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Tag: roots

  • ‘Reconnect with your roots’

    ‘Reconnect with your roots’

    A son of Okepopo on Lagos Island, Lagos State, who is also a prominent politician and industrialist, Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku, has hailed the initiators and organisers of Okepopo Dynasties Health Walk for Unity.

    He also lauded four high chiefs of Okepopo, namely Chief Ibikunle Bailey (Oluwo Jakande of Lagos), Chief Tajudeen Durosinmi-Etti (Eti of Lagos), Chief Adeleye Ajanaku (Araba of Lagos) and Prince Adedeji Eshilokun, Chairman, Okepopo Foundation, for their endorsement ‘’of this historic and groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering unity and rekindling ancestral ties.’’

    In a statement, Prince Eshilokun, the paramount chairman of Okepopo Foundation, said the walk was scheduled to take place on April 27.

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    He said the initiative was conceived to bring together Okepopo descendants at home and abroad, to strengthen communal bonds and reaffirm their shared heritage.

    The event is expected to serve as a symbol of solidarity among family compounds of Okepopo, with participation anticipated from lineages such as Kabiawu, Ogboye, Ajose, Oshun, Fashina, Kenku, Ekeolere and many others.

  • Going back to the roots

    Going back to the roots

    Yoruba rulers, elders and leaders are worried. They have reasons to be. What has been happening in Yorubaland in recent times is nothing to be happy about. Ko se so (something not to talk about), as the elders will say when a problem becomes overwhelming. There is a huge problem in the region, which seems to defy logic, but not solution.

    It is this need for solution that made the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the foremost Yoruba monarch, to convene a summit of the region’s rulers, elders and leaders in Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba, to chart the way out. Yorubaland is troubled. As they say, elders cannot be around and allow things to go wrong. The duty of an elder is to ensure that things are in order all the time.

    The Yoruba believe that it is an agbaya (a good for nothing elder) that does not intervene when things are going wrong. At the Ife gathering, the Ooni spoke from the heart. He wondered what has become of the race, which is known for its esoteric powers to address issues, such as insecurity, protection and safety of life and property. Ironically, the land appears to have lost its powers to fortify itself against any form of danger.

    What is more. The custodians of these powers themselves are in danger and need help. How did this happen that birds could no longer chirp as birds nor rats cry as rats? How did it happen? Some of the abominable things witnessed in the land really call for concerns. Who dare look at the face of a baale, a lowly communjty chief, not to talk of the oba, who holds sway in the domain? These days, obas are being kidnapped two for one kobo! Did I hear you shout Eewo (abomination)? But it happened and three or more were even killed.

    So, you can understand where Oba Ogunwusi was coming from in convening the summit on security in the Southwest. According to him, the security challenges in Yorubaland can be tackled with ‘measures’ and ‘approaches’ capable of ending the scourge. “We are concerned about the prevailing security challenges in Yorubaland. All Yoruba obas are united on this and I am sure we will salvage the situation in no time”, he added.

    No fewer than 200 traditional rulers including major and minor royals were at the summit where former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who is now Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman delivered the keynote address. Arase’s stand on community policing is well known. He believes that communities must play major roles in security matters in collaboration with the police.

    But like many Nigerians, his position on creating state police under the prevailing  circumstance cannot be faulted. This may be the way to go eventually, but the process must be thought through first and not rushed in order to serve a yearning and pressing need. To Arase, the first step towards addressing insecurity in the region and other places is ‘proper surveillance’. As an expert, he must know what he is talking about. Indeed, what is security without surveillance and intelligence. It is like trying to make omellete without breaking eggs.

    A community cannot be secured without proper surveillance. It is through surveillance that data is gathered about who’s who in the community, where they work and live, their family members and friends. Through surveillance too, the community is able to know about new arrivals in town; where they stay and who they are putting  up with. In one word, surveillance is all about being aware of things around you. It is an indicator to Know Your Neighbour (KYN) and what they do.

    In a situation like this, it is easy to raise the alarm; know who to call and where to go in an emergency. Under the present set up, the security agencies are far removed from the people, thereby creating room for doubts, mistrust and antagonism whenever there are issues. If the Ooni initiative can address these issues, the region may be getting closer to solving its security challenges.

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    Aare-Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, who spoke on Kidnapping and banditry: overcoming the twin menace and the Yoruba legacy of African Science – Yesterday, today and tomorrow stressed the need for local security groups in the fight against bandits, kidnappers and terrorists in all forests in the Southwest. He listed some of the groups as the three Agbekoyas, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Egbe Obirin Oodua Agbaye, saying they were ready to secure the region and free it from the grips of criminals.

    To the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, traditional rulers must protect themselves and their subjects by traditional means. Renowned Ifa Priest, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, said obas must observe the necessary traditional rites before ascending the throne. Those who cannot do that, he added, have no business been on the throne. In essence, there is still traditional balm in Yorubaland for tackling insecurity which obas must apply so as to remove the shame and stigma of being kidnapped or killed cheaply by the uninitiated (ogberi).

    As fathers of the people, the security of their domains should be their topmost priority, just as it was in the past under their ancestors, thereby earning their forebears the people’s respect and loyalty.

  • Group roots for ‘green revolution’

    Group roots for ‘green revolution’

    As part of its centennial celebration, the Lions District  404B1 Nigeria has adopted the Tree planting project to save the environment from deforestation.

    Last week, Lagos Valiant Lions Club took the campaign for tree planting to Olorunfunmi Junior Grammar School, Idimu, a Lagos suburb, where it planted some trees.

    Its President, Mrs Jennifer Benson-Akinremi, said the club selects a project yearly, and that this year’s event specifically came up last month with the choice of saving the environment.

    ‘’What we are working on was based on a directive from our international office. It is not we only that are doing this, it is all over the world. But we chose this school as our project,’’ she said, adding that the funds for the projects were raised from her colleagues, who are committed to Lions’ three Ts – Talent, Treasure (money) and Time.

    She promised to check the plants regularly to ensure that they do not die.  “Our Tree Planting Chairman, Ibrahim Odunsi, would come here to see to that,’’ she added.

    Odunsi said they chose the school because they felt that the ‘green revolution’should be taken to the grassroots too. ‘’When you protect the environment, you protect lives,’’ he said.

    The state Ministry of Education District 1 Director Dr Olufolayimika Abiose Ayandele, the school’s Principal Mrs Olufunmilayo Adeseri and her deputy Mrs Odeyemi as well as the Head Boy took turns to plant trees, urging that the trees would provide oxygen, shelter and wade off evil winds.

    Mrs Ayandele said: “We pray the trees will germinate and give us fresh air in this environment.’’  Mrs Adeseri thanked Lions for the gesture. ‘’We appreciate Lions. May God bless you. We are planting trees. Tree is life,’’ adding: “We also need your assistance in our perimeter fencing. We have tried and tried, but no help came to  us.’’

  • Roots of Bayelsa’s dilemma

    Roots of Bayelsa’s dilemma

    As Nigerians await the election in Southern Ijaw Local Government, which will determine the final result of the touchy governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, who monitored it at close quarters last Saturday, reports on the root causes of the Bayelsa dilemma

    Following widespread violence in the December 6, 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa State, which left about eight people dead and several others injured, and the resultant postponement of the election in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the tension in the South-South state has remained very high.

    Although some observers predicted that the poll would be violent, only very few imagined it would assume the dimension it did. The popular prediction was that the security cordon around the restive Niger Delta state would contain the excesses of militant youths.

    But the security forces were rather helpless or overwhelmed in some areas, especially in the riverine communities.

    First signs that the massive security presence in the state would not be able to contain the violence were confirmed in the early morning hours that Saturday, when some gun-toting hooligans, identified only as political thugs, shot four people dead in Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    To compound the sense of insecurity that day, the people were inundated with conflicting reports of the actual perpetrators of the violence. While the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the major opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC), of hijacking ballot boxes under the supervision of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, his APC alleged that the rampaging youths that invaded his country home were sponsored by the PDP.

    There were similar buck-passing and conflicting reports from several wards in places like Ekeremor Town, Ekeremor Local Government Area, in Opume Town, where 10 persons made attempts to hijack voting materials but were repelled by the police and at Kolokuma/Opokuma, where hoodlums attacked voters, and prevented them from accessing polling units.

    In the Ogbolomabiri area of Nembe Town in Nembe Local Government Area, and in Sagbama, the situation was the same as some political thugs attacked a party agent and others.

    While the various political parties that participated in the election agreed on the fact that there was red hot violence, what they disagreed on was the source of the violence. For example, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation, Nathan Egba, was quoted as alleging that in Oporoma, two ex-militants, who he said were known PDP members, led armed thugs to the community and killed some APC members.

    But Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, said that Saturday that it was APC thugs that were in the offensive when he said, “My party and I have called for peace. APC is not preparing for election but war. They have armed their thugs with police and military uniforms, and in some cases, are protected by security agents themselves. What is currently going on is mayhem,” he said. He also reportedly blamed both the Ekeremor and Oporoma attacks on APC.

    “We are taking stock of all these and we hope and expect that appropriate legal actions will be taken against these notorious criminals who are unleashing terror and violence on fellow citizens, all in the name of politics. The security agents know who they are. The security agents arrived when the mayhem were carried out,” the governor said.

    He added: “People have been attacked in Twon Brass, in two wards there. People who are supporters of our party are held hostage, as I speak to you. Supporters have been attacked and injured in Orwoma. A number of them have sustained life-threatening injuries. That terrible attack is going on, even as we speak. The state chairman of the party is hiding in police custody in Twon Brass. He cannot vote. The condition there is not one that promotes free and fair democratic exercise and franchise for our people.”

    Roots of the intrigues

    Keen observers of the politics of Bayelsa State say what played out on Saturday, December 6, 2015 is a build-up of the intricacies of Bayelsa, described as the hub of Ijaw nation.

    Even before the gubernatorial election, many agreed that it would mark the first time a proper election would hold in the state since 1999. According to Mr. Henry Paniebi, “before now, this state was 100 percent PDP, so during elections, everybody would have known the result before casting the votes. But we all knew before this election that it would not be business as usual, more so when the leading political parties, the PDP and the APC, fielded political rivals in the persons of Dickson and Sylva respectively. That being the case, we expected the desperation and we knew what the two candidates were capable of doing.

    “We knew that a combination of factors, like the influence of former President Goodluck Jonathan, our sentiment over politics of the centre, the death of former governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, use of militant youths by the two leading candidates and of course huge war chest, will come to play. So, we are not surprised at what happened,” he said.

    Dr. Israel Ibinabo also told The Nation, “You cannot distinguish between the influence of Jonathan and that of his wife or the movement built around the streetwise influence of the former governor, Governor-General, the late Alamieyeiseigha. In Yenegoa here, people believe only a combination of these forces would give Dickson an edge. The way our people think here, the sentiment already built around the support of these people is even more potent than the power of incumbency. This is not to deny the love a common Bayelsan has for former Governor Sylva, who we feel was badly treated by PDP in spite of his genuine efforts to make tangible impact.”

    Investigation conducted in Yenagoa during the elections confirmed that the debate on the need to align with the politics of the centre aided the opposition APC in many parts of the state. It would be recalled that this debate has gained roots in Bayelsa State since the late Chief Melford Okilo, the founder of the National Solidarity Movement (NSM) collapsed his party into the PDP, thus making way for the emergence of former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Since then, the state had remained a PDP state, culminating in the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    While Sylva-led APC worked hard to nurture the old sentiment of politics of the centre, the Dickson-led PDP argued that Ijaws would not abandon PDP, a party that produced former President Jonathan after benefitting so much from it as that would amount to ingratitude. Insiders said the electioneering campaign for the December 6 election became particularly emotive because of the way their son, Jonathan, suddenly lost the Presidency on March 28. “Some of us saw the election as a scheme to displace another of our son by a political party that denied us of the presidency,” said Madam Juliet Agbo.

    We gathered that by the time former governor Alamieyeseigha died, shortly before the election, PDP supporters became even more emotional.

    Ex-militant leader, Asari- Dokubo captured this feeling when he told media men before the election, “For me, we should stand and make sure opposition does not take Bayelsa. It goes beyond Dickson, just like the Presidency goes beyond Jonathan, it is about us. Ibos stood by Jonathan, so we should not do anything that would make them feel we have betrayed them. The consequences of an APC victory would be far reaching. All the people who stood by us have their eyes on Bayelsa; they are watching us.  The election is going to be a litmus test of Ijaw people’s perseverance and sincerity. For me, it is a duty on all Ijaw people to make sure that whatever it takes by any means necessary, APC does not raise its voice in Bayelsa State,” he said.

    These deep seated feelings, over dependence on government and the overt involvement of militants in the politics of the state accounted for not only the intrigues and name calling that trailed the electioneering campaigns but also the violence that led to the suspension of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    It would be recalled that before the D-day, reports of defections and cross-carpeting into the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party became a daily affair. Beyond the defections, however, it was observed that political actors freely engaged in name calling, a development that is allegedly informed by disagreements over use of government resources.

    For example, reacting to some criticisms of non performance against his government by BPCA, Governor Dickson had said through his spokesman, Daniel Iworiso, Dickson that “What is playing out is an offshoot of the governor’s long-running battle with this class of politicians on the proper utilization of state resources to serve the people and never to serve the greed of the few. Their selfish conception of politics and attitude in government is what had retarded development in the state since the era of the late statesman, Chief Melford Okilo.

    “Bayelsans can never exchange the present peace and tranquility in the state as well as the unprecedented level of development for the chaos and unmitigated rent culture of the past. All they want is free access to money, which will enable them to live big at the expense of development and this is the point of departure between them and Governor Dickson”.

    Countering this accusation that the defectors left the party for personal reasons and self aggrandizement, one of the leaders of the group then said they decided to join the APC because the PDP had become an opposition party at the federal level.

    He said, “Don’t forget that in this part of the country, we have always aligned with the federal government because of our limitations. We are a minority living on wealth but wallowing in squalor, and you cannot extrapolate yourself too far or too long from the power that controls the system if you want to make progress.

    “This is the philosophy that has been right from the time of Chief Harold Dapaprieye, the then leader of the Ijaw, who represented them at the London Constitutional Conference of 1958.

    “Why are some people suddenly thinking that we must still be in the PDP? That party went into an election with our own son even as a sitting president and lost. Politics is about conceding and taking. So why can’t we concede and be in the majority so that we can benefit,” he asked.

    The complexity of the politics of Bayelsa today may be seen from the report that the same leader of the group, who wrote off PDP had gone back to the party before the election.

    Bayelsa Dilemma

    Given this complexity, built on emotion and history, many say the postponed governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area would not only determine the next occupant of the Government House in Yenegoa but the future political direction of the entire Ijaw nation. Many are asking if the people will continue to allow emotion to guide their political path or resolve to follow new realities. So, for the state and the country, the stake is very high, as insiders and observers alike say the security agents must prepare to do much more than they did in December 6, especially because both PDP and APC are claiming that Southern Ijaw Local Government Area is their strongholds.

  • Oliseh roots for Obaroakpo

    Oliseh roots for Obaroakpo

    Super Eagles Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has rated his left wing defender Austin Obaroakpo as one of the best players in the local league, that can feature prominently with any team in Europe.

    Speaking exclusively to Sportinglife, the former International said: “It is wrong for anyone to say that we don’t have good players at home, we have very good players that can hold their heads high in any club they found themselves in Europe.

    “Take Austin Obaroakpo for example, this is a very good player, very intelligent, and strong on ball. He has all the potentials that any coach needs in player, and I have no option than to continue to give him the opportunity. I have said it time without number that if at every match I found out that it is only the players that are based here at home that would give me the result, I will give them the opportunity. I don’t care where you are playing, but your current form determines your position in the team,” he said.

    The former Julius Berger of Lagos player however advised Oboroakpo to be careful before deciding to join the overseas professional train.

    “He needs to be very careful before taking a step to move overseas. He should not say because others are there, and decided to join them, it may be a mistake that would not bring the best out of his game” he concluded.

  • Nigerian Breweries unveils ACE Roots

    Nigerian Breweries unveils ACE Roots

    Nigeria’s biggest brewer, Nigerian Breweries, has launched a new and healthy low sugar drink, ACE Roots, which is a second instalment of the ACE series.

    ACE Roots was unveiled at a trade launch which held at the Havens Event Centre in Ikeja in the presence of key distributors, stakeholders and celebrity guests like Wande Coal, Black Magic, BEAT FM OAP, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Korede Bello, EFA and DJ Lamboghiny in attendance.

    Also present were representatives from Nigerian Breweries including the Sales Director, Hubert Eze; Zonal Regional Manager, Opeyemi Oluwalusi; Senior Brand Manager, CSD and ACE, NnennaIfebigh-Hemeson; Regional Business Manager, Moses Ogbodo and Marketing Manager, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Olayinka Bakare.

    ACE Roots has a delightful, flavoured African tang for health conscious Nigerians who want to relax and celebrate their African identity.

    Speaking during the launch, Nigerian Breweries Sales Director, Hubert Eze, said: “Today’s Nigerian youth is implicitly and explicitly African. They want the Africa in their food, they want Africa in their music, they want Africa in their fashion, and they also want Africa in what they drink when relaxing and having fun which is why we decided to create a product with an authentic African soul like those who drink it.”

    ACE released its first variant ”Passion Apple Spark” in December 2014. ACE Roots is made up of 14 natural fruits and herbs with low sugar all mixed in a unique 60cl bottle and sleek can with metalized labels. It will be available for sales beginning from this week.

  • Glo-CAF AWARD: Supporters Club roots for Enyeama

    Glo-CAF AWARD: Supporters Club roots for Enyeama

    President of Nigeria Football Supporters,  Rafiu Ladipo has called on Nigerians to register their votes for Super Eagles and LOSC Lille Metropole goal keeper, Vincent Enyeama to enable him win the forth coming Glo-CAF players award ceremony which holds in Lagos on January 8.

    Ladipo in his remark on Metrosport has showered praises on Globacom Telecommunication Company in Nigeria for its un-flinching efforts in sponsoring the event since eight years passed.

    “CAF award is a good thing in Africa, and the last eight years, it has been Glo sponsoring it, so we must thank them for being the sponsor of this programme which is helping football to develop in Africa. “

    “If at the end of every football season, a thing like this comes up, it is in a way to encourage players to perform better in the next season. Right now we have three nominees, and among them is a goal keeper. I think for new innovations and for encouragement, and to show that football is just a team event, Enyeama can be given the award. “

    The seasoned football administrator reflecting on the performance of Super Eagles of Nigeria in the year 2014 submitted that it was a woeful one and blamed the team for failing to prove their worth to the world by surpassing their second round exit stage in the history of the competition.

    Ladipo went further to express grief on the Super Eagles who were barred by ill-reputable African countries from parading themselves as African Champion in Equatorial Guinea – host of 2015 AFCON Championship.

    “We did not qualify to defend the title we won in 2013 in South Africa, and that is one thing that no one is happy about. If as African Champion, we are not going to defend the Championship, it is not good enough. Before now, we used to be in the range of thirties’ in the FIFA ranking, but right now we are 43rd in the latest ranking,that shows our football is nothing to write home about in the last year.

    “Going to the World Cup, we got to the second round, and that was the fete we achieved in 1994 and 1998 World Cup. But in Brazil 2014, Super Eagles had the chance to write it’s name in the good books of Nigerian sports by surpassing the second round stage, but they couldn’t, “ Ladipo criticised.

  • Enugu impeachment: The roots, the intrigues and the power game

    Enugu impeachment: The roots, the intrigues and the power game

    The impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi, has recorded a lot of twists and intrigues. But as it enters its final stages, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, dug into the genesis of the crisis, and reports that it is rooted in the power game ahead 2015

    As Enugu State House of Assembly this week rounds up the impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi, there are indications that the outcome may untie the web-like political texture of the South-East state ahead 2015 general elections.

    Varying interpretations to the forces that led to the political crisis have already been offered. But our investigation confirmed that all the interpretations point to different political interests, a fact that suggests that the post impeachment realities of Enugu State may not only define the existing political interests of the top players but also expose where each of them stands.

    Until now, some major political stakeholders in the state have carefully hidden their interests, their loyalties and where they stand, but it seems the wind of impeachment will finally blow open some carefully hidden political secrets and expose who is where in the intricate game for 2015 elections.

    For now, as has been the case since last year when the face- off at the Government House began, the Enugu State politics has remained largely anchored on a delicate blame game.

    So, notwistanding the fact that the House of Assembly made its position and reasons for the impeachment proceedings very clear, there still exist different accounts of what led to the action.

    While the deputy governor is accusing his boss, Governor Sullivan Chime, of being behind his predicament because he wants to create political opportunity for his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, officials of the state government and other insiders to PDP leadership in the state, who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity, said it was members of the House of Assembly that noted the gross impeachable offenses committed by Onyebuchi and decided to do their constitutional duties in order to save the state and the inherent threats to democracy. They said Onyebuchi has since ceased to respect, obey or take instructions from the governor, a development that, according to them, has hampered governance in the state.

    For example, a source in Enugu, a civil servant, explaining the genesis of the crisis, has this to say: “The principal impeachable offense against the deputy governor, that of deliberate disobedience to the governor, is neither false no a secret here. It has been there for long. As you must have read in the papers, it led to serious embarrassment of the state during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to flag-off the construction of the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State and during a recent meeting of South-East Governors Forum in Enugu. These are just the few instances that finally brought out this obvious case of deliberate insubordination to the public sphere. The instances have been much but the governor had chosen to manage the situation. In most cases, when the governor directs the deputy to represent him in some critical occasions, the later will claim to be indisposed or sick even when everybody knows that he would attend more strenuous personal assignments at the same specified time. I think both the House of Assembly and the people of Enugu State saw it clearly that these two political leaders, who have been political allies since the days of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, can no longer work together, hence the impeachment proceeding.”

    Another source, a top PDP chieftain in Enugu, who refused to be named in order not to be seen as taking sides, said the matter has to do with the 2015 politics and the control of the state power. “It seems the deputy governor is caught in a fierce political battle between Governor Chime and Senator Ike Ekweremadu for the control of power in Enugu State from 2015. It may not be false that Onyebuchi associates greatly with Ekweremadu and the former governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, but whether he deliberately disobeys the governor on account of his relationship with these powerful political personalities is what I can neither ascertain now nor realistically comment upon, but I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that for Chime and Onyekwere, things have really fallen apart and we in the party know that it may no longer be in the interest of the party and the state to insist they must work together. Something has to go in the interest of peace and progress of the state,” he said.

     

    Genesis of the face-off

    The Nation’s investigation shows that the disagreement between the governor and his deputy dates back to last year when the governor went on a prolonged medical leave.

    During the leave, it was alleged that the deputy governor refused to represent the governor in some vital state functions, a development that not only ridiculed and embarrassed the state but also exposed the cat and mouse relationship between the governor and the deputy.

    In fact, the face-off preceded this recent leave as it can actually preceded the famed poultry evacuation saga.

     

    The poultry saga

    Although the argument over the poultry farm run by the deputy governor in his private residence at the Government House had dragged for a long time, it came to a head on February 28, 2014, when news reports of its evacuation hit headlines.

    That day, over 3,000 fowls plus 40 crates of eggs from the poultry farm were evacuated in the presence of news men and other onlookers.

    The evacuation was carried out by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) and the Ministry of Environment. The officials, led by their commissioners said the poultry farm was constituting public health hazard.

    The ministry officials, who carried out the duty said the Deputy Governor had earlier been directed to relocate the poultry farm in two letters dated December 24 and 27, 2013 with reference numbers GHE/CAO/31/239 and GHE/CAO/31/240, signed by Mr. G.O.C Ajah, Permanent Secretary in-charge of Government House, Enugu.

    However, the deputy governor described the evacuation of his poultry as a wicked act of impunity intended to humiliate him, alleging that Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chief of Staff to the governor was behind the action.

    But an official of Enugu Ministry of Environment, who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity said “none of the letters to the deputy governor, allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff was actually signed by her. In fact, as if divinely ordained, when most of those correspondences to the deputy governor were to be signed, it happens that Madam is usually not around. The ones that emanated from her office or from the Government House were usually signed for her by an officer or by G.O.C Ajah, the Permanent Secretary in-charge of Government House, Enugu.

    “But as you know, even if she signs any of those letters, it would be unfair on her to allege she was the one trying to boss the deputy governor. No, that is cheap politicking, chief blackmail of an innocent woman. Her office as the Chief of Staff is simply designed to convey the governor’s instructions and directives. Everybody, including His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, knows that when a letter comes from the Chief of Staff office, it is not a directive from the Chief of Staff herself but a directive from the governor. It is both laughable and painful that people who know are deliberately striving hard to drag Mrs Nwobodo into everything, projecting her as if she is super human. Is it not instructive that even when the Deputy Governor collapsed at the hearing of the Impeachment Panel this week, the people were careful enough to put it in the papers that he collapsed shortly after the arrival of Mrs Nwobodo. Why must we link everything to this simple woman? She only got to the panel because she was summoned to go and give evidence, just like the other officials.”

    According to the official, during Poultry evacuation saga, both the deputy governor and his loyalists also accused the Chief of Staff of being behind it all.

    It would be recalled that at the peak of the poultry saga, Onyebuchi had said,  “I told them that the poultry farm was designated Agriculture Unit and I want them to deny that the structure had been used as a poultry farm before I became deputy governor. Let them also deny that I have not operated the poultry farm since 2008. That was why I put in my Assets Declaration at the end of my first term and at the beginning of this term that I have operated the poultry farm and this was verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau. How suddenly my poultry farm became a health hazard when it has been in existence since 2008,” he said, adding that it was Mrs Nwobodo that gave the instruction just to ridicule and humiliate him.

    But the Ministry of Environment official, who saw it all said it is not true that Nwobodo simply gave that directive to get at the deputy governor. “I can assure you that the directive is from the very top. Everybody was complaining about the offensive odour emanating from the farm. This was because, as at that time, the deputy governor was not living in the quarters and  his workers were obviously unable to keep the place tidy.

    “I was involved in the Poultry matter. I learnt, I don’t know how correct it is, that at a point, the governor was so disturbed by the unending complaints of staff and visitors to the Government House that he offered to give the deputy governor a piece of land outside the Government House to relocate the birds, but he reportedly refused it. I also remember vividly that even that very morning, the deputy governor was contacted on phone by the commissioner or some other top official I cannot remember clearly and told that the ministry will evacuate the birds to a temporary location to enable us tidy up the place. But you know politicians, he said okay, that there were people there to open the gate for us. But as soon as we got there, the deputy governor arrived with camera men and other newsmen and made a big case of the matter. He said it was the Chief of Staff that instructed the destruction of the farm to humiliate him. I felt sorry for the Madam.”

     

    The parting encounter

    Until a recent historic meeting between the governor and his deputy at the governor’s office, which insiders ironically see as the parting encounter, the face-off was averagely managed by both parties as an open secret. But it got out of control as the two leaders ended up in an open quarrel at that meeting. Today, loyalists of the two personalities are peddling different versions of what transpired between Chime and Onyebuchi in that meeting.

    A source close to the deputy governor said it was the governor that summoned the governor to a meeting in his office. At the meeting, said the source, the governor accused the deputy of disobedience to lawful orders. At a point in the discussion, he became so angry that he asked the deputy governor to walk out of his office and to resign his position immediately. The source claimed that Chime’s anger was Onyebuchi’s insistence that he must contest the senatorial seat of Enugu East. The source said, “The deputy governor frankly told the governor that he must exercise his right to contest election into the senate in the coming elections but the governor opposed the move. When voices started rising, the deputy had to leave,” he said.

    Insiders to Enugu State Government however gave The Nation in Enugu a more graphic account of what happened that day. According to the accounts by two of such sources, it was the deputy governor that actually came on his own to meet with the governor and to seek permission to attend to some personal family affairs.

    According to the accounts, “before granting the oral request, Chime, who at that time just returned from his annual leave abroad, used the opportunity to ask his deputy why he could not represent him in two very important state functions while he was away in spite of the fact that he was given a formal invitation to the event by the Chief of Protocol, the right officer to convey such invitation

    “The functions include the visit of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to Anambra State to flag-off the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and the meeting of South-East Governors’s Forum in Enugu?

    “The governor also expressed displeasure to the report that in his absence for a mere leave, the deputy governor attempted to remove from office the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who as a personal staff to the governor and as such cannot be removed in that manner without the governor’s consent.

    “To the governor’s rude shock, instead of being at least civil in his explanations, the deputy governor said  pointedly that declined to show up at the South-East Governors meeting because the governor did not give him any directive to act in his absence. On the presidential visit Onyebuchi fired back at the governor at the presence of some other governor’s aides, “why should I represent you at those functions? Tell me why I should represent you at those functions.”

    “Almost dumbfounded at the sudden outburst, Chime first said, ‘okay, tell me also why I should grant your permission now.’ “Then, he paused as if in deep thought over the development. By the time he spoke again, he was visibly angry. It was at this stage that the governor listed other cases of alleged insubordination on the part of the deputy governor, accusing Onyebuchi of dancing to a secret song from political rivals. He therefore concluded that the deputy is obviously tired of working with him as he could not be working under another person and be taking instructions from his boss’ political rivals. He therefore advised Onyebuchi to leave his office and to resign his position forthwith.”

     

    The impeachment charges

    Following the obvious breakdown in the relationship between the governor and the deputy governor, the House of Assembly, in what a lawmaker described as a timely move to save the state from a possible descent to anarchy and chaos, served the deputy governor a notice of impeachment, signed by 20 out of the 24 lawmakers at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

    The lawmakers accused Onyebuchi of maintaining a poultry farm in his official residence contrary to a resolution of the House prohibiting the maintenance of and operation of commercial livestock and poultry farms within residential neighborhoods in Enugu Metropolis.

    They also accused him of defying the governor’s directive to represent him at some occasions which they said violates Section 193 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    On the first charge, the deputy governor replied that he came and met an area in his official residence designated as ‘Agricultural Unit’, which includes a poultry farm, and whose facilities were installed by the first premier of Eastern Nigeria and that all his predecessors used it and maintained the poultry farm.

    On the second charge, Onyebuchi said, “Let me start by saying that on June 9, 2014, the Governor commenced his 2014 annual vacation. This was made public through various news media. He did not tell me to take any action on his behalf pending his return, and I am not aware that he sent a formal letter to the Enugu State House of Assembly informing the Assembly that he was proceeding on vacation. The governor did not tell me to take any action on his behalf pending his return, neither did he tell me that he would pass instructions to me through a third party. I did not receive instructions from him personally, by phone or in writing asking me to represent him at the meeting of the South East Governors Forum that took place in Enugu on July 6, 2014.

    “I did not have any reason not to represent him if he had so instructed me to do so. I do not think it is appropriate for a deputy governor to act in the absence of the governor deriving authority from a subordinate or based on press release to the effect that the governor handed over to his deputy.

    Reacting to these response, a top government official said it is unfortunate for the deputy governor to pretend not to know the usual channel of giving official directives. The source asked rhetorically, “If the Chief of Protocol delivers an invitation to any official in the Government House, is it not the usual way of giving the governor’s instructions? Why would the deputy governor prefer a telephone instruction from the governor to the universally acknowledged medium?

    While the supporters of the two leaders defend the cause of their principal, the  House on Thursday, 31 July, 2014 went ahead to direct the State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezurike, to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations.

     

    Why Chime, Onyebuchi parted ways

    Ironically, the governor, Sullivan Chime and the deputy governor, Sunday Onyebuchi were considered strong political allies when they were both favoured by the former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani. For a long time, insiders said they worked hamounously until alleged political interests put a wedge between them.

    The resultant icy relationship first manifested when the governor became ill and had to stay away for a very long time. According to a source, it was at this period that political intrigues to wrest control of the political structure from Chime started.

    So, when Chime miraculously recovered and returned home, all was no longer as before. At a stage, the governor reportedly accused Onyebuchi of fraternizing with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, whom he sees as his major political opponent in 2015.

    Up till today, insiders say Ekweremadu wields enormous influence on Onyebuchi. In fact, as soon as it became known that an  ultimatum had been given by the Enugu State House of Assembly to Sunday Onyebuchi, the state deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served him, a group led by Ekweremadu and former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, reportedly stormed Abuja in a bid to stop the impeachment.

    Also, Enugu State House of Assembly sources confirmed that on the day the Assembly served the impeachment notice, the deputy governor had travelled to Abuja to contact his benefactors in an attempt to stop the impeachment.

    A day before the incident, Onyebuchi had raised the alarm that there was a plot to impeach him, alleging that Chime was behind the plot.

    He allegedly old a group known as Ebeano Machinery, at a meetings with top chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja that they must work hard to stop the impeachment plot

    A source in Abuja confirmed that the group actually met with the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to plead for his support.

     

    Mrs Nwobodo’s angle

    Perhaps because Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo hardly speaks to the media to defend herself over the numerous allegations about her alleged quest for power, her name has never ceased to appear in the various controversies surrounding the Enugu power game.

    Some of the questions most observers are asking are who is this woman, what does she want and why does she enjoy so much confidence of the governor? A top government official who attempted an answer to these questions simply said: “Chief is a simple woman, a dependable workaholic who is being accused of things she knows nothing about. I think her fault is that she calls a spade a spade and is not willing to follow the ways of politicians.

    “She is being opposed because she is like a formidable pillar to the government of Enugu State. We call her our Madam due process and I don’t see that as an offense though I know many politicians who hate her for it.”

  • I’m here to find my roots, says U.S. comic act

    I’m here to find my roots, says U.S. comic act

    The duo of Tony Roberts and Deeray Davis, the top American comedians who have been hyped as headlining acts for this weekend’s Glo Laffta Fest in Lagos, arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport yesterday, looking unruffled by a change of weather. Parts of America have been hot of late, and that perhaps explains why the Lagos weather posed no challenge, especially to a more excited Tony Roberts who said he is glad to be home. “I have come to meet my real family,” he said of Nigeria. “I have come here to find my roots. I’m expecting to see something I’ve never seen before. I’ve got my camera ready, so I can go home and show my wife and kids something they’ve never seen and I’ve never seen something different.”

    Asked how he intends to thrill the Nigerian audience, Roberts said his act is never scripted: “I don’t know what to say. I’m very unpredictable, if you are in front of me, I might talk about you, and that might make a lot of people mad but you never know.”

    Roberts said of how he hopes to make the Nigerian audience laugh. “We do our research about every country we go. What do you have that we don’t have back home? I have to know where your mindset is at and know what jokes to tell. I know you are ready for me, but I have to also get ready for you.”

    Roberts said he and his country man will expect the best of cooperation from the Nigerian comedians who understand the terrain better. “They know the in and out here. They know the local stuff that we don’t know about, so they have the upper hand on us, but we are super funny and you are just going to find out. We hope to work as a team with these guys.”

    For a quieter DeeRay Davis, he is looking forward to the new opportunity. “I’m here to have a good time and bring my comedy to a new place and scene. I do it on TV, but it’s a totally different feel and vibe when you are on stage. I’m looking forward to learning all I can about the local stuff. This is my first trip here, but I don’t want it to be my last time,” he said

    Asked what his first impression was, when he set out on the trip to Nigeria, Davis answered: “I was really skeptical at first before coming to Nigeria because it’s such a long flight. I’ve never flown this long before. But the closer I got, the more I felt comfortable, I got excited and I’m happy to be here.”

    Sponsored by Globacom, the ‘Lafta Fest’ show is in two phases, the first is billed for Saturday October 19, at the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island Lagos, while the second leg holds in Abuja at the popular This Day Dome on October 25.

    The visiting comedians are expected to perform with Africa’s comedians including Ndumiso Lindi of South Africa, Uganda’s Salvador and Nigeria’s top comedy acts; Basketmouth, Ali Baba, Bovi, Okey Bakassi and Akpororo. Others are Klint de Drunk, Buchi, Gordons, Funny Bone, Bash, Emeka Smith, Julius Agwu and Sim Card.

    The telecoms operator said the comedy sessions will be spiced with the best of Nigerian music, with a line-up that will feature P-Square, Lagbaja, Wande Coal, MI, Burna Boy.

  • Adamu roots for Beach soccer

    Adamu roots for Beach soccer

    Samson Adamu, Managing Director, Kinetic Sports, organisers of the recently-concluded COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament, said on Thursday that the event could only grow through more viable partnerships.

    Adamu made the remark during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He stressed that organising an international tournament of the magnitude of COPA Lagos required huge sums of money, which, according to him, were not easy to come by.

    “Because I can tell you, based on my experience with COPA Lagos that it’s not a one man thing; the more sponsors you have the better and the merrier,’’ Adamu said.

    When asked about his views on the creation of a Beach soccer league in the country, he told NAN that he was not in a position to spearhead such a campaign. Adamu added that the Beach soccer league concept was still in the realm of speculation.

    “I can only speak for COPA Lagos and Kinetic Sports, but in terms of the proposed league, I have only heard about it just like any other person. If at all there is a plan for a Beach soccer league, there is need to generate more interest before we talk about creating a league. There is need for a followership and

    supporters for any league to thrive. And to do that, you need to work on the awareness to build a followership and to build the support base,’’ Adamu said.

    He went on to say that for such a league to thrive, a massive Public/Private sponsorship had to be in place for its successful take-off. “Should we have a Beach soccer league, there is need to have as much sponsorship as possible; publicity is also essential, and when all that is in place, then having a league is feasible.