The Nollywood industry has been dealt a major blow.
The make-believe industry that is still mourning the demise of young actress, Chinedu Bernard, who slumped and died at a Catholic Church in Enugu less than a week ago, has lost another of its versatile actors, David Osagie.
The late Osagie who died in the early hours of Wednesday, May 4th 2022, was on set on May 3, 2022.
The actor, known for playing Royal roles in movies died few hours after appearing on set, apparently of cardiac arrest.
Colleagues of Osagie who took to social media to lament his death, said the actor was on set on Tuesday May 3, only for them to learn of his death on Wednesday morning.
While details of the actor’s demise are still unclear, his family is yet to issue an official statement as of press time.
The late Osagie would be missed by his colleagues, who described him as a versatile and talent actor.
The war to rid south west of kidnappers has spread to Ondo state as a joint patrol embarked upon by the Nigerian Army and men of the Amotekun Corps with other Security agencies, led to mass arrest of suspected kidnappers.
Other persons suspected to be criminal elements were also rounded up during the special operation which will last for a week.
During the operations, no fewer than 37 suspected criminals were apprehended across the 18 Local Government Area of the State.
The patrol, which was held simultaneously across the state, was part of efforts put in place by the state government to ensure a crime-free Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
The Ondo State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye made this known while parading the suspects at the corps headquarters in Akure.
According to him, the patrol which started since Friday last week, will continue till Thursday to make it a full week exercise to rid the society, Ondo and its environs of criminal elements.
“In the last five days, we have been able to harvest a number of criminals ranging from Armed robbers, suspected kidnappers, fraudsters, Yahoo yahoo boys and those that are engaged in nefarious activities.
“I want to commend men of the Nigeria Army from the 32 Artillery Brigade for their huge support likewise the Nigeria Police force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and of course, the Department of State Service (DSS) for their support towards ensuring that the holiday was crime free.
Akogun Adeleye who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, hinted, that during the operation, they busted a number of criminal activities such as kidnapping at the border town of Ondo state.
“As a result of the intense pressure we mounted on the Kidnappers, they were compelled to release some victims and as at now, we don’t have any kidnapped victim in the State.
“With Intelligence, we are able to follow grassroots intelligent report to clamp down on their hideouts and we will continue to do that inline with the policy of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu.
“You will agree with me that he places a lot of premium on the security of lives and properties of residents in the state.
“Residents, commuters and business owners in the state are testifying, that the atmosphere is clear for smooth transactions.
“And for farmers, we want you to go back to your farms and we assure you of your safety. We also enjoin you to give us timely information to work with once you see suspected movement around.
“I also want to assure members of the public that the law will take its full course on all that are found to be culpable.”
He, however, reiterated the smooth working relationship existing between the Army and the Amotekun Corps.
“I keep saying that there is no personal disagreement between the Army and members of the Ondo state security Network Agency.
“There were operational frictions which have been resolved and as you witness today, you would see that we are working closely together and we are happy working together.
“We don’t have any problem with the Army, they are playing the roles they are supposed to play in curbing crime in Ondo State and I tell you, that the Army and other security agencies have been actively involved in most of the major successful operations that are going on in the state.”
Her energy is amazing. And so are her infectious smiles, and disarming humility.
Meet Chinyere Egbujor, the young lady who is at home in two worlds.
Miss Egbujor is a qualified Electrical Engineer. And she is a Medical Doctor.
She is a Nigerian, born in the United States of America, USA, to Dr. Paschal Egbujor and Judy. The Egbujors are from Naze, Owerri North, Imo State, and Chinyere is the second of six children.
Her two areas of specialisation, a rare combination, are poles apart – Electrical Engineering, Medicine. Yet, she sees no difference. She is as good in one, as she is in the other.
She first read Electrical Engineering and graduated from one of the prominent Universities in the US, University of Texas, Austin (UT Austin). She worked for four years in that field, and was sent to India for a professional, specialised course. But her brilliance and competence were so glaring, and she was way above her mates and colleagues, that after a couple of months, she was told she had nothing more to prove as she, apparently, already knew everything she came to learn.
Four years down the line, she became bored. She said she no longer had job satisfaction as an Electrical Engineer. It was no longer challenging. She wanted more. Her work place tried to convince her otherwise, but her mind was made up.
So she opted to go back to school to read medicine. Her agitated, but proud father let her be. Nobody asked her too many questions. They let her be. If she wanted to be an Electrical Engineer as well as a Medical Doctor, good for her. She is the one reading, she is the one abandoning a financially- fulfilling job, and going back to school.
She did. She pursued her passion of being a Medical Doctor. And, in 2017, she graduated from the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, UTSA. The young doctor specialised as an Emergency Room Doctor.
Dr Egbujor is one of the Nigerians in the Diaspora making Nigeria proud.
Her proud father, Dr Paschal Egbujor said of her: “Dr Chinyere Egbujor is a perfect child and the wish of every Dad.”
She is plying her trade in Medicine at St Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
I, ordinarily, don’t dabble into the shenanigans of politicians. But three things – two recent, the other, not so recent – pushed me to this write-up.
The not-so recent one
which, however, has been making the rounds, again, in the past couple of days, is the famous interview granted to celebrity Journalist and Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The Governor, as you know, like Momodu, is also a Presidential aspirant.
The second is a statement by an, officially, unrecognized faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo which, this other day, sought to appropriate another region’s son to the Igbo, and claim him as an Igbo son.
The third is a jab Wike threw at Peter Obi, another Presidential aspirant under the PDP, in Obi’s own backyard, Anambra.
Nyesom Wike
Wike is at the centre of the three reasons for this write-up.
Almost every Nigerian knows how much the Igbo wants Nigeria’s President, in 2023, to come from their zone. They want an Igbo to have a taste of the office. This, they rightly say, will give the Igbo a sense of belonging. They want justice, fairness and equity to be upheld in the country. They say the Igbo are treated as second class citizens; as if they are not a part of Nigeria.
Every other region, every other ethnic group, has produced a President, or Vice President, or both, since 1999 when democratic rule berthed in Nigeria again. The South-west, for example has produced both, and are, come 2023, strongly fighting for, and looking forward to producing the President.
So, the South-east feels deprived. Its people feel abandoned. They say they are orphans in a country where their parents are still alive. I guess it is this sense of abandonment, this sense of deprivation, that has reduced some people from the Zone to either say, or do ridiculous things just to belong. They want, and are prepared, to take any nonsense, any humiliation just to belong, just to be accepted, just to be given the chance to eat from the same plate, the food prepared for every Zone in the country which rightly belongs to them as much as it belongs to the other groups. For that, some of them have descend from the Olympian height to the gutter in the name of speaking for the Igbo.
That, dear readers, is why, a couple of months ago, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, let it be known that the Igbo were prepared to go on their knees to beg the North just so one of them would be allowed to become Nigeria’s President in 2023.
What the grand old man means is that the Igbo should go cap in hand, like beggars, like slaves, and grovel before their masters, their Imperial Majesties, in order to be given an opportunity which was freely given to others, an opportunity they are entitled to.
My reaction then, which remains same today: “No Sir. It is not worth it. The Igbo are a proud race, which people have a huge self-esteem and self-pride, forget that some cursed people are committing all kinds of sacrilegious acts, and bringing shame to an otherwise self-contented people. But Dr Ezeife is not alone in his submission. Some people think worse, and say worse.
In this wise, none has been more embarrassing than what an, officially, unrecognized faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the other day.
In the desperation to have an Igbo, no matter how remotely Igbo, on the Presidential seat in 2023, this group is, with two hands, claiming a son that is not theirs. It is brazenly appropriating a man who publicly denied being one of them, denied being an Igbo son, as theirs.
That “son” which this faction of Ohanaeze is claiming with both hands and both legs, but who has publicly and, vehemently, denied being an Igbo son, denied being one of them, denied any connection to/ with the Igbo, is the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, a Lawyer.
Wike is from the South-south Zone of Nigeria. But he is from the Ikwerre area – Obio Akpor. This area of Rivers State is Igbo speaking. The people are generally regarded as Igbo of the South-south.
But in a viral, celebrated, interview Wike granted Momodu, he made very strenuous efforts to deny, and prove he is not Igbo. He said he had no connection, whatsoever, with the Igbo. He gave an example with Dele Momodu who some people think is Yoruba, but who actually is Edo. Momodu, a fantastic interviewer, tried to twist the question round and round. But Wike was resolute. He knows his ancestors are not Igbo he said in a coarse, forceful voice that is exclusive to the Governor.
I don’t blame Wike. It can be irritating, even embarrassing, identifying one with a tribe which one is not of. You cannot force one on another ethnic group which one does not belong to. So, Wike was right to clarify his ancestory. He was right to correct the wrong impression. It is important that one is identified by one’s true identity.
For the records, Wike does not hate the Igbo. I had argued a couple of times that the fact that Wike said: “don’t bring violence to my State. Don’t order that Security people deployed to my State be attacked,” does not make him anti-Igbo.
The priority of every State Governor is to protect the lives and properties of your subjects. If your State is reduced to a war zone, if Security personnel deployed to your State can no longer work, are afraid to go to work, then you have lost it.
And, I give Wike that. He is alive to thar duty.
I admired him no end when he left the comfort of Government House and rushed to the rescue of a Federal High Court Judge, Porthacourt Division, during the ill-advised raid, at uncivilised hours, of the homes of some Judges by Security personnel. Wike, literally, physically fought them off and saved the Judge from that humiliation. The Honourable Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, an Igbo from Ebonyi State, had no such luck. That raid contributed to his untimely death. If Ngwuta had a Wike, perhaps, he would still be alive today. He never recovered from the trauma and humiliation of the raid. His people, the Igbo, including his State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, never, publicly,said pim. in his defence.
For Wike, such protection is taken for granted. He did the same thing when Policemen, in their dozens, went to the Porthacourt home of a former Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in the middle of the night to arrest her over her “squabble” with her supervising Minister, Godswill Akpabio. Not only did Wike rush to her aid, he put her in his car, and drove her to Government House. His grouse: “Why go to arrest her at an uncivilised hour? Why not wait till day break?”
Recently, Wike was on duty again during the aborted, scandalous, raid on the Maitama, Abuja home of the Honourable Supreme Court Justice, Mary Peter-Odili. Wike took charge, visited her home same day, went back to Porthacourt, invited and addressed Rivers State stakeholders, and alleged the aborted raid was a mission to murder the Odilis. He then gave the Federal Government an ultimatum to get those involved, and said Rivers will hold the FG responsible if anything happens to any of the Odilis. That not only shook the authorities, it got everybody cracking.
You may not like Wike’s method, but he is very protective of his subjects, it doesn’t matter where they live, or where they are from, as in the case of the Federal High Court Judge.
The problem with his clarification of not being Igbo was the force, the vehemence with which
he denied it. He was boiling over, almost. You would think it has become a taboo to be Igbo. You would think it has become a cardinal sin to be Igbo, or be identified as Igbo. You would think it’s a crime. Asked about the three names he bears, which many think are Igbo names, he called them a coincidence. The pronunciations are not even the same, he said.
Now, it is the same person that this, officially, unrecognized faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is, shamelessly, with two hands, appropriating as an Igbo son. And all because Wike is running for the office of the President, and these guys are desperate to have a President of Igbo extraction.
To accommodate Wike, they said they have “broadened the search to our own in the South-south.” They said they have jettisoned what they described as “artificial separation through boundary adjustment by the military”, in order to unite with the “kit and kin in the Niger Delta Region.”
So, good. But for who? And because of who? And for what?
The group was specific on Wike and Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who is also a Presidential aspirant, and does not deny his Igbo ancestry, even though he is not from the South-east.
Hear the Secretary-General of the Group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro:
“It became necessary for the Igbo to jettison artificial separation through boundary adjustment by the military and then reunite with kith and kin in the Niger-Delta Region.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution written by our founding fathers in their wisdom, enshrined that Amioma in Delta State and Ikwerre in Rivers State are part of Igbo speaking States, as we have seen in late Ambassador Raph Uwechue and late Col. Joe Achuzia as President-General and Secretary-General respectively, likewise Dim Uche Okwukwu from Ikwerre in Rivers State who is the immediate past Secretary-General Ndigbo.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi have not abandoned the quest for the Igbo to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 through their perceived support for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, rather both South-east Governors are reading the handwriting on the wall that the 2023 Presidential election might be APC Ikwerre versus PDP Ikwerre.
“Moreover, Obio Akpor and Mbiama are part of Ikwerre Igbo speaking part of Rivers State, and we are very committed to Igbo aspirations for the Presidency.
“You, also, know that the next leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will come from Rivers State in 2025.”
So, let me agree with the above argument. True, Ikwerre is Igbo-speaking. True, not a few people regard them as Igbo. But no, that is no reason to impose a man who has made it clear that he is not Igbo on the Igbo just because you think he could be a Presidential candidate.
Nobody is quarreling with Ugwuanyi or Ikpeazu for supporting Wike’s Presidential aspiration. It is their right. Nobody begrudges them that. Afterall they are of the same political party. And if they think their party will be better off with Wike, why not? You put your best candidate forward. But it shouldn’t be in the name of the Igbo. Why impose Wike on the Igbo as their son when he confirms he is not. If he didn’t feel strongly about that, if he didn’t have his own facts, he wouldn’t have said that. He is a blunt and strong character. You cannot force him to accept he is who he is not.
That’s desperation. That’s cheap. That cheapens the Igbo. It is such cheapening of the Igbo race that has made the Igbo a joke before some people. It is why those who, ordinarily, could not have had the guts to talk about the Igbo now think they have the license to talk nonsense.
It is why the power-hungry and annoyingly ambitious Pastor Tunde Bakare, who flaunts the name of God, each time he sees his false vision of becoming Nigeria’s President would, out of the blues, descend on the Igbo and say they are a cursed tribe. It is why the Oluwo of Iwo whose weird lifestyle his estranged Canadian wife made public, would have the courage to discuss the Igbo in a very condescending manner. It is why Pastor David Ibiyomi, the businessman, would talk down on the Igbo in the name of a Homily.
It is why Wike would go to Anambra in search of delegates, and before some cheering Anambrarians, talk down on Peter Obi, in his own backyard. He accused Obi of talking from both sides of the mouth over the Presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar. But which politician, including Wike, is not guilty of same offence?
Here’s an example.
While campaigning for Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin as the Head of Obaseki’s Governorship Campaign, Wike had called Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje all kinds of derogatory names, including corrupt. But in Kano, a few days ago, in search of delegates, he paid glowing tributes to Ganduje, and noted that if Ganduje had come out to contest for Presidency, he, Wike, would not have contested, in reverence to Ganduje’s sterling qualities. Sterling qualities? The same corrupt man? If this is not speaking from both sides of the mouth, I don’t know what is.
These are the insults the Igbo bring upon themselves when they, brazenly, claim who is not their own. It is the insults they bring upon themselves when they are disorganized, when they have nobody to say: Don’t cross the line.
Nobody says don’t campaign for your preferred candidate, but don’t do it in the name of the Igbo. Ralph Uwazurike prefers Governor Yahaya Bello to every other person, even though he screams marginalization of the Igbo. Good for him. At least, unlike Isiguzoro’s Ohanaeze, he is not telling the Igbo: “Bello is our son”, and he is not doing it in the name of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.
Back to Ohanaeze.
It is time to put your house in order. Not a few people are tired of the shame the different factions- including the Youths which endorsed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the name of Ohanaeze Igbo Youth Wing – are bringing to the Igbo in the name of speaking for the Igbo. They should speak for themselves, not the Igbo.
The nonsense is getting out of hand! It is very embarrassing!! I tell you.
The hope of Nigerian Men and others around the world has been dashed following the debunking of the $10 million payment claim for prospective husband of Mike Tyson’s daughter, Mikey Lorna Tyson.
Tyson quashed the news making the round over the years that he was ready to part with sum huge sum for any man that marries his obese daughter.
32-Year Old Mikey Lorna Tyson is the first Child of former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Mike Tyson.
The successful young woman, who has been able to carve a niche for herself in her career, is worth an estimated one million Dollars.
However, she is still single and searching for a groom to complement her status.
Few years ago, Mikey Lorna was the center of attraction in the news following his Father’s plea for suitors to come to ask for her hand in marriage.
Reason for this was because of her obesity, that saw her weigh so much and out of shape.
The Pugilist, Tyson, became the focus of a bizarre piece of news that went viral across the globe. The report claimed that the former heavyweight king would pay any man who marries his daughter in the U.S. $10 million.
The news spread like wildfire, and soon, almost every publication house in the world had covered the same.
But, Tyson has now denied the report, claiming that it was absolutely false, and was quoted out of context.
Understandably, ‘Iron’ Mike was extremely disappointed with the manner in which these events had unfolded. He clarified that anything related to the report being circulated was absolutely false and fake. The report was originally published by Hit News, and, owing to Mike Tyson’s warnings, the news piece was taken down. However, there were numerous websites that continued to run the story.
The former Boxer had hoped that soonest, his daughter would get married.
Mikey Lorney the eldest child of Tyson’s six children. was born in 1990 to parents Mike Tyson and Kimberly Scarborough, Mike Tyson’s then-girlfriend.
The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), has called on governments and citizens to make commitments towards the defense of journalism and journalists from attacks as the world celebrates press freedom day.
Communications Officer of the Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo in a news statement said the theme of this year’s celebration: “Journalism under digital siege”, highlights the challenges of contemporary media practice in an era of digital technology.
The Foundation noted that despite the obvious benefits associated with digital technology in our society, it has exposed citizens to new forms of tyranny and violence. It called on stakeholders to defend journalism from all forms of repression and urged media professionals to uphold media ethics in the discharge of their duties and ensure that information is used for public good at all times.
Below is the full statement :
Statement On World Press Freedom Day 2022
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2022 , The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) celebrates Nigerian journalists and other media stakeholders across Africa who bear the burden of information dissemination and continue to use information as a means to promote good governance and accountability in our nations.
The theme for this year :“Journalism under digital siege,” highlights the challenges of contemporary media practice in this era of digital technology; which has created new forms of tyranny and theatres of violence and in our nations.
Digital technology, despite its benefit of democratising access to information, has also exposed citizens to undue violence and unwarranted censorship by state and non-state actors.
As we celebrate, we call on governments and citizens to defend journalism against attacks as well as commit to protecting journalism and journalists from all threats in our societies. We also urge media professionals to live up to their responsibilities; uphold media ethics and ensure that information is used for public good at all times.
There seems to be no respite in sight concerning the supremacy battle between Lagos Parks and Garage Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka, MC Oluomo, and Chairman of Tricycle Owners and Operators of Nigeria, TOOAN, Azeez Abiola, popularly known as Istijabah, despite the peace meeting organized by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, for the two factional transport leaders in the State.
The problem between the two led to the suspension of MC Oluomo as the State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and his appointment as the Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garages by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Since the appointment, the battle of supremacy between the NURTW and MC Oluomo over who takes control of the State Parks and Garages, has led to factional crisis that has created tension and wanton destruction of lives and properties in the State.
It would be recalled that on Monday, May 2, 2022, the Lagos State Police Command CP, in a statement signed on his behalf by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, warned that any person found causing trouble anywhere within the state would be arrested and made to face the law.
The statement was titled, ‘NURTW Imbroglio: CP Alabi Reads Riot Act To Mischief Makers’
The CP noted that: “The warning has become imperative following incessant clashes, fracas and malicious damage to property recently experienced in some parts of Lagos State mostly linked to the issues surrounding the management of motor parks within the state”.
Alabi was said to have separately met MC Oluomo and Istijabah in his office where “he admonished them to prevail on their teeming followers to act within the confines of the law, he is poised to ensure the security currently being enjoyed in Lagos State remains intact”.
“In line with this stance, all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders have been directed to deal decisively with anyone found instigating or causing a breach of peace within their respective areas of responsibility,” the statement added.
The CP further assured Lagosians to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation.
The foot soldiers of the two transport leaders had clashed in parts of the State over the control of parks and ticket sales and lives have been reportedly lost while some persons have been injured.
Despite the meeting the CP held with the two factional Groups, it is believed by some section of political observers that the crisis and battle of supremacy between them have thickened.
Brown Anosike, a Social Commentator is of the view that crisis is looming in the State, following the position of the two factional leaders in the transportation sector in the State, stressing that MC Oluomo has the backing of the State Government and could use that as an avenue to forcefully take control of the Parks, which won’t augur well with Istijabah, and would affect the security of the State.
For dabbling into politics, a member of Ekiti State University, (EKSU) Alumni association has threatened to withdraw his membership of the Alumni.
Alumni associations of institutions are formed by old students to ensure development of their former alma mater in the provision of infrastructure and education standard.
A former member of Nigerian Youth Parliament, Olatunde Ajirotutu noted that EKSU alumni has deviated by endorsing one of the Governorship candidates in the June election.
He described the purported endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, by the EKSU Alumni Association as “ignoble and preposterous”, saying the present leadership of the association was only out to destroy it with “reckless display of partisanship.”
Ajirotutu, a graduate of EKSU, announced the immediate withdrawal of his membership of the Alumni Association, calling on other graduates of the University to rise in defense of the integrity of the association.
“It is highly preposterous and ignoble that some executive members of an association formed on the basic principles of protecting the interests of her members has taken a partial decision in supporting a Gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming election where more than one alumnus is contesting.
“The Ekiti State University Alumni Association has been known for her exemplary records proven over years, agitating for the interest of her members in matters affecting them.
“The narratives are changing in recent times when the Alumni went mute on the ignoble and obnoxious decision of the Management orchestrated by the Governing council to retrench Academic Staffs of our beloved Institution.
“It is interesting to know that some victims of this decision (mass retrenchment of academic staffs) are alumni of our great university and up till now, the association failed to agitate for her members’ interest.”A very appalling situation was recorded when the Alumni drummed support for the Gubernatorial Candidate of the ruling party in the state.
“The candidate fortunately is a member of the Governing Council that retrenched massively Academic Staffs who are members of the alumni association.
“If conventional restrictions don’t prevail that the alumni should be neutral in taking such political decision that is detrimental to the state, the university community at large, moral conscience should.
“As a bonafide member of the Alumni Association, who has duly fulfilled his financial obligations towards the sustainability of the body, I entreat the leadership of the Alumni to refrain from such ignoble and unpleasant act that can tarnish the image of the association and embrace neutrality in the coming elections.
“Else, I withdraw my membership and call on all well meaning graduates who posses the verified certificates of our Alma Mater to condemn this selfish and inconsiderate decision of the leadership to throw support behind an aspirant.”
A former president of the association, now Registrar of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Dr E.T. Babatola in his reaction stated that “It is a very uncharitable idea for any of our member to protest the collective efforts to encourage our prospective members gunning for political office.
“It is even worse to resign because we don’t share the same idea about the great vision ahead of us. There is nothing bad if EKSU Alumni Association encourage members to participate in politics and if we give solidarity to their aspirations.
“Such solidarity did not start today and only those who do not share in the idea or views can raise dust or resign their membership even though they failed to drop EKSU Certificates.
“We should be more tolerant and accommodating rather than being partisan and sheepish about our attitude to the choices we make.
“There is no permanent friend or enemy in politics but permanent interest. If any candidate is our graduate and has our interest at heart, is it a crime to support same?
“We need key players and influencers in Government affairs of Ekiti and beyond. If we are not there, we can’t be part of the decision makers.
“Unfortunately, if a member is unhappy that we support one of our distinguished alumnus to contest, I wonder. When are we going to grow? What a level of bitterness or bile! Why are people in EKSU Alumni behaving as if we are enemies!
“No one has the monopoly of blackmail or the power to destroy the legacy we are building for the future of the University and the development of Ekiti State.
“Where we need to carry everyone along, let us do so. Those who have other intentions are free to do what they want without dividing or drawing back the house of EKSU Alumni.”
This one is not the voice that was crying in the wilderness, which nobody listened to, but the one that is part and parcel of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), the one that has seen all.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, of Ondo state and chairman, Southern Governors Forum has words of advice for his fellows in the ruling party.
This latest sound bites titled “Our Party Must Tread The Path Of Equity,” may have been triggered by a statement last week by the National Chairman of APC, that the party has not zoned the Presidency.
Hear him in a statement he personally signed, “Our party, the All Progressives Congress, has started the process which will eventually culminate in the presentation of elected political leaders, who must steer the affairs of the country for another term.
“We have been able to hold the party’s Convention successfully. New officers of the party have emerged in a process that is widely acknowledged as rancour-free.
“The level of understanding and maturity displayed by all and sundry has been commendable.
“Known adversaries have been forced to accept the emerging fact that our party is formidable and ready for the next general elections.
“The current socio-economic crises are surmountable. It is commendable that the Government is addressing these issues without drama.
“The Federal Government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger.
“We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.
“The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of Equity.
“Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement which guarantees peace and promotes trust.
“Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus.
“The focus has now shifted to the process which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year.
“All lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies which may predispose them to taking decisions which promote distrust and lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody may be able to predict.
“The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded Convention.
“The party Chairmanship position has gone to the North. All other offices have been filled on this understanding.
“This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.
“The party Executive Committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office.
“It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management.
It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general elections.
“It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President. The party leadership should have no difficulty in making pronouncement on this very important issue, just as it has fixed various fees for the purchase of forms.
“This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“It will be disingenuous for anyone to argue against rotation at this period.
“We must not keep our party men and women guessing on the position of the leadership of the party.
“This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open.
“This is certainly not the time for equivocation. EQUITY DICTATES THAT WE TAKE A STAND.”
The Nigerian and Morocco governments have teamed up to build the world’s longest offshore pipeline and second-longest pipeline that will, in the long term serves as one of energy sources for Europe. When completed, the pipelines is expected to carry gas from Nigeria to Morocco, running across 11 West African countries.
The two countries, it was learnt signed the agreement to build the pipelines when President Muhammadu Buhari visited Morocco King in 2018.
The project has stalled due to unavailability of funds on the Nigerian side. But due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, more focus has now turned on the project, which when completed, many believe will serve as one of the alternative energy sources for Europe as Russian gas becomes more unreliable. The project is estimated to cost several billion of dollars when completed.
More investors from the United States of America, USA and Europe are now said to be interested in providing funding for the project. Also, the Russian Federation is said to have also shown interest in the project.
Sources said the project originally meant to terminate at Morocco will now be extended to Europe due to the energy instability in Europe caused by the Russo-Ukraine war which started two months ago.
Revealing the details of the project, a media aide to the President, Tolu Ogunlesi, disclosed via his official Twitter handle that the partnership is between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited and ONHYM of Morocco.
He said, “Nigeria (@NNPCgroup) and Morocco (#ONHYM) are teaming together to build the longest offshore pipeline in the world and second-longest pipeline in the world.
“It will carry gas from Nigeria to Morocco (and Europe), running across 11 West African countries. The agreement for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline was originally signed by the two countries when President @MBuhari paid a state visit to Morocco in June 2018.
“When completed, the over 7,000km long gas pipeline will link Nigeria with Morocco, across 11 West African countries and extend to Europe. It will be the longest offshore pipeline in the world and the second-longest pipeline overall.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has said that the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline may not be completed under the Buhari regime.
Sylva said, “The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is a continuation of the West African Gas Pipeline project which has already reached Ghana. It is already operational connecting Nigeria to the Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. We want to continue that same pipeline all the way to Morocco down the coast.
“Right now, we are still at the level of studies and securing the funding for this project and a lot of people are indicating interest. The Russians were with me in the office last week, they are very desirous to invest in this project
“This administration cannot finish the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline but we can at least get it at the point of starting before we leave.”
