by Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja,
The travails of the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adeshina, who is under threat of deposition, are far from being over as plans are afoot by the police to charge him to court with assault.
Adeshina has been in the eye of the storm for reportedly assaulting his estranged wife, Olori Bolanle, in public in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs yesterday, said investigations by the police had confirmed that Adeshina physically assaulted his estranged wife.
According to Onovo, “Even though, it is said to be a husband and wife case, but the law cannot wait to allow a woman to be killed because she is a housewife. So we are taking him to court.
“Police investigations reveal that the Deji assaulted her and that she was beaten by the suspect and white substance poured on her by the Deji himself causing her severe bodily injuries.
“The attack was premeditated and he came to the victim’s house for a specific purpose and a mob gathered at the scene to protect the actions of the suspects.
“In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the need to preserve law and order, bearing in mind that no one is above the law, and considering the weighty evidence against the suspects, I have directed that they be charged to court for the assault occasioning harm, conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.”
In his remarks, Chair of the Senate Committee on police Affairs, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, said the committee invited the IGP because it was concerned about public peace and order.
Ogunniya said the committee would want the police to expedite the trial of the monarch, suggesting that they could place him in confinement if it became necessary.
The committee reinforced the position of one of its members, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, that the police should ensure that the movement of the Deji of Akure was restricted in order to forestall a repeat of his action.
According to him, “such a man descending so low to engage in a street fight should be kept under surveillance so that he does not go and harm any witnesses who has already given statements.
“The best thing to do is to assemble your (police) lawyers so that the man could be taken to court immediately.
“By the time we come back from recess, we want to hear that this man has been arraigned and kept behind bars, so as to serve as a lesson to other people who like treating women bad.”
Meanwhile, the Federation of International Women Lawyers has petitioned the Senate over the incident. The president of the organisation, Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor, who appeared before the committee, said “the action of the Oba is a breach of the criminal code.”
She said action must be taken against the Deji of Akure because “as custodian of the tradition of the people, his action has put the women in Akure at risk because if such a matter comes before him, he is not going to be fair to women.”
The body, according to her, “wishes to express its concern and horror at this state of event and condemns same in the strongest terms.”
She declared that the action of the monarch, as reported in the media, was illegal and barbaric, adding that “it is quite unbecoming of a person of his stature.”
COMMENTS [total: 7]
Thursday, June 10, 2010
FG to Cancel Concessions, Prepares for Airports’ Privatisation
By our reporter
A new wave of changes are about to take place in the aviation industry as the Federal Government has concluded plans to cancel all concession agreements entered into by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
It would immediately terminate the activities of the concessionaires operating at the airports.
The FG has also resolved to privatize the airports before the end of the year. As a result of this, it is studying reports on the issue in order to find the most effective way to handle it.
our sourced gathered from a source at the ministry of aviation that government reached this decision when it realized that set objectives in the agreements are not being realized.
Instead, it is thought that the concessionaires are exploiting FAAN.
The concession agreement was meant to boost the revenue of FAAN. It was believed that private companies partnering with the agency would enhance innovation and transparency and ensure that all the cash points from both aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources would be managed in such a way to increase revenue.
A senior ministry official told THISDAY that a body was set up to investigate all the agreements FAAN entered into in the last five years.
After investigation, the body recommended that instead of boosting the revenue of the agency, the concessionaires have left the organization in dire financial straits.
A source said that the workers of FAAN, through the unions, have decried the activities of the concessionaires and have variously written petitions to the FG requesting an appraisal of the activities of the concessionaires.
It was pointed out in the petitions that almost all the agreement FAAN had were against the interest of the agency.
On the privatization of the airports, a source said that the Minister of Aviation Fidelia Njeze is “at this moment deliberating on the terms of privatization; whether it will be partial or complete privatization.
“But government is likely to go for partial privatization for security reasons, but all the necessary information needed have been made available by the immediate past ministers; but concessioning through public-private partnership may be dropped because it did not work with the domestic terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Interna-tional Airport, Lagos, where a concessionaire in charge of a terminal saw himself as an owner of an airport.”
The source also said that the ministry is carefully studying the reports to avoid hasty decisions, noting that before the end of July government would come out with a final decision on the method of privatization.
He disclosed that instead of privatizing viable airports as was planned in the past, the privatization process will be done in zones.
“It will be done in such a way that each investor would take all the airports in each zone, including the so-called viable and non-viable ones. The truth is that the ones deemed to be unviable today can be revived and made viable and FAAN will still be there to supervise the airports and also monitor the activities of the investors,” the source explained.
FAAN workers who spoke with THISDAY on the planned cancellation said that it would be a welcome development because according to them, since the concessionaires took over major cash points of FAAN, the agency has been losing money.
“In the past FAAN never owed its workers but since these concessionaires took charge of the revenue sources of the authority, we have been finding it difficult to pay workers.
“Look at the airports; we are no longer maintaining them because the funds are not there. It was planned that we should be getting something on top of what we were generating if these revenue sources were concessioned. But it has become obvious that the FAAN workers were doing better,” said a source.
A new wave of changes are about to take place in the aviation industry as the Federal Government has concluded plans to cancel all concession agreements entered into by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
It would immediately terminate the activities of the concessionaires operating at the airports.
The FG has also resolved to privatize the airports before the end of the year. As a result of this, it is studying reports on the issue in order to find the most effective way to handle it.
our sourced gathered from a source at the ministry of aviation that government reached this decision when it realized that set objectives in the agreements are not being realized.
Instead, it is thought that the concessionaires are exploiting FAAN.
The concession agreement was meant to boost the revenue of FAAN. It was believed that private companies partnering with the agency would enhance innovation and transparency and ensure that all the cash points from both aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources would be managed in such a way to increase revenue.
A senior ministry official told THISDAY that a body was set up to investigate all the agreements FAAN entered into in the last five years.
After investigation, the body recommended that instead of boosting the revenue of the agency, the concessionaires have left the organization in dire financial straits.
A source said that the workers of FAAN, through the unions, have decried the activities of the concessionaires and have variously written petitions to the FG requesting an appraisal of the activities of the concessionaires.
It was pointed out in the petitions that almost all the agreement FAAN had were against the interest of the agency.
On the privatization of the airports, a source said that the Minister of Aviation Fidelia Njeze is “at this moment deliberating on the terms of privatization; whether it will be partial or complete privatization.
“But government is likely to go for partial privatization for security reasons, but all the necessary information needed have been made available by the immediate past ministers; but concessioning through public-private partnership may be dropped because it did not work with the domestic terminal at the Murtala Muhammed Interna-tional Airport, Lagos, where a concessionaire in charge of a terminal saw himself as an owner of an airport.”
The source also said that the ministry is carefully studying the reports to avoid hasty decisions, noting that before the end of July government would come out with a final decision on the method of privatization.
He disclosed that instead of privatizing viable airports as was planned in the past, the privatization process will be done in zones.
“It will be done in such a way that each investor would take all the airports in each zone, including the so-called viable and non-viable ones. The truth is that the ones deemed to be unviable today can be revived and made viable and FAAN will still be there to supervise the airports and also monitor the activities of the investors,” the source explained.
FAAN workers who spoke with THISDAY on the planned cancellation said that it would be a welcome development because according to them, since the concessionaires took over major cash points of FAAN, the agency has been losing money.
“In the past FAAN never owed its workers but since these concessionaires took charge of the revenue sources of the authority, we have been finding it difficult to pay workers.
“Look at the airports; we are no longer maintaining them because the funds are not there. It was planned that we should be getting something on top of what we were generating if these revenue sources were concessioned. But it has become obvious that the FAAN workers were doing better,” said a source.
Why I’ve never worn a wedding ring —John Fashanu
By Mercy Michael
Why are you wearing your ring on the last finger of your hand?
This is not a wedding ring; it's a ring which was bought for me by one of the Saudi Arabian princesses and this was for all my goals, my matches H400 to 500 appearances, 150 goals and she bought me a signet ring and presented it to me when we were in Saudi Arabia. People have often asked me, Are you married? Are you not married? They bring out this story and that story. I've always said, 'Your private life is your private life and the only thing in life that you can protect is your private life'. All I can say is I have a private life and I have children.
Why are you not wearing your wedding ring?
I've never worn a wedding ring. In my life I've never had one. I've never worn one. You find out that most black Europeans don't wear wedding rings. And as a footballer, always I would have problem with my wedding ring. When I first got married, always I would put on my wedding ring and I would have to take it off again because I'm playing football. You are not allowed to wear a ring and because my knuckle is big, it will always be a problem trying to get it off. So after getting married for like six years ago, I never wore one anymore. You will never see any footballers wear wedding rings.
Doesn't your wife have a problem with it?
Nobody has a problem with it.
I didn't mean anybody; I said does your wife not have a problem with it?
You said that, but I said nobody. I know what you meant (laugh) but I tried to soften the line there. I don't think she has a problem with it. I'm sure after this period of time I would have known.
You seem to like to wearing African print. Who makes them for you?
All my clothes are African and they are all designed by one man. His name is Mudi. Mudi is a wonderful Nigerian designer who cut his cloth to suit a tall black man and his colours are unique. I met him three, four years ago. He had nothing then and he came in and he gave me some suits. In the picture you're holding, the suits I'm wearing is Mudi, the shirt also is his. I saw he had an exceptional talent and decided then that if I rise, I must try and make him rise. And he has risen, because from all my shows, deal or no deal, the football challenge, it has always been Mudi; even this I'm wearing now is Mudi.
Do you have a fragrance that is known with you?
I wear a lot of Arab scents because I'm very influenced by the North. I spend so much of my time in the North. I have families in Jos, Kano, and Kaduna, a lot of Fashanus there, many of them. I've always gone to the Arab countries a lot and I like their perfumes, they're very strong and it stays there, in your skin. This is a country you sweat all the time; you bathe all the time. In England they will teach that you will try out your skin when you keep having baths and showers but here you have no choice, you have to. And I always like to stay fresh, so I wear a lot of Arabic perfumes.
Tell us why you never got to play for Nigeria?
No, I don't have any regrets not playing for Nigeria because in my heart of hearts I know I tried and tried and tried. That was a very controversial issue because people got it all mixed up and people were saying, Fashanu, he turned down his country. It took me four years to explain to those people who cared to listen, that it was actually me trying to come home. I was invited three times to come back home. Each time I came back home, first time under a coach called Otto Gloria, a Brazilian. I stayed at a place called Games Village in Surulere.
Segun Odegbami, the late Muda Lawal, Henry Nwosu, I played with them all. The football I played was totally different; even the coach said, 'afterwards, you might be a star in your own country but over here you're not Playing too well'. In Europe, we play the football in the air, up high. In Nigeria, Africa, South America, the ball is played on the floor, totally different styles. So as much as I wanted to play I didn't fit in for that style. The truth is, for that style, I wasn't good enough.
I came the second time, I was benched.
I came the third time and I wasn't even benched, they didn't even invite me. My guys in London said, 'John, why are you going back home? Each time you go back to Nigeria you stay for one month, you don't get any salary, you don't get anything at all and when you come back to England, it takes you at least one month to get back in the team again, who loses? You lose!'
But in spite of that I still wrote a letter to Westerhoff begging him to put me in the team. I told him I'm one of the top strikers in England which I was at that time, I didn't get a reply. Nine years elapsed, I didn't hear from Nigeria. Then suddenly, Ericsson, the England Manager, saw my team, that day, that year, I was the leading goal scorer, 2nd leading goal scorer in the Premiership with 23goals, an Arsenal player just beat me to it. He said, 'You're are good enough to play for England, and now I'm going to give you an England shirt', It's the highest honour anybody around the world can achieve because you're playing for your adopted country and there it was and as you can see there on the wall, some of the most illustrious England players from Paul Gascoigne to Peter Shilton, the world famous players. That was the biggest day of my life because I played for England. International football standard and domestic standard is a different ball game. Once I put on the white shirt, the uproar started in Nigeria. 'Oh! He turned down his country; he doesn't want to play for Nigeria. It was complete rubbish! It took me time to let everybody understand that, but the whole world now knows that I never turned down my country, I came three times.
How will you describe your style?
I would say that I was fast, aggressive, and direct. A lot of my goals were scored by my sheer strength and speed. I wasn't a JJ and a JJ is not me. I wasn't a Kanu and Kanu is not me. I remember playing many games with Kanu, Aston Villa and Arsenal and he always used to confuse me because as he comes on I will always greet him as a Nigerian, and he always looked so gangling and so awkward, everything a footballer doesn't look like and five minutes to go, he scores the winning goal. He always used to do it. It actually used to sink my heart when I see him warming up, Arsenal and Aston Villa 2-2, 1-0, he comes on, and he has this funny walk ways, walking gangling like that, and five minutes to go Kanu scores the goal. He always used to do it and we always used to tell each other that if this guy comes on, be careful of him and that's the love and the respect that we've got for ourselves.
What outfit do you think you look best in?
I think when I stroll down my road with no clothes on, naked, that seems to get a lot of compliments (laughs). I often hear a lot of compliments, they're not nice but it's a lot of compliments (laughs). But if you're saying in clothes-wise seriously, one of the most beautiful ones is a white shirt with Chinese dragon, three dragons on it and Mudi designed that shirt because I'm also a Martial artist. For 16 years, I travelled round the world studying the Martial art and I realised it was better to heal than to destroy and so Mudi did a beautiful shirt for me and that's my favourite shirt.
How do you maintain your physique?
Let me lie and say, that everyday I run by 6'oclock 5'oclock and I never eat nor drink anything. The truth is born very lucky. God gave me a very good physique and because of my hard work during the years of Martial art, my stretching regimes, my exercises, I came up with, 'Focus on fitness with Fash', a CD tape for women for doing exercises in their houses. A lot of women who are not the right shapes, should we say diplomatically, don't want to go to the gym. Most Nigerian women don't want to go to the gym because most of our African women don't have the time, busy schedules. They've got children and they've got work load. So I say, 'You don't need to go to the gym, just watch the CD and pick three or four that you like. Most women want to get rid of the gut, arm, buttocks, and firm up the breast that's it. Remember, men have a tummy full stop, women have the tummy and they've the gut; so most women want to get rid of the guts and tighten up the tummy, waking up the bum. I'm a physiotherapist; I'm an exercise man; that's what I've done all my life. I'm not saying on the CD, 'Try and look like Fash'. I'm saying that because God has given me that. All I'm saying is, 'These are the ways that you as a woman can change your life. You can change your eating habit, sleeping habits, all other things by going through my fitness tape.'
What do you love doing in your free time?
Working! My work is my free time. I'm a workaholic. I also travel a lot. In Africa I think there're 53 countries, I have travelled to 48 and in 48, I think have met 27 heads of state. Since I've been back home, I can't even imagine, there is no state that I haven't travelled to. I'm always in Kano, Jos, and Port-Harcourt; tomorrow Saturday I'm going to Abuja.
What phrase or adjective describes you?
An enigma. I'm somebody who likes to diversify. From football to television, banking, tyre protector, oil business, construction, you have to be able to change; you have to be able to go into other businesses. I enjoy that and I take the example of people like Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Dr Mike Adenuga, they're the real pioneers, I'm just pretending. They're the ones who are going out there and are making it but you know, we are all learning and I'm somebody, I like to learn from people who, should we say my peers? Who would have thought when I came back to Nigeria three years ago, within three years I would now be involved with the bank, not in my wildest dreams in England could I ever own a bank however? Much money you've got, Couldn't happen! Here now, for the first time and I'm enjoying it, my name was cleared by the CBN. I'm a director of a bank and I have equity shares in the bank. Micro financing is the way forward in this country; it's not the big banks. We've got to appreciate it's for the people. I've been very lucky.
What's your typical day like?
Today Friday, I'm on my way to see some friends in Apapa where I'm going to talk to some of the young prisoners in Kirikiri. My days are crazy; I got in late last night from Port-Harcourt. I'm now in Lagos, and tomorrow Saturday morning, I would go back to Abuja. Then, from there to Kano, Kaduna, Jos and back to Lagos again. It's never ending.
Why are you wearing your ring on the last finger of your hand?
This is not a wedding ring; it's a ring which was bought for me by one of the Saudi Arabian princesses and this was for all my goals, my matches H400 to 500 appearances, 150 goals and she bought me a signet ring and presented it to me when we were in Saudi Arabia. People have often asked me, Are you married? Are you not married? They bring out this story and that story. I've always said, 'Your private life is your private life and the only thing in life that you can protect is your private life'. All I can say is I have a private life and I have children.
Why are you not wearing your wedding ring?
I've never worn a wedding ring. In my life I've never had one. I've never worn one. You find out that most black Europeans don't wear wedding rings. And as a footballer, always I would have problem with my wedding ring. When I first got married, always I would put on my wedding ring and I would have to take it off again because I'm playing football. You are not allowed to wear a ring and because my knuckle is big, it will always be a problem trying to get it off. So after getting married for like six years ago, I never wore one anymore. You will never see any footballers wear wedding rings.
Doesn't your wife have a problem with it?
Nobody has a problem with it.
I didn't mean anybody; I said does your wife not have a problem with it?
You said that, but I said nobody. I know what you meant (laugh) but I tried to soften the line there. I don't think she has a problem with it. I'm sure after this period of time I would have known.
You seem to like to wearing African print. Who makes them for you?
All my clothes are African and they are all designed by one man. His name is Mudi. Mudi is a wonderful Nigerian designer who cut his cloth to suit a tall black man and his colours are unique. I met him three, four years ago. He had nothing then and he came in and he gave me some suits. In the picture you're holding, the suits I'm wearing is Mudi, the shirt also is his. I saw he had an exceptional talent and decided then that if I rise, I must try and make him rise. And he has risen, because from all my shows, deal or no deal, the football challenge, it has always been Mudi; even this I'm wearing now is Mudi.
Do you have a fragrance that is known with you?
I wear a lot of Arab scents because I'm very influenced by the North. I spend so much of my time in the North. I have families in Jos, Kano, and Kaduna, a lot of Fashanus there, many of them. I've always gone to the Arab countries a lot and I like their perfumes, they're very strong and it stays there, in your skin. This is a country you sweat all the time; you bathe all the time. In England they will teach that you will try out your skin when you keep having baths and showers but here you have no choice, you have to. And I always like to stay fresh, so I wear a lot of Arabic perfumes.
Tell us why you never got to play for Nigeria?
No, I don't have any regrets not playing for Nigeria because in my heart of hearts I know I tried and tried and tried. That was a very controversial issue because people got it all mixed up and people were saying, Fashanu, he turned down his country. It took me four years to explain to those people who cared to listen, that it was actually me trying to come home. I was invited three times to come back home. Each time I came back home, first time under a coach called Otto Gloria, a Brazilian. I stayed at a place called Games Village in Surulere.
Segun Odegbami, the late Muda Lawal, Henry Nwosu, I played with them all. The football I played was totally different; even the coach said, 'afterwards, you might be a star in your own country but over here you're not Playing too well'. In Europe, we play the football in the air, up high. In Nigeria, Africa, South America, the ball is played on the floor, totally different styles. So as much as I wanted to play I didn't fit in for that style. The truth is, for that style, I wasn't good enough.
I came the second time, I was benched.
I came the third time and I wasn't even benched, they didn't even invite me. My guys in London said, 'John, why are you going back home? Each time you go back to Nigeria you stay for one month, you don't get any salary, you don't get anything at all and when you come back to England, it takes you at least one month to get back in the team again, who loses? You lose!'
But in spite of that I still wrote a letter to Westerhoff begging him to put me in the team. I told him I'm one of the top strikers in England which I was at that time, I didn't get a reply. Nine years elapsed, I didn't hear from Nigeria. Then suddenly, Ericsson, the England Manager, saw my team, that day, that year, I was the leading goal scorer, 2nd leading goal scorer in the Premiership with 23goals, an Arsenal player just beat me to it. He said, 'You're are good enough to play for England, and now I'm going to give you an England shirt', It's the highest honour anybody around the world can achieve because you're playing for your adopted country and there it was and as you can see there on the wall, some of the most illustrious England players from Paul Gascoigne to Peter Shilton, the world famous players. That was the biggest day of my life because I played for England. International football standard and domestic standard is a different ball game. Once I put on the white shirt, the uproar started in Nigeria. 'Oh! He turned down his country; he doesn't want to play for Nigeria. It was complete rubbish! It took me time to let everybody understand that, but the whole world now knows that I never turned down my country, I came three times.
How will you describe your style?
I would say that I was fast, aggressive, and direct. A lot of my goals were scored by my sheer strength and speed. I wasn't a JJ and a JJ is not me. I wasn't a Kanu and Kanu is not me. I remember playing many games with Kanu, Aston Villa and Arsenal and he always used to confuse me because as he comes on I will always greet him as a Nigerian, and he always looked so gangling and so awkward, everything a footballer doesn't look like and five minutes to go, he scores the winning goal. He always used to do it. It actually used to sink my heart when I see him warming up, Arsenal and Aston Villa 2-2, 1-0, he comes on, and he has this funny walk ways, walking gangling like that, and five minutes to go Kanu scores the goal. He always used to do it and we always used to tell each other that if this guy comes on, be careful of him and that's the love and the respect that we've got for ourselves.
What outfit do you think you look best in?
I think when I stroll down my road with no clothes on, naked, that seems to get a lot of compliments (laughs). I often hear a lot of compliments, they're not nice but it's a lot of compliments (laughs). But if you're saying in clothes-wise seriously, one of the most beautiful ones is a white shirt with Chinese dragon, three dragons on it and Mudi designed that shirt because I'm also a Martial artist. For 16 years, I travelled round the world studying the Martial art and I realised it was better to heal than to destroy and so Mudi did a beautiful shirt for me and that's my favourite shirt.
How do you maintain your physique?
Let me lie and say, that everyday I run by 6'oclock 5'oclock and I never eat nor drink anything. The truth is born very lucky. God gave me a very good physique and because of my hard work during the years of Martial art, my stretching regimes, my exercises, I came up with, 'Focus on fitness with Fash', a CD tape for women for doing exercises in their houses. A lot of women who are not the right shapes, should we say diplomatically, don't want to go to the gym. Most Nigerian women don't want to go to the gym because most of our African women don't have the time, busy schedules. They've got children and they've got work load. So I say, 'You don't need to go to the gym, just watch the CD and pick three or four that you like. Most women want to get rid of the gut, arm, buttocks, and firm up the breast that's it. Remember, men have a tummy full stop, women have the tummy and they've the gut; so most women want to get rid of the guts and tighten up the tummy, waking up the bum. I'm a physiotherapist; I'm an exercise man; that's what I've done all my life. I'm not saying on the CD, 'Try and look like Fash'. I'm saying that because God has given me that. All I'm saying is, 'These are the ways that you as a woman can change your life. You can change your eating habit, sleeping habits, all other things by going through my fitness tape.'
What do you love doing in your free time?
Working! My work is my free time. I'm a workaholic. I also travel a lot. In Africa I think there're 53 countries, I have travelled to 48 and in 48, I think have met 27 heads of state. Since I've been back home, I can't even imagine, there is no state that I haven't travelled to. I'm always in Kano, Jos, and Port-Harcourt; tomorrow Saturday I'm going to Abuja.
What phrase or adjective describes you?
An enigma. I'm somebody who likes to diversify. From football to television, banking, tyre protector, oil business, construction, you have to be able to change; you have to be able to go into other businesses. I enjoy that and I take the example of people like Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Dr Mike Adenuga, they're the real pioneers, I'm just pretending. They're the ones who are going out there and are making it but you know, we are all learning and I'm somebody, I like to learn from people who, should we say my peers? Who would have thought when I came back to Nigeria three years ago, within three years I would now be involved with the bank, not in my wildest dreams in England could I ever own a bank however? Much money you've got, Couldn't happen! Here now, for the first time and I'm enjoying it, my name was cleared by the CBN. I'm a director of a bank and I have equity shares in the bank. Micro financing is the way forward in this country; it's not the big banks. We've got to appreciate it's for the people. I've been very lucky.
What's your typical day like?
Today Friday, I'm on my way to see some friends in Apapa where I'm going to talk to some of the young prisoners in Kirikiri. My days are crazy; I got in late last night from Port-Harcourt. I'm now in Lagos, and tomorrow Saturday morning, I would go back to Abuja. Then, from there to Kano, Kaduna, Jos and back to Lagos again. It's never ending.
2011: Gladiators perfect strategies to capture Oyo
By Bisi Oladele
In this report, BISI OLADELE examines the factors and individuals that will shape the much-awaited 2011 governorship election in Oyo State.
Eight months from now, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would start the general elections for a new transition at the federal, state and local government levels according to the time-table released by the commission earlier in the year.
Unlike in previous times, the race for the governorship seat in Oyo State this time is rather slow, less exciting and beclouded with uncertainties.
This is not unconnected with the clamour for credible elections by interest groups and individuals which has become a major challenge for INEC, the demise of the master strategist, Chief Lamidi Adedibu and the seeming loss of cohesive power of bargaining among influential Ibadan politicians and elders.
The usual glamour, deep politicking and exciting political escapades that once characterized Oyo politics seem to have faded following the demise of Chief Adedibu and the emergence of the incumbent governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala who has been amaassing more power and breaking old blocs within the political landscape.
Though Governor Alao-Akala is yet to make an open declaration of his interest in second term, his aides and supporters have been drumming support for the bid which is well known to the people.
Curiously, with about eight months to the election, no political figure in state chapter of the ruling PDP seems to be confident enough to nurse or trumpet his ambition for the exalted seat.
Even across other parties, no other aspirant seems to come near the governor in terms of preparedness and political structure.
But the odds are many for the Ogbomoso-born politician who is the current PDP flagbearer though no one seems to be giving him a tough fight for the party’s flag within his party for now.
On the larger terrain, however, some astute politicians are itching to upstage him in the bid to occupy the Agodi Government House next year.
In the Action Congress (AC), the most vibrant opposition party in the state, seven aspirants are jostling for the governorship seat. They are, the former governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Senator Abiola Ajimobi who is back on his natural turf; former Adviser to ex-Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, Chief Femi Lanlehin; Professor Wole Akinboade; former Lagos Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr Bayo Adewusi; former Special Adviser to Governor Lam Adesina, Hon. Soji Akanbi; a legal practitioner, Mr Kazeem Adedeji and Prof. Wale Oyemakinde.
Of the seven, only Dr Adewusi hails from outside Ibadan. He is from Eruwa, a major town in Oyo South Senatorial District to which the party has zoned the governorship slot. Ibadan is also in the district.
Analysts believe that AC is the only party that can give PDP a good fight at the next election, if it can put its acts together.
In the ANPP, no aspirant has officially registered intention to vie for the exalted seat though The Nation reliably gathered that a brilliant young politician of Ibadan origin has reached advanced stage in completing the procedure of flying the party’s flag in the next year election.
Again, the posters of Mr Taiwo Ositelu of the Action Alliance (AA) are all over Ibadan, indicating his interest in the plum job as he did in the 2007 election.
In this report, BISI OLADELE examines the factors and individuals that will shape the much-awaited 2011 governorship election in Oyo State.
Eight months from now, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would start the general elections for a new transition at the federal, state and local government levels according to the time-table released by the commission earlier in the year.
Unlike in previous times, the race for the governorship seat in Oyo State this time is rather slow, less exciting and beclouded with uncertainties.
This is not unconnected with the clamour for credible elections by interest groups and individuals which has become a major challenge for INEC, the demise of the master strategist, Chief Lamidi Adedibu and the seeming loss of cohesive power of bargaining among influential Ibadan politicians and elders.
The usual glamour, deep politicking and exciting political escapades that once characterized Oyo politics seem to have faded following the demise of Chief Adedibu and the emergence of the incumbent governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala who has been amaassing more power and breaking old blocs within the political landscape.
Though Governor Alao-Akala is yet to make an open declaration of his interest in second term, his aides and supporters have been drumming support for the bid which is well known to the people.
Curiously, with about eight months to the election, no political figure in state chapter of the ruling PDP seems to be confident enough to nurse or trumpet his ambition for the exalted seat.
Even across other parties, no other aspirant seems to come near the governor in terms of preparedness and political structure.
But the odds are many for the Ogbomoso-born politician who is the current PDP flagbearer though no one seems to be giving him a tough fight for the party’s flag within his party for now.
On the larger terrain, however, some astute politicians are itching to upstage him in the bid to occupy the Agodi Government House next year.
In the Action Congress (AC), the most vibrant opposition party in the state, seven aspirants are jostling for the governorship seat. They are, the former governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Senator Abiola Ajimobi who is back on his natural turf; former Adviser to ex-Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, Chief Femi Lanlehin; Professor Wole Akinboade; former Lagos Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr Bayo Adewusi; former Special Adviser to Governor Lam Adesina, Hon. Soji Akanbi; a legal practitioner, Mr Kazeem Adedeji and Prof. Wale Oyemakinde.
Of the seven, only Dr Adewusi hails from outside Ibadan. He is from Eruwa, a major town in Oyo South Senatorial District to which the party has zoned the governorship slot. Ibadan is also in the district.
Analysts believe that AC is the only party that can give PDP a good fight at the next election, if it can put its acts together.
In the ANPP, no aspirant has officially registered intention to vie for the exalted seat though The Nation reliably gathered that a brilliant young politician of Ibadan origin has reached advanced stage in completing the procedure of flying the party’s flag in the next year election.
Again, the posters of Mr Taiwo Ositelu of the Action Alliance (AA) are all over Ibadan, indicating his interest in the plum job as he did in the 2007 election.
House crisis deepens - Resign or be disgrace
our reporters
THERE were signs yesterday that the crisis in the House of Representatives could escalate.
Some members issued Speaker Dimeji Bankole a seven-day deadline to resign.
But the House leadership stood by the Speaker, accusing the dissenting members of planning to destabilise the lower chamber. They have been reported to the security agencies, spokesman Eseme Eyiboh said.
The members, who tagged themselves as "Progressives", said they had resolved to force Bankole to resign to protect the House’s integrity.
Brandishing a voluminous document, which they claimed was a chronicle of Bankole’s corrupt deals since he became Speaker three years ago, the group threatened to release it to the media, security agencies and the Presidency – if Bankole fails to resign.
Their spokesperson, Dino Melaye, listed Bankole’s "sins" to include corrupt leadership; rift and disharmony between the House and the Senate; high-handedness and disrespect for members and frequent breaches of House rules.
Another allegation, according to Melaye, is making sweeping and unsubstantiated statements capable of causing disaffection among the various arms of government. He said the public perception of the House was dwindling, hence the need for a change in leadership.
Melaye said: "The House of Representatives that we read about in 1999, the House of Representatives that Hon. West Idahosa was a member of in 2000, the House of Representatives that Umar Ghali Na’Abba headed is not the same as the House of Representatives that we have today.
"The public perception of the House of Representatives has ingloriously declined. The perception of the House of Representatives, specifically under Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole, has nosedived.
"Therefore, we are asking Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole to resign immediately as the Speaker of the House of Representatives within seven days."
Melaye claimed that Bankole’s leadership style was responsible for the rift between the Senate and the House.
To him, the disharmony between the leadership of the Senate and the House has never been this bad, adding: "This disaffection can be traced to Bankole’s leadership style."
We are also asking him to resign because of his high-handedness and disrespect for members which are not just a breach but frequent breaches of the rules of the House."
"A simple example in this regard is when the Speaker accused civil servants of gross corruption and the then Head of Service, Ammal Pepple, wrote an official letter to the Speaker challenging him to substantiate his claim but the Speaker till date is yet to respond."
Stating that Bankole has brought the reputation, integrity and name of the House into disrepute, Melaye warned that the Speaker’s failure to comply with their call in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, especially the masses of the country, will leave them with no other alternative than to release reports of his alleged corrupt activities.
"We have overwhelming evidence and information, everything you see here (brandishing a voluminous document) is evidence and incriminating records that we will publish, give to you the media.
"And we are going to write petitions that every member you see here and even those that are on recess will sign and we will physically, personally deliver them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Service (SSS), National Security Adviser, the Presidency, and indeed to the National Headquarters of his political party, the PDP," he threatened.
Insisting that "This is no child play," Melaye said, the group had resolved to "clean our house".
"We know that in the normal leadership style of Dimeji Bankole, tomorrow they will tell you that these documents are fake. Our challenge is that by the time we get them to you after the ultimatum, anything that has fake must have original. If it is fake, we challenge them to produce the original," Melaye said.
Another member of the group, West-Idahosa said Melaye captured the "very bitter feelings of members of the House of Representatives".
Hon. Independence Ogunewe, in response to a question, said: "We have been tolerating and accommodating things, believing that we can handle this matter but the cup of our forbearance has burst."
Eyiboh said the attention of the House has been drawn to the activities of some "self-styled progressives in the House misleading the perceptive public with their proverbial ostrich display of selfish tendencies in the guise of public interest. Their activities could best be a swan song from an orchestra of deception."
He asked the group to avail itself with the House rules and extant provisions of the relevant statutes in exercise of its rights.
Eyiboh said: "The present leadership is a creature and creation of the generality of the House and prevalent robust synergy, culminating in the successful constitution review and other legislative duties vindicate acceptability of the leadership.
"Those progressives, should vacate their theatre of the absurd."
Others at the briefing are: Chairman of Nigeria First Forum (NFF), Hon. Abbas Anas Adamu, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Hon. Solomon Ahwinawih, Hon. Asita Honourable Asita, Hon. George Dika, Hon.Ralph Okeke and Hon. Darlington Okereke.
THERE were signs yesterday that the crisis in the House of Representatives could escalate.
Some members issued Speaker Dimeji Bankole a seven-day deadline to resign.
But the House leadership stood by the Speaker, accusing the dissenting members of planning to destabilise the lower chamber. They have been reported to the security agencies, spokesman Eseme Eyiboh said.
The members, who tagged themselves as "Progressives", said they had resolved to force Bankole to resign to protect the House’s integrity.
Brandishing a voluminous document, which they claimed was a chronicle of Bankole’s corrupt deals since he became Speaker three years ago, the group threatened to release it to the media, security agencies and the Presidency – if Bankole fails to resign.
Their spokesperson, Dino Melaye, listed Bankole’s "sins" to include corrupt leadership; rift and disharmony between the House and the Senate; high-handedness and disrespect for members and frequent breaches of House rules.
Another allegation, according to Melaye, is making sweeping and unsubstantiated statements capable of causing disaffection among the various arms of government. He said the public perception of the House was dwindling, hence the need for a change in leadership.
Melaye said: "The House of Representatives that we read about in 1999, the House of Representatives that Hon. West Idahosa was a member of in 2000, the House of Representatives that Umar Ghali Na’Abba headed is not the same as the House of Representatives that we have today.
"The public perception of the House of Representatives has ingloriously declined. The perception of the House of Representatives, specifically under Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole, has nosedived.
"Therefore, we are asking Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole to resign immediately as the Speaker of the House of Representatives within seven days."
Melaye claimed that Bankole’s leadership style was responsible for the rift between the Senate and the House.
To him, the disharmony between the leadership of the Senate and the House has never been this bad, adding: "This disaffection can be traced to Bankole’s leadership style."
We are also asking him to resign because of his high-handedness and disrespect for members which are not just a breach but frequent breaches of the rules of the House."
"A simple example in this regard is when the Speaker accused civil servants of gross corruption and the then Head of Service, Ammal Pepple, wrote an official letter to the Speaker challenging him to substantiate his claim but the Speaker till date is yet to respond."
Stating that Bankole has brought the reputation, integrity and name of the House into disrepute, Melaye warned that the Speaker’s failure to comply with their call in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, especially the masses of the country, will leave them with no other alternative than to release reports of his alleged corrupt activities.
"We have overwhelming evidence and information, everything you see here (brandishing a voluminous document) is evidence and incriminating records that we will publish, give to you the media.
"And we are going to write petitions that every member you see here and even those that are on recess will sign and we will physically, personally deliver them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), State Security Service (SSS), National Security Adviser, the Presidency, and indeed to the National Headquarters of his political party, the PDP," he threatened.
Insisting that "This is no child play," Melaye said, the group had resolved to "clean our house".
"We know that in the normal leadership style of Dimeji Bankole, tomorrow they will tell you that these documents are fake. Our challenge is that by the time we get them to you after the ultimatum, anything that has fake must have original. If it is fake, we challenge them to produce the original," Melaye said.
Another member of the group, West-Idahosa said Melaye captured the "very bitter feelings of members of the House of Representatives".
Hon. Independence Ogunewe, in response to a question, said: "We have been tolerating and accommodating things, believing that we can handle this matter but the cup of our forbearance has burst."
Eyiboh said the attention of the House has been drawn to the activities of some "self-styled progressives in the House misleading the perceptive public with their proverbial ostrich display of selfish tendencies in the guise of public interest. Their activities could best be a swan song from an orchestra of deception."
He asked the group to avail itself with the House rules and extant provisions of the relevant statutes in exercise of its rights.
Eyiboh said: "The present leadership is a creature and creation of the generality of the House and prevalent robust synergy, culminating in the successful constitution review and other legislative duties vindicate acceptability of the leadership.
"Those progressives, should vacate their theatre of the absurd."
Others at the briefing are: Chairman of Nigeria First Forum (NFF), Hon. Abbas Anas Adamu, Hon. Bitrus Kaze, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Hon. Solomon Ahwinawih, Hon. Asita Honourable Asita, Hon. George Dika, Hon.Ralph Okeke and Hon. Darlington Okereke.
NEWS UPDATE- Dubai Police revoke Ibori's bail
* By Our Reporter
Formal Delta State Governor, James Ibori, suffered a major set back today in his bid for political asylum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Dubai police have revoked his bail, preparing the ground for his extradition to the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has an extradition part with UAE.
Ibori is being detained at a police facility pending his extradition.
Formal Delta State Governor, James Ibori, suffered a major set back today in his bid for political asylum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Dubai police have revoked his bail, preparing the ground for his extradition to the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has an extradition part with UAE.
Ibori is being detained at a police facility pending his extradition.
INEC: Jega’s Nomination Excites NLC
by sahara reporters
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 20:45
The Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed delight over the nomination of Professor Attahiru Jega to the chairmanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement, it said Jega “possesses the requisite competence, integrity and patriotism” for the job, in addition to having been a member of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that made critical recommendations most Nigerians believe will ensure credible elections should they be implemented. Noting that the battle to establish a credible electoral body has only just begun, the NLC expressed preference for the core recommendations of the Uwais panel in terms of their potential to insulate the chairman of INEC from political manipulation in the future.
The NLC also pointed out that while it would give the Jega leadership of INEC the support it needs to succeed, it will speak out at any time the leadership works against the public interest.
Full text of the statement is as follows:
Jega’s Appointment Commendable
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is delighted by the nomination yesterday, June 8, 2010 of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman designate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Our excitement derives from the fact that apart from the fact that Prof Jega possesses the requisite competence, integrity and patriotism, he was a member of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that made very far-reaching recommendations that majority of Nigerians believe will ensure that their votes will count if implemented. It is therefore perfect wisdom to appoint him as he is conversant with the core sentiments of the Committee’s Report. Thirdly, the appointment pleases us because of Prof Jega’s character, particularly in distinguishing himself in whatever positions of trust he had held but which has not stopped him from being progressively active and forthright even against government.
While we commend President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment, we would like to, however, quickly state that the battle to put in place a credible INEC is not over yet. It has, in fact, just begun!
The NLC still strongly believes that this commendable appointment does not vitiate the logic of the core recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee. As altruistic as President Jonathan’s nomination is, we are particularly still of the strong opinion that the process for the appointment of INEC chair as recommended by the Committee is preferably more in the public interest because of its capacity to insulate the appointment to this very important position from manipulation in the future especially by an ambitious president whose intentions may be anything but patriotic.
Apart from this, we strongly believe that the question of financial autonomy of INEC is highly imperative at this time so that the new INEC chair would hit the ground running given the enormous responsibilities awaiting him especially in cleaning up the messed-up electoral register and other critical logistics that will ensure a smooth general election in 2011. Secondly, it is highly imperative that Prof Jega gets a team that is competent, upright and non-partisan so as not to sabotage any effort at rebuilding an INEC that is genuinely independent.
Although we will strive to give the new leadership of INEC under Jega every support it needs to accomplish credible elections, we would like to put it on record that the NLC will not hesitate to speak out any moment INEC under Prof Jega is seen to have gone against public interest. We therefore urge him to immediately begin an internal reform or cleansing process in INEC that will position it to face the immediate challenges of holding a credible election in 2011. We believe that there are numerous administrative or leadership challenges in INEC that do not require constitutional or legislative amendments before they are carried out and which are very crucial to credible elections. We urge Prof Jega to begin to do those things now!
We equally urge him to, in appreciation of the popular jubilation and goodwill that followed his appointment, endeavour to carry along every stakeholder in democratic governance, both locally and internationally, especially all true advocates of free and fair election.
Finally, we wish to call on the Senate to expedite the process for the ratification of the appointment given the enormous electoral challenges awaiting him and in view of the very short time before the next general elections. We also call on all Nigerians to give their support to the new INEC and be alive to their political and civic responsibilities as we approach 2011 polls.
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 20:45
The Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed delight over the nomination of Professor Attahiru Jega to the chairmanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement, it said Jega “possesses the requisite competence, integrity and patriotism” for the job, in addition to having been a member of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that made critical recommendations most Nigerians believe will ensure credible elections should they be implemented. Noting that the battle to establish a credible electoral body has only just begun, the NLC expressed preference for the core recommendations of the Uwais panel in terms of their potential to insulate the chairman of INEC from political manipulation in the future.
The NLC also pointed out that while it would give the Jega leadership of INEC the support it needs to succeed, it will speak out at any time the leadership works against the public interest.
Full text of the statement is as follows:
Jega’s Appointment Commendable
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is delighted by the nomination yesterday, June 8, 2010 of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman designate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Our excitement derives from the fact that apart from the fact that Prof Jega possesses the requisite competence, integrity and patriotism, he was a member of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that made very far-reaching recommendations that majority of Nigerians believe will ensure that their votes will count if implemented. It is therefore perfect wisdom to appoint him as he is conversant with the core sentiments of the Committee’s Report. Thirdly, the appointment pleases us because of Prof Jega’s character, particularly in distinguishing himself in whatever positions of trust he had held but which has not stopped him from being progressively active and forthright even against government.
While we commend President Goodluck Jonathan for the appointment, we would like to, however, quickly state that the battle to put in place a credible INEC is not over yet. It has, in fact, just begun!
The NLC still strongly believes that this commendable appointment does not vitiate the logic of the core recommendations of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee. As altruistic as President Jonathan’s nomination is, we are particularly still of the strong opinion that the process for the appointment of INEC chair as recommended by the Committee is preferably more in the public interest because of its capacity to insulate the appointment to this very important position from manipulation in the future especially by an ambitious president whose intentions may be anything but patriotic.
Apart from this, we strongly believe that the question of financial autonomy of INEC is highly imperative at this time so that the new INEC chair would hit the ground running given the enormous responsibilities awaiting him especially in cleaning up the messed-up electoral register and other critical logistics that will ensure a smooth general election in 2011. Secondly, it is highly imperative that Prof Jega gets a team that is competent, upright and non-partisan so as not to sabotage any effort at rebuilding an INEC that is genuinely independent.
Although we will strive to give the new leadership of INEC under Jega every support it needs to accomplish credible elections, we would like to put it on record that the NLC will not hesitate to speak out any moment INEC under Prof Jega is seen to have gone against public interest. We therefore urge him to immediately begin an internal reform or cleansing process in INEC that will position it to face the immediate challenges of holding a credible election in 2011. We believe that there are numerous administrative or leadership challenges in INEC that do not require constitutional or legislative amendments before they are carried out and which are very crucial to credible elections. We urge Prof Jega to begin to do those things now!
We equally urge him to, in appreciation of the popular jubilation and goodwill that followed his appointment, endeavour to carry along every stakeholder in democratic governance, both locally and internationally, especially all true advocates of free and fair election.
Finally, we wish to call on the Senate to expedite the process for the ratification of the appointment given the enormous electoral challenges awaiting him and in view of the very short time before the next general elections. We also call on all Nigerians to give their support to the new INEC and be alive to their political and civic responsibilities as we approach 2011 polls.
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