Fashola spoke on Monday at the St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Marina, Lagos, southwest Nigeria during the church’s 32nd Synod.

He lamented that people complained too much instead of helping the government to solve the problems at hand.

“Nigerians are very difficult people to please. When Nigerians were complaining of incessant harassment by policemen at checkpoints, they were dismantled by the Inspector General of Police. The same Nigerians are now complaining that the absence of the checkpoints have aided the free operation of criminals on the roads.

“The same scenario is playing out on the issue of ban by the police of the indiscriminate use of tinted glasses by motorist, which has been taken advantage of by criminals. The people are now accusing the police of being highhanded on the issue,” he said.

Fashola added that insecurity in the nation is becoming a huge mountain to climb, adding that “our greatest challenge today is insecurity. Just a few minutes ago, there were reports of people who have been killed in Taraba State and over the weekend some people died in Bayelsa State.

“In the last week, the number of lives that have been lost to violence and insecurity must bring any serious people into a sense of sobriety and a very serious question about what direction our country is heading,” the Governor said.

He urged the people not to engage in the wholesale condemnation of the security agencies in the light of what is going on in the country, stressing that the issues of whether they had been given the tools needed for their job and whether the society really cared for them should agitate the minds of the people.

“How many of us on Christmas or Ileya festivals have remembered the police station near us by giving the officers a cooler of rice? It may not fill them but such gesture would remain evergreen for them. It will give them commitment to go and protect us.

“Let us show some concern. Let us find our humanity back. We are too detached from the reality of our society. A lot of care and love would bring down the anger and hate that is seeping through our land. It should not be the survival of the fittest anymore but the survival of the greatest majority. It should be a case of everyone pulling up the next person so that we can march forward together as a people who truly fear God,” he stated.

He also urged the people to resist the urge to hold a telephone line that is not registered in their name and charged the phone companies to help the government by not issuing SIM cards without identity and background checks, saying the possibility of some people owning as many as ten telephone lines without any being registered in their names portends grave dangers.

The governor emphasized that Nigerians must love their country and treat it as a home and cited the example of the major breakthrough recorded by Nigerian Police Force recently at Badiya in Lagos which prevented a major crime from being committed, adding that instead of commendations, the general outcry was that Lagos was under a siege.

He said when a similar scenario played out in Boston in the United States, the crime could not be nipped in the bud but took place and that if the two scenarios were placed side by side and given the resources and equipment at the disposal of the Nigeria Police compared to its Boston counterpart, he would cast his lot behind the Nigerian Police for a job well done.

Source: PM News

Mr. Melaye, who heads an anti-corruption network, wants Mr. Ibrahim Idris declared guilty of looting the funds spent by his administration within a period that the Supreme Court declared the administration illegal. The court ruling was handed down last year.

Mr. Melaye’s lawsuit commenced yesterday in a Lokoja High Court, with I. Akubo appearing as the former governor’s defense lawyer.

Mr. Idris was removed from office alongside four other governors last year after a ruling by the Supreme Court held that they were enjoying an illegally extended tenure. The other governors affected by the ruling were Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State. All five governors removed by the Supreme Court judgment belonged to the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Mr. Melaye’s suit was adjourned to May 15, 2013.

Meanwhile, several sources in Kogi State told Saharareporters that Mr. Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives, is planning to run for the governorship of the state. An associate of former Governor Idris told our correspondent that Mr. Melaye’s lawsuit was an effort by the ex-lawmaker to prop up his political credentials. “He’s just trying to use this lawsuit to announce that he has arrived,” said the critic.

Culled from Sahara Reporters

Mr. Ubah was arrested by a team of operatives at his Maitama home in Abuja.

A detective at the agency revealed that Mr. Ubah had ignored earlier invitations to the EFCC to voluntarily submit to interrogations regarding his role in the multi-billion dollar oil subsidy scam. Ubah is currently undergoing interrogation at the Abuja offices of the EFCC.

So far the EFCC has arraigned some 40 persons in connection with the scam.

Boko Haram Republic of Kano, Boko Haram Republic of Borno, Boko Haram Republic of Yobe, Boko Haram Republic of Minna, Boko Haram Republic of Arewa and Sharia Republic of Nigeria are all possible names for the new extremist Islamic Republic.

Nigerians want peace and if a people are bent on forcefully visiting Sharia on the rest of Nigeria, they should be given a separate nation and let those of us that want to be governed by the secular laws of Nigeria be left alone.

The recent attacks on the Emir of Kano by those suspected to be Boko Haram extremists and the consensual nonchalance of the Kano citizenry to the incidence portrays a dangerous shift of mindset of the people. It is obvious that Boko Haram had not thrived in Katsina because the inhabitants refused the advances of the sect, but from the main Jibiya border post in Katsina to Kano,a distance of about two hours , lies a minority element among them providing a safe haven to the terrorists and dragging the name of the silent majority of Kano citizenry to the mud. It is obvious that if a Boko Haram republic will be carved out of the north, it will include territories from parts of Kano, Borno , Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna and Niger States.

President Jonathan and his strategy team should look into carving territories out of these states to form a Boko Haram Republic provided that the inhabitants of the ceded territories show by reason of referendum that they prefer citizenship of a Boko Haram or Islamic Republic.

This referendum cannot cost the nation more than N50 Billion naira and another N500 billion could be given to the new republic as take-off grant for infrastructural development. A strict boundary, visa and travel policy should be adopted so that the Boko Haram nationals do not infiltrate into the rest of Nigeria. Curiously I’ve discovered by close interactions that majority of Muslim professionals would not mind belonging to an Islamic Republic but the type of Islamic Republic they would want is not the type administered by Mallam Shekau, the Supreme Commander of Boko Haram.

Instead of wasting billions and trillions of naira in chasing around Boko Haram extremists, putting undue pressure on the resources of the nation (estimated 7 trillion having been spent by all tiers) since the renewed onslaught, and more trillions will still be spent while abandoning other critical sectors of the economy- let a fraction of that sum be used to flag off campaign for a Boko Haram Republic and save us wasted funds.

If sincere northern elders are against the sect, they should use the occasion of the referendum to mobilize their people against the sect while those in support of the new republic can come out in the open to canvass their ideals instead of using the sect as political tools against the incumbent president.

This strategy will also deny emergency security contractors and their political accomplice further excuse to pillage the nation’s resources in the name of fight against terror. A report from Mallam El- Rufai has it that estimated N350 billion naira has been spent as security votes in one year and it is obvious to observers that of the said sum about N320 billion must have entered private pockets. Every Governor, Minister and Heads of Government Agencies are spending and embezzling trillions annually in the name of checkmating Boko Haram activities. Therefore, this Boko Haram republic is necessary to block this gross security waste pipe.

I still insist that a Boko Haram Republic or Islamic Republic headed by progressive northern intellectuals will likely institute a society that might surpass many African countries in development. If the Boko Haram regime decides to import hand cutting machines from China as antidote to corruption- they will not need any EFCC to chase any thief around with all the accompanying legal standoff- as all the looting of national treasury will stop in one month. They can elevate Fura, Zobo and Kunu drinks and their medicinal values will enhance national health while Guinness, Harp, Star and other alcoholic brewers will relocate their trade to Cameroun. The Boko Haram Republic will have no need to spend N5billion naira as Abuja Minister proposed in the 2013 budget for prostitutes because with some 50 lashes of Koboko (Horsewhip) prostitutes will relocate to their respective villages.

If this Boko Haram Republic model enthrones a simple, law abiding and just society, soon other African countries will emulate the model, but if the model fails, they everyone to his tents.

Late Libyan Strongman Ghaddafi once advocated the division of the nation along a Christian South and a Muslim North. This genuine attempt to solve Nigeria’s lingering religious crisis may be reframed in such a manner that Local Governments, Senatorial Zones and States that want to join the Boko Haram Republic may have their way while the rest of Nigeria continues together. This idea of Boko Haram republic is worth trying so that extremist Muslims can have their own nation while moderate Muslims and their Christian brothers can live their lives in peace.
De
Obinna Akukwe
Profetobinna2@yahoo.com

Culled from 247 Nigeria News

Growing up.
Though I’m from Anambra State, I grew up in Lagos. Growing up was very interesting because I went to a boarding school so, I grew up with my fellow students. I attended Government College, Ikorodu.

Foray into acting.
Acting as a career for me started in 2006 when I registered with Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and from there, I started getting invitation to auditions. Later on, I started featuring in one or two movies and soaps. It was not easy at first, jumping from one bus or bike to the other going for auditioning. I could attend six to seven auditions in a day and the locations could be far from the other. One could be at Ikeja, the other Surulere and another one at Victoria Island. It was not easy moving from one to the other. Coupled with that was the fact that I didn’t know whether I would be chosen for the job or not but with God, I was able to sustain myself amidst these challenges. My first movie was titled ‘When you are mine’, where I acted alongside Eucharia Anunobi, Emeka Ike, Ini Edo and so on. After this, I featured in a couple of movies like ‘Desire and Confidential Romance’, but it was the Soap Opera Clinic matters, where I acted the role of ‘Nurse Titi’ that brought me to limelight. Playing Nurse Titi has been quite challenging because I did not study Medicine neither did anybody in my family, but I had to pretend as if I was a professional who knew what she was doing. I also had to be speaking big, big terms that I did not know the meaning, I could not even pronounce some of them at first and had to ask the director to teach me how to pronounce them properly.

Description of self.
Naomi is a humble, quiet girl, who loves fun and adventures. People see me as a good girl because I tend not to get them upset. Some of my friends call me sexy because they said I look sexy and act such. So, Naomi Emmanuel is basically a sexy, charming and sumptuous young girl.

Philosophy of life.
Do unto others what you want to be done to you. Believe in yourself and be God-fearing.

Definition of style.
My style must be simple, attractive and comfortable. My mood usually determines my mode of dressing. Sometimes, I may decide to go formal or sexy.

Beauty regimen.
It is something I don’t joke with because I make sure I am always on point. I don’t want to commit fashion faux pas because I am a public figure. I take my shower at the right time and make- up. Sometimes, I don’t even like to make- up but I don’t have a choice, I have to wear it because I know I am stepping out and people will definitely look at me. The nature of my job is very demanding, but on rare occasion, when I have time, I go to the spa and get a good massage. I don’t usually do facials because my beauty therapist advised me not to do it. I use any skin product that suits my skin.

Favourite perfumes.
I love so many perfumes. Perfumes are one of the things you could give me to entice me. That’s my little secret that I’m letting out for the first time. I love Givenchy, Gucci, Channel, BVLGARI and Jennifer Lopez, that lady has nice perfumes; so many of them. If you open my cosmetic box, the highest thing you can see there is perfume. I love perfume a lot because it is good to smell good.

Favourite designers.
I have so many of them but the one I am crazy about is Louis Vuitton. I can spend my last card on Louis Vuitton because he designs well. Prada is another designer that I have.

Choice of accessories.
Accessory is another fashion item I don’t joke with. This is something my mum is actually into, she sells pure gold. So, I grew up wearing gold and till date, I don’t joke with it because my accessories define me. My accessories tell who I am anytime I walk into a place. It is something I look at in other women as well. I want to know the latest accessory in town, no matter the price, I want to have it because I love accessories a lot.

Accessory I can’t do without.
My earrings because I pierced my ears so, my earrings have to be there.

Favourite colour.
Yellow, blue, pink and white. I love bright colours. I wear bright colours all the time because I am on the dark side so I need something that will make me noticeable.

My most expensive item.
So many things are expensive in my wardrobe starting from perfumes, clothes, undies and handbags. I cannot say this is the most expensive because virtually everything I have is expensive.

What I won’t be caught dead wearing.
I can’t say bikini because I wear it when swimming and I swim a lot. So, I shouldn’t be caught wearing pant and bra on the street.

Opinion on provocative dressing.
I feel that for the fact that it is provocative, you should not wear it, especially someone like me who is a role model because many people look up to me, I should not wear something that a child or a secondary school student will see and say since I am wearing it, that means it is good and she can wear it too. If you want to flaunt, you can do that, there are many good dresses you can wear, they do not have to be extremely provocative. However, all these depend on where you are going. You can wear provocative dresses to the club, it is acceptable there but not on the streets.

On toning.
It is not good for me. This has always been my colour. I will just maintain it. Toning to be brighter than I am, I believe is a sin to God.

Tattoo.
I love tattoo a lot but as I speak I have just one tattoo in one part of my body. The fact that I love it so much does not mean I should decorate my body with it, my body is the temple of God. The one I have, I did not put it on my boobs, arm or a pronounced place on my body because as an actress, I could get a role that doesn’t require me having a tattoo, I may try to use foundation to disguise it but it would not be the same. So many directors and producers have seen this and they said wow! They like it because I am unique, among other actresses.

Special treat.
I did mention it earlier that I am an adventurous person. I love having fun 24/7. I f I am not working or in school, I love having fun with my family and friends. We could go swimming, karaoking or clubbing. It’s good to ease off stress. I love having fun a lot.

Diet or exercise.
Well, I exercise and if I see that I am growing bigger, I try to watch what I eat. I don’t let everything go into my mouth.

Pains and gains of being a celebrity.
The pain is not being able to do what I used to do. I can no longer buy boli (roasted plantain) or yam and oil. Those are the things I love to buy. Also, you have to be careful of what you do and say as well as where you go because people tend to criticise you. Now to the gains, being a celebrity, you get a lot of recognition. Sometimes when you go to the store to buy some things, you will get it for free. You are also given preferential treatment when you go out.

What I will like to change about myself.
I will like to move closer to God. I love myself the way I am, everything is perfect.

Greatest physical asset.
My smile.

Coping with advances from men.
Whoa! It has not been easy. When they come, I chat with them but try to keep them at arm’s length. Once they step beyond the boundary, that is the end.

Marital status.
I am single. I’m not in any relationship but I believe and hope in God that I will tie the knot very soon. The man has to be handsome, tall, dark, educated and have a good sense of humour. He must be God-fearing, caring and understanding. He must also be comfortable so he can take care of me.

Culled from tribune

The SURE-P beneficiaries, majority of whom are graduates, are being engaged in dirty works by the PDP chieftains, who include the State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, ward chairmen and other notable stalwarts of the party.

Investigation revealed that some of the SURE-P volunteers have been turned to personal housemaids by the PDP chieftains, who do boast around that they are in charge of the SURE-P and they can decide the fate of the beneficiaries, according to sources.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that some of the SURE-P volunteers are currently working at Senator Iyiola Omisore’s Campaign Office as cleaners and office keepers, while some do report at the home of the PDP chairman for available assignments on daily basis.

The medium learnt that some of the SURE-P beneficiaries were deployed to a PDP leader in Eripa in Boluwaduro Local Government Council Area of the state, working as housemaids.

The party leader, known as Mr Simon Olawuyi Alabi, was chairman of Boluwaduro Local Government Council.

According to sources, the affected SURE-P beneficiaries were assigned to sweeping the PDP chairman’s private residence compound every morning, wash his cars and cut the grasses at the surroundings.
The development has attracted criticisms from members of the community, who felt the SURE-P volunteers are being cheated and maltreated by the PDP chieftain.

However, it was gathered that sweeping Alabi’s private residence is the daily work of the SURE-P beneficiaries, upon which they are being paid.

Commenting on the development, a resident of Eripa, who craved anonymity said: “The SURE-P issue brought to the fore the tyrannical and undemocratic nature of the PDP leaders.

“SURE-P is a Federal Government programme to absolve unemployed youths, most of whom are graduates. It is irritating and absurd to know that these SURE-P beneficiaries are now slaves and housemaid to the PDP leaders, who felt that the programme is for their party members alone.

“Some of the SURE-P beneficiaries have been brainwashed, threatened and intimidated by the PDP leaders to the extent that they believe the PDP is their employer and not the Federal Government, as a result of the party monopolizing the programme.”

By ismaeel uthman

Where did you get the title ‘Emperor’ from?

It was my friends in school that gave me the name. I used to lead my friends in acrobatic displays in school and I always won. They would hail me as Emperor Peter the Conqueror during my displays. Then we were in secondary school in Ipokia, Ogun State.

What about ‘Pick’?

When I left Pfizer Products in Ikeja in 1969, I bought a guitar at that time. I asked some musicians to teach me how to play the instrument but they turned me down. They said I was too small to play music on my own. So I started picking it on my own. That’s how I derived ‘Pick’ in my name. That is how I came to be known as Emperor Pick Peter. My real name is Peter Akanni Francis but I am not sure anyone will recognise me with that anymore.

By the time you bought the guitar, had you started singing?

I started singing when I was in secondary school. I was the leader of our school band at L. A. Secondary School, Ipokia, Ogun State. We were very active in entertaining people then. So, I began to get very active in music while I was still a student. In fact, at that time, anytime we were asked to state what we wanted to do, I would write that I wanted to be a musician. Music has been in me from youth. When I left Pfizer, I used the little money I gathered there as a factory worker to buy a box guitar at PZ shop in Lagos. I also bought sacks of gari and guguru (popcorn) for my boys and I. When we were hungry after rehearsals, we had something to eat. That was how we started.

And what did your parents do when you took to music at that time?

They didn’t know I was very serious about it until I waxed my first album. That was the time my family discovered that I had become a musician. For Nigerians who were old enough then, my first LP sold like hot cakes and that was in 1973. It was a chart buster here and abroad. Everybody was asking, ‘who is this man’? King Sunny Ade was jittery and confused because nobody ever really knew me until the album came out. That was because I never went to play with anybody and I did not learn my trade from anybody. That is why I got the ‘Pick’ in my name. I am a multi-instrumentalist and I learned everything on my own.

How did you then start?

I began to gather my boys together at Ipaye Street, Isale Oja, Agege, Lagos. We played at notable hotels and clubs in Lagos then. We played at Boundary Hotel, Temiogbe Hotel, Ludo Hotel, Empress Hotel and many other places in those days.

Why were you and Sunny Ade always having issues?

We were rivals in music then. Then, we were playing politics in music. We were friends notwithstanding the way we tackled each other. It is what can be described as musical politics. When Sunny Ade waxed his record, E kilo f’omo Ode, it was not new. Ambrose Campbell had done it before but what Sunny Ade did was to polish and modernise it.

But people said he was referring to you as ‘Omo Ode’ (hunter’s son)…

Let me tell you what happened. There was a day that I went to a party. They invited me and Admiral Dele Abiodun. I had earlier been invited to Abeokuta for an afternoon party before we came back to Lagos. At the party in Lagos in the night, we met Admiral Dele Abiodun who also came with his instruments. My instruments were so massive and sophisticated and the venue was too small for the two of us to set our instruments. While we were settling down, I told my boys to go and bring a giant jar of White Horse whiskey from my car. Dele Abiodun, all our band boys and I shared the drink and enjoyed ourselves. When it was midnight, I told him, ‘go and start playing; if you play for one hour, then I would play for one hour so that the stage would not be rowdy’. When my friend got to the stage, what came out of his mouth was ‘O jebi o jebi omo ode. A o le sinmi ote rara, boba le dogun ko dogun o, omo ode’. (Omo ode is guilty; we cannot forget enmity and if it wants to turn to war, I am ready). I was embarrassed as were my fans who were present at the party. They came to me and threatened that if I failed to reply Adawa (Dele Abiodun) point blank that night, they would leave my fans club and join his. I was very confused because I took their threat very seriously. I just boarded the Civilian bus which I just bought for my band boys and took a bottle of Johnny Walker. Though I was not a church person then, that day, I knew God. I asked Him for wisdom to be able to compose music that would suit the purpose that night. I went into deep thought and then, it came to my head, ‘E juba fomo ode, Peter… Omo ode de, omo eran da…’ I just jumped out of the vehicle and called my band boys and gave instructions about the new song we wanted to sing that night. In five minutes, we were through but Dele Abiodun refused to leave the stage for us. Then, I set up my own instruments and as I started, ‘E juba fomo ode, Peter,’ there was uproar and everybody left his stage and came to my side. That was how we faced each other until the end of the party. For more than two weeks, his vehicle was impounded by fans and hoodlums for attacking me openly after wining and drinking together. And what’s more, he had gone to the studio and waxed the record already without my knowledge. After a week or so, he released the record and that was when I realised fully that a war had started. It was Dele Abiodun that triggered the musical fight between me and King Sunny Ade. When Sunny Ade sang his ‘E kilo fomo Ode’, I did not read any meaning to it more than that he was refining an old song by Ambrose Campbell. But later, people were coming to tell me that I was the one that was called ‘Omo Ode’.

So you never called yourself Omo Ode?

Not at all; but when Dele Abiodun faced me and sang the way he did, I did not have any other choice than to face him and reply him, more so when my fans threatened to change camp if I failed to reply him.

If Dele Abiodun referred to you as ‘Omo Ode’, why did Sunny Ade join?

I didn’t believe Sunny Ade was referring to me until Dele Abiodun in my presence sang, ‘O jebi o jebi Omo ode (Omo Ode is guilty). We were at a burial party and I didn’t understand why he chose to go for such a song that was not relevant to the occasion. That was when I took it that he and Sunny Ade were referring to me as ‘Omo Ode’. My fans did not help matters either when they urged me to dare him by replying him right there. In those days, your fan club was your life wire as a showman. I felt so challenged that day but God gave me the answer. Even when the album came out, it turned out to be a chart buster. Through the record, I received awards in London.

After the show that day, did you and Dele Abiodun sit down and probably laugh over what happened?

How would that be possible when he had to run away and leave his boys? It was a war because all the hoodlums around who were also my fans impounded his instruments and vehicle.

You mentioned King Sunny Ade and Dele Abiodun. These two till date are still around, but we have not heard about you for a long time. What happened?

What happened to me can be described as one of life’s ups and downs but I thank God I am still alive. I experienced what I will describe as ‘wickedness in operation’. I fell sick and later travelled out of the country. When I came back, I went back to music. That time, it was a real war; you would be playing on stage and hired killers and others would come. But for the Grace of God, I could have gone to the great beyond ever since, but I have bounced back. Last year, I released ‘Igba Otun’. Tell anyone that cares to listen that Pick Peter is back and very hot.

It was rumoured that it was people like Sunny Ade that ‘buried’ your talent. Is that correct?

I don’t believe that was correct because my God is always with me. Nobody can bury my talent because nobody except God gave me the talent. I think what happened to me was just one of the low moments man experiences in life.

Then people said you were a threat to him.

I was not a threat to Sunny Ade. He plays music and I play music. Just like in your office, if somebody left and another person with the same qualification is employed, how can the newly employed be a threat to the one that left? He left TYC when the agreement was not yet ended and they took him to court. When I waxed my first record under another company, the record sold like hot cakes and shook the entire country. TYC discovered me and I went there to record my album, how did that translate to a threat?

Now that all of you are senior citizens, do you fellowship together?

We are friends now; we go to the same meeting and we dine and wine together. Those days are gone. I think we did what we did because we were all struggling for money at that time. We were struggling for survival because we were still very young.

How busy is Pick Peter now?

I am fully engaged now and I play at this club regularly for my fans. We usually go on musical tours around the country. The ‘Igba Otun’ I released last July is doing very well in the market.

If you look back, what would you say music has done for you?

Plenty. I trained all my children from my earnings; I have about six graduates as children, what else do I want? I can count a number of houses that God built for me through music and many other things, apart from fame. I have travelled very widely.

You said you are back, but what else do you want to achieve at this age. This is something you were expected to have done as a young artiste?

God’s time is the best. Can’t you see my father in music, Fatai Rolling Dollar, making waves all over the place? He is above 80 and is still waxing strong. He is an example to everybody that at the God’s appointed time, His will shall be done. As you are looking at me here, I am marching forward. My fan base is still very strong.

But placed side by side with Fuji music, Juju music seems to have taken a dip. Do you agree?

Of course, I agree and I will give you the reason for saying so. The unfriendliness in the camp of Juju musicians is the reason for that and that is what is killing the music. When one is successful, he would make everything possible to ensure that the others don’t grow. If you look at the industry today, apart from Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey, who else is there? Shina Peters was able to come out the way he did because of the change in style when he brought in Afro Juju. That was a powerful manoeuvre and it turned out to be a success.

Are you ready to change yours too?

No, I still maintain my old style and my fans are happy with me. Sometimes ago, I went to play at Ile Oluji, Ondo State and I tried to change my style by introducing a few things, but my fans told me they were satisfied with my old tunes. Emperor Pick Peter is the same old guitarist and I remain in my old line. Just as Fuji music has its own fans, Juju too has its own fans. The space is wide enough for everyone to play their own game. But now we have formed Juju Music Association so that we can reengineer our act. You will notice that people no longer enter the studio to record except Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. That was why I decided to enter the studio last year to wax a record. That is a way to show people that you are still alive. When I did the record last year, some people were surprised that I am still in this country. I am back and waxing strong now. All I need are support and promoters.

Apart from music, what else do you do?

I don’t do any other thing except music. Apart from playing music, I am a producer and I help upcoming ones.

Do you think you would have risen above this level if you had a good education?

Forget about that, education does not make you a millionaire and neither does it make you a poor person. It is relative. Some people are graduates and they are not millionaires. I think I have had enough that can last me a lifetime. But I thank God that my children are well trained and are doing well here and abroad.

How did you play your part with women as a famous musician?

There is no way you can make it in music if women don’t support you. They are very important and as a reasonable artiste, you have to be friendly with them. They have to support you and when they support you, you can be sure that men will flock around you. But at the same time too, you should know how to play the game because many of them would want you for themselves. In my own case, I have one wife.

Why only one wife?

I just couldn’t deal with two wives because I am too soft. I am happy with the one that I married and she had children for me.

How many of your children are into music?

I have one who is a music producer. Others are multi-instrumentalists just like me. They are schooling too but I encourage them to play music.

If you see Sunny Ade now, will you embrace?

We eat together, including Dele Abiodun. When he wanted to open his new house in Ogba, I was there with my band boys and I bought drinks and we had fun.

Is it too much for you to ask Sunny Ade for help with his platform to re-launch your career?

I had sought help from him before, but he failed me. Since then, I have stopped asking anybody for anything. I wait for my time and it has come now.

Before you go on stage, what do you take to enhance your performance?

When I was still very young, I used to take hot drinks before mounting the stage. That time, I played my guitar six hours nonstop. I still do that now. But now that I am of age, I only take malt before I play. Alcohol doesn’t work with my system again, especially hot drinks. I occasionally take beer.

Do you have any regret?

I don’t have any regret because I thank God for my life. I thank God because when I was sick, I didn’t know I would survive it. God has been very faithful and I have no regret or bitterness.

Indeed, police commands in all the states in the zone have stepped up surveillance around worship centres while churches and communities have been asked to be vigilant.

Specifically, worshippers were advised not to allow anyone to charge phones or any electronic device in churches during church service.

In Ogun State, a team of heavily armed policemen was sighted at the Christ Anglican Church, Ogere Remo, during the Good Friday service. The officers told the sexton as well as some youths of the church to be on the lookout for strangers who might disguise as worshippers to execute terrorist attacks on their church.

The policemen exchanged phone numbers with the youth and told them to call their hotlines if they suspected any strange occurrence, adding that the current security situation in the country calls for increased vigilance on the part of all.

“In case you see anybody who is not a member of your church, kindly query such person. Also, if anybody says he or she wants to come and charge his or her phone and you know very well that the person is not your member, politely turn the person back. Don’t allow anyone plug any unfamiliar device in your church,” one of the policemen told them.

The same policemen were also later sighted at the Ogere Central Mosque, close to the former tollgate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where they combed the vicinity during the Friday prayer service.

In a chat, the Divisional Police Officer, Ogere divisional headquarters, John Oluwole told Saturday Tribune that the patrol was as a result of the directive from the Force Headquarters, communicated to the divisions and police formations through the state command.

He added that his men had also begun the patrol of churches during vigils – all in efforts to avoid being caught unawares by suicide bombers and unscrupulous individuals.

Ogun State Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, who would not confirm the police warning to churches, however, said “the Ogun State Police Command has adopted a security method to ensure that peace reigns supreme in this state. We are working with all sectors to ensure that there is peace in this state.”

Also, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba, said the state command had stepped up surveillance and deployed more policemen to ensure effective security of life and property during the Easter period.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune in a telephone interview, the commissioner said no stone would be left unturned to guarantee a hitch-free Easter celebration in the state.

Mrs. Gimba said the state command would intensify its mobile patrol throughout the state, and work round the clock to ensure peace and tranquillity in the state.

“As usual, we will increase our surveillance, through patrols and explore intelligence reports to nip in the bud any act of criminality, while we will also deploy more men to strengthen the security in Osogbo, the state capital, and other communities.

“As expected, there will be more influx of eminent personalities into the state from Abuja, Lagos and other cities, and as such, we are ready as always to make sure that the security here is not breached. I can assure you that we are up to the task to discharge our duties and responsibilities efficiently, as far as the security of the state is concerned.”

In Lagos State, since police recovered bombs and AK-47 rifles in Ijora area of the state, the state command has continued to conduct raids on hideouts suspected to be operational bases of terrorists in the state; but it has insisted that such actions were just routine exercises.

Ninety two people from Chad, Mali, Republic of Niger and the northern part of Nigeria were arrested, while many of them have been deported by the Lagos State command of the Nigeria Immigration Service

Saturday Tribune gathered that the state police command has directed all area commanders and DPOs to properly monitor all religious institutions and public places.

“Policemen have been directed to ensure surveillance and routine patrol around places like churches, shopping malls and market places during the Easter celebrations,” a police source told Saturday Tribune.

In Oyo State, the police on Friday went round the state capital, Ibadan, and other towns with heavily armed anti-crime operatives and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) on a ‘show of force,’ as a way of sending warning signals to criminals.

When the Saturday Tribune called the Deputy Commissioner in charge of administration, Mr Clement Adoda, he confirmed the development, saying that it was to show that the police were prepared repel any criminal acts.

He added that all DPOs had been instructed to remain at their duty posts and to make their offices their homes for the Easter period.

“We are trying to replicate what we did during the Christmas and New Year festivities,” he disclosed further.

On measures being taken against terrorism, Mr Adoda said the fight against terrorism is an intelligence war and not the type fought on the pages of newspapers.

“We have put in place measures but we cannot disclose them. We will go by intelligence gathering and community policing, working hand-in-hand with other security agencies and different strata of the society.

“We have heard what happened in Lagos; we have studied it and we have drafted our own strategies to suit our purpose in the state,” the deputy commissioner stated further.

He revealed that the command’s strategy paid off on Thursday with the interception of a vehicle that was snatched within the capital, in less than 30 minutes after the robbery.

Adoda added that another vehicle which was snatched in another state and was being taken across Oyo State was also recovered at the Ibadan end tollgate, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday, while two suspects were arrested.

Source: Tribune

The minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, is on a five-day tour of the Niger Delta states to present copies of the Niger Delta Action Plan to the governors of the states, as well as intimate them on the forthcoming National Council of Niger Delta Conference which comes up from 21st to 26th April 2013.

However, you would not know about any of this by visiting the Ministry of Niger Delta website, which was last updated with news on February 8th, almost 50 days ago, even though the site claims to be “the most comprehensive online source of information on and around Niger Delta region.”

Anyway, one of the big questions concerning Orubebe’s tour was whether he was going to visit Rivers state, and if he did, whether the governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi would welcome him. The duo were involved in a well-publicised verbal joust in January 2013, a batlle which arose from Amaechi’s criticism of the minister’s performance especially as regards completing the East West road.

It gradually degenerated from that to a full blown war over the 2015 elections with Orubebe describing Rivers as a ‘slum’ and accusing the governor of offering bribes and disrespecting President Jonathan.
On Wednesday however, the minister showed up in Rivers state, and was warmly received by the governor. No mention was made of their previous spat. In fact, Amaechi declared a new position which was clearly at odds with the one he held in January.

In January, Amaechi said this about Orubebe and his stewardship in the federal cabinet:
“Minister Orubebe’s imprudent and reckless attacks on the person of Governor Amaechi is a dubious but obvious attempt by the minister to divert attention from his abysmal failure to deliver on the East- West road. This callous attempt to drag the President’s name into it is what is most disrespectful and irresponsible.

“I challenge Minister Orubebe to show the world projects he started and completed in the Niger-Delta as Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs. I challenge Minister Orubebe to show the world one project he started and completed in Rivers State with the huge resources allocated to his ministry,” he said.

But in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Amaechi congratulated the minister for his “transformative approach towards fast tracking rapid development in the Niger Delta.”

Gov. Amaechi did not exactly state what has changed in the last two months that has converted Orubebe from an “incompetent” to a “transformative” leader.

Amaechi said the Action plan could be a signature plan. He charged the minister to be proactive as this is the chance the Niger Delta has to rapidly develop, or else it will be a case of “Physician heal yourself.”

On his part, the minister stressed on the need for collaboration and partnership. He said that the Niger Delta Action Plan would act as framework for the development of the region.

“We were in Cross Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Imo State before coming to Rivers State. As I go round, I see the feelings of the governors of the Niger Delta and their people.

“I quickly understand. Judging from the history of the Niger Delta; we are talking about from 1957 till date. Our visit today is to hand over the Niger Delta Action plan to you and to appeal that you work together with us as a team to do those things that should be done for our people and Nigerians generally.”