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Tag: rivalry

  • Okorocha, Araraume: Old foes resume rivalry

    The battle line is drawn between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume. The governor has anointed a successor. But, the senator, who is eyeing the seat, is kicking against the endorsement. Who blinks first? Correspondent Okodili Ndidi writes on the succeession battle in the Southeast state.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume have resumed their hostilities, ahead of the governorship primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The rivalry may create crisis for the party, unless the national leadership intervenes to avoid doom for the platform.

    Araraume wants to succeed Okorocha. But, the governor has a preferred candidate. The senator is asking for a level playing ground at the primary, which he believes Okorocha cannot guarantee.

    The two have been locked in antagonism for a long time. But, they mended mences during the 2015 general elections when dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following the alleged manipulation of the governorship primary in favour of the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

    Araraume helped the APC, a party he had dumped earlier to win the election in his Okigwe Zone against the PDP. Shortly after the 2015 elections, the two political heavyweights became friends and as predicted, Araraume teamed up with Okorocha.

    In appreciation of the role played by Araraume in his re-election bid, Okorocha appointed his son, 30 year-old Ifeanyi Ararume (jnr) as a commissioner.

    To many observers, the appointment of the ex-senator’s son was a settlement meant to compensate him and dissuade him from joining the governorship race in the future.

    However the relationship later turned sour. Okorocha and Ararueme are strange bedfellows. Both went their seperate ways last year.

    The first sign that the relationship was heading for the rock was the removal of the senator’s son as a commissioner. Sources said the  senator rejected the re-appointment of his son, following the dissolution of the State Executive Council, to drum home the point that he was not placated by the appointment.  Instead, Araraume expected the governor to reciprocate the support he gave him during his re-election by supporting his governorship ambition.

    Okorocha had told party chieftains that he will support the  senator for any other political office, except that of the governor. But,  Araraume had remained resolute on his ambition.

    In Imo politics, Araraume enjoys a rich and enviable followership, an advantage he has always used to scuttle the plans of his party whenever he is denied or robbed of the governorship ticket.

    The battle line between him and Okorocha is drawn. Following the governor’s blunt refusal to support his ambition, Ararume is gathering his armies. The senator is even being supported by some members of the governor’s camp.

    The last straw that broke the carmel’s back was Okorocha’s endorsement of his Chief of Staff and son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu, as his successor. This has rekindled the anger of the senator against the governor.

     

    Why they fell apart:

    Many believe that Okorocha and Araraume fell apart because of the governor’s refusal to support the senator’s ambition to achieve his age-long dream of governing the state. Araraume has been a victim of several betrayals in the past.

    Some people believe that Okorocha has a pact with Araraume to hand over power to him at the end of his tenure because of his earlier support for his re-election bid.

    But, no sooner has the governor got a second term than he stunned the senator with his declaration that anyone above 5o years will not succeed him in 2019.

    Araraume believed the age ceiling was targeted at him. He is in his late fifties. He wanted the governor to shift grounds, but without success. An adamant governor advised Araraume to return to the Senate, promising to support him.

    But, the senator is unperturbed. He summoned his loyalists, most of who were serving in the Okorocha administration. He directed them to pull out of the governor’s camp.

    Since then, the duo have been locked in endless diatribe. Irked by the confrontation, Okorocha  swore that Araraume will never succeed him.

    The governor’s supporters also denied any succession pact between him and the senator. However, they acknowledged that Araraume was among party stalwarts who contributed to the governor’s campaigns in 2015.

     

    Apprehesion in APC:

    The face-off between Okorocha and Araraume can be best described as the war of two elephants, which makes the grass to suffer.

    The APC is bearing the brunt of the clash, which has polarised the party to the extent loyalists of the   governor and the ex-senator have become sworn enemies.

    Some members of the State Executive Committee of the party are allegedly on the payroll of the senator. Sources said they no longer  attend meetings convened by the  chairman, Dr. Hillary Eke, who is perceived to be the governor’s staunch supporter.

    The governor was accused of plotting to sack those loyal to Araraume in the committee before the recent elongation of their tenure by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. The tenure extension was wildly celebrated in the senator’s camp as a boost to  his ambition.

    The fear of party leaders is the antecedents of the senator, who often works against his party whenever he loses at the primary.

    Although the governor had reassured the APC family that the party will do better without joiners like Araraume, but his strength cannot be ignored.  He contributed to the electoral misfortune of the PDP during the 2015 polls.

     

    OKorocha’s counter-plan:

    Okorocha is not being ignorant of Araraume’s style of politics. He has set up many  structures that are continuously serviced across the state. The governor is mobilising and empowering many youths who are active players in the electioneering process.

    The governor has also ensured that key positions are given to those who can deliver the party in their respective areas.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, dismissed Araraume’s threat as inconsequential.

    He said the party is aware of the senator’s antics, adding that he will be contained.

    Despite these assurances, observers believe that the APC will be facing the battle of its life in next year’s elections, if the governor and the senator are not reconciled.

     

  • Okorocha, Araraume: old foes resume rivalry

    The battle line is drawn between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume. The governor has anointed a successor. But, the senator, who is eyeing the seat, is kicking against it. Who blinks first? Correspondent Okodili Ndidi writes on the succeession battle in the Southeast state.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume have resumed their hostilities, ahead of the governorship primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The rivalry may create crisis for the party, unless the national leadership intervenes to avoid doom for the platform.

    Araraume wants to succeed Okorocha. But, the governor has a preferred candidate. The senator is asking for a level playing ground at the primary, which he believes Okorocha cannot guarantee.

    The two have been locked in antagonism for a long time. But, they mended mences during the 2015 general elections when dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following the alleged manipulation of the governorship primary in favour of the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

    Araraume helped the APC, a party he had dumped earlier to win the election in his Okigwe Zone against the PDP. Shortly after the 2015 elections, the two political heavyweights became friends and as predicted, Araraume teamed up with Okorocha.

    In appreciation of the role played by Araraume in his re-election bid, Okorocha appointed his son, 30 year-old Ifeanyi Ararume (jnr) as a commissioner.

    To many observers, the appointment of the ex-senator’s son was a settlement meant to compensate him and dissuade him from joining the governorship race in the future.

    However the relationship later turned sour. Okorocha and Ararueme are strange bedfellows. Both went their seperate ways last year.

    The first sign that the relationship was heading for the rock was the removal of the senator’s son as a commissioner. Sources said the  senator rejected the re-appointment of his son, following the dissolution of the State Executive Council, to drum home the point that he was not placated by the appointment.  Instead, Araraume expected the governor to reciprocate the support he gave him during his re-election by supporting his governorship ambition.

    Okorocha had told party chieftains that he will support the  senator for any other political office, except that of the governor. But,  Araraume had remained resolute on his ambition.

    In Imo politics, Araraume enjoys a rich and enviable followership, an advantage he has always used to scuttle the plans of his party whenever he is denied or robbed of the governorship ticket.

    The battle line between him and Okorocha is drawn. Following the governor’s blunt refusal to support his ambition, Ararume is gathering his armies. The senator is even being supported by some members of the governor’s camp.

    The last straw that broke the carmel’s back was Okorocha’s endorsement of his Chief of Staff and son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu, as his successor. This has rekindled the anger of the senator against the governor.

     Why they fell apart:

    Many believe that Okorocha and Araraume fell apart because of the governor’s refusal to support the senator’s ambition to achieve his age-long dream of governing the state. Araraume has been a victim of several betrayals in the past.

    Some people believe that Okorocha has a pact with Araraume to hand over power to him at the end of his tenure because of his earlier support for his re-election bid.

    But, no sooner has the governor got a second term than he stunned the senator with his declaration that anyone above 5o years will not succeed him in 2019.

    Araraume believed the age ceiling was targeted at him. He is in his late fifties. He wanted the governor to shift grounds, but without success. An adamant governor advised Araraume to return to the Senate, promising to support him.

    But, the senator is unperturbed. He summoned his loyalists, most of who were serving in the Okorocha administration. He directed them to pull out of the governor’s camp.

    Since then, the duo have been locked in endless diatribe. Irked by the confrontation, Okorocha  swore that Araraume will never succeed him.

    The governor’s supporters also denied any succession pact between him and the senator. However, they acknowledged that Araraume was among party stalwarts who contributed to the governor’s campaigns in 2015.

     Apprehesion in APC:

    The face-off between Okorocha and Araraume can be best described as the war of two elephants, which makes the grass to suffer.

    The APC is bearing the brunt of the clash, which has polarised the party to the extent loyalists of the   governor and the ex-senator have become sworn enemies.

    Some members of the State Executive Committee of the party are allegedly on the payroll of the senator. Sources said they no longer  attend meetings convened by the  chairman, Dr. Hillary Eke, who is perceived to be the governor’s staunch supporter.

    The governor was accused of plotting to sack those loyal to Araraume in the committee before the recent elongation of their tenure by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. The tenure extension was wildly celebrated in the senator’s camp as a boost to  his ambition.

    The fear of party leaders is the antecedents of the senator, who often works against his party whenever he loses at the primary.

    Although the governor had reassured the APC family that the party will do better without joiners like Araraume, but his strength cannot be ignored.  He contributed to the electoral misfortune of the PDP during the 2015 polls.

     OKorocha’s counter-plan:

    Okorocha is not being ignorant of Araraume’s style of politics. He has set up many  structures that are continuously serviced across the state. The governor is mobilising and empowering many youths who are active players in the electioneering process.

    The governor has also ensured that key positions are given to those who can deliver the party in their respective areas.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, dismissed Araraume’s threat as inconsequential.

    He said the party is aware of the senator’s antics, adding that he will be contained.

    Despite these assurances, observers believe that the APC will be facing the battle of its life in next year’s elections, if the governor and the senator are not reconciled.

  • Lagos council polls: APC, PDP renew rivalry

    Lagos council polls: APC, PDP renew rivalry

    Lagosians will go to the polls in July to elect council chairmen and councillors who will manage the affairs of the local governments for the next three years. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN looks at the chances of the political parties in the contest.

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has fixed local government elections for July 22. The announcement has put paid to the speculation that the government is not willing to conduct elections to fill the vacant positions in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which were dissolved in November 2014.

    Before the release of the election time-table, only two political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demonstrated their readiness for the polls, through subtle campaigns in different localities. It was like other parties had gone under. Analysts recalled that during the 2015 general elections, no fewer than 14 political parties participated in the state. The question is: where are the smaller parties?

    There is no indication that the following parties are preparing for the election: the Action Alliance (AA); the Alliance for Democracy (AD); the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); the African Democratic Congress (ADC); the African Peoples’ Alliance (APA); the Citizens Popular Party (CPP); the Hope Party; the Kowa Party; the National Conscience Party (NCP); the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); the United Democratic Party (UDP); and the United Progressive Party (UPP). They all fielded candidates for national and state elective offices in 2015. Why are they not showing interest in an election that is very close to the grassroots?

    Observers believe the election will be a straight fight between the ruling APC and the main opposition party, the PDP. The party had promised to use the council election to consolidate its political gain in the last general elections in which it won seven House of Representatives seats and seven House of Assembly seats. Its Chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador, had boasted that his party would not only make a good impact in the election, but also to utilise the opportunity to chase the APC away from Alausa, the seat of power in Lagos State.

    The PDP chieftain claimed that the performance of the party during the last general elections was not a fluke.  He said: “We worked hard to win elections in areas where we won. Our candidates won on merit; we prevailed and convinced the electorate on the programmes of our party and the integrity of our candidates. Our performance had nothing to do with the money spent by former President Goodluck Jonathan, as some mischief makers have been saying. It is wrong for the APC to conclude that the alleged millions of dollars Jonathan brought to Lagos were responsible for our impressive performance.

    “The people of Lagos State are tired of the APC and they decided to have a change by voting for PDP candidates. We are going to use the same strategy for the local council election. We have started mobilising from house-to-house, to create awareness about the importance of the election.”

    But, with the recent developments in Lagos politics, the statement credited to Salvador may not stand the test of time. Analysts say the PDP has suffered a major setback that may have altered the equation and, so, it may not be able to give the APC a good run for its money. Such analysts say the defection of six out the seven PDP members in the state House of Assembly to APC amounts to a big blow, which has destabilised the party’s preparation for the July 22 contest.

    Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs analyst, Mr Monday Ubani has ruled out any impressive showing by the PDP in the coming polls. He said the PDP is almost dead, particularly in Lagos State. With the sterling performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, he is of the view that the PDP has no chance.

    Ubani doubts if the party will win a single chairmanship seat, because Governor Ambode’s performance in the last two years has made the APC more popular in the state. The ruling party has given a good account of itself, by fulfilling its promises to the electorates. The lawyer said: “Akinwunmi Ambode has endeared the APC to people who do not belong to the party; there is no part of Lagos that is not feeling the impact of Ambode’s administration.”

    Ubani said the antecedents of the PDP are working against it. His words: “Nigerians would never entrust the PDP with power; for 16 years, the party looted the treasury; mismanaged the economy and impoverished the people.”

    A political activist, Mr Tola Sawyer, puts it this way: “The two-year old administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has changed the face of Lagos. Developmental projects like road rehabilitation, drainages, fly-overs, street lightening cut across the state. He doesn’t discriminate against people who voted against him in 2015. In fact, Ambode has made Lagos residents to forget what party they belong, because of his performance.

    “There is no opposition for the APC in the coming local council poll. What will the PDP use to campaign? Is it looting of the treasury for 16 years that has impoverished Nigerians? The PDP has no chance in Lagos. The few seats won in 2015 general elections were as a result of Jonathan’s resort to bribe people with dollars. That will never work again in Lagos.”

    Sawyer advised the party leaders not to waste their time coming out to campaign, “because the party has incurred the wrath of the populace with the on-going revelations on how it looted the nation’s treasury. Nigerians are no fools. They know the party that has the interest of the common people at heart”.

    The PDP in Lagos State is polarised. What is happening at the national level is affecting the state chapter. There are three factions, namely: the Segun Adewale group, which is affiliated to Ali Modu Sheriff faction; the Bode George faction, which is loyal to the Makarfi group; and the Jimi Agbaje faction, which appears to be independent.

    With the division in the party, the questions being asked by observers are: Which faction would lead the PDP campaign? Which faction will present chairmanship and councillorship candidates? Which of the groups will LASIEC recognise? These are the issues that must be settled if the PDP must go into the election as a united party. Based on the reality on ground, Adewale seems to be the authentic chairman, because the Appeal Court has declared Sheriff as the PDP National Chairman.

    Adewale is not comfortable with the happenings within the fold, as he admitted that the party is in disarray. He admitted that he is a factional chairman, because the Lagos PDP has been factionalised into groups. He said: “There are so many factions; we have the Jimi Agbaje faction which does not have followership; we have the Bode George group and others. The various court cases raging at the national level are having ripple effects on the party.

    The PDP chieftain said: “I must say that the Lagos PDP under Moshood Salvador is not really ready to move forward. They are aware that some of us have a track record of political success. The truth is that it is the Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff camp that has been winning elections in the state. For instance, in 2015, I won four House of Representatives and six House of Assembly seats for the PDP.

    “We have Baba Kola Balogun with us; he won election in his polling booth, his ward and his local government. He equally delivered the neighbouring local governments. He delivered all the Badagry division.

    “But, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi camp headed by Bode George has not performed. He lost his polling booth, his ward and his local government. He lost everything that has to do with his senatorial district. I won seven local governments; the result is there for anybody to see.”

    Salvador disagreed with Adewale’s position on George’s electoral value. He recalled that when he was National Vice Chairman of the party (Southwest) that it defeated the Alliance for Democracy (AD) at the governorship election in five states. It was through the political sagacity of Senator Bola Tinubu that the APC was able to get some states back.

    He said: “George is there because he happens to be the highest party official in Lagos State. Therefore, he is the leader of the party. He is a Board of Trustees (BoT) member; this position elevates him above every other person and we must queue behind him.”

    On the PDP’s preparation for the poll, its spokesman, Mr Taofik Gani, said the party has been getting ready for the contest for some time and is battle-ready to face the ruling party. He said the council poll was supposed to hold during the tenure of former Governor Babatunde Fashola, but was delayed for reasons known to the leadership of the APC.

    He said the party is not demoralised by the defection of its members in the House of Assembly. “We are ready for the poll; we have been mobilising for the election,” he said.

    The APC Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, said his party is ever ready for the council election. He said: “We are prepared even if election is to hold tomorrow. Even though the APC is the ruling party, we are not relenting; we are still making efforts to consolidate on our popularity and acceptability by the good people of Lagos State.”

    Ajomale said it would be naive of the PDP to base its popularity on the few assembly seats it won in the last general elections. He added: “We knew what played out in that election. Former President Goodluck Jonathan relocated to Lagos in the build-up to the general elections. He abandoned Abuja, the seat of government, just because he wanted to win Lagos. I understand he came with about $700 million to prosecute election in Lagos.

    “Besides, Ifeanyi Ubah, a benefactor of the Jonathan administration bankrolled the party’s campaign expenses in Lagos. We are waiting to see if Jonathan and Ubah would still provide the financial warchest to Lagos PDP, as they did in the last general elections. I think it is wishful thinking for the PDP to say that the party is popular enough to win the forthcoming council poll. The APC will put them where they rightly belong.”

    Similarly, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Abiodun Salami, is very optimistic that the party would win the election hands down. He said the APC’s victory is not negotiable, because it is a grassroots party.

    The image maker added: “As a party, we are prepared. We have been mobilising our people for the election. We are preparing like the Boys’ Scouts to win the election genuinely in Lagos, as we have always done.”

    A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Akin Ogunlana, has predicted that the election will be a walk-over for the APC. He said a lot of things are working in favour of the party. He said: “It is the only party on ground in the state; it is stable and winning more members every day.

    “As the ruling party, the incumbency factor is an added advantage. Above all Governor Ambode’s performance has won the council poll for the APC. Ambode has raised the bar of governance in Lagos. He has within two years turned Lagos around. But, the party must handle its primary with extra care to avoid protest vote.

    “The PDP is a divided house. The party can’t resolve its self-inflicted crisis between now and when the election would hold. How can they compete and win? The few House of Assembly seats won in 2015 was ephemeral. To me, there is no formidable opposition party to withstand the APC in Lagos State.”

     

  • Zenith Basketball League First Bank, First Deepwater renew rivalry

    Zenith Basketball League First Bank, First Deepwater renew rivalry

    First Bank basketball club and First Deepwater, will on Saturday renew rivalry as both sides clash in the ongoing Zenith Bank Women basketball league at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.

    While First Bank have not dropped any point from the three matches played so far in the series, Deepwater only managed wins two against Nasarawa Amazons and Taraba Hurricanes  but dropped one match against Plateau Rocks.

    Today’s tie promises a lot of thrills and frills as First Bank Coach Peter Ahmedu has charged his wards to go all out and pick the maximum points against their opponents.

    Ahmedu said his girls would not underrate any team no matter how small they are adding that what is uppermost in their minds is to win every match and end up on top of the log after the first phase.

    “We have what it takes to stop Deepwater. Although they started poorly but they have bounced back in the last two matches, so we are not going to play them with kid gloves,” he explained.

    First Deep Water Coach, Lateef Erinfolami, during the pre-match interview said that they respect First Bank but that they were not invincible.

    Other matches slated for today are the ties between Nasarawa Amazons and Taraba Hurricanes, FCT Angels and Zamfara Babes, GT2000 girls and Oluyole Babes while Coal City Queens of Enugu will take enterprising youthful side Dolphins of Lagos.

    The first phase will come to an end on April 17, with the next phase commencing in Kaduna on May 1.

  • Before unhealthy rivalry ruins Taraba

    There is no doubt that many Taraba politicians are already thinking about  2019, which is why it should be expected that truth may become a casualty of the battle for political power. But in the interest of well-meaning Taraba indigenes, it is important to set the record straight regarding allegations of non-performance levelled against Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku recently at a reception held for Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya and some of his loyalists who had just defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It is also necessary to clarify many of the false claims made against the governor at the event so that he does not fall victim to the timeless saying that if falsehood is allowed to fester, it will don the gab of truth.

    By a stroke of magic, a ceremony purportedly meant to announce the defection of Ikenya from PDP to APC tuned into a forum for defamation and vilification of Governor Ishaku’s person. In their self-imposed task of assessing Ishaku’s performance, the gathering resorted to unprovoked attacks on the state’s chief executive. In a session that smacked of a campaign of calumny, the defectors took turns to embark on specious and tendentious criticism of the governor, waving him off as a non-performer who had failed to deliver on his campaign promises.

    For instance, Ahmed Yusuf, a former Commissioner of Finance in the state, described Governor Ishaku as “the worst performing governor ever in Taraba since 1991.” In his speech at the occasion, he added: “I have been part of all the administrations in Taraba State since 1991, and I can say with authority after an honest assessment that this is the worst regime ever in Taraba State. We are passing through the worst time where huge and colossal sums of funds (sic) are being wasted by the present administration. But today marks a watershed in the political history of Taraba State, given the calibre of personalities who have gathered here to cause a change and move Taraba State forward.”

    In a speech that reeked of self-indictment, Ikenya, who boasted that he was instrumental to the emergence of Ishaku as the state’s governor in the 2015 elections, said he did not know that he and other people who supported the governor’s candidacy in 2015 were packaging cassava for the people whose need was yam. “We are the people who caught the lion from the forest; we are the ones to unleash it,” he boasted in veiled reference to the impending battle for the governorship seat of the state in 2019. Identifying education as the bedrock of any country’s development, Ikenya accused the Ishaku administration of not paying teachers their salaries as and when due.

    He said: “A director in the civil service who has put in 25 years is no longer paid; he has been branded as a ghost worker. Special advisers in Taraba State have become revenue collectors. The condition is so bad that people can no longer afford to give offerings in church, not to talk of paying school fees. The people are complaining and crying everywhere in Taraba State. That is why I have come back to APC with all my supporters to see how we can fix the state.”

    Going by Ikenya’s own admission, there is no doubt that the battle for the soul of Taraba State in the 2019 elections is at the bottom of the coarse invectives hauled at Governor Ishaku at the said ceremony in Wukari. Fair-minded Tarabans are bound to marvel at the web of untruth and half-truth woven around Ishaku to portray him as a non-performing governor. A cursory visit to Jalingo, the state capital, would reveal the massive rehabilitation works the governor is doing on the network of township roads. These include the Jalingo to Kona and Lau; the road from Magami to Moqoi market as well as the one from Works Roundabout to Palace Way, to mention a few.

    Outside the state capital, the reconstruction of the all-important Bali-Serti-Gembu Road has reached about 90 per cent completion. The administration has also told everyone who cares to listen that the problem of potable water in the state was being addressed in collaboration with the African Development Bank (ADB). And contrary to the allegation that the governor has no time for education, a simple example of the governor’s effort in this direction is the construction of an office block for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to enhance the services of the examination body in the state. With this, WAEC candidates from Taraba State can register for their West African Schools Certificate Examination (WASCE) without travelling to Yola, the capital of neighbouring Adamawa State. It is to Ishaku’s credit that the Wukari General Hospital was rehabilitated for the first time since 1962.

    The staff audit exercise over which the opposition is calling Ishaku out for crucifixion is nothing but an effort to fish out the ghost workers in the state’s civil service who over the years have constituted themselves into cankerworms that are eating very deeply into the state’s finances.

    Given the foregoing few examples, true Tarabans would be shocked at the bare-faced lies being orchestrated against the Ishaku administration.

    In a nation whose constitution guarantees freedom of association as a fundamental right, Senator Ikenya and his supporters reserve the right to remain with the PDP or defect from it. After all, it is said that 20 children cannot play together for 20 years. This, however, is not a licence for the campaign of calumny against the governor. Ikenya and his supporters do not have to give a dog a bad name and hang him.  While it must be admitted that rivalry is the soul of politics, such rivalry must be healthy for Taraba State to make progress.

     

    • Patrick, a media consultant, lives in Abuja 

  • Monarchs caution against rivalry

    THE Conflict Resolution Committee of the Yoruba Obas has called on traditional rulers to shun undue rivalry.

    This was contained in a six-paragraph communiqué signed by the secretary of the committee, the Sabiganna of Iganna, Oba Saliu Oyemonla Azeez, at the end of its meeting held at Premier Hotel, Mokola, Ibadan.

    The meeting was attended by 11 members of the committee, namely the chairman, Olugbo of Ugboland Oba Obateru Akinruntan; Olojodu of Ojuduland Oba Sikirulai-Alabi Adelani- Obatula; Olubaram of Ibaram Akoko Oba R.O. Atibioke and the Odoka of Ogbaro Oba Obafemi Ogbaro.

    Others include Olugedede of Akoko Oba Walihu Sanni; Oosunla Erusu-Akoko Oba Sunday Mogaji; Eleriti of Eriti Akoko Oba Ogunleye Amos; Oluyani of Yani Oba Joel Daodu; Owa of Ogbagi-Akoko Oba Victor Adetona and Olupoti of Ipoti-Ekiti, Oba Oladipupo James Kolade.

    The statement reads: “To ensure that the current peace is not eroded, the committee admonishes all the traditional rulers to shun undue rivalry and anything capable of injuring the feelings of fellow Obas.

    “Only through unity of purpose among traditional rulers will what is due to the Yoruba be attained.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that the present administration will bring smile to their faces. We want government to give traditional rulers windows of opportunity to be involved in governance to be able to use their wealth of experience and closeness with the people.”

  • Baseless rivalry among Nigerian artistes

    Music, like poetry, is a subject of emotion. It is an art form that caresses the inner recesses of the mind. Sometimes, the best hit songs come about after the musician has brooded over issues by way of introspection. It is not all about smoking of weed or cannabis and other hard substances. It is about the capacity to look at life from a different perspective.

    Well, some of the greatest musicians that greeted the world stage were people who got inspirations from different things; some, admittedly, through drugs and others, from situations and circumstances.

    Nigerian musicians (thankfully I don’t consider a lot of them worthy of the title) are of different breeds. Most of them are buoyed by the greed for erotic exercise, the pervading narrative of poverty that hounds them, the envy from those they do better than and the lust for beautiful women.

    Those who started on the strength of their love of music, who really understand what the hip-hop world is about, know quite well that the genre of music started with rivalry. Remember the Tupac versus Notorious B.I.G era, which sparked the East Coast versus West Coast enmity. In the legend, we saw two friends torn apart by the lust of fame and fortune.

    Those were the days of good rap and hip-hop, not the Afro hip-hop that is being dished out by many Nigerian artistes.

    Tupac versus Notorious B.I.G rivalry was too long ago. Some of still remember the recent beef between Meek Mill and Drake, and how it gave birth to some hit songs, leading a major nomination for the eventual winner of the feud – Drake. Whether we like it or not, Drake left Nicki Minaj’s beau with bloody nose.

    Meek Mill versus Drake started when Meek Mill tweeted that Drake does not write his own raps. Rather than get into a Twitter war, Drake eventually snapped back with two freestyles, Charged up and Back to back, wherein he called Meek Mill out for not having his own world tour, but being on his lady’s tour. Meek Mill eventually got back to Drake on a track called Don’t wanna know, but it was pretty unanimous that Drake won.

    There was also Gucci Mane versus Young Jeezy. Two friends but one track caused the rivalry. Gucci took the song and put it on his own project, which meant Young Jeezy could not use it. The latter never got paid. His calm response was to offer to “cremate” his target on Stay strapped. In 2005, Pookie Loc, a Young Jeezy’s associate, was murdered.

    Gucci was blamed, and then acquitted, having acted in self-defence. After years of volleys and a splinter beef involving DJ Drama, the two artistes settled, supposedly recording a couple of songs together. But Gucci went rogue, as he does, and recorded a song called Worst enemy.

    In 2010, the two camps were fighting at Walter’s Clothing in Atlanta. Later, Young Jeezy would describe the whole thing as a “misunderstanding” but would also refer to Gucci as “retarded”.

    Now, enter Eminem versus The Source. The Source was like a Bible of sort for musicians. The magazine’s five-mic review of Illmatic is just as important to Nas’ story as the actual music. Its authority received a serious blow in 2002, when Benzino, a rapper, used his influence inside the office to launch an all-out attack on Eminem – the world’s biggest artists at the time.

    Eminem responded with some of the greatest tracks ever recorded, such as Nail in the coffin. To cut a long story short, The Source lost all credibility and investors. Eminem managed to sell millions of copies of even his records.

    Most rivalries were personal. In 2001, Beanie Sigel released his first single, Mack B, which included the line, You got the 430, small wheels. Jadakiss thought the line might have been directed at him and sent a couple of shots back, ending in a well-regarded feud that would pull in their respective crews for a slew of classic records, including Beanie’s Kiss the game goodbye.

    Maybe the best moment was when Jadakiss, onstage at Philadelphia’s Power House concert, said to Beanie’s hometown crowd: “Send Sigel a wire, I’m riding again”. Hours later, Beanie stood on the same stage and said: “I make his mouth piece obese like Della Reese/When I released, he loses cheek…I’m a made man”.

    The subtle remarks were all apparently directed to Jadakiss. The rivalry got heated and yet, it ended with the two in good terms.

    There was also the 50 Cent versus Ja Rule duel. 50 Cent has had altercation with several artistes. Even now, he still has issues with one or two persons including women. He recently filed for bankruptcy as a result of legal logjam he got himself into with a woman who demanded for child support. But the one that stands legendary is his fight with an equally legendary Ja Rule.

    For a time, 50 Cent’s marketing plan was simple: go hard on them. His 2005 Piggy Bank was a direct attack on Jadakiss, Nas and Fat Joe. He also fired darts at Lil Kim, Mobb Deep, Shyne, Kelis and others. In 2007, he sent black roses to Cam’ron’s label, around the same time he had promised to retire if Kanye West outsold him.

    As the story goes, trouble started when an associate of 50 Cent tried to steal Ja Rule’s jewellery, which in turn led to 50 Cent getting stabbed at a New York club. 50 Cent set to dismantle Ja Rule’s career, starting with mixtape tracks and skits such as Life’s on the line and Ja Rule duets, where he mimicked Ja Rule’s gravel-voice singing over pop songs and videos.

    Ja Rule tried responding in kind when he released Blood in my eye, though it could not heal his pain. In desperation, his team left bullet holes in 50 Cent’s office. By 2005, Ja Rule’s career had nosedived. In two years, he had gone from Number One to nowhere. But there’s no bad blood, perhaps. Ja Rule acknowledged his loss and in 2013, the two were on the same plane and got to their destination without any problem.

    My point is that, musical rivalries have led to composition of ever-green songs that have stood the test of time. In Nigeria artistes’ feud, as seen in the case of Olamide and Don Jazzy, began and ended in two days. I saw it as gimmicks. But then, we have learnt enough from the boju-boju we experienced at the hands of Idrees Abdulkareem during his reign as Nigeria rap king when he would just catch anyone and lambast them to submission until Ruggedman came out with the track that shut him up with his hit track, Why you too dey rap like mumu?.

  • GCI, Methodist old Boys rekindle football rivalry

    GCI, Methodist old Boys rekindle football rivalry

    The age long football rivalry between Methodist Boys High School Expressway Ibadan and Government College Ibadan (GCI), was re-enacted last Saturday as the ‘91 sets of both schools slugged it out in a novelty match to celebrate their 25 years of leaving their alma mater.

    The one hour encounter held at the hockey pitch of the host school, GCI, was one moment ‘entertaining’ and ‘serious’ the next, as it suddenly dawned on the host school they must carry willy-nilly so as not to embarrass themselves in the presence of hundred of the younger pupils of the school, who had left their hostel to watch the match.

    Interestingly, the old boys many who are now ‘endowed’ with grey hairs  panted and sweated like an exhausted prey, who had finally given up to its predator after an unsuccessful but tedious chase, to find an escape route. From time to time, they broke the rules and hurried off the pitch take some water; and then continued.

    Interestingly too, some of the prominent boys known for their skills during their heydays, attempted to reignite the fire. No thanks to age! The sparks could only last once or twice and the next moment “referee, I’m tired, I want to rest’ said some after spending less than 10 minutes on the pitch.

    The popular Kunle Asulegan a.k.a Stopyra of Methodist School, once popular for his enigmatic dribble and header, had boasted to pump one of two goals into GCI net ahead of the encounter, could only last less than 15 minutes into the match before he slumped. For minutes, Stopyra lay there on the field and the referee had to put the match on hold. Thank God it was not a serious injury, only a muscle pull and Stopyra was immediately attended to on the sideline. But that was the end! He could not return to the pitch to make good his boast.

    A strike professionally taken by Bimbo Oladunjoye a.k.a Abim, following a pass from Taiwo Kareem  (Chicken) about 10 minutes into the match, put Methoe Boys on the lead.’ It was a goal’ everybody chorused! The ‘elderly supporters club’ on the sidelines, poured on the pitch to congratulate their colleagues; tummies bobbling up and down as they jubilated. Abim too, with is grey hairs, which also extended to his sprouting goatee, could hardly believe he could pull such stunt.

    What an undeserved foul at Methoe box 18 seven minutes afterwards! The referee had blown for a penalty in favour of GCI. A subtle protest by the Metho boys. The penalty was taken by Ariyo Legele. The ball zoomed straight into the net. Another thunderous ‘goooooooal’ by the host school.

    Too bad! A rather poor catch by Methoe goalkeeper, Wole Dopemu, just a minute after, finally put the GCI boys ahead as providence also caught up with Ariyo Legelege, who put the shot to Dopemu’s left in an easiest finishing. It’s a goal in GCI favour again.

    But much as Methoe Boys tried in the second half, they could not equalize; nor could GCI succeed in making their visitors’ net a basked of goals as they earlier pontificated. The match ended 2.1 in favour of the host.

    But aside the popular ‘Item Seven’, that followed the match, the event was an opportunity for the two sets to thank God for  surviving over the last 25 years on one hand; and to rekindle the love and affection, which the schools once shared, said GCI Principal, Mr  Simon Olusola Oladele.

    Speaking ahead of the match at the school chapel, Oladele who read from the Holy Bible: Galatians 6:1-10, enjoined the two sets to always keep in touch, extend love to the less privileged among them.

    “It is not by your own power that you are alive today. Many of your colleagues with whom you passed out 25 years ago had either died. You are here because you shared in one another’s pain, so let that love continue.”

    “You student of the GCI always claim your school is the best in Africa; but I say Methodist Boys High School is the best in the world,” added Oladele himself an alumnus of Methodist Boys (‘69 set).

    “As a Federal Government-owned school, you enjoyed more funding,   but in Methoe, we all ahd to struggle and hustle and that paid off for us. Ii wasn’t trained as a hustler; it would have been difficult for a person like me to be your principal.”

    The highpoint of the event was the presentation of award of appreciation by the visitor, as well as the official commissioning of the refurbished Corpers’ Lodge by the Chiarman of GCI ‘91 set Mr Folarin Familusin.

     

  • Shun unhealthy rivalry, Ajimobi urges ACN members

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has urged members of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state to avoid unhealthy rivalry and politics of bitterness in the interest of development.

    The governor, spoke yesterday, while receiving defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord and All Nigeria Peoples, Party from Ibadan North Local Government Area of the State into the ruling party.

    On hand to receive new entrants into the party on the occasion were the State Chairman of ACN, Chief Akin Oke; Representative of Ibadan North in the House of Representatives, Abiodun Awoleye; and representative of Ibadan North II in the State House of Assembly, Segun Olaleye.

    Ajimobi said it was common to experience tension and unhealthy rivalry between the old and the new members when defectors from other parties joined a ruling party. He said, “Politicians are fond of vain glory saying we did this and that for the party and the elected office holders. I pray you will not regret joining our party.

    “There should not be any sentiment between the new members and the old ones. We are all ACN. There is no one that can claim that he single-handedly ensured victory for the party. We all did it. We all made the victory.

    “As you join the party you don’t form any caucus. Work together so that Oyo will be a progressive State. That is the secret of the success recorded in Lagos. If we destroy the party, we shall pay adversely for it. We should not engage in discord”.

    Awoleye, who urged the people to embrace progressive politics, said, “What attracted the defectors into Ajimobi’s government is infrastructural development. The new members being welcomed into the party today voted against the ACN at the poll. But they have seen commitment on the part of the State Government.

    “The ongoing infrastructural development in the state is unprecedented. Oyo used to be a pacesetter state but by the time Ajimobi came to power everything was in a mess. This administration is restoring the glory of the state. Even the defectors are saying it.

    “We urge the people of Oyo State to join hands in moving the state forward. We should play politics of development,” Oke said, adding, “Both the old and the new members in the party shall have equal right”.