Ekiti considers fate of illegal LG workers

Chairman of Local Government Service Commission in Ekiti State, Chief Ranti Adebisi, has said the commission will regularise the employment of council workers who were illegally recruited in the state.

Adebisi, who resumed as the chairman of LGSC earlier in the month, made this known in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday at a press conference.

The LGSC chairman said the past administration employed some council workers without following the rules but that Governor Kayode Fayemi had assured that no worker would be sacked.

He said, “There were political exigencies during the recruitment of the workers, but they were not employed from other states. They are indigenes of Ekiti State and we don’t want to just throw them out like that, so we are looking at what can be done for them.”

NFF must caution Osaze — Ikpeba

Osaze Odemwingie

Former Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba says the Nigeria Football Federation must act fast to caution West Brom forward, Osaze Odemwingie, who went on social media, Tweeter, to vent his anger after he was dropped from the Super Eagles 32-man provincial list for January’s Africa Nations Cup.

Odemwingie had on Sunday aimed his tirade at coach Stephen Keshi, NFF officials, Ikpeba and others but Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year, fired back on Supersport on Monday, saying he would only reply Odemwingie’s tweets when the Edo-born player achieved what he (Ikpeba) had achieved in football.

However, Odemwingie was back again on Wednesday night tweeting, “Ok Victor (Ikpeba) e don reach ur turn — talking about professionalism huh — did u have any business in the dressing room during game against Guinea?

“Ur handshake could have been back luck to me cos you have prejudged opinion about me. Coach and his team only in dressing room please!!!

“If u had coaching talent u would at least be one by now. That means you don’t know much about the game. Means don’t be a adviser to FF

“u want me to be mature? Ur interview that me and Mikel shouldn’t be in the national team? Shouldn’t u leave that to the coach to say?

“I heard ur story oh. How hot tempered u where as a player. They said far worse than me. I might have done few little mistakes but Little!

“Now for the coach (Keshi) small one cos I just remembered what he told me him self. He said they told Westerhof its them or JayJay in a afcon

“That he was playing for him self 2 much. Jay jay future only in the semi final of that nations cup (1994). Was Big Boss the coach? Which boss self

“People read between the lines as well. U ll understand the big picture. Oliseh said Siasia was the one they send to rattle officials hahaa

“I ve gone of track. Back to u bros (Ikpeba). I wanted to play this cup (AFCON) for our fans and not you guys. Cos u guys change like chameleons when suits u

“U said I can talk face 2 face with u only when I achieve what you achieved ? No be so senior. Treat ur little bros like family not oga.”

Then he added in Russian languague.

“My reply to you V. Ikpeba. Prince of Monaco? Ты не принц, а скорее принцесса. Ты не тянешь. Так что, ДАВАЙ ДО СВИДАНИЯ !”

A Tweeter account with the name Ikpeba Official, which had the picture of the former Monaco star forward, replied Odemwingie, “I will disgrace Peter Odemwingie! How dare you!

“Look at this small boy @OdemwingieP that i watched playin football. U now have the Gods to insulted me.”

But Ikpeba denied having any Tweeter account, saying he never had a chat with Odemwingie on the social network.

He said, “I don’t have a Tweeter account, my organisation, Supersport, knows that. I would rather spend my precious time discussing with my family rather than engage anybody on Tweeter or Facebook.

“People close to him (Odemwingie) should advise him. I’m waiting for the federation to issue a statement on this matter. They must take action because this is a dangerous precedent because if they don’t, others will do the same thing in future.

“How can he just go about attacking coaches, ex-players and even his colleagues like that? I played for Nigeria, I was criticised but I moved on. I was not picked for the 2002 World Cup, I moved on. Why can’t he move on?

“In life, people will be critical of you, not everybody can agree with you. That is why credit should be given to players like Taye Taiwo and Obafemi Martins.

“They have played for this country for long, but they were omitted and they are not complaining. That’s good behaviour.”

Nations Cup: Newcastle contract rules Ameobi out

Sammy Ameobi

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew finally won the debate over Shola Ameobi’s availability for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup as the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi on Wednesday admitted that a clause in the player’s contract with his club stops him from playing in the competition.

Keshi who spoke in Abuja said that he discussed with the striker on Christmas day and was told by Ameobi that two years ago he signed his contract with a clause that says he cannot go to the Africa Nations Cup without the manager’s permission.

He said, “And to make matters worse Newcastle fear that Senegalese Demba Ba will be leaving the club by the January transfer window and they need a strong strike force and with Ameobi being their most experienced player in that area. We may lose him. But he has said he will talk to me late on Boxing Day and after that I will let Nigerians know what the position is. He wants to discuss the issue with his manager, (Pardew).”

Pardew who was so sure of his facts had said on Monday that Ameobi will not be going with the Eagles to South Africa. He based his conviction on something he claimed the national coach knew about.

He said, “Shola won’t be going. The national team manager knows the reasons, which I am keeping to myself.”

Eagles will depart for Faro, Portugal on Thursday through Accra, Ghana, to begin the final phase of its camping for the Nations Cup. But Ameobi may not be the only player who may not be going to South Africa.

Warri Wolves new acquisition, Chibuzor Okonkwo, has also missed out as he does not have a valid visa for the trip and which may take nearly two weeks to secure.

“By that time we will already be rounding off our training, that is why we may have to leave him behind,” Keshi said.

But it was good tidings for Kano Pillars’ Papa Idris and Enyimba’s Henry Uche who have been offered opportunity to hustle for shirts in the Faro camp and would be travelling with the team. The players who were not in the first list but proved themselves excellent in training despite the fact that the list of home based players for the camp had already been released.

Benitez delays Mikel, Moses’ Portugal trip

Rafael Benitez

Chelsea coach, Rafa Benitez, has delayed Mikel Obi and Victor Moses from joining the Super Eagles at their Faro training camp in Portugal. He plans to keep the duo for their cup ties against Southampton and Swansea before releasing them for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mikel and Moses, integral players since Benitez took control at Stamford Bridge, are in the Nigeria squad which was due to report for a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal on Thursday.

The Chelsea pair have been granted permission to stay in London until after the New Year but Benitez is negotiating to keep them for as long as possible as his team become embroiled in a cluttered fixture list.

The Blues launch their defence of the FA Cup at Southampton on January 5, four days before the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at home to Swansea.

Benitez accepts he is unlikely to have them around by the time they play Stoke in the Barclays Premier League on January 12.

“The tournament starts on the 19th, so they will go one or two weeks before,” Benitez said.

“Maybe we can manage to keep them a little bit longer. We will talk with them. They know sometimes the players do not need to go early. But at least one week before the 19th, they have to be there.”

Nigeria’s first game of the tournament in South Africa is on Janaury 21 against Burkina Faso. The final is on February 10, four days before Chelsea are due to play in Prague in the Europa League.

Martins to play in ‘Nations Cup’

Obafemi Martins

Levante striker Obafemi Martins may have been dropped from coach Stephen Keshi’s team to the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in January in South Africa but the diminutive player has received another chance to feature in a Nations Cup tournament on Friday (today) at the Apapa Navy Ground, Ajegunle, Lagos.

Martins exclusion alongside several other top players from the trip to South Africa was greeted with mixed reactions but the former Inter Milan forward has been listed as one of several foreign-based players expected to feature in an exhibition match at the ongoing Ajegunle Mock Nations Cup.

The match tagged ‘Homecoming’ will involve some of the country’s best stars plying their trade in the European leagues against their home-based counterparts.

Also listed for the match is Dynamo Kiev forward, Brown Ideye, who made the Super Eagles 32-man provincial list for South Africa 2013.

Other foreign-based players expected to feature in the game are former Flying Eagles captain and Granada forward, Odion Ighalo, Sweden-based Eddy Egbe, Eyo Archibong from Switzerland, Lawal Momoh from Germany, Don Kefe and several others.

Director of the competition, Lawrence Alabra, said most of the players who will be in action on Friday started their careers through the Mock Nations Cup.

Group faults Akeredolu’s comments on Jonathan

Rotimi Akeredolu former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

Forum for Good Governance on Thursday, condemned the candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria in the October 20 Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, for allegedly “launching unnecessary attack” on President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group, in a statement, alleged that Akeredolu, in a piece entitled ‘Let the President Concentrate on Governance’ published by a national daily, castigated the President for his endorsement of the outcome of the Ondo governorship poll in October.

The statement by the Secretary of the Abuja-based group, Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru, said, “The acerbic attacks launched on Mr. President by the defeated candidate for the ACN were true to type.

“As everyone knows, obsessed criticism of the Presidency while glossing over the moral questions constantly plaguing its leadership is a stock in trade of the ACN.

“In this process the party emphatically rejected by the good people of Ondo State on October 20 has always sacrificed the truth, fairness and objectivity because of its delusional empire drive.”

US Open puts final on Monday

Nadal

The US Open tennis tournament has extended its schedule to a Monday men’s finish next year after a fifth year of weather delays disrupted the event in September, the US Tennis Association has said.

The new programme will feature a Sunday women’s final followed by the men’s title match on Monday, and provide a day’s rest between the semi-finals and finals for both the men and women, bringing the US Open in line with the other grand slams.

The change, which affects just the 2013 event pending a decision on the years going forward, will abolish the Open’s controversial Super Saturday, that for nearly 30 years had the men’s semi-finals and women’s final scheduled on the same day.

The USTA, which had been harshly criticized by players over the scheduling, also announced an addition of $4m to the prize money pool for the year’s final grand slam, bringing the total to $29.5m.

“Both the prize money increase and the addition of a day of rest are great for the players,” Serena Williams, who won the 2012 women’s crown for her fourth Open title, said in a statement. “These moves make the tournament stronger than it’s ever been for all players.”

Men’s champion Andy Murray, who claimed his maiden grand slam title at the National Tennis Center, also applauded the change.

“I’m pleased that the USTA has modified the US Open schedule to include a day of rest between the semi-finals and final,” said the Scotsman, who became the fifth men’s champion in a row to claim his title with a Monday finish.

“Together with the prize money increase, it’s good that they’ve taken on board the players’ concerns.”

Rain delays wreaked havoc with the completion of the 2012 championships, triggering an annual debate and complaints from players and spectators over why the showcase courts are not covered.

Renard boasts Eagles can’t stop Chipolopolo

NATIONAL team coach Herve Renard says it will be difficult for Nigeria’s Super Eagles and any team to beat Zambia at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.

And Renard says Saturday’s match against Tanzania is an opportunity for local players to show they can deliver.

He insisted that the team has enough time to prepare for the continental championship kicking off on January 19.

Renard said in an interview in Lusaka Monday that the team will swing into full preparations on December 26 in South Africa.

“We have a lot of time to prepare but like I have said before what is important is for the team to be ready on the D-day. We have about a month before we play our first game of the tournament against Ethiopia,” he said.

Zambia face Ethiopia on January 21 in a Group C match before taking on Nigeria and Burkina Faso on January 25 and January 29 respectively.

Renard said the results from friendly matches are not important because his aim is to ensure the team is ready for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The 2012 Africa Cup winning coach said it is good that almost all the players are in and will train together for a month.

He said the team will not be under pressure in South Africa because they will be ready for the challenge.

Renard said the team’s aim is to go to South Africa and defend the Africa Cup trophy.

“The year 2012 was a fantastic year for Zambian football. The football spirit is very high at the moment in the country. Just look at the Zone Six final between Zambia and South Africa. The stadium was full and some people were outside. This is very good but I think even 2013 will be the same,” he said.

And the coach said young players will have a platform to show their potential when Zambia plays Tanzania on Saturday.

The charismatic coach said he intends to use senior players only for 45 minutes.

Zenit fans reject black, gay players

The largest fan group of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg have demanded the club refrain from buying black and gay players following turmoil surrounding the acquisition of Brazil striker Hulk.

“We’re not racists but we see the absence of black players at Zenit as an important tradition,” Zenit fan club Landscrona said in a letter, called the “Selection 12 manifesto”, posted on its website on Monday.

“It would allow Zenit to maintain the national identity of the club, which is the symbol of St Petersburg.”

Zenit have been the only top club in Russia to have never signed an African player while the northern city of St Petersburg is known to have a strong right-wing nationalist influence.

The fans said they want more home-grown or European players in the team.

“We only want players from other brotherly Slav nations, such as Ukraine and Belarus as well as from the Baltic states and Scandinavia. We have the same mentality and historical and cultural background as these nations,” the letter said.

They also expressed their opposition to having “sexual minorities” in the team and demanded that each player would give “101 percent effort” in every match.

Several prominent black players have turned down lucrative offers from the wealthy club over the past 12 months after receiving death threats from Zenit fans, local media reported.

A Zenit spokesman said on Monday the club would not comment on the fans’ letter.

Southern Kaduna groups jostle for deputy gov slot

Map of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

The choice of a new Deputy Governor for Kaduna State has started to generate tension between top politicians from the southern part of the state as groups intensified lobby for their candidates.

The position, which has been zoned to the predominantly Christian south, became vacant after Alhaji Mukhtar Yero was sworn in as Governor on Sunday after his boss, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State on Saturday.

Among the Peoples Democratic Party chiefs being touted for the job are Yakowa’s widow, Amina; the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Nuhu Bajoga; Yakowa’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Allamagani Yohana; and the late governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Abobi Galadima.

Although some powerful persons are reportedly drumming up support for Amina’s appointment, our correspondent learnt that the move was being resisted in some quarters.

A close associate of the Yakowas, who would not want his name in print, told our correspondent that “Madam is not even happy with what is going on. People should just allow her to mourn her husband”.

However, unconfirmed reports said a group had sent a delegation to Mrs. Patience Jonathan to press for Amina’s appointment.

The source said, “But the argument in some quarters is that should Yero drops dead today it means that the Mrs. Yakowa will become governor, which some people, especially from the Muslim dominated northern part of the state don’t want.”

Our source said those pushing for Amina’s appointment were a “small cabal who have been working underground for the 2015 governorship in the state.”

He added, “This cabal wants to remain relevant to the politics of the state. They bring in the name of Mrs. Yakowa and link it with the Presidency to look as if President Goodluck Jonathan has interest in who becomes the deputy governor of the state.”

Meanwhile, Bajoga is said to be favourite for the job as the former Nigerian Ambassador to Holland enjoys a huge following in the state.

The source said, “In Southern Kaduna, he (Bajoga) is friend of all. The permutation is that Bajoga is more mature when it comes to the handling of public matters, which is what the new governor should embrace.”

Already, the Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals, a body of civil servants, lecturers, military officers and technocrats from the southern part of the state have expressed their concern over the secrecy over the selection of the Deputy Governor.

In a statement, the leaders of the association, Dr. Kyari Yates and Dr. John Danfulani, demanded a transparent process.

The statement read in part, “It is a complete denigration of our sensibilities and political rights. That was not the legacy the amiable governor left behind. He worked with openness, carried all along irrespective of tribe or religion. He was fair and just.

“We therefore see the precedence being set now for the selection of the Deputy Governor as one that is calamitous and detrimental to the development of the state as a whole and its peace loving people

“We are strongly against deliberate plots to cause division and rancour in the area with political objective of undermining our existence.”

Fengor, Bassey complete Eagles team

Fengor Ogude

The only foreign-based player invited to the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles Fengor Ogude arrived in camp by Monday night just as Lobi Stars’ Bassey Ezekiel joined the team on Tuesday to bring the number of players in this first part of the camping to 24. Ezekiel is a late replacement for Heartland’s Kalu Orji, who is reportedly injured and thus out of the plans for South Africa 2013. Apart from Fengor who got clearance from the Eagles managers to arrive late, Orji was the only player who did not turn up on Sunday amongst the players called up for this stage.

Fengor who plays for Velaranga of Norway said he is very optimistic about his chances to pick a shirt for the Nations Cup holding in South Africa. He has not been a regular face in the team since the team began the run to South Africa. All the players in camp worked out on Tuesday mainly on fitness under the supervision of assistant coach Daniel Amokachi. All of them reportedly gave quality response as the contest for places in the team continues.

Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has pleaded with Nigerians not to distract the team from focusing on set goals of excelling in South Africa.

He said, “The entire team needs absolute concentration but everyday there are reports about divisions in the team and several other negative stories and that is not good for the type of team we want to build for the Nations Cup.”

The former Eagles captain to several Africa Nations Cups reiterated on Tuesday that he had full support from the Nigeria Football Federation concerning his programmes for the Nations Cup and beyond. He was said to be in a meeting at the federation office on Tuesday which made Amokachi to run the morning training session.

The NFF is expected to announce latest by Friday the 17 foreign-based professionals who will join Keshi and the final selection from the Abuja camp in Portugal.

Nigeria is in Group C for the African championship alongside defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. Eagles are returning to the main stage after missing the 2012 edition having lost the spot to Guinea in Abuja on the last day of the qualifying series. Nigeria is returning to the African stage after failing to qualify for the 2012 edition which was played in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.

Many state workers may retire without pension – Ahmad

Former Director-General, PenCom, Mr. Muhammad Ahmad

The National Pension Commission has raised the alarm that many state government employees who will soon retire from active service may leave the civil service with no pension at all contrary to the intention of the Contributory Pension Scheme to which they subscribe to.

The former Director-General, PenCom, Mr. Muhammad Ahmad, said in an interview with our correspondent that some states that had adopted the CPS for their workers were not remitting the monthly deductions from salaries into the employee’s Retirement Savings Accounts.

He said, “We have about 21 states that are in different stages of compliance, but unfortunately, the compliance is a bit slow and haphazard. The reason being that it is not mandatory for them, they enacted their own laws.

“Ideally, their laws should have compelled them to do that. Some of them that started the scheme have either stopped or are paying the contributions haphazardly.”

The implication of the non-remittance of the monthly contributions, according to him, is that the workers may not have any savings in their respective RSAs when they retire.

Ahmad said Lagos State remained the only state to have fully funded its employees’ RSAs.

“About 21 state governments have adopted the CPS, while 14 others are at various levels of enacting their CPS laws,” he said.

However, the immediate past PenCom boss said many of the states had shown interest in the new scheme and gone ahead to enact their own laws, but that some had yet to commence the implementation.

“For the states, they are not compelled to adopt the contributory scheme; but due to negotiation, persuasion and moral suasion, a number of them have enacted their own laws; so, we can only continue to engage them, their workers and other stakeholders with the view to seeing their benefits of complying, that is the best that we can do except if the law is changed,” he said.

Ahmad said the commission had continued to collaborate with and engage state governments in the implementation of the contributory pension scheme.

In this regard, he said the support of the Debt Management Office was obtained to ensure that as a condition, state governments desirous of obtaining bonds must key into the CPS.

“There are even calls that we should amend the Pension Reform Act to make it mandatory for states to comply because the states control a certain number of employees in the country,” he said.

Ahmad said the scheme had registered about 5.28 million workers and also currently had on board about 54,558 retirees from the public and private sectors.

2,783 LG workers face sack in Ekiti •No it’s not true - Govt •It’s wicked Xmas gift - PDP

THERE is tension in Ekiti State as a hammer is now dangling on the head of 2,783 local government workers in the state.

This is following a directive of the state government on Monday that the 2,783 workers should produce documents to authenticate their appointment into the state Local Government Service Commission.

It was gathered that the government had also declared that no less than 1,511 of the number were allegedly appointed into the local governments illegally, while 593 had been declared redundant.

A circular signed by a Director in charge of Appointment and Posting, Mr David Jejelowo, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, also disclosed that 357 workers had been listed as those who were allegedly promoted beyond bar.
Also, in the widespread changes contained in the circular was the redeployment of council workers with National Certificate of Education (NCE) and Bachelor of Education degree to the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) and Teaching Service Commission respectively.
Some workers in the health department of the 16 local government areas of the state were also redeployed to the newly created Ekiti State Primary Health Development Agency.
Those said to have been illegally employed were given up till today to tender their letters of approval, while the directors of administration in each of the councils were asked to forward the minutes of the meetings in which the decision to appoint them was either recommended or approved.
The minutes were to be presented on or before  December 19, according to the directive, while those referred to as “redundant” were asked to produce their letters of appointment, confirmation of appointments and educational certificates to the commission.
Meanwhile, the state government has assured local government workers of security of their jobs, saying it has no intention of sacking them.
Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, in a statement on Tuesday, said the clarification became necessary, following what he called “wicked rumour” being peddled by the opposition that there were plans to sack council workers.
While urging local government workers and the generality of Ekiti people to ignore the sack rumour, Afuye said the state government still stood on the agreement reached with the workers’ union, which led to the calling off of the last industrial action early November.
Describing opposition politicians, whom he accused of sponsoring the rumour, as a “gang of liars,” Afuye explained that what government only did after the strike was to post some workers to the areas where they would function optimally.

According to the government spokesman, council workers with education-related certificates were posted to schools to work as teachers, while those in the council’s health sector were redeployed to the Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“We urge the general public, especially the local government workers to be wary of the antics of the opposition who are desperately looking for undeserved relevance,” the commissioner stated.

Also, the secretary of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr Victor Adebayo, has described the action as “surprising,” adding that “the union will not fold its arms and allow government to sack its members unjustly.”

The NULGE scribe said: “Declaring some people as illegal employees in the local government sector without carrying NULGE along is surprising, because we don’t know the documents the government is relying upon to do all these restructuring programmes. We agreed that we should be carried along in the restructuring programme, but government decided to do it all alone and this, to us, did not conform with due process.”

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, in a statement by his media aide, Femi Omolusi, described the development as “a wicked Christmas gift to the local government workers.”

“ and it shows that Governor Kayode Fayemi and his party Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are the enemy of entire workers in the state.”

According to Ogundipe “over 4000 were sacked for no reason while over 4,000 were demoted from level 12 to 8 and some from level 8 to 4 while those workers that have 10 years in service were forcefully retired and over 4000 workers that have NCE and B.Ed have been redeployed to SUBEB and Teaching Service Commission, purposely to write exam and those that fail will be sacked. This act is evil.”

He appealed to government to stay action on the matter to dowse the rising tension in the state, and promised that the body would contact NULGE headquarters for the next line of action.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the government action as “wicked and inhuman,” alleging that it was the “sacking and demotion of over 8,000 local government workers in this yuletide.”

Isho Pepper had 13 of us as wives, mistresses —Efunsetan Aniwura

Since the demise of Ishola Ogunsola (a.k.a Isho Pepper), very, not much been heard about his theatre clan. Matriarch of the clan, Mrs Iyabo Ogunsola of the Efunsetan Aniwura fame, in this interview, lets LAWRENCE AMAKU into plans by the family to hold Isho Pepper’s 20th year commemoration and what she has been doing in the past couple of years.  
What is the essence of the remembrance programme for the late Isho Pepper?
We want everyone to know that it will be exactly 20 years, this year, that Isola Ogunsola, popularly known as Isho Pepper, died and we want to use the series of activities to immortalise him and his generation. We want everyone to know that though he is dead, we his family members have outlived him. So the programme, which will start on December 24, will last for five days.

What is the nature of the programme and how do you intend to go about it?
On December 24, we will have a rally around town; on Tuesday, we will go Abeokuta,  his native town. One of the highlights of the occasion is a lecture to be delivered at the University of Ibadan (U.I), there will also be a theatre day at the Cultural Centre in Ibadan. Several  ANTP theatre practitioners will be on ground. We will be staging Alaafin Aganju to be graced by the presence of the Alaafin himself as well as other traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

Will the offsprings of Isho Pepper be featured in the drama also?
 Yes, of course, all his children, especially those of them that were part of the drama group then as kids.

How did your name come to feature prominently in the Isho Pepper theatre?
Well, I am actually the second of the I show Pepper’s numerous wives. When you add the number of mistresses he had to his legal wives, we are 13 in number. I am the second wife; Baba’s first wife, Iya Alakara, is dead. So, I presently occupy a frontal position.

Very little was heard about you and the Ishola Ogunsola’s theatre company after his death. Why?
It is not as if the company went underground. After his death, we had a programme that aired on some local TV stations. We had a certain soap manufacturer as the sponsor then. But because of the harsh economic situation in the country and the rising cost of airtime on TV, he could not sustain it; so it was discontinued. However, he still continues to assist us in every way he can till date. He has even offered to assist us in the forthcoming programme.
Besides, I had received God’s call to evangelism, even before Isho Pepper passed away.  I was already in a bible school before his death. That was in 1978.

But at that time, your theatre productions and activities were steeped in fetishism and supernatural beliefs, so how did you marry the two?
It was mere drama. It doesn’t mean that we were traditional worshippers or indulged in fetishism. I, for example, am a Christian; I was born into a Christian family. My father was an Anglican. I only had that God-given talent to play those roles.

What of the spiritual fortification that your cast members were said to undergo before each production?
 In my group, there was nothing of that nature. We used to commit our productions to God by praying before starting. By the way, if you listen attentively to all the tracks composed for Isho Pepper’s productions, they are songs rooted in Christian values. Unfortunately, at that time, he suffered a spiritual attack.

Where did the attack come from? Was it from his rivals in the industry?
Well, I can’t really say where it came from. But what I know is that because of the fame that his theatre group enjoyed at that time, which made him a household name among the high and mighty in the society, many people became envious of him. He was struck with an illness that really incapacitated him. We took him to various hospitals for medical cure, because Isho Pepper believed strongly in Western medicine. After all said and done, there was no solution. It was then that some people started saying that the sickness probably had a supernatural dimension and suggested we employ traditional means. So, because of our shallow faith in God then, we succumbed to pressure and took him to several herbalists and witch doctors who asked us to perform all manner of rituals just to get him healed.

 As a key player in the theatre tradition, how do you feel about its extinction?
You see, we cried out to the high heavens then at the advent of film. The late Chief Hubert Ogunde appealed to the authorities concerned to guard against its encroachment on the theatre. We know how well we entertained people and how much we made then by showing our productions at theatres, especially during festive periods like Christmas, Easter, Ileya and other festivities. These were harvest times for us. But what you find, nowadays, are movies being sold for as low as N200 and flood everywhere thereby making them worthless. The argument of lovers and advocates of film against us was that the theatre does not capture elements like seas, forests and others but with films and the effect of computer, that is possible.

What have you been involved in lately?
I have been producing Christian films. One of them is Ologbon Meji.

But not much has been heard about your works for some time now?
Well, may be because it doesn’t get much publicity like others. I market my works myself; I don’t engage the services of marketers because I don’t want anyone to rip me off. I go to different churches to market my works whenever I’m on ministration there, and I thank God that I get handsomely rewarded financially. By the way, I have left popular theatre completely. In fact, it came to a time — around 1993 — that my colleagues stopped inviting me to feature in their movies, may be they thought that I had veered off that line completely.

How have you coped, over the years, with life without Isho Pepper?
God has been the one helping us to shoulder our burden. His constant support has helped to fill the vacuum left in our lives by his demise.

NCMM to hold exhibition on Awolowo, Akintola, others

THE practical commitment by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to re-awaken community participation in the national museum unity across the country is yielding positive result with the introduction of people-friendly programmes.
The Director-General of the commission, Mallam Yusuf Usman, during a visit to Ibadan revealed to Tribune Tourism Magazine that the NCMM has invented avenue to give back to communities what belong to them by according them the privilege of creating activities around the educational and entertainment scope of the museum.
According to Usman, “We are looking at areas of interest that have one or more attachment to the people, to get them involved in the promotion of the heritage and originality of Nigeria’s cultural history and events.
“In addition, preparations are underway to see the possibility of opening up an exhibition where we will speak about the impact, and contributions of the government of western Nigeria.
“The exhibition, which will focus on our founding fathers and big personalities and great icons like Chief Obafemi Awolowo,  Ladoke Akintola among others, will display some of their relics and properties that are still in the museum, like Akintola’s car.
“Therefore, we want to develop an exhibition around these personalities to tell a story of western region and highlight it to Nigerians within the larger Nigeria landscape and history.
“More importantly, it will be a broadway to celebrate our past heroes and inculcate in the people sense of pride of their life and patriotism to Nigeria so that they can emulate their good example in order to continue to have better and greater Nigeria.”Usman added.