June 3, just 9 days before June 12. Black June! On Sunday – a blessed worship day. Iju Ishaga, a suburb of Lagos. The Dana bird lost sight of the radar or otherwise. And fell on citizens in their homes. 159 in the Dana and many in their homes fell to DESTINY.
Those who caught the plane before the doors were closed! How death becomes inevitable that it comes when it is due. How many have slept and woke up no more! How many were down on their knees at the minaret or temple but death feared not the presence of God! How many? Tell me, O Incomprehensible Dominion, what can this mortal do to soothe thee!
Tears of the beloved have run. Days of mourning have been declared. Flags have been flown at half mast. The leadership has shown the grief. Will this really be the end of our air crashes?
Belleview and Sosoliso wastes are still in memory. How soon we forget! And how soon death comes to those who have not wronged nature.
May the sorrows of Black June go away soon.
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Muhammad Ajah is a writer, author, advocate of humanity and good governance based in Abuja. E-mail mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk
Nasarawa State appears reeling from a political turmoil brewing between the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] Governor of the State, Al Makura and the lawmakers of the Peoples Democracy People [PDP] dominated State House of Assembly. Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the lawmakers of the State Assembly have begun consideration of a possible impeachment of the Governor over what the lawmakers term “the governor’s reckless handling of State affairs and resources”.
According to the lawmakers, the governor arbitrary hijacked the entire financial transaction of the State – sidelining all persons that are constitutionally required to be involved in the financial transaction. In particular, the lawmakers charged that the governor ‘dubiously’ transferred all duties of salary preparation of civil servants and local government workers away from the office of the Accountant General and the Ministry of local government area [LGA] – and transferred them to office of the Head of Service [HOS]. Legal experts within the Nasarawa State assembly explained that the transfer was unconstitutional and thus illegal.
In a move deemed as shady, the governor, following only weeks after his swearing –in as governor, compulsorily transferred all the Directors of Personnel Management [DPM] for the entire 23 LGA and 16 development areas – away from their respective stations at the LGA and development areas – and brought them to the LGA service commission office located at the State capital in Lafia. Sources within the State government point to the transfer as a deliberate act “to conceal his financial activities”. The lawmakers who frowned at the arbitrary transfer asked the governor to reverse the transfer of the DPMs “but he refused”.
On the security of the State, sources within the legislative chamber point suspiciously to the N100million claimed by the governor as being spent for the security in southern Nasarawa. The lawmakers have indicated that they have yet to see any visible signs of the money that the governor has spent in the area. As gathered, the governor promised to stage a military formation to help quell the tension between the Tiv, Fulani and Egon people but “the governor appears docile”. The House Committee Chairman on Information, Mohammed Baba Ibaku spoke on the state of insecurity. He said the lawmakers are concerned that the “governor appears helpless in the face of bloodshed”. 247ureports.com gathered that the military men stationed at the respective stations at the sensitive areas have pulled back because of non-payment of allowance from the State government.
The lawmakers, in reacting to the governor’s standoff demeanor to the State Assembly has gone ahead to set up a Committee to investigate the governor’s financial activities and alleged funds diversion. The motion to setup the Committee was moved by Hon Anthony Obande. The Committee was setup the last week of May 2012. Principally, the Committee is charged with probing the State and LGA Joint Account to determine how much was spent – and to investigate the seizure of civil servants salary for 10 months.
In addition, the lawmakers are said to be uneasy with the manner the “governor secretly brought in a consultant to collect the State’s Internally Generated Revenue [IGR]”. The lawmakers question the legitimacy of the consultant. As gathered, the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue was the one collecting the IGR. The consultant’s terms of agreement allows them not to pay tax [VAT] – the agreement was done in secrecy. The consultants were given office space at the Nasarawa board of internal revenue.
Interestingly, the governor appears to be putting up a fight against the lawmakers. The governor, according to sources at the government house, has turned to the Nasarawa State land reform policy to hunt the members of the legislature. “Most of the properties belonging to PDP lawmakers are marked for demolition” stated the source. It is uncertain the extent the threat of property demolition has had with the lawmakers in dropping the impeachment threat.
Meanwhile, independent inquiry conducted by 247ureports.com reveals what appears a misnomer. This is as it was gathered that the governor may be battling to return to the PDP. It will be recalled that the governor had defected to the PDP only three months before the gubernatorial election. The governor had picked the gubernatorial forms from the PDP before dumping the PDP. The import being that the governor finds himself battling with the former PDP governor of Nasawara State, Akwe Doma for the hearts of the lawmakers. It is believed that the lawmakers are loyal to the former governor – and are determined to frustrate the present governor out of the governor seat.
The governor on his part has joined forces with a onetime governor of the State, Adamu to battle Akwe Doma and his boys at the state assembly. Although the Governor Al Makura has denied wanting to return to the PDP, informed stakeholders indicate that the governor is determined to return to the PDP and to dislodge the control current exhibited by Akwe Doma over the lawmakers and the affairs of PDP in the state.
Kenyan forensic experts collect evidence at the site of the crash
NAIROBI — Kenya’s internal security minister George Saitoti, a key figure in his country’s fight against Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents in neighbouring Somalia, was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday.
His death was hailed by his foes in the Shebab but they stopped short of making a claim of responsibility for the crash, whose cause has not yet been determined.
“(Shebab) welcomes the death of the evil minister upon whose authorisation thousands of Muslims suffered both in Somalia and in Kenya,” the group said a message on its Twitter account.
Saitoti, 66, and five other people were killed when a police helicopter went down in the Ngong hills outside the capital shortly after take-off from Nairobi’s Wilson airport.
The other victims were Joshua Orwa Ojode, the assistant minister for internal security, the two pilots — including a woman — and two bodyguards.
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga paid tribute to Saitoti, who played a prominent role in the campaign against Somali insurgents, blamed for a series of terror attacks and kidnappings on Kenyan soil.
“The government will ensure a thorough probe” into the cause of the crash, Odinga told journalists at the crash site.
Saitoti, who was planning to run for president next year to succeed Kibaki, was on his way to attend a religious ceremony in western Kenya when the Eurocopter came down in the Kibuku forest around 8:30 am (0530 GMT).
An AFP journalist saw six bodies charred beyond recognition being removed from the wreckage, while wads of bank notes lay scattered at the scene.
Investigators from the police, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority sealed off the area to try to establish the cause of the accident.
“Most probably it was caused by bad weather, it was foggy at the time it went down,” a police officer involved in the investigation told AFP.
Another police source said Kenya had acquired the aircraft, which was fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, just five months ago.
One witness, farmer Ole Tolei, told AFP he had seen the aircraft “flying very low. It came down suddenly and we heard a loud explosion, and then it burst into flames.”
Saitoti’s ministerial role meant he controlled the state’s top investigative arms, the National Security Intelligence Service and the Criminal Investigation Department.
Kenya sent thousands of troops into southern Somalia in October to fight the Shebab and protect its border. It was Saitoti who made the first public announcement of the invasion, a full two days after Kenyan troops crossed the border.
The Kenyan force has since been joined by Ethiopia in a bid to rout the Islamist group from their strongholds in the south and centre of the country.
Since Kenyan troops entered Somalia, several people have been killed in a series of attacks in border areas, and a bomb blast in a Nairobi shopping centre last month wounded 38 people.
Saitoti declared recently that the government would not be cowed by “terrorists”.
But the Shebab warned Sunday that it would exact revenge for the actions of foreign forces in Somalia.
“For the hundreds of Muslims killed and displaced by Kenya’s brutal invasion, Saitoti’s death is but a droplet of justice in a sea of oppression,” Shebab tweeted.
“The remaining invaders should be expectant that Allah will inflict his punishment by himself upon the kuffar (infidels) or by the hands of mujahideen,” the militia said.
Kibaki said Sunday’s deaths were “a devastating loss to our country,” adding: “Minister Saitoti will forever be remembered as a hardworking and determined public servant who dedicated his time to the service of the Kenyan people.”
Saitoti had also served as finance minister and was vice-president in the administration of Daniel Arap Moi from 1989-1997 and again from 1999-2002.
He jumped ship ahead of the 2002 election to join the opposition camp led by Kibaki after Moi, constitutionally barred from standing again, chose the then little-known Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding father, as his successor.
The First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, has disclosed that she is the only person who can speak freely and candidly to the President while dismissing claims that she is the “strong hand” behind most of his political decisions.
Revealing her innermost thoughts and feelings on various issues among them politics, love, parenting and the Zimbabwean woman, the First Lady shared — in an unplanned and spontaneous exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail last week — that she has quite a close relationship with the President who has become her best friend.
“He is my best friend. We are very, very close . . . We talk about a lot of different things and we shout at each other as well. That’s normal, we are normal people. You can not say in a relationship that you will not anger each other. So it would be a blatant lie if I said we do not fight. We do sometimes, but then we talk and iron out our differences. “We are human beings . . . It’s only natural. There are things that he might do that I don’t like and I will tell him that. I remind him that ‘I’m the only person who can talk to you like this and he has to listen to me.
“He is not the kind of person who will say ‘listen to me because I’m the President or even because of the age difference’ no . . . I’m not his daughter, I’m his wife. I’m his companion for life.
We talk a lot. Zvinonzi zviuya hazviwanane, we are very unique people. He is one man who is very clean. I am telling you; he is very clean and I always say thank you God for giving me such a clean man besides the fact that he is very intelligent and he is not a lazy person. “I am somebody who has an inquiring mind and every time you ask him something, he is willing to articulate on that subject, expand on it. It does not matter what time of day it is. You can ask him, he will make time for you. He is a very wonderful man. He won’t say ‘I am too tired or I have a lot of work to do.’ He will never say that.
“I remember just two weeks ago, he had just arrived from a trip, it was late at night and I was writing something and I said to him, ‘I want you to read this for me, please’. I told him ‘I know it’s late, but you have to read it for me because I want to finish it by morning’. So he had to do it and he takes his time. He is very thorough. If he is going to work on a speech, he could have a draft done, but he is going to work on it. Oh, yes, he is a different person.’’
On claims that she influenced most of the President’s political decisions, Amai Mugabe said: “Nonsense! That’s nonsensical! He is a very intelligent man, please! What you are telling me is that you underestimate my husband. As intelligent as he is … You know sometimes when I want to say something to him I am so scared because I know the answers I am going to get.
“When he stands up to speak at any moment, even now, impromptu, if you say, Mr President, make a speech, he will do it amazingly. Are you then saying he carries a tape recorder so that he listens to me first before he speaks? . . . No, do not do this to the President.’’ Last year, there were reports that the President was suffering from an undisclosed ailment and had visited Singapore for treatment. Commenting on that trip and the
President’s health, Amai Mugabe said the Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces had actually made the trip to Singapore to accompany her after she injured herself in the gymnasium. “That’s what they say (the President’s alleged ill-health), they say Mr Mugabe is a very old man and this and that, but he is very sound and lucid. Very, very sound, I’m telling you, and very energetic, too.
“He will not miss his morning exercises, seven days a week. At that age, he is very lucky he inherited his mother’s genes. We think when she died she was over 100 years old and she was very sound. She was never sick at all and the President is not sick at all.’’ On the claims about her own health: “I injured my back in the gym . . . Do I look like a sick person? I am not sick, not for now. But even if I were sick, I am a human being.
We all get sick and afflicted. So really it’s nothing to talk about.’’ The First Lady has often been portrayed as an extravagant spender with exquisite tastes, responding to those allegations she said: “I am a humble person, but I also like to dress well. I am like my mother, she dresses well, so did my father . . . I think it’s an art that’s in-born. I love dressing up, but I also make my own clothes. I design my own clothes.’’
On the alleged shopping sprees, she said: “They will say that because if they can’t get at (President) Mugabe they have to find a soft spot to get at him. So they think Grace is a soft spot, but I don’t think they know the real Grace. I’m not as soft as they think I am.’’ She has also been previously linked to alleged clandestine construction deals in Zimbabwe involving some business people from the Republic of Korea. Asked to shed light on her business ventures, the First Lady responded: “My husband and I are more into agriculture. We are farmers and, of course, we have been empowered through the land
reform programme. We are running a dairy, but it is a very complicated business running a dairy, I have had to work hard on it . . . . We have put up a big parlour there and we are now probably the second largest in the region. I am told there is a big one in South Africa in terms of points to milk each cow. The South African one has 84 milking points while ours has 64 clusters . . . We have also decided to add value to our milk so that we really make a little bit more money for ourselves and, of course, the workers.
So we are putting up a processing plant and it’s almost complete. “We also have a lot of beef cattle. About 2 000 cattle. So that is what we do really and nothing more. Yes, I intend to do other things, especially to support this project (the Grace Mugabe Orphanage and primary school), but I cannot talk about something that is not in existence yet.’’
On politics the First Lady remarked: “No one can equate what the President has done for this country, no matter what is said in future: no one; nobody. “He is one very humble person. He carries himself with a degree of humility; a down-to-earth person. “He is a caring and considerate man. He thinks about his people so much. You can observe that when he talks to the people, he talks with emotion, with passion. He wants
Zimbabweans to be high up there in terms of education; in terms of how they see themselves, we should not look down upon ourselves. “When the President talks about all of these things you can see that he really has a vision for this country and he wants Zimbabweans to be in charge of their economy. He wants the people to be in charge of their God-given natural resources.”
On the upcoming elections: “I think with the way things are at the moment and if what I hear is true, our party (Zanu-PF) stands a better chance.’’ And on the land reform programme: The land issue is a very emotional issue to me because I know my parents were deprived of this land; their motherland. So you know what, they (Zimbabwe’s detractors) should not fool themselves. Sometimes they think like children really. I do not quite understand them, they hope that one day all the
Zimbabweans will move out of the land so that they move back in . . . because Mugabe is not occupying all this land there are Zimbabweans who have been allocated these farms. It is not Mugabe and his family.’’
Asked about the election campaigns she ran alongside the President in 2008, the First Lady said it was her duty, as a Zimbabwean, to rally the nation against Western aggression.
She said while she had no plans to actively get involved in politics, she would continue to support Zanu-PF fully. Her visibility during the 2008 polls, she said, was misconstrued by many as an indication that she was venturing into politics.
“Ahh . . . nyika yanga yaenda (the country was almost overrun by the enemy during the 2008 harmonised elections). So, I decided I could not watch things take the direction that had not been anticipated and I had to play my part as a citizen of this country. Of course, a lot of people said a lot of things, putting words into my mouth. “. . . I was just doing it because I realised that I had a duty also to talk to the people, make them understand and tell them that whatever they were being promised (by the opposition and their backers) they were being fooled and all this vilification, especially of the First Family, is because of the land (reform programme).
“. . . I am not saying I want to engage in politics, but for people to confront me and say I want to run for President just because I am campaigning for my party is wrong. Who has the right more than me, to talk about my country? I am also a Zimbabwean. That is the more reason I work for this country and that is why I am working here (at the orphanage). “I have to defend my country as well, as much as everybody else who is doing the same.”
The National President of miyetti Allah kautal hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo has called on the militant groups in southern kaduna known as AKHWAT AKWOP,who days ago issued statement asking the fulanis of southern kaduna to leave the region,to desist from such unruly threats.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo made this observation in Abuja,against the backdrop of the militant christian group plot to chase the fulani herdsmen away from southern kaduna.
According to the statement credited to the spokesperson of the group,Bukama leguma who described the fulanis as dogs,has been urged by miyetti Allah to retract such provoking utterances.
The Miyetti Allah chieftain said the fulanis are competent to defend themselves,anytime,anyday.In time of war and peace adding that southern kaduna is the land of the fulanis.
He opined that the fulanis migrated into southern kaduna over one hundred years ago,while the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria on citizenship rights empowers them to live in any part of the nation,as their abode.
‘these militant group in southern kaduna are useless,while Nigerians are looking for peace,they are busy trying to open up another war,we look at their statements as pure madness.”
Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo called on Governor patrick yakowa to urgently call for a crucial meeting between the traditional rulers of southern kaduna,the fulanis of southern kaduna for a roundtable discussions to avert looming war.
He lamented the killings of over one thousand fulanis in 2011,during the politically influenced killings by the same group,warned that this time around,the fulanis will not fold their hands to be killed massively again.
The christian militant group known as AKHWAT AKWOP in an email to an online publication alleged that it has watched with disgust the unrelenting murder and the killing of peaceful,Innocent and hardworking people of southern kaduna,by wandering bands of fulani terrorist gunmen operating in southern kaduna,urged the fulani herdsmen to leave the area within seven days.
the christian militant group,accused the herdsmen of ploy to create a situation of insecurity in southern kaduna,whereby the people of the area will not farm on their lands peacefully,at the end hunger,deprivation and famine will set in.
In debunking this claims.Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo explained that in Benue,Taraba,Nasarawa,plateau and kaduna states.skirmishes of crisis often erupts between the fulani herdsmen and the farmers of such area,due to the cattle routes and the grazing land.
He contended that there are cattle and rearing routes,internationally,Nationally,locally people pilfer on this routes made by law,and tend to make trouble.
Another factor that eroded this cattle routes is the dense population.people purchase acres of land and fence it round,farmers,herdsmen are barred from using such land.
He called on the federal and state governments to influence the cattle routes laws,and sensitize the people on the need to obey such laws,so that herdsmen and farmers clash could be averted.
Alhaji Bodejo said miyetti Allah is an umbrella organization of the fulani meant to promote and safeguard the fulani heritage in Nigeria.
Statement by Rep. Farouk Lawan, Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, House of Representatives
My attention has been drawn to several newspapers and internet stories alleging that a prominent member of the House ad-hoc committee on petroleum subsidy demanded and received the sum of $600,000 as bribe from an oil marketer. I wish to categorically deny that I or any member of the committee demanded and received any bribe from anybody in connection with the fuel subsidy probe and I believe this is evident from the thorough an in-depth manner the investigation was carried out and the all encompassing recommendations produced there from as approved by the whole House.
The general public is hereby reminded that during and after the investigations, we have severally raised alarm on pressures on us from different quarters. In particular, I wish to refer to the front-page publication in the Leadership Weekend newspaper of 28th April 2012, captioned “Marketers Offered Subsidy Committee Planeload of Dollars,” where we alerted the public that a marketer promised to fly in a jet loaded with US Dollars which he “intended to share to both the House Leadership and members of the ad-hoc committee” to influence the outcome of the report.
This clarification is necessary in order to clear all the insinuations being bandied about and, more importantly, to enable the Government concentrate on the implementation of the report.
The present mudslinging is not unexpected in view of the calibre of people whose actions and inactions were found wanting in the report.
I am aware that in their desperation to discredit the report and divert the attention of the public from the real issues of large scale fraud in high places established in our report, a video footage displaying a caricature of my person allegedly having a dealing with a marketer reminiscent of the military era when dignitaries were invited to the Villa to watch a video clip of a phantom coup involving Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is already in circulation.
I wish to assure all Nigerians that the sanctity of our report remains unassailable and it will be in the best interest of the country if the relevant authorities faithfully and conscientiously implement the resolutions of the House.
Another budding Nollywood actor, Ken Erics seem not be sleeping on what he knows betterof doing; in this interviewing with UGOCHUKWU FAVOUR-MAYOR, it wasawe-inspiring hearing him ponder his academic intense and vast experience. Engaging him for this interview at one of the movie locations in Asaba, DeltaState, it was quite a busy one no matter the too many movie scripts heaped onlyfor him, all yet to be produced. For him, he discovered the underlying reasonsfor the interview as wasn’t an airy-fairy one, successfully he granted it andthat won him the interviewer’s delight.
Excerpt:
Let’sknow you?
Ken Erics is my name; I’m from Enugwu- Ukwu in Njikoka LGAof Anambra State, Nigeria. I hold a degree in Theatre Arts from Nnamdi AzikiweUniversity, Awka. I am the sixth child of my parents. A liberal minded person.I am more of an introvert. I hardly hang out except when necessary and I keep asmall circle of friends. I’m a Nollywood actor and musician.
Let’sdiscuss Nollywood?
Well, Nollywood is an industry I’m proud to be part of, anindustry that has come to stay. I mean from absolutely nothing it has growninto a global phenomenon with immense potential for revenue and humanresources. I’m particularly overwhelmed at the abundance of talents theindustry parades. And I think that is the main reason for the growth. Though wecannot be said to have arrived, I still think we have made a good impact andwith recent collaborations with our counterparts in other climes we have a goodspringboard from which we can thrive! I’m really glad it is happening. Moreovertalents are discovered everyday and the zeal is there. I believe what we needmostly is training. Every practitioner should endeavour to upgrade his orherself with knowledge and skills. That is the fulcrum of any successfulindustry. I’m glad most aspiring actors and technical personnel have begun toenroll in institutions to sharpen their drive, and I see that translating intomore improved productions in the nearest future; such that would earn us globalrecognition.
Howdid you find yourself in Nollywood?
Let’s say I always had the conviction that I would be in theentertainment industry. I had a very interesting and entertaining childhood. Iwas raised in a home where one was exposed to the beauty of arts in all forms.And I’m lucky to have very liberal minded parents who would allow you pursueyour dream. My mum had always been in the choir since I knew her. Till dateshe’s a choir mistress, same to my siblings. I remember as a child I alwayscame home after school to listen to various kinds of music which mum would belistening to before we got home. And that has greatly influenced us all. We’veall been engaged in one form of church activity or the other, music and dramawise. Even as a child I was always improvising stuffs like microphones and drumsets and would imagine myself as a rock star singing on stage. I could rememberI often sneaked out to watch life bands performances because I was so drawn toanything performance, and I would always be part of the church drama and schoolperformances. So, it wasn’t a surprise to my folks when I chose to studyTheatre Arts as a course. After my graduation I went for my youth service inKaduna state. While there, went for an audition and got a role in a soap operatitled ‘Webs’. So when I was done with service I pursued my dream and attendedas many auditions as I knew about, the rest is history. My first encounter withNollywood was in my first year in the University. There was an audition closeby, I went for it and was picked for a minor role, which I did. That was the movie,Holy Prostitute. After that the passion grew so I always kept my ears on theground for audition notices and made sure I attended any audition I heardabout. I really could travel miles just to attend an audition. In my third yearin the University, I got wind of an audition in Lagos that was Teco Benson’sfilm, Danger Signal. I left school in a commercial luxurious night bus, inwhich I stood half of the journey and slept on the floor of the bus, in betweenthe passengers, because I couldn’t pay the complete fare to secure a chair.When I got to Lagos in the morning, I rushed to a friend’s house and showered,then headed to the national theatre for the audition. Luckily for me I made itand was given a role to play as Desmond Elliot’s friend. Though it wasn’t a bigrole, I still gave it my best. After that I didn’t do any other movie untilafter my youth service. When I was done with NYSC I started attending auditionsagain in Enugu, Asaba, and Abuja. I still went for Teco’s audition for an epic,Silence of the gods, in Enugu. Got a good role and did it well. Then I went foranother audition for the movie Eran and Erak and I got the lead; from there Ipicked up.
Ken Eric
Lifeas a celebrity?
(Laughs) Honestly I don’t see myself as a celebrity yet. Imight be popular, fine. But I don’t have the notion that I’m a celebrity or goaround expecting to be recognized and all that. I still live my simple life theway I have always been. The only difference is that the exposure had forced meindoors; I hardly visit where I use to be. Then one tends to find it difficultto go to certain places and do things you ordinarily would do without causing astir. Plus the fact that people expect more from you forgetting you are justlike every other person. The life of an actor is really not an enviable one. Itpigeonholes you into a certain stereotype in public, always grinning even whendeep down you feel terrible or depressed. However there are good sides to it. Imean it’s heartwarming to hear people tell you “you are their role model andthey love you”. It gives me a kind of fulfillment knowing my littlecontributions really touched lives positively; and for that I’m grateful toGod.
Whichmovie would you say brought you to limelight?
Actually I got the exposure from Silence of the gods. ThenEran and Erak gave me the recognition I needed. The movie Evil Intention withKenneth Okonkwo actually stamped my presence.
Scandals?
I have really been lucky with that. No scandal yet. But thatis not to say I am a saint or holier than anybody. We all are humans withnumerous shortcomings. Moreover this is entertainment. The fact that thereisn’t a scandal today doesn’t rule out the possibility of one. I just keeppraying and doing my job, which is all I owe my fans.
Who isthe act you always prefer being on set with?
I don’t really have preferences regarding my colleagues. ButI sure wouldn’t enjoy working with someone who isn’t going to bring out thebest in me. As long as the artiste knows his or her craft, I’m good. Acting isa collaborative effort. Much as we as actors have our unit objectives todeliver the character as real as possible, the super objective which is to tieall our efforts into a complete whole matters a lot. So if I’m good and thenext person isn’t, the whole effort would have been futile; that’s why I’m anadvocate for excellence irrespective of sentiments.
Challenges?
The challenges are there. I mean transforming yourself intoanother person’s persona is in itself a huge challenge. And that is thegreatest for every actor. The ability to switch from one character to anotherwithin a specified period of time intensifies as the case. Outside the screenthere’s also the challenge of trying to please everyone you come across, whichof course is almost impossible. But you just have to be as polite and as civilas possible, even to rude and irritating remarks and actions.
Dream?
My dream is to be a successful entertainer, to be the best Ican and to really impact lives. Someone I would be proud to read about if Icould. Someone my children would really be proud of. I hope to delve intovarious genres of entertainment as regards movies and music. I just keepworking hard and praying to God for fulfillment.
Relationship?
I’m currently in a relationship with someone so unique to me.She loves and understands me very well. She is from Anambra State, and she justfinished her youth service. She is a complete African woman, and she doesn’tlike publicity, so I’ll leave it at that.
Embarrassing moment?
That should be the day I fell into a ditch and got carriedaway by flood while trying to impress my colleagues. How did it happen? I hadgone for a music show with my group, on our way back there was heavy rain andthe road was flooded. No car could move. We had to alight and cross a ditchinto a nearby store till the rain subsided. There was a wooden bridge, myfriends walked over, in my stupidity I decided to jump over only to land insidethe gutter and the flood carried me along immediately. God just saved me as Iheld onto some metal poles before they came to my rescue, already then I wasmuddy from head to toe.
How about the competition you were accused of having with Ghana artistes,especially Michael Majid?
That’s far from the truth. I can’t compete with anybody, notat all. Why should I? Every one is unique in his or her way. I mean every actorbrings certain individuality to the table, and as such there isn’t any room forunhealthy competition. Moreover I respect my colleagues and I think they do thesame. Acting is symbiotic. I learn from every single person I come acrossirrespective of status. For me, there’s always something to pick up from everyindividual; so there isn’t any competition whatsoever with Ghana artistes oreven Micheal Majid as earlier mentioned.
What should your fans expect?
My fans should expect a couple of wonderful movies I didlately. They will soon hit the cinemas and the shelves. The details would beout soon. I thank all my fans for their immeasurable love and support, and Ipromise never to fail them.
During the 60th birthday of former governor of Lagos state and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN), present governor of Lagos state was asked to present a speech to the ACN leader which he jokily asked Tinubu that many veritable ACN supporters are crying profusely that you do not give them the privilege to exercise their political franchise even when they are qualified for such position.The grandfather of ACN politics immediately responded to Fashola that the same political imbalance that brought you to power as Lagos state governor. The answer quickly means that Fashola was not the most competent or popular candidate to be the governor of Lagos state in 2007 elections but providence and political was bestowed on him.
It is obvious that 2015 Lagos state governorship election would not be easy for both father and son. It is of records that Fashola is one of the best ever-serving governors in Lagos state since its creation. His infrastructural development strides within his first tenure and one year of second tenure has invariably send positive signals to Lagosians that he can be elected for the senate if the need arises. But ACN politics is tactically difficult to understand the new music if you are not a direct member of the party.Though Fashola is competent enough to bring a candidate that would replace him in line with the party recommendation without any godfatherism manipulation.Most of the ACN members who were qualified to contest were being betrayed of their mandate in all ramifications.This denial of candidate’s mandate has prompted many party faithfuls to defect to other political parties in Nigeria.Although Senator Bola Tinubu initiated some of these projects whom Babatunde Fashola has completed in his port of call. The politics of Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) could be digitally deduced to unfold the political scenario in 2015. Lagos state population is over 18 million people while the daily migration of people is at geometric progression. In Tinubu ‘s administration, he actually performed to some extent and he single-highhandedly coined out Alliance for Democracy(AD)and for Action Congress(AC) and later to Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN)He made the party not to be regionalized but the unfolding political calculations indicate that only South west and South-south region which is ACN strongly dominating at present. ACN is one of the strongest regional opposition political party in Nigeria which has publicly accused the ruling party as mere political jokers and nothing else.
But the question still begging for answer is that will Babatunde Fashola not relinquish power without living his political will and legacy behind. Every past governors in Nigeria like to be the father of their state politics and even be the absolute dictator if the need arises.The relevance of Bola Tinubu in South west politics is gradually fading away in due.time. The former President Olusegun Obasanjo lawfully resigned as Board of Trustee (BOT) chairman of the PDP when he vividly knew that the ovation was the loudest.In 2011elections in Lagos State Bola Tinubu only anointed some of his loyalists even when they were not qualified or failed to use their first term in office to provide infrastructure for its people. Though Lagos state belongs to a political zoning arrangement only faithful loyalists succeeded in terms of political appointments and others. While other political parties are not on ground to wrestle power from the ACN.Most of the governors that served during Tinubu’s administration across the country some are in EFCC net and jailed.In the last ACN local government elections in Lagos state, Most of the candidates were handpicked without party screening and others while some ACN supporters saw it as a breach of ACN constitution. Those who make laws are the breakers of the law in Nigeria.Though the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) won some of the local governments especially Ajeromi-Ifeloun, Obalende LCDA, Badagry and others .
while some of these local government officials did not perform but were re-elected by powers that be.Fashola is quiet different from Tinubu in terms of leadership development.
Initially Babatunde Fashola was not ready to run for his second term until Lagosians saw his great works in his first term and massively voted for him but that was not the arrangement of the ACN which almost elicited a lot of problem that nearly break up the party while the body language of Fashola was to defect to other party if his wishes
was not granted.The zoning arrangement affected the deputy governor and the present speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and others. But many of these loyalists of the party felt Fashola would not perform but proved his critics wrong that he can perform in spite of all odds that beclouded the party in recent past years. Leadership tussle is one of the problems making half-baked leaders to be elected into power.in ACN while Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is not left out.2015 is very critical year for both party leaders of the state. Apart from the opposition party bringing out their candidates for the governorship election which care is taken, PDP might capture the state.If the party still believes on its manipulation mechanism without putting efforts to fix rightful leaders into power, then the opposition parties will take over.Only few elected leaders of the party in the state are politically performing in their constituencies while looting spree is on the high side by voracious ones and nothing else.Would Tinubu allow Fashola to succeed as the next godfather of the ACN?Some ACN supporters are also eying the number one seat of the state while Fashola will want to write his name in the ACN politics.
Lastly , ACN must put his house in order before 2015 while Fashola must not be carried away by political vampires who want to create unnecessary altercations with his political father, senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is one of the Youraba politicians who fought massively to retain the politics of the region.Tinubu must be commended for his courageous effort to bring Fashola into government. ACN as a party can be firmly stand if all the stakeholders of the party can work as one family without compromise or inferiority complex.The media must not be used by political foes of the party to cause imbroglio among party leaders . Tinubu should also anoint competent candidates not loyalists that are mere empty heads with no political mission to build the party .The future of the party should be preserved.Only time will if Fashola will contest for any position in 2015.
Unknown Gunmen opened fire on a church in Biu Town, Borno state on Sunday morning, spraying the congregation with bullets and wounding many of them. “Three gunmen came to the premises of the church and started firing at people outside the church before going into the main building to carry on their killings … Many people have been killed and wounded,” said witness Hamidu Wakawa, who was at the church in Biu Town, Borno state. Bomb Blast in another church in Biu, Borno State
The Bomb happened at an EYN church, an acronym that means “Church of the Brethen in Nigeria” in the local Hausa language of Nigeria’s north in Biu, a city in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, witnesses said. An usher at the church was killed while others were injured, 247ureports.com learnt.
We sincerely disagree and view with bias the letter INEC wrote to us which referred to the general meeting of our state chairmen held on the 28th May 2012 (where a vote of no confidence was passed on the assumed former Tony Momoh led NEC) as “purported Annual General Meeting of State/Protem Chairmen”. Responding further (to our letter intimating INEC of the development in our party which necessitated the intervention of the 31 state EXCOS to apply the doctrine of necessity aimed at saving CPC from total chaos and averting lacuna in the National leadership of the party) INEC stated that “the meeting was not held in accordance with the constitution of our party which is therefore invalid and as such cannot accept any decision taken at the said meeting”.
INEC had on the 11th day of January, five days after the illegal convention that brought in the purported former Tony Momh led NEC, in a letter with reference no INEC/DPPM&L/CPC/266 also conveyed its observation to our party that congresses were not held in 20 states which left the number of delegates that attended the convention at 17 states far less than at least the required 24 states to meet up with the stipulated 2/3 requirement by our party constitution and the electoral act. But the same illegal NEC is enjoying recognition from INEC while the incumbent and the authentic leadership (Protem NEC) have been in court claiming its mandate. A caretaker committee duly elected on acting capacity by overwhelming majority of 31 states is said to have emerged through an unconstitutional meeting and that all such decisions reached at such meeting not acceptable to INEC.
Earlier before this, INEC had unilaterally without a judicial interpretation of the Supreme Court’s judgment withdrawn the certificate of our authentic 11 members from Kastina state that contested and won seats into the National Assembly on the premise that the Supreme Court judgment stated that only political parties can nominate candidates. But the Electoral Act as amended also made it clear that no candidate can benefit from an election he/she did not participate. The irony of INEC’S decision to substitute our authentic candidate names that appeared on form CF001 & co and truly participated in the election is questionable. Therefore INEC couldn’t have claimed ignorant of names of people who participated in that election when the necessary forms that contained the names of people who participated in the said elections are with them. Another development in the saga is that the PDP candidate who contested against our party has presently gone to challenge the CPC candidate presently occupying the seat in court on the ground that he was not the one who contested against him at 2011 National Assembly election.
In its hasty manner of making judicial decisions INEC has again conveyed to us that the decision of the 31 state chairmen of our party (overwhelming majority) to dissolve an illegal EXCO by all parameter and the composition of an 11 man caretaker committee enabled by the doctrine of necessity to ensure that there is no vacuum pending the determination of all suits related to the purported convention is unconstitutional. While INEC recognizes the purported Tony Momoh led NEC which emerged in a convention participated by delegates from 17 states short of at least 24 states of the federation in line with our party constitution and the electoral act, the same INEC is now interpreting our party constitution to us simply because we conveyed a decision of 31 state EXCOS to them.
Although we do not intend to join issues with anybody, we wish to inform INEC that writing the commission of the development was to notify them of our internal ongoing development and reform. We acknowledge the commission as a body statutorily charged with the responsibilities of overseeing the affairs of political parties but not in a biased manner. It is of note that INEC as an observer does not have the constitutional right to interpret party constitutions or the right to comment on issues which is subject matter of the court; our national leadership strife. The Caretaker Committee is in acting capacity. Our step was purely an administrative convenience that would avert the impending lacuna looming in our party. With all due respect we humbly wish to remind INEC that the powers of INEC as spelt out in the 1999 act establishing it does not include judicial powers. Section 6 of the country’s constitution vested such powers on the court. The moment the commission is seen to be biased in the discharge of its duties our nascent and fragile democracy will certainly not see the light of the day.
We therefore wish to reiterate that we had no option other than apply the doctrine of necessity and save our beloved party from total chaos and collapse. Hence, it was necessary to pass a vote of no confidence on the purported Tony Momoh led National leadership. There is now a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party pending when all issues on the national leadership are resolved.
We also wish to remind INEC of the good work it started in the pending petition to the IG of police since 8th September, 2011 against Prince Tony Momoh and Engr Bubagaladima who allegedly forged the signatures of Senator Yusuf Musa Nagogo and Hon Emmanuel David Omubugado of the CPC Nasarawa state claiming that the duo had in a letter purportedly signed by them withdrawn from the elections to pave way for Ewuga Solom and Idris Yauza Yakubu for Senate and House of Representative respectively. Yusuf Musa Nagogo and Hon Emmanuel David Omubugado of the CPC Nasarawa state had in a letter complained to the INEC chairman that they did not withdraw from the contest and had as such neither wrote nor signed the letters of withdrawal. They therefore were surprised on how their names appeared and signatures appended on the Form CF004 (Notice of Change of Candidate). The CPC is eagerly waiting for the outcome of that matter. The commission is at liberty to get a court order compelling the police to prosecute all those involved in that case should the police show sign of unwillingness to do so. Or are some people playing down on the matter and may be to bring it up at the appropriate time should the need arise?
We salute the courage and wisdom Prof Jegga in trying to move the commission forward. He should not allow bad eggs within the commission, who sometimes connive with desperate politicians, to drag him backwards.
On the other hand we appreciate moves by political parties to go into alliance with the CPC, but we also caution that such moves be kept in the cooler for now pending when issues revolving around the national leadership of our party is resolved. Any form of arrangement for now on issues of alliances may be distractive to our effort in repositioning our party. All organs of our party shall be involved in the discussion at the appropriate time.
On the programs of our interim leadership, the NCC (National Caretaker Committee) will commence visits to all the party formations nationwide next week after our weekly meeting which comes up in Abuja. The visit is intended to intimate our members and supporters on the recent developments and assure them that the black days of recklessness, impunity and sabotage by our presumed national leadership are over. We will cap the tour with the official takeover of our National Secretariat. Last time our Secretariat was filed with police men. But we wish to assure Tony Momoh and co that no man born of a woman can stop our resolve to take over the secretariat. The building belongs to Sen Hanga while the Secretariat is the official property of the party.
Our National Caretaker Committee meeting will be held at a future date to be announced later.
Finally, our lawyers are studying the possibility of challenging INEC’S flagrant ascription of judicial functions to themselves. This is not an act of confrontation rather it is part of our own contribution in strengthening the institutions of democracy. Alternatively, we may pay a courtesy call on the INEC chairman and air our opinion on some of our observations on the commission’s activities.
