The Nation Newspaper

Tag: relives

  • Delta monarch relives palace’s desecration

    Delta monarch relives palace’s desecration

    HRH Odjevworo Akpomeyoma Majoroh, Ojeta 11, Ovie of Oruarivie-Abraka, was regal in  a  red frock with a matching beaded  red crown as he sat on a luxurious couch, to receive the  leadership of the apex Urhobo socio-cultural organisation, Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU). They came after an attack on his palace by irate youths.

    But beneath this façade, the king is sad and visibly worried by the events of the past few weeks in his kingdom. He is at a loss why his subjects will turn against him unleashing violence of the most unimaginable proportion against the exalted throne of his ancestors.

    All is not well with Abraka community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, host to the  Delta State University. It is embroiled in crisis following the beheading of an indigene allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.

    The occasion was a fact-finding visit, earlier this week, by the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) led by Chief Osiobe Okotie, its first vice-president.

    The royal father described kings in Urhobo land as “an endangered species”, adding not everyone is happy in a system where monarchy is rotational.

    His words: “Kings in Urhobo Land are an endangered species. People are extremely jealous of their status, especially in areas where kingship is rotated, everybody is not happy.  This was an excuse for them to do what they wanted to do.”

    He said he felt pained by allegations that he had not done enough for his people, adding: “It is unfortunate that my own people will say I am not doing enough. I know what I have done. I know my contributions to the community.”

    He said the most disturbing aspect of the whole episode was the deliberate attempt to desecrate the throne by bringing a corpse to the palace, as it is a taboo for a king to see a dead person.

    His words: “The youths knew that traditionally it is taboo for a king to see dead bodies and that dead body is forbidden in a palace.”

    He said following the desecration of the palace grounds by the actions of the youths , he had to stay indoors for the whole day until the palace was ritually cleansed

    According to him, trouble started in the morning hour of the fateful day after he was briefed by the President-General of the community of a murder of his subject allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.

    He said: “What happened was on that day which was a Tuesday at about 10.30a.m the president-general briefed me of yet another incident at our farmland Ovre that Fulani herdsmen killed someone. I directed that he got the President of that community and incident the case at the Police Station. I did not get the details that day as I was heading to our ancestral shrine as it is our traditional market day. Upon my return I was briefed on the matter. I ordered that they should get the police and recover the corpse for safety reasons; before I knew it my personal assistant came in to inform me that the youths from my community were moving en masse to the palace with the corpse of the boy. I called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to come with reinforcements. I also put a call to the president-general and the youth leader who informed me that they were outside the palace fence. The vigilante group was also on ground outside the palace. After a while I heard protests outside and the protesters started hitting the gate .I was calm and thinking of the next course of action when I heard the protesters breaking windows panes in the palace. My entire living room was filled with splinters of glasses and guns were booming outside.”

    The monarch said the protesters destroyed vehicles parked in the palace grounds, and were in the process of setting the palace, including him and his guests on fire, when the military intervened.

    He said after the youths fled they split into two groups, adding that one group headed towards the Hausa quarters and attacked its residents.

    He said a major grouse of the youths was that he has refused to supply them with ammunitions to fight the herdsmen ,adding “ Some persons want me to provide ammunitions for them, but I ask am I involve myself in illegality to solve this problem”.

    The royal father accused security agencies of being aware of the activities of the herdsmen, but did nothing to check their activities.

    He said he was awaiting government action following the intervention of the state government, adding that he hoped that meetings between the Hausa/Fulani leadership and his community and government would provide a workable solution to the problem.

    President-General, Abraka community, Dr. Tedwins Emudainowho described the Ovre-Oruarivie forest as “Sambissa Forest”, claiming that with over 2000 herdsmen committing various atrocities ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes the situation was a keg of gunpowder waiting to explode.

    He said the immediate cause of the crisis was the beheading of Solomon Ejoor who along with three persons attempted to rescue their mother trapped by Fulani herdsmen in her farm, adding that since 2012 no fewer than 18 persons have been killed in the community.

    Chief Osiobe Okotie thanked God for sparing the life of the monarch, adding that the UPU was in the process of convening a forum to sensitise youths to respect constituted authority.

    He urged the Federal and State governments to “do something urgently about the Abraka situation before it gets out of hand.”

    His words: “We want to use this opportunity to send a message across to the federal/state government to do something urgently about the Abraka situation before it gets out of hand. We cannot sit and watch our people being slaughtered .The UPU is using this medium to send a message to President Muhammadu Buhari to take appropriate action because information getting to us is that the area where this dastardly act occur there are over 2000 herdsmen fully armed raping our women, our daughters. They have taken over our lands .We do not know their mission. It is the responsibility of the government whether federal or state to ensure that the lives of its citizens are protected .The government should as a matter of urgency step into this matter so that people will not be forced to either protect themselves or do anything otherwise, so we want to avoid that .UPU is watching, our eyes are on Abraka.”

  • River’s perm sec’s wife relives Days in kidnappers’ den

    River’s perm sec’s wife relives Days in kidnappers’ den

    On April 25, the wife of a Permanent Secretary in Rivers State who is also a business woman in Port Harcourt was abducted by armed men from her shop in the city. She recounted her ordeal and events leading to her rescue to CLARICE AZUATALAM.

    Unwanted visitors

    I was attending to some customers; two people came to hire my cooling van and to buy some drinks. I was negotiating with them when two young men came into the restaurant and asked us to lie down on the floor. We were wondering what was happening. We heard gunshots. And those inside released another gun shot. They picked me up and dragged me to a vehicle outside. I was not blindfolded. They took one way going to Borokiri. They moved to the Ndoki Waterfront.  We passed through one police check- point but Nobody stopped us. I was scared as they have guns.
    There was already a waiting flying boat there and they put me into the flying boat and zoomed off.  I do not know where they took me to because it was in the night. But I knew they missed their way along the line because they were saying to themselves: “This is not the place. This is not the place!”
    Finally, before we got to the place they took me to, it was about two hours plus. When we got finally there, I discovered it was a bush. Mangrove, then into a bush. From the mangrove, we entered into a bush. So, that was where I stayed with the three people who abducted me from the restaurant. I stayed with them for one week.
    During this period, there was rain, sun, there was no shelter, no house. It was just plain mangrove.  We got there on Friday night, Saturday passed, Sunday passed and then Monday. I was eager and I said they should allow me speak to my husband. They gave me an opportunity to do that on Monday evening.
    They asked for millions of Naira and my husband said he does not have that kind of money. They said then I would remain there. I was there that Monday, Tuesday; they did not even give me the opportunity to even talk to anybody till Friday.
    They were bringing food, asking me to eat but you know when you are in a place like that, there was no appetite because I was not happy. They were not hostile. They bought me rubber slippers, toothpaste and tooth brush. They would threaten me along the line that if they didn’t bring the money, “we will kill you; we will hang you.” They would do all manner of things.

    Security operatives
    to the rescue

    But miraculously, on Friday, I was just there praying within me. I didn’t know what happened. On Thursday, they heard footsteps in the bush; they held me and said to me, ‘Madam! Madam!’ They took me deeper into the forest. They were trying to escape with me; maybe they thought that there were people coming to rescue me that Thursday. But nobody came.
    They had two guns; they would leave one with those securing me and the other two would go for a kind of operation with the other gun. I noticed that they were running from the Waterfront. I was scared and wondering what was happening. They now beckoned on their colleagues too, and it was like they told them, “go away, go away security agents are coming.”
    I was asking them what was happening. I was even calling on them, because at a point, I became close to them. So, I knew their names. What is happening, what is happening?  They said to me “Madam! Madam! Madam!” They ran.
    This time, they refused to take me along. But the previous day, when they heard gunshot, I don’t know if the security men did reconnaissance. They held me in their hands and were taking me further inside the bush. But that Friday, I don’t know if they really saw the people. So, they ran away without even asking me to follow them.
    I was scaredbeing inside the bush all alone. I was asking, why are you people running, why are you people running?  They ran inside the bush. I think they are familiar with the area. Then I saw some security people and they came and said, ‘Madam, let’s go’.
    Initially, I was scared too because staying there for one week, everybody you see would be a suspect to you. They said, ‘madam, don’t be scared, we are security people.’ That’s how they brought me home that Friday, May 2, 2014.

    N100 million ransom

    They (kidnappers) asked for N100 million as ransom. When my husband said that he is a civil servant, he does not have that kind of money; they switched off the phone and never called him again. I was crying, pleading with them that my husband is seriously a civil servant, he does not have that kind of money. Even if he is to go and take loan, who will give him loan without a collateral? So, he does not have that kind of money.
    The following day, without talking to my husband, they told me that my husband could bring N70 million. They brought it down to N50 million, they brought it down to N30 million before I was rescued. No ransom was paid.
    At some point, they would be friendly because they knew that the place we were was mosquito-ridden, cold and all that. If they saw me feeling bad, they would come and say, ‘Madam eat o!, eat, you need to eat for you to be alive. If you call your husband, speak to him, tell him that you are suffering, let him release the money so that you will go.
    At other times, they would be hostile, they will just be cocking the gun, threatening. Sometimes, they are humans too They would say ah! Madam, you are catching cold. They would make fire for me and all that. I will not say they were totally hostile I won’t also say hundred percent they were friendly. They were just in-between. Sometimes they would feel sorry for me, sometimes, when they remember what they were there for, they would be hostile.

    On the terrain

    I am from the riverside. I am from Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.  I am not familiar with that area (they took me to). But what I knew is that they took me from Ndoki Waterfront and it was in the night. So, I won’t be able to know because that is not my area. Though I am from the riverside area, when I go to my area, I go by car. When we were coming back, it was by another route I could not identify.

    On her abductors

    From what I saw, I will not say that they are completely educated people because I did not hear them speak good English. They spoke their native language, which is Ijaw. But when they talked to me, they will use the usual broken English. I didn’t see them as people who are educated. If they are educated, maybe they were just hiding it from me. Initially, when we got there, they told me it’s business; they are doing this for money.
    The rescue was not something I expected ordinarily. I thought that because of the ransom they demanded, I thought they would wait until the ransom was paid. So, I just saw the handiwork of Rivers State government in it and God too.
    As I was telling my husband when I came back, this is something you don’t even wish your worst enemy. For me to have spent just one week there, I knew what I went through. Then compare it to people (Chibok girls) who are there for one month, I wonder what they will be going through. So, it is not an experience one will begin to describe. It was very terrible; it was a very terrible experience.

    Act of God

    I have given testimony the Sunday after I came back.  I came back on a Friday and the following Sunday I went to church and I testified to the glory of God.  Even if I say it was the state security that came to rescue me, if not God in heaven, they would not have been able to rescue me considering where I was taken to. What if as they were running and one of them says, since we have not gotten anything, let us shoot her. I would have gone. So, the handiwork of God was even more than what the state did. During the period, members of my church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God were praying for me. All the Pastors in the church, the zonal and regional Pastors were all involved. They grouped themselves into three prayer groups and they were coming to my house to pray morning, afternoon and evening.

    What kept me going

    I was in a strange place, where I was not supposed to be in the first place. I was thinking of my children, my husband; what they were going through? At a point, I wanted to talk to my husband, they said I could not talk to my husband; that he was not feeling fine. I was not sick there and somebody was telling me that my husband was not feeling fine. You know that kind of thing.  I just wanted them to allow me to speak to my husband, let me just hear his voice. They didn’t even allow me.  So, there were lots of thoughts here and there. I have an aged mother, I have my younger ones, I have people around me, people I am catering for, many things. My children are under-aged. So, at every point in time, I went through a lot of thoughts. In the midst of all these, I would cry profusely. Nobody to say sorry. When I was tired of crying, I would clean my tears. When I remembered them again, I would start crying.

    Advice to citizens and her abductors

    Everybody has to be very careful. That is the only thing because if there are security agents and they are working the way they ought to work, may be most of these things would not have taken place. So, everybody has to be very careful. Know when to go out and when to come back and avoid night movements.
    I will advise them (kidnappers) to stop all these things. If not, one day surely nemesis will catch up with them. They should look for something meaningful to do with their lives. They cannot continue this trade till the end of their lives. Maybe their thinking is that there is no job, that is why they indulged in this kind of vice. They should look for something to do as a means of livelihood; maybe business. If they succeed this time, they may not succeed at other times. So, I definitely know that someday, the law will catch up with them.

  • A queen relives how she got her crown

    A queen relives how she got her crown

    While some young Nigerians outside the country engage in illicit acts, 22-year-old Miss Ayoyemi Ajimatanrareje’s quest to promote Nigeria’s culture has landed her in fame. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO and OLATUNDE ODEBIYI were at a meeting between Miss Ajimatanrareje and Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    In the United States, a society where survival is for the fittest and the resilient, foreigners do all they can to “belong” to the “elite” class. Many have abandoned their cultural heritage and other identities that can make people link them to their roots, including accent, all in a bid to survive.

    But for 22-year-old Miss Ayoyemi Ajimatanrareje, her success came from where many of her peers ditched their roots and never thought good things might emanate from – the culture.

    Her love for Nigeria’s culture and Afro-centric life style paid off when she was crowned Miss Nigeria Florida in the United States.

    Miss Ajimatanrareje beat other contestants to take home the coveted prize.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Lagos, where she met the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the newly crowned cultural queen could not imagine the number of positive doors the competition had opened for her.

    Clad in a long white lace dress with flowery red patches and silver studs, an elated Miss Ajimatanrareje also wore her crown with pride.

    From her right shoulder was the Miss Nigeria Florida emblem flowing to her left waist. She wore red beads round her neck and her left wrist dazzled with a gold watch.

    “I never imagined myself meeting big personalities in government and the private sector. This, I believe, will aid my pet project to uplift the less privileged in the country,” she said.

    According to her, she learnt about the competition through her friend.

    She added: “It was a friend of mine who actually approached me because of the way I acted and dressed. She said she felt that I should try out the Miss Nigeria Florida beauty pageant. I was like: ‘Are you crazy? What makes you think I should participate?’ She said she thought I would represent Nigeria very well. I said okay.

    “I agreed and I called the person in charge. She told me the criteria. One thing I like about this pageant is that it is not just about beauty and aesthetics. It has to do more with the Nigerian culture. At that time, I needed that because I had started losing track of the culture. I could hardly communicate with my uncles and aunties in Yoruba. I would rather answer them in English. So, I quickly began a research on Nigerian history and institutions.”

    Besides the usual cat walk, contestants had to make a presentation on Nigeria to test their familiarity and knowledge about the country.

    “For me, it is a ‘cultural pageant’. You need to have a detailed cultural presentation. You have to know what Nigeria is: who and who make up Nigeria – the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa cultures and the various ethnic gropus. I learnt about the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, Awujale of Ijebu-Ode and Osemawe of Ondo during my research,” she said.

    The Nursing student, who has a flair for singing and dancing, explained that the benefits of winning the competition include free return tickets to Nigeria, opportunities to feature in several events in her official dress, among others.

    The Ondo-born American based youngster acknowledged the difficulties people faced in the United States to make ends meet.

    She said: “America is not a country where dollars fall on your laps. It is not a place where you can just stay like that. You need to have a job. In Nigeria, people are friendly and loving. In America, for example, when I am going out with my friends inside their car, I have to pay for fuel. But here in Nigeria, they don’t demand such.

    “In America, you have to pay for everything you need. You see people who have been working for about 10 years and do not have much in their accounts because they have to pay the bills for light, water, gas, phone and parking space, virtually everything.”

    Miss Ajimatanrareje’s mother Olori Yinka Ajayi said her daughter had always emulated former Nigerian-born Miss World Agbani Darego at a tender age.

    She said: “I feel excited and on top of the earth. But I am not surprised because I know she has flair for it. When she was young – between age six and eight then in Pampers Private School, Surulere – people used to call her Agbani Darego. I used to dress her like Agbani Darego. I will do her hair style like that of Agbani Darego. She likes fashion just like me.

    “So, when she called from America that she was to go for that kind of thing, I gave her the go ahead and even assisted her by providing her wares for that presentation.”

    Olori Ajayi advised young girls not to lose hope, saying: “They should be focused and know what they are doing.”

    Mrs Dabiri-Erewa praised Miss Ajimatanrareje for making Nigerian proud.

    Nigerians, the lawmaker said, should encourage people like her to continue to do what they are doing, to propagate the Nigerian culture and make room for the younger ones to succeed.

    She said: “We are not saying that you should come back home but wherever you are, you can contribute to what is going on in your country; for me, a young girl like this deserves encouragement.” she said.

    According to her, the negative image of the country overseas could not be compared to achievements Nigerians recorded out there.

    “Nigerians are very brilliant and people overseas confirmed that Nigerians studying abroad are always top in the class. What is left now is for our brethren over there to form a good behaviour group, project our country well by doing the right thing, avoid criminal activities and always be with good people,” she said.

  • Kattey relives kidnap ordeal

    Kattey relives kidnap ordeal

    The Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, who got his freedom after eight days in captivity, has said the Rivers State Police lied for claiming that they rescued him.

    Rev. Kattey and his wife, Beatrice, were abducted on September 6 at Aleto, Eleme, on their way to Port Harcourt. His wife was released that night by the abductors, who fled with the cleric.

    Police spokeswoman Mrs. Angela Agabe, shortly after the release of the bishop, announced last Saturday that the police who rescued him.

    But, in a briefing at his home in Agbon-Nchia, Eleme, yesterday, Kattey said his kidnappers freed him. He attributed it to divine intervention because he knew people were praying for him.

    Rev. Kattey said: “The police did not rescue me; they did not rescue my wife. I saw them for the first time two days ago. The police spokeswoman lied.”

    He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, apologised to him for the mix-up.”

    But, the cleric acknowledged that there were efforts by security agencies to secure his release, as helicopters hovered over the forest where he was kept by his abductors.

    He said it would have been difficult for the search team to find him as he was kept in a thick forest and forced to lie down most of the time.

    Rev. Kattey also said after two days in captivity, he started loving his captors, who kept moving him from place to place.

    Sometimes he was blindfolded, other times he was chained or tied. He slept in his cassock in the rain and water.

    On his feeding, Rev. Kattey said he ate once a day and it was either fast food or roasted plantain.

    The 65-year-old cleric said he was not aware of any ransom paid, adding that he could not have paid any as he did not have access to his account.

    He added: “If any ransom was paid I don’t know. I believe that God touched their hearts.”

    Rev. Kattey told the audience, made up of Anglican clergy, his kinsmen and journalists that the Thursday before his release, one of his abductors asked their leader to release him because he had stayed too long. This led to an argument.

    It was at that point, he said, he became afraid for his life as the argument became hotter.

    The clergyman said he had forgiven his abductors. He blamed the rising wave of crime on poor parenting.

     

  • Ozekhome relives ordeal

    Ozekhome relives ordeal

    Activist- lawyer Mike Ozekhome yesterday said kidnapping is a coordinated business that needs urgent attention from the Federal Government.

    He spoke at his Lagos residence after he was released from a three-week captivity in Edo State.

    Ozekhome, who recounted how the kidnappers brought in their doctor to treat him when he had malaria and typhoid fever, said they vowed to unleash terror on the country.

    At his Igando home, there was jubilation as both children and adults baptised themselves with white chalk.

    Ozekhome, who entered his compound at 11:30am, was decorated with the chalk, which according to his relations, is a mark of thanksgiving to the Supreme God.

    At his Igando home, there was jubilation as residents painted themselves with white chalk.

    Ozekhome, who entered his compound at 11:30am, was decorated with the chalk, which according to his relations, is a mark of thanksgiving to the Supreme God.

    Dressed in a blue fez cap,a blue and red t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, Ozekhome joined his well wishers to dance before he went upstairs for a shower.

    There was a white cooling van, stocked with drinks for guests.

    His family members were all smiles as they thanked God for the safe return of “Mike of the people”.

    Tears of joy ran down Ozekhome’s cheeks as he joined his people to dance round his compound.

    When Ozekhome resurfaced hours later with his wife, he looked cleaner and was carried by jubilant youths round his compound.

    Filled with emotions, the lawyer prostrated and prayed to God as he addressed reporters.

    He said the kidnappers told him that security agents could never track them because they do not make calls around the areas where their victims are kept.

    Ozekhome said: “It is a well-organised business. We ate once a day most of the time. They will bring eba and egusi or ogbono, rice be it jollof or white. There were 13 of us. We were locked up in a room.

    “The day the windows were opened on a few occasions, a colony of mosquitoes invaded and feasted on us.

    “ I took ill on two occasions. The first time, they brought their doctor who was hooded and he gave me some malaria drugs.

    “Then, penultimate Thursday, when I was shaking because of the threats of death and the horror, another victim, Maka Omoregbe, started fanning me and pouring water on me.

    “The kidnappers called their doctor and said I should speak to him and they brought drugs for me. He came and gave me injections and to assure me, he brought out the syringe and showed me and said, SAN, look at it, we are not going to poison you.

    “So, they gave me two injections, one on each side of my buttocks and they pierced my artery to give me an intravenous fluid. They treated me for malaria and typhoid fever and the next day I became better.”

    He urged the Federal Government to establish a foundation to carter for the welfare of the four slain officers’ children.

    Ozekhome said they had 24-hour guard in the building where they were held, adding that even women and little children were victims.

    He decried the state of insecurity in the country, calling on the government to offer amnesty to all kidnappers and declare a state of emergency on security and youth unemployment.

    The lawyer said his abductors did not know him, as they only questioned him when he had been kidnapped.

    He said: “My ordeal began on Friday August 23. I want Nigerians to know the danger we are in. I was not travelling in the night nor wee hours of the morning. I left Benin 2pm for my home town, having lost the wheel drummer of the Ozekhome family, Alhaji Yakubu Ozekhome.

    “I ran into the kidnappers some minutes past 3pm.

    “So, I told my driver to stay put. They dragged us out of the car and shot the tyres. Chinedu was locked in the booth and was on the ground. They said we should remain like that.

    “I heard a rain of bullets; it was like a war as they were firing continuously.

    “The good news is that we have been delivered safe and unhurt. The bad news is that I was not profiled. We were never profiled or targeted, meaning that they merely operated randomly. It could have been any other person.

    “They searched my pocket, took out my complimentary card and other things. They then asked again what my full names were and I told them.

    “They said ‘so, you are a lawyer’, I said ‘yes sir’. They asked how long I had practised, I said 32 years.

    “We were driven through rough roads, through highways because we could feel it. We were on the road for about four and a half hours. We were taken far away from civilisation.

    “I am not talking of toy carrying kidnappers. They told me that they had cell units across Nigeria and reminded me about the kidnap of a footballer’s father, among others. They said they were everywhere.

    “So, I asked them, with my face down, how they knew me. They said they did not know me, that they just operated and caught me.

    “They advised me not to blame God but to glorify him because the things they had read of me are good things. Of course, they are always masked but even when they are talking; you dare not look up or in their direction.

    “Death sentence was also hanged on us. The experience was horrific. We were psychologically and mentally tortured. We were traumatised and it was spiritually unnerving and physically debilitating. It was the nearest thing to hell.”

    The lawyer added: “Let’s not deceive ourselves that we are dealing with a little phenomenon.”

    Ozekhome described his abductors as educated people who spoke good English and could speak on philosophy.

    He said while masked, the kidnappers discussed with him national issues, including problems of the country and what they are fighting against.

    To Ozekhome, the government should as a matter of urgency, grant amnesty to kidnappers.

  • Southwest relives June 12

    Southwest relives June 12

    Southwest states were throbbing with huge parties yesterday as residents remembered the June 12, 1993 election — Nigeria’s fairest and freest ever.

    There were various activities to celebrate the election, which was won by frontline businessman Chief Moshood Abiola.

    He died in a titanic struggle to revalidate the election, which was annulled by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime.

    But it was also a day for the truth. Impunity in politics, corruption in the polity and election fraud must stop, some prominent politicians said.

    It was the 20th anniversary of the presidential election.

    Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti declared yesterday as public holiday to mark Democracy Day, which, in their view, the day represents. All the states are controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    In Ondo State, which did not declare a public holiday, a lecture was held.

    There were at least five activities at various venues across the Lagos metropolis. They attracted people from all walks of life.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and ACN National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for an end to impunity in the polity.

    At Abiola’s Ikeja, Lagos home, a wreath was laid on his grave.

    There was a march by top government officials in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital – the late Abiola’s home state – led by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    The march terminated at Abiola’s house in the ancient city.

    Other events in Lagos were held at Airport Hotel, Excellence Hotel and Sheraton Hotel. The Lagos State House of Assembly held a special session.

    In Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan described June 12 as “a unique day that has changed the political history’’ of the country.

    “Today is also a unique day, June 12, a date that has changed the political history of this country in one way or the other.

    “In some parts of the country, some state governments have declared public holiday to mark today (yesterday), but at the centre, it has not been formally recognised as a public holiday.

    “We appreciate what happened on this day that you are being inaugurated. I think it is a unique date,’’ he said.

    The President spoke at the inauguration of the Board of the Police Service Commission held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro is the commission’s chairman.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged the Federal Government to identify Abiola’s killers.

    He urged the President to announce the result of the presidential election which is adjudged to be Nigeria’s freest ever and declare Abiola the true winner and thereafter accord the late businessman a posthumous honour.

    He saluted the Abiola family members and condoled with them over the sacrifice paid by their bread winner for the enthronement of democracy.

    Fashola and Tinubu criticised the culture of impunity that is threatening the survival of democracy.

    The duo spoke at an event organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations (J12CODEF). They insisted on electoral system that would guarantee a smooth transition in a democratic government.

    Fashola, in his keynote address said democracy is beset with challenges both man-made and institutional, which he said the nation must fight to regain its place in the comity of nations.

    According to him, the tenets of law and order must be entrenched if democracy must thrive. The absence of these key components pose a major threat for its survival, the governor said.

    He said the lessons learnt from the June 12, 1993 election is enough to show the way for the nation to avoid threading the path that plunged it into its present situation.

    He recalled that the process leading to the annulment of the elections as well as the inability of MKO Abiola to regain his freedom were key pointers to the consequences of flagrant abuse of law and order.

    Fashola faulted the move by President Jonathan to rename the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the late Abiola, saying the process was a sham and a disrespect for law and order.

    He said: “Lately, an institution of higher learning, created by an act of parliament, which gave the institution its name, was visited with an action that in my view was done to mock the memories of Chief Abiola.

    “The name of the institution was changed to MKO’s name without changing the law. I venture to argue that MKO would have distanced himself from such action if he were alive.

    “If you are looking for proof, you will see it in the number of court cases he instituted whenever a threat was made on his life and those that he defended, as his proof for law and order.”

    . Linking the impunity in leadership to the ongoing controversy surrounding the election of a Chairman for the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), he said: “We are living witnesses to a bizarre arithmetic in a contest of numbers where 16 votes have become superior to 19 votes in a perplexing logic. If this is not an example of impunity, I do not know what it is.”

    Fashola was referring to the 19 votes scored by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi against Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang in the NGF poll and the Presidency’s recognition of Jang as NGF chair.

    “The message we have heard is this, it must either be our way or the high way. We don’t give a damn; whatever will be, will be. For everybody’s sake, these messages do us no good. The perception of them creates bigger challenges for our democracy. We must stand up as a people, shun ethnic colouration, political affiliation and religious faith to banish this kind of messages from our national consciousness, whether they are real or imagined”.

    Tinubu said the hope of Nigerians to get its electoral process right was thwarted 20 years ago when the June 12 election was annulled.

    He lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not witnessed much transformation since the 1993 elections, whereas countries like Kenya and Sierra Leone have made huge progress in entrenching sustainable and credible electoral process.

    Recalling the 1993 election, Tinubu said: “20 years ago today, millions of citizens went to the polls to vote. In some places, it rained; in others, it was warm and a happy sunshine. In a few other places, the sun was merciless. The statement that made people stay in long queues was more important than the harshness of the weather.

    “They wanted to say ‘no’ to military dictatorship and affirm the virtue of a system of popular sovereignty. They wanted to say ‘yes’ to democracy, they were not only saying ‘yes’ to democracy, they were saying ‘yes’ to multi-ethnic democracy. They wanted to pull tribal jingoism or religious bigotry, they voted against violence and mediocrity, what was important for them was not the ethnic accent or the geographic office of the person who won.

    “Yet we know what happened. We were all dazed when we were told by soldiers that our votes were not to be accepted. It generated crisis and paralysed our major cities. Politics became a promise for revenge especially to the people who did not yield to the demand of the military.”

    Tinubu, represented by NADECO Secretary Ayo Opadokun, added: “Some suffered at that time and had to die years later. Prominent among them was Beko Ransome Kuti and others in the process. In cold blooded situation, journalists like Bagauda Kalto, his family was not allowed the dignity of giving him a good burial. Many were wounded. The biggest of them was Abiola himself, who became a martyr.”

    He said Abiola’s struggle left a mark on the progressives to ensure the era of June 12 never repeats itself.

    “It is a protest that gave birth to democracy and it is the protest that will keep it on its toes. When Abiola fought for the recognition of his mandate, he did it in the spirit of protest, many people went to the streets to protest, Abiola and Rewane died in the spirit of protest. Those who stand against protest do so in the spirit of tyranny, that the military prides itself in. I dare say that we stand to ensure that never again will a mufti crowd of people deny us of our fundamental rights.”

    In his lecture titled “Nigeria’s Democracy and the crisis of political instability: An audit of Electoral system”, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the story of Nigeria is a metaphor of a recalcitrant child destined to be cramped and diminished.

    The varsity don said the prevailing culture of impunity in the country has made the nation’s elections conflict-ridden, adding that the campaign preceding elections are marked by “pettiness, intolerance and violence”.

    The event was attended by dignitaries, including Senator Oluremi Tinubu, NADECO chair Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Comrade Baba Omojola, members of the State Executive Council, civil society and youth groups, among others.

  • Amokachi relives his UCL record at Heineken Champions Planet

    Amokachi relives his UCL record at Heineken Champions Planet

    Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, the UEFA Champions’ League’s first scorer in its current format spent an engaging night at the Heineken Champions Planet sharing fond memories of the competition with fans. The current Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach revealed the goal was his best moment in the UEFA Champions League.

    The Atlanta ’96 gold medalist and member of the coaching staff of the current crop of triumphant Eagles at the last AFCON in South Africa disclosed to a large gathering of guests at the Heineken Champions Planet: “Scoring a goal in a big match is an aspiration of any footballer and it can come anytime in a match, but when such a feat becomes a reference point, I do not think I can ask for more because collectively as a team the main goal is for us to win a match.”

    Amokachi, playing for FC Bruges of Belgium scored the only goal of the night as his club secured an away win at the M. Tel-Aviv Lillztadion Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel when the current version of the UEFA Champions League was introduced in 1992. “We were all happy after the match and celebrated all through the night. It was some days later that I got to know that my goal was the first to be scored on that night. Matches are played simultaneously at prime time but of all the goals scored on day one, mine was unique.”

    The Bull recalled to thrilled guests at the Heineken Champions Planet on the night FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich secured the semifinal berth in the ongoing season. He spoke on the evolving nature of the game stating, “The competition is tougher now than what it was in my playing days. The players and the ball move faster. Also, there are many cameras capturing just a game, the global audience, courtesy of Heineken, is enjoying the matches much better.”

    Amokachi intimated that this is good for fans as they now have more ways to fully enjoy the game. “The concept of Heineken Champions Planet to me has enabled many of the fans to have a direct link with the excitement and glamour associated with the games by giving them the opportunity to be in an environment almost similar to where the live matches are played.”

    Although the former international wrongly predicted the exit of FC Barcelona from the completion by PSG, he cautioned that more surprise results are still in the offing when the semi-final battles get underway on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

    Guests at the Heineken Champions Planet will await the visit of former Super Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia, during the first leg semi-final matches of the UEFA Champions League. The legend will interact with guests by reflecting on his best moments in his playing days and sharing his views on the live matches of the night.

    Barcelona will play last year’s runners-up, Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Germany in what will be a meeting between Pep Guardiola’s past and future clubs. While Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid will reunite with their Group D opponents, Borussia Dortmund, in what will be the fourth meeting of the two teams this season.