The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

Abiodun to swear in commissioners tomorrow

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun will on Friday swear in the 19 commissioners recently screened and approved by the state Assembly.

The confirmed 19 commissioner-nominees would also be given their portfolios at the event slated to hold at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta at 11am prompt.

These commissioner-nominees include Mr Afolabi Afuape, a former Commissioner for Sports in the state and another former commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Tunji Akinosi.

The others include the pioneer vice chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Sidi Osho and a former Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Dr Adeola Odedina as well as Mr Olaolu Olabimtan and Barr. Gbolahan Adeniran.

The rest are: Dr Tomi Coker, Barr. Femi Ogunbanwo, Tpl. Tunji Odunlami, Hon. Abudu Balogun, Mrs Kikelomo Longe, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, Oludotun Taiwo, Mr Ganiyu Hamzat, Mrs Funmi Efuwape, Mr Kehinde Oluwadare, Mr Jamiu Omoniyi, Mr Toyin Taiwo and Mr Ade Akinsanya.

Kunle Somorin

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun

I Will Not Die Until Atiku Becomes President: 90-year-old Elder Statesman Yahaya Kwande

Former Ambassador to Switzerland, Yahaya Kwande has said that at 90 years, he would not die until former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, becomes the president of Nigeria. In this interview, he said that the nation needs a person in the mould of Waziri Adamawa to reposition the country.

By way of agenda setting in view of the challenges facing our country, Nigeria, what do you recommend for President Muhammadu Buhari in the New year?

The Nigeria Television Authority(NTA) came to me to comment on the President’s speech and his promises. I congratulated him but the one I said was faulty was the question of him not being honest in a sense that he accepted that the process upon which he is now president is faulty and he has decided he would correct it before he leaves. I am saying that this is not honesty. If you accept that the process that brought you into the position you are is faulty, you should resign. But the NTA said they would not publish such a thing, so why are you then interviewing me.
On the agenda setting for Mr President, well, I belong to the other side. I believe in the wisdom of my mentor. He has a secret to turn Nigeria into Dubai. This is because Alhaji Atiku Abubakar thinks that if one single human being could turn a desert into a place the whole world would admire within a decade or two and with the potentials of Nigeria in human and material resources, he could make our country like Dubai. But Nigerians do not admire God’s gift. The reason why others are progressing is because if they identify that you can change a situation to better the people’s lives, they allow you to do it. Wherever and whatever you are, they would admire, encourage and empower you to do it. But in our case, we don’t. So, I know what we discuss with Atiku all the time; that would have been my agenda for any president of Nigeria. Since I have no ambition of getting into election myself, my contribution should always be advisory. I would prefer to back Atiku in his mission. Therefore, I ask and urge you to go and look at his manifesto that would be my agenda.

Do you agree with those whose projection is that 2023 would be the long-awaited time for Atiku to realise his presidential ambition?

Some people believe that though he is ageing but he is still strong enough to take a shot at the presidential seat in the next general election.
I agree with that totally but the problem is that this is not the first time that vision has been seen by Nigerian citizens but as soon as it appears to be so, you see some of his adversaries working against him. It had always been so. Now, it appears so apparent that he is the one for 2023. If you look at the politicians, after Buhari, I am telling you there may not even be the APC. Even with the remnants that would remain, it would be so hopeless to go for the presidency of this country. So, that apart, look at the personalities that are in Nigeria; we all know them and you all know us. We all know what we have. You can easily pick Atiku as number one among other people like former governor of Lagos State who are aspiring to be president. You go to the East and who do you get apart from those who are talking. You hardly would say this is a politician that is aspiring that is qualified by age, education, experience and so on to rule today’s Nigeria as in the case of Atiku. The danger is that they now know that he is the one standing alone in the field of politics for that contest. But I also know that already, the background is that a new political party is being formed to deny him. So, that is the problem. I don’t know whether we are talking about Nigeria or individuals. If we are talking about individuals, Atiku has reached a stage where people would go and beg him please, come and lead us. But that is not the case here. You hardly would have a courageous group of politicians who do that; instead you would have many groups who would work against him. That is my fear.

You are close to Atiku and from what you know about him, what do you think are the recurring reasons for the gang up against his ambition each time he wanted to lead the country?

Jealousy is number one. This is an orphan who grew up from nowhere to be somebody and you know the class system in Nigeria, particularly the autocrats. There is this system of who is your father. You must belong, particularly in the Northern part of this country, to a group of nobles which he is not but he has now acquired it because he is the Waziri of Adamawa today, almost second in the hierarchy in the kingdom. These are the things that people do not like unlike other nations where people could have admired him. He is very generous, kind and very humble; and surprisingly a very intelligent man with a vision to help. You cannot say he is a poor man. Another thing that people are so jealous of him is his love for his own people. Look at his educational institution; he has bottled water, fertilizer and so on. He has always been thinking about people. That is why for every political party we started from the Peoples Front, he must be there. He is in the PDP because there is the word, people. He is a man of the people and he would always like to maintain that position; and people do not like it.

Some observers argue that part of why Atiku did not win the last election was because he supported restructuring which is not a popular idea in the North. Do you agree?

No, I do not agree with them on that. We must have a politician that is courageous. We should not be deceiving the electorate. He knows that this is the best thing for this country to have the powers in the centre, decentralised; it is to bring it down to the local government as it used to be during the time of Sarduana of Sokoto. When I was Senior D.O in Borno, we constructed roads but at the moment, even the state government cannot do things for their people unless they go begging in the centre to get resources. The centre is too powerful and large for a single human person to rule the country. The centre is so powerful and that is why other people are killing one another to get there. Restructuring as I seem to hear Atiku talk about it is such that people will not struggle to get there. This is because there would not be much power at the centre as it is today. You have to be honest to tell your people the truth. Why should he hide his feelings? If he wants to rule his people and he has an agenda, it is up to them to accept it and he would also take the pains to explain to them why restructuring is good for the whole country.

So, are you saying that if Atiku throws his hat to the ring in his quest to be president of Nigeria that you would still support him?

Of course, I will support him. Do you know I am 90 years old? I should tell you the reason why I am still alive. God is prolonging my live so that I should be among those that will take Atiku and lead him to Aso villa. Probably, after that I may not be long again but I am waiting for that day. Because of my wishes for Atiku, God is permitting me to still hang on. I will definitely like him to be president and Nigerians would not regret when Atiku becomes their president. If he will do what I had been hearing him talk in a normal conversation, then everybody would be happy. In whatever political party he contests, I have no choice than to support him.

In essence, what you are saying is that you would not die until Atiku realises his dream of leading Nigeria?

I am praying so that God will sustain me until I see Atiku in the presidential seat to witness him fulfill what I saw decades ago. I want people to see it. I want people to know the man is honest. You do not have to be dishonest to be rich. God has given out different gifts to people. Look at your fingers, they are not the same. Pray for me too so that I hang around and see Atiku to the villa.

As an elder statesman who has seen it all in Nigeria, do you think it is fair for some prominent people from the North to insist that power should still stay in the North after President Buhari’s eight years in office?

You are giving too much emphasis on the issue of rotation. I know when it all started. It is not part of our constitution. You should know that. It was meant to attract votes to a particular political party. I was there when it started when we established the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Before we went into action, we were in Lagos with five representatives in each of the federal states. I remember vividly that the Southerners, particularly the West led by Chief Akinloye offered the presidency to the North. They said, you seem to have more supporters in the North and we are conceding the presidency to you this time so that you should allow us to have the chairmanship of the political party. In the event of a Northerner winning, he should select an Easterner as the Vice President; that was how late Alex Ekwueme came in. It was never part of the constitution. It was rather a way of being able to win the minds of the Nigerian electorate. So, it went from there and the objective was that the next person after Shehu Shagari’s two terms would be somebody from the East. Ekwueme could have taken over from the South, and it was from the NPN, and not the government or constitution. It went on and the PDP now adopted that system. After the military era, we decided and I was an eyewitness; we decided that the presidency should now go to the South after Shagari. That was why I say that it was our political party that decided for rotation but it is not part of our constitution. Ekwueme and former President Olusegun Obasanjo contested in 1999 because the presidency was zoned to the South. They did the primaries in Jos and Obasanjo got it. Most of the activities of our party in that event were done in my house. It was not part of the constitution but according to the wishes of our party, it was a way to win the election. Then Obasanjo finished his eight years’ term and it was now to come back to the North. Late Umaru Yar’Adua did three years and died. Now the constitution now came in and the vice president then, Dr Gooluck Jonathan had to continue and complete the term in which he was elected with his boss. We expected that after Jonathan finished that constitutional requirement, the next four years would still have remained in the North so that we would have completed our eight years term for us to allow the South to take over. But it was disrupted because President Goodluck did another four years and he wanted to do even another four years. This is the trouble. Now, Buhari becoming the president was not part of the PDP’s rotational system because any of the 70 political parties could choose from wherever they wanted. Rotation is not a constitutional requirement. So, now in the PDP, they still demand that the four years not completed by Yar’Adua by the promise of the PDP should still be given to the North. That is all we are talking about. But any of the 70 political parties could say, I want it in the South South if they know that they would win the election by that demand. So, the people of Nigeria should know this. They keep on talking as if there is a constitutional requirement that makes it mandatory that power should be rotational between South and North.
One of the greatest challenges facing

Nigeria is the lack of unity among the different ethnic nationalities that make up the nation. Are you not worried and how can the dream of one Nigeria be actualised?

You, the media people are the ones that would make it work but instead, you are promoting the divisions. If you hear that one Alhaji has been caught and convicted for adultery, then you say all Muslims are adulterous. You blow that so big as if every Muslim is guilty. If you hear that a Bishop or a Reverend particularly a Catholic Reverend Father, a single human being with a soul is caught in acts of adultery, you condemn all Catholics. You say the whole catholic members are like that. You are the ones promoting the negatives. Try and promote the positives. You would be helping Nigeria by doing that. Go to the markets; we had experiences in Jos on the Plateau when crises erupted and people were killing one another and the following day when the whole thing was gone, you found a Yoruba man, Hausa woman, Igbo man, Berom woman and so on saying, thank God you survived. They greet one another because they were not the cause of the crises. The problem is the elite who had no vision, education and nothing to give for their election; they keep dividing people. I am a Christian and they do not like us Christians, come and vote for me so that I can look after you. This is what is happening. You, the media, should condemn such action. You should be the one to promote positives and not negatives.

What is your take on the proposed withdrawal of the military from the North East and other volatile areas?

I am frightened because even with them, you could see what is happening, more so, when they will not be there. I do not know what would happen. So, there must be a reason why they want to withdraw them. This one is part of the security measures that I have no knowledge of.

Another issue agitating the minds of people is the closure of the borders? Do you feel comfortable with it?
In fact, there is the best part of it and the worst part of it. The best part of it is to give our farmers and our factories opportunities to excel and to be self-reliant. The negative part of it is that if by the time we reach the position of wanting to export, if the other people also close their borders, what do we do with the excess? So, it is reciprocal. We need them, they need us but if what the present government is doing is temporary, I agree with it but it should not go to the extreme in such a way that our neighbours should start thinking otherwise.
(Daily Sun)

"I Am Going To Run First Fuji Radio Station From My New Office In Abeokuta" –Fuji Star, Sefiu Alao

If everything goes as planned, Abeokuta, Ogun State, born, bred, and based Fuji music Star, Alhaji Sefiu Alao Adekunle, would soon be breaking a big record in the Fuji music fold in the country by becoming the first artiste in his genre to own a radio station. Though, he may not be becoming the first indegenous artiste to achieve that lofty feat as Gospel Tungba singer, Yinka Ayefe already owns radio stations in both Ibadan, Oyo State, and Abeokuta called Fresh F.M. But this fresh feat of owning a radio station, when it happens for Baba Oko as Sefiu Alao is also called would be setting a new pace for others to follow in Fuji music.

Already, Agbara Orin as Sefiu Alao is also known worldwide, has set a pace which others are still aiming to equal in the industry with the completion of his high rise office complex at Ago’ba in the heart of Abeokuta. No other Fuji artiste on record, is known to have owned such a personally built gigantic edifice strictly for a corporate office. Yet, the very talented artiste would be raising the standard by setting up a radio station to promote Fuji music in one of the sections of the towering building, that overlooks every other area in the environment.

In a recent interview with this writer in Abeokuta, Olakariaye as the profound singer is also referenced spoke on the different sections built into the enviable office. The questiom that was posed to him was that, why did he think he needed a corporate office like the tall structure he had put up. Hear him: ” Look, in every job a man does, equipments are paramount to his success. You’ll noticed that I have not opened the office officially. And part of the reasons is that I am currently arranging for additional instruments to enhance my job. Meanwhile, the office is also an additional part of the instruments needed to elevate my profession.

Like every other person, I have built my own house, I ride choice automobiles, and everywhere artistes travel to around the world to perform, I have been there as well. So, I asked myself what is next for me as an artiste. Then I realised that having a corporate office built by ourselves to our tastes has never been part of the plans of any Fuji artiste, so I decided to set the pace in that regard so others can start thinking of doing something similar too.”

Speaking further from the angle of “I’m the first to do this or that” which is usually something Fuji artistes pride on, Sefiu Alao added on a lighter note that, ” just like someone said he brought the Bata Drum into Fuji and somebody said he was the first to play Jazz in his Fuji music, and another claimed to have been the first to use saxophone, so I have become the first to bring owning, not renting, corporate office into Fuji too (general laughter). And the whole of the building as you see it would be used as the office. No part of it will be rented out.” Then this writer was tempted to ask him about the different sections that were going to be in the office. ” There is reception when you come in.

Then there is an open office for the band members where they would hold meetings and do rehearsals. There is an office for the manager and an office for the media manager cum Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.). There is a conference room and then my own office. There is a space to keep our music instruments in the building too. And there is computer room also, since we are in digital age.”

And he finally let the biggest part of the fascinating news out when he said, ” just beside the internet enabled computer room, we have started making efforts to have a recording studio and in deed, a radio studio there!” The forward thinking musician added that, “we are planning to start running a Fuji Radio Station where Fuji music would mainly be played endlessly. We are working towards ensuring Fuji music does not die and we feel part of the ways to achieve that is to set up a radio station dedicated to our genre of music. If you go and check, there are television stations for hip-hop music, theatre and the rest of it but none for Fuji. So, we plan to start a broadcasting staion for Fuji too if just to start with radio first. The truth is Fuji music is being affected by the advent and advancement of hip-hop and we, the Fuji artistes must ensure we bring Fuji back into the mainstream. So, the radio station is intended to be playing Fuji music after a few number of programmes must have been aired everyday. And that would give the opportunity to both new and established Fuji artiste to promote their music thereby sustaining the relevance of Fuji music in the entertainment industry.”

UN Special Rep, Chambas commends Guinea Bissau election

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has lauded the conduct of the Guinea Bissau presidential election.

This followed a three-day visit by Chambas to Guinea Bissau between Dec. 28 and Dec. 31.

He applauds the people of Guinea Bissau for the successful conduct of the polls and the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the electoral process.

The Special Representative commended the two candidates for their magnanimity and grace in accepting the results, and urges all party supporters to continue to show maturity and exercise restraint in the post-election period.

He said the Electoral Commission also conducted an exemplary process which marks an important step forward in Guinea Bissau’s democratic development.

Chambas reiterated the commitment of the UN to continue supporting the Government and the people of Guinea Bissau in their efforts towards consolidating peace and development.

Umaro Embalo, former Guinea Bissau Prime Minister, was elected president after winning a run-off vote against another ex-prime minister.

The 47-year-old beat rival Domingos Pereira by about 54 per cent to 46 per cent, the electoral commission announced.

Pereira vowed to contest the result, alleging “electoral fraud”.

Embalo said he wants to resolve political tensions in the West African country, which has seen nine coups or attempted coups since 1974.

Incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz crashed out of the election in the first round in November.

Vas was the first head of state to carry out his term without being either deposed or assassinated, but his tenure was marred by issues including political infighting and widespread allegations of corruption.

His campaign team accused rivals of electoral fraud, but West African regional bloc ECOWAS rejected the claims and warned that a military force was on standby to “re-establish order” in the event of a coup.

Election observers have also said they found no evidence of vote tampering in Sunday’s run-off, but Pereira – leader of the country’s historic ruling party PAIGC – said the results were “full of irregularities, annulment and manipulation”.

He has vowed to mount a challenge in the Supreme Court.

Hon. Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan celebrates with Christians on Christmas, enjoins them to give unconditionally

Hon. Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan, the DG Campaign in Abeokuta South Local Government for Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun in the last election which got Governor Dapo Abiodun elected as Ogun State Governor celebrates with Christians on Christmas day urges them to share unconditionally.

She declared, “Let us give and share love with each other in our families, in our homes, in our places of work and business and everywhere we interact with our fellow men. Let us care for the vulnerable and give unconditional love” .

“Over the years, the lessons of Christmas and Jesus Christ whose birth became the reason for this season resonate in teachings like unconditional love, forgiveness of sin, grace, sharing and championing the cause of the weak and the oppressed as well as the vulnerable.

These teachings bear underscoring and should not be lost on humanity”, teachings like unconditional love, forgiveness of sin, grace, sharing and championing the cause of the weak and the oppressed as well as the vulnerable.

YAN to celebrate Ogun State youths in April

Rising from it inaugural 3rd assembly sitting held at Smecca Hotel Ibafo, the Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter informed the press that it is planning to organise an award program tagged Gateway Exemplary Youth Award in April 10th 2019, to celebrate exceptional youths in the state. The Speaker, RT Hon Asoro Abubakri Olatunji noted that the award event became necessary in a bid to change the mindset of the society about youths and to project youths of the state who have done exceptionally great in their various field to the world.

He noted that the process of nomination will be entirely left in the hands of the public, neither will the assembly be financially induced to give award to anybody. In his words, ” this award is different because our awards is not up for sale, the assembly is filled with men of integrity and contentment who are doing well in their various fields, we don’t need the money of anybody to give them award, we just want to celebrate greatness and encourage our youths to continue to make the state proud, however, we welcome partnership with those who believe in us and what we are doing”.

The assembly also seize the opportunity of it sitting to inspect the empowerment program of it Deputy Speaker, Prince Elijah Ogunbonna, the assembly promised to supply the participants matterials to aid their learning.

The assembly in fulfilment of it commitment to youth inclusion in politics, joined the Akoka Ebute Area CDC meeting at Ibafo and intimate them on the reasons why youths should be considered in the coming LG polls.

The assembly also announced the appointment of Hon Osikomaya Omogbolahan as Chairman House Committee on mobilisation, Hon Otemolu Stephen as Chairman House Committee on Sponsorship and Partnership and Hon Adebanjo Oluwaseun as Chairman House Committee on Security.

The assembly commend the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his consideration of youth in the composition of his cabinet and express optimism that more youths will be considered in subsequent appointment.

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YCYW Ogun State Council congratulates Gov. Dapo Abiodun on his victory at the supreme court

The entire membership of Yorùbá Council of Youths Worldwide Ogun State Chapter has sent a victorious greetings to the executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun whose victory has just been affirmed at the Supreme Court.

YCYW Ogun State Council a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Media and Publicity Secretary Comrade Seun Odunlami, “your victory at the supreme court isn’t just a victory but victory for all indigenes and residents of Ogun State, infact it’s a victory for democracy.

We congratulate Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, the entire residents and indigenes of Ogun State, YCYW Ogun State Council will contribute her quota to development of our dear State and join hands with the Governor in moving Ogun State to the state of our desire.

e-signed✍🏾:

Comrade Seun Odunlami

Media and Publicity Secretary

YCYW Ogun State

NGIJ Mourns BoT Member, Former Vanguard Editor, Kolade Lanrewaju

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) has described the death of its member of Board of Trustee (BoT) and former Vanguard Newspaper Editor, Kolade Lanrewaju as a rude shock.

NGIJ President, Wale Abydee in a condolence message to the family of late Kolade Lanrewaju said the guild has lost a great, fantastic and hardworking man, adding that his contribution to the Guild within the short period he spent cannot be overemphasised.

”As Guild, we have lost a great, fantastic and hardworking member in our midst. This is so pathetic and mind blowing! We prayed God to forgive all his shortcomings and grant him eternity rest.

“NGIJ has lost a great and fantastic BOT member, you will forever remain in our mind.” He said.

The guild also sympathised with the family and pray to comfort them in this trying moment.

Until his death, Lanrewaju was member of NGIJ Board of Trustees, former news Editor of Vanguard and former Special Assistant on Media to former Deputy Governor of Ogun state, Prince Segun Adesegun.

Kolade reportedly died on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

Why Nigerians Should Move Against "Hate Speech Bill" – Bloggers Association

The National Association of Nigeria Blogger NANB has given reason why Nigerians should say no to the hate speech bill sponsored by the enemies of Nigeria.

According to the President of the association, Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo while speaking with journalists in Lagos State, ‘we are speaking out against a bill that would regulate engagement on social media with the campaign

#SayNoToSocialMediaBill.’

He said Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019 was presented in the Senate for a second reading last month before being passed on for further consideration.

He said the body has called for a rally at the National Assembly to protest the bill.

The bill prohibits statements on social media deemed “likely to be prejudicial to national security” and “those which may diminish public confidence” in Nigeria’s government. It proposes these offenses be punishable by a fine, a prison sentence of three years, or both. The bill also seeks to allow law enforcement agencies to order internet service providers to disable internet access.

“Lawmakers championing the bill claim it is necessary in the interests of security, peace, and unity, but the language of the bill would appear to create vague criminal offenses that would allow the authorities to prosecute peaceful criticism of the government.”

“This would violate international law protecting freedom of speech. With about 29.3 million users across Nigeria, social media is a critical tool for shaping public discourse. said Solanke”

“A bill to regulate social media was first considered in 2015 but failed to pass into law after similar public outcry. In the same year, however, the Cybercrimes law was enacted, criminalizing a broad range of online interactions. Authorities have charged activist Omoleye Sowore and at least five bloggers under this law. Several other recent arrests and detentions of journalists and activists, raids, and shutdowns of media outlets suggest a disturbing trend toward repression of freedom of expression in Nigeria.”

“In another worrying move, the Nigerian Senate reintroduced a hate speech bill on November 12 that would have made the death penalty a possible punishment for hate speech. The death penalty provision was later removed from the bill following immense public pressure. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty. He added.

Nigeria’s constitution, like international and African human rights law, protects the right to freedom of expression and provides that any restriction to this right must be justifiable in a democratic society.

Nigerian lawmakers need to ensure the rights of everyone to peaceful criticism of the government without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanctions.