Though older than Dokubo, the 76-year-old famous Professor of Virology is forbidden from disrespecting the former rebel leader on account of his position in the family hierarchy as an Alabo or high traditional title holder.

Updating his Facebook friends on his public quarrel with his uncle, the 48 years old Dokubo said: “In Kalabari an Alabo in any family is older than the oldest member of the family…. The Alapus are the Fathers and Leaders of the family. It is a grave offence for a member of a family to insult or disrespect his Alabo….if it happens it will lead to death or banishment of the member….if he sort (sic) refuge with another family, town or Kingdom it will lead to serious crisis or even War….I was collectively made an Alabo in Kio Idoniboye-Obu family and Compound in Obuama and Buguma…..I am also an Alabo of Soku and the Idiomu Family the ancestral home of our progenitor….Soku Itaria….all these without any lobby from me.”

According to Dokubo, “Chidiadi sort (sic) to be Alabo in Kio Idoniboye-Obu compound and family in Obuama and Buguma….He was rejected by the family…..Any day he comes home he will be questioned about his unbecoming attitude….As long as Chidiadi (a.k.a Tam David-West) continue (sic) to insult and respect known Kalabari institutions he will be treated as the bastard that he is.”

As previously reported by News Express, the quarrel started when David-West demanded Dokubo’s trial for treason for declaring that there would be war and the consequent break-up of Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015. David-West, at various times Minister for Petroleum and for Mines, Power, and Steel, has promised to soon publish a dossier on Dokubo entitled “The Demystification of Asari-Dokubo.”

Source: News Express

In this interview with The Entertainer, Adeolu, a cultural ambassador to the Ondo State government bares his mind on his career, his past, and his relationship with God among others.

Excerpts:

In the beginning I was born on May 9, over four decades ago. I hail from Ondo State and I read Guardian and Counselling at the Ondo State University (OSUT). But I was already acting before I concluded my university education because of the passion I had for the entertainment industry even when I was growing up. For me, growing up was like fun because I had time for myself and to the glory of God, I’m able to achieve what I have set my mind to achieve in the industry.

Today, I’m one of the Ondo State Cultural Ambassadors for Culture and Tourism. The Ondo State government under Governor Olusegun Mimiko honoured a few of us making the state proud in the industry and it was interesting that people up there could appreciate us.

I feel humbled by the honour.

How I got into acting

Before I got into acting, my aim was to make a name for my children, my grandchildren and myself. I have set my mind to make a name they can live on, even when I’m no more. I had wished that my name could help my generation and the next generation after me.

So, I developed the interest because of the passion I have for the entertainment industry. My secondary school days were at the Baptist Academy. Then, and even when I was a Higher Student Certificate (HSC) student, I used to attend the Baptist Church.

I was one of the instrumentalists at the Baptist Church in FESTAC Town then. As a choir leader of the church, I later met Niyi Ojemakinde, the broadcaster, who also was a choir leader in another church, also in FESTAC. That was how we met and started a dancing crew named Monidex. We gathered quite a number of young boys and girls and floated the group.

At the time, we were also young, and we were just enjoying ourselves. But the passion, the interest later grew beyond that and we later invited Mr. Antar Tunde Laniyan to be our trainer. He was to train us and put us through since he was a professional.

That was how it all started sometimes in the late ‘80s. But interestingly, Antar saw the talent in me. He noticed the passion that drove me and quickly developed a special interest in me. He immediately took me on and I became what I am today.

Those who made me First, my parents are wonderful. They gave me the time to express my God-given talent. Antar Laniyan also played a very important role in my life. He was like a mini-god that held my hand and led me to my destiny. At a particular time in my life and career, he’ll be there to play the role of this messiah. So, he has been wonderful to me.

For instance, the first film I featured in was Ida Oluwa. The late Funmi Martins produced it. Antar Laniyan was the director. So, he really played wonderful roles in my life. My wife has been wonderful too. She remains my very close friend and has played the role of a mother, a wife and a friend. We are that close and God has on so many occasions used her to touch my life positively.

Apart from acting…

I am a total entertainer in the real sense of the word.

I do general entertainment, I have a band, I compere events as a Master of Ceremonies, and I cover events and manage events. And as an event manager, I do all sorts of entertainment. I’m not an office person. I am involved in entertainment at all levels.

How I get inspired God inspires me. I’m also inspired by the script from the director. Let me say for instance, in one of the movies I featured in not long ago, I played the role of a blind man. It was in the movie entitled Agbaakin, a Yoruba movie.

It eventually turned out to be a fantastic role because I did it differently. In the movie, as a blind man I didn’t wear eyeglasses. I opened my eyes and it worked. I did it perfectly. Most times, I like to be different in whatever I do. For me, money is not the determinant factor.

Money matters because I have to pay some bills, but I don’t see it as the most important factor to whatever I do in life. I’m not that rich but I’m comfortable and I enjoy what I do for a living. That’s where I derive my joy. So, for whatever role I play in movies, I’m inspired by God.

For instance, if a certain producer invites me for a role in a movie, I don’t charge a constant figure. It all depends on my mood. It depends on how rich I am at that particular point in time. More so, if I like a script, I will do it. Sometimes, my fees are high and sometimes they are not. But I thank God that I’m still relevant in the industry.

My social life I’m not a party person, but I do attend parties every weekend as a Master of Ceremonies and Event Manager. Sometimes, I attend family outings when I’m invited. What I value most I value what people say about me when I’m not around.

What people say about me matters most. So, I make sure that in everything I do, people must see me as a role model. I want to be real and original in everything I do. I don’t pretend and I hate pretenders. My most memorable day That was the day I got married. It was on December 18, 2004, about nine years ago. That was the day I got married to the only friend I had. She’s very close to my heart. She’s Mrs. Victoria Adeolu Adegeye from Akwa Ibom State.

My God and me

I’m a religious person. I attend church always. I am a devoted member and worker in a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in my area. My wife is even a very active member of the church. In truth, I don’t joke when it comes to the issue of my relationship with God. Sometimes I go on long days of dry fasting while on location, without eating anything. It’ll never affect my mood even when I’m on set.

That’s me. For instance in my church, we do our annual 21 days of fasting and prayer and most of the times, it coincides with the days I would have to be on location. I don’t break the fast, and it has never affected the role I play or how I act in movies.

Source: The Sun

It has never happened and will never happen or the President concerned will be impeached by the Congress irrespective of party affiliation. A civilised set-up, American security establishment serves the country including the President, but not necessarily the President to be barking down orders to or humiliate state governors.”

The current disagreement between Goodluck Jonathan and Chibuike Amaechi has once again provoked the need to clearly embrace the constitutional tie between a Nigerian President and a State governor as spelt out in the Constitution and not as it has been wrongly presumed to be, since the days of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Since those days, it was always argued and enlightened in this column that state governors must not render themselves subservient to the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria, moreso as each of the two groups, even if members of the same political party, had autonomous mandate.

It is natural for anybody in Jonathan’s position to resist any challenge, especially within their PDP, to his continued stay in office but it is not a political/constitutional offence for anybody, still within their party to challenge Jonathan. Even where Jonathan employs state machinery to keep himself in office, such an exercise must be strictly within the provisions of Nigerian Constitution.

Even despite his denial or at least non-confirmation, it is possible for Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, to support another PDP candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

The general speculation is that Amaechi is a possible vice-presidential candidate. In the ensuing slowdown, it is natural that Amaechi will reckon with the tight-hold on his immediate constituency, specifically, the leadership of the state House of Assembly. Still, none of these partings of ways confers on President Jonathan the power to exceed his authority under the constitution.

The situation as of today is that Jonathan is doing exactly just that, by tampering with the composition of the security personnel of the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly. The implication is that Jonathan wrongly assumes that he, as President of the Republic, has the power to withdraw the security personnel of the Speaker. Nobody should swallow the afterthought, a pure lie that the controversy was whether mobile policemen or special protection unit should comprise the security outfit around the Speaker.

If the controversy over the attempt to withdraw the Speaker’s security was not challenged, the next to have his security outfit withdrawn would have been and may still be the governor himself, Chibuike Amaechi.

When a president or state governor engages in illegality and therefore violates the constitution for self-serving purposes, it is clearly an impeachable offence. But, the problem is that we are too timid to allow the Nigerian constitution operate fully.

In the current crisis, it is a matter for the National Assembly and the state governors to halt a rampaging president from exercising any authority beyond his constitutional limit. If it is to be repeated, Jonathan is only engaging in the same illegality ex-President Obasanjo was allowed to get away with when he similarly withdrew the security personnel of (the then) vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

Failure of National Assembly to check Obasanjo with the only weapon – impeachment proceedings – accounts for the current repeat. Goodluck Jonathan is on the same course. Whatever their clash, who is that American president to withdraw or even attempt to withdraw the security personnel of a state governor? It has never happened and will never happen or the president concerned will be impeached by the Congress, irrespective of political affiliation.

A civilised set-up, American security establishment, for example, serves the country, including the president, but not necessarily the president to be barking down orders against a state governor. In fact, the moment a party’s candidate wins his party’s nomination for sensitive positions (presidency, governorship or congressional membership), secret servicemen immediately assume all responsibilities for his security and do not wait for a president, who may not be there tomorrow, to give them the necessary order.

No American president can therefore withdraw an order he did not give in the first place. What is more, it is the responsibility of the president to guarantee every citizen’s security. In Nigeria’s case, it is the statutory entitlement of a state governor or Speaker of the House of Assembly to be secured by the relevant authorities. Such security does not emanate from Aso Rock as some kind of welfare or at the whims and caprice of a president.

And, if assumed that he can withdraw the security personnel of a state governor, can the National Assembly – the only body authorised to discipline a president – also withdraw the security outfit of a president? A state governor’s official entitlement to security personnel does not, therefore, derive from any president. Anything in violation of that strict convention is reckless abuse of office and gross misconduct, the punishment for which is clearly spelt out in the constitution.

Until we establish that legal/constitutional imperative, we will always have political tension generated at will by a president thumbing our face.

Rivers State police commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, seems to be doing the job for President Jonathan as he (Mbu) now tells us the difference between six and half a dozen. If the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly feels threatened or insecure, only he can determine whether he prefers special protection unit to mobile policemen or the other way round.

When did Police Commissioner Mbu become aware that the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly wants only a particular security personnel different from the one promised by the police? When the Speaker was found on the governor’s side in the disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan?

When did police authorities discover that inappropriate police personnel were guarding the Speaker and, therefore, needed to be changed? So far, Jonathan is still vacillating on whether or when to extend the political victimisation to Governor Amaechi, because of gradually increasing public criticisms.

Herein come the other thirty-five state governors. Why have they failed to take a stand to assert their entitlement to security details as of right under the constitution and not as slaves at the mercy of President Jonathan? These state governors must see early enough beyond their noses.

The suicidal venture of the state governors is to regard the developing showdown as personal between Goodluck Jonathan and Chibuike Amaechi. Instead, what is involved is the supremacy of our constitution on the limits of a president in wielding power over the states and state governors.

If Jonathan succeeds in violating the constitutional right of a state governor and his entitlement to official security, all other governors would have reduced themselves to no more than donkeys to be whipped about by Jonathan.

It is a lesson for the governors. It is even more compelling for Speaker Tambuwal of the House of Representatives to take a public stand on the fate of the current Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly. Why are the Speakers of Federal and State Houses of Assembly too scared of Aso Rock? Their colleague in Rivers State is under fire, which if left unchecked, will consume them one by one in the future.

At their gathering tomorrow for the election of a chairman for the authentic Governors’ Forum, the only contribution they can make to the development of political Constitutionalism, is to take a public stand on whether a president has the constitutional power to withdraw the security personnel of a state governor.

In defence of President Jonathan

The main expectation of Nigerians from anybody in President Goodluck Jonathan’s position is to be fair and just to ordinary citizens in the discharge of his duties, not the least in this period of emergency in operation in some parts of the country: Yet, for employing fairness and justice in the current onslaught against the Boko Haram dissidents, Jonathan come under unnecessary and unjustified criticisms.

It must, of course, be conceded that the criticisms were partly caused by the initial needless hype of the military crackdown on the Boko Haram elements. All the same, Jonathan rightly ordered the release of wives children of, and even some suspected Boko Haram activists.

Despite the prevailing emergency regime, what is in place is not martial law(s). It is, therefore, logical that any arrested or detained suspect is still entitled to legal obligation of being considered innocent until he or she is proved guilty by the State.

Such proof of guilty, even if established through interrogation, would still need to be validated in a court of law. And the state, moreso under an emergency, would not risk a doubtful case in a court of law, only for the accused to be discharged and acquitted. When were these suspects arrested? That could be anytime from the day Jonathan proclaimed the emergency to three years ago.

In the interim, the suspects must have been interrogated. If they were found culpable, they would and should have been tried in a court of law. But apparently, after being subjected to what must have been rigorous interrogation by security operatives, they (the suspects) were found innocent. Jonathan, therefore, rightly ordered their release.

What was wrong with that? Even worse was the case of the wives and children.

What did they have to do with the bombing exploits of their husbands and fathers? So far, despite the propaganda in some cases, neither the Federal Government nor the army ever claimed to have found women – be they wives or daughters – involved in the Boko Haram insurgency. Did Boko Haram have to demand their release before they were set free? There is a possible official reason, for taking in the children along with their mothers.

If left behind, the babies might end up abandoned, aimlessly roaming about, hungry and possibly kidnapped by criminals. Detaining them with their mothers avoided such human agony.

But, as the mothers were found to be no longer needed for interrogation, Jonathan should, in fact, be commended for ordering their release. There is this loose reference to victims of Boko Haram’s serial violence on innocent churchgoers, passers-by and bystanders. Yes, they did not deserve their fate. But Boko Haram is no Federal Government.

Boko Haram could risk suicide, revenge attacks, torture and trial for crimes against humanity. Jonathan cannot drop to that level. What is more, if Boko Haram elements are assured of amnesty and re-integration into society by the same President Goodluck Jonathan, releasing innocent ones among the suspects is one sure way to demonstrate his (Jonathan’s) sincerity.

It was, therefore, correct to release the innocent suspects. Or, when did it become a crime in Nigeria to be the spouse or offspring of a suspected criminal even if (the suspect, that is) an eventually established Boko Haram bomber? Only the guilty or at least culpable should be made to face the law.

Achebe devalues Nobel Prize

The man who matters most in Africa or, indeed, the world said it all when in his tribute, Nelson Mandela described Chinua Achebe as the father of African literature.

Achebe, who died over a month ago, was interned in his hometown, Ogidi, Anambra State yesterday at a well-attended ceremony. Since his death, Chinua Achebe (has) attracted worthy tributes from all over the world, some one hundred into which languages his maiden book had been translated.

There might, therefore, seem no more to add. But then, that would not be Chinua Achebe. No matter the volume of tributes already poured, there would always be something unique to say about the man, which would not be a repeat, even if not much.

For example, the fact that Chinua Achebe was not awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature was seen by many as inadequate evaluation of his status as a literary giant.

It is not easy to agree with that submission, because the wrong impression would be created that awarding him the Nobel Prize would do him some favour. And, even if lobbying would earn an awardee the Nobel Prize, (there is no evidence to prove that), Chinua Achebe’s well-known reputation was such that he would not lobby. Awarding Achebe the Nobel Peace Prize could, therefore, only have enhanced the value of the annual award.

Correspondingly, against general view of intellectuals all over the world, not awarding the Nobel Prize to Chinua Achebe, only self-depreciated the annual literary prize. Henceforth, any other awardee announced would be weighed critically, but surely not as superior if not inferior to Achebe’s universally acclaimed status.

Then, there was this almost unnoticed conspiracy on the domestic scene usually aimed at harming Chinua Achebe’s prospects of being awarded the Nobel Prize. The conspiracy was that weeks to the announcement of annual awardees, a story would be planted in a section of the media building around him (Achebe) some kind of political partisanship. Achebe himself had occasions to angrily dispel such publications.

Those were mischief makers at work, perhaps out of envy, to discredit the man’s merit for the award. The same mischief makers were probably at work to deliberately diminish large scale Federal Government involvement in the burial arrangements.

Again, another story was planted in the media quoting an unidentified Achebe family source as insinuating that the offer of substantially financing the deceased’s burial ceremonies would be exploited by Federal Government officials to enrich themselves.

The instant reaction was the obvious minimal or non-Federal Government involvement in the burial ceremonies. By the way, only Chinua Achebe could have devalued the merit of the annual Nobel Prize.

Source: The Sun

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance

The 2013 budget made provision for an aggregate expenditure of N4.987 trillion, representing an increase of 6.2 per cent over the N4.697 trillon appropriated for 2012.

This is made up of N387.97 billion for statutory transfers; N591.76 billion for debt servicing; and N2.38 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, of which N1.717 trillion is the provision for personnel cost, while overhead cost is to gulp N208.9 billion.

Similarly, a total of N1.62 trillion was provided for capital expenditure in addition to the N273.5 billion budgeted for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

The gross federally collectible revenue is projected at N11.34 trillion, of which the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s budget is N4.1 trillion.

According to the statement, the prompt release of funds will ensure progress in the execution of capital projects captured in the budget.

Of the N400 billion released for the first quarter, Okonjo-Iweala said N335 billion had been cash-backed, while 65 per cent of the cash-backed portion had been utilised by ministries, departments and agencies of government.

The statement also said that a total of N72.7 billion had so far been paid to the Federal Ministry of Power to cover various items necessary for the implementation of the Power Roadmap.

The amount, she said, included the sum of N45 billion paid to workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria as part of the power privatisation programme and the sum of N5 billon paid for the Multi Year Tariff Order.

“Other beneficiaries include the Power Ministry headquarters, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, National Rural Electrification Agency, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, National Power Training Institute, National Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE and Bulk Trader,” the minister said.

A breakdown of the N72.7 billon shows that N59.089 billon was paid in the first quarter, while N13.733 billon has so far been paid for the second quarter.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who signed the 2013 budget amidst reservation, had sent an amendment supplementary version to the National Assembly to address grey areas in the one earlier passed by lawmakers.

The grey areas include reduction in personnel cost; reallocation of capital expenditure by lawmakers and reallocation of the budget for the SURE-P.

The Finance minister had in a presentation on the 2013 budget said the government remained focused on critical economic and social sectors driven largely by private sector activities.

To achieve this, she had said N497 billon was allocated to key infrastructure, including power, works, transport, aviation, gas pipelines; the Federal Capital Territory; human capital development i.e. education and health, N705 billon; and agriculture/water resources, N175 billon.

Okonjo-Iweala had said, “We recognise that Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit remains one of the binding constraints to growth in the economy. Therefore, our strategy is to prioritise infrastructure investments in the budget, and also to leverage additional external financing for infrastructure investments in the country.

“For example, the budget 2013 has some important infrastructure projects in the transportation sector, such as the second Niger Bridge.”

Source: Nigeria Communication Week

The grooming ground for prostitution in Nigeria today is the University as many girls now go to school with “my own money” when they are not known to be employed in any company.

They survive through “runs”. Some parents even ask for money from such girls.

OluFamous.Com have just learned that another gang rape incident has been recorded and this time it started with the girls going behind closed doors for lesbianism…

The guys invaded their lesbianism hideout and what followed is another case of rape and recording of three girls, said to be students of University of Benin, being molested, dehumanized and tortured.

The video have been blurred to hide the identity of the girls. The police is investigating the matter.

Borno, Adamawa, Yobe governors

The action by the two chambers of the National Assembly was upon the adoption of the conference report of the two chambers of the details of the state of emergency proclamation announced by President Goodlcuk Jonathan penultimate Tuesday.

Under the arrangement agreed by the two chambers, the governors and elected council chairmen will also not be entitled to the money for developments in their respective states and local governments except for payment of salaries to workers, as the money will be channeled towards the maintenance of security men deployed to restore peace in the troubled states.

The governors are also expected to receive instructions on the day to day running of their states from the President.

The conference report was adopted by the two houses yesterday without debate.

Senator Ita Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, who presented the report in the Senate, said the joint conference committee of the two houses adopted the version of the House which gives the President out-right power to issue directives to the governors as he may desires.

The report was adopted in the House following the presentation of the same report by Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP Sokoto) who stood in for the committee chairman, Sam Tsokwa.

According to the report, the President also reserved right to “take possession of any property or undertaking in the emergency area, provide for application of any law in relation to that area as well as detention, removal or exclusion of any person from the emergency area.”

The Federal Government, through the President, according to the report, can also order the arrest and trial of anyone who contradicts its order and also make provision for the utilisation of any state or local government in emergency area just as he can order any premises to be searched as he deems necessary.

The report added that: “The President may give directions to a state governor or local government chairman directly or through his designate or a duly authorised person with respect to the administration of the emergency area in matters of public order, peace and security only and it shall be the duty of the state governor or local government chairman to comply with the directive.

“The President may make such orders as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of maintaining and securing peace, public order and public safety in the emergency area”.

Source: Vanguard

Ghanaian President John Mahama (R) waves to the crowd as he arrives accompanied by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to attend the funeral service for writer Chinua Achebe at Ogidi, Anambra State.AFP PHOTO.

Achebe’s burial attracted President Goodluck Jonathan, Ghanaian counterpart, John Mahama, former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Governors Roachas Okorocha of Imo, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and the host, Peter Obi of Anambra State

Other prominent Nigerians present include labour minister, Emeka Wogu, Minister of state for foreign affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Power minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Centsral, Senator Andy Uba representing Anambra South, former governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former MAMSER Director General, Prof Elochukwu Amaucheazi, Prof Laz Ekwueme, among others.

All through his very eventful life, Achebe lived the life of a writer and scholar.

Though not overtly stated, however, the parading of some uniform-wearing political party members became something of concern that the burial of such an intellectual has been politicized.

With the presence of many governorship aspirants, including Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, Uche Ekwunife, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Chris Ngige, among others, the atmosphere of St. Philip’s Church was politically charged as their supporters danced round the area in various uniforms with photographs of their candidates.

Notable Absence

Achebe’s burial also attracted members of the clergy, the diplomatic corps from Canada, Germany, America and Ghana. It was also noticed that Professor Wole Soyinka and Prof John Pepper Clark did not attend the burial.

The absence of Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka and Prof John Pepper Clark at the occasion, to many was worrisome. The quartet of Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Clark and Chris Okigbo shaped the character and direction of modern African literature.

While Achebe and Okigbo are now late, Soyinka and Clark were the faces highly sought after by many at the event.

Death and Forgiveness

In his sermon, Most Reverend Dr. Ikechi Nwosu, the Archbishop of Aba Diocese, who represented the Primate of Anglican Church in Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, commended President Jonathan for what he described as his large heartedness bothering on spirit of forgiveness.
Apparently referring to the late Achebe’s rejection of the national honours, Okoh noted that it showed forgiveness of heart that the President would still be present to honour the burial of the late icon.

While thanking the number one citizen for his unmatched gesture, the bishop also enjoined other Nigerians to show love and emulate the spirit of forgiveness as a way of moving the country foreword.

Nwosu said Igbo must give special thanks to God for making Achebe come from this part of the world.
He said: “Many of us gained so much from his knowledge. He was a Christian to the core and a man of great social standing.
Dwelling on the theme, “Chinua Achebe, a parable to the Nigerian nation,” Archbishop Nwosu observed that the late writer used so many parables in his books and could have fitted properly as a pastor.

According to him, Achebe had a foundation of the Bible flowing in him which was why he was actually inspired in his writings.
He said further: “We may narrate all our woes as a nation, but with determination, we will excel. Achebe was determined and that was why he excelled and so shall it be for Nigeria .

“He also proved that there is no end to one’s exploits in life. Whatever God has designed that we will be in life, that we will surely become. Achebe worked so hard to encourage so many people. He was a husband, a father and above all, a practical man.

He said further: “Achebe loved Nigeria so much and wanted things to works well. Please do not count anything against him. He meant well for our country.”

The cleric said though Achebe was not a politician and did not aspire for anything, he was appreciated more than most political leaders.

Jonathan speaks

In his speech, President Jonathan said the late literary icon, abhorred bad leadership and observed that the greatest honour Nigerians could do for him was to change from their bad behaviour.

The president said though there had been so much comment on Achebe’s last book, ‘There was a country’, part of which he read at the church, he asked, Have we changed from what Achebe complained about?

He said: ”Those of us who are political, business and religious leaders must work hard to change our behavious. Our 2011 elections showed that we can change. If we can conduct free and fair election and change politicians for the better, our country will be better.
The president, who said he read Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ as a secondary school student in 1972, described him as a great philosopher who used his books to tell stories that make great impact on the lives of the people.

To the Ghanaian president, John Mahama who also attended the burial ceremony, Achebe was a great inspiration to him. He said: “Though we never met physically, we were speaking on phone. Achebe was to deliver a lecture in Ghana, but could not do it before his death.

“I am grateful to God for the life of Achebe and the way he chose to live his life. He was much more than a writer and we thank Achebe for showing us that we can be ourselves.”
Both President Jonathan and President Mahama of Ghana, promised to rebuild the Akpakaogwe Primary School, Ogidi which Achebe attended.

Obi commends
Jonathan

Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said by personally attending the burial and attracting another president, Jonathan had shown a rare sense of leadership, which no other president would have done.

Obi said: “The love you are showing to Igbo is a life line which we will never forget. For what you are doing for us, we will continue to be behind you.”
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, presented all the condolence registers signed for Achebe in all the Nigerian missions abroad to the eldest son of Achebe, Dr. Ikechukwu Achebe.

There was, however, an uproar when the minister, apparently out of excitement, said the registers were so many that they could not even be contained in a ‘Ghana Must Go’, which sent the whole congregation, into laughter including the Ghanaian President, John Mahama, who was in the church with his aides from his country.

Realizing the slip, Mrs. Onwuliri quickly apologized, saying she did not mean to be disrespectful to the president of Ghana.
The President’s aircraft touched down at 11.05am, heralding the ringing of the church bell for the commencement of the church service. The brown casket bearing the body of Achebe was carried by eight young men in suits with purple shirts to match.

The service started at 11.30am with Achebe’s elder sister, Ezinne Zinobia Ikpeze on wheel chair leading other members of the family. Their dress was different from what they wore at the Ekwueme square in Awka, when the body arrived from Enugu on Wednesday.

Achebe’s eldest son, Ikechukwu, read the only lesson at the church service taken from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 7 Verse 9 –end.
Achebe’s widow, Christy rendered a special song in honour of her husband which according to her she sang last when she renewed her marriage vow with Chinua Achebe.

His remains were later buried after the Church service at the Mousoleum built in his compound.

Source: Vanguard

Sources said though Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State had also indicated interest in the job, he would be asked to withdraw in favour of Yuguda at the end of the day.

It was also gathered that the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr Peter Obi, have also endorsed the choice of Yuguda.

Further details, however, emerged on Thursday as to the reasons behind the decision of Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) to reject the position of the NGF on the declaration of state of emergency in parts of the North.

It was also revealed that the same reasons had been adduced by members of the NGSF for their decision to withdraw their backing for the outgoing chairman of the NGF, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in his bid to secure a second term in office.

It was gathered in Abuja, on Thursday, that the statement issued by the NGF warning against the declaration of state of emergency by the Federal Government was without the input of the NSGF members and that many of them were angered by the development.

Some of the governors, especially from the North, felt that they were not consulted before the statement was issued and they were angry that their name was being dragged into an unnecessary war.

According to another source, the NSGF members felt that the statement on such a critical issue as security should have taken into account their direct inputs, since the formation of NGF did not mean that each governor had lost his independence.

Sources close to the NGF also told the Nigerian Tribune that the NSGF decided to show its anger at the earlier statement by the NGF, by issuing another statement last week, welcoming the state of emergency.

“Members of the NSGF issued that statement welcoming the declaration of a state of emergency in the three states to show their anger at the statement by the NGF, which incidentally coincides with the opinion of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on the matter.

“They felt they were not carried along and that it could be a sign of more things to come,” a source said.

The source further stated that the statement by NGF was the main issue that drove northern governors away from Amaechi’s second term ambition as NGF chairman.

Source: Tribune

RAUF, THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Tagged ‘Oodu’a World Children Day, the state government said the event would celebrate regional integration, team spirit and children.

Chairman, Oodua World Children’s Day, Mr. Oguntola Toogun, who addressed a news conference in Osogbo on Thursday, said the invitation of the royal fathers was in furtherance of the cultural rebirth and integration being championed by the Rauf Aregbesola administration.

Toogun, who is also an Assistant Chief of Staff to Aregbesola, said 2, 000 students would participate in calisthenics display next Monday, adding that a lecture would be delivered by a Professor of Yoruba Literature, Akinwunmi Ishola, on Sunday.

He said, “The Children’s Day is a three-prong event. We are celebrating our children and also using the occasion to teach our children the essence of cooperation and selfless service through participation in calisthenics. The invitation of the traditional rulers will not cost Osun anything because we cannot afford to pay them.”

“The Aregbesola administration is passionate about round development of our children. This is why his administration is embarking on this initiative. The invitation of the traditional rulers is to promote regional integration and rejuvenation of Yoruba ethos.

“Aside from active participation of royal fathers from within Yoruba speaking states, the event will also attract about 30 royal fathers from outside the country, precisely Republic of Benin.

“Also, children from Yoruba speaking states, including Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states, have been invited to take part in the celebration.”

Source: Punch

So far, about seven children reportedly stolen from their parents’ homes in Lagos and other parts of the country have been recovered from their new homes in Imo, Anambra and Delta states.

One of the stolen children, Ezeaka Uchenna (4) was picked from his parents’ home, Madu Street, Jakande Ojo, Ajagbadi area of Lagos by one of the suspects, Adaeze Mba, on March 18, 2013 .

Adaeze who packed into same compound with the Ezeakas in January 2013, was said to have gone to purchase tapioca from Uchenna’s mother that fateful day, only to abscond with the child. The couple immediately moved out of the area and allegedly sold the child to a couple in Obosi, Anambra State for N600,000.

However, during investigation, spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, while parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Command’s headquarters, Ikeja, said the policemen acting on a tip-off stormed Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State where the couple were arrested.

“They confessed to have sold the child to one Mrs Benedict at Asaba, Delta State. We proceeded to Asaba where Mrs Benedict was arrested. She made a confessional statement that she buys and sells children to barren women and that she had sold Uchenna to one Mrs Patricia at Obosi in Anambra State.

“Investigation revealed that the couple had earlier stolen Goodluck Amaechi (3) and Promise Amaechi of same parents in Imo State and sold to Mrs Benedict. Mrs Bendict confirmed their statements and we proceeded to Obosi where the children were recovered from one Church of Goodness Motherless Babies Home.”

Adaeze blames devil

Pregnant Adaeze who hails from Mbatolu Local Government Area of Imo State blamed her indulgence on the devil and her husband, disclosing that they have been in the illicit act for five years.

“Please forgive me. I was talked into it by my husband. He asked me to get a child for him that he would pay me N400,000. When I asked what he wanted to do with the children, he assured me it was not for ritual purpose that his boss, Mrs Benedict takes them to motherless babies home.

Our Modus operandi

“Our targets are usually couples with more than three children. What we do is to move into an area, stay for about two to three months to get quainted with the people and immediately we got any child, we would leave the vicinity for another area where we are not known. We usually rent single room apartments without furnishing them.”

Corroborating her claim, her husband, Mba, said he ventured into the act when his sand dredging business was no longer lucrative.

He said: “When I complained to a friend, he introduced me to Mrs Benedict and since I met her, my life never remained the same.”

He said a male child was more expensive than female, disclosing that Madam Benedict paid him her as much as N600,000 for a male child and four N400,000 for female. But for each child brought by his wife, he said he used to make N200,000 gain.

“What we do is immediately we succeed in stealing a child, we send him/her to my boss who in turn sell to motherless babies home and to barren women. I was responsible for my landlord’s missing children. I sold them for N400,000 each in Mbatolu, Imo State.”

How we arrested Benedict —Police

Vanguard gathered that Mrs Benedict was arrested after the policemen who posed as pregnant women called her on phone to inform her that they had a baby boy for sale. But on arriving the designated point in Asaba, Delta State, the suspect who sensed trouble was said to have zoomed off with one of the police women in her car, in a bid to escape but was overpowered.

The suspects, according to Braide, would be charged to court soon.

On her part, the woman whom the couple sold 4-year-old Uchenna to begged the world to forgive her that she opted to buy the child following her inability to give birth to a child of her own.

“ I was married for 21 years without a child to call mine. Someone introduced me to Benedicta and when I told her I needed a child, she requested for N600,000 but I told her I could not afford that amount. She later called me to meet her at the River Niger bridge at Onitcha. On getting there he handed over the child to me. I told her he was too big but she said that was the only one she had.

I changed Uchenna’s name to Amarachi and enrolled him in a school where I pay N50,000 per term”, said the widow who simply gave her name as Patricia.

On her part, 35 year-old Benedicta Ogbonna, who is a mother of four said she was only involved in the act to help barren women. Asked why she did not offer her own children for sale, she kept mute.

Source: Vanguard