TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND.

                                      .

  JUSTICE ONUOHA AKACHI:  My Unsung Hero Dies....  

                                        

                                 

late Justice Onuoha

Isioma (a mutual friend and professional colleague Justice and I both met at the Nigerian Law School) had called me at precisely 8:39 this Sunday morning and I was too engaged to pick up. 

Of course, I didn't read anything sinister to the call because it's not unusual for her to call me on a Sunday morning since we both attend the Abuja branch of the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly church popularly known and called COZA. 

I had thought she wanted to ask if I would be in church for the Sunday service. 

By the time I became less busy, I decided that there was no need to return her call;  the service must have commenced in earnest and so, I resolved to call her much later in the afternoon.

 I therefore continued with my online streaming of the church service. 

But before I could return her call as resolved, I saw Isioma's call again at about 12:43pm and I picked. 

The discussion went thus: 

"Isi... (as I fondly call her), I missed your call, sorry o, I dey Benin, I didn't come to church today”

 "Prestige, how far? I get bad news o". She responded.

When she talked about bad news, I thought of several things within seconds. And somehow, I knew it was death related news!

 But my mind never went to Justice (or Justus) our mutual friend.

 Then, she gave me the big bad news. It was like a blow under the belle.

 Perhaps it would have been better to receive the late pugilist, Muhammed Ali's blow than the bad news. 

Isioma's news was like a deadly blow and it was shocking, devastating and heart wrecking.

"Justus is dead!" she continued. 

Late Justice Onuoha

 I pretended I didn't hear her properly. 

"What did you say?"

"I said Justus is dead" 

I laughed and said "how can you say that Isi?" it wasn't a question really, it was more of a comment. 

"Justus died on Friday in a motor accident on his way to Owerri." 

I went numb; for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

But I could hear Isioma's "hello," "hello..." from the other end. 

I was unable to answer and after a while, the line went dead! 

Tears flowed freely like water fall. But I didn't believe my dear friend, Justus was gone! 

I paused for while, brought out my handkerchief and wiped my tears. 

I decided to dial his phone number and the network was unusually too good this afternoon in Benin as within some micro seconds, the call went through. 

I silently prayed that I will hear Justus' amiable and lively voice. 

He often calls me 'Presido' and for the first time, I sincerely craved to hear him say "Hello Presido or Presido, how far?", as it is typical of him. 

That never came. Rather, I heard a female voice who later introduced herself as his immediate younger sister. 

I broke down, urging her to pass on the phone to Justus as I must speak with him. 

It was as if my heart was about to drop as I was breathing very fast! 

All I heard from the downcast and terribly feeble and dejected voice was that "Justice's corpse is in the mortuary."

I shouted and the tears freely rolled down my eyes again. 

I couldn't even console the young lady. 

I couldn't say anything coherent. I wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't form. I uttered nothing for a while as words would not come out and I sensed that the lady tried to remain calm and bear with me. 

Perhaps, she understood the shock.

I took a deep breath and introduced myself as Justus' friend and former roommate at the Nigerian Law School. 

I chatted with her briefly in low tones and highly inaudible manner, getting as much information as possible. 

"When is the burial and how is your mum" I enquired.  

"We will not keep him in the mortuary for long. My mum is here" she said. 

I didn't tell her to 'accept my sincere condolence' as people normally say.

 I didn't want to tell her that on account of a friend and a great roommate during my law school days in Bwari, Abuja.

 Besides, it's a personal loss, a colossal loss at that. 

Rather, I told her very confidently that Justus will make heaven.  

"He would make heaven", I emphasized. And I ended the call.

Yes, he would make heaven because I believe in the existence of Heavens and hell and Justus was a godly young man, a very godly man. A die-hard optimist, full of life and tall dreams. 

I will continue this tribute later. Am so very weak, sad and worn-out right now. 

Rest on man, rest on….

President Muhammmadu Buhari To Be Flown Abroad Tomorrow Over His Failing Health.

This was contained in a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman.

It reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London on Monday June 6th to rest.


“During the holiday, he will see an E.N.T. specialist for a persistent ear infection.

“The president was examined by his personal physician and an E.N.T specialist in Abuja and was treated. Both Nigerian doctors recommended further evaluation purely as a precaution.”

It was reported earlier that Buhari has an infection in his left ear, otherwise called Meniere Disease, a challenge which has drastically reduced his outings in the last one week.

The president had on three recent occasions cancelled official visits within and outside the country due to the infection and was represented at those events by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

It’s not the first vacation of President Buhari.

The president was on break from his official functions from February 5 to February 10, 2016.

During his absence, his vice performed the functions of the president.

PRESIDENT BUHARI AND THE BOTCHED VISIT TO OGONI LAND.

www.skytyms.blogspot.com 

President Buhari

When it was announced earlier in the week that Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari will make a one day visit to Rivers State to launch the Clean-up of oil spillage -ravaged Ogoni Land, I was a bit skeptical because a similar trip to Lagos State was called off just at the eleventh hour with no official reason given other than the rumour generated and circulated on the social media that the President developed an ear infection. How sad!

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) stood in for Mr. President at that auspicious occasion in the commercial hub of the country. 

Despite this doubt, I still believed that the President will make this historical visit to the Niger Delta region. 

 When an impeccable source hinted last night that President Buhari is billed to be received by President Macky Sall of Senegal later today or Friday morning, my conclusion was that Mr. President will jet off from Port-Harcourt straight to Dakar after the official launch of the Clean-up. 

Strangely, I wasn't bewildered when in the early hours of this morning; I heard that the President has cancelled the planned trip to the Garden-City. As usual, no official reason has been given by the Presidency for this sudden change of plan. 

In all honesty, the Presidency is one and the same. Whether the President or his vice commissions, launches and or inaugurates any project, makes no difference to me. 

The President has the power of delegation, thus he can so delegate a minister in his cabinet to perform functions on his behalf or on behalf of the Federal Government. It is one Presidency!  

However, the President's presence in Bodo, Ogoni would have made a lot of difference in several aspects in this dispensation. 

Firstly, right or wrong, there is a speculation that the Buhari's administration has by omission or commission neglected the South-South and the South-Eastern people. 

These regions voted massively for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the last two Presidential elections. 

 The much criticized 5% and 95% comment by the President after his inauguration last year is still very fresh in the memory of the people of these regions. (of course, some of the President's loyalists and core supporters have insisted that he was quoted out of context).

One year after, the appointment of key officials of his administration so far has added impetus to this speculation! 

A visit to the Niger-delta today would have clear some doubts and the President would have personally used the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the Niger-Deltans and his much celebrated inaugural speech of "I Belong to Everybody and I Belong to Nobody" would have resonated once again! 

Secondly, the militancy in the region has once again reared its ugly head. In fact, it's taking a dangerous dimension! 

Oil pipelines are daily being blown up and a new militant group, code named 'Niger-Delta Avengers' has come out to take responsibility for this latest onslaught on our pipelines, thereby affecting crude oil production! 

This faceless group in the course of the week threatened that Mr. Buhari would be taken out of the region lifeless should he dare visit.

Perhaps, just perhaps the President's handlers advised him against the visit owing to the threat by the N.D.A. 

If this is the case, then, we are sending the wrong signals to both local and international investors that Nigeria is not safe because the President cannot freely move around his country. 

Sadly, history is repeating itself in another form. 

 President Jonathan made similar mistake during the Chibok girls saga in 2014. He was advised not to visit Chibok, Borno state and Boni-Yadi, in Yobe State. 

When he eventually visited Boni-Yadi after much delay, several people including the international community saw it as a visit coming rather too late! 

This and several other mistakes by the Jonathan's Presidency cost him his re-election bid in 2015 and not necessarily for lack of performance. 

The then opposition Party, the APC capitalized on these flaws and took over the Presidency!  

Furthermore, the gloomy atmosphere in Bodo, Rivers State today shows that the presence of Mr. President would have made a lot of difference.

 The Ogoni people have been beaten, oppressed, marginalized, alienated and left in squalor over the years. 

The implementation of The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendation by the launch of the clean-up today by the Federal Government is a milestone in the struggle for a better, saner and friendlier environment for the Ogonis.

The personal presence of Mr. Buhari would have brighten up the faces of the people and they would been reassured of a better community where they can farm, fish on clean water and get safe drinking water in the nearest future after the successful clean-up. Then, Ken Saro Wiwa of blessed memory would have looked on Buhari with a broad smile from the great beyond.

The gloom was even very apparent on the faces of the dignitaries present, including the former Governor of the State and current Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuke Ameachi who must have been repeatedly assured of the President's physical presence in Rivers State only to be told of the cancellation plausibly this morning. This, no doubt is disheartening. 

In other reasonable and sensitive climes, the President of the country would never miss this type of epoch making event since the Ogoni clean-up has become an international issue! 

The President, by this faux paus, has further alienated the people of the South-South region from his Presidency and from his party, the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

The bragging right of the few APC members in this region has been further diminished and ridiculed by the absence of President Buhari in Rivers State today! 

Within two weeks, the president has lost considerable goodwill by the abrupt cancellation of planned visits to the two most important and richest States in Nigeria after enormous publicity. Lagos State being the first and now Rivers State!  

President Buhari was also expected in Edo State this last month to commission the over bloated few projects Governor Adams Oshiomhole executed in the state, that visit has also been put in abeyance.

  

Conclusively, Mr. President seems to be more comfortable with attending events only in Northern States and outside the shores of the country.

The handlers and those around him should discourage him from this trend if the President must really be seen as belonging to everybody and to nobody. 

 My final take is this: if President Buhari couldn't keep a mere promise to visit a state within the country, should we then expect him to keep the promises he made during the campaigns? 

I am therefore not surprised that some of Mr. President's electioneering promises have either been cancelled, amended or out-rightly denied. 

On a lighter mood, no wonder his party, the APC is now known in unofficial quarters as All Promises Cancelled (APC). 

Itote Prestige Damisa is a Lawyer, Journalist and a Youth

Advocate

EDO 2016: REVISITING THE PURCHASE OF GODWIN OBASEKI'S NOMINATION FORM AND THE EDO NORTH AGENDA.

Godwin Obaseki

DISCLAIMER: 

Let me quickly disabuse the minds of those who think this article is aimed at casting aspersions on the personality of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, one of the leading contenders for the gubernatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the forth coming election in Edo State and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole's Chief Economic Adviser. 

 

 

Also, am not writing this on behalf of my preferred aspirant, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu who is in the race for the APC ticket as well.

Neither has his campaign group nor any other political group authorized me to write this.

 

 

 I am writing this piece solely in my personal capacity as a valid card carrying member of the APC, a bonafide Edo man and an observer of the political intrigues and horse-trading in Edo State, the heartbeat of the nation Nigeria. 

 

 

Furthermore, this write up is also not intended at undermining, relegating and or reducing the political relevance and sagacity of the ever great and wonderful people of Edo North. 

 This is not an article done in bad faith to prejudice any ethnic group or Senatorial District in Edo State!

 

 

To start with, I want to congratulate Mr. Obaseki on his collection of nomination form which was done by some National Assembly members mainly from Edo North on his behalf and I humbly welcome him officially into the race. 

 

 

I might be very small in size and in height and not yet advanced politically and in age, but when it comes to politics and political strategies,  I know that my Creator has blessed me with such little skill, insight and foresight which can enable me to observe and draw a clear dichotomy between a good campaign strategy and a poorly conceived campaign strategy.

 

 

 Flowing from the above, the purchase of the APC Governorship Nomination form by the National Assembly members from Edo North for Mr. Godwin Obaseki last week does not deserve any form of celebration because it one of the poorest political strategies and reasoning I have ever seen in recent electioneering. 

 

 

 This singular action of the Edo APC caucus in the National Assembly has only attested to the various observations and  claims which I shall be outlining shortly and unfortunately, the APC chances in the election will certainly be affected if APC makes the grave mistake of handing over the much coveted guber ticket to  Mr. Obaseki! 

 

 

 

 

Firstly, in a situation where National Assembly members from another Senatorial District will pick the nomination form for someone from Edo South without anyone from his own Senatorial District (Edo South) or the closest one (Edo Central) joining them is the poorest and unwise  political strategy I have ever seen.

 

 It points to a very big EDO NORTH AGENDA. 

 

 

 

It shows clearly that Mr. Obaseki does not have the support and the necessary backing of anybody or better still, any Legislator from his Senatorial District which has the highest number of registered voters.

 

 

 

This is an ominous sign for Aspirant Obaseki. The Edo South people may have sent a signal that they are prepared to reject any candidate foisted on them through the wrong process!  

 

 

Secondly, Mr. Godwin Obaseki's unwise decision to purchase the nomination form through Edo North APC legislators shows a potent threat and conspiracy against the Binis and Esan people. This is because, should Obeseki miraculously wins the september 10th governorship, he is surely going to put the interest of the Afemai people first because they bought the nomination form for him. 

 

 

 

 

I was not therefore surprised during an interactive session, some Bini youths complained that the few projects Obaseki has directly been part of recently were for the interest of the Edo North people and they expressed their fears that if he becomes Governor, he will no doubt  still project and protect the interest of the Afemai land (Oshiomhole's Etsako tribe mainly) just like the way their own brother Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has done for the past seven years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I tried to allay their apprehension and attempted to defend him because of the Party's interest. These youths overwhelmed me with copious and verifiable facts.   

They listed projects like the newly established EDO STATE UNIVERSITY (of) Iyamho, the Dangote Cement Company (which will generate jobs for Oshiomhole's people) and several other projects scattered in and around Edo North.

Thirdly, this wrong political calculation has justified the views by many Edo citizens and some of the aspirants in the APC that  God-fatherism has crept into the Party. 

This is a source of serious concern to well meaning members of the Edo APC because all the National Assembly members who went to pick the nomination form for Obaseki are people who rode on the back of the Governor to win election in Edo North. These Legislators are core members of the Oshiomhole's political family. 

 

In fact, one of them, Hon. Philip Shuibu (former Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly and current member of the House of Representatives)  has been widely speculated as Gov. Oshiomhole's prefered choice for running mate to Obaseki.

 

 Little wonder Hon. Shuibu was conspicuously present at the APC National Secretariat where the form was purchased for Obaseki. 

Except the contrary is proven, it is safe to say that in Oshiomhole's political family's mind, the APC governorship flag will be jointly flown by  Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Hon. Philip Shuibu.

 This would automatically bring a strong signal to the Esan people and delegates that Godwin Obaseki's ticket will not guarantee them the deputy Governor slot which they are currently clamouring for and they are surely going to reject him at the primary or the general election.

Furthermore, it also ridicules the National Assembly as an institution and our party.

 It is sad that these NASS members have never showcased any of their projects on the media unlike their PDP counterparts in the National Assembly. Rather they were seen gleefully displaying the nomination form of somebody who ordinarily cannot contest councillorship election and win. 

The so called Honorable members  who went there to pick the form for their Man Friday have reduced themselves abysmally, mocked the National assembly as an institution and insulted all well-meaning Edolites.

If indeed electoral fortunes are determined by the number of the National Assembly members supporting you, then automatically, the PDP has won the election because they currently have the highest number of members in the National Assembly from Edo State.

 It would have been politically smart and wise if they had used some House of Assembly members or groups from his own primary constituency. 

Edo South is the main focus of this election and where one fails to get the backing of electorates from this District, what magic would you do that will guarantee victory?.

APC delegates should ponder on these candid observations of mine. Delegates to the State Primary slated for next month must be bold and fearless.

 

 

They must not allow themselves to be cowed, cajoled and or intimidated into submitting to the whims and caprices of the God-father(s)!

 

 

Our Party must not make the mistake of nominating a man who has no political base primarily in Edo South and Edo Central Districts of the state.  

FELIX OSEMWENGIE ISERE.

For and on behalf of the Truth Vanguard"