The Day Abiola Died – By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, exactly 14 years ago Nigeria lost a rare and priceless gem, Chief Moshood Abiola, a proud son of Africa. What you are about to read may appear, momentarily, as being stranger than fiction but trust me, it is absolutely factual. Nigeria has indeed come a long way since that dark season when a handful of influential Nigerians chose to play God by collaborating to annul a process that would definitely have brought our nation closer to its glorious destination. Fourteen years after the symbol of that struggle Chief Moshood Abiola died in mysterious circumstances, it is only pertinent to remind ourselves of the salient stages that we’ve crossed since then. It is a tale full of twists and turns and one that would keep you spellbound by its superlative revelations.

In the early hours of July 5, 1998, Tokunbo Afikuyomi and I left Nduka Obaigbena’s apartment on Park Street, by Park Lane, and trekked all the way to Marble Arch, where we boarded a Black Cab. We had spent the whole night virtually discussing the intractable problems of Nigeria. The three of us were united by one thing, exile. We had served our various stints as refugees on the run from the draconian military regime in Nigeria. Nduka was the first to regain freedom after the sudden death of the maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha, and the take-over of power by the gentleman General, Abdulsalami Abubakar. Nduka had always succeeded as a journalist because of the impeccable sources at his beck and call. His position that night was to warn us about the dangers of not getting Abiola out as soon as possible. Even when you disagree with him on issues, Nduka’s one whose opinion must always be considered. He was not a member of NADECO but he was an Abiola sympathiser. Nduka would readily acknowledge his long-standing friendship with the man Nigerians freely handed their mandate despite occasional disagreements.

There were dozens of freedom fighters scattered around Europe, United States of America and Canada. Most of us operated under the aegis of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) while others hid under different formations and organisations. The principal operatives of the war against the military adventurers included Pa Anthony Enahoro, Commodore Dan Suleman, Lt General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Chief Amos Akingba, Chief Tunde Obadan, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hon. Wale Osun, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Chief Ralph Obioha, and so many others forced to flee the land of their birth. Some of those who chose to stay back at home to slug it out with the military were languishing in various improvised gulags and archipelagos all over Nigeria. Chief among the detainees was Basorun Moshood Abiola who had undoubtedly won the Presidential election held on June 12, 1993, and adjudged the best and fairest ever witnessed in our country.

Many other political gladiators who chose to stay back suffered various degrees of punishment including threats, harassments, mass arrests, detention without trial, torture, and outright murder. Such personalities include Pa Alfred Rewane, Prof Wole Soyinka, Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Rear-Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Mr Femi Falana, Mr Beekololari Ransome-Kuti, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, Pa Solanke Onasanya, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Comrade Frank Kokori Dr Kayode Fayemi, Mr Richie Dayo Johnson, Mr George Noah, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Mr Kunle Ajibade, and many of those opposed to military dictatorship in Nigeria.

What started as a poor joke on June 16, 1993, when we got hints that the election might be annulled would, sooner than later, snowball into a major conflagration and haunt Nigeria till this day. For those who reasoned like me, we had assumed that Abiola was coasting home to victory from all accounts available immediately after the elections closed on June 12, 1993. I was in Vienna, Austria, to represent Chief Abiola at the Bruno Kreisky Award presented to Chief Gani Fawehinmi on June 11, 1993 and could not make it back in time for the election. I left Austria on Sunday, June 13 to London where I started monitoring the results that appeared in Abiola’s favour. Unknown to most Nigerians what’s after six is always more than seven.

On Monday June 14, I got through to Nduka Obaigbena in Lagos who had some high-level information that Abiola was going to win the election but that it would be cancelled. In a powerful voice, Nduka told me to get Chief Abiola urgently and persuade him to reach out to General Ibrahim Babangida who was, apparently, under intense pressure, possibly, from some malevolent forces, to truncate the elections and declare them null and void. I argued with Nduka (in utter naiveté, retrospectively) that it was impossible for anyone to attempt such a dastardly act. I later confirmed that Nduka actually passed the same information to Dr Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola who, like me, found such contemplation too cruel and contemptible to be attempted by anyone. Little did we appreciate the sheer determination of those who could not be bothered if Nigeria burnt down to ashes as a result of their most reckless action. They had convinced themselves, like all Nigerian leaders, past and present that Nigerians were too docile and divided to unite and fight for any worthy cause.

They were right and wrong. They were right that they could abort a pregnancy in its ninth month but they were wrong in not calculating the risks involved. The world would later feel the vibrations of such a kamikaze plunge that threw Nigeria from the pinnacle of the temple all the way down the abyss of hell.

The plots and intrigues occurred at different locations and settings at the velocity of wildfire in harmattan. Chief Abiola was kept in solitary confinement, and incommunicado from the society at large. All efforts to liberate him from his kidnappers failed. A fierce but controversial legal battle raged in the courts. Offers of bail with conditions, and were offered to Chief Abiola but studiously rebuffed, willy-nilly, by those who did not realise how far the enemies of June 12 were ready to go. We’ll later realise that Chief Abiola was totally oblivious to the deadly chess game going on outside from the condition in which he found himself. At the height of our frustration and desperation in exile, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and I had surreptitiously met with some Germans who boasted they could enter Nigeria, locate Abiola and set him free but the risks involved were just too gargantuan to undertake, personally or collectively. We soon perished such thoughts.

Abiola’s whereabouts and state of mind remained unknown even to members of his family. What was certain was that the military authorities were working hard on breaking his hard resolve. This much was later confirmed in a Sunday Times of London publication of July 5, 1998. Tokunbo Afikuyomi and I had picked up the first edition of the famous newspaper at Marble Arch just before we boarded the cab that drove us to our homes in Hampstead Heath and Southgate respectively. A story inside the paper caught our instant attention. A Sunday Times reporter had followed the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan on his peace-mission to Nigeria. According to the news report, Abiola was met in high spirits in detention but he was not aware of many things going on outside. The reporter claimed Abiola was allowed to watch a television but the volume had been disabled. This was contrary to the rosy picture painted by Nigerian media about Abiola’s newfound comfort and cosiness with the Abdulsalami regime. The spin doctors had regaled us with how Abiola was already negotiating his imminent release from detention when he should be at his desk in Aso Rock sorting out the many problems of Nigeria.

Anyway, both Kofi Annan and Chief Emeka Anyaoku (who was the Commonwealth Secretary-General at that time) had met separately with Abiola and neither of them could extract a commitment from him that he would honour agreements worked out for his bail conditions. The detained man had confessed to being in the clouds and did not know what went on outside. His case was actually more miserable than we had imagined. I was deeply troubled by this news report.

A few hours later, I got a call from Wura Abiola to review and exchange latest development. I immediately told her about the report in Sunday Times. She became emotional and started asking, rhetorically, if there was nothing that could be done to get their dad freed. She said she was on her way to Cambridge and would come back to discuss further with me. I became very apprehensive myself and was engulfed by a premonition that Abiola was going to die in detention.

The feeling was so palpable that I decided to call a friend of mine at LTV8 to share my fears on Abiola’s precarious condition. I remember my friend saying it was impossible for Abiola to die in prison. I wished I was that confident.

On Tuesday morning of July 7, 1998, I received a strident call from Mr Yinka Ibidunni, a famous blind broadcaster at Spectrum Radio in London. I had reluctantly picked the call as I barely went to bed a few hours earlier. As soon as he heard my croaky voice, he queried why I was asleep when my adopted father, Abiola, was about to be killed. He was unequivocal and brusquely emphatic. “Who wants to kill my father?” I asked in a manner that suggested incredulity. It was difficult to imagine anyone would want to harm a man as genuinely caring as Abiola.

This encounter happened just after 7a.m that fateful morning. Mr Ibidunnu pursued his argument to its logical conclusion. He asked if I had not listened to the BBC interviews of America’s emissaries, Thomas Pickering and Susan Rice, who were in Abuja ostensibly to persuade Abiola to forget his mandate and give room for political stability in Nigeria. According to Mr Ibidunni, the Americans were asked about their mission after both Annan and Anyaoku (though Chief Anyaoku told me many years later that he never asked Abiola to forget his mandate) who knew the African terrain better could not persuade Abiola to drop his mandate, and their response startled him, when they said if Abiola fails to agree to a deal, he would have become a danger to Nigeria. This was what started and nurtured the conspiracy theory that the Americans had a hand in his death. But my question was this: why would America send senior officials to kill Abiola in Nigeria? I will never buy such preposterous theory.

At any rate, I pulled myself out of bed after Mr Ibidunni had managed to annul my sleep. I called Wuraola to tell her of Mr Ibidunni’s doomsday prophecy. We became frantic and decided to issue a press release pleading with the pro-democracy activists to understand the dangers Abiola was being exposed to by refusing to agree to bail conditions. Wuraola composed the release, and we faxed back and forth to fine-tune it. The final copy came through to me at 4.03pm and I was going to forward it to a few media houses when I got the most shocking news of my life. Wuraola was screaming some inaudible things at the other end… Something like “they said they have killed Daddy o” but to me it sounded like “they have released Daddy o” because that’s what we were expecting. Abiola was said to have died at about 4pm that day. Unknown to us our press release was a waste of efforts as the man we want released was already on a journey back to his Creator.

Within a twinkle of an eye, my phone was inundated with calls from all over the world with international journalists asking all manner of questions I could not answer. I was so devastated that I didn’t know when I started querying God. Why would Chief Abiola die in such a manner, after languishing in various cells for four years? Why should Abiola die on the second birthday of my second son, Enitanyole? The coincidence was too painful to bear. One of his last prayers before his arrest was for my wife to conceive and bear children as activism and advocacy had combined to make it impossible for me to spend enough time at home with my young wife. His prayers were answered but we had all our children in his absence.

As my mind raced through this stream of consciousness, I just knew Nigeria was in big trouble. It was only a matter of time before our country would begin to pay a heavy price for this thoughtlessness… We have continued to wobble and fumble from one crisis to another ever since. And it is not known how it would all end.

The more we try to run away from June 12, the more the defiant child continues to humiliate us. Those who think Abiola and June 12 are long dead and buried have missed the point.
The prodigy just won’t go away. Believe me.

The Pendolum, By Dele Momodu, Email:delemomodu@thisdaylive.com

Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill serving senator, state legislator in Plateau

Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday shot and killed a serving senator, Dr. Gyang Dantong, and the lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi in the state house of assembly, Gyang Fulani, at a mass burial in Maseh, Plateau State.
Dantong, who is representing Plateau North, and Fulani, who is the Majority Leader of the state house of assembly, were killed along with over 50 people by the herdsmen around 2.30p.m.
The incident followed the earlier gruesome discovery of 50 corpses in a church in the area.
They were the corpses of members of a church said to have fled an onslaught by Fulani herdsmen.
The lawmakers were attending the mass burial of the 50 victims when they were murdered.
A string of attacks on Saturday in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas led to the killing of over 20 people.
The latest attacks come as a setback to efforts by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), to restore peace to the troubled state.
More details later.

2015: Jitters in ‘core’ North over Jonathan/Mark accord •Atiku woos S/West PDP

There are jitters among the Northern political establishment over the sort of political accord between President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President David Mark as far as determination of the 2015 Presidency is concerned, Sunday Tribune can reveal.

Sources close to a recent meeting of some Northern political bigwigs confirmed permutations towards the 2015 presidential race have continued to assume varied dimensions as the far North is said to be ruing the possibility of Senate President David Mark being drafted into the race.

It was gathered that though many Northern leaders have not ruled out the possibility of President Jonathan joining the race, many of them are now concerned that the Jonathan camp could be perfecting a plot to foist Mark as his successor.

“What if President Jonathan decides not to run and opts for a Northern successor?”
This was the question that dominated the meeting of some Northern politicians which was hosted by a two-term senator who recently left the National Assembly at his Abuja residence last week.

Although those in attendance noted “with concern,” the “un-allayed fears” of the North as far as the 2015 race is concerned, they all the same decried the confrontational manner which some Northern politicians have been facing the “challenge.”

Sunday Tribune was informed by one of the attendees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the closeness of the Senate president and President Jonathan is a source of worry to the core North, adding that “a David Mark Presidency is another Southern rule.

“It is not possible for the real politicians in the North to sleep when we are talking about power equation and how it affects us as a people; that is the issue we are looking at with concern on very strong terms.

”How can we relax when there are many un-allayed fears along the path leading to the race? So, as you asked, I can tell you confidently that we discussed the issue even though it was not a formal meeting; that is why we need to be very diplomatic about it because the way some of our people face the challenge with confrontation is very condemnable, may be because they do not understand the essence of power-play.

“To be candid with you, that kind of confrontation can only lead to very serious negative impacts on us as a people. So, we are trying to see the possibility of avoiding a situation where those close to the president will wrongly advise him to drag in the likes of David Mark, who is very close to him and Southern power brokers, if eventually, he, Jonathan decides not to run.

“We do not pray for that in any case, but it is like handing over to another Southerner after Jonathan as we cannot say such a person is from the North.”

It was learnt that the North is not too certain of the body language of President Jonathan ahead of 2015.

While many of the political leaders were afraid that Jonathan could himself join the race, they are equally concerned that the president could spring a last-minute surprise by drafting Mark in.

It was also leant that the rapport between Jonathan and Mark had grown so robust in recent years and that the president could swing things in Mark’s favour.

There is also a feeling that if Jonathan would not contest, power might be retained in the Middle Belt in view of the widespread antagonism against Jonathan’s government since inception.

Sources said a feeling in Jonathan’s camp is that if the president will not contest, he could only yield the seat to Mark who is credited with military background.

“The feeling among the president’s supporters is that if he is not contesting, he should raise a candidate with military background and the person that has demonstrated capability is David Mark,” a source said.

This development is coming as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has commenced deft, but discreet moves to take over existing structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West geopolitical zone ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

Already, a reliable source told our correspondent, the former vice president’s foot soldiers are making overtures to some influential power brokers in the region with a view to eliciting their support base at the various states even as they intend to use the PDP governorship ticket in Ondo State as springboard.

But the former vice president and the Ondo State chapter of the PDP have both denied the development.

Nonetheless, prominent among those said to be coordinating for the former vice president, in his latest move to take a shot at the Presidency, are former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP (South), Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun; former Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Titi Ajanaku; former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran; Lagos politician, Mrs Remi Adiukwu-Bakare; as well as the former vice president’s business associate Chief Oyewole Fasawe, whose favoured candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, has emerged as the PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State.

However, the former vice president’s loyalists, according to the source, appear to have met a brick wall in the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South-West, Mr. Segun Oni; two unnamed former governors as well as the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

President Jonathan is yet to confirm whether or not he will take another shot at the Presidency as he has consistently declared that it is too early to engage in activities towards the 2015 presidential election.

The former vice president is reportedly banking on the present state of the PDP in the South-West in relation to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in all the states in the region except Ondo which is controlled by the Labour Party (LP). 

All the same, PDP Director of Publicity in Ondo State, Ayo Fadaka, has debunked that Oke, who is the immediate past National Legal Adviser of the party, is a loyalist of the former vice president.

“To all intents and purposes, our candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, is not an imposed candidate of the party; he enjoys the support of all leaders of the party from across the state.

This is even as the state chapter of the party is not in any way tied to the presidential ambition of anybody.

“Let me add that the man enjoyed a very robust working relationship with Mr. President when he was the party’s national legal adviser in Abuja; he is a man who has played very patriotic roles in the party and even at governmental levels while he served as one of the party’s brightest national legal advisers.

“These roles were further exemplified by the very noble, responsible and loyal step he took at the last national convention of the PDP in Abuja by withdrawing from the race for the position of the national secretary of the PDP. This is one of the various means by which those peddling falsehood in Abuja think they can succeed; it is one of the very panicky insinuations aimed at dragging the name of Chief Oke into needless controversy, but they will fail,” Fadaka said on telephone.  

On his part, Atiku, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Garba Shehu, denied any knowledge of politicians working for him towards the 2015 presidential election.

“It is not true; it is a figment of people’s imagination wrongly directed to create unnecessary friction where none exists.

The Turaki is very much unaware and wishes to state that no one has his instructions to mobilise for any election.

“He (Atiku) will be very much ready to speak on other issues of importance, but not on the 2015 presidential election. So, please disregard those rumours,” Sheu, who also spoke on telephone, noted.

Police have enough evidence to prosecute Lawan —Akanbi, Ajibola, others

A former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, and an erstwhile Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bola Ajibola, said on Friday that the police had enough evidence in the country’s Penal Code to prosecute Farouk Lawan for his role in the $3m bribery scandal.

Akanbi, a former President of the Court of Appeal, said Lawan could be charged based on his statement with the police on the collection of the money from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola,

Similarly, Ajibola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the “court could force Lawan to bring out the money.”

The duo spoke in separate telephone interviews with our correspondents, against the background of the endless drama between Lawan and the Police Special Task Force investigating the matter, on the release of the $620,000 bribe.

Lawan and Mr. Boniface Emenalo had allegedly collected the money from Otedola, to remove the name of his firm, Zenon Oil, from a list of marketers that secured FOREX for fuel import but never applied it accordingly.

Lawan and Emenalo had respectively served as chairman and clerk to a House of Representatives Ad hoc committee that investigated the N1.7trn fuel subsidy scam that involved some oil marketers.

Akanbi said, “I am sure his statement is with the police. If he did admit receiving the money, without making other statements, that statement is enough.

“They can hold him to what he has said. It is an admission that he received corrupt money.

“If they have other evidence to support their case, they can prosecute him on his admission.

“Getting the money is a different thing, but the fact he has admitted that he received the money provides the evidence that he has received some corrupt money.”

Ajibola, a former Judge of the World Court at The Hague, told SUNDAY PUNCH that, “Not only can Lawan be charged with the matter, the court can also force him to bring the bribe money, seize and release it to the owner.”

“The law has all the provisions in the Criminal Act. If the police are prepared to do their job, they can do so.

“Those in the National Assembly who shared in the money or those connected with it can be prosecuted because they all conspired to take the bribe and all those involved can be taken up.”

Other legal practitioners, Dr. Konyinsola Ajayi, (SAN) and Prof. Itse Sagay, (SAN), expressed similar views.

According to Ajayi, the police have powers under the law to retrieve the money, while Sagay said the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which covers Abuja, could be invoked against Lawan.

Ajayi explained that such powers included detention and seizing of assets in the process of extracting evidence from a suspect.

She said, “The police know what to do when they are looking for evidence. They search; they detain and may seize assets. And these actions are permitted by law.

“It is the same law; it has not changed. So, it all depends on the police.”

However, Sagay added, “There is a problem with our law; we don’t have provisions for compensation and reparation. There is no provision for reclaiming what has been stolen.

“The constitution is inadequate; it can only punish someone who stole goods but it cannot reclaim the stolen goods from him.

“We need to amend our laws such that the suspect is not only prosecuted but also compelled to make refunds or returns.”

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, had said last week that the police needed to “gather more evidence on the matter.”

Efforts by the police to retrieve the $620,000 had led the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to write the Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, to compel a member of the House, and the Chairman House Committee on Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba to release the money.

Lawan had claimed he gave the money to Jagaba for safe keeping shortly after he collected it; but the lawmaker refuted his claim.

Also, seven other members of the Lawan-led Ad hoc panel had been quizzed by the police in an apparent attempt to establish the movement of the cash, but without success.

The bribery scandal moved several notches above the normal run on Tuesday when Otedola publicly released recorded tapes of his conversation with Lawan, which led to the collection of the cash.

Otedola had claimed that he involved operatives of State Security Service, in what he regarded as a “sting operation.”

But the embattled Lawan said the tape Otedola made public reeked of manipulation and wickedness.

Otedola’s Thursday appearance before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which had earlier quizzed Lawan, further stoked the fire as he rebuffed entreaties to give evidence in camera.

He had argued that since the matter was of public interest, only a public hearing would satisfy him.

Public hearing: Otedola divides Reps

Members of the House of Representatives are divided over the need for a public hearing by their Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the $620,000 bribery scandal involving a member of the House, Mr. Farouk Lawan, and oil businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola in camera.

Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday showed that although there was a move to nip in the bud the controversy generated by Otedola’s refusal to testify before the panel in camera, the House has been unable to reach a consensus on the matter

Investigations by our correspondent showed that the House was worried by the “wrong impression” created in certain quarters that lawmakers had something to hide when they insisted that the ethics committee must sit in camera.

A member of the Ad hoc committee, earlier summoned by the police, the House, disclosed that the House might make a formal statement on the matter this week.

It was learnt that the order of privilege raised by a member from Kaduna State, Mr. Simon Arabo, on the floor of the House Thursday last week, expressed the feeling of many lawmakers about the issue.

Arabo had protested the decision of the ethics committee to insist on hearing Otedola in camera.

It was gathered that the committee might sit this week to review the events of last week and take a position on whether to sit in the open, in the light of the alleged pressure on the House to throw the investigation open.

This means that Otedola may be re-invited to testify in the open if the committee decides to make the hearing public.

When contacted for comments, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, said it was the “discretion” of every committee of the legislature to decide on how to conduct its assignment.

Ogor said, “Everything is at the discretion of the committee; they can sit in the open and they can sit in camera.

But, a member of ethics committee, Mr. Victor Ogene, is opposed to an open hearing.

He said, “The Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Medical Association, among others have disciplinary committees to look into issues relating to the conduct of their members.

“The question I ask is, has the public ever been part of any investigation on disciplinary cases they conducted?”

He noted that Otedola was not on trial before the committee and reserved the right to say that he would not testify.

“But, what he cannot do is to dictate how the committee of the House of Representatives, will conduct itself.”

Asked whether the committee would reconsider its position in the light of the controversy generated by Otedola’s refusal to testify in camera, Ogene replied that only the panel’s chairman, Musa, could address that.

Efforts by our correspondent to reach Musa failed on Saturday as his mobile phone was permanently switched off.

In 2008, during the administration of a former Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges heard the testimony of a witness, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in the open.

Keyamo testified in the famous N2.3bn car purchase scam.

Olasore: From Offa Grams with love

The passage, on June 1, 2012 of foremost banker and traditional ruler of Iloko Ijesa, Osun State, Oba Oladele Olasore, is a huge blow to Nigeria, even if this great loss was beclouded by the Dana Air tragedy that occurred two days after. To us old students of Offa Grammar School, Offa, Kwara State, it is a big blow.

Offa Grammar School may not be in the class of the Kings, Barewa, and Queens Colleges; or among the Methodist Boys High School of this world, but the school has had her fair share of quality contribution to the roll call of men and women that shaped and are still shaping Nigeria.

From the military are Gen. Alani Akinrinade, the man who averted the greater disaster that would have followed Bukar Sukar Dimka’s coup of 1976; Gen. David Jemibewon, Group Captain S.A. Latinwo, Air Commodore Bayo Lawal and Vice-Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, among others.

From the judiciary, we have the likes of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, late Justice M.B. Belgore, and Justice Ibrahim Gambari (current Emir of Ilorin) -all of whom were former judges of Appeal Court. In the academia, we have the first African professor of Geology, M.O. Oyawoye, tops OGS’ list of distinguished alumni – a list that has not less than five vice-chancellors, including Professors A.B. Oyediran and S.A. Adeyemi, former VCs of University of Ibadan and Federal University of Technology, Minna, respectively. The list is endless.

But if OGS old students were asked to pick at random the greatest product of the school, I guess Oba Oladele Olasore will be on top of the chart. That is how much we revere this banker, who was not only very active in old students’ activities but he was also a former president of the national body.

When the Pa James Osanyin-led Offa Grammar School admitted then 16-year-old Olashore into the school in 1951, little did they know that a future shining star had just been enrolled into the community secondary school.

Olasore was not the gentlest pupil in the school, as Chief Emmanuel Adesoye of the Okin Biscuits and Adesoye College fame, being a junior to Olasore in OGS, narrated how the prince used to send them to buy wine. Interestingly, both men are founders of two of the most successful private secondary schools in Nigeria: Adesoye College, Offa and Olasore International School, Iloko Ijesa.

Olasore completed his secondary education in 1956 and proceeded to Ghana and later, England, for further schooling. He returned to Nigeria to pick up a job as an Accountant in British Petroleum Nigeria Limited, before venturing into banking as a director in Central Bank of Nigeria. He rose to become the Chief Executive Officer of International Bank for West Africa (later known as Afribank and now Mainstreet Bank) before being poached by First Bank to continue in the same role.

He was named Nigeria’s Banker of the Year in 1988. He went on to found his own bank, Lead Merchant Bank. Olasore, who later became Secretary (Minister) of Finance during the interim Ernest Shonekan government, was, no doubt, one of the finest bankers to have bestridden the financial landscape.

Olasore, even in the midst of his very busy personal and official engagements, never forgot his alma mater. He was very active in old boys’ activities. Before, during and after his tenure as President of OGS Old Students Association, he took active interest in the students’ and alumni welfare.

The first time I saw him live was in 1995 when I was in JSS2. As the president of the alumni body then, he was chairing the national convention holding at the Ludlow Hall of the school, while I, alongside other students, watched from the back of the hall.

When I was made the pioneer President of the 2000 set chapter of OGSOSA a few years after graduation and formed our chapter, we made efforts to pay a courtesy call to a number of alumni achievers, including Oba Olasore. Still in the university and most of us struggling with personal activities, we were not able to actualise the Olasore visit plan but we were able to see Chief Adesoye in his sprawling mansion in Offa.

Oba Olasore’s death came less than four months after we lost another distinguished old boy, a banking guru just like Olasore, Dr. Femi Adekanye, CEO of the defunct Commerce Bank. When the list of ‘Who is Who’ in Nigeria’s banking history is drawn, clearly, these two products of OGS will be right there in top spots. All old students of Offa Grammar School are very proud of you, gentlemen.

 - Oyewale, an MBA student at Edinburgh Business School, is former president of Offa Grammar School Old Students Association (2000 set).

Reps Vs Otedola

Hon . Tambuwal

It is shameful that the government and security agencies are treating the matter with levity

The arcane drama with businessman Femi Otedola and lawmaker Farouk Lawan as lead actors is turning to a national tragedy. We are sure many out there will be asking, are our leaders without shame? For, between the two, and probably including others, a crime has definitely been committed, yet what we get is gas. The law enforcement agencies have suddenly become lame duck, or compromised, or misdirected to stay off. In frustration we ask, how can public confessions to felony be so disdainfully treated by a nation that wants to be reckoned with as a modern society?        

For those who may have forgotten, Mr Otedola confessed that he was forced to offer a bribe to Lawan, who in turn claimed he was coerced to receive the inducement.  The motive for the offer and the price for the acceptance were to remove certain companies owned by Mr. Otedola from among those indicted by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee that probed the fuel subsidy regime for alleged economic crimes against the country, a mission that was accomplished. While there may be dispute between the two as to who was committing a crime, and who was playing along, there is ample lead for an indictment of at least one, if not the two of them. 

Instead of a swoop by the police on the culprits in furtherance of their constitutional responsibilities to investigate and prevent the commission of crime, the parties are encouraged to resort to drama and propaganda, with the law enforcement agencies turning part of the entertained crowd. We need to remind the national leadership that what clearly comes to the minds of ordinary Nigerians as this dance of shame plays out, is that there is a collusion to bury the case together with the subsidy report. And, on behalf of Nigerians dazed by this macabre show, we ask, where will the national redemption come from? 

Mr Otedola told the world, including the law enforcement agencies, that he was cooperating with the State Security Service (SSS) during the operation. He claimed to have given out marked money to Mr. Lawan, and that the illicit transaction was recorded. Yet, there is the pretence that there is no enough evidence to indict Mr. Lawan. On his part, Mr. Lawan claims that he acted along to expose Mr. Otedola for inducing him to corrupt enrichment, and that he duly informed another lawmaker and the police about this criminal conduct. As if men of the SSS or the other named persons belong to prehistoric ages, those with constitutional responsibility to bring either or both of them to justice pretend to be groping in the dark.    

Increasingly, there is the general impression that more public officials are involved in this scam. As many have asked, from where did the SSS source a whopping sum of $620,000? Was that tax payers’ money, and if it was, why did the security men quite unconventionally allow Mr. Lawan to walk away with marked money, with the possibility now, that that money may be lost forever? If indeed Mr. Otedola worked with security officials as he claimed, are those officials responsible to the state, and if they are, why did they allow Mr. Otedola to take the initiative of blowing the whistle? If they failed to act appropriately and their conduct amounts to gross negligence, are they not culpable to be called to answer for failing in their duties?

The House of Representatives investigating Mr. Lawan owes Nigerians more than it is offering. We ask, what effort has it made to expose the veracity of the link to the security agencies either way?  While making a show of public hearings when it concerns others, how come this particular case against one of its own needs to be heard in camera? If the House wants to dig out facts, can’t it hear all the parties the same day to ensure the stories are not doctored, as they claimed to be afraid of? Why so many loose ends over a fairly straight-forward matter?

If we have independent security agencies, would they not have examined the possibility that Mr. Otedola was acting out a script against the subsidy report? Where that is the case, wouldn’t it be fair to know at whose instance he is working? With his advertised closeness to the Presidency, is it possible that he was recruited to destabilise the legislature or the report? Indeed, is it possible that he was acting for the discredited members of the petroleum products importers indicted by the subsidy report? These are questions that should worry the law enforcement agencies, if indeed the well-being of the country is the primary essence of governance. It is not too late to act in defence of our national integrity.    

Edo: Security chiefs divided over troop deployment

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika

• Warn Jonathan of consequences of involving soldiers in civil affairs • Troops in ‘Show of Force’ in Benin-City

To underline its readiness for next Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, men of the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army yesterday embarked on a road show in full war regalia, driving through streets of Benin City and other major towns in the state  in an operation codenamed “Show of Force”.

The exercise is a follow-up to the deployment of 3,500 troops on Friday as announced by the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Abel Umahi. The movement of the soldiers into the state for the elections is, however, said to be causing disquiet among security chiefs.

Umahi had told journalists that the deployment was part of the decisions taken by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika to ensure the election was peaceful.

But reliable sources told The Nation on Sunday that Ihejirika was not very comfortable with the deployments as he didn’t want to be sucked into a political tug-of-war. For his part, newly-appointed National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is said to have warned about the security implications of the deployments, and pointedly said he didn’t want any part of it. 

It was gathered that the troops deployed in Edo were sourced from within and from neighbouring states. The 195 Battalion stationed in Agenegbode is to be reinforced with a company of troops – about 120 from all ranks - from 3 Battalion based in Warri, Delta State. They will also be joined by about 120 soldiers of different ranks culled from 19 Battalion, Okitipupa. These soldiers will focus on different local governments in the State bar seven critical ones.

To take of care of these crucial seven local governments are troops deployed from 4 Brigade Garrison/Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Benin-City. They will be joined by elements of the 322 Artillery Regiment, Ekenwan, Benin-City.

Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Umahi, has however, dismissed insinuations that the deployment of soldiers for the election was at the instance of either Governor Adams Oshiomhole or the PDP candidate, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) who are leading candidates in the election.

 Umahi explained that the “Show of Force” exercise was simply to announce their readiness to enforce law and order and to deliver on President Goodlock Jonathan’s promise to ensure free, fair and credible election in the state.

 He noted that more attention will be concentrated in Edo South senatorial district because of its nature, adding that other security agencies are expected to participate in the pre-election activities.

He said the “Show of Force” was to reassure residents in the state that adequate security has been provided for them to cast their votes without fear.

 According to him, “The military is here to do a job of restoring order in Edo State to ensure free, fair and credible election. The soldiers are not at the instance of anybody.

 “Remember that before the President came here the other time, he had called the service chiefs and they assured him that there would be peace and tranquility to ensure democracy in this governorship election in Edo State. That is exactly what we are doing to give teeth to the words of Mr. President.

 “We want to also warn miscreants to be very far from Edo State otherwise, they will get exactly the trouble they are looking for.”

Investigations have revealed that the PDP aims to execute a three-pronged strategy for Election Day in order to secure an upset victory. At the heart of the plan is vote suppression, voter intimidation and the use of thugs to disrupt voting in critical areas.

Sources told The Nation during the week that in order to stoke up tension, and frighten voters from the polling booths next Saturday, the PDP aims to turn the state into a virtual war zone through deployment and re-deployment of key army formations and personnel in Edo and surrounding states.

These soldiers will be placed in charge of seven critical local government areas especially in Edo South where the quantum of votes cast could determine the outcome. The calculation is that combat-ready troops driving around in tanks would frighten potential voters and cause them to remain indoors thereby disenfranchising a large number. Depressed voter turnout in the Edo South senatorial district would then be counteracted by normal voter turnout in Edo Central where the PDP retains a measure of support.

In Oshiomhole’s home local government area, Etsako West, and three others, the plan is to deploy thugs to unleash pre-programmed violence that will disrupt the voting process. Going by precedence, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would then be forced to cancel whatever results emerge from the governor’s stronghold if the mayhem scenario actually plays out.

EAGLES NEED MIKEL, OSAZE – NFF CHIEF WARNS

Osaze Odemwingie

A MEMBER of the NFF technical committee Austel Emelelu has asked for top stars like Mikel Obi and Osaze Odemwingie to be recalled by the Eagles. Chelsea star Mikel, Odemwingie as well as Emmanuel Emenike, Obinna Nsofor and Yakubu Aiyegbeni were left out of last month’s qualifiers by coach Stephen Keshi. 

Instead, Keshi worked with players from the Nigeria Premier League as the core of his team. “Despite the results we recorded against Malawi, Rwanda and Namibia last month, we will still need the experience of players like Mikel, Osaze, Emenike, Nosa Igiebor and Fengor Ogude in our next match,” said Emelelu. 

Emelelu’s position is shared by former international Jonathan Akpoborie. "It won't be an easy game against Liberia, but Nigeria can win if the right team is chosen,” the outspoken Akpoborie told MTNFootball.com 

“The Eagles coach should involve more foreign-based players in the game because it is a winner-takes-all situation. “And Liberia have beaten Nigeria before and there are no minnows again as far as football is concerned. 

‘Keshi knows what I am saying and he knows that we have to be at the next Nations Cup." 

Keshi himself has maintained that these players remain in his plans. In September, the Eagles will take on Liberia in Monrovia in the first leg qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, with the return leg slated for October in Nigeria.

Wait after voting, Tinubu, Ngige, Akande, Oyegun tell Edo

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

National Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have urged electorate in Edo State to wait after voting at next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

 They urged the electorate to monitor the results of the election from the polling units to collation centres and keep vigil until the final results are announced.

This is coming as men of the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army yesterday embarked on a road show in full war regalia through streets of Benin City and major towns in the state  in an operation codename “Show of Force”.

 The ACN leaders were in Edo State for the grand finale campaign rally of the ACN for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

 National Leader of ACN and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said next week’s election affords the people opportunity to vote for a bright future for their children.

 Tinubu said the ACN administration has fulfilled its electoral promises by dealing with flooding problems, provision of good education and development.

 He urged the people to vote for progress and use their ballot papers to answer questions a candidate of a political party failed to answer at the Governorship debate.

His words, “The PDP umbrella has torn. Knock on the door of your neighbour and tell them to vote ACN. PDP has nothing to show. They will raise alarm about a bomb. Do not be afraid. They don’t want you to come out and vote. Jobs will come, more schools will be built.”

 Governor of Lagos State , Babatunde Fashola in his speech urged the people to renew their social contracts with the ACN-led administration on July 14.

 He said, “You have seen the results of your sweats four years ago. They will come with all promises but do not believe them. PDP government was a failure in this state even at the federal level. Collect their money because it is subsidy money but vote for ACN”.

 Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi urged the people to use July 14 to fight for progress, justice, equity and progress. He advised the people against selling their voter’s cards.

 On his part, Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola said what is important on July 14 is for the people to defend their vote and fight the conspiracy against Governor Oshiomhole.

 He said, “Use your voting power to frustrate their conspiracy. You must stand at the collation centre and tell them that if they announced contrary results, heaven will fall.”

 Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun said Governor Oshiomhole’s projects were already doing the campaigns.

 Former Governor of Anambra State , Senator Chris Ngige said the ACN would not go to court to challenge election results, pointing out that the ballot boxes are the court.

Former PDP governorship aspirant, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who recently joined the ACN said there was nothing new about the PDP in the country. He noted that Oshiomhole has performed what the PDP could not do in the country.

 Former Governor of Edo State , John Oyegun said Governor Oshiomhole has already provided promises made by other candidates.

 Governor Oshiomhole in his speech said Governor Liyel Imoke lacked morality to campaign for the PDP in the state. According to him, Governor Imoke brought darkness to the country when he (Imoke) was the Minister of Power, adding that PDP is not working in Cross River under him.

 Governor Oshiomhole said it was laughable that the PDP alleged he built schools and hospitals with counterpart funding from the federal government when they fail to collect the funds for 10 years.

 He said he was seeking re-election to restore the lost glory of the state and make it compete with Lagos State.

 Governor Oshiomhole urged the people not to be afraid of the presence of soldiers as according to him, ‘they are here to provide security’.

 The campaign rally was attended by ACN members in the National and State Assemblies and entertainment was provided by Tu-face Idibia, Ambassador Osayomore Joseph and other artistes.

Kwara rerun characterised by thuggery — ACN

The House of Assembly candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria for the Ilorin-West constituency of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Aiyelabegan, has alleged that the rerun election, which held on Saturday in 60 polling units of Balogun Alanamu and Oloje wards was marred by electoral malpractices.

He said Kwara ACN deplored the conduct of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party who he accused of being behind the violence and electoral malpractices.

“The exercise was marred by wholesale violence and thuggery by PDP chieftains and thugs who toured the polling units to intimidate and scare off voters with gunshots and violent attacks on ACN chieftains who challenged their lawlessness. The exercise was riddled with mindless disregard for law and order. It was chaotic.

“There were gunshots at Ile Onimago, Mount Camel, Ita Kudimo, Ode Isowo, Pakata Primary School, Ode Alfa Iwo, Ode Balogun Alanamu, Ile Manma, Ikhwanu Primary School which also doubles as the collation centre for Alanamu Ward, Ode Isowo where, apart from the usual beating of our agents, our party leader, Alhaji Koobe, was beaten to a pulp. These are only a few of the numerous places where PDP brazenly subdued the law with impunity,” he said

But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fabode Olufemi, and the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mas’ud Adebimpe, said the allegations were false.

Olufemi said there were no attacks on voters, adding that there was massive police presence in the two wards. He stated that the command deployed 280 police officers to maintain law and order and ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.

Adebimpe also said the election was free and fair, adding that the PDP was hopeful to win.

“The coming out of the people to perform their civic responsibilities once again confirms the confidence the people has in the party, although the ACN attempted to misinform the people by alleging non-existent threats and attacks,” he said.

ACN witnesses’ protest exposes judicial corruption — PDP

Again, the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the declaration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of April 14, 2007 governorship election by an Appeal Court that sat in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The latest condemnation came on the heels of a protest by several witnesses presented in court by Aregbesola during the governorship trial, which lasted over three years.

Aregbesola was declared as Osun governor by the court on November 26, 2010.

Numbering about 20, the witnesses, who recently protested in front of Osun State Governor’s Office, Abere, accused Aregbesola of neglecting them since assuming power.

The protesters delayed vehicular movement into the Governor’s Office, chanting songs and accusing Aregbesola of abandoning them.

A statement by the Chairman, Osun PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, on Saturday, said the outburst of the witnesses showed that the victory of the ACN was bought at a price.

The statement said, “The protest by ACN witnesses at the government secretariat in Osogbo is the beginning of the end of the judiciary-imposed government of Aregbesola in Osun.”

Advising the “witnesses to seek the face of God for forgiveness,” Olaoluwa alleged that the disagreement between the government and the witnesses was “God’s way of exposing the cash-and-carry justice the ACN obtained to get to power.”

Olaoluwa, who also spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview, said if the witnesses testified according to their consciences, they would not have demanded for gratification from the governor.

He said, “When a lie goes on for 20 years, the truth will catch up with it in a day. The truth has caught up with the purchased victory of the ACN. God has made them not to understand one another anymore.”

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Wale Afolabi, however, told our correspondent that the government was looking into the plight of the protesting witnesses.

“They are our party members and they have the right to protest if they feel strongly about an issue. We are unlike the PDP that will stifle lawful protest, intimidate and maim their members,” Afolabi said.

Ondo ACN: No longer at ease

L-R: Tinubu, Akeredolu and Akande
| credits: File copy

There are rumbles in the Ondo State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria following the alleged imposition of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the October 20 governorship election, reports SUNDAY ABORISADE

The Action Congress of Nigeria which has the highest number of notable politicians as governorship aspirants for the October 20 election in Ondo State, is in crisis following the failure of the national leadership of the party to convince other aspirants to accept the choice of a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, as its candidate for the poll.

The grouse of the aggrieved aspirants was that the decision to zone the governorship ticket to the northern senatorial district of the state and later to Owo, which led to the choice of Akeredolu, was allegedly taken in Lagos by the national leadership of the party without an input from any politician from the state.

Shortly after the decision of the national leadership, the aspirants met in Akure on Saturday, June 23, and declared that the choice of Akeredolu violated all the democratic norms and would never be accepted by the people of the state.

Those who attended the meeting were aspirants from the northern senatorial district. They were: Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Olu Agunloye, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Mr. Akinsehinwa Awodeyi, Mr. Segun Ojo, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose — nee Ajasin, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mr. Festus Oluwole and Mr. Olayato Aribo. The duo of Messrs Segun Abraham and Jaiyeola Ajatta, were absent.

The aspirants wrote the National Secretariat of the party urging it to call on the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande to set in motion an acceptable process of selecting a credible candidate who could win election for the party in the state.

They also issued a 10-point communiqué which detailed how they reviewed reports of individual meetings variously held with Tinubu over the choice of the party’s candidate.

The communique reads in part, “In view of the above and noting the essential character of our people and the regard for their right to choose their leaders as ordained by our laws and morals, we find the developments that led to the meeting of June 21, 2012, most discomforting in that we were told that our brother, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has suddenly been selected as the candidate of ACN.

“The selection process of Mr. Akeredolu is faulty, wrong and offends democratic tradition in that neither Ondo State party leaders, officials, aspirants, or members, consented nor cooperated with the selection process of a candidate that is expected to represent them in a serious political contest.

“More disturbing is the reliable information that the selection process was unduly influenced by external forces.

“In view of the wrong process of selection, we reject and urge the party to reject Mr. Akeredolu as the candidate of ACN.

“In consequence, we call on the national leadership to respect fairness, the right of the people and order. In particular, the due process of selection established by law should be put in action.”

Although the aspirants pledged their commitment to the party and gave the assurance that they would remain in the ACN to salvage it together, indications have emerged that many of them may not work with Akeredolu in the forthcoming election.

Members of the Ondo State Coalition Group within the ACN mobilised to the party secretariat last Tuesday to protest the choice of Akeredolu and described his emergence as an “insult to party members in the state because the process that produced him did not follow an acceptable process.”

The Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of ACN, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, while addressing the group appealed to the 15 governorship aspirants from the North Senatorial District to support the candidature of Akeredolu.

Agbede said the emergence of Akeredolu as the choice of the party’s leadership to pick the ACN ticket for the October 20 governorship election was irreversible.

He said the national and the south-west leaders of the party had already introduced Akeredolu to the Central Working Committee and the executives of the party in the state, as the governorship candidate.

He said, “I think we should not do anything that would affect the chances of our party in the forthcoming governorship election. Our leaders have made the right choice and we need to support the candidate.”

One of the aspirants, Abayomi, the first to declare his ambition to contest the governorship election on the ticket of the party, told our correspondent that the grouse of his colleagues was not towards Akeredolu, but the process that led to his emergence.

The human rights activist said Akeredolu could not have emerged as candidate if due process based on the principles of fairness, equity, justice and morals had been adopted.

He added that there was an established hostility against Akeredolu even from his Owo community and that the fact that he is a newcomer to politics could work against the party.

He insisted that an aspirant from Akokoland should have been considered as the party’s candidate because it has four out of the six local government areas in the northern senatorial district with over 246,000 voters while Owo, where Akeredolu emerged from, could only boasts about 110,000 voters.

He said, “A candidate from Akoko would win overwhelmingly in the North and South senatorial districts and convincingly in the central zone where the Labour Party had concentrated development in the last three and half years.

“Most politicians in Owo are not favourably disposed to the candidature of Akeredolu, and his emergency had created a serious tension in the land because many people are disillusioned. The development is building hostilities towards the party. We have to do the right thing fast to douse the tension.”

A leader of the party who preferrede anonymity, alleged that the choice of Akeredolu was a unilateral decision of the party leaders.

He said, “If I was not consulted before the choice was made, then I can confirm to you that no Ondo born politician had an input. This is a slap in our face and it had confirmed the campaign slogan of the opposition that ours is a party of godfathers.”

The elderly politician however, said he had mobilised his people to reject any fake primaries that would be manipulated in favour of the already ‘chosen’ candidate.

Meanwhile, Akeredolu had said the screening that produced him as the preferred choice of the leaders was a first phase of the selection process and that every aspirant still had equal right to contest the party’s ticket during the party’s primaries which he hoped would be transparent and fair to all.

Unconfirmed reports available to our correspondent on Wednesday indicated that some of the aspirants might have technically resigned their membership of the party as only one of them attended a reconciliatory meeting called by the South-West leadership of the party to douse the growing tension.

However, a human rights activists, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, has said that the action of the national leadership of the party may lead to the emergence of two parallel candidates that would contest the election on the platform of the ACN.

Ajulo told our correspondent on the telephone that there was already a division within the party and that the elders of the ACN in the state might decide to take their destiny in their hands by producing a candidate through a transparent primaries.

He said, “You know an average Ondo man or woman has pride. They will not take this insult. Why should someone anoint a candidate in Lagos and send him to us as our new leader. No Ondo person will take that”

There are strong indications that the primaries of the party will be held in Akure in the next few weeks but whether the outcome, would be acceptable to the stakeholders, remains a big question in the light of current developments.

Keshi slams critics over home-based Eagles

Keshi

SUPER Eagles' Head Coach, Stephen Keshi believed whose crying wolf over the inclusion ofmany home-based players in the nationalteam are mischief makers.
Keshi has not hidden his desire to revamp theSuper Eagles after taking the reins of the nationalteam following their failure to qualify for the 2012African Cup of Nations Cup-with a team populatedmostly by legion of the country's players
abroad.
But there have been a gale of criticism from asection of the fans following the less than impressiveperformances in their three completivematches last month despite the fact that they beatNamibia 1-0; drew 1-1 with Malawi, and a 2-0 winagainst Rwanda.
" it is unfortunate if some people don't believein what we are doing presently with the Super Eagles,"said the former captain of the national team.
“I have no business in managing any player but I think we have to give the home-based players theopportunity too. They are Nigerians and if we all agree that something was wrong with our football in recent years, we must find solutions to such
problems."
He reiterated that every Nigerian player irrespective of where they are based would be drafted to help the course of the national team in as much as they have something to offer, adding that he has
been guided by equity and fair play in the choice of players.
" We would need all the best players as time goes on but honestly, I don't see anything wrong in what we are doing with the home-based players," Keshi enthused."We are given them the opportunity
to become better players which in turn would make them responsible Nigerians."
Keshi said those who are quick to condemn his usage of home based players should remember his antecedent when he managed the Hawks of Togo as well as the Eagles of Mali.
" When I was in Togo, I worked with the homebased players and we qualified for the 2006 WorldCup. I did the same when I was in Mali, so I don't have any personal agenda by using many homebased
players for the Super Eagles," he added.
The Super Eagles are currently on a recess but having been slated to face Arsenal Football Club on August 5 as the English Premiership side round off their pre-season activities.

A letter to my son- Amb. Olusola

Ambassador Olusola and Olujimi

Chief Olusegun Olusola who died last Thursday was not only a broadcaster, actor and culture icon; he was a good family man who mentored his son, Olujimi in many ways including writing series of letters to guide him in confronting the vagaries of life.

The ten short letters written in 1986 titled “ A letter to my son” reproduced in the late Ambassador to Ethiopia’s biography by O’Femi Kolawole : Olusola: An Icon of Man’s humanity to man,  focused on  coping with ‘bad and good times’, ‘sex and sexual relations’, ‘living on your own’, ‘initiating your own family’, ‘your responsibilities to your people’ and ‘club and clubbing’. Other issues addressed are ‘employment dilemma’, ‘management of resources, ‘uses and abuses of alcohol’ and ‘culture’.

Excerpts  are reproduced below:

On coping with bad times and good times

In good times, a plan for the future particularly the immediate future helps you to contain the joy and conviviality and the celebration of the present. This discipline in enjoying the present good times also has the advantage of putting celebration in check in the interest of a large majority of your contemporaries who are not partakers of today’s good times. 

As in good times, so also in bad times which represent another passing transitory phase and no matter how unpleasant or inconvenient, the awareness that such failure is not likely to replicate itself the next day should assist you in preparing for what is certain and to be a different and better tomorrow. And no matter how really bad a bad time is in your own estimation, there are bound to be some few others at that point in time who are experiencing even worse times.

An unnecessary display of sadness and recriminations therefore indicate a lack of consideration for these other less-endowed. This does not mean that you must not objectively review the causes of and antecedents to bad times in order to strengthen your preparation for the next day. 

In the same way, a careful calculation of the efforts and preceding events leading to sudden celebration should be a good resource that you can call to enable you transmit such formulae to your friends and younger relations. For although, you may not need the formulae that led to your success this moment in the same way in future, those coming behind you will certainly benefit from such communication since nothing stops such successes being replicated in other people in similar circumstances.

Responsibilities of young people to their parents

Your first step to understanding what your responsibilities to your parents should be is a review in your mind of what your parents responsibilities to you have been up till now. 

Just think for a moment of the day you were born and your mother’s life and death agonies and the home coming, and the growing up and schooling and so on and so forth. Your first responsibility therefore rests on the recall of the pains your parents took to bring you this far and a feeling of gratitude thereafter.

This deep-seated feeling of gratitude you must ensure does not leave you for as long as your parents are alive. For even if such feeling does not result in any further action on your part, no curse can affect you. For a thankful soul, is its own preserver. But of course, you must follow-up the feeling of gratitude with some definite action, particularly now that you are a master of your own time and resources. 

Let us contemplate material resources for a moment, consisting as they are, such things as houses, private vehicles, furniture, clothing and those things that money can buy, it is not likely that either of your parents will ask you to spend your money in acquiring any of these for them, but do not be too sure, for the very thought, of your making a contribution, however little, towards the acquisition of the any of these material comfort for your parents, will not go unappreciated. 

‘‘Living on Your Own.’’

For a growing young man, it is important that you must have ideas about where you want to live and how you want to live. And the initiative for providing answers to these belong to you. Particularly so, since your Polytechnic education has provided you with a ready-made skill to make a living, it is important that you determine that making a living on any resource at all involves shelter and food. 

You cannot afford to let the initiative to provide these pass from your hands so early in life. I therefore advise you to thank your parents for the initial provisions made for you but go out and seek a comfortable shelter either on your own or in conjunction with your friends as long as it is a place of your choice. 

You will feel more mature and bigger in the estimation of your friends and certainly more responsible in the esteem of your parents. There is nothing that I would appreciate more than visiting you in your new apartment be it a one-room apartment or a whole house or flat as long as you can afford it from your resources. You know of course assistance can be forthcoming. But there is a difference between an assistance requested by you and thereafter freely given and a mode of life thrust on you in the form of an assistance. 

‘‘Sex and Sexual Relations’’

Ideally,, there ought to be a purpose to every sexual act-and the most purposely one is one that leads to reproduction. But it is not always convenient for everybody. Happily, there are all manner of devices –natural and manufactured available to couples who wish to have sexual relations without reproduction. 

Personally, I do not recommend total abstinence or else would not be writing to you on this subject. 

In my experience, a complete wash-up in the bathroom has done wonders-which is why you must not be violent lest your woman feels too beaten down to get up and wash up. 

I would personally recommend that your experience of this most refreshing relationship is most often with your fiancée or your wife. Since such experiencing grows and ebbs over a period-your wife and you will be able to look back at some truly exhilarating relationship as your experience ebbs. 

If you can, I would advise you scorn the so-called short-time affairs that leave both you and your co-habitors breathless and strangers. There is so much giving involved in the sexual process that should lead to a more-abiding relationship. 

A completely-fulfilled sexual act should leave you and your woman mentally and physically refreshed-but you do not process into it at the slightest provocation because its nobility depreciates. 

There is a mystery to human sexuality, a self-regulatory open and close system which baffles even the most knowledgeable. When you reach such dead-ends, such bewildering impasse, do not hesitate to talk about it to me.

Even in sex, there is nothing new under the sun.’’

On Initiating your own Family

Because your wife must live with you for the rest of your life, she must be a person you feel good living with; and I have no amount at all to any amount of rehearsals you design in order to prove this point. What is the use getting married to a woman whom you sleep with one night and hate the sight of her the next morning?

Now, do not get me wrong. I do not advise that you go about sleeping with every woman you come across to prove you will like her the morning after.

Marriage is a life-time business and is well begun right. At first, she is an acquaintance-either a friend’s friend, or a colleague at work or even a school mate you once ignored. Thereafter she becomes a friend, learning to know you and reading your habits and meeting your girl-friends. Then, you start consulting each other and warming up to each other. If at this stage, provided she is clean mentally and physically, you exchange your desire for each other’s relationship-you may in fact spend an evening or night together.