There’s enough to develop Nigeria - Oshiomhole

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said there are enough resources in the country to meet the needs of the people, attributing the level of poverty in the land to the greed of some leaders over the years.
He also said the rapid development witnessed in the state took place within two years and three months of his administration as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled House of Assembly frustrated his efforts to develop the state in his first year in office.
Speaking in Benin City while playing host to a joint delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from Ayuele, Anwain and Jagbe clans in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, the governor said: “The development you witness in Edo State today is a product of two years, three months because in my first year, I had an assembly dominated by the PDP which blocked some of my development plans. I had N5billion to build schools, and they vetoed it. The budget was taken to Abuja to their godfather’s house and the provision for road was reduced by 50 per cent, making it meaningless to do serious work.
‘Also, our plan to acquire mass transit buses now called comrade buses was vetoed. So, all the roads, schools and others you see now are a result of the work done in two years, three months.”
He, however, admitted that a lot still needed to be done in the state. “We have not solved all the problems. We try to prioritise and we are determined that Edo State must regain its pride of place,” he noted, saying: “I can assure you, if given another term of four years, we will double and even triple what you see today.”
Spokesperson for the delegation, Alhaji Nehimetu Momodu, said the visit was to show appreciation to the Comrade Governor for his reform agenda which had addressed the years of misrule in the state.

April 6, 9 declared public holidays

President Jonathan

The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 6 and Monday, 9  as public holidays to mark this year’s Easter Celebrations.

Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who announced the holiday on Thursday in Abuja on behalf of the President Goodluck Jonathan, said the public holidays are in line with the Christian Calendar and tradition which recognizes Friday the 6th and Monday the 9th of April, 2012 as “Good Friday” and “Easter Monday” respectively.

According to a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Sheidu Ozigis, while wishing all Nigerians a pleasant Easter celebrations, Moro called on all Christian faithful and indeed all Nigerians to pray fervently for enduring peace, unity and progress of the country.

How to tackle Nigeria’s problems, by Anyaoku

Chief Anyaoku

 

•Ex-Commonwealth chief calls for Sovereign National Conference •Dignitaries honour ‘activist’ Tinubu at Colloquium in Lagos

ADVOCATES of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) have won a major backer.
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku said yesterday that such a conference is a way to tackle Nigeria’s challenges. 
He said to return to true federalism, Nigeria needs to restructure the architecture of governance.
Anyaoku spoke on a day Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflected on the success of his eight-year administration in Lagos, a feat he attributed to the team spirit in his executive council.
It was all at the colloquium organised by Tinubu’s associates as part of the activities marking his 60th birthday in Lagos.
Anyaoku also called for the creation of six federating units in place of the 36 states, adding that should the 36 states be retained, they should become development zones within the federating units. 
The frontline diplomat chaired the 4th Bola Tinubu Colloquium. He said the conference would examine how to reach a consensus and restructure the architecture of governance.
His words: That the support for the SNC is without doubt and the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a national referendum to give it legitimacy.
“No one can deny the fact that there are major challenges of insecurity, heightened by Boko Haram, constant call for new revenue allocation formula, decline in health and education standard. These, in my view, should be addressed at the conference on how to face the challenges.” 
He noted that if Nigeria is to arrest the destructive competition among ethnic groups, it must hold a national conference.
Many nodded their heads – apparently in agreement with Anyaoku’s views – as he spoke.
He said Nigeria cannot face these challenges on the basis of the 1999 Constitution; otherwise, the nation’s quest for peace and development would remain elusive. 
According to him, to effect this change, “we need a national conference but those who fear the break-up of Nigeria, the burden accruing to Nigeria are sufficiently weighty to outweigh fear”.
“It should be accepted that Nigeria as one entity will not be up for contention. I do believe that a true federation, rather than unitary, will promote unity in Nigeria.”
To Anyaoku, Asiwaju Tinubu is “an effective advocate of federalism and a dedicated activist for the return of democracy and the restitution of Chief MKO Abiola’s presidential election victory in Nigeria”. 
He accepted to chair the event, according to him, because of what the celebrator stands for.
The diplomat said: “My second reason for agreeing to be here is the significance of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a consistent advocate of true federalism in Nigeria. As governor of Lagos State, he undertook some key development projects which, under our existing Constitution, were federal responsibility.
“In this context, I recall an incident on a presidential flight from Lagos to Singapore in 2002 when, in my presence, President Obasanjo and Governor Tinubu were engaged in a rather animated discussion over the issue of reimbursement to Lagos State of the cost of a federal road which the state government had constructed to the satisfaction of the Federal Ministry of Works.
“It was clear to me then that Asiwaju was one of the few people who can speak truth to power. There is, therefore, little wonder that he has become a towering leader of opposition to the federal governing party.”
The former governor aligned with the view of Anyaoku, that only a National Conference can resolve the fundamental questions germane to Nigeria’s unity and stability of the country.
Highlights of the programme included the launch of a book entitled: “Asiwaju Leadership in troubled times”, edited by seasoned journalists; Tunji Bello, Sam Omatseye and Segun Ayobolu; cutting of the anniversary cake by the celebrator and introduction of the ‘Tinubu Institute of Policy and Governance to the public.
An elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule, who revisited the national leadership question, hailed Tinubu’s leadership qualities, urging others to emulate him. Sule, who first saw Tinubu, in 1959, when he was eight years old, said Nigerians should strive to raise leaders and not looters.
The book was reviewed by a frontline journalist, Kunle Ajibade. Another accomplished journalist, Dele Alake, former Information and Strategy Commissioner, gave the toast to the celebrator. Speakers at the colloquium, which was chaired by 79 years old Chief Anyaoku, were former members of Tinubu Executive Council; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), his Osun State counterpart, Chief Aregbesola, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and his colleagues Dr. Leke Pitan (Health and later, Education), Yemi Cardoso (Economic Planning), and Wale Edun (Finance).
Hailing his former boss, Edun recalled the internally revenue drive of the administration, which led to a pool of resources channeled towards the state’s development. He said the creative approach dwarfed the revenue drive of the military era, which left the state with a meagre N600 million per month.
Hale and hearty, Tinubu strolled into the Eko Hotels Hall, Victoria Island, venue of the events at 4.10pm, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi, and other associates and well wishers. The ceremony kicked off, following an opening prayer by the Lagos State Works Commissioner Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
At the colourful event were former Chief Justice of Nigeria Mohammed Uwais, former governors Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Diepreye Alamieseigha (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Aremo Segun Osoba (Ogun), Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aregbesola (Osun), Fashola (Lagos), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Dr Doyin Abiola, former Punch chairman Chief Ajibola Ogunsola and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Also at the event were House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Prince Bola Ajibola, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmadu, Senators Ganiyu Solomon, Gbenga Ashafa, Segun Obadara, Sani Abu, Femi Lanlehin, Ajayi Boroffice, Abba Buka Ibrahim and Ayo Adesegun.
Others were former presidential candidate of the ACN Nuhu Ribadu, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun, Justice Christopher Segun (rtd) Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, Ayo Opadokun and rights activist-lawyer Femi Falana.
The dignitaries also include Osun State Deputy Governor Grace Laoye-Tomori, Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Mrs. Oprah Benson, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, Mr. Moruf. Akinderu-Fatai, Apena Kaoli Olusanya, Pa Adebayo Faleti, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Chief Fred Agbeyegbe,  Mrs. Abba Folawiyo, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Dr. Adebayo Adewusi,  Mr. Ayo Adewale, Mrs. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, Ambassador Segun Olusola, Mr. Ayilara, Mr. Demola Seriki, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Chief Funso Ologunde, Prof. Ropo Sekoni, Afeez Ipesa-Balogun, Mr.Awodeyi Akinsehinwa-Apata,  Iyiola Oladokun, Sir. Pius Akinyelure, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, Prof. Wale Omole, Prof. Adebayo Williams, Dr. Jayeola Ajatta, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Ademola Sodiq, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, Olorunfunmi Basorun, Rotimi Obadofin, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, Louis Odion, Shettima Yerima, Chris Ekwilo, Femi Gbajabiamila and Babatunde Adewale Jimoh.
There were also Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, Kola Awodein (SAN), Joel Ikenya, Tawa Williams, Ademorin Kuye, Senator Tony Adefuye and Mrs. Abimbola Jakande.
From Ghana were the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Alex Segbefia, Minister of Environment Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Minister of Local Government Elvis Afriyie, National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Mr. Danny Anwa and Mr. Ben. Nuwumenresai.
The celebrator thanked the organisers and guests for honouring him. 
Tinubu supported Anyaoku’s stand on national conference, saying that there is no alternative to it. He said it is the main issue staring the country in the face, urging Nigerians to embrace the option.
The former governor spoke on the value of team effort, stressing that it is crucial in public administration.
Reminiscing on his two-term tenure as governor, Tinubu said: “Those days were trying period. Any captain can steer the ship in a voyage, but it takes exceptional leadership and cooperative team to chart a new course. With procrastination, there will be no result. Without a team effort and team spirit, there will be no success. I learned team spirit from the private sector.
“I used the best brains and used the best tools to search for them. It was not politically easy to assemble the team. Many of them did not have party cards, except Leke Pitan and Rauf Aregbesola.”
Tinubu exchanged banters with Fashola over his remarks that he should always learn to treat his associates with justice. The former governor said: “God created tall and short men. Osinbajo is short, but he won taller cases. If there is no partiality, you (Fashola) cannot be governor.
“I exercise quick judgment. Whichever way it goes, I say ‘sorry’. With my decision on you, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Ajimobi, I have no regret. What can I change at 60? I will continue with that behaviour.”

Ondo LP leaders, youths, others join ACN

Over 3,000 leaders, youths and supporters of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State yesterday defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). 
They comprised over 2,000 LP chiefs from Idanre and adjoining villages as well as more than 1,000 youths from Akure North Local Government Area. The youths are mainly members of the Ondo Youths for Good Governance.
The Idanre defectors were from the four major wards of Lemikan, Ijomu Isunrun, Irowo and Jigbokin.
Idanre is the home town of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimi; Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade; Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Taye Akinyele; and the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure. They are LP chieftains.
The defectors were led by the ruling party’s leaders, including Mrs. M.O Ademujimi, Aladetuyi Benson, Oyediran Kayode, Bintilaye Kehinde, Adewale Adebayo and Adesakin Christianah.
Others were Kayode Oyediran, Taiwo Hassan, Muritala Olakunle, Adebayo Oladiran, Akinwande Adebisi, Olaniyan, Veronica and Elder Oni Lanre.
The defectors denounced LP, saying: “We are leaving the ruling party mainly in solidarity with the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Planning and Strategy, Saka Lawal.”
They described Lawal as the LP machinery and a God-fearing personality who was frustrated out of the ruling party by Mimiko and some of his allies in the government.
The defectors noted that despite having scores of Idanre indigenes in Mimiko’s government, the area has not had any developmental project. 
They said: “The present government could best be described as a compact administration where Mimiko and his few cabals, including Soji Bello, an indigene of Ekiti State, are becoming ‘tin gods’ in the state.
“We will work tirelessly to ensure the emergence of ACN government that has laudable programmes for the masses.”
The youths said their defection was in solidarity with the former Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Omoniyi Omodara, who is now an ACN chieftain.
The group’s president, Oromidayo Balogun said: “We are irrevocably committed to the welfare of our people and we believe wholeheartedly that ACN is the only viable and credible political party.
“It is through this party we can achieve our aspiration as the only alternative to the present visionless political configuration in the state.”
The defectors include: Babatunde Ayorinde, Olumide Awosika, Oni Daramola, Anjorin Olamide, Fasemore Ayomide, Asamo Niyi and Sunday Joseph.
Others are: Pelumi Oni, Famewo Seun, Ayoade Olulateun and Busayo Bello.

APGA’s founding chairman dumps party, floats UPGA

The founding national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has finally dumped the party and formed the United Peoples Grand Alliance (UPGA.)
He had voluntarily halted the leadership dispute in APGA and discontinued all court actions to that effect, after what he described as soul-searching meeting with political associates from the six-geopolitical zones of the country.
Speaking in Abuja where he unveiled UPGA, which he termed a better and more sophisticated political machine, Chief Okorie said the death of the leader of APGA, Chief Emeka Oju-kwu, had sealed the chan-ces of advancing the peace initiatives initiated to resolve the lingering disputes in APGA.
According to him, as it became clear that the time to move on had come, following the demise of Ojukwu, he could not, however, ditch his former party until the completion of the funeral rites of the former Biafran leader.
He carpeted persons who were said to have written a protest letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt the registration of UPGA and wondered why allegations arose that the new party conflicted with APGA.
“Anybody who is literate up to primary school, who can read APGA and UPGA as well as other acronyms will know that INEC arranges ballot papers in alphabetical order,” he said.
Speaking further, Chief Okorie said the constitution of the new party, UPGA, among other things, would safeguard internal party democracy, level-playing field for all party members, discipline, accountability and periodic change of leadership at all levels through elections.
He further noted that the manifesto of the party laid emphasis on the economic, political and social empowerment of the Nigerian masses in whom Nigeria’s sovereignty resided.
“The ideology of UPGA is anchored on welfarism, liberalism and progressivism,” he said, adding that  the leadership of UPGA would soon embark on massive consultation and sensitisation of Nigerians at home and abroad before the formal launching of the party, after it must have been formally registered by the INEC.

Drogba hails Chelsea away goal

Didier Drogba

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has pointed to his side’s away goal against Benfica as the key to progressing through to the Champions League semi-finals.

The Stamford Bridge outfit was a 1-0 winner on Tuesday night courtesy of Salomon Kalou’s late effort, meaning that the club heads into the second leg with a considerable advantage.

Drogba had been criticised in the build up to the tie after a video on Chelsea TV emerged of him appearing to mock the Portuguese side when he and teammates were filmed watching the Champions League quarterfinal draw, a suggestion which was later denied by David Luiz.

Although the Ivorian was an unused substitute during the first leg at the Estadio da Luz with Roberto Di Matteo preferring Fernando Torres up front, the veteran still realises the importance of both the result and the away goal to the Blues’ chances of booking a place in the semifinals.

Labour leaders, CNPP hail Fayemi over minimum wage

Ekiti State Labour leaders at the weekend hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi’s decision to pay its workers on Grade 7 to17 the new minimum wage.

The Governor had on Wednesday, approved the payment for workers on Grade Level 7 to 17, four months after it announced a N19, 332 minimum wage for workers (the amount is N1,332 higher than the N18,000 passed into Law by the National Assembly).

While workers on Grade Level 1 to 6 had been enjoying the salary package since December last year, those on level 7 to 17 will take the new pay with effect from April 1.

The union leaders, under the aegis of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), praised Fayemi at a meeting in Ado-Ekiti. They described the gesture as a manifestation of the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workers.

Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kolawole Olaiya, said workers are now happier and more motivated, adding that they will put in their best to support the Fayemi-led administration.

“This new wage you have signed is a manifestation of your good self, and a manifestation of your commitment to our welfare and we shall reciprocate this gesture”, Olaiya said.

The JNC Chairman, Comrade Babatunde Ajayi, said he was happy with the new wage, adding that the wage and the social security scheme of the government will make life easier for the people.

Ajayi said: “You have demonstrated your love for the people and the workers in particular. Ekiti has now become one of the few states in the federation to implement the new minimum wage for workers in its employ in line with the National Minimum Wage. We salute your leadership qualities and managerial skill, especially considering that Ekiti is at the rung of the Federal Allocation ladder.”

“Some states in the federation which earn about N15 billion were yet to implement the new wage, saying Ekiti government’s gesture is an indication of its interest in the welfare of its workers. This new wage coming at a time the government has reinstated cars and housing loans for the workers and also effected outstanding promotion, is a sign that better days are here for Ekiti workers”

Fayemi had also announced at the meeting that pensioners will also get 15 per cent raise in their monthly pension.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has said that the wage will reinforce workers’ confidence in the government and energise them to work harder for the realisation of the government’s eight-point agenda.

The body, in a statement by its Chairman, Tunji Ogunlola, urged the workers to reciprocate the government’s gesture.

Drogba — Chelsea can overturn any deficit

Drogba

CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba has insisted his side has the confidence to overturn any deficit at Stamford Bridge ahead of the first leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Benfica.
The Blues travel to Lisbon tonight having not won away from home in European competition for 13 months. The team lost 3-1 at Napoli in the last 16 but went through after a 4-1 home victory after extra time, and Drogba believes it is capable of progressing to the semifinals even if it was to suffer another defeat on its travels.
“There are teams who you know can do it whatever the challenge — even if they lost by five or six away,” the 34-year-old told The Times. “There are a few teams that you know can do it in those situations and Chelsea is one of them. With the players we have and the mentality we have here to fight and fight until the last minute, we can do anything.
"I believe that’s why we’ve had these moments in so many seasons, because we all believe we can do it and when we do something, we do it as a team, as a group.”
Chelsea's victory over Napoli made it only the fourth club in Champions League history to overturn a deficit of two goals or more in the second leg. And after the team's revival under caretaker boss Roberto di Matteo, Drogba admitted Chelsea is now brimming with confidence.  
“We have started to believe a little bit more in ourselves and there is a little bit more confidence now,” he said. “The only thing that can change a dressing room is winning games and going on a good run of results.
“Even if you have the best atmosphere in the dressing room to begin with, when you lose games everyone will be down. That’s just human. However, when you win games everything is better. Now we want to win again and give ourselves confidence for the coming weeks.”
The Blues striker insists his side has recovered its confidence ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal with Benfica and will fight 'until the last minute' this season.

Bomb factory discovered in Kogi •We’ll flush out terrorists - Army

KABBA, Kogi State, has been taken over by security men with the discovery of a bomb factory in the town.

The bomb factory, an uncompleted building, which is located on Kano road, Kabba, is heavily secured by military men and the State Security Service (SSS).

The unit commander of the Anti-Bomb Squad Kogi State, ASP Cletus Nzeji, while showing newsmen what they had discovered, disclosed that the owner of the uncompleted building normally visited the place late in the night, according to their investigation.

He added that the security agents had been on surveillance at the place in the last three days, adding that it was around 2.00 a.m. on Monday that the security agents finally stormed the area.

He stressed that five finished canisters of bombs, large quantity of wire and ropes and also several jackets and one military cap were found at the factory.

At the bomb factory, a bank teller for N36,000 deposited in one of the banks in Okene was recovered, while finished locally made bombs were also recovered.

Information gathered by Nigerian Tribune revealed that security operatives in the state were closing in on the culprits and they would soon be apprehended.

At the time of going to press, the security agents were already demolishing the building.

In a related development, the Nigerian Army has said there is no more hiding place for the members of the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect or any terrorist group in the sub-region, as the military said it has resolved to flush them out of their hiding once the Nigerian operation is over.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubike Ihejirika said in Abuja on Monday, at the opening ceremony of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) First Quarter Conference, where he disclosed the readiness of the army to wipe out the Boko Haram sect from the country, the task which he admitted had taken its toll on the force.

“Like in every operation, we have suffered a number of causalities. I don’t have a figure readily now but I want to say that the soldiers have continued to persevere, and will continue to do so. Like I said sometime earlier, by the time we root out terrorism in this country, the next phase would be for us to prepare to help our neighbours, the neighbouring countries, to root out the menace, because even if there is peace in Nigeria that peace will not be complete if our neighbours are embattled,” he said.

Speaking further, the army chief said: “We must have also learnt that some of these terrorists are trained in some neighbouring countries. I believe that phase one of our operation is to root them out of Nigeria. Then in line with the nation’s commitment to the sub-region, we would be prepared to assist our neighbours. So, we are looking ahead of what is happening in Nigeria today.”

He then listed some areas of operations, that the army is involved and the achievements recorded which he attributed not only to the army but also to other security agencies with which the army share intelligence gathering, even as he singled out the State Security Service (SSS) for mentioning.

“As we speak, we have nothing less than 41 units which I tagged Quick Response Groups, operating in various places. Some are in the highways, some are in major towns but I also want to remark the achievements made so far should not just be attributed to the Nigerian Army. There has been increase in intelligent operations by other services, particularly the SSS. The populace is beginning to understand the dangers inherent in terrorism and a lot of them are coming forward to offer the needed information.”

PDP accuses ACN of plotting against Oni, Oyinlola

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-West zone, has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of planning to cook up allegations of financial malpractices against the PDP national secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the national vice chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni, saying that “any attempt to carry out the clampdown on PDP members in Osun and Ekiti states by the ACN will be resisted.”
The PDP, which also described criticism of the just concluded national congress of the party by the ACN as hypocritical and nonsensical, said “if, according to the ACN, the PDP that conducted open congresses to elect its officers from ward to national levels lacks internal democracy, what does the ACN, which is solely owned and controlled by a single individual and has not changed its national chairman since 2005 lack?”
In a release issued by the zonal publicity secretary of the PDP, Honourable Kayode Babade, the party alleged that a meeting was held in Lagos on Sunday by ACN leaders, where ACN governors were mandated to embark on a total clampdown on PDP members in Ekiti and Osun states.
“We are aware of the meeting held by the ACN leaders in Lagos on Sunday, and the directive that evidences of financial malpractices against Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Chief Segun Oni must be made available at the next meeting slated for the end of this week.
“Also at the meeting, total clampdown of PDP members in Ekiti and Osun states was directed, because of the emergence of Oni and Oyinlola as national officers of the PDP.
“While we are not against anyone from pursuing whatever allegation he has against Oni and Oyinlola, we, however, wish to state that like their previous efforts, this new attempt to frame up Oni and Oyinlola will fail,” Babade said.

Ajimobi approves new wage for Oyo workers

Governor Ajimobi

The agitation for a new wage by civil servants in Oyo State ended on a happy note on Monday with the approval of N19, 987.14 minimum wage for the workers across board by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The workers were however mandated to work assiduously to improve on the internally-generated revenue (IGR) of the state in order to give the government the financial muscle to pay the new wage and at the same time deliver on its electioneering promises to the people.
This came as the governor disclosed his target of raising the state internally-generated revenue to N100 billion per annum to enhance the government’s ability to meet increasing expenditure which has been shot up by workers’ wages.
The strategies outlined by the governor to meet the target are - the upgrading of the Bola Ige International Market in Gbagi,  review of vehicle registration, land use and personal tax.
Others include introduction of land use charge, signage charges, transportation system, recertification of business premises, improved title perfection process, quarry levy and agriculture tariff.
 

From Ibadan to Ikere, Raindrum heads for London

The selection of Raindrum – one of the poems of widely-acclaimed poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare, by Creative Scotland for the coming London Olympics – gives the ‘meditative’ poem written in 1984 its literary due, writes GBENGA ADENIJI

The dystopian novel, 1984 authored by English writer,  Eric Blair (George Orwell) is a political fiction which creatively offers refreshing insights into the dangers of despotic rule.

 But away from the fictional year which the novel is titled, Nigeria’s multiple award-winning poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare recalls the real ‘1984’ as a year he wrote Raindrum – a poem which was recently selected by Creative Scotland organisers of a broadcast series named The Written Word London 2012 poetry project.

The organisation is partnering with the British Broadcasting Corporation and other organisations to use the selected poems from each of the 205 countries which will compete at the forthcoming London Olympics and beyond the sport festival to provide an ‘‘opportunity to bond poetry from many nations into the lives of people who might not ordinarily be interested in it, giving them a reason to enjoy and explore a great art form.’’        

  Stating that he received the news of the selection of the poem for the project with great delight, the former Head of English Department, University of Ibadan, who currently lectures at the University of New Orleans, United States, adds that it ‘‘is a very welcome venture indeed, since they are creating a valuable forum for the other clan of performers: cultural and verbal athletes.’’   

Osundare says via an email exchange with our correspondent that the chosen poem is an ‘old warrior’. He discloses that it was first published in his book The Eye of the Earth in 1986; re-published in his Selected Poems in 1992; and later in Pages from the Book of the Sun: New And Selected Poems in 2002.

He explains that it is a poem that captures one of the dominant motifs in all his poetry: the rain as antidote to the drought and its withering scarcity and severity; replenisher of the earth and harbinger of bounties; agent of refreshment and renewal and nature’s enabler of human survival. 

According to Osundare, ‘meditative’ is a word which describes the title of the poem which he says he composed in Ibadan in March 1984 and completed in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State, his hometown, a few days later. 

By coincidence or as the literati will say that the muse is at work, the month of the announcement of the poem’s selection coincides with the same month the revered poet wrote the piece in 1984.

He recalls, ‘‘Before and during the act of composition of this poem, I was enveloped by the intense heat that usually comes with that month of the year, that searing, suffocating heat that makes you feel as if you had just been pulled out of a pot of boiling water. The type that arms the sun with scalding fire, and chokes the lungs with muggy air; the type that cakes up the land and comes with the threat of famine…. At the figurative level, there was another drought: the drought of freedom and human rights wrought by the military dictatorship that held Nigeria in thrall when I wrote the poem in 1984.’’

The playwright, linguist and critic adds that expressions such as “iron fingers”, “kettledrums”, “tightened”, and “grilling”, used as images in the poem will give the mental picture he tries to paint.

‘‘But the rain comes with its liberating music and the streets break into liquid dance afterwards. Cornfields rock with ears, and yam tubers swell and surge in the belly of the earth.  New seasons a-borning, season of genuine renewal. … The rain is a constant metaphor in my poetic universe. It is the ink in the fountain of my pen. What else do you expect from one that is “farmer-born, peasant-bred? he asks. 

Since the organisers of the Written Word are willing to use poems composed in the original and indigenous languages of the poets they have selected, Osundare has to start work on the Yoruba translation titled, ‘Gbedu Ojo’.

He states that some 10 years ago, he started translating a couple of poems in The Eye of the Earth into Yoruba- which he notes is a terrible irony since the poems should have been composed in the indigenous language in the first instance-and ‘Raindrum’ was one of those that went through the first translation drafts.

But he regrets that Hurricane Katrina swept his library and manuscripts away and the translation project went into painful remission. Osundare says the letter from Creative Scotland provided a fresh impetus for the translation of Raindrum. 

He says, ‘‘Of course, the pre-Katrina translation is gone forever. I started the translation task afresh, and after many days of agonising toil, a fairly decent text emerged. And as you know, Yoruba without tone marks is like a song without its tune. Since I had no Yoruba software on my computer, I sent the poem to Professor Tunde Akinyemi of the University of Florida at Gainesville, who helped out with the tone-marking.’’ 

The prolific poet explains that what he has at the end of the day are two poems which behave like two children from the same umbilical cord, but with different codes and performative potentialities. He notes that geniuses such as Akinwumi Isola will tell one that translating from or into Yoruba is a task which requires prodigious talents and god-like skill. 

According to the Professor of English, Yoruba has a profundity of melody and music that is so indigenous to it and it is an arduous task to get this music to meld with the music of other languages, including even the famously accommodating English.

Besides, he reveals that another poem of his I Sing of Change will be on display on the London Underground for the duration of the Olympics. Noting that the poem has a long history in the Tube, the poet whose poetry has been translated into many languages, states that it first appeared there five years ago along with five other poems by African poets.

 The poem, he adds, was later published into an anthology of selected Poems on the Underground and has already been selected for another anthology due to be published by Penguin to coincide with the London Olympics.  Started in 1986, Poems on the Underground, Osundare says is the brainchild of writer and literary activist Judith Chernaik with the active collaboration of Cicely Herbert and Gerard Benson. ‘‘Together, they have kept the Word on the Tube and got the world to sing while it rides…. ‘I Sing of Change’ was published in Songs of the Marketplace, my first book of poems, in 1983, and reproduced in Pages from the Book of the Sun: New & Selected Poems, 2002.’’  

Osundare has majestically traversed the global literary terrain publishing over 15 books of poetry, including Songs of the Marketplace, The Eye of the Earth, Songs of the Season, Waiting Laughters and his latest, City Without a People: The Katrina Poems (2011) which explores his personal experiences during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. He has also published books of selected poems, plays, essays and various scholarly works and reviews.

When the Olympics games commence on July 27, representatives of each of the participating countries are expected to bond culturally with Raindrum and other selected poems preaching the global gospel of spoken art.

Men who consume sugary drink risk heart disease — study

GBENGA ADENIJI writes about a new study indicating that men who consume sugar-sweetened beverage a day are risking heart disease

Most people find it easy to drink sugary substance than take any bitter liquid.

But a new research has revealed that individuals especially men who drink sugar-sweetened beverage a day increase their risk of heart disease.​

It shows that naturally, sugar-sweetened beverages cause many health problems- including obesity and diabetes. And that taking one daily adds one more potential risk to the list: coronary disease.

According to the study, men who drink one sugar-sweetened beverage daily have a 20 per cent higher risk of heart disease than men who drink none.

The researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health tracked nearly 43,000 participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which included male dentists, pharmacists, physicians, veterinarians and other health professionals ages 40 to 75, almost all of whom were of European descent.

For 22 years, the men filled out surveys about their diets and other health habits. The researchers also collected blood samples from more than 18,000 men who were demographically similar to those in the survey.

The results, published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, discovered that drinking 12 ounces of regular soda, fruit drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages daily was associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

This, it adds, is even after taking into account other cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol use and a family history of heart disease.

A professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and the lead author of the study, Dr. Frank Hu, said the findings were significant because even relatively modest consumption of sugary beverages – just one drink per day – was associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Hu says, “These drinks should be treated as a treat, not for all the time.”

The study specifically categorised sugar-sweetened beverages to include regular soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and sugar-sweetened water.

Also, a 2011 report from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 25 per cent of Americans drink the equivalent of more than one can of soda each day.

The study states that men who drank daily sugar-sweetened beverages had certain markers of cardiovascular disease in their blood, including higher levels of lipids like triglycerides and lower levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol.

Hu adds that increase in these markers could show certain revelations about the biological mechanisms that may connect sugary drinks and heart disease.

It is however not only men’s affair as previous researches have indicated  that the link between sugary drinks and heart disease may also exist for women.

The latest study’s findings observe those of a study of nearly 89,000 women, the Nurses’ Health Study, which Hu and his colleagues published in 2009.

That study discovered that women who drank one or less than two sugary drinks per day had a 23 per cent increased risk of a heart attack

It is vital to state that the new study didn’t find a nexus between diet drinks and cardiovascular disease, and past studies didn’t link diet drinks with an increase in diabetes risk or weight gain.

This, the study suugests, may be because people who choose diet drinks might be more likely to develop better diets and healthier lifestyles overall.

According to the study, men who drank diet soda often got more exercise and smoked less. Some nutrition experts however hesitate to suggest that people simply replace sugar-sweetened beverages with diet drinks due to the lack of evidence about the prolonged effects of artificial sweeteners.

Some researches also suggest that diet soda can condition the taste buds to crave sweets, leading to higher sugar intake in other parts of the diet.

It is even stated that growing soda habit leads to untimely death for many Americans. According to an analysis from the University of California, San Francisco, about six thousand deaths over the last decade could have been avoided if Americans drank less soda and sugary beverages.

The analysis found out that America’s growing addiction to sweet drink has increased health outcomes such as heart disease and diabetes including higher health care costs.

The new analysis, presented at the American Heart Association’s 50th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, gives an insight into the extent of damage the consumption of sugary drinks can be.

Employing the use of a computer model and data from the Framingham Heart Study, the Nurses Health Study and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers estimated that the increasing consumption between 1990 and 2000 of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages, which they shortened as “SSBs,” led to 75,000 new cases of diabetes and 14,000 new cases of heart disease.

They note, “ What’s more, the burden of the diseases translated into $300m to $550m increase in health care costs between 2000 and 2010. The model is really important because it gives us a big picture that might serve as a more effective impetus for health policies to curb consumption.”

The lead author and internal medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Litsa Lambrakos said, “A lot of people drink these drinks on a daily basis and they have little to no nutritional value. We want the public to know that they should not be considered a staple of the American diet.”

Besides, Lambrakos said date from Soda Pop Culture show that more Americans are drinking soda or other sugary drinks on a daily basis- and having larger contents, more consistently- than ever before, Lambrakos said.

The analysis noted that 21,000 years of potential life were lost to Americans over the last decade when increased consumption of the drinks led to premature death.

There is also a disclosure that it is not just the amount of sugar in the beverages that matter, but its kind.

Lambrakos added that a study noted that people drinking soda or SSBs had an increased risk of diabetes while those drinking similar calorie and sugar loads of 100 per cent fruit juice had no such increased risk.

The beverage industry however faulted the claim, saying, “Heart disease and diabetes are complex problems with no single cause and no simple solutions. Consuming sugar-sweetened beverages is not a risk factor” for either condition.”

Winners’ Chapel pastor accuses Muslims of destroying church property

The Provincial Pastor of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel, Sango Province, Ilorin, Kwara State, Pastor Chris Osiberu, has accused members of the Ajegunle Muslim community of destroying materials for the ministry’s church building project at Kulendu.

According to Osiberu, the incident occurred on Friday while workers were on site working on the project.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, the cleric claimed that property destroyed included a shopping plaza and money allegedly stolen from the workers and contractors were estimated at N78.3m.

He said over 100 Muslim youths from Old Jebba Road, Sango Area, Ilorin allegedly attacked the workers and demolished the ongoing project.

In a petition dated March 23, 2012, and sent to the Divisional Police Officer, ‘E’ Division Police Station, Kulende, Sango Area, Osiberu said the destruction was carried out in total disregard of the laws and government institutions, which he said had been mediating between the church and the Muslims for several months.

The petition, which was made available to journalists, was copied to the Inspector-General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, The state Commissioner of Police, The Director, State Security Services and the Area Commander,

It said, “On Friday, March 23, after the Jumaat prayers, the youths of the Ajegunle Mosque came to the Living Faith Church site in large numbers. They destroyed church wall fence and the building material that was on our site. They beat the people on the site, stole two laptops computers and tools.”

Osiberu explained that at the last mediatory meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, the representatives of the Muslim community and the church signed an undertaking of good behaviour.

He said there was a need to address the issue to nip the festering religious disharmony in the bud.

Osiberu said trouble started about two years ago, after the church bought a land previously belonging to the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited. He stated that after NITEL was liquidated and the land sold on behalf of NITEL to a buyer, the church bought the land from the buyer with the complete documents including Certificate of Occupancy.

He alleged that the Muslim community felt uncomfortable for the church to erect a place of worship near their mosque. The church was subsequently sued at the High Court, Ilorin before Justice Halima Saleeman. The case was later dismissed by the judge.

Osiberu said, “After the case was dismissed, the Muslim community reported the matter to the state Town Planning and Development Authority, saying the proposed church building will be in conflict with their worship place.”

It was learnt that the state town planning authority later recommended that the church should erect a shopping complex in the frontal part of the land that faced Old Jebba Road so as to shield the activities of the church away from the Muslim community.

It also recommended that the proposed church should also face the road at the rear end.

Osiberu said though it was costly for the church, it accepted and abided by the recommendations to ensure peace.

He added that both parties signed undertakings before the SSS and the police to maintain the peace.

He said the church was presently at loss over the incident. He called on the state government and the law enforcement agencies to immediately prevail on the culprits to avoid a reprisal.

Osiberu said, “This is an injustice. They are not the only people who know how to fight. We have people who can fight. It does not take us anything to mobilise more than 2000 of our people to fight.

“But as people of peace, we have reported this current attack to the police. We do not know what they have done so far. The action of our attackers is an invitation to anarchy. If anything happens, people should know that it was started by the Muslims who are taking laws into their hands.”

One of the site engineers, Mr. John Ramonu, accused the two policemen on duty of negligence, adding that one of the church workers was beaten to a state of unconsciousness and was only revived after receiving first aid treatment.

He said, “When they came to attack us, I went to the two armed policemen on site. They said they got signal that they should leave there now and move to the office. They just watched our attackers destroy things.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Inter-Religious Committee of the state, Alhaji, Muhammed Koro, advised the church to write to the committee to look into the matter.

He said, “We have a procedure for doing our job. If there is anything like that, we either receive a letter of complaint and we visit the place. If they write on time, we are sitting on Thursday; we take the complaint to the people and get their own reaction. That is the procedure,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ezekiel Dabo, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday said he could not confirm or comment on the issue until he was properly briefed.

But the Division Police Officer, ‘E’ Division Police Station, Kulende-Sango Area, Ilorin, Mr. Abdullahi Aminu, said the church had formally complained to the police.

Benue guber: ACN heads to Supreme Court

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State has declared its intention to challenge at the Supreme Court the dismissal of the election petition filed by its governorship candidate Professor Torkuma Ugba in respect of last year’s election.
The Senate Minority leader and former governor of the State, Senator George Akume told party supporters from Benue East at Wannue, Tarka Local Government area that the appeal court got it all wrong on the time frame for deciding election petitions hence the planned recourse to the apex court.
Akume doubles as  the ACN leader in the state.
He said Governor Gabriel Suswam and his supporters were rejoicing too early on the issue.
He said : “ I’m going to fix Governor Gabriel Suswam in a way he will remain fixed forever and will  never forget in his life by  the time the election petition is over.”
Also speaking , Professor Ugba assured the party supporters that he has not abandoned his mandate to  run to the USA as allegedly rumoured by PDP .
He said the matter would be tabled before the Supreme Court next month and appealed to the ACN faithful to remain calm and steadfast in their support.

Anger, drama as PDP crowns Tukur, Oyinlola

New PDP Chairman Alhaji Tukur

• Mustafa, 10 others surrender to anointed candidate • Ex-Osun gov, Oyinlola, prostrates before Adeniran • Babatope bows out in anger • How the deal was struck at midnight

A mix of drama, intrigues and anger climaxed the national convention of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja yesterday with aspirants to prominent positions in the national executive committee of the party arm-twisted into stepping down  for the preferred candidates anointed by President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the party.
 Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged the national chairman while former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola became the national secretary.
 Shortly before the guided voting exercise commenced, one of the 11 chairmanship aspirants, Dr. Shettima Mustafa, on behalf of himself and nine other aspirants, announced that they had all withdrawn their candidature for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
 “Having discussed the issues and having been invited by the leadership of the party, we were requested to cooperate. On behalf of the aspirants, we concede. I am mandated to concede this office to the candidate so chosen for the position,” Mustapha said in his short speech.
 Former Transport Minister and aspirant to the position of National Secretary of the party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope soon followed, mounting the podium to announce his withdrawal from the race.
With anger in his voice, Babatope said: “I am not withdrawing for anybody but for the party. I have been prevailed upon by friends to withdraw; otherwise I was determined to go ahead even if I was going to get only one vote
“So I am not stepping down for anybody. I am stepping down for the party. I have decided to step down as a mark of respect for President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. I believe the party is supreme” 
 While this unfolded, pressure was being mounted on former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran to step down for Oyinlola. Adeniran had initially resisted.
 Oyinlola himself now approached the stand where the former minister was seated and prostrated before him as a mark of respect and patronage. Other key stakeholders were also unrelenting in begging Adeniran to withdraw from the race.
 Eventually, Adeniran caved in but not until voting to affirm Oyinlola’s sole candidature had commenced. After consultation with a group from his native Ekiti State, Adeniran mounted the podium and announced his withdrawal from the contest.
 Earlier, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro had announced his withdrawal and that of two others, Ademola Daramola and Bola Ola Ojo from the race.
 While this was going on, the President’s foot soldiers moved around to persuade the various aspirants to accept the choices of the Presidency for the various positions.  Governors Chibuke Amaechi (Rivers) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) led a pressure group while Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu led another team.
 Former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala and former Senator, Iyiola Omisore were also seen persuading aggrieved aspirants to accept the President’s anointed candidates.
 It was a fait accompli as one after the other, contestants started falling in line. Immediate past vice chairman (South East) of the party, Chief Olisa Metu was announced the sole candidate for the position of the National Publicity Secretary.
 Soon after, former Transport Minister, Mrs. Kema Chikwe was declared National Women Leader without opposition.
 But voting still took place to affirm the adoption of the preferred candidates, President Jonathan, leading the Bayelsa State delegates, voted at 3.24 pm.
In his maiden speech soon after he was sworn in by Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN),  Tukur pledged to build a bridge across faith, generations and tendencies and lay the foundation for a new Nigeria. He asked those who aspired to the office to cooperate with him as "there are no winners, no losers. We are all winners."
He said he would be guided in his actions by the constitution and manifesto of the party and would ensure that such values as adherence to separation of powers, checks and balances and rule of law are guiding principles.
President Goodluck Jonathan who had to leave the convention ground at 5.20 p.m. after the votes had been sorted but before announcement of performance of the candidates one hour later, had his speech delivered by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Trying to calm frayed nerves, he said: "I urge all our members to remain united and place party interests above personal interests."
 He described the PDP as the strongest party in the history of the country, with effective presence in all the six zones. He said, "at the end of this convention, expect a stronger and more disciplined PDP".
Voting was conducted into four offices- the national chairman, national secretary, national financial secretary and national auditor. The result indicated that pre convention horse trading and pressure on candidates who could pose any challenge to withdraw from the contest for offices had yielded result.
There was no contest for the post of chairman as delegates were merely asked to endorse the remaining sole candidate. The Yes votes for Tukur were 3,185 and those who voted No were only 12.  As Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Femi Pedro and Professor Tunde Adeniran reluctantly announced their withdrawal, the coast was clear for the emergence of the preferred candidate, former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as national secretary.
Oyinlola who was made to go through the motion of an election polled 3,061 votes, Chief Dapo Sarumi 8 and Mr Owolabi Salis 1.
Bolaji Ajani was affirmed as national auditor with 2,975 out of the 3,065 votes cast. By the time of voting, pockets of resistance had been bludgeoned into submission. He had no opponent.
All those who had threatened to contest the national publicity secretary, national women leader positions from the South East also bowed to intervention by party leaders at the convention ground.

Who is afraid of regional integration?

Whereas the idea of regional integration has caught on with the people of the South-West, particularly with its promise of rapid socio-economic and infrastructural development of the region, one is taken aback by the attempts by some commentators to demonise the noble agenda. One of such attempts is a write-up by Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, attacking the proceedings of the Nation’s Legislative Summit held in Ibadan.

The writer submitted that an adoption of an anthem and flag by South-West leaders under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was a dress rehearsal to secession bid from Nigerian state. Yet, having an anthem and flag by a state in a federation has nothing to do with secession. They are simply affirmation of the autonomy of the federating units as parts of the attributes of genuine federalism.

Before the military misadventure in 1966, each region of Nigeria had its own coat of arms, flag and anthem which never constituted secession at the time. It was military incursion into our polity that balkanised them. Notwithstanding, the truth is that regional consciousness has not faded away, they still exist. Arewa, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ijaws, etc., all have their flags and anthems. In fact, the symbol of Arewa was gleefully placed on the Nigerian currency by Northern oligarchs.

In the United States of America which practises the same federalism as Nigeria, the states have their own flags, anthems and even constitution, but they are not seen as a precursor to secession. Similar arrangements exist in Canada and India.

As against a unitary system where everything flows from the centre, federalism is a constitutional arrangement where the centre and its federating units — states — derive their powers from a written constitution without either being subordinated to the other. In a large country like Nigeria with diverse tribes, religions, languages, cultures, etc., where propensity of domination of one federating unit over another is high, this federating arrangement becomes imperative with each federating unit developing at its own pace or collaborating with other federating unit(s) for a developmental agendum.

This is the background to the South-West governors and leaders’ meeting of February 2, 2012 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

There is nothing superfluous with the Yoruba people meeting. Hausa people under the platform of Arewa Consultative Forum have been meeting from time to time. Just on Thursday, February 23, 2012, 19 Northern governors, under the canopy of Northern Governors Forum met to discuss unfavorable federal allocation to Northern states, among others; and even the minority Ijaw people under the Ijaw National Congress are not left out. Since the commencement of the present civil dispensation in 1999, virtually every state goes to Abuja, cap in hand, for monthly federal allocation, which is mostly used on recurrent expenditure with little or nothing left for capital projects that could improve the lives of the people and attract investment opportunities. In this kind of milieu, a responsible and responsive leadership should look inward on how to get out of the woods to improve the lot of the people. Hence, the demand by the South-West governors and leaders for true federalism and reordering of allocation for the federating units as it is ordinarily supposed to be.

Furthermore, it is a fact that at every historical juncture, humanity has always been provided leadership that would be the rallying point and champion its cause for development. This leadership emergence is not limited to socio-political arena, but it encompasses every department of life, including religion. How far the leadership goes in championing its cause at every epoch is another issue entirely.

Modibo made reference to democratically elected governors of the states in the South-West as “sidekick.” The credentials of these governors are well known to all discerning minds and cannot be diminished by this attack.

The writer failed to state what is wrong with regional integration agendum by South-West leaders. In the absence of any positive programme or policy from the Federal Government that could bring development to the region despite the stupendous resources in its possession, South-West leaders have the right to create avenues for development of their region.

It is an incontrovertible fact that Yoruba, Hausa and Ibo are different people with different culture, language, orientation, etc., with each knowing where he/she originated from. With Boko Haram’s condemnable and unjustifiable attacks in most parts of the North-East for instance, Igbo and Yoruba in the area have been moving out of the place but the Hausa who are also victims of these attacks have stayed. Why? It’s their land. They have nowhere to go! This is just to show that we know where we all belong.

With the alarming 2010 report of the National Bureau of Statistics released on February 20, 2012 stating that 112,519 million Nigerians live in relative poverty, in a situation where the majority of the population — especially the young people — live without hope, lacking basic amenities, having no job and living in perpetual poverty in the midst of abundant human and natural resources which are the basic requirements for societal development, any leadership that fails to strategise on how to address these problems and bring laughter on the faces of its people is not worth being referred to as leadership. This is exactly what the South-West leadership tries to fix via its regional integration agenda.

In his address at the Nations’ Legislative Summit, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the first need of the people was job, followed by education, transportation and agriculture. He concluded by stating, “I believe I must, at this point, add that the call for integration is not a call for secession. To make this beyond doubt, any other state outside the region that subscribes to our core values, commitments and objectives is welcome to join us in the integration.”

What else does one need to state more than this? Regional integration is an instrument, true federalism is the target, and decent living condition for our people is the goal.

•Okanlawon is Director, Bureau of Communications & Strategy, Office of the Governor, Osogbo, Osun State.

MC Oluomo likes me but I never dated him –Taiwo Aromokun, actress

Taiwo Aromokun
| credits: File copy

Taiwo Aromokun, an actress, tells ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about her relationship with actor, Odunlade Adekola

About my twin sister

I have a twin sister. People say we look alike. But I am bigger than her. She is not an actress and she doesn’t even like what I do for a living. I am lucky to have a twin sister, who I can talk to and share things with, rather than fair weather friends that will betray me any time. She is the outgoing type and many people have said she should have been the actress in the family. But she doesn’t like acting at all.

 My love for acting

I am passionate about acting. But I started nursing the ambition to become an actress in 2000.  A friend of mine is a costumier. Once, she wasn’t able to get the costumes for a particular movie production. So she came to me and requested some of my father’s clothes. Both of us actually planned it. My dad was out of town at the time. She collected the clothes and went back to location. Unfortunately for us, my father returned unexpectedly because he had to attend a party the next day. Then he searched for the dress that he wanted to wear to the party and couldn’t find it. It turned out that the dress was one of the clothes I gave to my friend. So I ran to the lady and told her to return the clothes. She begged me to hold on for awhile. I started shouting at her. That was on Antar Laniyan’s set. I didn’t know the director needed a character who could shout and make a lot of noise. The director said he didn’t like the cast that he was working with. So when he heard me shouting, he sent for me. My role was just to start a scene in the movie. I agreed to do it, as long as I would be given my father’s dress afterwards. When the film was eventually released, those who saw the part that I acted told me I did very well. They said  I should consider acting as a profession. I had to go back to my costumier friend and tell her I was interested in acting. She introduced me to one caucus. I got trained and I started acting before I started producing my own movies.

Support from my family

My father is late. He was a pastor. He was very angry with me when I chose acting as a career. He asked me if I didn’t consider what his congregation would think about my decision. I asked him what his fears were. He said actresses often ended up not having homes of their own. He said actresses were always involved in one scandal or another. I told him I wasn’t going to bring disgrace to him. I told him I would get married and have a home of my own, that I would never have a broken home. I promised to avoid scandals and not to dent his name. My mother believed in me so much. So she saw nothing wrong with my decision to go into acting. Ever since, she has been giving me her support.

 How I got a break

I can’t really say the movie that brought me to limelight. There was this movie, Agidi; I didn’t even play a major role in it, but my face was used for the poster and on the sleeve. It was actually my first movie. Immediately after the film came out, people started calling me for jobs. I did Girigiri and many other films. I thank God for the turnaround.

 Why I prefer Yoruba movies

I tried to appear in an English language movie, but the producers were quite prejudiced. I think they are scared of mixing with us. We accommodate them. Now we invite some of them to feature in our movies even when the fees that they demand from us are high. I have appeared in two of such movies and in two soap operas.

 Day I was harassed by hoodlums

The government needs to do something about hoodlums. We were shooting a movie and I was expecting one of my actresses. She was coming from the United Kingdom and I was supposed to go and pick her from the airport that night. But I couldn’t go because I was needed on location. I asked her to pick a cab from the airport and come to the location. The trip from the airport to the location wasn’t supposed to take her more than 45 minutes, but she had stayed for more than two hours on her way to location. I was agitated. It was getting late. It got to a point she stopped answering her calls and I was very worried.  So I stood outside and started to call her name. My generator boy wanted to pass a cable and connect electricity. I noticed that some guys came to him and started harassing him. I ignored them. They wanted to beat him up, but he quickly told them that I was the producer and that they should come and meet me. They came to me. They said I should give them money. I ignored them. I thought they wouldn’t do anything since I was a female. But one of them said he would deal with me. I told him he wouldn’t dare. Before I could do anything, he struck me. I hit him back. The generator guy ran in and called the other members of the production crew. The hoodlum picked up a stick and hit me again. We invited  the police. One of them was caught and he was detained for more than three days. He begged to be set free. His superiors also begged to be pardoned. Eventually, he was releasesd. Even the one that hit me came and begged as well.

 My relationship with MC Oluomo

I don’t know the source of that story. I will not deny the fact that I know MC Oluomo. The first time I saw him was in 2009. Bisi Ibidapo-Obe is my closest sister and friend in the movie industry. She was launching her movie and I was invited. I had not heard of nor met MC at that time. During the event, one of MC Oluomo’s aides walked up to me and said his chairman wanted to see me. I went to him and he said he liked me and that he had been watching my movies and he liked the way I act. I said I was like a daughter to him. He told me he had a set of twins and he had always wished to meet me. I didn’t see him again until early this year. The same Bisi was marking her mother’s birthday. I hardly attend parties, but I had to attend that one because of Bisi. MC was sitting on the same table with my senior colleagues. I went there and I greeted everybody and walked away. The next thing I heard was the rumour that I was dating him. Even they said that Liz Da Silva and I slept with MC at the same time. The ironical part of the story is that I don’t even talk to Liz. She is not my friend. So I don’t know how both of us would have gone to sleep with same man at the same time.

 Odunlade Adekola and I

I am very blunt and God-fearing. I actually went out on a date with Odunlade Adekola. I will not deny it. But we are no longer dating each other. We are just friends now. In fact, we will remain just friends for the rest of our lives. We are still close. People tend to get the wrong ideas when they notice that a particular guy casts a particular lady in his movies constantly. Odun is a very sentimental person. He believes that I am a good actress. He is well known. Right now, he is number one in the Yoruba movie industry. He believes that somebody can benefit from his stardom and succeed as well. I think that was what he did for me. God will not come down to help you. He would send you help through people. God used him to lift me up in the industry.

 Why we broke up

We broke up for a personal reason. I wanted to move on with my life. Odun was married with two adorable sons and he was not ready to take a second wife. So there was no point in continuing the relationship. I would have married him if he had asked me. I know my father would not have been pleased with that if he was still alive. But marriage is about understanding and happiness. If I find a man that understands and respects me, loves and cares for me, what else do I need? Despite the fact that we are no longer lovers, we still communicate to each other. It was rumoured I fought with Flakky Ididowu over Odun. It is not true. Such a thing didn’t happen. I have seen Flakky just once this year. I don’t go to parties. How could I have fought with Flakky during a party? People think I am proud and I hardly talk to my colleagues. But that is not the case. I am only reserved. I always keep to myself in order to avoid gossip. I was hurt when my relationship with Odunlade broke up, but life goes on. The truth is that we didn’t even break up like that. We just came to a mutual understanding. A friend of mine actually said I was the one who didn’t want to marry Odun. I asked her why she said so. She said a lady should know how to hook a man. But I am not that kind of person. I knew he was married before we started dating. But some people are destined to get married to two wives, even if the first wife agrees or not. I shouldn’t be desperate to hook a man. I don’t have any regret dating him. I also know he is happy dating me.

 My new lover

I am currently dating Jesus Christ, who will eventually find another man for me at a more convenient time. I am happy with Him. He doesn’t make my head ache with pain. I don’t believe that dating Odun would affect any future relationship with another man. Any man that wants to date me should know that I have a past. I am not so ugly for anybody to think that I would have been without a boyfriend all my life. I have moved on with my life and I know I would still get another guy. If the guy I meet is married again, I would know I was destined to be a second wife. I don’t know why people are sentimental about actors dating actresses. Bankers date each other.  It wasn’t as if I dated a physically-challenged person. Even if he were, I still liked him a lot. Most of my colleagues are getting married. I am happy for them. But I also pray the marriages work out. I feel pained when a colleague’s marriage breaks up. It makes me remember what my father said about this profession before he passed on.

 The London affair

I learnt they said I was stranded in London. But that is a fat lie. I was never stranded in London. Even before the story broke, I was already in Nigeria.