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Rising through the police without godfather: The story of Yunusa Ogwuche, retiring Rivers’ CP
@Businessdayng 9 Personality
Rising through the police without godfather: The story of Yunusa Ogwuche, retiring CP
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The Nigeria Police is often described as the worst centre of corruption, brutality and injustice as well as the place where IGNATIUS CHUKWU no officer can rise an inch without a godfather. Yet, on the day Yunusa Ogwuche signed off at the rank of Commissioner of Police and the Eastern Port Commissioner, many officer gathered to point at him as a model for true policing and sample of success without a godfather. Many pointed to him as an evidence of leading without shouting, without rancour and without acrimony.
Born May 23, 1960, at UnyiOgugu in Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State (formerly in Benue State), he schooled in Ugbokolo town for his secondary school and University of Calabar and graduated in 1984 (Education Science). He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1986.
Since then, he attended many local and international professional courses such as International Humanitarian Law and the Law of Armed Conflict (UN Institute for Training and Research); and Executive Intelligence Management Course. He served as DPO in 14 Divisions, DCO in two Divisions, O/C State Intelligence Bureau in Minna, Niger State, Oc Anti-Fraud Section, State CID, Port Harcourt, and AC in three states.
He is a Fellow of the Institute for Security Studies, Abuja. On his retirement date, a day before his 60th birthday, the police facility at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) in Port Harcourt witnessed presence of top officers in the Police, Customs and top manager of the NPA who said they will never miss the event as long as Ogwuche was concerned.
The NPA MD was represented by the Rivers Ports manager while the Commissioner of police was represented by the deputy (operations), Yomi Oladimeji. The MD of PTOL was on hand, Port Manager, Onne was represented, Port Manager, Calabar, was represented by the DPO, Calabar, Customs Area Controllers Area 1, Onne was on hand and the GM of BUA was represented.
The DCP Ports made sterling remarks on Ogwuche: “You are able and healthy, that is the biggest retirement gift. It is a remarkable one, a journey of a sword; to enlist, serve, and retire in peace and good health (meritoriously). There is no iota of challenge. You can become a senator. It is good to retire in good health.
“He even objected to a ceremony, to show his level of simplicity and humility. He is a servant leader. He is a rare type in the Nigeria Police. He never shouted at any police officer. He has proved that you effectively lead Nigerians without shouting them.
You were able to wax peace and
Ogwuche harmony between the police and Customs as well as other agencies.”
The NPA MD: Hadiza Bala Usman (represented); “I am happy with you but shocked to hear you are leaving. It is however one thing to start a career and another thing to end it and in good health. You are leaving a good record in the eastern ports. The eastern ports are some of the most notorious due to youth issues and numerous crises but there has been no single complaint in any part under your command. This is very good. Your going out shall be better than now.”
The Manager, Port Harcourt Port: Yunusa Ibrahim Anji; “I met Ogwuche in 1977 in secondary school which formed rugged training in life. Now, I met him again. He served the environment well. He is a true servant-leader.”
MD: PTOL, Denrick Moos: “This
is a CP that never raises his voice. We blended as a family. Wherever you may go, let goodwill follow you.”
The Rep of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers: “I met him first in Borno where he was deputy commissioner (admin) and I was OC CID. He took matters effectively until positive result was achieved. He is a team leader, and does not hoard information. His leaving will definitely be to greater heights.”
Onu Ignala: Rivers, Audu Isa Jibrin: “This is just stepping aside, You are very strong and energetic. I will miss you here. Port Manager, Onne (Ismalia Abubakar): “He has good skills of a team leader. To be DPO in so many stations is significant. Your years in Onne were peaceful.
Customs: Awwal Muhammed: “We are celebrating an icon. You have attained the highest promotable rank (CP) in the Police, and it’s an honour to not just retire as a CP but with a command. The zone under you has been calm. It shows that someone was busy and active.
BUA Rep; “My GM asked me to come and honor him. He moved us emotionally when he came down to see us and find out how we were doing. He is really a fine man.”
Yunusa Ogwuche!
Today is a very happy for me. This morning during prayer, we were just dancing to God. If you look back for what god has done for me, you will dance forever. Today I am retiring as a Commissioner of Police (CP), but nobody believed I could go to school, let alone get to this point.
I came from a polygamous family and my mom was the third, and the only male child. I was the one chosen to stay at home and look after my dad. The meaning in Igala culture was that you will not think of going anywhere but to serve at the footstool of your father. The highest I could aspire would be a good tapper or so.
Something happened one day. My maternal uncle living in Oturkpo was passing and my mom went to greet him (because our home was on the road). I followed her. The man called out my mom, ‘Onyeche, you have no sense!’. My mom said; what did I do? He said, ‘you have only one male child, and your mates have many, and only yours is chosen to stay home and attend to his father’. I was amazed at this statement. I thought about it. I met another boy of same fate, and I raised the topic. We decided to go to school and let the worse happen. One day, we went to school.
After school, when I was coming back, because my father was the chief of the community, to come back home was an issue. Where was I going to enter? Towards evening, I came out from hiding and came home. I greeted him but surprisingly, he responded. Wao, so? Sometime later, it was time for
school fees. I was apprehensive. Who will pay for me? I asked him, and he gave me. Wao again. That was how my schooling started till the university.
Enlistment: We were all in Benue State by then. We went to Kaduna for interview as Cadet Assistant Superintendents (ASP). They were looking for five persons and we were 120. It was though. As we gathered for syndication, people started bringing out long letters given to them by prominent personalities (VIPs). They asked me about my own letter. I said nobody gave me letter oh. Everyone burst into laughter. They said, people came with long letters and you did not, why did you bother to waste your transport? So, I said, well, let me try my luck. At the end, I was number three from Benue. Applause.
That one passed. Cadet Officers used to be trained at Police College in Jos. Our own became an issue. They said they were going to give us senior inspector, not cadet not Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) again. So, they pushed us to Police College in Ikeja. When we got there and were told of our rankto-be as mere senior inspectors, we said we were interviewed for cadet ASP, that instead, we would go.
Then, one fateful morning, the Inspector General of Police (IG, Etim Inyang) came and after addressing us, he said; my children, don’t worry, I am going to give you people your stars. Eh, jubilation! That was how it started.
The course commenced but the huddles continued. The so-called quota system that has paralysed the Nigeria police started with us. It was now according state of origin. It was very painful because the quota system can keep you on one rank while others are flying. Those of us that suffered most were from Kogi, Edo, Delta and Imo, up till now.
When we were DSP, our coursemates were already AC, waiting for DC. One day, a friend from Road Safety Corps said; what are you doing there, if I were you, I would quit. I said; let me wait for God’s time. When we reached a point, they cancelled the quota system and we started jubilating that things would be better. We continued like that until we got to DC.
It continued until a regime came and promotion was no longer on seniority. A person could come from behind. Hope was almost lost, but as God would have it, the present IG (Mohammed Adamu) came in, our amiable IG, I remove my cap for you. I pray for you that God will lead you to the very end.
He came in and said, no, due process must be followed. I said, hei! It was that same week that I was promoted to CP. In the police ranking, CP is the ceiling; any other one is political. For God to have helped me to reach the ceiling, I am so happy. So many of us that started with us are no more alive, many dismissed, so many on sick bed, cannot use their limbs, but today, here I am, hale and hearty. I am so very happy. Some mornings when I jog with my children, they should, oh daddy, you don’t get tired?
I have every cause to thank God for what he has done in my life. Help me thank God.
10 www.businessday.ng Politics
Edo guber: Why Obaseki’s chances are bright, despite oppositions
ZEBULON AGOMUO S ince the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rolled out the timetable for the Edo State off-season gubernatorial election, the media have been awash with stories on whether Governor Godwin Obaseki would be allowed to re-contest It is not about whether or not he has done things that should merit him a second term. The Edo electorates seem not to be factored into all these as regards their roles in selecting who governs them. It is about, ‘Will Adams Oshiomhole allow him? Will Ahmed Tinubu allow him? And the answer according to many analysts is, Why not? The thinking in many quarters is that Governor Obaseki deserves a return ticket from his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and by implication, an overwhelming confidence vote of Edo people on the election day.
Obaseki, founder and former chairman, Board of Directors of Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited (SecTrust), resigned his position in 2016 to join the murky waters of Nigerian politics. He contested the gubernatorial election of that year and emerged winner. He succeeded Adams Oshiomhole, who governed Edo State for eight straight years.
Obaseki heeded the call by many concerned Nigerians, who over the years, had clamoured for more private sector players to go into elective positions in order to change the flavour of politics in the country.
Since the return of Nigeria to civil rule in 1999, the political space has been dominated by career politicians, whose whole lives are woven around politics, without a second address.
The consequence has been that they see politics as an avenue to amass wealth to the detriment of the people. While they flourish as individuals, the country continues to grow leaner and leaner.
Over the years, they have changed the meaning of democracy to be ‘government of the few, by the few and for the few, as against the original definition, “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
As a technocrat in politics, his stomach rumbled on seeing how a few individuals were appropriating the wealth that belonged to the state. He was said to have been more disturbed as former political office holders instituted all
Godwin Obaseki
manner of levies on hapless market women and small businesses. These illegal tax and levy collectors were said to be answerable to some political lords who are not even residing in the state, but in Abuja. It was gathered that these former “this and that” in the state established a parallel government. Not only that the state government was losing money, small businesses were not allowed to operate peacefully. It was a reign of chaos. BDSUNDAY reliably gathered that it was in his effort to block avenues of revenue leakages that pitted him against some interest in the state.
An official of the Edo State government said thatthere used to be wrong pricing in procurements and even in the award of contracts in the old order, resulting in loss of huge revenues. Obaseki believes that there was so much inefficiency in the system, which made the state to suffer huge financial losses. Moreover, there was also the allegation of “stepping on toes.” Some powerful individuals who believed they were untouchable and above the law, considered it an insult band an affront when asked to follow due process in whatever they do in the state. “They found it difficult to come to the simple realisation that a new Sheriff is in town,” that is a major plank of the issue, BDSUNDAY gathered.
“Some people who felt they were owners of the state empowered some boys who were going about collecting all manner of levies. They made life very difficult for market women and
indigenes doing small businesses to eke out a living. Even in Government Reserved Areas (GRAs), they were very powerful; wielding so much power, extorting people all over the state. Some of them were said to have their counting machines in their homes. They impoverished the state by their activities,” a politician from the state said, on condition of anonymity.
The politician also said that the state had drastically cut the cost of building roads.
“We can build three roads now with even lesser cost than they used to build one road in the past. If there is no economic growth, we get stuck. Oil has run out. We must do things that could help us create wealth. As you cannot make an omelet without breaking an egg, there is no way we can build a new Edo without dismantling those negative things that hampered the progress of the state in the past. There are entrenched interests that are being dislodged and they are fighting back. Don’t forget that our governor is a private sector person, he cannot help but see that Edo is run and run very well,” an official of the state government, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said.
The official further said: “There was this thinking in some quarters that those boys that went about collecting illegal levies were the backbone of government, but Governor Obaseki said no; it is not possible. He told them that they have created non-state actors and that they have become a threat to democracy. So, he decided to dismantle such illegal structures and the masters began to cry out. I must tell you that the well being of our people were threatened by the activities of these boys. If you want to change an old, negative order, you have to fight. To get peace, you have to go to war. That is the story of Nigeria today, and that is the crux of the matter in Edo today.”
A statement by Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor, stated that Lawal’s appointment as the Oniru-elect, which takes immediate effect, was made during the State’s Executive Council meeting, where final ratification was made on his nomination.
Lawal succeeds the late Oba Idowu Abiodun, former Oniru of Iruland, who passed on in year 2019 at the age of 82.
According to the statement, Gbolahan Wasiu Lawal born on July 24th 1970 to the late Chief T. A. Lawal-Akapo, the Ojora of Lagos (1977-1993) and Olori M. A. Lawal-Akapo. Gbolahan, is a Lagos Prince from the Ojora, Aromire, Shokun and Abisogun branch of Oniru Royal families of Lagos State.
He is a seasoned administrator with over 25 years postgraduate experience with an in-depth knowledge of the workings of the Public Sector. He is driven, focused, steadfast and passionate. Prince Lawal’s excellent leadership, communication, collaborative and organizational skills have over the years sharpened his ability to identify, analyse and proffer strategic transformational change.
Lawal, Lagos Agric commissioner, emerges Oniru-elect T he Lagos State Executive Council, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, having satisfied all legal requirements, Friday approved the nomination and appointment of Gbolahan Lawal as the new Oba-elect of Iruland (the Oniru-elect of Iruland).
Lawal holds an Executive MSc in CITIES (LSE, Cities) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also obtained an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS], University of London in 2008; a BSc Hons in Botany from the University of Port-Harcourt in 1992 and a product of the famous St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.
In addition, he has completed several courses and programmes amongst which are the International Housing Finance Program (IHFP) in 2018 and Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA in 2015. He is also a product of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the World Bank Institute, Washington D.C. In the last 8years, he has been on the board of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
Prince Lawal started his career as a Scientific Officer with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in 1994. He later joined The Nigerian Police Force and was commissioned as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent. While in the force, he held several duty posts amongst which was serving as an Aide-de-camp [ADC] to the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Police in 2008 as a Superintendent of Police.
Observers said that in order to engage the governor in an attrition war, some of the elements that felt wounded by the reforms instituted by the Obaseki administration tried to ambush him at the inauguration of the elected members of the state House of Assembly.
“They plotted to hijack the Assembly and use the members to impeach the governor. But their plot was uncovered. That was responsible for the crisis at the state House of Assembly following the inauguration of a few members on June 17, 2019. If they succeeded in taking over the Assembly, Governor Obaseki would have since been impeached, but for providence sake,” the official said.
Speaking on the campaign and alleged plan by Oshiomhole to deny the governor a return ticket, a big player in the oil industry, at a meeting recently, wondered why politicians always see themselves as a thin god.
“Some time ago, we were looking for private sector people that should go into politics. Obaseki left his flourishing business to contribute his quota in the development of Edo on political platform. Now, people are saying they do not want him to complete eight years, for no just reason other than that he does not allow them and their cronies to continue to plunder the state. It is really annoying. Nobody is saying, Obaseki has not performed well, but that he doesn’t allow them to chop. That is nonsense,” the private sector player said, asking not to be named.
According to him, “I don’t get it when people say Obaseki cannot get a second term unless he sees this and that person; does it mean the electorates no longer have a role to play in who gets victory at elections? If they are people of integrity as they trumpet, they should allow a level playing field and let people compete on equal footing.
“They are simply afraid of him. They fear that four more years would be brutal for them. So, they want to claw onto power in the state by all means. But I think their plots will fail. I am aware that people know what is good for them; they can no longer be hoodwinked.”
Prince Gbolahan Lawal was a Senior Special Assistant on Special Projects to a former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). In this capacity, he coordinated the Agriculture-Based Youth Empowerment Scheme (AgricYES). The success of the innovative Agric-Yes paved way for his appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives in Lagos State in 2011.
His impeccable public service record and his ability to address urban challenges also led to his appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Housing by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in October 2015, a position he held until May 2019.
A lot of programmes and landmark projects were achieved under his watch as the Honourable Commissioner such as the Rentto-own home ownership program, Master Craftsman program, Lagos Affordable Public Housing (LAPH), and The 4-IN-14 days bungalow housing development.
In 2019, Gbolahan Lawal was reappointed as the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State by the current Governor of the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu essentially based on his sterling performance and quality leadership he provided in his first stint in the office. Suffice it to say that during his first reign as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives in Lagos State, Gbolahan was the brain behind programmes and projects such as the School Agric programme, the Agric-YES summer school for senior secondary schools and the Eko Rice Mill, Imota.
During his second spell as the Honourable Commissioner, he has brought to bear his previous experience and expertise in the field. He came up with the idea of an Agricultural Stakeholders Summit in furtherance of the efforts of the State Government to make Lagos a 21st century economy with the agricultural sector playing a vital role in sustainable food security and diversification of the economy. Essentially, the Summit developed strategies that will ensure the State attains sustainable food security, improved nutrition, generate employment and create wealth through a combination of business and development platforms in partnership with the private sector.
@Businessdayng 11 Politics
To save our democracy, citizens must ensure right people are elected into power - Bewaji
Wunmi Bewaji is pro-democracy activist and executive director of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER). He is also former minority leader in the House of Representatives. In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he speaks on democracy in Nigeria, significance of June 12, electronic voting, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts:
In a few days time, Nigeria would celebrate June 12, Democracy Day; what is your assessment of progress so far?
We have had our success and our failures; democracy is a process and not an event. Yes, we have our challenges, but that does not mean that it should be all rosy. You can see in developed nations the challenges they have been having for some months now; the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Also, in the United State, the manner the protest resulting from the killing of the black man is being handled. Imagine American policemen and security agencies using teargas on protesters; when you see that here, you begin to wonder; yet, there are times that policemen are sacked for maltreating citizens, here in Nigeria.
We have our challenges and we would continue to identify the challenges and correct them and keep making progress.
But some Nigerians would say there is little to celebrate, looking at the resources of the country. It appears that successive administrations have not delivered on their promises?
There is a difference between democracy and good governance; democracy does not guarantee good governance, there are lots of things we ourselves need to do that we are not doing. What democracy guarantees is that freedom of choice for the people to choose their leader; but we are held up by religious and tribal sentiments. You know that a person is not qualified for a position, but because he is from your tribe regardless of competence, you vote for him. Merit and competence would take us there; in the last 21 years what we have had is this primordial sentiment even at the local government level. So, until we give credence to competence and merit we would continue to miss it.
Are we ever going to move away from this point?
Yes, it is possible, when we start integrating national issues, knowing what we want to solve. If we say this health sector crisis, is it a Nigeria problem or a Yoruba problem? When we identify it as a Nigerian problem we look for the solution as Nigeria problem not as Yoruba solution or Igbo solution. So, until we get to that stage, when we actually start looking at the issues that we have to tackle from the lenses of Nigeria as a nation rather than a tribe then we would make progress. Until we develop a national preservative to our problems, the people come in regardless of their tribe, purely on competence and merit rather than on primordial sentiment.
Wunmi Bewaji
discovered as a nation that we loved democracy. Yes, some people were playing with military rule and other forms of government, but on that day, we decided that we want democracy. Secondly, June 12 was the moment we discovered that we are not as polarised as people think, that we are even more united. We saw MKO defeating Tofa in his state and polling units. We disclosed that we can work together as a people.
Abiola was honoured by this administration. What does it mean to the June 12 struggle?
It is significant. You know Babangida had plenty of opportunity to undo the wrongs he did to Nigeria with that annulment, but some people said no it would project weakness being that they were military men. But the greatest strength as a man is to recognise your mistake and correct it. And recognising Abiola; giving him that award is to recognise that effort and declaring June 12 Democracy Day is significant for our democracy.
Are there lessons to learn for Nigerians?
For me, the lesson is that never again as a nation should we allow under any circumstance, anyone who is not democratically elected to rule us. Not even the so-called benevolent dictator should ever rule us. And then we should also be able to guard against this civilian dictatorship. Internal vigilantism; we must make sure no matter what, and the individual, we must keep them on their promises. For example, we hear Buhari signed the Executive Order recently; it would go down in history that we start allowing civilian dictatorship to undermine our democracy. They are in control of the government, he has the legislature, the majority in both houses, and there is nothing he wants to do that he can’t do. But there are some pseudodemocrats behind Buhari signing the Executive Order. But I can tell you that it undermines the power of the National Assembly. It is a shame that the National Assembly has not done anything; posterity would not forgive them.
But the AGF said Buhari was just exercising his constitutional powers?
No, Executive Order has two limitations;
firstly, the power must derive from the constitution or a legislation. Secondly, it must be within the province of the Federal Government. Where can they point to a section of the constitution that allows the President to relate with the local government? The federation created in the constitution is between the federal and state, the local government is not a member of the federation; that is Section 2 of the constitution. Nigeria is a federal state. If governors are stealing local government money, let them go to court.
If you go through the constitution there are lots of sections for their independence. It is a violation of our federal constitution. The Federal Government and the state are equal partners in a federal state. Malami should be an AttorneyGeneral of the Federal Government and not for all the federation in a proper set up. What Buhari has done is a violation of the constitution of Nigeria. He is doing this, look at how the former CJN was removed; was it fair? What is he teaching the states about separation of powers?
Some scholars have said democracy is failing globally; do you agree?
Democracy is not a silver bullet; there are several things that go with it to work. A lunatic can be elected to be the president of the most powerful country in the world. It is left for the citizens to make sure the right people are elected. So, there is no alternative to democracy.
INEC says electronic voting would be used from 2021; what is your take?
Is good; we must also ensure that we back it up with the paper system we’ve been using. In advanced society; that is how it is done. We must also back it up with an independent audit of INEC. There are so many benefits of electronic voting but the dangers are catastrophic; we saw that in Florida in the US in 2000. I have always been an advocate of it but we must do it with sense. I would have loved to test it in some elections before 2023.
Buhari is five years in office, how do you rate him?
He has fulfilled his mandate, he promised change and he has delivered. The country was not moving on the right direction; the level of banditry and terrorism was high when he was about coming in such that the country could have disintegrated now. Whether he has performed in terms of provision of this and that is another question. Buhari to me is not the messiah; he just came to stop the stealing going on during the PDP rule. We now have this interregnum; it is not going to be an administration that would be remembered for any big programme, but we can take a big breath for eight years and then we can decide. Is just like someone coming on a long and tedious journey.
12 www.businessday.ng Politics
Ondo guber: Aspirants battle to get APC, PDP tickets
KORETIMI AKINTUNDE, Akure W ith the recent visit of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to President Muhammadu Buhari to lobby for second term ticket ahead of the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, political fortune may likely smile on him to clinch the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is being eyed by many other aspirants.
Recall that Governor Akeredolu on Monday ran to the President seeking his support and endorsement in order to continue his administration for another four years in spite of armies of opposition groups within the party trying to send him out of Alagbaka Government House in Akure.
While other aspirants within the APC and other opposition parties are saying no to the incumbent governor, his loyalists are optimistic that he would surmount all political hurdles to win victory.
Besides, the so-called ‘Unity Forum’, a group within the APC that consists of arch political adversaries to Akeredolu, according to views of citizens, has failed the good people of Ondo State in their bid to present a credible, reliable and trustworthy candidate that will confront Akeredolu at the poll and wins hands down.
As said by many political readers, the failure of Unity Forum to successfully present a consensus candidate may likely give the incumbent governor an opportunity to fly his reelection bid in good colour.
It became more dramatic on 14th of last month, the Unity Forum announced Olusola Oke as its candidate to face the incumbent governor, Akeredolu for the party’s governorship primary in the state.
The announcement by its Leader, Ali Olanusi, a former Deputy Governor and Board of Trustee (BoT) member of the party, irked other nine aspirants jostling to emerge as the consensus candidate of the group.
All the 10 Aspirants are, Segun Abraham, Olarewaju Kazeem, Bukola Adetula, Dapo Adelegan, Adelami Olayide Owolabi, Akintunde Akinsewa Awodeyi, Jumoke Anifowose, Chief Olusola Oke, Ife Oyedele and Jimmy Odimayo.
Rotimi Akeredolu and Adams Oshiomhole
Also, the pioneer state chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, is in the race, but he ditched the Unity Forum on the grounds that the group may likely collapse due to some undemocratic tendencies of some leaders and members.
However, the Secretary to the selection committee, Sola Ehindero, without mincing words, faulted Olanusi’s report on announcing Oke as the candidate of the group, describing it as fake.
Since Olanusi declared Oke, who contested with nine other aspirants as Unity Forum’s candidate, each of the other nine aspirants has defied the unity of the group and decided to contest no matter how is it.
While another indication has shown that the incumbent governor is now moving from one place to another within the state and outside to beg and persuade those that he might have offended one way or the other so that it wouldn’t be a stone of delay on him at the poll.
On the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as said by many political observers, Eyitayo Jegede may likely clinch the ticket of the party. Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is seen as only formidable aspirant in the party, remains committed and anxiously awaits the October 10 gubernatorial poll since he lost in the last 2016 governorship election in the state.
Other aspirants jostling with Jegede
within the party are Eddy Olafeso, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Banji Okunomo, Olusola Ebiseeni, Bamidele Akingboye, Saka Lawal, Boluwaji Kunlere, John Ola Mafo, Dayo Fadahunsi.
Also, in the race is the founder of the Achiever University Owo, Bode Ayorinde. Ayorinde was a House of Representatives member between 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress but ditched the party ahead of 2019 general election when he lost APC return ticket to Timilehin Adelegbe, prompting his defection to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
But, the political permutations on ground seem to be in favour of Ayorinde since the former National Assembly member is from Owo, the local government of incumbent Akeredolu and he is expected to deploy his influence to garner large number of votes for PDP and by so doing he might be given a House of Representatives return ticket in PDP or be given a Senatorial slot.
Besides, it was gathered that the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is set again to support Jedege’s candidature, his personal lawyer, to win the election as he did in the last 2016 governorship election before APC eventually won the poll.
Although, there are agitations concerning the rotation of the governorship ticket of the PDP in which some members are
Jegede showing off expression of interest form in PDP
With only three years to go, Umar sees only misty hopes of a better Nigeria from Buhari. He should know that presidential panjandrums would consider his advice attacks on their individual contributions to the making of the Buhari presidency. Mrs. Lauretta Onochie has said that Umar’s interjection was a product of dependence on fake news. She is paid to say such things. Media reports have appeared with statistical inferences that Buhari’s appointments favoured
Major reasons President Buhari will not read Col. Umar’s letter Continued from back page the South, and not the North. briefing with South Africa President Cyril successes of the Buhari administration. Buhari to write a history of Nigeria that would favour Buhari. Umar advised that Buhari could achieve that through his actions.
Umar has made his contribution aware of his relationship with Buhari. He matters of that nature to deter him. When he resigned his commission in 1993, it was unimaginable that a serving officer would do so. He did. Thereafter he spoke out against the President Ibrahim Babangida administration, and General Sani Abacha after him.
Who will bring Umar’s letter to the President attention? Was Umar, as a Major, not among those who abridged Buhari’s military regime on Tuesday 27 August 1985? Who has forgotten that?
Moreover, the President is a slow reader. President Buhari said so during a joint Ramaphosa in Abuja on Tuesday 10 July 2018. He was explaining delays in Nigeria signing the Continental Free Trade Agreement, CFTA. “I was presented with the document; I am a very slow reader maybe because I am an ex-soldier. I did not read it fast enough before my officials saw that it was all right for signature. I kept it on my table. I will soon sign it.”
arguing that the ticket should be moved to the Southern region of the state which may not favour Jegede.
At least, over seven aspirants in the contest under the opposition party are from the South and have begun some consultations among themselves to ensure they raise a sole aspirant from the region to battle in the race.
Also, the speculations that the Deputy Governor of the State, Agboola Ajayi, who is no longer on the same page with his boss, Akeredolu, is planning to defect to the PDP, has rattled the aspirants in the party, considering his political clout.
Although two of the aspirants, Jegede and Banji Okunomo who both have obtained their expression of interest forms in PDP, showing their readiness to contest in the party’s primary, it is not sure that the poll will be an easy ride for both of them as some others are said to be warming up to obtain expression of interest forms.
Jegede, who was at the PDP Secretariat alongside his supporters, said the main opposition party is united to unseat the APC government being led by Governor Akeredolu.
He said that Akeredolu had not been able to leave to up the expectations of the people of the state in the last three years in government, hence the need to change the leadership baton for more purposely governance.
If Umar needs answers to why the President would not read his letter, he has them. In addition, there are no officials who would approve that letter for the President’s perusal. They would not join Umar in denying their contributions to the overwhelming
A small advice for Umar: Next time use cartoons. Presidential spokesman Mr. Garba Shehu in a series of tweets on the night of Wednesday 25 August 2016, told Nigerians that the President’s preferred media form was cartoon.
Shehu tweeted: “The President enjoys cartoons and likes sharing them. The ones he enjoys most are the ones that caricature him. When he picks up a paper, the first page he goes to is the cartoon page. He laughs and laughs.”
Sadly, Umar does not have a message that would make the President laugh and laugh.
@Businessdayng 13 Feature
Secret burials in Bonny as ‘mysterious’ deaths spread panic in Rivers E very day in the past two weeks, secret burials t a k e p l a c e i n Bo n n y Island in Rivers State. Deaths are also being hushed on the island as most leaders and the local council authorities fear a lockdown from Governor Nyesom Wike if all the truth about mystery deaths is told.
Hospitals look normal but doctors now have over 1000 percent surge in home calls by families refusing to take their sick persons to hospitals. They rather invite doctors at home to treat their loved ones. This is the life in Bonny Island today; panic and fears plus apprehension over unknown cause of deaths.
S o u r c e s i n B o n n y t o l d BDSUNDAY on Friday, May 29, 2020, that the deaths have continued unabated but that only the deaths of very important personalities are being mentioned. Little fellows are dying daily and are being secretly buried, a youth official told our correspondent.
It was gathered that the victims have been adults, mostly bread winners, not children. This has added anger and anguish to the sad tale. A doctor was said to have confided in his friends that whereas he saw an average of five emergency cases per day in the past, he now sees over 50 emergencies per day, but at homes. Death toll is rising.
Doctors said most patients have same symptoms: Malaria, fever, loss of smell, loss of taste. Some recover, many die.
Th e Bo n n y l o c a l c o u n c i l health team including the Environment Health desk intervened early in the crisis and confirmed that Coronvirus may not be the cause. The team also reported that those given careful treatment recovered but selfmedication arising from fears of COVID-19 led to more deaths. The report called for more investigations on the quality of air on the island.
The Rivers State government IGNATIUS CHUKWU says it has also intervened. The Commissioner for Health who was in Bonny early in the week to inspect the COVID-19 facilities set up by the NLNG also visited other health facilities on the invitation of doctors on the Island to inspect other places.
Governor Nyesom Wike said government had begun the investigation of the mysterious deaths after about 11 persons were confirmed dead of same symptoms. Wike said this Wednesday that his administration was investigating cases suspected to be linked to coronavirus.
Speaking in a broadcast, Wike said he had ordered an investigation into the sudden deaths, adding that medical personnel led by the Commissioner for Health had visited Bonny Island and collected samples from suspected cases.
He noted that the state would launch an immediate intervention after the results of the samples collected were out.
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had earlier in the week said it had also intervened by obtaining samples for tests. Later, the Centre said none of the deaths so far had to do with Coronavirus. This seems to douse fears on one side but heightened it on the other. There is bigger fear about what the cause of death should be: malaria, typhoid, loss of taste, loss of smell.
There is huge caution against de-marketing Bonny Island that is a gas centre of global sensitivity. The authorities and the chiefs are said to be greatly concerned about this, but the youths are breaking free to cry out.
By noon of Friday, May 29, 2020, the Bonny Development Forum (BDF) held a meeting to examine the situation and according to Gift Hart, the group called for independent inquiry into the cause of deaths.
He said by their experience over the years, something must be fishy, insisting that the symptoms were gas-related. “There is need for proper professional tests because this did not start today. Fishes have been dying, aquatic lives have died, now, humans are dying,” Hart said.
He further said that most residents and indigenes heard of gas leaks on the island and called for investigations. “We want tests’, he stated.
Another Bonny man and public relations officer (PRO) at the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Anderson Hart, told BDSUNDAY that silence on the part of the authorities was causing speculations and assumptions.
He mentioned the deaths of vibrant personalities such as Fubara Banigo and Pallen Banigo as very traumatic. One of them is a popular choirmaster and the family cannot be consoled. “These are top breadwinners and vibrant citizens”.
He went on: “The NCDC says it is not COVID-19, the state government says it’s not the virus, so what is killing our people?” he strongly believes there is toxic industrial hazard in Bonny.
“There is heavy business interest in Bonny and they do not want people to talk, they fear de-marketing the island, but we can no longer keep quiet. The big people wear masks but what about the ordinary people? Let there be answers, else, assumptions will take over,” he added. …Various groups begin investigations Governor Nyesom Wike
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who gave the indication while receiving a delegation of 12 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in his office on Friday in Abuja, stressed the need to tighten the laws on rape particularly as regard to consent.
Gbajabimila said the 360 members of the House would engage State Houses of Assembly Speakers through a conference on the urgent need to domesticate these Acts to tackle menace of sexual abuse in the country.
Sexual abuse: Reps to prevail on state legislature to domesticate Violence Against Persons, Child’s Rights Acts
JAMES KWEN, ABUJA T he House of Representatives is to immediately write Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly to domesticate the Violence Against Persons and Childs Rights Act as a measure to curb the incessant cases of sexual abuses and other gender violence on women and children, especially rape.
“I am aware that over 20 states are yet to domesticate the Child Right Act and the Violence Against Persons Act.
“Next week, I shall have a zoom meeting with all the speakers and I hope that at the end, these Acts will be domesticated across the 36 states,” he said.
The Speaker emphasised that the 9th House of Representatives was seriously concerned about rape and all other forms of abuses in line with its Legislative Agenda, stressing that all the 360 Houses of Assembly were solidly behind the fight against rape.
A Bonny-based publisher, Godswill Jumbo, said many are afraid of getting to hospitals. “There is a surge in outpatient numbers. The bigger fear is the unknown cause of deaths instead of COVID-19.”
Many have pointed to the global glut in gas and crude oil that resulted in busting storage around the world. Many fear that the failure to convey gas out of the island may have resulted in a surge back and eventual leakage in one of the trains.
The NLNG however, seems to react. A statement issued on Wednesday said: “Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has disclosed that there was an operational trip at its six-train plant on Bonny Island on 14th May 2020, which resulted to the temporary loss of power at the plant.”
According to the company, there was no injury or damage to asset. The company added that power was restored within two hours of the outage by its engineers following laid down protocols and strict adherence to the safety goal of zero harm to people, zero damage to assets, no spills and no process safety incidents.
Th e s t a t e m e n t s i g n e d by Eyono Fatayi-Williams, the general manager, External Relations, went on: “NLNG also stated that relevant authorities and stakeholders were duly informed as part of protocol for managing such operational trips. The company reiterated that as a good corporate citizen, it remains committed to its vision of “… helping to build a better Nigeria”.
More deliberations are go ing on in Bonny but across the larger Rivers State, deaths due to COVID-19 have also hyped fears. The death of a director in the Ministry of Finance, the one of a local council boss and that of an executive director in the NDDC have also caused panic in the oil-rich state.
Yet, rumours of more deaths have emerged Friday morning, increasing the panic.
He further said that the bar on sexual harassment was very low in Nigeria as compared to developed countries, noting that “In some countries, just complementing a woman could be sexual harassment depending on how she feels but here you can even stroke her hair”.
The former Majority Leader of the House also said for some women who are not so strong, rape was like a death sentence as they live with the scar for the rest of their life.
Gbajabiamila who directed the House of Representatives Clerk to write to the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to commence aggressive awareness against rape, said the House would ensure that police officers handling rape related issues are well trained in the technicalities required so as to secure convictions in court.
In her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Chioma Aguegbo decried that many years after the Child Right Act and the Violence Against Persons Act were passed, only about six states have domesticated them.
Aguegbo, while lamenting the rising cases of rape in the country, said the CSOs had compiled a list of 100 reported rape cases across the country from January to date and solicited the support of the House to help tame the rising wave of abuses.
On her part, Dorothy Njemanze, executive director of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, called for the criminalisation and prompt prosecution of gender-based violent cases regardless of family factors such as dropping rape cases because of fear of stigma.
“I have suffered sexual violence; I have suffered domestic violence; I have suffered different kinds of violence and today I live my life doing things to help victims of sexual violence.
“We have not seen the progress that we are supposed to see. We want deliberate criminalisation so that family members who engage in sexual violence will be criminalized,” she said.
