The parents of Ese Oruru, the controversial Bayelsa girl who was alleged to have been abducted and forced into marriage by a Kano man, Yususan Dahir, have complained that their daughter and the baby she later gave birth to are still being detained in Yenagoa as her lover had since been give bail and is moving freely around now.
The parents, who were reacting to the adjournment of case, by the trial judge, Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, to December 8, 2016, appealed to the governments of Bayelsa and Delta states to facilitate the release of the teenager who has been under “protective custody” since the police took over her case.
They said that it is an irony that while the accused person, Yunusa is enjoying freedom on bal, the victim, Ese Oruru, is being denied the same freedom under the guise of being in protective custody. They insisted that the conditions that Ese, who gave birth to a baby girl on May 25, 2016 while in police care at the police officers’ mess in Yenagoa and her baby are being kept, was not conducive for the welfare of both of them.
Dahiru was arraigned on March 8, 2016 at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, on charges of criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, but was eventually granted bail.
Ese’s father, Mr. Charles Oruru, expressed sadness over his daughter’s stay at the police officers mess with the new born baby, arguing that Ese was supposed to have returned to school.
“My daughter has been yearning and even crying to go back to school as her classmates are now ahead of her. She has lost a whole year to this saga and she is still in Police protective custody while the accused is enjoying freedom on bail.
“I am begging the Delta government, Nigeria, and the world at large to come to our aid. Nowadays, without education one is going nowhere, so she is not doing anything in their custody, while the accused moves freely and she is suffering there”, he said.
Oruru added, “I have called on the Delta government to assist because I have five children of which Ese is the second to the last child, so my state should come to my family’s aid,” he appealed.
The mother of Ese, Mrs Rose Oruru, said her daughter was not being properly taken care of as a nursing mother, with regards to nutrition and psychological care in a homely environment.
She said: “People from Bayelsa have been assisting us and even the police officers; we want to leave there to our house because the place (Police Officers Mess) is not a good place to stay and bring up a new born baby.
“We are just abandoned in a room that we are not even allowed to go out, we stay with our trash bin which smells, we and the new born baby are compelled to breathe the offensive smell.
“So the world should note that we are being marginalized for no reason, and even the boy Yunusa still owes me some money after taking my daughter to Kano to impregnate her for me.” [myad]
Authorities of the University of Lagos have expelled 125 students and rusticated 198 others for various offences, including examination malpractices during last academic session.
The lists of the affected students have been published on the university’s website.
The institution’s Deputy Registrar on Information, Mr. Toyin Adebule, confirmed the expulsion and estimation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Adebule said that the university would soon publish and display the names and photographs of the students in the media, adding that the action was in line with the university’s zero tolerance for examination malpractices and other vices on the campus.
“Yes we have published some names on our website and these students will be punished in various degrees, depending on the severity. Last session, a number of students were caught in various forms of malpractices during their examinations.
“Some were found cheating during the examination with “micro sheets” while others were hired as surrogates to write papers for others.
“Others were caught smoking weeds (Marijuana) right in their halls of residence by their colleagues and reported to the university authorities.
“For those who were caught impersonating, writing examinations for others, they will face outright expulsion.”
Adebule said the other categories of students, such as those caught with micro sheets and the smokers would face suspension ranging from two to four semesters.
“In other to get the desired effect of their various punishments, we are planning to publish all their names as well as display their photographs all over the campus in the next one week.
“We shall carry out this measure in all the departments and faculties in the institution.
“This is to help the university ensure that the affected students will have nowhere to hibernate on campus.
“By doing this, the affected students would know that the university want to ensure total compliance to the sanction and would not want to be seen anywhere around the campus.”
Adebule said that before every examination, the university normally makes available the rules and regulations for the students to abide by.
He said that such rules and regulations were usually accompanied by various sanctions for defaulters.
According to him, the university will continue to do all it can to sustain set standards and best practices as obtained in other top universities around the world.
Adebule said that the development had nothing to do with those involved in the recent students’ riot. (NAN). [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has looked beyond the release of Chibok school girls by their captors, Boko Haram insurgents fearing that the biggest problem now is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs). He said that there out of over 2 million of IDPs, 60 percent of the children don’t know their parents, or where they come from. President Buhari who spoke today, Monday at a meeting with the leader of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Maurer, said that the issue of IDPs made up of mainly women and children is weighing heavily on government. The President, who commended the role played by ICRC in the recent release of the 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls even as he asked for sustained humanitarian interest in Nigeria. President Buhari said that his administration is prepared to continue talks with the Boko Haram insurgent group, “as long as they agree to involve international agencies like ICRC. “We’ve seen the result of recent talks, 21 of the Chibok girls are back,” the President said, referring to the role played by ICRC in providing immediate humanitarian assistance to the girls, who had spent over 900 days in the hands of their abductors. On rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure, President Buhari said it was a priority of government, noting that the G7 had equally indicated support, which Nigeria heartily welcomed. “We appreciate all your efforts. I am pleased you recognized that our military is cooperating with civil authorities, and respecting humanitarian issues. It is a difficult time for Nigeria. About 27 of our 36 states couldn’t pay salaries when we came last year, and we are still struggling with that. But we will get out of it,” the President said. Maurer, the ICRC President, said their operation in the Lake Chad region is the second largest in the world, after Syria, adding that there are nutritional, health, water and sanitation issues in the North-east, in addition to rebuilding of infrastructure. “We are ready to engage and play supportive role in responding to crisis in Nigeria. Security is a lot better than it was a year ago, but humanitarian problems are serious, and don’t disappear so quickly,” Maurer said. The ICRC President also commended Nigeria for granting increased access to detainees, and exchanges with the Armed Forces. He added: “Detention facilities have improved, there are fewer deaths, and things are better health-wise.” [myad]
Former Nigeria Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to leave his wife and eight-month-old son out of his determination to deal with him.
He asked the President “why doesn’t he face me like a man if he wants to deal with me instead of trying to harm and hurt my 8 month old son and wife.
In a statement today, Monday, announcing the arrest of his wife, Precious Chikwendu and son, Aragorn by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Fani-Kayode, beleieved that their arrest was aimed at getting at him.
He narrated how his wife went to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to see Governor Ayodele Fayose when and how she stopped at the branch of Access Bank in the town to withdraw money but that the staff of the Bank invited the operatives of the EFCC who stormed the Bank and detained, brutalized and humiliated Chikwendu.
His statement reads thus:
This government is sick and cowardly and so are the EFCC. If you have a problem with me, face me and leave my family alone. My wife travelled to Ado Ekiti to see my friend and brother Governor Fayose and his family.
They were on their way out of town when they went to Access Bank in Ado Ekiti to get some money.
When they got there, my 8 month old son Aragorn and wife Precious Chikwendu were illegally detained, brutalized and put under arrest on the orders of the EFCC at a bank in Ado Ekiti today.
She has never had any business with me, she has never been formally invited by the EFCC or asked any questions about her transactions and neither have they written to her on any issue even though they are always sending letters to my house and sending people there.
If Buhari wants to deal with me why doesn’t he face me like a man instead of trying to harm and hurt my 8 month old son and wife.
Had it not been for the intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose they would have been taken them away and subjected them to all manner of harm and indignities simply because she is married to me.
This was an account that has 200,000 naira in it and that has never had more than 500,000.
She has operated it since 2005 and she stopped using it in 2013. The account has no connection with me and I did not know it existed till today.
In an attempt to starve and harass me and my family all my accounts and wife’s accounts have been frozen.
Now they are resorting to arresting peoples wives and children for no just cause.
I thank God for Gov. Fayose and the people of Ado Ekiti who stormed the bank and freed my wife from this illegal detention and attempt to kidnap them.
Had it not been for the governor’s intervention and presence, the bank would have been burnt down by the crowd. My family have since left Ekiti State.
This is Buhari’s Nigeria and we will resist his wickedness and tyranny.
We intend to sue the bank and to sue the EFCC for this illegal and wicked action. They have no right to do this. If they want to see my wife all they need to do is to invite her. We have nothing to fear. They do not need to be so primitive and barbaric to people.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended an erudite Nigeria scholar and quintessential public servant, Professor Akin Mabogunje for having served the country with integrity as he turns 85 tomorrow, 18th. In a birthday greeting issued by the special advised to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said that Professor Akin had consistently served humanity through extensive research, teaching and consulting across many national and global institutions. He said that the intellectual and moral strength of the renowned scholar prepared him at an early stage for the numerous leadership roles before him; paving the way for a rigorous and successful academic career, and contributions to infrastructure development, urban and regional planning and public sector banking. President Buhari commended the patriotism and commitment of Professor Akin in serving, with integrity, on several boards of the Federal Government over many years, sharing his knowledge and skills to reposition cities, and working tirelessly to alleviate poverty through partnerships with the World Bank and the United Nations. The President prayed to God to grant the renowned town planner longer life, good health and strength to continue serving his country and humanity. [myad]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed Seventeen junior officers from the Service for offences ranging from drug addiction, certificate forgery, theft and absence from duty from January to September 2016.
The Public relations officer of customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, said in a statement today, Sunday that the appointment of two other Officers have been terminated for absence from duty while one officer was retired for drug addiction.
He said: “investigations into offences committed by the Officers in the senior category are now being concluded. Officers found guilty are expected to face similar stiff penalties.”
These disciplinary measures were taken after series of investigations and deliberations by the disciplinary committee and recommendations were made to the Management.
This process is a continuation of the reform agenda the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) promised upon his assumption of office which emphasized discipline, good conduct and transparency. [myad]
Information reaching us has indicated that bumper harvest has led to drop in prices of food items especially, grains in Kano State.
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in some markets in the state, showed that prices of the commodities, such as maize, millet, sorghum and local rice have dropped by about 40 per cent.
According to the survey, a bag of maize is now selling for N8,500 as against N12,500 sold last month, while a measure cost N350 as against its previous price of between N400 and N450.
The survey further indicated that the price of a bag of millet had equally dropped from N14,000 to N9,500. Similarly, a 100kg bag of local rice, which used to cost between N33,000 and N40,000 is now being sold at between N26,000 and N28,000, while a measure now go for N600 as against N750.
The survey also showed that a bag of sorghum which sold for N16,000 before the harvest now cost N13,000, while a bag of wheat N16,000 as against its former price of N24,000. Some consumers, who spoke with NAN, expressed optimism that the prices of food items would further crash before the year ends.
However, some traders at the markets attributed the situation to increase in the supply of the produce from the farms. A trader at Dawanau International Grains market, Alhaji Sani Ali, said prices of the commodities would further go down due to the economic situation in the country.
“I am sure the price will further go down due to low patronage by companies and individual buyers. Most of the companies now buy half of what they used to buy before because of the economic situation and some buy on credit.”
Another trader in the market, Malam Isa Sule, also expressed confidence that prices would further go down because the harvest season was not over.
“As farmers continue to harvest, the supply of the commodities will continue to flood the markets and this will push prices further down,” he said.
Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has recently completed the acquisition of Twister B.V., a company headquartered in the Netherlands as part of the effort to meet Nigeria’s gas requirements.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said while acquiring the company that Twister’s cutting edge gas processing technology is fundamental to delivering the strategy to unlock about 3 bcfd of gas in order to meet Nigeria’s gas needs. This was even as Twister’s Chief Executive Officer, John Young said “we are delighted in the confidence DIL and First E&P have shown in Twister to be their core provider of gas separation solutions. After a very thorough due diligence our technology has been recognized as a key enabler to reduce gas project costs which is crucial in this current environment. We are excited to be part of the Dangote family of companies.’ Twister B.V. delivers reliable, high-yield and robust solutions in natural gas processing and separation to the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors. Twister’s unique separation capabilities are designed for augmenting production and streamlining processes, to capitalize on high-yield gas processing for maximizing revenues.
Twister B.V. used to be owned by Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1, before its recent acquisition by DIL together with its partner – First E&P. Based on sophisticated patented technology, Twister gas plants are typically cheaper to build and operate compared to alternative technologies, and also deliver better performance levels. The company has customers in Nigeria, Malaysia, and South America. The acquisition complements DIL’s portfolio of investments in the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the Oil & Gas sector. The company will help design and build the gas plants which would be critical in processing gas from oil fields for transportation via Dangote’s planned sub-sea pipeline (EWOGGS) for ultimate consumption by various industries and power plants. It would be recalled that the refinery and fertilizer projects of Dangote Industries Limited is reported to have the capacity of creating a minimum of 235,000 new jobs, both direct and indirect jobs, as it becomes operational in the first quarter of 2019. President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who revealed this recently, also stated that the projects would cost a minimum of $17 billion. Dangote said the $12 billion refinery would have a capacity of 650,000 barrels a day. He assured that there will be market for the refined products because even in Africa, only three countries have effective functioning refinery with others importing from abroad. Dangote named the countries with refinery as Egypt, South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire, saying “Our refinery will be ready in the first quarter of 2019. Mechanical completion will be end of 2018 but we will start producing in 2019.” When the projects fully take off in 2019, Dangote said it would help the country save $5 billion spent on the importation of oil into the country. The refinery, petrochemicals and fertilizer in one spot according to him is the single largest stream in the world. “This site is the biggest site in the world, the refinery is the biggest single refinery in the world, the petrochemicals are 13 times bigger than Eleme Petrochemicals while the fertilizer plant will be 10 times bigger than former National Fertilizer Company. He explained that the project with the $2 billion fertilizer unit was the funded through loans, export credit agencies and our own equity. [myad]
Public communication is one of the most delicate challenges that people in public life face, either in the corporate or the public sector. Many people suddenly find themselves in high places, and they become a source of news, a potential interview subject, and they get chased around by journalists and other media figures who want a story, in fact, not just a story, but a scoop. I used to explain in communication coaching classes and to the bosses whose media I managed, at one point or the other that they should never feel obliged to say things they do not want to say. No matter how aggressive the journalist may be, they should be careful what they say.
A journalist would make you feel at home; he or she may even reassure you that whatever you don’t want published could be edited out, and that if you don’t feel comfortable with a question, you should feel free to keep quiet. But a good journalist knows how to push you into a corner and get you, through follow up questions, to say things you may not ordinarily want to say. By the time the tape starts rolling, and you are encouraged to feel like a star, and your own tongue starts rolling, you’d be surprised the kind of emphasis, what you consider an innocent remark, would receive when it is published. Point is: journalists, while on duty, are not working for politicians or big men and women; they are working for organizations that need stories that can sell. They want scoops that can make the headlines. That is what makes them journalists: getting the good story, the good comments, the good shots.
After reading the interview granted by First Lady Aisha Buhari on BBC Hausa Service, I was tempted to conclude that this is what may have happened. She could have said the same things in a more delicately phrased manner. I have always held the view that anybody at all in a public position should be sent for media training (including how to deliver speeches, poise, pronunciation skills, even basic grammar lessons) before they are unleashed on a Nigerian public that has learnt to subject the lives of public officials to utmost scrutiny. The Aisha Buhari interview also fell short in this regard. She just gave the BBC Hausa service a scoop, which in my view has done more damage to her husband’s politics than good.
Given the enormous effect that the interview has had on the public, I would have expected that by now, she would perhaps have tactically disowned it, put a spin on it somehow, and make it clear that it is not intended in any way to discredit, or criticize her husband’s administration. But nothing of such has happened. And what does that mean? That the interview was deliberate and that she is standing by every word she said. She has been called the “good lady in the Villa.” She has been praised for being a modern wife who can speak up, and exercise her right to free speech. She has been called fearless and assertive. The only thing I have not heard from some of the hypocritical commentators is that she would be a good Presidential candidate for 2019.
I have also been told that she must have spoken out of frustration and that her public outburst about the existence of a cabal in the Villa, which determines who gets what appointment, to the disadvantage of members of the All Progressives Congress is making APC members who feel left out of the power-sharing process, very unhappy. But her outburst is nothing but a poor understanding of power politics. There will always be cabals around the seat of power. Power is so potent the people around the corridor will never leave it alone to the President.
And if it is true that this cabal or the President has recruited non-APC members into the government, then that is a positive thing, it is also a positive thing that the President does not know many of the people he has appointed. He doesn’t need to know them personally as long as they come from all parts of Nigeria and they are competent men who can get the job done. The First Lady seems to assume that only card-carrying members of the APC should work for the Buhari administration. On a positive note, however, she doesn’t want anybody to hijack her husband’s Presidency and she believes those who are trying to do so do not mean well. But what does that say about her husband?
The First Lady is also of the view that if the present trend continues, she cannot campaign for her husband in 2019 should he decide to seek re-election. She sounded pleased with what is being done to ensure security in the North East, but she gave the impression that she doesn’t think her husband has done enough to merit a second term in 2019. Hear her: “What I fear is the uprising of 15.4 million people”. And consider this: “…Nobody thought it is going to be like this. But now that it is so…Sometimes when one is doing something wrong without him knowing, but when people talk to them, they should listen”. Who is that person doing something wrong and who does not listen?
Altogether, Mrs Aisha Buhari has passed the equivalent of a vote of no confidence in her husband, and the people around him. This is a kind of “home trouble” brought to the public. The biggest challenge a man can face is to have his own wife “fight” him in public. And what has happened is both unprecedented and significant considering that a Hausa-Fulani couple is involved. It is probably the first time a lady in this position would publicly upbraid her husband and his team. Is she furious because she has been scorned, ignored, rendered powerless?
Well, even if we were not privy to other details, she was publicly scorned when her husband sent a volcanic message from Germany that she should go back to her place in the “kitchen, the living room and the other room.” Feminists and critics of misogyny have protested over this, quite rightly too, at a time when women are leading countries and corporations, it is incorrect and insensitive to say that the best place for a First Lady is to be a cook, a living-room-soap opera-watching detainee and a bedroom object. But given the cultural circumstances involved, this may well be the future Aso Villa fate of First Lady Aisha Buhari. She could be marked out as an ambitious woman who wants to share power with her husband, and as a threat to her husband’s politics.
See how much damage has been caused already by the President’s counter-response: The German Chancellor glared at our President when she heard that comment about “the kitchen, the living room and the other room.” She quickly ended their press conference. Angela Merkel is married, and she is Chancellor, but I don’t think her husband would dare tell her she is best fit for the kitchen and the other room. And imagine if Theresa May, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Grace Alele-Williams, Omobola Johnson, Chimamanda Adichie, Joke Jacobs… had all been chained down in the “other room”. No wonder, President Buhari’s local opponents are already making big political capital out of his un-Presidential comments, and the German public is shocked that any world leader could be so politically incorrect. The number of jokes and memes that have been designed around this husband-wife exchange are thoroughly amusing. Mrs Buhari has also handed over to critics of this administration, speaking points that would be exploited all the way till 2019, and she may well end up not as a powerful force in the Villa but as a strong voice for women’s rights.
It is possible she may be advised soon to recruit spin-doctors to do damage control, but she may have left that rather late already. On the other hand, there is no amount of damage control that the President’s spin-doctors can sell to anyone. Whatever happens, she is cultivating a reputation as a different kind of First Lady. Since independence, every Nigerian Head of State or President has enjoyed the support of his wife while in office: strong, fanatical support. Mrs Maryam Abacha was so supportive of her husband, while everybody condemned him, and long after his death, she has continued to celebrate his memory. Before her, Mrs Maryam Babangida brought greater colour and celebrity status to the Office of the First Lady and added much value to her husband’s tenure.
Mrs. Fati Abubakar was a dignified presence behind her husband, the same with Mrs Margaret Shonekan. President Olusegun Obasanjo had as First Lady, the very elegant and beautiful Stella Obasanjo who mobilized support and goodwill for her husband. Turai Yar’Adua, wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was also so devoted to her husband’s cause, she was declared the head of the Aso Rock cabal. No one doubted her determination to protect her husband’s interest during those critical moments. You all know Mrs Patience Jonathan. She was as First Lady, her husband’s most vocal supporter. This brought her at loggerheads with some sections of the public who objected to her prominence and controversial statements, but not once did she or the other First Ladies before her, criticize their husbands in public.
Elsewhere, First Ladies also support their husbands. With all the reported cases of dalliance and cuckoldry during the Bill Clinton Presidency, Hillary Clinton stood by her husband. Michelle Obama has also proven to be a very good role model in this regard. Certain positions require careful grooming. Any form of tension in the home could distract a political leader and make him seem vulnerable in the eyes of the public. Mrs Aisha Buhari may have spoken her mind, but she should not make a habit of assuming the role of a radical, in-house critic, throwing her husband under the wheels. She ought to be thoroughly embarrassed by all the fun being poked at her husband because of that BBC Hausa interview she granted. How this matter is resolved between their kitchen and “the other room” is a family affair into which we cannot dabble. [myad]
He was born 15 days after Nigeria was granted political independence from British colonialists on October 1, 1960. At birth, the Heavens did not blaze the commencement of his earthly sojourn, but the young child who was later to be christened Femi David and born to the family of Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode carried the genes of astounding scholarly and cerebral greatness often associated with the family.
I first met with Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in 2003 when reporting for The Punch newspaper as its Chief Correspondent of its Sunday title at the Abuja Bureau. Before meeting him, like many journalists and members of the public, I saw in FFK the picture of “an arrogant fellow” whose Cockney accent attracted more envy than admiration. As Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, he faced the arduous task of replying stone throwers of the government. Obasanjo, who was then seen a lackey of the North, had turned against those who arranged for his emergence on the throne. The consequence was a backlash from the angry core north, as the roof was almost brought down on the government.
After granting an interview where he explained the president’s views on some key issues, he later called to express gratitude when it was finally published. From then, he became a constant source of response on issues concerning the government. Convinced that the public perception about his person was misplaced, I arranged with some colleagues from other media to have an interaction with him. Further to that, I convinced him to be a guest at a forum organized by the Correspondent Chapel of the FCT NUJ in 2003 where he really proved his mettle. Unlike other government officials, FFK has an uncanny way of striking relationship with reporters. He does not allow the tight schedules of office to keep him away from media practitioners. As former SA to Obasanjo, he has learned the virtue of keeping the media at close quarters and influencing media perspectives on contemporary issues. Realizing that information remains key in influencing people’s opinions, he reads a lot and seems to have answers to all questions on his fingertips. As the armor bearer of the Obasanjo Administration, he came under fire from critics opposed to the brashness of the Ota farmer in undermining democratic institutions like the National Assembly. In the Nigerian society that places much premium on hypocritical respect for elders, FFK never shied away from speaking the facts and allow Nigerians make up their opinions. After serving as SA to Obasanjo for three years, he was nominated for a ministerial position. He scaled the hurdle despite protest from some senators, and he was later appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism. Few months later, incessant air crashes made the government to redeploy him to the Aviation Ministry where he returned safety to air transportation.
Knowing FFK in the last 13 years has revealed to me the awesomeness of his character. When convinced of a course of action, he puts all his energy to achieving the set objectives. When he was convinced to join the Obasanjo regime, he worked so hard to ensure that he was not merely a number in the cabinet.
Afraid of what I described as his then “blindfolded loyalty” for Obasanjo, I once cautioned him against following the Ota Farmer on all issues, but he responded, “I am loyal to President Obasanjo and shall do everything to discharge such loyalty for the interest of my country.” I was worried when his name came up on the N5.6 billion Aviation intervention fund scandal during the early months of the Yar’Adua government. When I finally met him, he dismissed my apprehension and said he was not guilty. Five years or so, the court would dismiss the charges and set him free. Fani-Kayode was later to part ways with the PDP to join the APC in a rainbow coalition against the then ruling party. His appointment as Director of the Jonathan Campaign Organization and his roles in the campaigns are well documented to warrant a repeat.
As he celebrates 56 years on earth today, FFK is being accused of spending government funds for campaigns. His constant bashing of the Buhari Government, which initially was considered as the trait of an irredeemable opposition figure, is slowly attracting a cult-like followership. He is certainly the only Nigerian politician that has, in almost equal measure, the oratorical and written prowess in advancing national discourse. With these traits, his articles on social media and newspapers enjoy tremendous readership.
My Muslims friends and brothers have had cause in the past to call my attention to his anti-Islam posturing in some of his writings. “Please tell your friend FFK that he is too much for this anti-Islam posturing. Please he should stop it. Advise him to speak and write on national issues”, a few advised me. When I later met him on the matter, he replied, “But Simon, you know that I am not opposed to Islam. I have friends among Northerners and Muslims, and I believe they mean well for this country. No one can accuse me of being anti-North or anti-Islam. I stand for the truth and state it as it is.”
Having known and keep close taps on the thinking of FFK in the last 13 years, the former Minister is pained that despite launching 1,000 troops to tackle cattle rustling in the North-west, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to set up similar military operations to stop the genocide in some states of the North-central states and Middle Belt zone that are predominantly Christians. He is worried that the government has failed carrying all sections of the country in the affairs of the nation. He is upset of what he perceived as clear cases of marginalization of certain sections and religion in advancing what he sees as clear signals for national dangers. The resurgence of Biafra and the return to the trenches by the Niger Delta militants are sign posts that all is not well with Nigeria. He sees the absence of national consensus in tackling these problems as a danger that should be avoided at all cost.
Like many Nigerians, he feels anguished at the cascading poverty that has become the lots of our people and reducing the populace into fright victims. The frightening uncertainties and thick clouds of trouble in the nation’s skies keep him awake and he is always caught in apprehension over what the future holds for the people. As a father, he is clearly in agony over what a troubled country will mean for his son, Aragon. His public views are distress calls for the nation’s leaders to put things back on tracks. Instead of faulting his style, FFK believes that government should look at the substance of his writings and discourse.
Despite his writing sometimes laced in pessimism, the FFK I know believes in the greatness of the Nigerian state. But he also believes that such greatness cannot be achieved in the atmosphere of violence and intimidation. Restructuring of the nation seems to be the viable option in order to ensure regional autonomy for fiscal federalism.
As Chief FFK celebrates his 56th birthday, here is wishing him long life and continued struggle to ensure a free society where all voices count. May his cherished dream of justice to all not remain too long unfulfilled! Happy Birthday!
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended an erudite Nigeria scholar and quintessential public servant, Professor Akin Mabogunje for having served the country with integrity as he turns 85 tomorrow, 18th.
Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has recently completed the acquisition of Twister B.V., a company headquartered in the Netherlands as part of the effort to meet Nigeria’s gas requirements.
