Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan has decried attacks on members of the nation’s security services, noting that what they need from Nigerians is appreciation and not unnecessary criticism.
“All nations respect their military and their intelligence services because without these people, we wouldn’t have been here. Without these people, there wouldn’t have been any Nigeria.
“What keeps us together as a nation is the activities of these people. I use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to continue to show gratitude and appreciation to our security services” he said.
The president who spoke while hosting widows of the nation’s fallen heroes said Nigerians must learn to respect members of the nation’s security forces because the security men were on the streets making sacrifices while other Nigerians sleep in their houses.
The president said he decided to host the widows because his government appreciated their husbands who paid the supreme prices while securing the nation.
“Most of you (the widows) would have been surprised that why should the President call us here. It has not happened before. This is the first time that the President would be interacting with the wives of the fallen heroes.
“We appreciate the services of your husbands, your fathers, within the armed forces and other security agencies because we sleep while they are in fears and while protecting the nation some of them paid the supreme sacrifice.
“That is why I personally get worried when some public utterances that are not expected are made of them” the president said
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.
Usain Bolt, a six-time Olympic gold medallist revealed he would retire from athletics after the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in London.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt poses on the podium with his gold medal after Jamaica won and set a new world record in the men’s 4X100 relay final at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. AFP PHOTO
According to the Daily Mail, an online news portal, the Jamaican 28-year-old decided on Feb. 14 to retire in 2017 after the World Championships, in spite of his former promise to retire after the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The news portal then confirmed that Bolt will end his illustrious career on the same track where he retained the Olympic 100m and 200m titles he won in bursting to the top of his sport at the 2008 Beijing Games.
It said that Bolt sought to add to his total of eight world gold medals at this summer’s World Championships in Beijing.
“The initial plan was to sign off after Rio, but my sponsor asked me to go on for another year, to 2017 and London.
“I’ll be doing one event, the 100. I’ve already discussed it with my coach. I can concentrate on that, and on retiring on a winning note,’’ it quoted bolt saying.
The news portal also said Bolt also indicated he had not ruled out improving his world 100m record of 9.58secs, set in winning his first world title in Berlin in 2009.
“If everything goes well this season, anything is possible; if I can get myself into good shape, it should be wonderful this season.
“I remember when I won in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, people were saying Tyson Gay wasn’t there.
“So for me the World Championship the following year when I won, when everyone was there, that was good,’’ it quoted the Olympic champion.
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.
Two days after he spoke against President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in London, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, now at home, attacked the President, yesterday, accusing him of a hidden agenda over the 2015 polls.
Specifically, Obasanjo alleged that Jonathan was engaged in do-or-die politics.
But in a swift reaction, the Presidency and Jonathan’s Campaign Office charged that Obasanjo’s allegations were not only baseless but also absurd, repugnant and self-serving.
On Thursday, while publicly presenting his latest book, ‘My Watch’, in London, the former President told his audience that the certificate issue against Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), APC presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections, was a ploy by Jonathan’s men to stop Buhari in the election.
Jonathan and Obasanjo
The former President, who spoke to journalists at his Hilltop Mansion residence, Abeokuta, likened the politics played by Jonathan to “the do-or-die” politics played by the former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo.
Obasanjo, while reacting to the postponement of the general elections, said it was a grand plan by Jonathan to perpetuate himself in office till the situation becomes clear that the presidential election would favour him.
He likened the situation to the one in Cote d’Ivoire in which Gbagbo delayed the presidential election of the country and, when he eventually conducted the election and lost, refused to leave office.
“I was away because I had a number of assignments abroad which took me to Morocco, Munich, Nairobi, London and New Delhi. Exactly a week today, we were in Munich for what they called `Munich security conference’ and all people who are in security community, normally, you found them there”, the former President said.
“For this year, the Vice President of America was there, the Secretary of State, John Kerry, was there, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany was there, President of Ukraine was there and many others.
“I was there with Koffi Annan. Our side was to talk about peace and security in Africa. I was to handle the African perspective while Koffi Annan was to look at it from the global perspective.
“And suddenly people started asking me questions about what was happening in my country:; Americans, British, Germans and every other person. Koffi Annan was particularly agitated. “While I was out, I refused to make any categorical statement on this issue because I wanted to come back home and learn, first hand, what actually transpired and what was going on. And it turned out to be a forced decision on the INEC because it was alleged that the Security Chiefs were unable to provide security and, as a result, the Chairman of INEC had to postpone, in accordance with the dictates of the so called Security Chiefs.
“I thought that was bad precedent for democracy in Nigeria, it meant it doesn’t matter what preparation or lack of preparation any electoral body could make in Nigeria, the final decision whether election will take place on the day scheduled for it lies in the domains of the security, it is a sad day for democracy in Nigeria.
“And I will say this. We must all feel concerned before democracy is killed. The observable and what would appear to be happening is that the President has a grand plan, a grand plan to ensure that, by hook or crook, he wins the election or if it all fails, they scuttles it and create chaos, confusion and unpleasantness in the whole country”.
According to him, it is the duty of the security officers to provide security. “The President is the Chief Security Officer of the country and he is the Commander-in-Chief and if security is required anywhere any time, it is his duty to provide it, failure to provide it is dereliction of duty, pure and simple”.
‘Grand plan’ Obasanjo said the President, following his own grand plan or his aides and associates, was working a script.
“What again it looks to me is that the President is trying to play Gbagbo. Gbagbo was the President of Cote d’Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan and then, in the run-off, Gbgbo lost with 8% behind Ouattara and then refused to hand over. All reasonable persuasion and pleading was rebuffed by him and he unleashed horror in that country until nemesis caught up with him”, he stated.
“I believe that we may be seeing the repeat of Gbagbo or what I call the Gbagbo saga here in Nigeria. I hope I am wrong.
“I believe the President’s concern of fear is not to live out of office per se, because he and I have occasions to talk about this both seriously and jovially. I believe the President would want an opportunity to disengage peacefully and have a nice, decent and a glorious exit, I believe the President’s fear is, particularly, motivated by the person he sees as his likely successor, that is General Buhari.
“I believe people would have been telling him that Buhari is a hard man, he would fight corruption and you may end up in jail if not in grave. I believe people must have told him all sorts of things and he is not the only one, there are other people who may be afraid of Buhari, but, why? I would say that Buhari has learnt lessons; if he hasn’t learnt lessons, then he would be probably be the most unlearning human being.
“If he has learnt lessons, he would know that you do not fight corruption by putting people in jail for 200 years and this has been done by my own predecessor in office, General Abdulsalam Abubakar; he recovered over $750 million from Abacha’s estate without putting anybody in jail, without hurting or harming anybody. When I took over, we recovered over $1.25 billion from the same Abacha estate without hurting anybody, without harming anybody and, in fact, what would be rather unfortunate is the fact that our lawyer, who is still alive, able, who was chasing this money all over the world, said to us that there’s still about $1 billion to be recovered from Abacha estate but the unfortunate thing is that my successor did not do anything about it even though it was in my handing over note”.
While speaking on the role of the Security Chiefs on the postponement of the elections, Obasanjo said: “That is what I said; it was strange to me; it wasn’t the duty and responsibility of Security Chiefs and Service Chiefs to tell INEC, ‘we are not in the position to provide security for you’ because it is their job. When they have failed, they can as well go home, their job is to maitain law and order and provide security at any time, at any place, they said they could not do it, they have failed”.
On the Boko Haram insurgency as excuse for the elections postponement, the former President said, “You can give any excuse or you can rationalise anything. Boko Haram has been with us since 2009 and now if we said what we have not been able to achieve since 2009 would be achieved in six weeks, all I would say is that God is a God of miracle. God can do anything”.
On the alleged plot to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, Obasanjo said: “I think the President, in his media chat, has dispelled that rumour but, of course, I know the President very well, but I want to believe him and believe what I see not what I hear”.
“I believe that after Jega has been boxed to a corner, he had no choice but to accept the fait accompli and postponed the election. And I believe that like I have said before, it is unfortunate because in the past, this same Jega had changed the date of election when he found it that it was not suitable. So it is the duty, responsibility, function and jurisdiction of INEC to determine whether the situation allows or does not allow them to go on with the election. Nobody should either twist their arms, blackmail them or force them”.
Buhari phobia
Obasanjo added: “I appeal to President Jonathan again not to listen to those creating phobia, phobia of Buhari, phobia of enquiry and all that. President Jonathan has done well to the best of his ability and he has made history as the first elected Nigerian from a minority tribe and nobody can take that away from him. He can even make a second history; if it turns out that way, if he contests a fair, free and transparent election and if he loses, she should have a dignified decent and a dignified exit. He will be on the mountain top and he would be acclaimed as a true patriot and a true democrat. What stops him from doing this?”
President fires back: ‘Allegations baseless, absurd!’ Meanwhile, Jonathan, through the Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, last night, described Obasanjo’s claims as repugnant.
Jonathan’s statement read: “We find the false claims and allegations reportedly made against President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta very odious and repugnant.
“As we have had cause to say before, it is most regrettable indeed that a man like Chief Obasanjo, who should know better, chooses to repeatedly, wantonly, and maliciously impugn the integrity of a sitting President of his country for the primary purpose of self-promotion. “It is obvious from Chief Obasanjo’s serial vituperations against President Jonathan who is doing his best to positively transform Nigeria for the benefit of all of its people that he has willfully chosen to close his eyes to the present administration’s good works and intentions. For reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set his mind on regime change by fair or foul means.
“Otherwise, it would be completely senseless, irrational and out of place for Chief Obasanjo, who still claims to belong to the same party as the President, to accuse President Jonathan of plotting to win the rescheduled presidential elections by “hook or crook” and planning to plunge the nation into crisis if he loses the election. For the record, President Jonathan has no such intention and will continue to give the greatest possible support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant federal agencies to ensure that the rescheduled elections are successfully conducted.
“Indeed, it is not President Jonathan who remains faithful to his oath of office who is trying to plunge Nigeria into crisis, but Chief Obasanjo who is scheming to plunge the country into chaos in pursuit of a selfish and highly egocentric agenda.
“Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Government, which he hopes to head on the nation is well known to us, but by the Grace of God Almighty, his odious plan to return to power through the back door will fail woefully.
“We know very well that it is in pursuit of this nefarious plot that the former President continues to sow the seeds of discord and crises in the polity by purporting to remain in the ruling party while openly consorting with the opposition, endorsing its candidates and predicting victory for opposition candidates in a manner most unbecoming of a supposed elder statesman.
Thankfully, the vast majority of Nigerians who are patriotic and right-thinking cannot be fooled by Chief Obasanjo’s antics.
“We urge them to be assured that President Jonathan’s commitment to democracy in all its ramifications remains constant and that he will never be party to the use of any unlawful means to remain in office or gain political advantage over his opponents.
“The President stands by his commitment, which he reaffirmed on national television last Wednesday that on his watch, all elections in Nigeria, will be free, fair and credible, and that all certified election results will be respected.
“As President Jonathan has also assured the nation, the rescheduling of the general elections was in the best interest of the nation and was never driven by any ulterior motive on the part of government as Chief Obasanjo and others have alleged.
“President Jonathan will continue to put his best efforts into giving Nigeria quality leadership and will not be distracted from his purpose by unwarranted and needless criticism by persons who ought to know better.
“The President also continues to trust in the good judgment of Nigerians and to believe that in appreciation of his sincere efforts to move the country forward over the past four years, they will re-elect him for a second term on March 28, 2015 with a mandate to pursue his agenda for national transformation to a successful conclusion”.
The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO), also responded, saying the decision to postpone the elections was INEC’s and not the President’s.
“It is most uncharitable and unfair for him to suggest that President Jonathan wishes to remain in power by hook or by crook because that is not the nature of”, the PCO statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said. “It is even worse for him to compare him to President Laurent Gbagbo. To Jonathan, politics is not a matter of do or die and President Obasanjo knows this more than anyone else. We will respond to President Obasanjo in full at the appropriate time but the truth is that we will not allow him or anyone else to distract us from the task that lies ahead. We have an election to fight and to win and that remains our primary focus. We reject President Obasanjo’s very serious and grave allegations and we are not in the least bit disturbed by them because we know that they have no basis in truth, rationality or reason. The days of anyone attempting to rule by proxy or through surrogates are long over because we have all come of age”.
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.
Ado Ekiti – Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has lambasted former President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , describing him as Nigeria’s number one enemy, who has lost his status as an elder statesman.
In a statement, Sunday, in Ado-Ekiti, his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said Obasanjo, ” is only fighting President Jonathan because he prevented him (Obasanjo) from ruling Nigeria from his Ota Farm.”
“The moment Obasanjo is not the one controlling a house, he will want the house pulled down but this time around, he has failed.”
“Obasanjo has always benefited from the misfortune of others and he is living with the impression that he is the wisest person in the whole world.
“When Murtala Mohammed was murdered in 1976, Obasanjo was the beneficiary.
“In 1993, he said the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola was not the Messiah Nigeria needed. Instead of Obasanjo to join the clamour for the actualisation of Abiola’s mandate, Obasanjo was canvassing for an Interim National Government, which he schemed to head.
“MKO Abiola died in detention in 1997 and Obasanjo became the beneficiary of his (Abiola) death.
“Despite the fact that it was the blood of MKO Abiola that Obasanjo matched on to power, not even a street was named after Abiola throughout Obasanjo’s eight years as president.
“Today, Obasanjo is fighting President Jonathan, the man who has done what he failed to do for Abiola, the Yoruba people and Nigerians as a whole when he was president for eight years, simply because he does not want anyone to equal his record as Nigeria’s longest serving president.
“President Jonathan has made it impossible for Obasanjo to run his presidency for him and for this reason, he is supporting Buhari, hoping that he will be the one to nominate ministers for Buhari if he becomes president.
“However, I have this bad news for Obasanjo. Nigeria is not his football that he can kick around as he likes. President Jonathan will be re-elected, and Nigeria will be freed from his (Obasanjo) bondage once and for all.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/obasanjo-lost-elder-statesmans-status-fayose/#sthash.D8ruSH7l.dpuf
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.
ABUJA- PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO, Sunday, a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying that he remained a major critic of the present administration because President Goodluck Jonathan has vehemently refused to be a stooge to Obasanjo, just as it said that he does not want genuine democracy as he only pretends to want it.
According to PDP, soon after Jonathan was elected the president of the country, the former President tried everything possible to control and teleguide Jonathan, just as the party alleged that Obasanjo asked the President to do a number of things that were simply wrong and unacceptable to a government with plans for the people.
Addressing Journalists in Abuja, Director, Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who was reacting to allegations against President Jonathan on the postponement of the general elections by former President Obasanjo, stressed that he( Obasanjo) has been lampooning the President and trying to destroy the credibility of the election process because he knew that the President would win the March 28 election.
He said, “After Jonathan came to power, Obasanjo not only tried to control and teleguide him but he also asked him to do a number of things that were simply wrong and unacceptable. It is for President Goodluck Jonathan himself to divulge those things and I am sure that he will do so at the appropriate time. Needless to say President Jonathan refused to be teleguided and told what to do even though at all times he showed Obasanjo maximum respect and accorded him all the privileges, access and courtesies that is due to a former Head of State and a father and mentor. This continued to be the case even after Obasanjo consistently attempted to undermine his government and ridicule his efforts
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.
WOLE SOYINKA knows that, in linguistics, there is something called register. Yet, while addressing students at a recent Lagos gathering, the Nobel laureate employed an elevated language suitable for addressing an international literary convention. Why? The answer must be found in the acute dilemma Soyinka found himself in. This author of such books as Death and the King’s Horseman and The Trials of Brother Jero, could easily have toned his speech to a level his listeners would readily understand. Instead, he delved into polysyllables, incessant subordinations and wanton opacity. Not without a good reason.
Soyinka, intelligent as he is, was aware that his speech on the occasion represented a total redefinition of all he had stood for through his adult life, a complete repudiation of his national philosophy, a philosophy that, through time, guided his writings, his pronouncements, his actions and his associations. We are talking of the man who, in October 1965, seized an Ibadan radio station at gunpoint, to make an anti-feudal statement. We are talking of a man who, during the Second Republic, ventured into partisan politics by aligning with the likes of Chinua Achebe and Uche Chukwumerije, to pitch tent with Mallam Aminu Kano’s left-leaning Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). We are talking of a man who, in the politics of the First and Second Republics, came down heavily and stood resolutely on the side of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Does Professor Soyinka regard Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a credible successor of Chief Awolowo as the Yoruba leader? Does he in any way confuse the posturing of the APC as remotely or tangentially related to even the widest interpretations of political progressivism? As the man who declaimed that, “Justice is the first condition of humanity”, did he critically look at all sides of everything, and did he adequately assess the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and did he arrive at his damning verdict based on findings valid on the crucible of justice, equity and fairness? Apparently, it didn’t occur to Soyinka that those certain to be shocked by his about-face would be deserving of some explanation, he being the only high priest on whose altar Ifa divination is possible. He, therefore, couched his speech to school children in obscurantism, thinking obviously that, the less easy to grasp his presentation, the less flak he would get for what amounts to a disservice to history.
To be sure, Soyinka has the right to refuse to vote, as the Nigerian Constitution does not censure or criminalize non-voting by citizens. He has the right to campaign against any candidate. But he set tongues wagging by stating that, “It is pointlessly, and dangerously provocative to present General Buhari as something that he probably was not. It is however just as purblind to insist that he has not demonstrably striven to become what he most glaringly was not, to insist that he has not been chastened by intervening experience and – most critically – by a vastly transformed environment – both the localized and the global.”
There isn’t any doubt regarding what Buhari was not. He never was a democrat! But it is disingenuous to state that the former military dictator has “demonstrably striven” to shake off his authoritarian past, to insist that Buhari has “been chastened by intervening experience” and “a vastly transformed environment.” Soyinka may have been addressing school kids. But his audience breached his toddlers’ perimetres. Where is the evidence of the chastened Buhari? If “most critically”, “a vastly transformed environment” left previous despots chastened and amenable to democratic propensities, what has the world been experiencing under Egyptian General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s democratic government? Was it not under a “democratic dispensation” that General Olusegun Obasanjo wiped out Odi and Zaki Biam?
It has become Soyinkaesque to posit that an elected Buhari would not be repressive because he would be operating under a democratic dispensation! Was apartheid not practiced under a democratic dispensation? Did not Hitler become German Chancellor by the democratic vote? It appears the only answer Soyinka has to these and similar questions is a string of sentences strewn together by an unconvincing statement. He is now rooting for a Buhari presidency because he has “studied him from a distance, questioned those who have closely interacted with him, including his former running-mate, Pastor Bakare, and dissected his key utterances past and current.”
A man with a contemporary Draconian past seeking the people’s electoral mandate deserves better than being studied “from a distance”. Little wonder Soyinka came by the conclusion that he found “A plausible transformation that comes close to that of another ex-military dictator, Mathew Kerekou of the Benin Republic.” On this tenuous ground, Soyinka is recommending a “leap of faith” to his fellow countrymen and women! People have a right to be scandalized on this score because, on no account, should an election for the next president of Nigeria be tied to a leap of faith and all the calamitous consequences it could engender.
Soyinka’s introduction of Kérékou is even misapplied because the former Benin Republic leader took a positive step in his time that Buhari has found impossible to appropriate. During the nationally televised 1990 National Conference in Benin Republic, Kérékou spoke to Catholic Archbishop Isidor de Souza of Cotonou, confessing guilt and begging forgiveness for the flaws of his military regime. Likewise Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings who, in 1992, and when campaigning for the Ghanaian presidency, attended a church service in Accra where he apologized for all the killings that attended his first military dispensation. It was because Kérékou and Rawlings repented that their peoples relented, according them the chance to try their hands at democratic governance. But the gestures of apology, contrition, regret and repentance have never been seen, heard or noticed in Soyinka’s “chastened” Buhari.
To quote Soyinka’s demolition of Candidate Buhari in 2011: “The grounds on which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive. History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future. Of course, we know that human beings change. What the claims of personality change or transformation impose on us is a rigorous inspection of the evidence, not wishful speculation or behind-the-scenes assurances. Public offence, crimes against a polity, must be answered in the public space, not in caucuses of bargaining. In Buhari, we have been offered no evidence of the sheerest prospect of change. On the contrary, all evidence suggests that this is one individual who remains convinced that this is one ex-ruler that the nation cannot call to order.”
Yet, Soyinka discarded his recommendation of “rigorous inspection of the evidence” to settle for armchair analysis. Soyinka, the writer and teacher, is proposing a leap of faith into Buhari for Nigerians. This development is so startling that any of Soyinka’s “students” will, in a flush of angst, borrow from the title of one of Fela’s compositions and rail thus: Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense! The question of numeracy also comes into it all. Soyinka said he had 60 reasons not to vote for President Jonathan. But he mentioned only one – the kidnap of the Chibok schoolgirls! Did he not realize that he owed his listeners the listing of the remaining 59 reasons? Even on that unfortunate incident, a lot of distortion has obscured facts. For instance, it did not take 10 days to respond to the kidnap. The pursuit of the kidnappers followed almost immediately. What actually took 10 days was the public relations dimension for which blame should, in the main, go to those with the primary responsibility. If the Chibok girls have not been rescued, it is because the proposition is not easy. Not because government is fiddling. After all, the United States and other developed countries descended on Nigeria with all their scientific and technological gear aimed at locating and rescuing the girls without registering any success. Again, it took America all of 10 years to find Osama bin Laden.
There is no justice in a six-year administration judged solely on the basis of an emotive issue on which vested interests have studiously muddied the waters of public opinion. Odia Ofeimun, the poet and former private secretary to Chief Awolowo, who acknowledges Soyinka as his mentor, supports this assertion. In 2015 and After, an article he widely published in both orthodox and social media on January 25, 2015, Mr. Ofeimun said: “One remarkable paradox about the 2015 General Election is that it ought to be a referendum on whether President Goodluck Jonathan has done well in Agriculture, Aviation, Road construction, Education, Health and especially Ebola, Railways, Electricity, and whether he achieved the purpose of putting constitutional reforms on the agenda of the Nigerian state as most Nigerians have been asking for since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. It is simply true, and provable, that in these areas, Jonathan has done exceedingly better than his illustrious predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a very remarkable under-achiever, who has been needling him on all grounds and cooking the mythology that Goodluck Jonathan has no clue.”
It is a sad commentary on the state of Nigerian political discourse that Soyinka and all the radicals with a lower case “r” have turned a blind eye to President Jonathan’s achievements and have rather decided to worship at the expedient altar of opportunism. What remains is this lamentation for Soyinka: The cynosure of all eyes should not dab their face in charcoal.
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.
POOR Attahiru Jega! The distinguished Professor of political science and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is once again in the dock. Indeed, the first salvo against Jega in the court of public opinion is that he is biased. Those who say that Jega is biased cite his now aborted plot to create 30,000 polling booths eighty per cent of which would have been located in the North as evidence of his ploy to give his side of the country an edge over the rest of the country. Another charge against Jega is to the effect that the umpire has kowtowed to pressure from the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to disenfranchise voters who are seen to be sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP). The story making the rounds in Lagos is that INEC, in solidarity with APC, has denied the Igbo who constitute more than 46 per cent of the population in Lagos the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).
According to fillers from the nation’s commercial headquarters, INEC has asked Lagosians to go get their PVCs from the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas created by its immediate past governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is currently the national leader of the APC. According to The Guardian of Thursday February 5, 2013, “There are sordid tales of woe from many Lagos residents and environs, four days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday February 8, 2015 as they troop out to their various registration centers to collect their PVCs without success. For those residents, the collection of their cards, a prerequisite for casting their votes in the February 14 general elections has either been deliberately made difficult by some individuals for selfish reasons or a deliberate plot to smear INEC’s image and efforts towards superintending a successful election.”
In the usually conservative orientations of the paper, its report was very correct but not very elaborate enough to give its readers the benefit of forming their opinions on this very topical issue at the apogee of our national discourse. A more detailed report would have included the fact that almost one hundred percent of those facing the logic of being disenfranchised in Lagos much against the tenets of the Electoral Act, are Nigerians of South East and South South origin, an aspect of political persecution. How the PVCs got o the hands of APC political jobbers must be investigated right away. It is benumbing that INEC stooped so low as to hand over the distribution of PVCs to politicians who ask the electorate to thumb print before they are given the voter cards in Lagos. The reader should read about the plight of prospective registered voters from the South east and South south who are resident in Lagos in the February 8 edition of The Niche On Sunday. More alarming is the fact that without adequate preparation, INEC told the world that it was ready for the elections.
How ready is INEC for elections when more than 20 million prospective registered voters are yet to get their voter cards? How prepared is it when even its 700,000 ad hoc staff are yet to be trained and the training manuals yet to be released? Why try to blackmail Jonathan and the military with the half-truth that it is postponing the elections because of insecurity in the North-east when it is obvious that it failed to do its work well? Why the hoopla over shift in election date when it is certain that INEC is not ready for the exercise? The Electoral Act states clearly that elections could be held at least not less than 30 days to the hand over date. What this means is that INEC has the mandate to shift any election to a date not exceeding April 26. Apart from politicising the PVCs distribution in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano, the initial refusal of the Prof. Attahiru Jega- led electoral body to shift forward the date of the elections inspite of its obvious shortcomings was the height of impunity. In a more serious and fundamental sense, Jega must explain to Nigerians why and how the distribution of the PVCs suddenly become the sole responsibility of the APC.
I refuse to see this as a manifestation of the much-talked-about elite conspiracy against Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Iam inclined to say here that my joy springs from the fact that Nigerians have now come to the realization that democracy is better than dictatorship. The President’s Spartan outing in his campaign rallies across the country to confirm his transformational strides and his overwhelming endorsement by various interest groups across the country is a huge testimony to the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again coasting to victory in the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The rallies depicted Jonathan’s persona, his exuding energy, dogged political savvy, unprecedented achievements in all sectors of the economy and commitment to the Nigerian project. What some of us are saying is that we have come to the stage in our political development when every Nigerian must adhere to the tenets of democracy. No matter your commitment, real or imagined, to the fight against corruption, no matter your plan to curb insurgency in the land, if you don’t adhere to the principles of the rule of law you will end up promoting more corruption and insecurity in the country. What we must first address in our country is the culture of impunity which has degenerated to a rhythm of lawlessness. It is a season of high-profile inanities!
This culture of impunity is alien to the African setting. It is an authoritarian and totalitarian culture which was instituted by the military in our country. General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate and his supporters who are apologetic to this culture of impunity, are still threatening fire and brimstone if there is any further postponement of the elections. They are trying to criminalise the Federal government and the Nigerian military for what is clearly the shortcomings of INEC. Is the military and government to blame for the failure of INEC to distribute the 23 million PVCs to registered voters? Are they to blame for the failure of INEC to produce enough training materials for the elections? Are they to blame for INEC’s inability to conduct training and simulation exercises for the over 700,000 ad hoc staff on the Card Readers and other necessary aspects of the election and deploy enough Card Readers to the states? Are the military and government to blame for INEC’s inability to deploy new and functional printing machines to the 36 states and the FCT to print voters registers or revisit the PVCs contracts where the contractor for the software production is holding three others to ransom? Do we expect INEC to sweep all these facts under the carpet, go ahead to conduct elections and in the end cook up figures as authentic results? What constitute free, fair and credible elections? INEC should apologize to Nigerians and save us from hysteria in this season of high-profile inanities.
•Mr. Amor, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.
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.
ABUJA — Following the directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that the investigative report into the $180 million Halliburton bribery scandal be re-opened and the major culprits re-arrested, Vanguard gathered that this has resulted in a fall out between two former heads of state and President Jonathan.
The two former heads of state (names withheld) were said to have been found in the investigative report to have benefitted from the sharing of the Halliburton bribe money using fronts who have already confessed that they were only fronting for their principals.
Incidentally, when the investigation team took off from Abuja sometime in 2010 and landed in Ibadan on their way to the home of one of the indicted persons, Bodunde Adeyanju, to recover documents relating to how the Halliburton bribe money was collected and disbursed, the team was sent back to Abuja from the Ibadan airport.
Jonathan determined to prosecute suspect
It was gathered that President Jonathan is determined to prosecute those found wanting in the bribery scandal to demonstrate not only to Nigerians who feel he is a toothless bulldog when it comes to fighting corruption, but also to show the international community that corrupt people, no matter their status in the society, can be brought to book in Nigeria.
And as part of this determination, it was gathered that an approval has been secured by the five-man inter-agency panel headed by the Inspector General of Police, including EFCC, SSS, and ICPC, to travel to France, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Spain to confirm the foreign leg of the investigations which mostly involves wiring of the funds, the amounts and the account holders.
It will be recalled that this aspect of the investigation was to be carried out in 2010, as the visas had been acquired and about N50million meant for the trip and investigation expenses made available but the trip was called off following pressure said to have been mounted on the office of the Attorney General of the federation by a former head of state.
Already, Vanguard gathered that the US government has sent a letter to the Federal Government warning that it may apply certain amount of sanctions in line with international anti-corruption protocols if the culprits are not prosecuted and if the $26.5 million paid by Julius Berger as Plea Bargain is not located and given to the Police.
Meanwhile, the Police authorities are said to be working round the clock to unravel the mystery surrounding whereabouts of the Julius Berger plea bargain money with the Inspector General of Police vowing that the money must be found.
It was gathered that as part of investigation on the matter, all the receipts of plea bargain money returned by other suspects during investigation, and whose amounts were lodged in such government accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry of Finance, Accountant General’s office and the office of the Accountant General of the federation have been recalled and the monies located except that returned by Julius Berger.
It will be recalled that President Jonathan had directed the Police to resuscitate the investigative report of the $180million Halliburton scam following America ’s insistence that the culprits in the bribery scandal must be brought to book before the $130million in US coffers can be returned to Nigeria .
America also insisted that the $26.5million plea bargain money returned by Construction giant, Julius Berger, must be located and made available to Police following suspicion that the money has developed legs and ended up in some person’s pocket.
Since the directive there has been confusion over the whereabouts of the huge amount of money and this according to sources has angered President Jonathan who has subsequently charged the Attorney General of the federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke to fish out the money and make it available to the Police by end of this week.
The decision to task the Attorney General with the assignment according to sources followed conflicting statements by both Julius Berger, office of the Accountant General of the federation and the Police investigators about the true position of the funds. One account said the money was in the possession of the Accountant General of the federation. Another account said the money was being kept in the office of the AGF while the Police said they are at a loss of the money’s whereabouts.
Julius Berger one of the companies indicted in the Halliburton $180 million bribery scandal had opted for a plea bargain in order to be speared the prosecution process following the conclusion of the 5 man inter-agency investigation panel.
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.
Ballots meant for the Nigerian presidential election were found yesterday at the premises of a local printer in the Essex area of London.
Our sources said the sensitive election materials, which ought to have arrived in Nigeria earlier in the week, were unsecured at the premises of Panther Printing Services in London. SaharaReporters was able to confirm that a Nigerian firm named Cemoz International Limited had been contracted to print some ballot papers for the 2015 presidential elections.
A spokesman for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kayode Idowu, confirmed to SaharaReporters that Cemoz International Limited was one of the firms awarded the contract to print ballot papers.
It appears that, upon getting the contract, Cemoz went shopping for printers in London to print the ballot papers and then contracted these other printers to serially number the ballot papers. Although the ballot papers for the presidential elections for several southwest states were seen lying around the premises of the printing company in Essex, a staff at the company, speaking to a correspondent of SaharaReporters, said the firm only had the contract to print some of the ballot papers for Jigawa State. Thinking that our correspondent worked for Cemoz, the representative of the Essex-based company asked if we could give them more jobs, adding that their company had mastered how to print ballot papers.
SaharaReporters later obtained a bill of lading showing that Cemoz planned to ship the ballot papers to Nigeria a few hours before February 14th, the day initially sect aside for the presidential election. INEC subsequently postponed the election for six weeks.
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.
Do I even say that everything happened by sheer providence? I met D’banj and Don Jazzy about nine years ago through Dumebi Kachikwu who introduced me to these two burgeoning artistes then. When Kachukwu called me, l told him l was on a three-month maternity leave and that l would give him my colleague’s number to call so he could assist him with whatever they wanted to do. He insisted he wanted me on board; that D’banj and Don Jazzy would meet me at home or where ever l wanted.
Bewildered but I braved the odd somehow. I told him l couldn’t leave my house because my baby was pretty young and was still breastfeeding. However, l probed a little further why Kachikwu wanted me to do an interview with them at all cost which in my modest submission, anyone in my office could as well prosecute. And I still have a strong presence of mind, don’t mind me, I just don’t forget certain things. These were his exact words: “These guys are stars, they are going to big mark my words” and l asked: “Which star? Nobody knows these your emergency stars o.” l remarked jocularly. Kachukwu insisted that they were stars and would be big soon in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Well, as a Christian, I know what the Bible says of our humble beginnings. Kachikwu continued: “Azuka, l believe in these guys. They are talented, we must support them, l really need you to come on board. You have to do this for me, please.” He pleaded tenaciously. Words almost failed me. My curiosity swelled almost to a crescendo as l pondered what was the might of these men who was making Kachikwu plead this way. Now, this wasn’t about playing hard to get; l just had a baby l wanted to spend time with her. It was my maternity leave but Kachikwu’s constant calls and pleas to interview these guy took my resolve out of the equation. I found myself shifting grounds against my will. Even Israel Edjeren who was part of the project then was also harassing me with calls on the other side to the extent he had to visit me at home apparently to know if I was playing hard to get but they found out the truth anyway. The truth was my baby was ‘shacking’ me as they say and she was all that mattered at that moment of my solitud
Kachikwu had a valentine show coming up then tagged ‘History of Love 101’ which had American stars like Chante Moore, Kenny Latimore, Donell Jones and 112 all performing on that day. Kachukwu wanted to give Dbanj and Don Jazzy a bigger platform to perform with these artistes. D’banj and Don Jazzy finally came to my house the next day. I was even breastfeeding my baby when they came, they waited patiently amid some very exciting hobnobs. They were so cool, impressively affable and felt so relaxed in my house that was inside one bush corner like that at Akoka. I noticed D’banj was the talkative like me and the extrovert while Don Jazzy had this sweet smile. He seldom talked. He just listened to me and D’banj. They even gave my baby some monetary gift, saying that in African culture they don’t see a new baby without giving him or her a gift. In no time, we became not just friends, but like family members. We exchanged numbers and called one another whether it mattered or not and our ‘gists’ would drag on forever.
Their first major interview in Nigeria was done by me. It was a three-page interview spread, no newspaper in Nigeria will ever do that for an upcoming music group. But l guess God and luck were on my side when l convinced my editor to give them that spread and he obliged. He was not into entertainment like me, but he trusted my judgment on the industry. I didn’t attend the concert but heard it was a success. After that Kachukwu called again insisting he wanted stories on them in the papers every passing week. Of course, l told him it was not possible except they were doing any show or something special. So, l monitored their progress even when my leave was over l visited them at home in Maryland, Lagos a number of times.
On the other side, Kachukwu was investing heavily on them financially. He spent money buying them exotic cars like the BMW Dbanj and Jazzy rode to my house, can’t remember what year but it was so low to the ground and looks like a racing car, pardon me, lam not into cars. He loved this duo that later metamorphosed to Mo’hits. Authoritatively, I can tell that he financed their first trip to America. He made sure he introduced them to all his rich friends who invited them for gigs and paid them heavily to perform, as the Mo’hits grew in fortune and fan base, they gradually started manifesting their ‘true colours’. Now, permit me to rest the innuendos. I could help people grow without desecrating the fine ethos of journalism. I discern the lines whenever I inch towards them. Finally, we fell out when l did a critic on Koko Mansion which l felt was a debasement to womanhood. And D’banj was billed to perform at Genevive Pink ball but did not. l was there and wrote about it. When it was published, understandably, hell was let loose. Immediately, Dbanj and Don Jazzy stopped taking my calls. By the way, it still beats me that anything under the sun would be powerful enough to tear Don Jazzy and D’banj apart. They operated like twins, if you hurt Don Jazzy, you also hurt D’banj, if you hurt D’banj just be ready to face Don Jazzy with a shield. Literally speaking, theirs was like a bond completed in heaven. So strong was it that Don Jazzy had a greater influence on D’banj than anybody, let alone anyone else. Anyway, back to my story, Toyin Subair, who was the brain behind the show and a very good friend was peeved beyond description about my article but l honestly didn’t understand their anger. Did they expect me to say that D’banj performed at the Genevive Pink ball when he did not? When I got the hint that they felt terrible about my report, I tried to reach out to them to explain. Remember, I still supposed we were friends but all efforts proved abortive and that consequently soured the once chummy relationship.
I am naturally not a bitter person. So l moved on until l met Dbanj again at an event in Kenya. We were all supposed to stay in the same hotel, but immediately he sighted me, he told the promoters of the event that he would not perform unless I was sent back to Nigeria and that l was his number one enemy. In fact, his former P.A. Chuchu and manager, Bankulli, kept threatening me. I ignored them and for the first time, l insulted D’banj. l was tired of his petty and childish behaviours, so l gave it to him fire for fire, while the D Prince, Jazzy’s younger brother and Ramsey Noah where on that trip watched the drama closely . And I dared them to advance with their threats. The promoters of the show tried to intervene and they ended up taking me to another location where I passed the night. When l got back to Nigeria, l did my report and wrote about how D’banj shut down Kenya, which was the truth and l never mentioned the fight and harassment from Chuchu and Bankulli. That same day my phone rang, it was D’banj. He loved the article and he apologized to me and he even said we should hook up at some point. He told me to save his phone number and call him anytime, but l never did till date. I later ran into him and Don Jazzy at events and we exchanged pleasantries. I follow both of them on instagram at least to keep tab on their works.
Celebrating 10 years of fame and infamy
If you ask me, I’d say that D’banj’s 10th anniversary could have been more glorious if he’d invited people who supported his career through the years when nobody knew him, especially Don Jazzy. Well, let’s set off the chronicle. The show was supposed to start by 7pm, but l got there by 8pm. l had a flat tire and l was hungry too. When l got there, l called Dayo Showemimo of the Netng. l wanted to quickly eat the ‘mama put’ rice l bought in his car knowing well that l might not get anything to eat since my ticket was a regular one. But l got tickets for drinks. I had my ‘Baba dudu’ candies too in case l feel like chewing anything inside the hall. Even by 10 pm, nobody was allowed into the hall as people hunged around, no popular face or a big celebrity had arrived either. At the red carpet, TV presenters were passing time by merely chatting away the night as they waited patiently for the colorful guests they could interview. When l was approached, l politely refused because l don’t do red carpet interviews. I’d only had to maybe once or twice in the past, but l will pose for pictures if l have to because l am so obsessed with that. l don’t waste time uploading them on instagram and Facebook.
By 11.50 pm, the hall was finally opened. Kemi Adetiba was the first face l recognized. l loved her sequins skirt as it shimmered noticeably in the hall. Adetiba is a fun loving woman. She danced while she also waited patiently like everyone else. By this time the hall was still empty, l mean practically empty, l saw Toolz Oniru in a light brown knee length dress as usual displaying her volumncious curves, l like her because she carries herself well and l also like her body. I stood directly opposite the stage where l thought Amber Rose would twerk and give us an experience to last a lifetime. l made sure l took a vantage position where nothing would obstruct my access to every bit of the soiree. Later l recognised Mubarak, the photographer, and we exchanged pleasantries. l saw Aremo Segun Oniru and Tee Billz, they sat next to each other. Tiwa Savage was also in the building, l guess she probably wanted to seat in a corner where people will not harass her for photo-up, l didn’t see her though but l was told. Aremu Oniru and Teeblizz sat under a VVIP cabana directly opposite the stage l suspect that was where Amber Rose would sit before she would go on stage. At this point, my feet were aching l could have gone to meet Jojo and Akin at their VVIP corner, but l knew l might miss out some enchanting scenes, so l endured.
By 12pm, nothing was still happening; just a few guests that you could count on your finger tips. At this point, my mind started racing with many rhetorical questions. One of them was ‘where are the stars from Nollywood, the comedians and the music industry?’ l only saw Seyi Law. Didn’t they know it was Bangalee’s special day? Kemi Adetiba was still dancing and enjoying herself. That’s the spirit: make yourself happy and have fun at every point in time with or without an Amber Rose.
Jimmie of Beat FM: A Saving Grace
Jimmie Akinsola, He anchors sports extra on Beat FM. It probably won’t suffice for D’banj to just hand the MC his fee, he should appreciate him specially. The first time l saw Jimmie on stage was at the 2014 Headies Award. l had asked about him. He was so good, and when he introduced the hosts of the event, it was seamless and natural. He is a good host and a good hype man. He saved Dbanj’s party, to be frank. l still don’t know how to classify the event. He kept making the very boring and dull atmosphere come alive, supported by music supplied by Dj Exclusive and Dj Spinall. Jimmie kept screaming Dbanj’s new nickname ‘Eja Nla’ so much to the anger of a guest by my table where l stood, who malliciously asked: “Which yeye Eja Nla (big fish)? Dbanj is now a Titus or abi na shawa fish” We couldn’t help but laugh at that.
By 12.25am, Uzoma Dozie, the managing director of Diamond Bank and his wife, Adesuwa, after waiting almost endlessly for Dbanj and his special guest, Amber Rose, left. Shortly after, l saw Ayona, and her husband, Philip Trimmell, strolling out at 1.02am. l guess they were home bound too. The hall was still empty. I sighted Praiz in his all round black bespoke outfit designed by Jasonporshe. He was so dapper. He was my best dressed male that night. Timaya strolled in too, Shaydee, Teckno and Banky W who carried himself in a noble demeanor. Lynxx was so casually dressed like who is taking a walk in the park with his bae. I saw Chris Obosi and his wife walking around and I could easily sense that they were also tired of waiting and were probably thinking of leaving when Jimmie started announcing that Eja Nla and madam Amber Rose were about to step in.
Excited and Happy ‘Eja Nla’
When Dbanj walked in with Amber Rose hand in hand like a couple walking down the aisle, Eja Nla was so happy and you could tell that he had a butterfly in him while feeling he’d achieved a great feat by standing side by side with Amber Rose. Lo and behold, they both walked into a practically empty hall. I am sure Amber Rose would be wondering why the hall was that empty. Didn’t Dbanj tell Nigerians she was storming their entertainment hub? Dbanj, Koko Master, Bangerlee or is it Eja Nla was just shaking like a jelly all over Amber and you would think he stood by one decent super star, well l think she is one in her own world and they walked straight to where Aremu Oniru sat. I stood directly opposite them and watched as Dbanj faked a chatty friendship with Amber Rose who pretended to be flowing with him because of the cool cash breathing in her account back in the United States. At this point, l asked myself: what did Amber Rose come to do in Nigeria? What would her presence do to Dbanj’s sinking image and career? Who advised Dbanj to go on such a project?
How the Anniversary Party Should Have Been Held
Dbanj, no doubt is one of the big names in the entertainment industry, not only in Nigeria but in Africa. He is loved and adored by many. Fame took a rush on his career and Dbanj probably saw himself on the same pedestal with big American acts like Kanye West. Of course, he did everything to be with Kanye West which ended up in sham with all the noise about being signed on to G.O.O.D Music after wasting so many months in America. At the end of the day, he was relegated to playing a ‘waka pass’ role in one of Kanye’s videos. l remember when l ran into him and Bankulli on a British Airways flight to the Cannes in south of France, he wouldn’t even talk to me. He was so cold that Bankuli was so embarrassed and immediately became his mouth piece; answering every question on his behalf. I just thought this dude needs to grow up, l just laughed at his behavior, l was not upset because l already know how he operates. When it comes to fighting and keeping malice, he is worst than a woman. l was going to attend the Cannes Film Festival and he was catching a flight to attend the premiere of Kanye West’s movie.
Anyway, l think Dbanj should have celebrated his 10th anniversary on stage by giving back to the music community and to the country whose fans made him. He should have had a black tie event. Where family, close friends and not ass lickers (that is if he still has close friends),the big wigs in their Nigeria entertainment industry, his contemporaries, young and old will come on stage and tell the world how he has inspired their career, sing any of his hit songs or sing a tribute song specially composed for him. D’banj loves everything America, so by now he should have seen how BET organizes such events for their big stars or legends and not spend hard earned money bringing Amber Rose, who is no nowhere near a role model but a glorified stripper who felt too big to twerk but ordered her ‘assistant’ like Dominic to twerk for sponsors like Diamond Bank and made his guests look stupid because everybody who came wanted to see Amber Rose twerk. Two lies D’banj told was that Amber will host his show, she never did, for the host of the show was Jimmie of Beats FM, and she also did not twerk like the impression D’banj gave.
Dbanj should have played the role of a god-father by inviting budding artistes like Runtown, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Dija (l call them the Mavin babies that is if Don Jazzy will release them though) Brain, Skales, B-Red, Lil Kesh and Teckno. The list goes on. These chaps would come and rivet all on how D’banj has inspired their careers. And if he wants a big star to host his event, we have Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw or Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde who are people’s delight any day. They will be supported by my new favorite anchor man, Jimmie, he will soon be my “man crush” after phyno, we would have had a beautiful and memorable night; biko.
He would have promised an unknown artist a record label deal in his newly formed Bangalee family; though we are yet to hear any singles from the ones on board.
Does D’banj have an inferiority complex problem even as big as he is in Africa? Why does he think being in American will put him a better and a bigger platform? Why doesn’t he think of ruling Africa and let the likes of Kanye West, that he was one time chasing around, Jay Z, John Legend and Common search for him? Why does he think these American stars are better than him? Now he has brought in Amber Rose, only God knows how much she got paid just for seven minutes on stage, to do what now? This is exactly what Darey Art Alade did too with Kim Kadashian. What is wrong with all these dudes? Meanwhile, ex- presidents like Bill Clinton will visit and give lectures. They will stay till the end of the events and the shallow and empty ones just spend three to seven minutes on stage doing nothing yet they are heavily paid. D’banj and co please give back to your society who made you and stop wasting money on these American stars who don’t give a hoot about you. Now when Kim Kadarshian was getting married to Kanye in Paris, did she remember that Darey Art-Alade paid her so much money to be at his show? Did she send him an invite? And what about Kanye West did he remember to send D’banj an invite for his wedding? Nigerian artistes should please stop worshipping these guys and build their brands. Nigerian artistes are so big and talented, maybe the best after American artistes in the world. And that’s why l like P-Square. Can’t D’banj take a simple cue from his contemporaries like P-Square and 2baba, Flavor and Jay Martins who are making cool millions all over Africa? I heard with all the money he has made all through his career he is still living in a rented property like me, while P-Square, 2face even the Dr Sid (whom he kept accusing broke Mo’hits up) is happily settled in his career, marriage and has moved to his personal house. I am still not married so l have no moral ground to question why he is still single. When Dbanj is sober he should ask himself what was the significance of bringing Amber Rose to Nigeria? l think among all the celebrated women he dated, he lost a good woman in Jennifer Obayuwana, a kind hearted hardworking and supportive woman. I am sure he secretly regrets losing the newly engaged Jennifer, a smart guy called Peter has taken over that jewel. Who knows? Jennifer may be secretly thanking God the affair ended.
Diamond Bank’s Misadventure
What is wrong with some of our financial corporate institutions? Why would Diamond Bank be involved in the sponsorship of bringing Amber Rose to Nigeria or did they just pay for a cabana for their executive staff? If an upcoming act approaches them for just hundred thousand naira loan to pay for his studio session in order to release his single, will they assist him? Why did a supposedly conservative bank like Diamond Bank in the first place want to be associated with anything that has to do with binging Amber Rose to Nigeria, to even do what in the first place? What good has Amber Rose visit done to the Nigerian entertainment industry or morals conveyed to the teeming Nigerian youths? Does Diamond not have a proper PR department? Didn’t they do a research of what Amber Rose does or represents? We don’t want our daughters to start thinking they can be professional strippers. Everyday in the papers, people solicit for funds to treat cancer or one form of ailments or the other. How many of these patients get help? They’d rather approve funds to bring Amber Rose to Nigeria. To do what? Did Diamond woman even sponsor last year’s Genevieve Pinkball? but they loved to be associated with Amber Rose and the other sponsors, goodluck to you all. There are so many young fashion designers from less privileged homes or even artistes, why can’t they invest their money on them? One won’t be surprised if some girls start twerking publicly at parties from this point on as they think it is right especially now that respected corporate institutions don’t see anything wrong in it, why won’t they start twerking like Amber Rose? If D’banj wanted some ladies twerking for him, he could have gone to isa le eko or idumota and fish for those Yoruba girls who are local dancers, they twerk well too, is it not all about a woman rolling and shaking her butt?
And What of his List of Debts
Reported by ‘Dayo Showemimo of the online magazine, The Netng. As things stand, D’banj may be dragged to court by a top oil and gas industry player, Henry Ojogho, Vice Chairman of Broron Group. Ojogho, who is also the Vice Chairman of MindHub Technologies, an integrated rice farming and milling production company, alleges that D’banj, through his company, DKM Media Limited, obtained a loan of over N60m from him in January 2013 and has not paid back the said sum despite signing an undertaking to do so.
WALTER WAGBATSOMA (200,000Pounds) Mr Walter is a billionaire with investments in major areas, ranging from oil and gas to real estate, banking, equities and even insurance. He is the founder and executive Vice Chairman of Ontario Oil and he’s one of the first men who were said to have handed money to D’banj, with a whopping sum of 200,000 Pounds said to be involved.
PRINCE D. OKONKWO ($200,000) He’s the chairman, Board of Directors of Tetrazini Group of Companies and he is said to have given about $200,000 to D’banj in the name of investing in entertainment. When the issue with Prince Okonkwo got out of hand, D’banj was said to have sought help from Dapo Abiodun, boss of Heyden Oil and Gas, who helped him take care of the debt through a repayment plan.
The Koko Concert Drama Still fresh in the memory of Nigerians is the controversial 2012 edition of Koko Concert in which people had to trek for miles before getting to the venue and back. That concert, to me, was called suffering and smiling with the unforgettable inhuman treatment meted out to those with regular tickets. The former Don Jazzy partner reportedly made close to N87m from tickets sales alone at that event and reports allege he collected a whopping $500,000 from GTBank and other title sponsors of the show. There is no doubt that Dbanj is yet to recover from the 2012 Koko concert though, which is believed to have led him not just into debts but made him part ways with several of his closest allies. He also had been alleged to be owing his ever first financier, Dumebi Kachukwu and other wealthy friends that he met through him. But if Dbanj was in such messy financial state, why would he spend one kobo bringing Amber Rose here? Back to the show or abi na party By 1:06am, Don Jazzy produced songs ‘Shake your body’, ‘Why me’ and ‘Olorun maje’ were played as DNMT dance crew took over the stage, obviously the tiresome and disorganized boring party had started
And Amber Rose hit the stage
By 1:39am, Amber finally came on stage, asking for someone to teach her how to dance an African dance, nobody even obliged, the crowd ignored her as she flashed her camera smile, she was ignored until she pointed at one young girl, who came on stage to dance shoki with her. It was even Jimmie who tactically reminded her to unveil D’banj’s new video with Akon. She was so disconnected with the event, almost blabbing as she announced, the video was not shown for more than three seconds. Everything looked so haphazard and disorganised. D’banj looked confused and lost but excitedly just standing by Amber Rose that you would think he is standing next to Michelle Obama or Beyonce. He kept whispering sweet nothing in her ears trying to make the crowd feel they were buddies or they have a connection everything was mapped out to make the bored crowd feel they were going to have a good time. D’banj kept giggling into Amber’s ears l can bet she didn’t hear a word of what he was saying but she kept this professionally prepared smile on her face but l can tell you Amber is thinking about her cash chilling in her bank account. D’banj was just shaking, jittering beside Amber Rose to the extent of when she was about leaving the stage, D’banj was yet to find the man in him. Pitiably, he even played the bride’s maid or as he picked the tail of her evening dress and continued the long walk behind her. That was such a hilarious sight. Will D’banj even treat Genevieve Nnaji or any Nigerian female celebrity this way? All this for who? Amber was on stage for seven minutes. Anyway, we were all told that she was going to be back to twerk, instead Dominic twerked.
By 1:49am, Olamide, Phyno and Wizkid all strolled in like they came to mark register at the event and not like they came to celebrate with him. Like many others, l actually thought they would perform to support their ‘big brother’s’ boring celebration. D’banj was on stage, confused, acting to be happy and smiling sheepishly. My very good friend, Ayo Shonaiya, was on stage with him too. l guess to support him, even Sunday Areh was the only old face l recognised with Dbanj.
2:10am: He brought all the artistes like Olamide, Phyno, Seyi Shay and Wizkid on stage, they sang one of Don Jazzy’s produced songs again. I can’t remember the title again though. He introduced them and immediately they left the stage, one by one they sneaked out of the hall like Amber Rose. Before l could say Jack Robinson, all the artists were gone.
2:22am: Thank God Oritsefemi was still around to render the remix of Double Wahala. When Dbanj was truly the koko master, he would never do a remix with Oritsefemi, like he has done with some artistes who had hit songs.
By 2:22am: The next people l saw with him were Sesan and Fade Ogunro. Dbanj knows the event was a big failure; a big crap but he was still acting his koko movie. Now random guests and fans were going on stage to do a photo up with him and Dbanj could not tell the crowd that Amber Rose has sneaked out through the back door.
2:29am: Dbanj was still announcing Turn Up to a practically empty hall so who is going to turn up when all the stars had disappeared including Uzoma Dozie of Diamond Bank. Maybe the stars have gone to Quilox or maybe MVP, the rave pubs, l suppose and that is where D’banj should have held his celebration. Club venue best suits an Amber Rose and not such a marquee.Even though the marquee had a club setting. The marquee was beautiful with lovely ambience though, kudos to the Balmora team for a such a lovely amsphere. 2.30am: Everybody had left, the party was over with long drawn disappointed faces but Dayo Showemimo of the NET, Osagie Alonge of The Pulse and l decided to stay until the celebrant goes home.
2:45am: Davido, his cousins, B-Red, Shina Rambo and other members of the HKN gang trooped in making so much noise as they went on stage. They were behaving like kids who attended a birthday party of another at a school playing ground. l thought if it was Dbanj of those days, they would have been there on time. After a while, l had to prevail on Dayo that we leave because l needed to attend church that same morning. We left by 3.30am.
Another puzzle which l don’t quite understand about Dbanj’s personality is how he is quick to make enemies and forget those who genuinely supported his career. Later, l found out that Dumebi Kachikwu, one of Dbanj’s biggest financiers, was in Lagos that day for his elder brother, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, the publisher of Complete Fashion’s daughter’s wedding after the wedding. He could have still popped in if all was well. Don Jazzy his former business partner and bossom friend was absent. Gbenga Adeyinka the first. Dele Momodu of Ovation magazine was not invited, his first show in Ghana was arranged by him. Seye Keyinde of City People. Kunle Bakare of Encomium. Abisoye Fagade of Sodium Solution, Adekunle Ayeni of Black House Media. Ayo Animashaun of Headies Award/Hip TV, although his presenters were on the red carpet. Cecil Hammond (Dbanj was the bestman at his wedding, later they started Koko lounge) Kelvin Orifa of MTN. Mayor Akinpelu of Global Execllence. Afolabi Oyekoya, Biodun Kupoluyi of E247, Justin Esade-Akpovi, entertainment editors like Victor Akande, Nsebong of Thisday newspapers who pushed Dbanj’s career to where it is today were deliberately not invited. Where are all the bigwigs in the Nigerian Entertainment industry, from Nollywood, comedy and the fashion industry like Okunoren twins and Alvince, I remember these guys have kitted him with their designs when he started, why didn’t he invite them or was his 10th anniversary event a money making venture? Just asking though. Those days of the koko master, he cannot cough without a big crowd all rushing and queuing to be at his show, but now the crowd I saw of his heavily publicized Amber Rose coming to host his show got me sad and thinking is the D’banj brand disappearing slowly or is it even dead?
Now this not about beef or hating as some people might want to misunderstand my article, but it is the fact that D’banj needs our prayers and support. Something is wrong, no doubt. l miss the old Dbanj. If we all truly care and love him, we should pray that his career is revived again. l think Dbanj is acting as if all is well, but truth is that the opposite is the case. I noticed that it was all the hit songs produced by Don Jazzy that he played throughout and that means a lot. It just signifies that Don Jazzy’s production put him on the world map.
Someone made this comment recently on social media “The guy aint don jack since he left the Great Don, meanwhile Don is churning out hits like he's frying akara” For the first time, l am lending Dbanj my two pennies: he should make up with Don Jazzy before this star finally dims into oblivion. There is no pride in this anymore, he should come off his high horse. Nigerians like me can’t wait to see them reconcile and make us happy again musically. It is not late; family and genuine friends should let by gone be by gone and intervene. Bring these men together. An agreement can be reached. After Oliver Twist, l have tried to love and dance to the songs he has released but my dancing steps can’t simply find a place. Understandably, many might read a very wrong meaning to my innocent article, please don’t bother starting any social media war because l will never respond. I have said my bit, dusted my butt, strolled into my house like Omoba, the cartoon character in Punch Newspaper and locked my gates with heavy padlocks. So whatever is being said forthwith, l am not interested and l pray God will not allow sycophants destroy his beautiful career. C’est finis!
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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