POLICE DISTRUPTS G-7 GOVERNORS MEETING IN ABUJA

A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) incharge of Asokoro Police Unit, CSP Nnanna Ama, yesterday evening stormed the Kano State Governor’s Lodge located in Asokoro, Abuja and disrupted a caucus meeting of the Alhaji Abubakar Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a statement from the faction which calls itself the New PDP said.

The G-7 Governors in attendance were Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Dr. Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Retired Admiral Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

The full text of the statement reads:

“The Caucus of the New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP) met this evening, Sunday, on 3rd November, 2013, at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, to review progress reports, accept the reports of committees and take important decisions on the future of the movement. The Caucus comprises the G7 Governors, former Governors, present and past Senators, past and present members of the Federal House of Representatives, National Working Committee (NWC) members and some elders and stakeholders of the party.

Sadly, midway into the meeting, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) incharge of Asokoro Police Unit, CSP Nnanna Ama, burst into the scene and ordered the meeting stopped, threatening to mobilize troops to abort it if his order was not obeyed. According to CSP Ama he has the directive from the Villa to arrest the Governors if the meeting is not stopped. For a DPO to be sent not only to disrupt meeting of Governors duly elected by Nigerians but to arrest them if they fail to heed his counsel is a sign that these people can decide to disrupt the association of any group of Nigerians at any time knowing that such an act is a breach of the Constitution of our country.  Not minding all our past complains about the impunity and disregard of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by our Security organs and it is sadden that the Federal Government has continued to maintain stoic silence and bluntly refused to call our security agencies to order accordingly to us is one of the wonders of the present administration in Nigeria. What is baffling to us the more is the continuous silence of our elders and past Heads of State on these various acts of impunity perpetuated by this administration knowing the grave danger such acts will lead this country to. Let it not be assumed that we are the only one to suffer for this desperation and frustration by some of these misguided elements in this administration as they will go after other Nigerians if they are not called to order on time.

Though before the arrival of CSP Ama the Governors have gone very far in their deliberations as the meeting has considered the Mobilisation/Contact Committee’s recommendations on how to receive the five new Governors joining the group and directed the NWC of the party to set in motion a machinery to receive the new entrants. The NWC was also directed to critically examine the available options and recommend to the Caucus the platform to be used for the 2015 general elections. The Caucus is to deliberate on this during its next meeting to be held immediately after the proposed peace talks with President Goodluck Jonathan. The options to be considered include either to remain in PDP or adopt any of the three other options, namely, accept the proposal of APC or join PDM, VOA or form a new political party.

The Caucus also noted the majority request that seeing that we have majority of our members in the National Assembly and majority of the Governors, the idea of continuous waiting for the meeting with Mr. President before deciding our future is no longer ideal in view of the lukewarm attitude of Mr. President and his lieutenants in restoring peace to the party and refusal to attend to most of our demands. The Caucus decided that we should give the President some weeks grace before finally deciding on our next line of action.

The Caucus also stated total displeasure at the lack of reasonable effort to sort out the lingering ASSU/FG face-off which has kept our children at home for over four months. It counselled the Federal Government to urgently arrest this ugly incident by declaring a state of emergency in the education sector to enable the Government meet up with the demands of ASUU.

The Caucus concluded by encouraging members to continue to keep faith with the leadership of the party at this trial period, fully aware that it is only a matter of time before we take a final decision that will auger well for our nascent democracy and the nation at large.”

The Criterion Empowers Youths at 7th Conference

The Criterion, an Association of Muslim Women in Business and different profession has concluded plans to empower the youths through vocational training during her forthcoming 7th Biennial National Conference in Lagos.

 With the theme 'Women Empowerment: Key to Societal Development', the four- day event is slated to commence on Thursday 14th November and end on Sunday 17th November.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of  association, event will offer opportunities for youths especially Secondary school students, Abdulmajeed Shakirat, will learn vocational skills such as soap making, event decoration and bead making.

Besides, participants at the event will have opportunity to listen to soul enriching and inspirational lectures and discussions from high profile speakers.

The conference which is an event for the whole family, has Sub themes such as: ``Self-Employment: making the dream a reality'', ``Small and Medium Scale enterprises: Challenges of the Millennium'' and `` Reorientation of the Empowered Women to empower others''

Delegates from all over Nigeria are expected to arrive Lagos on Wednesday. The event will kick off with interaction with 'Alasalatu' Women groups at Somolu Central Mosque on Thursday November 14, 2013 with Alhaja Sidikat Binuyo, the former Dawah officer of FOMWAN as the guest speaker 

The vocational training for Secondary schools students will take place at University of Lagos Auditorium where they will learn basic skills on bead making, soap making and event decoration on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013.

The Criterion will also pay a humanitarian visit to Remand Home for girls at Idi Araba, Lagos.

The formal opening will take place on Saturday Nov. 16, 2013 at the University of Lagos Multi-purpose hall where participants will have ample opportunities to interact, learn and listen to soul inspiring lectures. 

Alhaja Risqot Akiode, Permanent Secretary for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State will deliver a key note address during the formal opening. 

The Association stated that free medical checkups will equally be going on concurrently during the conference while there would be opportunity for buying and selling.

The National Amirah (President) of the Criterion Dr. Olubunmi Labo Popoola said: ‘the theme for the conference has been specifically chosen because of the alarming rate of unemployment in the nation which has led to the rise in crime rate. 

The Association believes that when youths are gainfully engaged, the society will be a better place to live for all of us. 

Being passionate about women empowerment, the theme focused on women empowerment as the panacea to societal development’.

OVER 70 BOKO HARAM TERRORIST GROUP MEMBERS KILLED IN COMBINED AIR & GROUND ASSAULT

Nigerian troops killed 74 members of Boko Haram in an air and ground assault, the military said on Friday, a further sign of stepped up operations against the Islamist sect.

The offensive on Thursday targeted Boko Haram camps in the remote villages of Galangi and Lawanti in northeast Borno state where the militants have their strongest presence.

"The operation, which involved ground and aerial assault supported by theNigerian Air Force led to the destruction of the identified terrorist camps, killing 74 terrorists while others fled with serious injuries," Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Dole said in a statement.

Dole said two soldiers were wounded. The Nigerian military has in the past played down its own losses and those of civilians, security experts say.

The army said it had killed 37 Islamists in a similar strike last week in another remote area of Borno.

Nigerian forces have intensified attacks against Boko Haram since May, when President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states in the northeast.

Boko Haram is fighting to establish an Islamic state in religiously mixed Nigeria. While the offensive against it appears to have scattered the movement, it has also seen reprisal attacks against civilians suspected of cooperating with the authorities.

Thousands have been killed since the sect launched its uprising against the state in 2009, turning itself from a clerical movement opposed to Western culture into an armed militia with links to al Qaeda's West African wing.

The group is seen as the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer. Although their activities are located hundreds of miles away from its southern oil fields, they have bombed the capital Abuja at least three times, including a deadly attack on the United Nations' Nigeria headquarters in 2011.

source:Reuters

N989.2m Scam : EFCC DECLARES AN ITALIAN WANTED

....... Also  Nsika Usoro and Steve Bajo for N107m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared an Italian, Mariani Albino wanted in connection with a case of obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and money laundering to the tune of N989, 288,400.00 (Nine Hundred and Eighty Nine Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Four Hundred Naira Only).

Also declared wanted are two Nigerians, Nsika Usoro and Steve Bajo. The duo who are directors of Rigel Energy and Maritime Limited are wanted for fraudulent conversion of the sum of N107million belonging to So Energy, a subsidiary of Sahara Group.

Albino is 53 years, 5ft 3inches in height and fair in complexion. He speaks Italian and English languages fluently.

His last known address is No 9B, Ezekwuese Close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Naval Officer, Others for N556m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, last Wednesday, October 23, 2013 arraigned Okorie Joseph Ogbonaya, Barrister Emmanuel Mbajunwa and Akaeze Ventures Enterprises before Justice Florence I. Duruohaigwe of the Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri on a 3- count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

One of the charges reads, "that you Okorie Joseph Ogbonnaya and others still at large, sometime in the month of June 2009 at Owerri within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud stole and fraudulently converted the sum of $2,256,000 (Two Million Two Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand United States dollars) property of former Oceanic Bank (now Ecobank Plc)"

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon their plea, EFCC counsel, M.K Bashir asked for a date for trial and urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody. Responding, the defence counsel, D.O Agbo prayed the court to admit the accused persons to bail stressing that the charges preferred against them are bailable. He stated that the accused persons are ready to make themselves available for trial.

However, the prosecuting counsel objected on the ground that the offence for which the accused persons are being tried was felony and insisted on written applications for their bail. He informed the court that the first accused person, Ogbonaya had jumped the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission. He therefore urged the court to remand the accused person in prison custody pending the determination of the substantive case.

Justice Duruohaigwe after listening to the argument of both counsel, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N4million and one surety each in like sum. Each of the sureties must submit an affidavit of means, an evidence of tax clearance for two years and a recent passport photograph.

While adjourning the case to November 5, 2013, Justice Duruohaigwe ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Federal prison, Owerri until the bail conditions are met.

Ogbonaya was alleged to have obtained two loan facilities of Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Six United States Dollars, $2.256m ( about Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) and One Hundred and Ninety Six Million Naira (N196 Million) to enable his company, Akaeze Venture Enterprises import 100 containers of rice from Thailand. 

The imported rice was to be warehoused in a designated bank at Owerri. The suspects allegedly connived with the clearing agent to divert 81 out of the 100 containers to other locations unknown to the bank. The accused were said to have sold the diverted containers and converted the proceeds into personal gain.

The accused persons by their action committed an offence contrary to section 516 of the criminal code law cap 30 Laws of Imo state 1991.

House Probes Aviation Minister Over N255m Bullet Proof Cars

Fresh from the Sallah break, the House of Representatives, Tuesday, resolved to investigate the $1.6 million (N255 million) allegedly used by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to purchase two BMW bullet proof cars for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

The committee is to ascertain whether the purchase was made by the minister; whether it was authorised by any appropriation; whether NCAA has been complying with Financial Responsibility Act (FRA) on Internally Generated Revenue, and whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria.

Relying on Section 88 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), a member of the House, Hon. Osagie, expressed concern that given the poverty and unemployment ravaging the nation, “it will be absurd, unthinkable and indeed unpatriotic for an agency of government to connive with its political head to incur such an expenditure simply for the comfort and safety of one public officer.”

He said the RMAFC has elaborate recommendations regarding the conduct of public officers including ministers and how they would be catered for in terms of salaries and emoluments, housing and motor vehicle. He said recommendations on these have been passed into law by the National Assembly.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Joseph Kigbu (CPC, Nasarawa) said there was no justification for any public official to spend money on frivolities, adding that the practice needs to be checked.

Others who supported the motion were Hon. Hassan Sale (APC, Benue), Emmanuel Jime (PDP, Benue), Matthew Omegara (APC, Imo) and Mohammed Wudil (PDP, Kano.

In a related development, the House is equally investigating the renovation contract on the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano as well as alleged barring of the Qatar airline to the airport by the Ministry of Aviation.

Upon a motion by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano), the House resolved to inaugurate  an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations against the Ministry of Aviation for blocking Qatar Airlines from flying the Kano route. The committee is to also ascertain the quality of renovation work done on the airport.

While leading debate on the motion, Madaki said in June  , there was a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Qatar officials in Doha where Qatar presented two options to be granted additional landing permits in Kano and Abuja.

According to him, one of the options was that Qatar be granted 21 weeks frequencies to Lagos and 14 weeks frequencies both to Kano and Abuja. He disclosed that the Nigerian delegation refused the 39 additional landing permits demanded by Qatar and instead directed the airline to use Enugu and Port Harcourt airport.

Both motions were unanimously adopted.

Source:The Will

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY PRINCESS STELLA ADAEZE ODUAH, NIGERIA's MINISTER OF AVIATION, AT THE ON-GOING 38TH ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION (ICAO) IN MONTREAL, CANADA

​It is indeed, my honour and privilege on behalf of the Nigerian delegation, first and foremost extend to you all, very warm greetings and felicitations from our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR and the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also let me join other delegations to congratulate the President of the 38th Assembly, Mr. Michel Wachenheim.

 

We are gathered here to reflect on the developments that have taken place in our industry and to seek new ways of improving civil aviation beyond the next triennial. These new Strategies should make air transportation more safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly as well as ensure the growth and sustainability of the aviation industry globally.

 

​​In this regard, the recent ICAO high level conferences on air navigation, air transport and aviation security have made far reaching recommendations. Nigeria supports the endorsement by this Assembly of the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) as well as recommended Civil Aviation Security Strategies. Nigeria also believes that there is need to streamline ICAO policies regarding the protection of consumer interests. I also wish to seize this opportunity to commend the ICAO Council for the adoption of the new Annex 19 on Safety Management.

 

Distinguished delegates, it gladdens my heart to inform you all that Nigeria has remained totally committed to ICAO initiatives and collaborative efforts in achieving safety, security and environmentally friendly air transportation. This, we have demonstrated through the hosting and continuous support of our Regional Safety Oversight Organization, the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO) located in Abuja, Nigeria’s   Federal Capital City.

 

​​Similarly, Nigeria hosted in 2012 the African Ministerial Conference on Aviation Safety that adopted the landmark Abuja Declaration on Aviation Safety and also adopted far reaching Safety Targets. I wish to reassure you that Nigeria is determined to continue to champion the advancement of civil aviation in the African region through collaborative efforts amongst member States. Furthermore, Nigeria also wishes to express her commitment and continuous support for the comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan).

 

At this point, I wish to commend African States and the African Civil Aviation Commission for their renewed and vigorous dedication towards the attainment of safety of the African skies and the development of Air Transportation in our Continent.

 

7. ​​Mr President, Nigeria under the regime of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR embarked on the transformation of its aviation industry focusing on the rehabilitation, upgrade and development of aviation infrastructure; improving aviation Safety and Security; creating enabling environment for growth of airlines and other service providers as well as protecting the interest of aviation end-users. Towards this end, the Civil Aviation Policy was reviewed and a comprehensive Master Plan was developed to reform institutions; transform key airports into a network of domestic and international hubs; develop airport cities, (Aerotropolis); among others.

 

8.​​I am very delighted to inform you that the Transformation Agenda is yielding positive results. This coupled with the liberalisation policy of the Government, has led to significant increase in the operations of foreign and domestic airlines and utilisation of our airports, resulting in an annual traffic growth of over ten percent (10%) in the last three (3) years. In order to accommodate this and future growth, the Nigerian Government embarked simultaneously on the construction of five (5) new international passenger and fourteen (14) perishable cargo airport terminals. The effort of Government is to make air travel the preferred mode of transportation especially with a population of over 150Million and a large land mass.

 

9.​In the area of Safety, Nigeria has continued to work towards sustaining the success achieved in the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s International Aviation Safety Assessment Category 1 Rating, through re-engineered Civil Aviation Authority conferred with the requisite powers and autonomy to properly regulate the sector.

 

10.​​With regard to aviation security; I am happy to inform this august Assembly that the on-going remodelling of our airports has provided us an opportunity to improve our security infrastructure through the installation of State of the art security equipment. I want to reassure you that Nigeria will continue to implement its National Aviation Security Programme and provide continuous up-to-date training to its Aviation Security Personnel. We will also continue to participate in the ICAO Public Key Directory (ICAO PKD), and support ICAO’s efforts to provide assistance to other West African States in their programmes to introduce e-passport.

 

11.​​I wish to use this opportunity to commend ICAO and Member States for the adoption of Resolution A37-19 at the last Assembly in 2010. This achievement demonstrates to the world the uniqueness of our industry and our ability to put aside our differences for the common good and sustainable development of air transportation. I therefore wish to appeal that this same spirit should be demonstrated in our deliberations during this Assembly in order to achieve a “Win-Win” situation.

12.​​Nigeria will continue to cooperate and collaborate with member States to come up with Resolutions that will support the implementation of measures that will reduce aircraft engine emissions without negatively impacting on the growth of air transportation industry, particularly in the developing and emerging economies.  We have continued to pursue a policy of fleet renewal and use of newer and more efficient aircraft by Nigerian operators. Additionally, we have implemented measures to enhance the efficiency of air traffic management including Performance Based Navigation (PBN).

 

13.​​Distinguished colleagues, Nigeria is indeed privileged to have been a member of the ICAO Council since 1962, and we truly  cherish the opportunity to collaborate with other member States to advance the work of the Organization for greater efficiency and effectiveness in line with ICAO’s strategic objectives.  In the same vein, Nigeria wishes to use this opportunity to solicit the support of ICAO member States for her re-election into Part 2 of the ICAO Council. In addition, Nigeria also humbly requests your support for the election and re-election of those African States that have been endorsed by AFCAC to the ICAO Council.

 

14.  ​​Nigeria is also delighted to refer to the Candidature of Dr. Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu for the post of the President of the ICAO Council in the next Council election. I wish to thank the African States for the endorsement of his candidature by the African Union (AU) We solicit and thank ICAO member States for their support of his candidature.

 

15.​​Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Nigerian delegation, I want to specially congratulate and thank the President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Roberto Kobeh González, for his invaluable services to the organisation. I wish to also thank the Secretary General and the ICAO Secretariat for a well organized 38th Session of the ICAO Assembly. I also wish to express our profound gratitude and thanks to the government and people of Canada for the kind hospitality accorded us since our arrival in this beautiful city of Montreal.

 

16.​​I wish us all a most successful deliberation. I thank you for your kind attention and God bless.

 

FG tasks investors on non-oil export commodities

>As Oyo Govt. hosts ICAIS-3 Oct. 22 to 23 

The  Federal Government has advocated the active collaboration of all stakeholders in the promotion and development of Nigeria’s non-oil export commodities.

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, spoke recently in Abuja at a press conference on the forthcoming 3rd International Conference on Africa’s Indigenous Stimulants (ICAS-3) to be hosted by Oyo State from October 22 to 23, 2013.

According to the Minister, Government alone could not bear the responsibility of developing non-oil export commodities, particularly the production of stimulant crops such as kolanuts, bitter kola, alligator pepper, moringa including aloe Vera, noting that, besides their medicinal values, stimulant crops are valuable raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Ortom explained that the conference aims at sensitizing the public on the investment opportunities in the stimulant sub-sector, which he said could reposition the economy for job creation, foreign exchange generation and poverty alleviation.

Also speaking, the President of the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, said the ICAS series was one of the organizers’ joint-flagship events going round the country. Tukur, who was represented by Mr. Samuel Ayodele, the ABR Director of Operations, added that the conference also targets at exploring Africa’s underground wealth for economic development through expanding knowledge, awareness and stimulating greater consciousness of the country’s wealth and natural endowment.

On his part, the Executive Chairman of ICAS-3, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the stimulant subsector was an area that needed renewed national interest and attention, as “other countries have exploited this area of natural endowment to great advantage, boosting export, creating jobs for women, youth and the rural populace.

“With the inevitable decline of the oil sector and the increasing realization that agriculture and agro-enterprise must become the anchor of our economy; this area needs renewed attention”, Ogbeh emphasized.

ICAIS is an initiative of Vertical Inspirations Organization and the African Business Roundtable (ABR) with support from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Boko Haram suspected in mass murder of students

© Photo: AFP

Suspected members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram shot dead dozens of students, some of them while they slept, at a college in northeastern Nigeria in the early hours of Sunday morning.

 

Suspected Islamist militants stormed a college in northeastern Nigeria and shot dead around 40 male students, some of them while they slept early on Sunday, witnesses said.

The gunmen, thought to be members of rebel sect Boko Haram, attacked one hostel, took some students outside before killing them and shot others trying to flee, people at the scene told Reuters.

“They started gathering students into groups outside, then they opened fire and killed one group and then moved onto the next group and killed them. It was so terrible,” said one surviving student Idris, who would only give his first name.

“They came with guns around 1 a.m. (2400 GMT) and went directly to the male hostel and opened fire on them ... The college is in the bush so the other students were running around helplessly as guns went off and some of them were shot down,” said Ahmed Gujunba, a taxi driver who lives by the college.

Boko Haram, which wants to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, has intensified attacks on civilians in recent weeks in revenge for a military offensive against its insurgency.

Several schools, seen as the focus of Western-style education and culture, have been targeted.

Boko Haram and spin-off Islamist groups like the al Qaeda-linked Ansaru have become the biggest security threat in Africa’s second largest economy and top oil exporter.

Western governments are increasingly worried about the threat posed by Islamist groups across Africa, from Mali and Algeria in the Sahara, to Kenya in the east, where Somalia’s al-Shabaab fighters killed at least 67 people in an attack on a Nairobi shopping mall a week ago.

Bodies were recovered from dormitories, classrooms and outside in the undergrowth on Sunday, a member of staff at the college told Reuters, asking not to be named.

A Reuters witness counted 40 bloody corpses piled on the floor at the main hospital in Yobe state capital Damaturu on Sunday, mostly of young men believed to be students.

The bodies were brought from the college, which is in Gujba, a rural area 30 miles (50km) south of Damaturu and around 130 miles from Nigerian borders with Cameroon and Niger.

State police commissioner Sanusi Rufai said he suspected Boko Haram was behind the attack but gave no details.

Revenge attacks

Thousands have been killed since Boko Haram launched its uprising in 2009, turning itself from a clerical movement opposed to Western culture into an armed militia with growing links to al Qaeda’s West African wing.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three northeastern state in May, including Yobe, and ordered a military offensive to crush Boko Haram’s insurgency.

There was an initial lull in the violence as Islamists fled bases in cities, forests and mountains. Then the militants began revenge attacks on schools, security forces and civilians believed to be helping them.

In July, suspected Boko Haram militants killed 27 students and a teacher at a school in Potiskum, a town about 30 miles from the site of Sunday’s attack.

Several hundred people have died in assaults over the past few weeks. Some observers say the army offensive has only succeeded in pushing attacks away from well-guarded large towns and cities into vulnerable rural areas.

Boko Haram’s insurgency is also putting pressure on the economy of Africa’s most populous nation. Nigeria’s security spending has risen to more than 1 trillion naira ($6.26 billion) per year, or around 20 percent of the federal budget.

(REUTERS)

And so, the man is dead!

By Oba Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye, fnipr

I did not cry when I heard the sudden death of my friend, bother and colleague, Friday August 26th 2013. Not that I was hard hearted nor was I obedient to the tradition that Oba must not cry. No. The shock was beyond comprehension.

My friend and brother my mother never gave birth to, the quintessential nobleman and fine gentleman, Soniran Oluwole Sowemimo, a.k.a. S.O.S. shocked his friends and family most with this sudden departure without warning of a sort. Having spoken with him at about half-one in the noon on a proposal that just surfaced at the day’s Egba Traditional Council meeting, we both struck appointment to meet at our common rendezvous – Abeokuta Sports Club – in the evening to ventilate on the project.

For reasons I cannot now fathom I failed to honour the 6pm meeting at the Abeokuta Sports Club, even though I was busy preparing to host him and otherfriends the following day at a planned one year’s birthday anniversary of my twin son and daughter in my palace at Akinale. I was expecting a rebuke from another close friend and colleague who was privy to the scheduled meeting with SOS when he called me at about 11pm of the night but instead broke the unpleasant news that our own man, SOS was no more.

I waited for more calls to debunk the story but none came. I called other common friends, none responded. It finally dawn on me that I have lost a valued comrade and true friend.

Soniran , a high Egba Chief and Baba Ijo of Anglican Church, Oba Eerin, the township my friend so cherished and honoured that he commandeered all his loved ones to share in his desire to build a monumental church which has been completed to his credit and I, were colleagues in the Media since the early seventies. He,being in the electronic media and I being in the Print – FRCN and the defunct Daily Times respectively, our friendship and comradeship were solid.

I became closer to SOS when he was at the OGBC and I was at Nigeria Airways asthe Public Relations Manager. The death of my father and Baale Akinale in 1981 went further to solidify our union. I was out of town when Baale Johnson AkanniOgunleye died on Sunday December 21, 1981 but my absence notwithstanding, a great friend and mentor, Dr. Ore Falomo of Maryland Specialists Hospital, Maryland, Anthony, Lagos who was my father’s physician, had given my late wife, Adewunmi Abike an ambulance to convey my father’s corpse to Abeokuta General Hospital and so it was done, all in my absence. When I returned from Josin the evening, I proceeded to Abeokuta where I was shocked to find that my father was still being kept in the ambulance because the hospital authority said there was no room in their morgue.

My first port of call was the Abeokuta Sports Club where I found my friend, S.O.S. playing snooker. As I told him my father is dead, his reaction was “call the bar man”. I told him the bar should wait as my father was being denied place in the morgue at the General Hospital. My friend suddenly dropped his cue stick and led me straight to Dr. Majekodunmi, the then Club Chairman and Chief Surgeon of the General Hospital in his quarters opposite the club house.

To my surprise, Dr. Majekodunmi did not show any anger that his peaceful night was being disturbed, rather, he jumped into our car and led me to the hospital where several neat and well kept apartments in the morgue were opened for me to choose one for Baale Akinale. Sowemimo’s assignment had not finished, he wired the story of my father’s death on his walkie-talkie to Ogun Radio that night, andthe news opened the flood of kindness from everywhere for the burial of my beloved father.

Ever since I had a country home in Akinale, Soniran had remained faithful with me to mark my traditional new year party with friends and colleagues. The climax ofSowemimo’s loyalty to his friends and me particularly was when I was crowned an Oba in 2006. When the core Egba people, (and of course, s.o.s. is a conk Egbaman) - Ade wa l’Ake, Ase wa l’ogbe - almost seemingly isolated the Owu obas,s.o.s my friend would at any given opportunity pay me the traditional obeisance asKabiyesi. Throughout the period of our travail until finally the government approved our obaship and lately when I was promoted, s.o.s never left me bare ofthe traditional rite.

In 1992 when Oba Oyebade Lipede offered me a chieftancy title of Ekerin ApagunEgba, he euphoria was so great that the planning committee did not remember to demand from me what title had I hold from my home base of Owu. Impromptu, however, Apagun Pote Apomu Owu, the home of my paternal grandmother was arranged for me a night before I was to appear before Oba Lipede. Only S.O.S. my dear friend accompanied me to Jilafin compound, Apomu, Owu to receive the title.

I was among his friends he showed his letter of appointment as member of the Regent for Alake’s stool when Kabiyesi Alake was on leave and behold, I greeted my friend, Kaabiyesi, Alake Egba, to our delight!

Our joy eachtime we met was when we reminisced on our old days in the field of journalism. Times without number, I had mounted positive pressures on the catholic public affairs specialist, a cultural exponent, sociable personae and traditional chief of cosmopolitan Egba nation, to commit to writing, his life experience as a Nigerian veteran journalist who had passed through the mills of the “inky profession” and acquired varied experience from low and high positions. He had paid his dues.

Soniran took up the gauntlet to serve the public a teaser from his reservoir of knowledge in this book “Issues in the history of the Nigerian Mass Media” which though put together during his educational sojourn in far away Prague, Czechoslovakia some decades ago but with all the contents still as relevant, current and remain valid.

A Mass Communication expert who passed through the Lincoln University, Missouri, USA and University of 17th November, Prague, Czechoslovakia was a versatile reporter and sub-editor at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now FRCN) where he also lectured at the Corporation’s Training School, Ikoyi, Lagosbetween 1973 and 1977. He was later Chief Reporter, NBC Ibadan from where he became Editor in charge of NBC Abeokuta. Between 1977 and 1982, SoniranSowemimo had become the Principal Editor and Controller of News and CurrentAffairs in Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) Abeokuta.

Soniran’s success as Press Secretary to five governors of Ogun state in succession,Olabisi Onabanjo, (politician and an icon of the press) Oladipo Diya, OladapoPopoola, Raji Rasaki and Mohammed Lawal (all military officers) between1982-1989, can be aptly described as his exemplary acquisition of competence, credibility, confidence, courage and capability which made the governors and the governed to trust him so much. Judging from the divergence of styles, interests and ideologies of democracy and militocracy, the contending phenomena during his serving tenure, Soniran, as not only the spokesperson but the image maker of the government, obviously, was the flywheel between the two speeding forces, to strike the balance in the paradigm of governance and the governed.

Soniran was also appointed as Commissioner for Social Development, Youth and Sports in 1989 and Commissioner for Information and Culture in 1991.

Chief Soniran Sowemimo was the Akinpote of Egbaland and Babajo of Anglican Church, Oba-Erin, Abeokuta. He had also been a board member of the defunct Sketch Newspapers, Ibadan, Chairman, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Chairman, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Chairman, Ogun State NUJ as well as Chairman the League of Veteran Journalists in Ogun State.

Although he did not have the opportunity to draw a graphic account of how hemeandered through the labyrinth of administrative logjams and  the socio-economic melee that pervade the system, yet without losing his head, nor tainted the body of the profession of his heart, no doubt, his legacy as known to us would be unforgettable.

I thank God for giving s.o.s a wonderful and remarkable life worthy of emulation. I pray his amiable wife and good children continue to be blessed in all ramifications.