Don King, foremost boxing promoter has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians on the country's Golden Jubilee anniversary, adding that Nigeria would continue to be a leading light in Africa and the world in general.
As Nigeria celebrates her independence tomorrow, Don King said he's optimistic that Nigeria would in due course meet the expectations of its founding fathers even as he drums up support for the government of President Jonathan.
“Glory be to God that Nigeria is celebrating her 50 years anniversary tomorrow and I'm very happy for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan because this anniversary is the celebration of freedom, liberty for the Nigerian people and I'm very happy indeed,” Don King, the 79-year-old renowned promoter said in a statement.
“Nigeria is a shining light in Africa and it's great that the country has been there this past 50 years in good times and bad times. I'm so happy that this anniversary is happening under a democratic setting because it means that Nigeria is on the move...on the upward mobility and total reforms, and progress in healthcare, education under President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Speaking further, Don King said that Nigeria can ride on the goodwill of President Jonathan to attain lofty dreams, promising that he's ready to offer any assistance anytime, anyway. “Goodluck would bring good luck to Nigeria. Under Good luck, I trust one man; one vote would count because he said so much about this recently at the United Nations Assembly.
I have no doubt in my mind that in 50 years to come, Nigeria would have achieved the dreams of its founding fathers. I'm so happy with the good people of Nigeria and you can always trust that I'm ready to offer any assistance to Nigeria and Nigerians anytime because Nigeria is an extension of my family. I love Nigeria, I love President Goodluck Jonathan and I'm optimistic that Nigeria would continue to be the leading light in Africa and in the world. My best wishes are with Nigeria as he celebrates her Golden Jubilee and in time to come. It is a promise I have made and I would continue to put my eyes in anything that has Nigeria's interest.”
Meanwhile, Don King has described as nothing but mischief as well as flagrant display of ignorance on the part of anybody alleging that he caused Samuel Peter's fall from grace. Under the watch of Don King, Peter became interim Heavyweight Champion of the World in 2007 but the Nigerian has been on a free fall after recent defeats in the hands of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, fuelling speculations that the American is the architect of Peter's misfortune.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Jonathan launches anniversary currencies From JULIANA TAIWO, Abuja Thursday, September 30, 2010
The commemorative N50 note which is of the same design as the N50 in circulation bears slight modifications in the form of the 50th anniversary logo, a gold iridescent band, and a goodwill message written in varnish will be circulated alongside the existing N50 note while the commemorative coins in 22 carat gold will serve as gift items to some of the important dignitaries expected.
According to President Jonathan, “CBN of any nation is always at the vanguard of the economic development of that nation,”expressing the Federal Government’s support for the current financial sector reforms being carried out by the apex bank. He urged the CBN to continue to work to consolidate on the economic gains so far recorded by the country.
Earlier in his remarks before the presentation of the commemorative currencies, the CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, said the apex bank was working on new proposals to reintroduce coins into the economy.
“We will soon unfold proposals to Your Excellency that should mark the beginning of the return of coins into circulation. The CBN has evolved plans that would enhance the efficiency and self reliance of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSMPC) with a view to improving its performance in notes printing. Our obligation is to achieve self-sufficiency in the printing of notes. Furthermore, we are redesigning the Nigerian banknotes series to reduce costs and enhance security”.
Going down memory lane, Sanusi said: “It would be recalled that since the first Nigerian currency, denominated in pound, ten shillings and five shillings were issued on July1, 1959, it had undergone various transformations as the CBN evolved and as our circumstances improved”
“For instance, on July 1, 1965, the first series of banknotes were replaced with new banknotes, to commemorate the republic status of the country. Thereafter, in 1968, the bank issued a new set of banknotes to forestall the usage of illegally withdrawn notes from CBN Enugu, Port Harcourt and Benin branches during the civil war”.
Explaining further, the CBN boss said, “with the adoption of decimalisation in 1973, a new series of notes was introduced in naira and kobo. The new currency was in denominations of ten naira, five naira, one naira, 25 kobo notes as well as 25 kobo, 10 kobo, five kobo, one kobo and half kobo”.
“ In 1977, the N20 denomination which bore the portrait of the late General Murtala Mohammed was issued into circulation and marked the first time that the portrait of a Nigerian citizen would be featured in our bank note. Subsequently, the portraits of eminent Nigerian citizens have graced our national currency”. Also in 1979, the N10 , five naira, and one naira notes had the portraits of three eminent Nigerians, Alvan Ikoku, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa and Herbert Macaulay. The N100 note with the portrait of Obafemi Awolowo was issued in December 1999, while the N200 note with the portrait Ahmadu Bello was launched in November 2000. The N500 was introduced into circulation in November 2000 with the portrait of Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Finally, the CBN governor said the N1000 was issued in October 2005 with the portrait of Aliyu Mai-Borno and Clement Isong. Sanusi said, “The higher denominations were introduced as part of the bank’s effort at promoting effectiveness in its currency management and also to enhance efficiency in the nation’s payment system”.
He stated that to further reduce the currency management cost, “the lower denomination bank notes of N5, N10, and N50 were redesigned and introduced into circulation in February 2007. In addition, the polymer substrate was first used in the production of the Nigerian currency starting with N20 note while the rest of the lower denomination banknotes were subsequently reissued in polymer substrate in September 2009.”
I can whip IBB, Jonathan, says Okotie By TOPE ADEBOBOYE Thursday, September 30, 2010
Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party will be holding its convention today in Lagos.
In an interview with Daily Sun, the cleric turned politician advanced reasons why neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor General Ibrahim Babangida is fit for the nation’s top job, asserting that none of them is needed by Nigeria at this time.
The former pop star said: “The PDP has demonstrated itself as a party that is characterised by perfidy and mendacity.
There is no integrity, no moral perpendicularity that would constrain them to submit themselves to a code of conduct.” Okotie, who described his party as the most popular in the country, said he would easily defeat any other presidential aspirant in a free and fair contest.
His words: “They know what Okotie represents. If you go on the street and you ask them, who would you like to be your president, they will say Okotie. But the next thing they will say is, but will they let him? That’s what they will tell you.”
He also spoke on other issues.
Zoning, a PDP affair
I have said before that it is a PDP contraption and the reason why it has become a bone of contention is because the PDP has demonstrated itself as a party that is characterised by perfidy and mendacity. There is no integrity, no moral perpendicularity that would constrain them to submit themselves to a code of conduct. So today, there’s zoning, tomorrow there’s no zoning. And that’s why there’s confusion. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s a PDP predicament and Nigerians should not be concerned with their problems.
The argument they put forward is that the former president had only spent one term since the presidency had been zoned to the North, and that ordinarily, it should be two terms for the North. If that’s the argument, then they have a point. But like I said, that’s a PDP situation. It doesn’t concern Nigerians. What we want is credible leadership, transparent leadership. And it doesn’t have to be provided by PDP because PDP has failed Nigerians.
War of words between PDP presidential aspirants
I think it shows what the PDP is made of. I think it demonstrates to Nigerians the inability of that party to exercise the cohesion that is needful to preserve an ideological base. And because PDP has no ideological base, that is why we are seeing this fragmentation, polarised along geo-political divides. So I think that it’s a clear indication to Nigerians that PDP has lost direction and must not be considered at all in the next elections.
Jonathan’s declaration
No, I didn’t listen to the speech. We were pre-occupied with more nationalistic issues. But the president has never been someone that I consider to have oratorical skills. I do not think that he’s somebody that has been associated with eloquence and elocution, so I wouldn’t have listened to him expecting to hear any profound statement that conveys a certain depth. But I respect him as the president and I respect him as a kinsman. He’s from my region. But I believe firmly that he’s not the right one for Nigeria at this time.
Between Jonathan and Obama
Excuse my laughter, but I think that is the climax of absurdity. It is ludicrous. The preponderance of this so-called support that you see here is all orchestrated. There is a Latinistic phraseology that describes that. It is called grex venalium. It’s called a venal throng, a crowd that is bought. A rented crowd. When you see them mouthing slogans of partisan jingoism, you know that they are rented. Because there’s nothing in the history or in the pedigree or antecedent of President Jonathan, with all due respect, that can calibrate his position with that of Obama. There is absolutely nothing he has done throughout the almost 10 years of his political career. So there’s nothing in his political career so far that will equate him with the likes of Obama. I think that whoever makes that kind of assertion is seeking to embrace an illusive phantom.
Why opposition parties keep losing elections
I think the most important thing that we must recognize is that we’ve not had credible elections. And once you do not have credible elections, there’s no yardstick to measure the popularity of any political party. Because the power of incumbency has continued to perpetuate PDP in the position of authority based on their ability to rig in broad daylight and to do it with impunity.
So nobody who is logical in their thinking can assert that the popularity of the other political parties has been tested. But as for parties coming together just to wrest power from the PDP, parties would only come together if they have kindred ideology, if they believe in the same things and their goals intersect. But outside of that, we can’t just come together and say well, we have a common enemy in PDP and therefore, even though we have antithetical political philosophies, we must amalgamate.
I think it defeats the whole concept of democracy. PDP is a failure. It’s a huge failure and they are responsible for what is going on in Nigeria today. The bad roads, no electricity, kidnapping, which shows little or no value for life, and the level of insecurity in the nation. These are the things that determine whether a government should be allowed a second chance or not. And the indicators clearly show that the PDP has lost complete control of governance.
INEC and government
My problem has never been INEC. It’s the interference with INEC. Government continues to interfere. Professor Maurice Iwu did a good job. And it wasn’t his fault. It’s the interference of government that has made it impossible for INEC to conduct its responsibility. And it’s the same thing if they interfere with this newly constituted INEC. Professor Jega can do everything he wants to do but at the end of the day he may not succeed.
INEC can stop government from interfering. Yes they can. And in a very small way because of the fact that the enabling statute gives them the power to do what they do. What they can do is to ventilate their fears, and wherever there is a deference, they must shout on the rooftop. But the PDP is like a deaf adder; no amount of charming can change its course. Except there is divine intervention, we’ll be back to square one. But I believe God will do what he has promised.
Running mate? Not an option.
Can I be running mate to somebody? No. It’s not an option. If it were, I would have done so. Because I believe that the generation that will save Nigeria is my generation. I believe that the present generation is geriatric in its thinking. It’s retrogressive in its operation. It’s incapacitated ab initio because of its alliances and associations, particularly in the PDP and therefore cannot take Nigeria, realistically, beyond where Nigeria is today.
Must it be the presidency?
That’s right.
Not even the Senate?
Not at all. You will not bring change and the kind of change that is needful in Nigeria today if you are not an executive president.
How hopeful are you this time?
I’m a man of faith, and faith is now. It’s the same enthusiasm with which I contested in 2003 that I carried into 2007 and it’s here today. I will continue to run for that office until I succeed because Nigeria is worth fighting for.
Do you think you’ll succeed someday?
Definitely. Absolutely. For how long will these old politicians be around? For how long will a political aberration like the PDP exist? It will soon be dismantled. And we know that for sure. Their days are numbered.
When is your party’s convention taking place?
It will take place on Thursday, September 30 (today) at the Planet One, and we look forward to that.
Any other presidential candidates?
It’s up to them. The party will determine that. If you are interested you can indicate your interest and follow procedure.
Have you chosen your running mate?
Not yet.
Is the party running for all positions?
We are and it’s dependent on those who wish to run for positions. We cannot prevail on anyone to take that responsibility, it’s up to them. The platform is available if they so desire.
How popular is the party?
I think we are probably the most popular party in the country today. And when I say that, people say, well, you haven’t won elections. And I say because there haven’t been elections. Nigerians despise the PDP and that’s the truth. Because of what the PDP has done to the Nigerian people. And they are powerless to do anything.
They thought that the democratic process would enable them choose their leaders, but the process was hijacked from the very beginning by the PDP. They thought that through protestations, they would ventilate their grievances, but even in that, they were denied. They are helpless. That is why the only one who can sustain Nigeria today and that can help the people is the Almighty God. So we know that God has heard the cry of the poor, of the oppressed, of the incarcerated, of the marginalized and he has sent deliverance. That is why I’m here.
People like Ribadu, Dele Momodu and co also want to contest. Why don’t you align with them?
There’s logic in that thinking, but the question is, are we ideologically compatible? That is the issue. It’s not the question of getting to the presidency at all costs. It’s the understanding that the road to Aso Rock must be paved with kindred ideological compatibility. And if we are ideologically compatible, then we’ve scaled the first hurdle. Then next, we’ll have to decide, negotiate instrumentality.
Who is the person to represent us? As far as I’m concerned, I represent a philosophy that I consider to be the only viable option for Nigeria. And the tenacity, the resilience with which I’ve pursued this goal is indicative of my seriousness. As far as I’m concerned, I have paid my dues. I think if we have a level playing field, then these men that you have mentioned can come before the Nigerian people and pontificate political solutions to our nation. I respect each one of them, but it will come down to the point that we will all have to come before the Nigerian people to verify the impetus that drives us to this goal. So, anyone, including those in the PDP and whichever political party, they can come up and we can discuss the issue.
Will Muslims be comfortable with you?
Oh, they will be more comfortable with a minister than a hypocritical, sycophantic politician who claims to be a Christian and acts otherwise. Christianity is a relationship with God that man can trust. Because if you are a true Christian, you’ll respect the law. You’ll respect others. You’ll value life. You’ll wish people well. You’ll be more sacrificial. You won’t be self-centred.
You’ll be compassionate. You’ll desire progress for other people. That is what makes Jesus Christ the messiah. So a true Christian will be more acceptable in any society than some pretentious leader who claims to fear God but yet, he epitomises satanic values. So, I think that the politics of ethnicity and religion will not stand this time. Go to the North and ask them what their leaders have done for them. If they tell you that their leaders have done well for them while they were in power, fine. But I do not think that many will say that to you. Because the problems we have today is universal.
People say you never campaign
We do. But people don’t vote for you because of campaign. If you are voted for because of campaign, then there is no ideology. The truth of the matter is that people know what you represent by what you have said, and the examples that you have shown, and the philosophies that you have pursued. They know what Okotie represents. If you go on the street and you ask them, who would you like to be your president, they will say Okotie. But the next thing they will say is, but will they let him? That’s what they will tell you.
When they did the polls here in Lagos, I won by a very wide margin. But when we went to the elections, compared to the results that they published, it’s laughable. All I’m saying here is, go to the east, west north and south, they know Okotie. I’ve never been in government, yet people know me. For most of these politicians, the only time people talk about them is when they are in the seat of authority.
Once they get out of that they become totally unknown. Their memories fade. It’s because they have nothing to offer our people. But Okotie, I’ve been in the public for 30 years of my life. And I’ve never held public life. So people know when they see that which is authentic. And Okotie is authentic.
You were always against Obasanjo, but these days, you are always praising him
But Obasanjo is the greatest leader this nation has ever had, and that is the absolute truth.
But you never said that before
I did. I have always maintained that he is the most courageous leader this nation has ever had, and that the only reason Nigeria is where it is today is that the PDP as a party stood against the lofty ideals that he had for Nigeria.
Obasanjo was the leader of the PDP
That is what I’m telling you. That is why I’m saying that President Goodluck Jonathan has no hope. Because if a great personage like President Olusegun Obasanjo couldn’t even carry his programmes to their logical conclusion, what hope does President Goodluck Jonathan have? The PDP is a conglomerate, it’s like an octopus. There are so many interest groups within that party and it took the strength of a man like Obasanjo to hold that party together for as long as it was there.
Obasanjo is seen as Jonathan’s godfather
I know that definitely he’s an ally of Jonathan because it was through his benevolence and his beneficence that Jonathan got to where he is today. So if he gravitates towards that direction it would be a natural propensity. But supporting somebody is not the same thing as being in charge. I know that if we were talking about Obasanjo it would be a totally different matter. But talking about somebody like President Goodluck Jonathan in the context of a 21st century Nigeria, with the myriads of problems that confront the nation today will be the greatest error, the biggest mistake this nation will ever make.
On IBB
I’ve often said that IBB is the quintessential political art master. He maintains a certain fluidity that has kept him in that position of political reverence for these many years. If you underestimate him, you’ll be rehearsing your political dirge. And politically, it’s a plus. But he has suffered certain political misadventures in the past, and that is why we are even talking about him. If it were not so, you can’t even compare Babangida to Jonathan. There’s no basis of comparison. I mean, you have to give honour to whom honour is due. That’s the truth. But if you ask me, should IBB be president, my answer is no. Because he represents a generation that is the past. I represent a generation that is the future.
Buhari
I do not know much about him. Because at the time that he was there, it was a corporate entity that we saw, you know, the Buhari/Idiagbon coalition. And they were not there long enough to establish, in the minds of Nigerians, the possibility of a renaissance for our nation. But the only two that you can consider in the PDP will be Jonathan and IBB.
Atiku
I think that because of the fact that Vice President Atiku Abubakar was subordinate to Obasanjo and the events that transpired just before the last elections have made it more difficult for him.
Some clerics have prophesied doom for Nigeria next year. What’s your take on such prophecies?
But it is the truth. If the PDP insists that they must retain power, then they will push us beyond the edge of the precipice. They will precipitate a situation in this country that will be beyond their control. The only way that there will be peace is that there must be free and fair elections. And where the PDP cannot guarantee that, then an interim government must be put in place.
You can see the confusion that is already there with Professor Jega asking for extra time. They knew from the very beginning that this was not going to work. But characteristic PDP shenanigan calculation was that they would create this confusion. And seeing that whatever position they had in their permutation is definitely not likely to occur, so now they are going to go to the National Assembly to amend the constitution which could have been done from the very beginning.
That is why I’m telling you that these people don’t mean well for the nation. So if it’s going to take an eruption or violence or whatever it is that is going to happen to bring sanity back to Nigeria, so be it. My position is that it can be averted. We don’t have to go the path of hostility. But if they insist, then there is judgement coming from Almighty God and it will be worse than anything that they’ve envisaged.
Quit presidential race now , El-Rufai tells Buhari, IBB From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja Thursday, September 30, 2010
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has asked former military rulers, Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and Muhammadu Buhari, to quit the 2011 presidential race.
Speaking with Daily Sun in Abuja at the Leadership independence conference organized by the Leadership Newspaper on Nigeria at 50, El-Rufai canvassed the enthronement of a new generation of leaders.
“I have great respect for President Babangida. I think he has done a lot for Nigeria. You won’t take that from him. He has made his mistakes like every human being, but people like President Babangida and General Buhari should just disappear. They should give way to a new set of people with new ideas. Young people preferably,” El-Rufai said.
El-Rufai said the whole world is now being ruled by young people and wondered why old blood should continue to rule Nigeria. “Obama is 48 and Cameron is 43 for God’s sake. So, why are we recycling leaders that ruled this country very well or very badly 25 years ago?,” he queried.
El-Rufai said: “I was 25 years old when Buhari and Babangida were Heads of State and I am now 50 and they still want to be Head of State. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand that at all and I call on the young people of Nigeria to take their future into their hands and ensure that in the next election, they vote for a new generation of leaders.
“I think that we will not make progress until we break the link from the past and just move on. 70 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 40. Many of these young people, the next generation, as they are called, are on internet services such as Facebook and twitter, using Blackberry and if you ask any of these people running for presidency, they will think that Blackberry is a fruit. So, we have to move away from there and stop thinking that this leadership thing is all about us or all about individuals.
We must put the future of the country at heart and give way to a new generation of leadership.”
While declaring that the nation had something to celebrate for remaining united as one country despite fighting a civil war, El-Rufai, however, said there was a lot to reflect about. “As we look towards the next 50 years, I think the principal issue in Nigeria has been the failure of leadership. We have not made the progress that our human and natural resources entitled us to make and it is all because we have failed leaders,” he noted.
On the forthcoming elections, El-Rufai said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would ensure credible elections in 2011. “I have personal confidence in Prof. Attahiru Jega. He is a man of great integrity. He is an honest man, who could not be bought at any price and for that reason, we are all hopeful that he will ensure free and fair elections,” he said.
Speaking with Daily Sun in Abuja at the Leadership independence conference organized by the Leadership Newspaper on Nigeria at 50, El-Rufai canvassed the enthronement of a new generation of leaders.
“I have great respect for President Babangida. I think he has done a lot for Nigeria. You won’t take that from him. He has made his mistakes like every human being, but people like President Babangida and General Buhari should just disappear. They should give way to a new set of people with new ideas. Young people preferably,” El-Rufai said.
El-Rufai said the whole world is now being ruled by young people and wondered why old blood should continue to rule Nigeria. “Obama is 48 and Cameron is 43 for God’s sake. So, why are we recycling leaders that ruled this country very well or very badly 25 years ago?,” he queried.
El-Rufai said: “I was 25 years old when Buhari and Babangida were Heads of State and I am now 50 and they still want to be Head of State. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand that at all and I call on the young people of Nigeria to take their future into their hands and ensure that in the next election, they vote for a new generation of leaders.
“I think that we will not make progress until we break the link from the past and just move on. 70 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 40. Many of these young people, the next generation, as they are called, are on internet services such as Facebook and twitter, using Blackberry and if you ask any of these people running for presidency, they will think that Blackberry is a fruit. So, we have to move away from there and stop thinking that this leadership thing is all about us or all about individuals.
We must put the future of the country at heart and give way to a new generation of leadership.”
While declaring that the nation had something to celebrate for remaining united as one country despite fighting a civil war, El-Rufai, however, said there was a lot to reflect about. “As we look towards the next 50 years, I think the principal issue in Nigeria has been the failure of leadership. We have not made the progress that our human and natural resources entitled us to make and it is all because we have failed leaders,” he noted.
On the forthcoming elections, El-Rufai said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would ensure credible elections in 2011. “I have personal confidence in Prof. Attahiru Jega. He is a man of great integrity. He is an honest man, who could not be bought at any price and for that reason, we are all hopeful that he will ensure free and fair elections,” he said.
Oluremi Tinubu At 50
Those who have been planning since last year for her party,thinking it would be another opportunity to display affluence, wear expensive gold chains and attires with notable musicians on the band stands were disappointed.
The event, which had all the notable personalities in town took place at Eko Hotel and Suites on Tuesday 21 September 2010. It had top pastors from far and near as the key players of the event.Gistmaster.com gathered that the former first Lady of Lagos State, made a request earlier that she would love the event to be a soul winning one for the lord.And so, it was.
Remi Tinubu,gistmaster.com gathered, is said to have turned born again after leaving the state house with her husband.She even went on to complete a bible school with Redeemed Christian Church of God.One of the gifts presented to the guests was a book she wrote entitled “The Journey of Grace-My faith works”
The programme, which was co-ordinated by Pastor Yemi Osibajo (SAN) had hymns instead of fuji music. The beautiful rendition of the hymn “Showers of blessing” and ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ almost brought down the roof of the hall.
Top pastors such as Pastor Adeboye of Redeemed,Pastor Wilson Badejo of Foursquare,Rev. Olu Makinde of Methodist Church, Pastor Mrs. Mercy Ezekiel, Pator Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock, representatives of Mountain of Fire and Miracles and others were there. Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo, Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state,top politicians,business moguls, friends and well wishers all came to celebrate Remi at 50.
It was indeed a large gathering that saw cars packed all over Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island where Eko Hotel is located down to Ahmadu Bello Way.
OLAGUNSOYE OYINLOLA: Captain of Infamy
ADVERTORIAL
Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s advertorial response to The Punch Editorial of Thursday 28th January, 2010 was a predictable smokescreen designed to mask the truth and deceive the general public. Unfortunately for Oyinlola, his vociferous proclamation of being peace-loving is resoundingly countermanded by the endless string of violence, repression and deaths which have defined his usurpation of the corridors of power in Osun State.The discerning public has the responsibility to subject Oyinlola’s claims to the test of factuality and truth. In particular, the Action Congress, on whose members have been unleashed the suffocating tentacles of Oyinlola’s tyranny, owes itself the sacred duty of preventing Oyinlola from camouflaging yet again as a man of peace.
The Punch Newspaper was correct in bringing its editorial searchlight on the orgy of violence and mindless killings that have sign-posted Oyinlola’s reign of terror in Osun State. Sadly, Chief Ade Komolafe is far from being the only one who has had to pay with his life in the onerous but just struggle for the liberation of Osun State from the stranglehold of interlopers and unscrupulous power merchants.
An earlier victim of Oyinlola’s reign of terror was Hassan Olajokun whose only “offense” was to fervently support Rauf Aregbesola’s legitimate quest to be Governor. Other victims include Saheed Adebiyi, from Ikirun, Ayo Oni from Igbajo, Samson Olanrewaju from Ile-Ife, Gbenga Ojo from Ilesa and numerous others whose lives were cut short simply because they served as electoral polling agents for their party, the Action Congress.
Dispensers of tyranny are usually quick to engage in needless caterwauls and diversionary non sequiturs whenever their true record is exposed to public scrutiny. As such, Oyinlola’s spirited response to the Punch Editorial could not have come to anyone as a surprise. It was quite convenient for Oyinlola to forget to disclose in his advertorial that the number of political killings in Osun State during his bedeviled tenure as Governor far exceeded those that had occurred during the combined tenure of all the five men who preceded him in office as Osun State Governor. It is quite instructive and supremely revealing that his tenure, much earlier, as Military Governor of Lagos State, was replete with a similar orgy of violence and deaths. Indeed, he was so busy orchestrating violent repression in Lagos State that he had no time, energy or inclination to locate where bitumen could be purchased for rehabilitating Lagos roads!
Moreover, it is no secret that among the 36 states of Nigeria, Osun State, with Oyinlola at its helms of affairs, enjoys the woeful distinction of having the highest number of murdered polling agents during the 2007 election! Of course, because these agents belong to the Action Congress, the leading Opposition party in Osun State, Oyinlola has ensured that in no single case has any of the murders been thoroughly investigated and the culprits brought to justice. Rather, Oyinlola transmuted the instruments of Government into a Gestapo apparatus that continues to witch-hunt, harass, physically assault and murder innocent members of the opposition. His record of infamy is a reenactment of the repressive atrocities that characterized the years of Sani Abacha, when Oyinlola was the Military Administrator in Lagos State. It is a well known fact that back then, more people were killed in Lagos State for protesting the annulment of the June 12 election than in all the other 35 states combined! Lagos, a city which from the days of Herbert Macaulay has long been the birthplace and domain for peaceful and legitimate political protestations, was denigrated into a fragment of hell during the repressive tenure of Oyinlola!
Certainly, Oyinlola’s administrative career has been trailed by sheer intolerance of any opposition. His innate instincts have continually exuded the ruthlessness and brutality long foreshadowed by his ignoble record of military service during which he brought disrepute to his country and profession by visiting the helpless with violence and brutality in Mogadishu, Somalia. Has Oyinlola ever responded to the United Nations report also cited by the New York Times that fingered him for murderous brutalities in Somalia? Indeed, it was Oyinlola’s capacity for terror that earned him the assignment from Sani Abacha to suffocate the legitimate yearnings of Nigerians for freedom from the hegemony of military rule.
Oyinlola lied that he has not been shielding criminals from the law. His advertorial gleefully referred to the Osun bomb blast; he coyly appealed to the Punch Newspaper to assist in bringing the culprits to book. Oyinlola should have instead appealed to his own reprobate conscience because he needs no one’s permission to stop misusing the police to victimize innocent political opponents. Where is the only survivor of the bomb blast? He is quarantined in the Government House, Oke Fia, Osogbo, just to implicate Oyinlola’s archenemy- Rauf Aregbesola- or better still to stop him from exposing the real culprits behind the bomb blast.
Oyinlola further lied that anyone who committed any form of crime in Osun State is made to face the consequences of the law. May we ask him whether laws exist in Osun State against the use of motor vehicles by maniacal drivers to recklessly terrorize the people? If such laws exist, can Oyinlola tell Nigerians whether anyone was arrested or prosecuted when his convoy knocked down a commercial motorcycle (okada) in Ikirun and crushed the two people on it; their skulls were scattered on the road while the convoy carried on as if nothing happened! Similarly, Deputy Governor Erelu Obada’s convoy crushed some people to death at Oke Baa’le, Osogbo, earlier in their first term. Oyinlola did not as much make a comment on the incident; he did not commiserate with the family of those killed!
In 2004, following the heavily rigged Local Government Election, the Alliance for Democracy headed for the Tribunal to contest the outcome of the election. AD candidates and members were physically assaulted, attacked, harassed and beaten up, right in the premises of the court and at times even inside the court hall to the consternation of all around. Indeed, the AD Chairman at that time, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti was a victim of this abuse of power by PDP apparatchiks and thugs.
Newspapers reported it widely the following day, but Oyinlola did not deem it fit to comment on it till date. Rather, he unwittingly revealed his own true attitude by boasting during his so-called Open Forum that “ti ekolo ba n se bi ejo, ipa ejo na ni won ma npa.” Paraphrased, Oyinlola averred that an earthworm should be killed simply because it wiggles like a snake! It was a Freudian slip in which Oyinlola recognized his regime as one of poisonous snakes! For him, it does not matter that unlike a snake, an earthworm is totally harmless! All that matters to a survivalist merchant of terror is that no other politician is allowed to “wiggle” even in a supposedly democratic dispensation! Such draconian Byzantinism reveals the cold Machiavellian calculations of a survivalist mindset that makes no pretense about the nuances of liberal democratic politicking. What impunity of tyranny!
Oyinlola claimed that he does not shield criminals from Justice. Fortunately, Oyinlola lacks the power to reduce the pages of Nigerian independent newspapers into his so-called “Governor’s Open Forum” where his cronies massage his ego and his fabricated claims go unchallenged. Thus, he must be reminded of the following pertinent cases:
- Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho, a notorious thug from Oyo state who evaded arrest by relocating to Osun state where he becomes the head of the Oyinlola terror gang has grown so powerful that he now rubs shoulder with the power elites in Osun State. Prior to the 2007 General election, Sunday Igboho was caught with a cache of arms and sophisticated weapons kept in the home of an Islamic cleric in Osogbo. The Police/SSS arrested them but both were released without trial barely 24 hours after their arrest. Nothing has been heard of the case till date!
- This same Sunday Igboho was recently arrested by the police for gun running on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. However, a lawyer from the team defending Oyinlola’s stolen mandate at the retrial tribunal, went to court to seek Igboho’s release. It was promptly granted and Igboho is now back on the streets of Osogbo, doing what he knows best!
- In Igbajo, Boluwaduro local government, Opeyemi Ogundeji son of Akanmu Ogundeji, PDP House of Assembly candidate for Boripe/Boluwaduro State Constituency on 14th April, 2007 led five others and shot Mr. Ayo Kemba Oni, the AC Party agent at African Primary School Polling unit to death. The Police arrested and detained the six occupants of the vehicle. Alas! They were promptly released following the interference from “high quarters”; the suspects did not even go through the basic procedure of writing statements that could facilitate their trial. Oyinlola, who was the greatest beneficiary of the criminal act of snatching and stuffing ballot boxes, saw to it that those guys remain free and ready to do it again.
- On the same day, Isaac Makinwa, the sitting PDP Chairman in Ilesa East local government shot and killed four persons for daring to celebrate the victory of AC candidate in the election held that day. He was arrested by the Police, detained but released on Oyinlola’s order. The police could not charge him to court because Oyinlola, the captain of infamy, had so ordered. The families of the deceased are still crying for justice till date.
- In Ikirun, same day, life was snuffed out of Saheed Adebiyi, an AC party agent by thugs in the convoy of Simeon Oduoye, a PDP chieftain for trying to stop them from snatching the ballot box in his Polling Unit.
- Samson Olanrewaju, like the other victims, was a promising young man; he had a beautiful future ahead of him. His raw courage to stop the thugs led by Iyiola Omisore, a supposedly elected senator, from carrying away the ballot box under his watch as AC party agent, cost him his life. One of the thugs simply shot him dead!
- Oyinlola and his cohorts, in an effort to erase all traces and records of the heinous and horrendous killings, stole the corpse of Ayo Kemba Oni from the morgue of LAUTECH and buried him secretly in an unmarked grave.
- Alhaja Taibat Orija (a.k.a. Jeunkogbadun) was the PDP Women leader in Ede North local government until she decided to decamp to the ANPP. On the night of her decampment, she was shamelessly murdered and until today her killers still move about without being arrested.
- In the PDP itself, Chief Tony Osanyin was shot dead by supposed armed robbers who, when arrested, confessed the name of their sponsors who happened to be PDP leaders from the same zone. Instead of getting them arrested, the self confessed errand boy died in police custody and that ended the story till date.
- In Oyinlola’s own local government, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun’s cousin was killed in his backyard in Inisa.
In September 2007, Chief Gani Oladiran was accused of involvement in the rape and dehumanization of Miss Tosin Ajakaiye and other members of Action Congress (AC). Also accused were Ibukun Fadipe and six others. It is sad and unfortunate that up till now Oyinlola has not uttered a word despite the worldwide outrage that greeted the incident that traumatized the life of the young lady, who was then seventeen (17) years old. When Oladiran and the other boys were pickedup for questioning by the police, Oyinlola prevented IBK’s arrest till date on this matter and as for those arrested; they only got a pat on the back in the ‘usual family affair’ treatment.
Oyinlola referred to Senator Bayo Salami as his friend. With a “friend” like Oyinlola, Senator Salami, does not need an enemy! Senator Salami is one of the most benevolent personalities in Osogbo, capital of Osun state. On April 15, 2007, when tension rose in Osogbo over the fraudulent declaration of Oyinlola as the winner of the gubernatorial election, Senator Salami took it upon himself to appeal on the state radio for calm and an end to the ensuing violence. Even so, his “friend” still went ahead to include his name in the list of those accused of arson. Senator Salami ended up spending 30 days at Ile Ife Prison before he was released on bail. He is still standing trial at the Osogbo High Court on the matter till date. Oyinlola’s revisionist claim that Senator Salami was arrested for bomb blast revealed a penchant for barefaced lying, fraudulent propaganda and selective amnesia. The truth is that Senator Bayo Salami, Oyinlola’s “friend”, was under incarceration at Ile-Ife Prison on the day of the bomb blast!
The tall tales around the bomb blast was even more intriguing. The claim that a diary was found in the wreckage of the car nine full months after the event, in which notable names of AC leaders and judicial officers were said to have been found exposes all his antics to deliberately put away all members of the opposition through phoney charges.
Oyinlola commented that Ibukun Fadipe’s case is with the police. Quite true! It is also true that Oyinlola has always subjected the prosecution of his henchman to undue interference from high quarters. Fadipe’s record of “service delivery” in muzzling the voice of opposition is legendary. His resume includes being associated with sundry crimes such as the death of Chief Agbo Obadare, the death of septuagenarian industrialist, Chief Ade Komolafe, the attack on Hon Lipson for daring to collect PDP nomination form against Fadipe’s instruction, pouring hot pot of soup on a food attendant in an Ilesa canteen, countless other assaults and harassments of innocent citizens. Alas! His nefarious activities only resulted in his being elevated to the Chairmanship of a local government!
Fadipe was impeached in August 2008 by the Councilors in Ilesa West local government for slapping and stripping naked Mrs. Fausat Sarumi Adebanjo, the immediate past Commissioner for Women Affairs who hailed from the same local government with him. There has been no resolution of the councilors reversing that impeachment but Fadipe remains in office because Oyinlola has granted Fadipe immunity from police prosecution and political accountability! Pray, in what other way would a Governor have exhibited impunity and endorsed impudent criminality?
Finally, Oyinlola will do us a lot of good if he speaks up today on the people murdered since the advent of his ignoble and tyrannical rule in Osun state. We hereby reiterate our call on the Federal Government for the inauguration of an open and independent judicial commission of enquiry into the climate of terror in Osun State. Alternatively, an open Citizen Inquiry organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)/National Human Right Commission should look into all the gross human right abuses and extra judicial killings that have occurred from 2003 to date in Osun State.
Fab Fabianski.
Wenger, meanwhile, also took the opportunity to heap praise on goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski, who had a fabulous match last night while standing in for the injured Manuel Almunia. The Pole went from zero to hero for the Gunners following a late penalty save, and quoted on Mirror Football Wenger said: “The Fabianski we saw tonight was the keeper we see in training and he had a faultless game. I knew a performance like that was in him, we just had to get it out of him. But that penalty save will lift his confidence and hopefully it will do him the world of good.”
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