Fani-Kayode on ‘deportation’: Enough is enough

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Read Time:11 Minute, 51 Second

The story has been told often enough and is now old: A response from Chief Orji Kalu to the recent forced removal of some Nigerians from one part of their country to another vexed and caused Chief Fani Kayode to write a series of essays, one of which he termed, ‘The Bitter Truth about the Igbos’.

That the response was from his ‘friend and brother’ and was merely to aver that Lagos belonged to no one would appear to warrant nothing more than a private telephone call between the two men. Instead we got a tribal fire-fight after Fani Kayode’s essays squared ‘the Yorubas’ off against ‘the Igbos’.

I am reluctant to enter a conversation uninvited especially one I feel has exceeded certain boundaries of propriety. But I simply cannot remain silent at this treatment meted out to what FK repeatedly as ‘the Igbos. With that term, oft repeated in his essay he has taken millions of his compatriots and mine, millions of people from every imaginable walk of life, wherever in the world they may live, or whatever relationship or association they may have with the statements and assumptions made in the essay, irrespective of whatever else may define them as human beings, and collecting them together as a unit, tongue-lashed them, as though with a ‘koboko.’

Estimates are that there are now 171 million Nigerians. About a fifth of these are Igbo. Thus, Fani Kayode’s essay and its ‘the Igbos’ can have as its ambition no less than to encompass the entire 30 million or so of them alive in Nigeria and across the world. And with the historical ambit described therein he seems to have included their forebears also. This is a violation, of stupendous and unacceptable proportions, of the uniqueness and individuality of each human being and the dignity inherent thereof. That dignity, the according of which to each, is the first law of humanity, after only which justice now becomes relevant or necessary.

I will seek to speak here more about ideas than about people or events. Not for Eleanor Roosevelt’s maxim “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” I have read and heard great minds hold forth and I am quite comfortable with the realization that I am not one. Rather, it is because I have innumerable times in my life arrived at and held firm conclusions about people and events that I subsequently found out were wrong or severely limited. Anyone can read a history book, or write one, even, and I want to be careful with things about which I do not have perfect or complete knowledge. As the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart once said, “the hand that will write the true thing must first learn to erase”.

But first to some points from the essay: If even they were substantiated, comments made by one man representing Enugu at some council or the other in 1945 cannot be held as evidence that a “they” (the Igbos’) were “the ones that FIRST (emphasis his) introduced tribalism into southern politics”. The verbal lathe that turns a ‘they’ out of the actions of one man is a dehumanizing one and deserves to be abandoned. It robs the humanity of every Igbo person other than the supposed speaker of those words to pay for the convenience of a point.

And in the same vein, the ‘Igbo people’ never carried out a failed coup, as is asserted in the essay, referring to the first coup of January, 1966. The coup plotters were not delegated to do so by the wider community. And an ‘Igbo Coup’ as Fani Kayode refers, would have required millions of more participants’ names than the 25 names listed in the essay.

There are many more generalizations and scapegoating in the essay but my purpose here is not to debate Fani Kayode’s essay. It is simply to condemn the widespread practice of taking a community of Nigerians and excoriating or insulting them as a group for actions which they are not to a person culpable of. Or the practice in which behaviour or traits of one sort or another are ascribed to entire communities or groups. That it is convenient to do so does not make it right.

All societies are unique but I submit that the nature and degree of diversity and plurality that exists in our Nigerian society is without precedent or equal: Nigeria is the biggest society in the world and in the history of mankind that has an equal number of Moslems and Christians. Papua New Guinea’s 830 languages make that country arguably the most diverse on earth, but they are spoken by just 7 million people. India, with its teeming cultural diversity and its more than 1 billion people speak 438 languages. Nigerians, with our 515 languages spoken by 171 million citizens easily ranks our society the highest in the world on a plurality- diversity matrix. No country in the world with more people speaks as many languages.

With this complexity and diversity come a great requirement of care and reasonableness in the way we talk to, relate with and refer to one another, especially in public spaces. A care and discipline greater even than practised in other countries. Rather than being a reason for strife, our diversity is a greater imperative to work harder to stay aligned. Along with wisdom, we have to acquire and evince not only the unity with which to manage our diversity, but the maturity also.

We feel we know one another’s history and have seen each other in our houses and kitchens. We have learned to sneer at one another because we have peered into each other’s backyards and bedrooms. Familiarity breeds contempt, after all.

But need it be so? That the truth is said to be bitter does not mean everything bitter is the truth. The recklessness with which many of our commentators and leaders speak about and act towards other Nigerians is irresponsible and has been at the heart of our issues as a nation. The most important lesson we can learn from history is how to prevent it from becoming destiny. Our history tells us that it is easier to destroy bridges than to build them. But that it costs inestimably more to wage war than to sustain peace.

The New Testament’s ‘Parable of the Faithful Servant’ cautions that to whom much is given, much is required. And the Quran’s Surah al-Hujurat says “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other)”. I believe there lies the great challenge of our society, and the greatest contribution that we can make to the world, in showing all how the most diverse country on this continent of diversity can live together in amity.

I am drawn back to Fani Kayode’s essay in which I read these words with dismay: “It does not come so easily to those who never had any history at all and who never even had monarchs or structured, properly-organised hierachial societies that placed value on tradition and culture”. This is a most painful statement. How can it reasonably be said that the Igbos (or any group of people in this world) are without a history or that their society do not place value on tradition and culture.

“The Fulanis are uneducated and the Hausas are violent”. “The Yorubas cannot be trusted or are loud”. “The Igbos love money and are crude”. We take individual human traits and tar entire groups and communities amongst us with them. Yet, many American leaders use principles such as ‘decency’, ‘justice’ and ‘hard work’ in their rhetoric, appropriating universal values and presenting them as ‘American’ to unite and inspire their society. It is wrong to ascribe traits or behaviours to a group that the speaker must know are not individually held by all in that group. That is prejudice and the evidence against it is stark and unassailable. Even children do not automatically take on characteristics of their parents. “The acorn does not fall far from the oak”, the old chestnut holds, but it falls.

Last week marked the 50th year anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech, the title of which is taken from a simple sentence of enduring profundity: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. Half a century on, his country has made great strides in that regard not even at all by electing Barack Obama, but by promulgating and enshrining the Civil Rights Act, and vigorously dispensing censure to those who violate it in either spirit or letter.

Fifty years on in our experience as an independent nation, human beings are still tarred and feathered for no other reason than ‘crimes’ of ethnicity and provenance. The stereotypes with which we straitjacket one another have an insidious effect on our society and the way in which we communicate with another.

There is little point listening to another when all that is needed to know about them is to know that they are Idoma, Bini or Igala or from Kafanchan or Modakeke.

Overly negative images conjured up and reinforced easily produce stereotypes which become tinder for hatred and violence. At a Kukah Centre Roundtable in July, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah spoke about how genocide and explosions of violence are preceded by a shift in nomenclature. About how Hitler described the Jews as ‘vermin’ and in Rwanda, the Tutsis were called ‘cockroaches’, just as the Ogoni Four were described as ‘vultures’. According to him, once these perceptions are internalized and the violence begins, you are not killing human beings, but vermin, cockroaches and vultures. The Kukah Centre, his new initiative, has resolved to take on the issue of hate speech in our society and this could not be more topical.

I am a Yoruba man and a Nigerian. The former denotes my tribe and the latter my country. Both are important to me. The Yoruba language is my most treasured possession however my citizenship of Nigeria is of more primacy to me than my being Yoruba. That I cannot renounce being Yoruba but can my Nigerian citizenship mean to me that the latter requires more of a commitment from me. Just as couples enter into marriages that acquire more immediacy to them than the families into which they were born, we come together as a nation so that we can be and achieve more than we otherwise would. I have not given up my ‘kin’ but simply expanded the notion of that word and the ambit it describes to a tribe called Nigeria.

Still, Yoruba and Nigerian confer personal identities, not definitions. I am a human being and my mind is mine and it defines me. It is not a Yoruba mind, nor a Nigerian mind, and my ambition, my desires and my abilities and actions are neither Yoruba nor Nigerian- they are Dipo Salimonu’s. I am the aggregate of my experiences and the unique formative factors which have influenced me beyond my ability to know or define. Factors which no one alive or dead could ever replicate and which make me unique.

‘Deportees’ from Lagos

I have two siblings and though we lived together and grew up in the same house we are completely different people. Different so that I cannot imagine one word or trait that could successfully describe all three of us. Yet, in our society today we seem easily to find behaviours and traits to describe all in groups comprising thousands or millions of human beings. And to easily hold these stereotypes and prejudices to be sacrosanct even as we are confronted every day by the logic that they cannot be true and evidence that they are not true, We don’t see or register this evidence, sadly, not because we are blind, but because our eyes are closed. And it as wrong to tar a ‘tribe’ as it is to laud one. I chuckle at how many people delight in accepting positive stereotypes, while rejecting any negative ones, as though the sweet alone, and never the bitter, can be true. All blanket ‘tribal’, ‘religious or ‘regional’ identities are flimsy and porous ones, and display intellectual laziness.

I have long marvelled at the preciseness with which mathematicians apply the term ‘at least one’. It applies to situations where existence can be established but it is not known how to determine the total number of solutions. There is an enlightening joke about it in ‘Men of Mathematics’ the E.T Bell classic. The story goes that there are three men on a train leaving England for Scotland. One, an economist, another, a logician and the third is a mathematician. As they cross the border into Scotland they see a brown cow in a field standing parallel to the train and the window that is their vantage point. Says the economist, ‘Look, the cows in Scotland are brown.’ The logician replies, ‘No. There are cows in Scotland of which at least one is brown.’ Then, the mathematician: ‘No. There is at least one cow in Scotland, of which one side appears to be brown.’

– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/fani-kayode-on-deportation-enough-is-enough/#sthash.pdaqf45e.dpuf

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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Anambra: Obi donates N1.46bn to mission primary schools

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Read Time:2 Minute, 58 Second

Awka – Gov. Peter Obi of  Anambra has donated cheques totalling N1.46 billion to mission primary schools for infrastructural development.

Presenting the cheques in Awka, Obi commended the Church for their support in rebuilding the schools and urged them to remain steadfast in their support for government activities.

He said his administration was making “final push” to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Obi said that about N12.5 billion would be spent on education before the end of his tenure.

According to the governor, N5 billion will be spent on each of the eight MDGs,  to ensure a secure future for the children of the state.

“This government would at least employ 2,000 primary school teachers, 2,000 secondary school teachers and 2,000 civil servants before the end of the year.”

Obi said  that a separate account had been opened for the payment of the 6,000 would-be workers till December. 2015.

He said that the government would  donate  N750 million to each secondary school in the state  for library and another N750 million for sports development.

He said the pledge would be fulfilled before the end of his tenure.

The governor also said that about N1.5 billion would be injected into agriculture, while 510 primary and secondary schools across the state would receive a bus each.

He further said that the government would provide each nursing school with N200 million  while seven new fire-fighting trucks and stations would be provided for new areas.

“We are giving the cheques today because we know you (Church) can drive and make things better for us because we want Anambra to work.

“The Church has proven to have spent our money far better than government,” Obi said.

 The  National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, commended Obi for his prudence with state funds, diligence and sacrifices.

“The savings Obi has done for the people inflicted pains on party members but we have realised that it was for the common good of our people.”

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr  Uju  Okeke,  said  pupils from the state were performing creditably well in national examinations.

Okeke urged parents, traditional rulers, presidents of communities and stakeholders to visit schools and monitor how the monies were spent with a view to giving reports where necessary.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs Azuka Enemo, emphasised that Obi handed over schools to missions to revitalize and inculcate moral values in children.

“As a result of his visionary leadership, the governor identified education as a solution to the social vices that had hitherto bewildered our society.

“He has been able to improve our education sector and I urge you people to support continuity by electing a responsible successor.”

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, said that the governor’s approach to development was aimed at achieving the MDGs of which the state ranked tops among others.

 Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Most Rev. Christian Efobi, the Archbishop of Aguata Diocese, on commended the governor, especially for utilising public funds for the intended purposes.

“The Church will continue to be grateful to God for giving us a leader who is fulfilling the mandate given to him.”

Efobi promised that the Church in turn, would not fail the governor in the utilisation of the funds

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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Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has promised to dedicate his win to his newly-born child

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Read Time:1 Minute, 24 Second

Heartland attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has promised to dedicate his side’s anticipated win against 3SC to his newly-born child, Chimamanda.
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu

The baby girl was delivered on Friday.

The Naze Millionaires will host struggling 3SC in today’s Glo Premier League Matchday 32 duel at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Ibenegbu said though his side are sympathetic to the plight of the Oluyole Warriors he insisted 3SC will not get any reprieve as his teammates owe him an emphatic victory to dedicate to his bundle of joy.

“3SC are like a wounded lion fighting for survival but they won’t get it in Owerri. We won the first fixture in Ibadan and will surely pick another win in Owerri.

“We need the three points more than them as we’re positioning ourselves to grab a continental ticket.

“Continental ticket is still achievable with seven matches to end the season. We only need to win our available four home matches and strive for points in the three away games.

“More so I’ve already pleaded with my colleagues to win the match for me as I intend to dedicate the victory to my newly-born baby girl named Chimamanda.

“First baby girl is considered a blessing from God, I’ll be stepping out on the pitch for the first time as a father. I believe my baby will give me luck in the game,” said the Heartland playmaker to supersport.com.

Heartland are on eighth position on 44 points from a possible 93 while their opponents are rooted at the bottom on 38 points.

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: Reps in free-for-all as nPDP visits House (Video)

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Read Time:1 Minute, 5 Second

ABUJA – THE crisis ravaging the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bared its fangs in the House of Representatives, Tuesday, as members of the old PDP disrupted a scheduled meeting between the leadership of the House and the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led new PDP (nPDP) and the G-7 governors.

Immediately the meeting started at about 3.30pm, Rep Henry Ofongo representing Bayelsa State raised a point of order during protocols, which other Reps considered unusual and pounced on him.

Chairs and all available objects were used to hit Ofongo.

However, the hefty Ofongo, who is about 6ft 3inches tall retaliated by throwing blows at his attackers.

His colleagues came to his aid and immediately shouts of No!No!! No!!! rent the air and followed with thunderous claps that further disrupted the meeting.

At about 3.45pm when Baraje stood up to deliver his speech, the claps and shouts of Tukur! Tukur rent the air making it virtually impossible to hear his speech.

But immediately the Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal mounted the rostrum to deliver his speech, peace and order were restored.

As soon as he mentioned “leaders of our great party”, the old PDP lawmakers took over again, but this time, the chant was” PDP Goodluck! PDP Goodluck!!

{youtube}i7O5z6GJSIo{/youtube}

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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Police Recover 31 Weapons in Anambra, 8 Vehicles in Ogun

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Read Time:1 Minute, 15 Second

The Police Command in Anambra recovered 31 assorted weapons and arrested four suspects, during a raid on a criminal hideout in the Onitsha main Market on Sept. 11.

Similarly, the command in Ogun recovered eight stolen vehicles on Sept. 10.
This is contained in the summary of a nationwide Police Crime Report for the second week of September, made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

The report showed that 45 weapons were recovered nationwide during the period, with Anambra recording the highest.

It listed the recovered weapons to include 27 Pump Action guns, two double barrel short guns, one sub-machine gun and one Brownie pistol.

The statement also said that 3,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, 237.65 rounds of live ammunition, 24,135 live cartridges, and magazines were recovered during the raid.

It said that the Ogun Command recovered the eight vehicles at Olokuta village in Abeokuta, after the arrest of three persons suspected to be member of a car snatching syndicate.

The statement said that 11 vehicles were recovered nationwide during the period, reports News Agency of Nigeria.

It listed the vehicles as Toyota Highlander jeep, Toyota Carina II with Reg. No. JP 981 ABC; Honda Accord with Reg. No. LSR 35 BC and Honda Accord with Reg. No. FW 356 LSR.

Others are Toyota Camry with Reg. No. LSR 361 AZ and another without a registration number; Volkswagen Passat Wagon with Reg. No. MUS 26 BR and Honda Accord with Reg. No. SMK 279

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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Jonathan: Fight Against Corruption Must Involve All Nigerians

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Read Time:33 Second

President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that beyond strengthening the anti-graft agencies, the most potent way of fighting corruption in the country was through the contributions and collective efforts of all Nigerians.

He insisted that as long as the citizenry refuse to condemn and frown on suspicious and ill-gotten wealth, corrupt tendencies would continue to thrive in the country.

Jonathan, who spoke in Abuja Tuesday while declaring open the 54th Nigerian Economic Society (NES) conference, said  efforts must be made to discourage things that create room for corruption and which act as incentives for people to steal from both the public and private sectors.
Details to follow

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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Enugu Begins Demolition of Illegal Structures

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Read Time:29 Second

In a bid to beautify the Enugu metropolis, the state government says it has commenced the demolition of illegal buildings and structures in the capital city.

The commissioner in charge of the Enugu Capital Development Authority (ECDA), Engr. Ike Ugwuegede told reporters in Enugu that the exercise was ongoing and notices have been issued to affected owners.

According to Ugwuegede, the exercise was aimed at giving Enugu capital territory a befitting facelift.

Among the areas to be affected include the City Layout, illegal mechanic villages and all those structures built on rail tracks and designated pathways

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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Lagos CJ re-assigns PDP’s suit to another judge

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A suit filed by the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the party's National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was on Tuesday in Lagos transferred to another judge.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, re-assigned the case to Justice Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie for trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was initially handled by a vacation judge, Justice Ganiyu Safari.

Counsel to the parties, who had appeared before Safari's court on Tuesday, were notified of the change.

The development stalled the hearing of the preliminary notice of objection filed by Tukur and three co-defendants.

NAN reports that Baraje, Dr Sam Jaja and former Osun Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had on Sept. 1filed the suit at an Ikeja High Court.

The claimants had asked the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as PDP NEC members.

Joined in the suit as defendants are Mr Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman; Dr Kema Chikwe, Women Leader; and Mr Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary.
Hearing in the case has been fixed for Sept.18.

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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Utomi Denies Funding Presidential Campaign with Bank PHB Money

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Read Time:2 Minute, 13 Second

Prof. Pat Utomi on Tuesday denied that he funded his 2007 election campaign with loans obtained from the former Bank PHB.

Utomi, a former Executive Director of the bank, was also presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress Party in the 2007 election.

He made the denial while testifying at the trial of a former Managing Director of the bank, Francis Atuche, and his wife, Elizabeth.

The Atuches are being prosecuted, alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the Atuches and Anyanwu to court for allegedly stealing N25.7 billion belonging to Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank).

EFCC counsel, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), while cross-examining Utomi, alleged that Bank PHB had granted a N2.7 billion loan to Baywood Continental Ltd. between 2006 and 2007.

Pinheiro said Utomi was the board chairman of the company and he had used the money to fund his campaign.

"The loan facility granted to Baywood Continental coincided with the period of your presidential campaign.

"The period of disbursement also coincided with your campaign.

"Baywood was never listed as a debtor on Bank PHB's books until the CBN intervention, after which the company was listed as a major debtor to the bank," he said.

Utomi, however, denied the allegation, saying he was not aware that the company was granted the said credit facility.

He said :" I find that insinuation inappropriate and untrue. The total amount spent on my campaign was just under N30 million which is public knowledge."

Pinhero also queried Utomi about his knowledge of the N17 billion cheque kiting fraud which happened at Bank PHB during Atuche's era.

He said the attention of then President Umaru Yar'Adua was drawn to the matter as a result of the magnitude of the fraud which could have collapsed the bank.

Responding, Utomi said that the late Yar'Adua's interest in the matter was personal.
Utomi also dismissed Pinheiro's suggestion that he had failed to manage some companies where he acted in advisory management capacity.

He insisted that Baywood Continental, Volkswagen Nigeria Ltd., and Bank PHB, were not moribund as claimed by the EFCC counsel.

The witness said that Bank PHB still existed across the country but with new labels.
"As for Volkswagen, the decision to scrap the company was made one year before I joined the company. There are records to show that," he said.

NAN reports that the matter was adjourned till Sept.20 for further cross-examination.

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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Ondo State: Dr. Olusegun Agagu Is Rare Gem – Alh. Baraje

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Read Time:1 Minute, 41 Second

The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described late Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, as a rare gem and his death a national calamity.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the party lamented Dr. Agagu’s sudden death, saying it has robbed the party, the good people of Ondo State and Nigeria in general of a patriot and a statesman.

The party recalled that apart from serving as Governor of Ondo State, the late Dr. Agagu also meritoriously served Nigeria in various capacities, including as Minister of Aviation. PDP extended its condolences to Dr. Agagu’s immediate family, to the good people of Ondo State, to the PDP Family and to Nigerians in general.

While mourning Dr. Agagu, the Alhaji Baraje-led PDP congratulated the duo of Archbishop Ignatius C.O. Kattey, Dean of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on their release by their kidnappers.  

The party thanked God that the two illustrious Nigerians came out of the kidnappers’ den unhurt and prayed God to give them the strength to cope with the psychological trauma arising from their harrowing experience.

“The New PDP also appealed reiterated its earlier call to the Nigerian Police to unseal its offices.PDP wishes to appeal to the Nigerian Police, which have unfortunately allowed itself to become distracted by politics to the detriment of its constitutional duties, to immediately retrace its steps and redirect its energies towards improving the precarious security situation in the country instead of being preoccupied with witch-hunting perceived opponents of President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s faction of the PDP.  

The Police under the watch of Mohammed D. Abubakar which have illegally sealed our offices while leaving millions of Nigerians at the mercy of kidnappers and other common criminals are playing with fire. The earlier the police stop doing so, the better for everyone”, the party warned

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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