The Nation Newspaper

Tag: legacy

  • Chime’s political legacy

    As Nigeria gets close to another general election in 2015, a number of the final-term political office holders are beginning to worry about legacy. For those of them who live the lie that a legacy can be concocted by propaganda and subterfuge, you hear them parroting such things as ‘His Excellencies legacy projects’, when they are referring to mundane things like a monthly stipend paid out to a few political thugs in the name of youth employment program. Those who have been serving themselves and their cronies instead of those that elected them are hoping to hoodwink posterity, that they also left legacies.

    But regardless of the shenanigans of the officials, they must note that legacies are the enduring projects and initiatives that are handed over to future generations. A legacy can be positive or negative. It can also be tangible or intangible. Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state has a number of enduring physical projects that can appropriately be classified as legacy projects. The new state secretariat complex is unarguably one of them. But what of the intangibles like political legacy. My colleague on the Editorial Board of this paper, Mobolaji Sanusi, in his column last Friday took a snap from his podium on the political legacy of Barrister Sullivan Chime, over the ill-mannered decision to sponsor the impeachment of the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, ‘for keeping poultry in government house among other puerile allegations’.

    Hear Sanusi’s well considered advice to Governor Sullivan Chime, ‘His imperial Majesty Chime must watch his back for there is something called the law of Karma. It is inescapable. His predecessor, Chimaroke Nnamani, fought his godfather and benefactor, Jim Nwobodo. Chime has repaid Nnamani with an overdose of tyranny and treachery. He should not think that he has immunity against being paid back in his own coin. If he likes, let him pick his own biological son as successor’. Sanusi went on an on with historical anecdotes, in the hope that Governor Sullivan would halt his local version of President Goodluck Jonathan’s nationally orchestrated political impeachments, in some states controlled by the opposition, All Progressive Congress (APC).

    I commend Sanusi’ counsel to Governor Chime, hoping he is not too far gone in his magisterial imperialism as not to give a hoot, like that fly feasting on a corpse, not realizing that the coffin would soon close in on it, for mutual burial. Just like Chime’s secretariat stands out among his physical legacy, his determination to champion the impeachment of Sunday Onyebuchi, for unjust cause, will stand out as his major political legacy. To make the matter worse for the Governor, the reasons for the impeachment is as puerile as it can ever be. But the shame for accepting those silly reasons belongs to the rag-tag members of the state house of assembly, who by their own choice are not better than the houseboys and housemaids of the executive arm of the state government.

    The Governor’s own shame is that he is doing the young man in, to create an opportunity for his Chief of Staff, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo to have an un-impeded access to run for the Enugu-west senatorial election, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 2015. Just as I had argued on this page in February, when the Governor started this journey to politically strangulate his deputy, all the political actors who are suffering humiliation in the hands of the state governor, should move over to APC. The victims of Governor Chime’s political legacy as I argued in that piece are many, considering that he had ordered that all two-term office holders, including the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, should prepare for retirement.

    The Governor’s present undemocratic maneuvers against his deputy, is one of the similar reasons why this column canvassed for the emergence of two nationally strong parties, so that when temporal political office holders or party henchmen turn to imperial majesties, there will be the opportunity to help them realize that empires are anachronistic and anathema to democracies, however inefficient our democracy may be. So if Governor Chime is determined to keep the PDP for himself and his cronies; those who are aggrieved should be bold enough to jump ship, and move over to the APC.

    As I have also previously complained on this page, Governor Chime’s other political legacy, is the imposition of local government chairmen across the states. Since his ascendency, well just like his colleagues, what passed off as party primaries where charades. So the context was to get his nod for the party’s ticket, while the state electoral commission complete the hatchet job, by ensuring that the ruling party ‘wins’ all the positions that are contested. The result is that most of the ‘locally elected officials’ are not prepared for the offices they occupy. The trickle down effect is that most local government officials come and go without any impact, not to talk of any legacy.

    Unfortunately, political office is like alcohol. The more you abuse it, the more you are hooked-on to the substance. The chance is that Governor Chime will see all the advice against substance abuse, as the idle talks of the uninitiated. In his state of intoxication, he will believe that he can not suffer the faith of his predecessors in office, particularly former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, who was defeated by ‘a neophyte’ in the senatorial election, despite the concentration of his legacies as Governor, in that senatorial zone. A final word of advice for my state Governor; he should allow the opposition APC, to flourish, as that may be the platform for him when the man he will install as Governor, settles down to politically deal with him, in accordance with tradition.

  • Subaru redesigns Legacy

    Subaru redesigns Legacy

    Looking sleeker and more stylish, if somewhat derivative of various other midsize sedans, the new Legacy is going mainstream. And that may not be a bad thing.

    Subaru is promising a roomier, quieter and more refined Legacy, along with a much-needed connectivity and infotainment update, a deficiency that potentially has been giving some people a pause before buying a Subaru.

    The same 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine used in the current Legacy is used in the new car, now tweaked for greater efficiency and refinement. Available in all trim levels, it also gets a two-hp power boost to 175-hp. Top-level Limited trim will also be available with the 256-hp, 3.5-liter boxer 6, but this time, that engine is also mated to a continuously variable transmission. Claimed overall fuel economy is 30 mpg for the four-cylinder and 23 mpg with the six—not bad for an all-wheel-drive car.

    Exterior dimensions are about the same as the outgoing model, but Subaru is claiming increases in shoulder, hip, and legroom. An available new infotainment system for base models includes a 6.2-inch touch screen and multifunction display, with the Subaru Starlink telematics system, Internet radio, rearview camera, and Bluetooth. Uplevel models add a larger seven-inch screen, SMS text messaging, and upgraded audio. Models equipped with navigation get voice-command capability.

    New safety features include a standard rearview camera on all versions, and an available new rear radar system with blind spot, cross traffic, and lane change warnings.

    The current Legacy is a solid midsised sedan, and it remains among the limited, non-luxury-brand choices with all-wheel drive. But we found its electronics and connectivity behind the curve, and the CVT makes for too much engine revving and noise.

    The redesigned Legacy goes on sale this summer.

  • Legacy parties insist on Keyamo

    The leaders of the legacy parties in Delta Central Senatorial District have reiterated their adoption of Festus Keyamo as their candidate in the expected by-election for the vacant senatorial seat.

    This followed the announcement by the Southsouth leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rejecting Keyamo’s adoption.

    The party’s National Vice-Chairman (Southsouth), Tom Ikimi, had rejected the adoption, describing the claim as false and unauthorised.

    Ikimi said: “For the avoidance of doubt and the benefit of all Nigerians, the said reports and publications are neither true nor authorised. They should therefore be disregarded completely.”

    The leadership of the legacy parties in the zone insisted that they stand by their adoption of Keyamo as the would-be candidate of the party.

    Rising from an emergency meeting on Monday, the leaders declared their stand in a communiqué, which was made available to The Nation.

    They argued that there was nothing wrong in their adoption of Keyamo. “We see nothing wrong in giving our support to one aspirant over another. “We are not saying this is the final outcome of the party primaries or selection process, but an internal political choice.”

    The legacy parties are the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

     

  • ‘Education remains best legacy’

    ‘Education remains best legacy’

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu yesterday identified education as the best legacy parents should give to their children.

    She described other things as secondary.

    Mrs. Adelabu gave the advice at the third edition of the Reading Parents Initiative Programme held at the Holy Trinity Primary School and St. Stephen’s Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti.

    The Deputy Governor spoke after inspecting parents, including Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaye and Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, among others, who taught pupils for 35 minutes.

    She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration considers education as critical to development, hence its efforts at reviving education.

    The Reading Parents Programme, which is aimed at resuscitating the reading culture among pupils, is one of the avenues being used by the government, Mrs. Adelabu said.

    Stressing the need for parents to set aside time to check the children’s school work and supervise their assignments at home, she urged them not to leave their children education to teachers alone because children spend more time with their parents at home.

    The Deputy Governor stressed the need for educated parents to visit schools to read and teach the pupils, noting that the pupils are not only happy but motivated and more receptive seeing familiar faces, especially those of their parents in their schools.

    Prof Adelabu, who urged wealthy parents and philanthropic individuals to donate dictionaries to schools, reiterated that the government would provide instructional materials and infrastructures necessary for conducive learning and incentives to motivate teachers so that education would regain its glory.

    Other parents, who taught the pupils include: the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola-Richie Adeusi; the State Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Chairman, Comrade Kayode Akosile and the Ekiti South West Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Oluyemi Alatise, among others.

  • Mogaji left a legacy of service, says Osun ACN

    Mogaji left a legacy of service, says Osun ACN

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), 0sun State chapter, has joined friends, sympathisers, family members and party faithful to condole with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, which sad event occurred at the weekend.

    In a statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, made available to reporters in Osogbo yesterday, the party’s Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, said although Nigerians – especially those in the Association of Market Men and Women, would not only miss Alhaji Mogaji physically, they would also miss an indelible legacy in the quality and impact of her leadership and service delivery.

    The party said she gave the country one of her kind in the person of her son, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to continue with her quality of leadership and service, which Nigeria needs to save the country from chaos and systemic collapse.

    According to the party, “the passing on of Alhaja Mogaji once again reminds us of the finite nature of our existence on this side of life; and it tells us in graphic language that whoever we are, and whatever we do, somehow, someday, it will be over.

    “Whatever will be left are reminiscences of how we had lived either for good or evil, impacting people’s lives or destroying them.”

    The ACN leader believes “this is the most important consideration. We are, therefore, consoled that Alhaja Mogaji left a legacy of service and selfless leadership, which changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian men and women in the business world. It is this quality of service that we shall miss.”

    The party is of the opinion that “our seeming loss in her death, is in reality her spiritual gain; because in service to humanity, Alhaja Mogaji attained the life of triumphant that should earn her a blissful rest in Alijannah.

    “To that extent, therefore, even in so-called death, she has also given us joy. That is the quintessence of her legacy.”

    The ACN rejoices – in spite of her passing away – that Alhaja Mogaji lived a full life up to her dignified age of 96, “for which we are all grateful to the Almighty Allah. May her soul rest in peace.”

  • O’dua Museum, Hall of Fame: Preserving a people’s legacy

    O’dua Museum, Hall of Fame: Preserving a people’s legacy

    The transformation was rapid and dramatic. Suddenly one was transported from the sophistication of a cosmopolitan high-rise building in the centre of a city to a rural setting more than 40 years ago.

    Such is the transformation that one experiences on visiting the recently commissioned O’odua Museum and Hall of Fame in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    As the guard opened the wooden door with intricate designs to usher one in, the voice of the late Hubert Ogunde could be heard singing in Yoruba. It was as if he was just around the corner. As one climbed the staircase to the museum floor, one was no longer on the 20th floor of the Cocoa House.

    One was transported back in time to the years gone by. What one felt all around was the African essence.

    Both sides of the wall are decorated with batiks. A traditional African mat is rolled out on the floor.

    The next point is the corridor with a signpost signalling that the museum is on the right, while the Hall of Fame is on the left. Museums, all over the world, always have special appeal. So, the first place to visit was the museum. Even before seeing some of the artifacts, the ambience created was purely rural: local mats used on the floor, red earthen walls, bamboo sticks used as part of the declaration.

    The museum captures the totally of Yoruba way of life in the old days. Pots and bronze carvings of different sizes are displayed. The different kinds of Yoruba drums are also arranged neatly.

    Appurtenances of royalty such as beads, horse-tail, crowns and walking sticks are displayed at the royalty section.

    One of the most interesting section of the museum is the war section where old war weapons such as guns are on display. The treaty that brought an end to the Yoruba war of the 19th century titled Proclamation of Peace at Kiriji-Mesin Battlefield was boldly displayed.

    Professor Wole Soyinka, who declared the place open early this month, commended the management of O’dua Investment Limited and had this to say: “The museum showcases the beginning of Yoruba technology and the ingenuity of our forbearers, but I want to say there is still more to do now that an appeal has been made to people to donate materials to enrich the arts, crafts and antiquities contents of the museum.

    “Let me say that it is with a thought of nostalgia that I return to the Cocoa House and I must say I am very happy with what I have seen here.

    ”Cocoa House is one of those firsts Yoruba recorded in Nigeria. This area specifically used to be the centre of arts and Yoruba culture. But the negative side of it is that Nigeria once went into a downward spin, including Cocoa House and the University of Ibadan. The deterioration was much. Everything decayed and the famous Cocoa House could not save itself. But what we have seen so far impressed me, from the Ground Floor to the Top Floor of this building. This Cocoa House is the contemporary Oranmiyan staff for Yoruba.”

    The curator of the museum, Mr. Babajide Famuyiwa, explained the reason behind the establishment of the museum: “ It is created to showcase the essence of the Yoruba people. What the Yoruba call Omoluabi. The Yoruba people have played a major part in the economic development of the country. They have helped in the development of every sphere of endeavour in the country. So in that wise, it was decided that we should look at these and bring them in focus. That informed the creation of the O’odua Museum and Hall of Fame.

    “It is not only about the pre-colonial artifacts that are on display. Colonial era items that had influenced life in the past are also there. For those who may not have heard of gramophone, polaroid camera, type-writer and so on, they will find the museum useful. The museum would be a treasure trove for many young persons wishing to know more about the past.

    “The Hall of Fame section is a kind of pantheon for Yoruba personalities from all walks of life. They include the late Professor Awojobi, Hubert Ogunde, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti , Rashidi Yekini and many others.

    “A tour of the hall of fame and museum has an icing. One has an opportunity for a wonderful bird-eye view of the Ibadan city. There are also strong binoculars that one could use to view any part of Ibadan.

    “There are two sections to it, the museum and the hall of fame. Let us start with the museum.

    In the museum, we try to showcase some Yoruba artifacts. There are certain peculiarities with the ancient civilization in the ancient time. This is reflected in the collections we have in the museum. We have musical instruments, pottery, craft in terms of traditional weaving. What we try to do is to exhibit and display some of the things that the Yoruba used in those days.

    “We tried to look at the concept of Omoluabi, that is, those who have lived according to certain Yoruba societal moral values and made remarkable success in life through these. We like achievements of Yoruba sons and daughters in the area technology, politics, sports, arts and many other endeavours. This is what have done.

    “At the Hall of Fame, we have people like Professor Soyinka, the late Hubert Ogunde, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo , M.K.O. Abiola, Rashidi Yekini, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Chief S.L. Akintola, the late Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and many others.”

    He talked also about the media viewing centre: “The media viewing centre can take about 20 persons. The idea is that when people go round, they could come to see the video clips of some of these personalities on display in the hall of fame. They would hear there voice, see them in action through these video clips.

    “The place is opened to everybody coming to the city of Ibadan. We encourage school children, university students, researchers and so on. It is open for now from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. We believe as time goes on, the management would consider adding weekends to the opening days. For now, the fee has not been officially sanctioned. It is not likely to be more than 200 naira per person. “

    The O’dua Museum and Hall of Fame has succeeded in adding to the richness of the essence of the ancient city of Ibadan. Before it used to be the University of Ibadan and few other places.

  • Fashola urges Tribune to keep Awolowo’s legacy

    Fashola urges Tribune to keep Awolowo’s legacy

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged the management of the Nigerian Tribune to build on the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founder of the newspaper.

    Fashola spoke in his office at Ikeja, Alausa, while hosting a delegation from the newspaper, led by the Managing Director, Mr. Edward Dickson.

    Hailing the role of the media in facilitating national development, he said such responsibilities should be carried out based on the purpose for which the media organisation was established.

    Fashola said: “Anyone privileged to manage such a glorious legacy must remember the purpose for which the media organisation was born. You must remember the principle of the founder on issues.”

    He urged the media to reconsider the frequent use of gory pictures on the pages of newspapers, stressing that such pictures could lead to violence and other anti-social behaviour.

    The governor urged the media to always verify information before publishing them.

    He said: “We will not have the type of democracy we have without a free press, but a free press is not a press without restraint. Newspapers must understand that how violent our society becomes will be a function of the graphic images of death, blood and violence they publish.

    “The media cannot continue to attract big money with crazy headlines about everyday robberies, dead bodies and their photographs. No one is denying that those things are happening, but the stories can be reported without their pictures. This would not make them less true.”

    Fashola regretted that the Nigerian media is usually the first to publish negative stories about the country.

    Dickson said the organisation was on a “turn-around tour” and described Fashola as “a leading light in entrenching good governance in Nigeria”.

    He said as a result of the governor’s record of excellence, the company’s new management resolved to partner him to develop the state.

    Dickson conveyed the goodwill message of the matriarch of the Awolowo family; Mrs. H.I.D Awolowo to the governor.

  • ‘Orlando Owoh’s legacy will never die’

    ‘Orlando Owoh’s legacy will never die’

    Don Orimipe Owoh, son of the late highlife musician, Dr Orlando Owoh, is sustaining his father’s legacy among Nigerians in the Diaspora. He has released an album entitled: Tribute To My Father in the United States, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

     

    Sixteen years after relocating to the United States, Donald Orimipe Olatunbosun, first son of the late highlife musician, Stephen Oladipo Olaore Owomoyela, popularly known as Dr Orlando Owoh, has concluded work on his debut due for release in Nigeria during Easter. The album entitled: Tribute To My Father, has been released in the United States (US) and will be marketed in Nigeria.

    According to Orimipe, the third of the late musician’s children to go into music, his father motivated him. He said his father discovered his talent but never trained him as a musician. He was a member of his father’s band. Daisi and Kunle Orlando Owoh, his brothers, are also into music.

    “I got into music through the motivation of my late father and moved to the United States about 16 years ago. He actually did not train me, but he discovered my talent. He tried me on some instruments and was convinced of my skill before admitting me into his band. That was how I joined his group; and we later came to the US. Since then I have been into music here,” he said.

    His father, he said, did not play juju music; but a genre that is more of highlife guitar music, which he described as music that ‘gives birth’ to all other kinds of music. To him, it is the kind of music that shares knowledge of several music and experiences, noting that: “That’s what attracted me to it, and it must not die.”

    He said: “My father’s music was and is still not Juju, but highlife guitar music as he has always described it many times to reporters. This is the kind of music that I grew up with and I was born into it. It’s the kind of music that shaped my life and I grew up to understand it the more while I live in it.

    “I’m comfortable with it in a way a person who is born into the house of a talking drummer would understand what they use the talking drum to say. Yoruba will say that abinibi yato si ability. I was born into it and grew up with it. So, it is what I call in-built. That legacy will never die because we are keeping it alive,” Orimipe said of his interest in his late father’s kind of highlife music.

    Asked if he lives on music alone in the US, he said: “It’s written in the Holy Bible that the son of man shall not live by bread alone. In the US, I live on music, but not entirely. My father’s comment about me in an interview with Opeyemi Fajemilehin, when he was asked what I was doing in US, was that I have a lot of professions, but that music is my heart and soul.”

    Orimipe had his primary and secondary education at Ifon and Ikaro in Ondo State before joining his father in Lagos. He also studied ticketing/reservation and pre-piloting at the School of Aviation. He later learnt draftsmanship with interior decorations which led him to computer school to study auto-card design and architecture. But falling in love with the computer, he changed his course to desktop publishing and maintenance/repair. He later joined his father’s band where he turned a musician.

    Orimipe’s five-track album has songs such as Kennery transformation, Jesus, Oju owagho (dedication) and Omoolode (American Boyz). A sneak preview of the album revealed that Orimipe shares so many similar traits with his late father, in terms of the content of his new album. It is a refreshed kind of highlife made popular by his father. Orimipe’s promoter and chief executive officer of Atlanta-based Supreme Mizik, Mr Patrick Tolu Alele, told The Nation on telephone that the album would be released in Nigeria by Easter.

     

  • Obi: we’ll leave worthy legacy for Anambra

    •Community residents hail governor 

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said his administration would not relent in rebuilding the state for future generations to be proud of.

    The governor spoke in Awka, the state capital, when people of Orumba, a community in the state, visited him at the Governor’s Lodge.

    He said this was the time to lay a strong foundation that would reposition the state for sustainable and comprehensive development.

    Obi explained that the massive infrastructural development of rural areas is to open up the grassroots for wealth creation.

    The governor called for collective efforts to keep the state on track so that it would not slide back to its difficult past.

    The leader of the delegation Chief Okey Ezeibe said the visit was to thank the governor for giving the people of Orumba North a sense of belonging.

    Ezeibe recalled that the Obi administration initiated and completed many projects in the local government.

    He noted that the projects, including the Odor Bridge, have direct impact on the lives of the residents.

    The community leader promised that the area would reciprocate the governor’s gesture by supporting his efforts to correct the mistakes of the past and maintain the present tempo of development.

    Also, a former deputy governor, Dr. Okey Udeh, noted that the Obi administration has stabilised the state financially, economically, socially and politically.

    He stressed the need for collective efforts to elect a worthy successor for him to consolidate on his administration’s achievements for continuity.

    At Obeledu, Obi assured the residents that he would fulfill his campaign promises to them to restore confidence in governance and entrench new consciousness among the people.

    Obi said the government was taking steps to secure the life and property of the people.

     

     

  • Fayemi lays foundation of ‘legacy projects’

    Fayemi lays foundation of ‘legacy projects’

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday laid the foundation of five “legacy projects” in commemoration of his second anniversary in office.

    The projects are the new Government House; the Governor’s Office; the State Pavilion, the Samsung Engineering Academy and the Civic Centre.

    Four of them will be funded through the N20 billion Bond obtained by the state from the capital market earlier in the year and would be completed by end of next year.

    Fayemi said his administration is committed to transforming the state, so that it can become a choice destination for all.

    Justifying the new Governor’s Office, Fayemi said the current Governor’s Office was originally designed as a hotel by the administration of former Governor Niyi Adebayo.

    He said the office is far from the State Secretariat and the distance affects communication in governance.

    Fayemi said the legacy projects were envisioned to be “timeless”, both in concept and aesthetic.

    He said the old Ado-Ekiti Prison site was chosen as the location of the 7000 sq metre Civic Centre and Museum to preserve the remains of the old prison, which was demolished in April.

    The Civic Centre will house a museum, amphi-theatre, events centre and library.

    Fayemi said it would attract tourists and create jobs.

    At the Government Technical College, Ado-Ekiti, where the foundation of the Samsung Engineering Academy was laid, the governor said the gesture was the manifestation of the Memorandum of Understanding between his administration and Samsung in Seoul, South Korea.

    He said the academy, which will be wholly funded by Samsung, would promote e-learning in schools, as well as repair and maintain computers.

    Fayemi said the Academy would train students and interested persons.

    Managing Director, Samsung West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim praised the achievements of the Fayemi-led administration, especially in education.

    Kim said the academy will create jobs and empower youths.