Nollywood: Why people accused me of being gay — Benson Okonkwo

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Read Time:7 Minute, 59 Second

Tall, well-built and handsome, Benson Okonkwo a.k.a ‘Mr Packaging’ is riding the crest of success in Nollywood amidst rumours that he is gay. In this engaging interview with Showtime Celebrity, the soft-spoken actor speaks out on his gay story, journey to prominence and much-touted romance with actress,  Nkiru Sylvanus…Enjoy!!!

As a ladies’ man, have you ever been threatened for any reason?  
Yes. Some weeks ago, an unknown  lady walked up to my security guard and left a note with him. She warned me to step down for her boyfriend who was a strong contender in the just-concluded City People’s Face of Nollywood award.  She didn’t stop there, as  she kept calling me and warning that if I didn’t step down, she would deal with me.  

Why do you like to be called a ladies’ man?
Why not? I’ve got all it takes to be a ladies’ man.  I am hot, I am a head-turner anywhere I go. But it is not all ladies that say “hello” to you  that you respond to. This is because I have a girlfriend I am seriously in love  with. I believe one is enough.

Benson Okonkwo

What inspired you to go into acting?
I love acting and usually acted for my siblings when I was growing up. It was my mother who advised me to get  registered with the Actors Guild of Nigeria. Later, I registered with the Enugu State chapter of the guild when late Pete Eneh was the chairman.  My mother even provided the money with which I registered. That was how I started my acting career.

Does it mean you didn’t set out to become an actor?  
I have always known that I’m good looking.  I have all it takes to be a model as well as an actor, but my mum introduced me to the trade. And so far, so good, I am not regretting it.

What’s your reaction to the issue of  sexual harassment in Nollywood, considering that you were once accused of being gay?

Sexual harassment is everywhere, even in the banking sector. Thank God  I have not been sexually harassed before now. It is not about how many producers or directors you sleep with. What matters is if you are talented. You can sleep with everybody without being able to deliver. But if you are good and God is by your side, you can go places. Actually, a colleague of mine was the brain behind the gay rumour.  They feel threatened because of my good looks.

Have you ever been approached sexually by the same sex?
Not at all. It has never happened to me.

Are you saying homosexuality does not exist in Nollywood?
I don’t know if it exists, but I have not experienced it before in the industry – although I have been harassed sexually outside the industry. When they approached me, I simply rejected their request, telling them they met the wrong person. I might look like a gay man, but I’m not.  Interestingly, I try to convert them to become  my friends whenever they approach me.

How many movies have you starred in so far?
I have starred in not less than 30 movies and it’s still counting.

Of all the movies, which would you consider most challenging?
The movie I did with Ifeanyi Onyeabor which is yet to be released. The movie is titled, “Games Town” starring myself, Mama G and many other stars. I sustained an injury while on location.  I fell off the bus while playing  a kidnapping scene. In the movie, I kidnapped Kenneth Albert, and had to  jump with him from the bus. Unfortunately, the location driver suddenly zoomed off, leading to my  falling flat and rolling on the ground.  I was really injured in the process.

Did you actually date Chika Agu?
Chika Agu is very close to me as a colleague. I didn’t date her and cannot date her. She is like a sister to me. My mother knows her very well and  we even attended her mum’s burial rites.  I didn’t date Chika.

There was a picture where both of you were cuddling in a pool. Was it a movie scene?

There is nothing attached to that. The picture was taken when I attended her mother’s funeral rites at her village. We  visited their village stream. I was just trying to cheer her up. She was wearing her top, and I was wearing my singlet and shorts.  There is nothing passionate in the picture.

What is Nkiru Sylvanus to you?
I met  Nkiru Sylvanus in 2008. That was on the set of a movie directed by Theodore Anyaji. The movie was titled, “Agency”. While we were shooting the movie, she was nice to me. She is a wonderful actress with a heart of gold. I have worked with so many Nollywood stars but Nkiru is different. She has always been there, supporting my career in any little way she could. I appreciate her so much for always being there for me. She is like my “Madam”. I love her acting prowess.

Is it true that she likes young actors?
I’m not aware of it. I am just hearing that for the first time.

What’s the secret behind your charming looks?
I started my career as a model, so I  have always liked to look good. Even in Nollywood, I am known for my dress sense. That’s why I’m called  “Benson Mr. Packaging”. My fans also love me because of the way I dress. I am crazy when it comes clothes. I also like to combine colours well. I have always loved fashion and inherited the attribute from my mother.

Benson Okonkwo

What has fashion done for you?
It has given me fame and so many roles in movies. Because I costume myself, most times the costumiers recommend me to directors. It has taken me places and also makes me stand out.

How did you make the City People nomination for the ‘Face of Nollywood’ award?

I got an email telling me I had been nominated for the Face of Nollywood award alongside Uti Nwachukwu, Kenneth Okoli, Walter Anger, and many others. When I got the mail, I promised myself I was going to do a lot of campaigning to emerge the winner. I thank God that people know I am good at what I do. I wish I had won the award.

Which of your works do you think gave you the nomination?
I don’t know, but I would mention movies such as “No Man’s Land”, “Wicked Uncle” and “My World.”

When you heard of the ‘Sexiest in Nollywood’ contest, what came to your mind?

As I told you before, I know I am hot and a head turner. I was not surprised. I knew it was one of those things I deserved as an actor. I said “thank God that Vanguard has decided to recognise Nollywood.”

The first edition was won by Jim Iyke, while Desmond Elliot bagged the second and the third edition is gearing up. With big names like Ramsey Noah, what do you think are your chances of winning the contest?  

I am among the top 22 contestants. I know I will go far. I also thank my fans for their votes. I’m  thinking  about my chances, but I want to win.

What is sexy about you?
I’ve got a charming smile, great height, romantic eyes and good posture.  I am a head turner anywhere I go.

How do you keep yourself the way you are?
I don’t really work out much because I am always on set. But  I’m always very conscious of my diet.

Before you came into the movie industry, would you say you had a crush on anyone?
(Laughs) No comment.

If you had the chance to pick one actress to spend a lonely night with, who would that be?
(Laughs) No comment.

What are you working on presently?
I am working on a movie and my saloon. The most recent movie is a Christian movie I did with James Onyeakpor and it will soon be out.

How is the pay like in Nollywood?
When we started newly, we were paid depending on scenes and the number of times we made appearances. A scene was about N1,200 and really not worth the stress. But we did that because of the passion we had for the profession. I thank God the pay has improved now. I know that with time, it will be much better.

Who is the woman in your life?
She’s called Emerald. We’ve dated for about 9 years now, and I love her so much. I met  her during my secondary school days. I plan to marry her as soon as I’m financially alright. She understands and knows one or two things about me.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Deportation : Lagos Govt notified affected states – CNPP

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Read Time:2 Minute, 52 Second

The Lagos Chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) on Friday urged Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State not to allow the deportation of Igbos controversy cause rancour among Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos.

But the governorship candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Anambra state, Chief Udo Udeogaranya described the move by Lagos state government as unconstitutional, illegal and immoral.

Controversy has continued to trail the alleged deportation of about 70 Igbo traders by the  Lagos State Task Force to Anambra.

The Lagos State task force  on July 24, 2013 allegedly dumped about the deportees  said to be Igbo traders in the state at the Upper Iweka Onitsha, Anambra State.

In a statement by its state chairman, Mr Akinola Obadia, the CNPP said that the deportation issue must not be allowed to degenerate to an extent that it will cause disaffection among peace loving Igbo people who have settled in the state, transacting their legitimate business and happily living with their Yoruba brothers.

“We in the CNPP have gone extra mile  to find out the fact from Government source, on the issue of the return of 14 destitute persons in the state to their States of Origin. We  decided to make a clean breast of the matter against the disinformation and rumour some people are making.

It added that “we believed that it is on record that in this exercise, 3 States where involved, and to ensure respect for the dignity of the human person, Lagos State Government notified the Government of each affected State at least 90 days ahead of time to enable them to make adequate arrangements for accommodation and rehabilitation of the individuals.”

“The notice was given to Katsina State which arranged transportation and accommodation for her affected people.

Akwa Ibom which returned to the Lagos state Government some destitute individuals in Akwa Ibom state who claimed to be of Lagos State Origin”, it stated.

It however warned against tribalising the relocation which it claimed was a glaring National issue to create problem where it did not exist.

It said “Anambra state Government never replied Lagos State Government request neither in written or by practically effecting the removal of their destitute citizen in this state. Why then should anybody start making unnecessary noise after 90days notification by Lagos state Government.”

It’s unconstitutional- Udeogaranya
Disagreeing with the deportation, Udeogaranya said it was contrary to the 1999 Constitution.

Querying the rationale, he said “Is it not an abdication of authority and responsibility by Lagos State government and transfer of authority and responsibility to Anambra State government to cater and cover the welfare for these Nigerians deported by Lagos State government, even when our Constitution stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

Calling on President Jonathan to wade into the matter, he said “I therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government to hence transfer 50 percent of Lagos State monthly allocation to Anambra State Government and an explicit order, that all Anambra State natives in Lagos State pay their taxes to Anambra State government.”

He said “this will enable  Anambra State government to cater for Nigerians deported to its area of authority and serve as a deterrent to all States governments of the Federation.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: APC registration: APGA demands N20 billion damages

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Read Time:6 Minute, 18 Second

All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has rejected the inclusion of its logo in the advertorial placed in some national dailies, yesterday, by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State hailing the registration of APC.

The party said it was shocked by the development and consequently demanded a retraction by way of advertorial and a fee of N20 billion as damages done to it within seven days.

The party also demanded for a formal apology.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, said: “We are shocked to see in a national daily of today (yesterday) an advertorial placed by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, congratulating APC for scaling the registration hurdle of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and in the publication, four party logos were lifted, ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA.

“We are shocked that Governor Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, can so mischievously place this advertorial which included the logo of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.

“Of course, the clear intention of this advertorial was to give the impression that APGA is now part of APC, that APGA is no longer a political party.

Gov. Peter Obi (middle), flanked on the left by the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Engr. Emeka Sibeudu and on the right by the Gov’s wife, Margaret Peter-Obi and Wife of the National Chairman, Lady Prisca Umeh at the Flag-off of APGA Campaign, yesterday at Ekwueme Square, Awka.

“Coming from a SAN, we know that Fashola knows the implication for these adverts. It is a mischief to deceive all our teeming supporters in Nigeria and abroad that APGA has now become part of APC.

“While we congratulate them of realising their dream of coming together to form a mega party called APC, fraudulently using APGA logo cannot be accepted by our party.

“The obvious damage this would do our party are well known to Nigerians. We are also passing this to our lawyers to make a demand of N20 billion damages.

“Fashola must pay this money to APGA. Politics of confusion must be avoided in Nigeria. Anybody can meet to do anything as he wished but within the law.”

He said his party never held any convention along side the three parties as part of the processes for merger, adding that INEC, while announcing withdrawal of Certificates of Registration of ACN, ANPP and CPC, did not include APGA.

Fashola hoists  APC flag

Following the registration of APC, Governor Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, hoisted APC flag at a symbolic event at the state secretariat of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ikeja.

The governor said all Nigerians must commend the progressive party leaders, for shifting grounds to provide alternative platform that would enable good citizens achieve the desired change.

Speaking earlier before hoisting the new party flag, he commended INEC for taking the bold step by registering the party against all odds.

He said: “I salute their sacrifice. We all must learn enduring lesson from their sacrifice to get this party.

.

“We must remember their effort and sacrifice anytime we do anything with APC. We must always remember that for us to have a bigger merger party, it would require many more sacrifices.

“This is not about the individual it is about the nation. Individuals will come and go, but the nation will remain. For me, this is not just a merger, but a history.

“In Nigeria political history, this has never happened before.

“For every Goliath, there is a stone. The new party is the stone that will make the Goliath fall.

“There is now a choice to articulate the better change. The most I can say is congratulations for the job well done so far. As you know the only reward that you can get for job well done is more work.”

Basis for meaningful choice — Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has also said that the registration of APC as a political party was good for democracy, saying that it will keep politicians on their toes to deliver on campaign promises.

Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing President Jonathan on circumstances leading to the closure of Benin Airport, Oshiomhole said politicians will now act more responsibly.

Oshiomhole said: “It means that I am now a member of APC and I will take my registration card. I will register in accordance with the constitution.

“For me, it’s all about democracy and I believe that the media and myself in my former calling and even now, are now activists struggling to entrench and deepen democracy for the good of the country.

“It’s all about battle of ideas, battle of programmes and the welfare of our people. And if you have two viable parties that are capable of engaging, then the people will have the basis for genuine and meaningful choice.

“If you ask me, I think it enhances the credibility of INEC in the eyes of the Nigerian public. It’s nice for the country.”

Emergence of stronger parties—Ikokwu

Second Republic chairman of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, in Anambra State and one of the founders of PDP, said APC’s registration would “definitely enhance democracy and our nation because we shall be moving towards a smaller number of political parties capable of mobilising its followers and winning seats at both the states and national assemblies.

“The parties will become less ethnic and more national. They will dwell more on issues and not on personalities as many are doing right now.

“However, APC will need to be properly managed rather than depend on the antics of its Alhaji Lai Mohammed of ACN as if ACN has no national chairman or secretary or leaders.

“Time will tell if our democracy is strengthened and made more articulate.”

Harriman reacts

Speaking on the development, a chieftain of the new party, Ms Temi Harriman a former member of the House of Representatives, said: “The registration of APC is a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“It is an opportunity and a formidable choice for the Nigerian people in the political space.

“I urge all people of goodwill to support the new party in it’s progressive drive to lead Nigeria in the future path of equity, development and nationhood.”

Junaid Mohammed, too

Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said: “The registration ought not to have raised dusts in the polity because any group of Nigerians has a fundamental human right to register a political party.

He said: “All this noise over APC registration was because INEC and the Presidency were playing politics with the registration of the party.

“PDP and INEC were trying to manipulate the registration exercise and I hope in the nearest future, no party will be subjected to this kind of humiliation APC went through before the eventual registration.

“There is nothing spectacular about the registration, but I wish them the best.”

Okunniyi salutes INEC

The leader and governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Ogun State, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi applauded INEC for registering APC.

In a statement by his Media Office, Okunniyi congratulated the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, for taking the bold step to register APC in spite of all obstacles

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Stop this Igbo bashing in Lagos

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Read Time:4 Minute, 59 Second

WHEN Governor Babatunde Raji  Fashola  was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos State, to take over from his mentor, I was one of those who vouched for him, urging my friends in our small but very closed forum of lawyers who are pastors to monitor and watch the actions of Lawyers in Power.

I boasted that here comes the first SAN, as a Governor, who will show Nigerians that lawyers have the key to the challenges of this blessed nation, and that Lagos will soon experience a turn around for good. Today, we all agree that he has done well  and still doing well except for one terrible and dangerous tendency his government has displayed too frequently.

Around December 2009,the LASG, provided buses and was paying a sum ranging from N8,000 toN15,000 to anyone who wanted to leave Lagos. What was baffling was that the evacuation targeted people from the South- South and South East of Nigeria, especially the Igbos.

Any man who wants people to leave “their Lagos” so shabbily is wickedly inconsiderate because some of these citizens being urged to depart or relocate from Lagos may have come here when some of them in power today were toddlers. Some of these persons so believed in Lagos, that they gave their children Yoruba names like myself.

They only discovered late in life, like I now do, that many of these men who are in power have refused to outgrow their dislike for Igbos! To me, that action signaled the possibility of BRF waking up any morning to ask a whole group, and ethnic group to leave Lagos. Igbos could be made to leave Lagos one day, if nothing is done now.

I quickly took this thought to my forum of Pastor Lawyers, and after a good argument, they disagreed with me, but  we all agreed to watch BRF closely to observe anything that will prove my thoughts or to confirm my fears for the Igbo people in Lagos. After BRF’s re-election in 2011, we all agreed that the man will become bolder, more blunt, daring, and even wicked in his second term. This was purely based on his body language in everything he did, after he was sworn in for the second term.

Soon after, LASG had a serious brush with the Igbo traders in Alaba International Market, Ojo. He threatened to close their market, and we noted it.

Then he hit the Okada riders very hard, and as that was settling down, he hit the Ladipo Igbo traders early this year, and closed the market indefinitely! It took the intervention of Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to reach BRF’s milk of mercy and he reopened Ladipo Market, but not without a warning! I, had to, and without any apologies, come to the painful conclusion that it is either that someone very high up in the LASG does not like Ndigbo, or it is BRF himself. What angered me more was that Owelle had to beg him for Ndigbo.

This Igbo people I complained, when will they wake up to know and accept that no one likes them in this arrangement called Nigeria, and comport themselves properly at all times and in all they do?

To confirm that I was correct, on the July 26 morning, Onitsha people at the bridge head area woke up to the deportation of about 70 Igbos by LASG to Anambra State! What BRF has told Ndigbo by this action include: That Lagos State under his administration will not tolerate Igbo failed citizens in the state; Lagos will allow only those who contribute immensely to the Internally Generated Revenue of the State, and if any becomes unable to pay tax for any reason, LASG will send him back to Igboland.

Don’t ever think you can do anything about how LASG, treats Ndigbo,whether their treatment of Igbos is constitutional or not, no one can do anything about it. Since Igbo Governors may only come to beg him for mercy, he might as well just send their people back to them, good riddance of bad rubbish! Finally, LASG can and will disregard the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when it concerns Ndigbo, because they are ACN!

The deportation of Nigerians from Nigeria was the worst assault on the pride of Igbo people in Lagos; it was deliberately calculated to see what the Igbo people would do, and it is in very bad taste to me.

The meaning was that a governor who thinks and goes ahead to approve the transportation and relocation of these Nigerian citizens from his state, has succeeded in flouting and abusing the constitutional rights of these citizens to a place of domicile, to stay and earn their living in any part of Nigeria.

If the Federal Government does not speak and do something about this, there will be cause for any Igbo man to worry about this contraption called Nigeria that we have all so believed in. LASG must be made to account for these persons, cater and provide for them, because it was in Lagos that they lost focus and their destiny  ruined.

Lagos Area Boys run wild, extorting money from bus drivers, causing nuisance with impunity ostensibly encouraged by LASG. I just wonder when this insult of Ndigbo will end.The growing trend of disrespecting the Igbo people in Lagos, and wherever in Nigeria must stop.

If nothing is done about this by the FG, many will have to brace up for a fight for their constitutional right, or pack away from Lagos State. And this is because my Igbo people say that if your fowl comes out in the morning from its cage and starts pursuing you, it is wise that you run for your dear life, because it may have developed sharp teeth overnight!

Mr.  CLEMENT UDEGBE, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Rivers Crisis: My Problem with Patience Jonathan – Gov. Amaech

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Read Time:6 Minute, 55 Second

RIVERS State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has reacted to the ongoing controversy between him and the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, saying the  perceived misunder-standing arose out of his desire to provide a conducive learning environment for the children of Okrika, home town of the First Lady.

Amaechi said he has enormous respect for both President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

He spoke when clergymen of the Niger Delta Bishops’ Forum visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt on yesterday as part of their efforts to mediate in the political crisis in the state. The bishops had some weeks back visited the First Lady and Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike in Abuja as part of their efforts to resolve the issues

Governor, Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi said: “My Lords, I don’t know what to say, believe me, the only thing I want to say to you that I want to  put on record is that the wife of the President said that when my wife came to beg me, I pushed her away. I have never quarreled with my wife publicly, and I will never quarrel with my wife publicly.

So, there is no time I pushed my wife away and there is no time I will push my wife away. I want to also correct that so that nobody goes away with the impression that somebody told my wife ‘go and talk to your husband and she came but I pushed her away’. No. That day, I simply walked away into a bus and I sat down until they finished. So, all I did was go back to the bus to enable my wife perform her official function of someone who had received the wife of the President and escort her to all the places she wanted to go to.

“I hope that it (this mediation) will work. Niger Delta Monarchs came and no result came out of it and since you are men of God, I hope that  God will bless this one. I hope so because that is the same way I spoke to them(the monarchs) and they said, ‘watch out, it will work’, and they never returned because it never worked.

There are so many persons who had come to mediate but nothing came out of it. If it is peace that everybody wants, I am ready for peace. When you say you are seeking for permission, I am wondering why, because if you did not have the permission, you would not have gone to see the wife of the President. The mere fact that you have seen the wife of the President means that you have initiated the peace move. So, you don’t require any further approval than the approval of God that you have started with.

“There are aspects of the story that is public that I need to correct. Lord Bishops, please allow me to correct those ones too because when you spoke with the wife of the President, she spoke publicly. She said and I concede to her when she said she is my mother.

As wife of the President who is the head of government and head of the nation, she is my mother and you expect that as my mother, she should be able to protect her son. No mother takes away a Police Commissioner to the detriment of her son. So when next you see my mother, please tell her that she should try and protect her son.

“The other aspect is the Okrika story when she visited. Like I said, as the Governor, by protocol I will receive the President and you know that the President is not just our President, he is the head of the nation but when the wife of the President came, I went to receive her at the airport and she slept in Port Harcourt. The next day, she came up with a programme that was not part of the official programme, and what was the programme? She wanted her people to receive her in Okrika.

There was no plan, there was no protocol arrangement, nothing. We just had to quickly arrange protocol to take her to the place. But to do that, we wanted to also show her, that part of her  programme, not our programme, was to show her the projects we had done in Okrika.

So we took her to the Rufus Ada-George ring road in Okrika which we started and completed and then somewhere, we saw a health centre and a primary school and I said stop, let me show her this health centre. We looked at the health centre and we were satisfied.

At the primary school, there were houses around the primary school too close for comfort, no football field, no playground, no space at all around the school and I turned to the wife of the President and said ‘Your Excellency Ma, we have not finished with this building, we would buy the houses that are surrounding the primary school and demolish them’.

Once she heard the word ‘demolish’, the wife of the President flared up and took the microphone from me and started all sorts of diatribes that I won’t mention here for the respect I have for the office of the wife of the President. When she finished, I felt that it is wrong to confront the wife of the President publicly.

When she finished, I withdrew and walked into the bus. When we got to the ground of the reception which was not part of our programme, which she just included by herself, I came down from the bus and went to sit in one of the primary schools.

That was where she said my wife met me. How did the wife of the President know that my wife met me and I pushed her away when she was supposed to be in a public ceremony. Was she standing with me and my wife in that primary school and saw me pushed my wife away? So, it is important that you get to know this and it is important that the public knows that the altercation between myself and the wife of the President was as a result of providing services to her place, the Okrika people because you must deal with the issue of paedophiles.

If you build a primary school and the place is surrounded by people who are cooking and selling and buying, that is not a conducive atmosphere for learning and we did not say we would come there with caterpillars and demolish, we say we would buy the houses from the people and pay them off to be able to get a football field and provide playground for the children and fence off the school so that we can protect them from paedophiles, that was what happened.”

Governor Amaechi also spoke on the issue of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education whom he nominated for appointment as Minister.

“I hear you also visited Nyesom Wike. I try not to talk about Wike. I say so because he is my subordinate, I try not to talk about him but I hear you visited him. Why I won’t talk about him is that Nyesom Wike, his second tenure as Obio Akpor Council Chairman was by the grace of God but I was the architect of that second term.

Nyesom Wike was appointed Chief of Staff by me. Nyesom Wike as a Minister of State, I nominated him. I was under pressure by the President to drop him, I refused. The President persuaded me to drop him and bring a woman but I refused.

I hear he is going all over town saying I didn’t appoint him. I didn’t appoint him, the President appointed him but I nominated him to be a minister as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum. I did but you know, character doesn’t come easily, character is a very difficult thing and I am a man of character”, Amaechi said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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