions to the report, only ten are favourable. He suspects the ten must be party faithful trying to remedy the situation.

    He feels bad, but quickly tells himself: “It is too late to back out. I will be killing myself politically if I back out at this stage. We must fight it to the finish.”

    At that instant, the events leading to the event of Thursday of last week come back to him vividly. He was in his office when the man he installed as the party chair in Waters State, Haubo, came to meet him. He told him of how 22 aggrieved party men were planning to storm the House of Legacy to defend their petitions against his quest to become governor.

    “What do we do?” he remembers asking Haubo.

    “We’ve to stop them,” he can still hear Haubo telling him.

    “How?” was his question.

    “We will use our boys and the police. With your position as minister, just get the police to look the other way when our boys are dealing with them. Our boys will be armed with cudgels, knifes, stones and all sorts. They don’t need guns to deal with these people. They should just beat and bloody them enough to scare them away from accessing the panel headed by Prof.”

    He remembers buying the idea and releasing money to Haubo to camp the boys in a hotel not far from House of Legacy.

    His phone rings and breaks into his thought. The caller ID shows it is his daughter. He picks the call.

    “Hello sweetheart?”

    “Hi dad?”

    “I’m fine dear,” he says.

    “Where are you? I am outside knocking the door since.”

    “Sorry dear,” he says and hurries out of the room to go and open the main entrance door for her.

    Soon, they are together in the living room. It takes a little time before she notices he is not his usual self.

    “What is the problem again, dad?”

    “Nothing,” he pretends.

    She keeps quite for a while and soon fishes out a document from her bag and gives him to read. It is a print out of online comments on the event of Thursday last week. They are silent for a few minutes.

    “Are we going to emerge stronger from all these?” she asks later.

    He keeps mum concentrating instead eyes on the First Dame’s picture on the wall. It is one of those her pictures taken by an ace female photographer which gave her beauty she can never have.

    She decides to be frank with him.

    “By the time this governor finishes his tenure, the upland people would have done 16 years. The pendulum favours the People on Water. Sincerely, I don’t think the Goodluck Charm with the First Dame’s husband is enough to make you governor.”

    She pauses and continues after some minutes: “I think it is high time you faced reality. I will be shocked if the people support any party with a candidate outside of the People on the Water. The Riverside people in Waters State have every reason to expect to have one of their own leading the state, based on history, fairness and balance. The People on Water are the largest ethnic group in the state with about 10 Local Government Areas and substantial populations in 2 others of 23 Local Government Areas. The other two have less than 5 each. The People on Water are 39.7 per cent of the population of the state. In 1999, Ilido emerged on popular Riverside support. Again in 2007 and 2011, the Riverside people gave the incumbent their mandate.”

    When his daughter gets to this stage, he remembers he once told a group of editors in Lagos that he could never govern the Water State in 2015 because he is from the same ethnic stock with the governor. He had told the editors he would be creating problems for himself if he started thinking about succeeding his kinsman. Now, the problems are here and just taking new shapes every other day.

    His daughter continues: “Dad,” she says and moves closer to him,” as a young girl, I certainly will like to be the First Daughter of Waters State.”

    He remembers her mum used a similar line the last time the other aspirants ganged up against him.

    “But, if you ask me to choose between my dad becoming hypertensive trying to be governor and my dad remaining sane without being addressed as His Excellency, certainly I will pick you retaining your sanity.”

    She adds: “Politics surprises me at times, especially the type we play here.”

    At this stage, he has no doubt the girl is paraphrasing her mother.

    He wonders how she knew of their past discussion. Perhaps she told her, he thinks.

    “One moment, you see people being good friends ready to sacrifice for one another and then the next moment, they are the worst enemies around. It baffles me, it really does. I can’t even share quality time together with the governor’s children again and we used to be good family friends. Everything is just upside now.”

    She stands up, announcing: “I will be in my room. Whatever you do, just put your family into consideration. Since the event of Thursday of last week, I have not been happy and reading such nasty comments about you makes me really sad. I know you are a good father, you have been really good to us and mum has told me you are a good husband. The only thing I think is left is for you to be a good politician. And for me, a good politician is one who reads the trend. When the trend favours you, flow with it. When it does not, re-assess yourself and plan for another time. The event of Thursday of last week must not repeat itself again. If it does, I will be too ashamed to call you my father and I am sure mum too will feel terrible being identified as your wife.”

    Now, he feels sad about the event of Thursday of last week.

     

  • Igwe’s last moments, by eyewitness

    Igwe’s last moments, by eyewitness

    For many friends and relatives of Dimgba Igwe, former vice-chairman of The Sun, his death in the early hours of Saturday was still like a well scripted movie, with its suspense and happy ending.

    Details about his death have been revealed by eyewitnesses while his immediate family has found solace in God.

    When The Nation visited his Dele Orisabiyi, Okota. Lagos residence yesterday, a steady stream of sympathisers which included members and pastorate of his Pentecost Assembly Church-where he was Deputy General Overseer (DGO)- was visible.

    The house, in spite of its external extravagance has a modest furnishing inside. It was a basic living room which exemplified a humble living.

    A condolence register which was opened late on Saturday had 77 registered visitors many who were former workers with the late journalist. Many of them praised the faith, courage and kindness of Igwe. It was not the sort of painful farewell which is often associated with such a loss, but one which conveyed hope of a kind. Pastor Ajibade Ademoroye said: “ Not a loss but a gain. You lived well for the Lord and His church, see you later bro.”

    Linda Osareren said: “Dimgba, some of us have agreed that you have to come back to take care of your family.”

    Inside the house, Mrs Obioma Igwe was surrounded by sympatizers. But none of them was crying and if one didn’t know beforehand, it will be difficult to guess a tragedy of such proportion had befallen the house.

    A pastor prayed. He thanked God for Dimgba, saying he was alive. “ Pastor Dimgba is alive, we know he is with you. He has been promoted, we are consoled,” he said.

    Mrs Igwe also exhibited a rare spirit of courage, as visitors continued to gather in the house, she took her time to ask after the welfare of those who came.

    When a group of young girls came, she laughed, clapped and offer consoling words to them. Many visitors with intention to console her left perplexed seeing her jovial and happy spirit, one which refused to yeild to depression and sadness.

    The late Dimgba was a man of faith and courage until his death. This was also corroborated by eyewitnesses who told Hanson Igwe, brother to the deceased, about his last moments.

    “I met some eyewitnesses here today. They said they helped Dimgba when the accident happened. They said he was still praying for them as they helped him into the vehicle.

    “Someone who was jogging close to him said they saw a car misbehaving and they all jumped out of the way. But she said they saw the car hit him and he sustained serious wounds. I was in Aba and around 10 o clock, I learnt we have lost him,” Hanson said.

    He said eyewitnesses told him the car was a Toyota Corolla and the driver was male. According to another insider who said his brother witnessed the accident, the driver who killed Dimgba was avoiding a pothole.

    The source a employee of Dimgba’s company said his brother had jogged on the same Ibe road that morning. He said the car came into a corner on high speed and in an attempt to avoid a pothole hit Dimgba.

    “ My brother said when they saw the car swerved, they all jumped to the culvert but Dimgba was not fast enough. The car hit him and ran him over the culvert. The side mirror of the car came off as well as the wheel cover of the tyre.”

    He said: “ My brother and other joggers ran to him, he had bruises on his leg but they didn’t know he had serious internal injury. He asked for a phone and called home. They got a car and lifted him inside. But when they touched his legs, he screamed.”

    Many of the sympatisers described the deceased as one of the kindest men on earth. Hanson ruled out a case of assasination. “ I know him, he was a gentleman who had no enemies that may want him dead.”

    “My boss was a fun man, he was kind and I loved him so much. It is like a movie because he didn’t die during all his travels and died just here near his house,” the  former employee said.

    Dimgba was said to have a habbit of jogging on Ibe road early in the morning. He was not alone as many other residents of Okota also excercise on that stretch of road everyday.

    “It was his routine, not anything out of the ordinary,” said Hanson.

  • Last Flight to Abuja berths

    Last Flight to Abuja berths

    Fans of the thrilling film, Last Flight to Abuja that hit the screens last year, do not have to wait to get to cinemas before enjoying the flick. Due to popular demand, the movie, starring Omotola Jolade Ekeinde, Jim Iyke, Jide Kosoko and Obi Emelonye, was released on DVD last Monday.

    The movie is set in Nigeria and captures some travellers who boarded the last Flamingo Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja, on a fateful Friday night in 2006. The special effects contained in the film have fuelled the anticipation of fans and Nigeria’s film market is already bracing up for the surprises, it was learnt.

    According to the Director, Emelonye, the effect took his crew five months to achieve.

    Citing how it took long months of studio work to achieve the thrilling special effects, about plane crashes which set the movie apart in most international festivals and award events, he said it required patience and creativity.

    “Emboldened by the success of my previous film, Mirror Boy, I set my sights on a more technically tasking project. I knew the challenges would be immense. To tell the story with the kind of visual realism necessary, we had to use a mixture of real life footage, computer-generated imagery, 3D animation and visual effects. My team, made up mainly young Nigeria animators, worked on the post production of Last Flight to Abuja for 5 months and what we got was a level of technical achievement that belies our micro budget. I guess in today’s digital democracy, if you can dream it; then you can achieve it. This film really underlines that fact and I am happy that it has empowered a lot of young filmmakers to try and tell stories that they would have been too scared to touch,” said Emelonye.

    The film, which was inspired by the incessant cases of plane crashes in Nigeria, has won many awards at film festivals across Europe and America, capping it with the ‘Best Film by an African Abroad Prize’, which it won at the 2013 African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last month.

    Meanwhile, as part of the programmes scheduled for the release of the film, the cast and crew led by Mrs Ekeinde, would be handing out flight tickets to London to winners, who would emerge in a lucky dip, according to him. However, only fans of the film who complete and return the lucky dip coupons contained in their film jackets would be qualified for the draw.

    “The movie has garnered a lot of fans in the past 12 months, going from one country to another, and from one film festival to another, but now the opportunity has come to let these fans own what they have always desired. Interestingly, some lucky fans would also smile as the Nollywood Factory and her associates would be giving out flight tickets to some of our lucky fans at an event that would have the fans also meeting the cast and crew members of the film”, he said.

    Last Flight to Abuja, also the first Nollywood film to be shot mostly on an airplane also featured the likes of Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ali Nuhu, Olumide Bakare, Franca Brown, Uche Odoputa, Anthony Monjaro, Uru Eke and Celine Loader amongst others.

  • The last is also the best

    The last is also the best

    One could see the accomplishment on her face as she embraced her son, welcoming him into the fold of overall best graduating students among her children.

    Even though she could not speak a word of English as she never had any form of western education, Mrs Sarat Bakare understood that her last child, Sakiru, was the one getting all the ovations from the parents, guests, graduands and others present at the 21st convocation of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu last Thursday.

    She did not just know because she was told but because she was used to all her children graduating as the best in their various schools and she did not expect anything less from her last child.

    Her first son, Fatai graduated as the second best Law student from the Nigerian Law School about five years ago. He was also the best in West Africa at the examination by the Chartered Institute of Adminstration. The second, Hussein, who studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, also made the best result; while her daughter, Latifa was the best student when she graduated from the Ogun State College of Nursing.

    Sakiru said their brilliance runs in the blood.

    “My dad and his younger brother also graduated as best students in their school in those days. His younger brother got a scholarship as a result of that to study abroad so it runs in the family,” he said.

    As he was called for hand shakes over and over with the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Adefulire who represented the governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, Sakiru held his head up high as if to say “Yes, this is it”.

    Speaking to The Nation, the HND Computer Engineering graduate who made a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.97, said that since the beginning of his HND programme he made ‘A’s in all his courses except one, which was a B.

    He said 4.0 was his target GPA and before he started his studies in the school, he wrote it down and pasted it where he would see it whenever he woke up.

    Sakiru whose dad died about three months ago just when he was about to begin his final exams said it affected him psychologically but “I was able to pull myself together because no amount of grief would have brought him back.”

    He said he would continue to study and seek a scholarship to study abroad because he wants “to be the greatest engineer that ever lived.”

    He said God, hard work, time management and persistence brought him this far as he advised other students to never to misuse time because “the misuse of anything as precious as time would be a crime. How you spend your day is how you spend your life so make every minute count positively.”

    His mum who spoke to The Nation in her Yoruba dialect said she is not surprised that her son graduated as the best because he had always shown intelligence.

    She said: “He began to show intelligence as he clocked two years and even memorised the Holy Quran at 22, so I am not surprised.”

    Sakiru won the school’s prize, Academic prize, Rector’s award, Muyiwa Osikoya Memorial award, Alumni association award, Gabriel Sodeinde Memorial award, Alhaja Amoriade Bamgbala Memorial award, all for best graduating student.

    He also won the Fasasi Oloro Memorial award for most disciplined student in the polytechnic and Engr Cosmos Odunaiya Memorial award, which all amounted to about 60, 000.

    Speaking through his representative, Fashola congratulated the 8, 686 graduating students and their parents saying that the graduands can contribute to the development of the nation.

    He advised that as they go for their national youth service, they should not forget where they are coming from and be a pride to their family, state and country.

    He called on individuals and private organisations to assist the state government in providing education to the masses adding that the responsibility of education should not be rested on the shoulders of the government alone.

    In his remarks, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Abdulazeez Lawal, said the polytechnic is committed to its vision of becoming a world-class institution whose mission is to extend the frontiers of knowledge through teaching, research, creative works, consultancy, and community service.

    He, however, lamented that the 35-old institution is still without a befitting administrative complex.

    “The main administrative activities of our polytechnic are carried in the library complex meaning that the space meant for academic activities of staff and students are utilised for other purposes.”

    Dr Lawal further said the running cost of the polytechnic as well as workers’ salaries is now a problem, “as government’s new policy on part-time programmes and running of satellite campuses has seriously eroded the internally-generated revenue base of the polytechnic.”