The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ovation

  • I Go Dye to Buhari: leave when ovation is loud

    I Go Dye to Buhari: leave when ovation is loud

    In his continued campaign against recycling of political leaders, stand-up comedian,

    Francis Agoda, aka I Go Dye, who last year, dished former vice President, Atiku Abubakar, following his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has a word for president Muhammadu Buhari over his likely second term bid.

    The comedian, a UN youth ambassador, is advocating for a process that will afford the youth the opportunity in political leadership, has advised President Buhari not to seek re-election as being insinuated in some quarters.

    The entertainer said he is making “a passionate appeal to his Excellency, President Mohamadu Buhari, not contest the 2019 Presidential elections  and a clarion call to all tradition leaders, Ex-presidents, diplomatic communities  elder statesmen, professional bodies, entertainers and Nigerian youths to lay their voices to end political recycling, because a future bequeathed to Nigerian youths today, will be the best legacy.”

    His appeal is coming a day after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s much publicized letter to Buhari on a similar issue.

    I Go Dye who took the President through some of the best moments of his (Buhari) youth, noted that “the youths of today are grieving every day, because so much has been taken away from them.”

    “We all have our different birth dates,   yours was in 1942. You joined the Nigerian Army at the age of 19 in 1961.Just three years in military service, Nigerian government sent you and a few others to commonwealth military academy training at Aldershot in England, between 1962- 1963, a testimony of how government cared and protected the youths at that time. At 22 years you were already the platoon commander of the second infantry Battalion. Thereafter, at the age of 25 years,  you were the among the few soldiers that were involved in the counter- coup of 1966, which included your colleagues in service, Abacha 23 years, IBB 25 years and the oldest was Danjuma 28 years and a host of others. In 1975, at 33 years, you were already the Governor of North Eastern States .While in 1976 at 34 years, you were appointed as the minister of petroleum. Meanwhile, two years later, in 1979, I was born into this world; the story has been the same old story, when e go better? In 1983, at the age of 41 years as a sign of displeasure with the Shehu Shagari led civil government, you conquered your fears and risked your life to overthrow the democratic structure at that time, at this young age 41 you became the Head of State. Today you are 75years old, and president of Nigeria, nothing can be found to still be missing, apart from the fact that the youths have not been protected even in your administration.”

    He highlighted some of the problems facing the ordinary man to include, electricity, food, shelter, and unemployment.

    “Let me recall, previously I wrote you a letter titled: logic and reasons without guns, I spoke on some issues affecting us as a people. If we don’t change our political process, sooner than later, the youths will demand for it, I just pray it’s not too late.”

    I go Dye advised the president to consider quitting office and lead the process of advancing and transferring political leadership to the youths in 2019, as there is nothing left for him to conquer.

    “I am not against your political ambition, neither  am I opposing your interest but I am of the view that it’s better to leave the stage when the ovation is loud.

    Honestly speaking, there is nothing new for you to conquer, the only sacrifice that will bring more honour to your personality, is for you to lead the process of advancing and transferring political leadership to the youths.

    “The best gift that you can obviously give to my generation is to activate and set the process of ending the long and over -due political recycling’s that has denied the youths their rightful place in our political history as Nation,” he said.

  • Taking off when the ovation is loud

    In a society where voluntary resignation is a scarce resource, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi has chosen the honourable path. He has bowed out of public service when the ovation seems to be loudest.

    As soon as the 2015 general elections were over, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi was one of the people reported to have visited General Muhmmadu Buhari in his Daura home in Kastina. While there is nothing wrong in him visiting Buhari, being kinsmen from the same state, the motive of the visit can only be explained by Dikko.

    Before now, the media was awash with startling reports of how  Abdullahivisited former President Goodluck Jonathan to seek favour from the then incoming President Buhari to remain in office since he was appointed by the Jonathan administration. Some online news media even claimed that Abdullahi was walked out by Buhari.

    As soon as President Buhari took over the mantle ofleadership on May 29, 2015, it became clear the sort of individuals that would drive the engine room of his administration. It became clear, too, those whose services would no longer be required by the new regime. Hence, the service chiefs were replaced with new ones. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) now has a new Group Managing Director, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service has joined those that have been shown the exit door.

    A few weeks ago, there were reports that Abdullahi resigned his appointment as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs. Abdualhi, born in 1960, hails from Musawa Local Government Area of Kastina State, was enlisted in the Customs in 1988. He became the boss in 2009.

    Having not reached the retirement age of 60 and not spent up to 35 years in service, it took many by surprise when Abdullahi announced his voluntary resignation. According to him, he is leaving so the younger ones can be given the opportunity to serve their fatherland. Some other news media reported that he took the option of resignation to avoid the embarrassment of being fired by President Buhari.

    The Customs, in the eye of an average Nigerian, is not different from the Nigeria Police in terms of corruption. Many Nigerians who have crossed the path of the men of the Nigeria Customs believe President Buhari should probe the establishment, owing to alleged cases of mismanagement. With our porous borders, many contraband goods have always found their way into the country right under the nose of the men of the Customs. This piece is not about the corruption at the Customs, but an appeal to anti-graft agencies to quickly investigate the Customs, especially under the leadership of Abdullahi. Those who are found wanting should be made to face the full wrath of the law. This will send a message to anybody holding public office that the era of “stealing is not corruption”is gone for good.

    However, Abdullahi is worthy to receive encomiums for the treading the honourable path. Not many people are privileged to serve their fatherland in such capacity. However, one cannot shy away from the fact that Abdullahi leaves with his integrity intact. He refused to wait till he gets booted out of office like many public servants. This is commendable.

    Whatever the situation maybe, the sit-tight-to-power syndrome common in this clime should be discouraged. Governance is not a family business neither is it a hereditary affair. It is a continuous process and it will do the country good if we all play our part to lift the country high in whatever capacity we can.Posterity will not forget Abdulahi as someone who resigned honourably, rather than waiting to be sacked. Such is the hallmark of great leadership.

     

    • Dayo is a graduate of Mass Comm., AAUA.

     

  • Dele Momodu berths with Ovation TV

    Dele Momodu berths with Ovation TV

    FORMER presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation International, Bashorun Dele Momodu, is working tirelessly, firming up plans for his foray into television with Ovation TV. Not known for doing things in small measure, the Ovation TV, we learnt, will feature parties and events in line with keeping up with the Ovation tradition.

    Already plans are in top gear to acquire two floors in Gbenga Daniel’s Kresta Laurel building in Maryland, Lagos which formerly housed Channels Television.

    Momodu caused a revolution in magazine publishing when he started Ovation International magazine in the city of London in April 1996.

  • Standing ovation as Ani Light croons at album launch

    AT Ani Light’s album launch last Sunday, friends, families and members of the press came together for the event which held at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The 10 tracker album, titled My Greatest Treasure, was launched amid thrills and frills.

    The MC, simply known as Bontu, set the tone for the evening with his witty but hilarious jokes. In less than half an hour after the event kicked-off, the guests didn’t need to be told they were in for an experience. Bontu invited on stage Ani’s parents, which further sent the atmosphere to a high. Both parents couldn’t hide their joy. They poured encomiums freely on the only daughter of the family. “I’m a proud mother. She’s dutiful. Before 20, Ani had finished her first degree. She holds a Masters degree too,” said Ani’s mother. “Sometimes, I wish she were my first child,” submits her father, a retired Navy Captain.

    It was an evening of climaxes but the icing on the cake remains the performance by the newest gospel light. She started with Glorious. Everyone gradually nodded in acceptance of the melodious tune. And as soon as she dropped Amanam, the only Efik flavour in the pack, the whole hall event into a wild ecstasy. Someone said, “she killed it; this will sell.”

    Very groovy song indeed, the guests boogied all the way, praising God to high heavens.

    It was time to formally launch the album, friends and lovers of good music didn’t waste time as they picked the album in two’s and three’s with free will donations rolling into hundreds of naira.