The Nation Newspaper

Tag: royalty

  • ‘Royalty has deprived me the pleasure of my roadside booli’

    ‘Royalty has deprived me the pleasure of my roadside booli’

    Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick EnitiOlounda Obateru Akinruntan (Okoro Ajiga I) last week marked his 6th coronation anniversary amid celebration. Taiwo Abiodun who was there reports.

    Dressed in immaculate white Dansiki attire with his signature muffler – this time a shinny blue dangling down his royal neck, it was the occasion of his 6th coronation anniversary as the Olugbo of Ugboland in Ondo State. The muffler was laced with shining diamond stones, while his white cap and the crown embroidery along with his blue-beaded fly whisk gracefully complemented his personality. His black slip-on shoes, gold necklace along with his silver-coloured walking stick at once tell you that you’re in the presence of a rich and flamboyant monarch worth his onion.

    Oba Frederick EnitiOlorunda Obateru (Okoro Ajiga I) loves the flamboyant lifestyle and makes no pretences about it. Without mincing words, he tells you that “I have about 500 mufflers of different colours. I’m a stylist, a man of fashion and creativity, and I love the best things of life.”

    According to Forbes list, the monarch is the richest royal father in Nigeria and one of the richest in Africa.

    But he is also a man who wants the best for his community and people of Ugboland and the Yoruba race at large. Speaking of the changes and prosperity he has brought to his community since attaining the throne of his forefathers, Oba Obateru said, “Life was not easy before my arrival; everything was in disarray, but now I have done a lot of things people can testify to. For example, I introduced medical services and that is the Frederick Eniolorunda Boat, a mobile clinic on boat for our people to be checking their blood pressure and sugar level (diabetic) while drugs are recommended and administered to them on boat Medicare.”

    “In terms of good hands in the town’s affairs management, I have credible and experienced people who are technocrats,  professionals and even retired civil servant such as retired commissioners, permanent secretaries, eggheads and other top government notchers as my chiefs, who represent our community anywhere with dignity and confidence.”

    According to the billionaire, when he became the Oba, he changed the town’s chiefs’ orientation towards life. “The set of people I met here especially chiefs had their ways of lives but with my ascension to the throne, I changed them and taught them how to dress, talk in public and many social ways. For instance, I told them not to eat in the public. Now I make sure our Yoruba Culture is promoted from the way they dress like putting on our most cherished style of Yoruba flowing gown (Agbada).”

    On the infrastructure, the monarch said before coming to the throne, there was no access road to his town but now, Dr. Mimiko, the present governor of the state has opened up the area.

    He also contributes to humanity by paying some students’ school fees and assisting the unemployed. “I pay their fees from primary to the university, even to PhD level. I believe that if you don’t have education, you are not living. I don’t want our people to have inferiority complex when they see their mates in Ibadan, Lagos, New York or London. Not only that, quarterly I gather the unemployed indigenes together and collect curriculum vitae and fix them up, because I want to change their lives. I believe one needs to assist humanity and I want my name to be written both in gold and diamond.”

    Despite his stupendous wealth, the Oba however still upholds the virtue of humility. He said it is not his family trait or culture to be rude or arrogant, as his father taught he and his siblings to respect elders. “Anytime we were rude, he smacked us. Aside that, he my bible tells me that the things we have in life are vanity; the moment you die, that is all. Whatever one has in life is by chance and opportunity. Talking about my philanthropism, I have also read in the Bible many times that ‘givers never lack.’

    “I don’t regard myself as more important than any other person. And when you give and assist people, they would speak good of you.

    “Before now there were no buildings here in Ugboland, until I came and started erecting buildings. Later others joined and I am happy. The fact is that they thought if they have houses, they would be killed by witches and wizards.”

    Continuing, he said “You should be proud of your heritage, I spent about 50 years in Ibadan, but I eventually came back home. So you have to show example. Today, my palace is one of the best palaces in the world; when you leave here you can go and make your comparison. Obaship has been taken to another level. Now you have to think twice before you become an Oba. You need education, money etc.

    As the Chairman of Obas on Obaship Resolution and Conflicts, the monarch said he has done a lot. “We make sure no Oba fights in the public anymore. No segregation again among the Obas and we are orderly in our dealings. Our problem in Yorubaland before now was ego, but this is no longer so, as there is now unity.”

    As a staunch member of Cherubim and Seraphim, Oba Obateru does not partake in the town’s rituals. He said there is a chief priest who is in charge of rituals.

    On his large entourage

    Asked why he goes about with a large entourage of his chiefs and village heads, the monarch laughed and replied: “Everything is special. My convoy is special. If I travel outside, I go with a convoy. I have about 250 communities under my kingdom, so if I’m travelling, each is represented; and I have about 500 people going with me, even if I’m travelling out. I spend millions of naira maintaining my security personnel and preparing meals for people in the palace everyday. And it is the same when I’m in Lagos and London.”

    Regrets

    Smiling, the Okoro Ajiga I of Ugboland said “Look the Obaship throne has changed my life. Before I could dance hip hop, dance to Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey’s music and roll it, but I can’t dig it on the dancing floor again. What even pains me most is the love I have for roasted plantain (booli) and groundnuts, which I can no longer stop by the roadside and buy.”

  • 9janimi Channel to pay royalty to artistes

    As 9janimi music streaming channel relaunches its service, the management of the platform has promised that it would begin paying royalties to artistes.

    Founder of the network, Soltesh Iyere, said that the new platform is designed as an alternative to popular streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. 9janimi Channel, he says, lets independent artistes keep 75% of the proceeds through its “Fair Trade Streaming” agreement.

    “The Media 360 Company, owners of 9janimi Channel, originally projected the streaming service as an alternative to the music industry through which they could directly distribute their music to music fans and lovers,” says Iyere.

    The online platform, he says, offers two tiers for customers, and streaming on the Web and on iOS and Android (Which they plan to launch before the end of the year for mobile users). The free version comes with ads, lets users into thousands of songs from its catalog, and they have to purchase songs they wish to download or keep, the internet entrepreneur said.

    He also adds that the streaming service was originally announced about a year ago, after a couple of years of being operated a music channel, but for some reasons it was delayed and now a streaming service has risen to pay artists royalties.

    “It’s not clear yet how large 9janimi Channels music catalog is, or how well it will do, though its sure to resonate with artists who are finding the models used by Spotify and others as unfairly stripping them of much of their earnings,” Iyere added.

  • Royalty wanted for homosexuality

    The police have declared Mr. Sijuade Adedotun Kola of Ile-Ife, Osun State, and Mr. Olutomi Segun, wanted for alleged homosexuality

    The two were allegedly caught by Adedotun’s uncle who just returned from South Africa.

    The police said the suspects were caught in their uncle’s house.

    According to Mr. Sijuade Adesuyi, they were more than surprised to see such an act been committed by Mr. Sijuade Adedotun. recently come back from South Africa.

    The country condones such a devilish culture and act of being a gay.

    Reports said Adedotun has been disowned by his family.

    Mr. Sijuade Adesuyi, who spoke on behalf of the family, and whose house the unspeakable act happened, described it as the most disgusting scene he had witnessed.

    The whereabouts of Adedotun and Segun is presently unknown as they were said to have absconded through the back door of Adesuyi’s house after he raised the alarm upon discovering them.

  • From academia to royalty

    From academia to royalty

    Since ascending the throne of his community, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Peter Ebigbo marks his transition to the monarchy, CHRIS OJI

    So much has changed in the life of former Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Peter Ebigbo since he was crowned king. Rather than Prof, he is addressed as Eze. Whereas he stood before his students in the lecture hall, he now sits on his throne with his people before him. Amid fanfare, the monarch has celebrated his transition from Nsukka to the throne in Amaofuo, Imo State.

    The occasion was preceded by a pontifical high mass at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Amaofuo Imo and officiated by the very Rev. Monsignor Dr. Hypolytus Adigwe together with the parish priest, Rev.  Fr. Olive Esomonu while Rev. Fr. Dr. Charles Ebebe and Rev. Dr. Chima Anyaeze assisted. Rev. Sister Onodungene, Rev. Sister Dr. Chizoba and others were also in attendance.

    After the mass, a procession of motorcade headed to the palace. At the palace, Mkpokiti dancers of Umunze, Anambra state were already entertaining the people. Soon, His Royal Majesty, Eze Prof. Peter Ebigbo, the Ogbuehi VI, clad in a Royal colourful gown, flowing regalia and a high Ijele cap plummeted with peacock feathers in various shinning colours, was led from his residence in a procession to the podium in the centre of the palace.

    The procession was preceded by a young lad holding a sword upright and clad in the special cotton material with the Eze’s picture, then four palace messengers in uniform holding upright each a shining specially designed cultural brass staff knife, then the Eze and his Ugoeze (wife) surrounded and followed by the Ichies and cabinet members dressed culturally in red down flowing regalia. The Igab Eze or Royal cultural dance band followed, beating the royal music as the Eze proceeded, dancing majestically to the podium.

    In attendance were eminent Nigerians and foreigners, including famous philanthropist Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako of Uli, Anambra State, retired Federal permanent Secretary Hajia Amuna Ali, Prof. Ibrahim Kolo, Chief Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), and the consul general of France, Elvira Saleras.

    Others were the Secretary to the State Government of Imo State, Prof. Anthony Awukah who was the Special Guest of Honour and who was to be honoured with the title oha amarala Dike. The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education Dr. Macjohn Onyekwere Nwaobiala, the Hon Commissioner for Community Government Council, Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Val Mbamara, and the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, Prof. Lady Victoria Adaobi Obasi.

    The Honourable Justice of the Appeal Court, Justice Chinwe Iyizoba, Senator Osita Izunaso, the vice chancellor, UNN Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, Chief Odurukwe Obiadada of Uli, Chief Bar. Okafor, Dr. Ebozue, the Ezenwa na obosi, and Eze Mehamobi, the Orlu West traditional rulers council chairman, also graced the occasion.

    • Ebigbo with some of his cabinet members
    • Ebigbo with some of his cabinet members

    After the presentation and blessing of kola nut, his Royal Majesty, Eze Prof. Peter Ebigbo, said that Ofala is a modern way of calling Ofo ala, which means the ofo guiding community being together by the land they inhabit. Ofo is therefore, the symbol of truth, laws, justice and power.

    He continued: “Usually, each family has its Ofo entrusted on the eldest male member of the family. Every community has its Ofo entrusted on the traditional ruler or the Eze or the Igwe. Before the traditional ruler is entrusted with Ofo ala he must go into prayers and fasting without leaving the palace for seven days. After the seven days and he judges himself fit and prepared, he takes on the Ofo ala usually pronounced by the masquerade (the masquerade is bigger than the medicine man. (Mmawu ka dibia). Therefore the Eze clad in special regalia with the Ijele masquerade hat with his staff of authority dances to the “egwu uhie” the dance of the ancestors after which merriment follows. The word of the custodian of the Ofo ala, the Eze, is virtually law.”

    The academic turned traditional ruler said that he was crowned Eze in his palace on September 29, 2008, after serving as regent for one year, after the death of his elder brother, His Royal Majesty Eze Dr Aloysius Mgbokwere Ebigbo, an orthopaedic surgeon. He said that he got his certificate of recognition and Staff of Office from His Excellence Owelle Rochas Okorocha on 30th March 2014, after defeating his opponents in court. His opponents maliciously wanted to truncate the usual succession procedure in Amaofuo community that had enjoyed peace since 1857.

    The Eze said that he invited all indigenes of Amaofuo both at home and abroad, including the losers to join hands and ensure that peace reigns in Amaofuo.

    “Nigerians can learn a lesson from the historic event and transformation that happened at Amaofuo, with the dispute settled peacefully and happiness written on the faces of community members, after elections, losers must join hands and support the winners”, Eze Ebigbo stressed.

    He noted that people should also realize that the land is a kind of Ofo, and once a person is chosen, that person must be respected, as he tries to entrench the justice and peace in the community.

    Shortly after the speech of the Eze, several masquerades of the Ozo ebune type came in their members lined up in their rank and seniority to pronounce the Ofo. They were led by the highest ranking masquerades from Uli called Ozaraigwe. Leaders of Otana, the central headquarters of Ozo ebune masquerade from Ukpor in Nnewi Local Government Area of Anambra state were also in attendance.

    After the Ofo prayers by the masquerades, the Eze and his cabinet danced the “Egwu Uhie” the ancestral dance. After the dance, he also danced to the tune of the “Odi ike” music (dance for the strong, valorous and the titled) before returning to the podium.

    Back at the throne, the Eze recognized some prominent persons with traditional titles, whose names had been sent to the office of the Eze Imo (Chairman Traditional Rulers Council) for clearance. These names were announced on Imo Broadcasting Corporation in case anyone had anything against them. Only three names aree approved for each Eze per year. Two sets of approvals were made since the 2015 Ofala started.

    Those who were conferred with Chieftaincy titles with beads/caps, Staff of Office and Certificates were Dr. A.B.C. Orjiako, Hajia Amuna Ali, Prof. Ibrahim Kolo, Barr. Dr. Livy Uzoukwu SAN, Justice Chinwe Iyizoba and Barr. Elvira Seleras.

    The day was rounded off with various traditional dances and indeed over 7000 people in attendance with the roads leading to the palace also filled with people. All these events took place without any ugly incidences. People of Amaofuo and their friends and well-wishers rejoiced that finally someone was now officially in custody of their Ofo ala. There was feasting and merriment in Amaofuo Kingdom.

    The members of the ofala organizing committee, who spoke through their chairman, Chief Isaac Nnamdi Agwunobi, said in their remarks, that Eze Prof. Ebigbo, was God- sent and expressed the hope that he would use his experience and connection at the University of Nigeria, were he had worked for over 35 years, to bring development to Amaofuo.

    Eze Ebigbo was born in 1947 and studied psychological Medicine in Germany. He is a good family man, blessed with a pretty wife and children.

    Despite winning Nigeria’s highest National merit award for medicine in 2000, the Eze belongs to many Local and International bodies, including the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect, ANPPCAN, where he is the International President.

  • Democratic royalty

    Democratic royalty

    For a democracy, the cost of lawmaking doesn’t have to be this princely

    Report that the Federal Government would spend N8.35bn on the accommodation, housing and vehicle allowances of members of the in-coming eighth session of the National Assembly simply confirms the widely-held notion that our brand of democracy is indeed a money guzzler. The fact that this excludes the amount that would be spent on the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives (who already enjoy lavishly furnished apartments and ride in some of the exotic cars money can buy); as well as the political aides to the lawmakers, makes it much more so. What the political aides get depends on the recommendations of the National Assembly Commission and it would be worked out as soon as they are named by the legislators.

    A breakdown of the N8.35bn shows that each senator is entitled to N4,052,800m for accommodation, representing 200 per cent of annual basic salary of N2,026,400.00; N6,079,200, representing 300 per cent of his annual basic salary for furniture and N8,105,600, representing 400 per cent of his annual basic salary as car loan. In all, the 107 senators would get N433,649,600 for accommodation, N650,474,400 for furniture allowance and N867,299,200 as vehicle loans. The eighth session of the National Assembly (NASS) resumes in June.

    And to think that these are only some of the allowances the law makers are entitled to, aside their monthly salaries that pale into insignificance considering the other mouth-watering allowances that they smile to the bank with regularly. For instance, the lawmakers are also entitled to duty tour allowances and estacode allowances for their local and international travels. This excludes the quarterly allocation which runs into hundreds of millions!

    The absurdity of the emoluments is further exemplified by the wide gap between capital expenditure and recurrent. Between 1999 when the present democratic dispensation took off and 2010, a total of N712.8 billion went to the National Assembly for recurrent and capital expenditure from the annual budgets, excluding supplementary allocations within the period. In 2007, N48.76 billion was allocated to the assembly from a total federal budget of N2.39 trillion. It rose unreasonably to N106.6 billion, made up of N5.25 billion capital expenditure and N101 billion recurrent expenditure in the N3.1018 trillion 2009 package. In 2010, N154.205 billion out of N4.6 trillion 2010 federal budget was provided for the NASS, made up of N138.015 billion recurrent and N16.9 billion capital expenditure.

    With this ballooning cost of governance we can rightly question the rigour that went into the formulation of the monetisation policy by the Obasanjo administration, especially considering that much of the NASS budget goes to recurrent expenditure. The monetisation policy was one of the measures taken to reduce the cost of governance, facilitate budgeting and budgetary control; minimise waste and abuse of public facilities, obtain savings for capital projects, promote a culture of discipline and maintenance, among others. The fear in some quarters that the objectives of the policy might be good but its implementation was likely to run into stormy waters has now been confirmed. Otherwise, we would not be spending so much on overheads in the NASS.

    Beyond all of these, however, is something we have been running away from; and that is whether we need full-time law makers and if we do, must they be maintained by digging holes in the taxpayers pocket? In the First Republic, we had part time lawmakers and we still enjoyed quality debates and lawmaking. In many parts of the world, there is nothing extraordinary in being a law maker. Many lawmakers in Britain live in modest apartments and travel by some of the common means of transportation. There are no airs surrounding the position. We wonder why the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

    It is annoying that the lawmakers’ proclivity for extravagance has continued unabated since the beginning of this dispensation. We recollect that the matter reared its ugly head in the early days of the dispensation when the NASS members awarded themselves outrageous furniture allowances which Nigerians protested against. With such insensitive allowances that are out of tune with the country’s economic reality it is not difficult to see why there are cut-throat battles for seats in the National Assembly as with other political offices in the land.

    On Thursday, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the National Assembly had reduced its overhead in the 2015 budget by 25 percent in response to the economic realities in the country. Much as this is commendable, we are yet to know what impact this would have on the overall budget proposal, especially with regard to provision of infrastructure. What is required is not an arbitrary cut in budget but a holistic approach to see which of the loads the taxpayers are now carrying that should be shelved, not just by the NASS members but the entire government machinery.

  • Honoured by royalty

    Honoured by royalty

    HE is a son of the soil who has done well. Even though he is a governor, he has not lost the common touch which endeared him to the people as president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole is today reaping his good deeds.

    Last Saturday, he was conferred with the traditional title of Oshiosimua (Divine Redeemer of his people) by monarchs in the state.

    The Oba of Benin, Omo N Oba N Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa was represented by the Crown Prince and Edaiken of Uselu, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa. The prince, who rarely leaves the Benin palace, was the chairman of the occasion.

    Crown Prince Erediauwa, said by honouring Oshiomhole, “his people in Edo North and indeed all people of Edo State appreciate him for his achievements and say they are solidly behind him to do more for the state.”

    The prince described Oshiomhole as the Messiah of Edo State urging the people to pray to God and the ancestors to give the state another Oshiomhole after the governor’s tenure.

    The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, on behalf of the Edo North traditional rulers, said the reception was in recognition of the performance of a son of the soil and Edo State at large.

    “We are here today to celebrate a young man who has served his nation. God says you look at the past to determine the future and the present. Now, what is the past of this young man. He is the foremost pioneer of a detribalised Nigerian Labour Congress and the famous pioneer of the fight to the finish for the rights of man.

    “He has delivered this most successfully before ever he thought about going into politics. Like I said this occasion is grounded in the spirit of Edo State that is why we invited the Crown Prince to be the Chairman of this occasion to analyse and itemise the profile of the governor which he has delivered today.”

    “All I need now to say is that in tandem with the Almighty Allah, we have here in Edo North what the Crown Prince described as a messiah and he has analysed three areas to demonstrate, crystallise and pinpoint his speech.

    “The man we are celebrating today is not Oshiomhole, it is not Adams, not the comrade but Almighty God who has made him what he is and given him the soul to do what he did in the NLC and his first term in office which everybody in the state has bought into,” he added.

    Oshiomhole promised to do his best to meet the people’s expectation. The governor said the honour would propel him to do more for the people, saying “we may not have gotten to where we want to be but we will get there. We will build more roads, hospitals and employ more of our youths, build industries for our people to work. But we must be vigilant about the forces of darkness. They are not resting but with God they are powerless. The people’s will must prevail.

    “Let me thank our royal fathers from different local governments in Edo North for your decision to honour me this afternoon and like the Crown Prince said, it is not everyday you find respected royal fathers from various kingdoms and domains coming together in unison to acknowledge and to give honour to their son.

    “By your action, you have increased my burden because as they say to whom much is given much is expected. Last year I had the fortune of being recognised and appreciated by the royal fathers from Edo Central, from Esan land when they all agreed to confer on me the Adolor of Esanland. When I understood the full interpretation in English and that which you confer on me today it will appear that the minds of our royal fathers are working the same way.

    “I am humbled and I am grateful, I am indebted and committed to continue to do my best using the instrument of my privileged office to deliver joy and happiness and prosperity to the greatest number of our people in Edo State.”

    Other royal fathers at the event include Aidonogie of South Ibie, Kelvin Danesi; the Ogieneni of Uzairue kingdom Alhaji Kadiri Imonikhe Omogbai among others.

    Members of the National Assembly, state House of Assembly, the six council chairmen from Edo North the academia, notable Afenmai indigenes and people from other parts of the state and beyond were also there.