Trip To Malaysia: A Reporter's Diary... What you must know before embarking on that trip

Are you a Nigerian with intention to visit Malaysia,this piece is for you!

The Oodua Progressive Union Malaysia Launch held on December 11,2016 at Dynasty Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, The Global Convener of the Union Otunba Gani Adams,his personal Assistance, Prince Segun Akanni,yours truly and Publisher Metronews, Femi Davies, America based music promoter, Subulade Adelaja (Iyalaje Promotions) and Ibadan based music sensation Dele Bravo, were invited special guests at the launch as delegates from Nigeria.

The visa process was smooth aside the fact that one had to journey to Abuja for the visa because they have closed the Lagos consulate, visa is just 1.000 naira! What an irony, you fly 60.000 naira return flight to Abuja for a 1.000 naira visa !

The flight via Qatar Airline was smooth and the transit via Doha was a beautiful sight to behold, I will definitely return to Qatar very soon. The excitement of landing at Kualar Lampur the city capital of Malaysia was cut short when we approached immigration for onward journey to the event venue Cos we arrived on the date of the event.

Upon the display of Nigerian Passports we were politely told to visit the health office for clearance of our health yellow card which we did. We approached the immigration desk again, this time we were told to proceed to immigration office where we met some Nigerians and other nationals.

At this point, we were subjected to various interrogations from the normal to the ridiculous, the lady from America was told point blank that she won't be allowed to enter Malaysia, her crime was that she carries 2 passports (Nigeria/USA). It got to a point we considered returning to Nigeria when it became obvious that they are not interested in our reason for being in Malaysia which is to be part of a cultural Programme, Yoruba Carnival and OPU Malaysia Launch.

Our hosts, cultural troupe and a crowd of over 100 Nigerians were thrown into confusion, they appealed that we should please wait for them to take action, and after 8hrs of delay,the Nigeria Embassy in Malaysia moved in and after cross calls, we were told to approach the immigration office again, after which we were granted permission to enter Malaysia.

We swiftly rushed to our hotel, made clothe changes and stormed the venue to be part of one of the most successful OPU launch. Otunba Gani Adams was awarded the Yoruba Man of The Year by the Organisers of Yoruba Carnival, I also bagged the Yoruba Media man of the year.

The lesson learnt from this trip is that if you have no business in Malaysia don't bother waste money as you maybe deported on arrival! Agreed that some Nigerians are doing things in that country which one cannot be proud of, it is not just to conclude that every Nigerian is bad or have no good intention to be in the country.

I want to commend the officials of Nigeria Embassy in Malaysia for their prompt action when contacted,and the recent resolving of cult clashes, our hosts, Prince Olawale Ayinla the Malaysia OPU Cordinator, his deputy,Prince Kenny Salami,Baba Oodua of Malaysia and OPU members for their warm reception and being good host despite the short stay because we could only spend 2days due to various Olokun Festival Foundation activities in Nigeria.

Aside the not too pleasant encounter on our arrival, Malaysia is a very beautiful country,it's rapid growth is commendable and a good place to do business, aside the bad eggs in that country, some Nigerians are doing very well in Malaysia and have established companies with success stories, I shall be writing about them soon.

Also read what Otunba Gani Adams said @ the launching of OPU Malaysia Chapter....

Speech Delivered By Otunba Gani Adams, The Global Convener of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) at the Launch of OPU in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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It gives me great pleasure to be with you sons and daughters of Oduduwa in the very famous land of Malaysia. I bring to you from Nigeria good tidings and goodwill messages of over 76 countries where we have established a great global Organisation widely known as Oodua Progressive Union (OPU). With today’s event, I am happy to announce that we are fully rooted in 77 countries of the world.
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My being here today to be part of the formal launching of Oodua Progressive Union is no doubt by the special grace of God. It is indeed the special grace of Eledumare that made this historic event possible. I salute the doggedness of the members of OPU Malaysia for their relentless effort and strong will towards making today’s event the success we are all witnessing.
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If my memory serves me right, Malaysia has an ancient culture and a rich history, the nation itself is about 50 years old, the government of Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, that is the supreme king of Malaysia title rotates as a five year term among rulers of the nine states. The king is the head of state and serves in a ceremonial role.
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The official head of government is the Prime Minister, presently, Najib Tun Razak. Malaysia has a bicameral parliament, with a 70member Senate and a 222member House of Representatives. Senators are elected by state legislators or appointed by the King while members of the House are directly elected by the people.
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In as much as I don’t wish to bore us with a long speech, I need you to flow with me as I color my impression and understanding of our host country. Malaysia has more than 30 million citizens but ethnic Malays make up a bare majority of the population of Malaysia at 50.1%. Another 11% are defined as indigenous peoples of Malaysia or bumiputra, meaning “sons of the earth.” The official language is Bahasa Malaysia while English the former colonial language is still in common use although not the official language, over 140 additional languages representing their mother tongue spread across the region of Malaysia.
Officially, Malaysia is a Muslim community although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it also defines all ethnic Malays as Muslims. It is safe to say approximately 61% percent of the population adheres to Islam. In the last 40 years,the economy of Malaysia shifted from dependence on raw materials export to a healthy mixed economy, although it still relies on oil sales,today the Labourer force is 9% agricultural,35% industrial,and 56% in the service sector.
Malaysia was one of Asia’s “Tiger Economies” before the 1997 crash and has recovered nicely. It ranks 28th in the world in per capital GDP, the unemployment rate as of last year was an enviable 2.7% while only 3.8% of Malaysians live below poverty line. The country exports electronics, petroleum products, rubber, textiles, and chemicals.
Going thru this beautiful piece about Malaysia, one will see a lot of similarities in the culture and tradition of Nigeria and Malaysia, we share so much in terms of historical background but differ in direction and serious management of our economy. It is no longer news that Nigeria is in serious economic recession and the degree of hunger in Nigeria is so high now that we cannot even remember when and if we have witnessed such in the past. In 1957, the Government of Malaysia in partnership with the western region of Nigeria under the leadership of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, came to our land took specimens of our Palm kernel which they planted in their homeland, today Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world.
Despite the gloomy state of our economy, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that hope is on the way, very good students of history cannot quickly forget the role Indians in diaspora played in the emancipation of India to become what it is today, same can be traced to Jews, Israelis, British, French and others whose revolutions led to the emancipation of their people.
This brings me to what led to the formation of OPU few years ago. Oodua Progressive Union is a global platform that seeks to unite all Yorubas in diaspora. Aside unity of purpose, it also seeks to promote Yoruba language and project the culture and tradition of Yoruba race. Many may not know, the secret of technology is well hidden in language, that is why world greatest Economies pride themselves in their language and tradition, and they so protect these values making it difficult for outsiders to tap into their technology without relying on them. China, Japan, and other world powers today hide secret of their knowledge in their language.
We have a population of 50million Yorubas in Nigeria, while Yorubas spread across the world is over 250Million, how great will it be for such a populace to come together under a global platform to set the agenda that will emancipate the race from shackles of oppression and backwardness, we are further propelled by the peace movement being championed by prominent traditional rulers at home and OPU seeks to spread such movement across the globe. We have so much to gain if we are united.
It is with great pride and sense of responsibility that I welcome the Malaysia chapter of OPU to the global platform, OPU platform is first of its kind in the history of Nigeria as we boast of the largest global spread. From today Yorubas in Malaysia now have a voice which will be heard from Asia to the rest of the world. I welcome you to the fold of history makers, the fold of “Omoluabis” united in purpose to make their race excel. I want to commend Yorubas and indeed Nigerians in Malaysia for being good ambassadors of our country making it easy for others to come and explore Malaysia.
I am so happy with the caliber of people in our midst today and I personally wish to express my gratitude to our special guests,friends of Yorubas and our wives for being supportive and making this dream come true,”Oodua agbe gbogbo wa o.”
Although my visit is a short one, I desire to revisit Malaysia soon to further learn and be educated about their shift from dependent economy to a producing economy.
I wish you all a merry xmas in advance and a happy new year.
Oodua Agbe Wa O.
Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams,
World Wide Convener,
Oodua Progressive Union

Paris/London Loan Refunds: We’ve Complied With Buhari’s Directive - KWSG

The Kwara State government says it has already complied with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that states should use at least 25 per cent of their London and Paris Club refund to offset salary arrears.

A statement from the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, noted that with the release of N1billion to local governments and another release of N890million to some tertiary institutions to clear their salary backlog, the State government has exceeded Buhari’s directive.

The Commissioner stated that this reflects Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the State.

He added that the government remains determined to help LGs clear their current salary arrears in the shortest possible time.

Alhaji Banu emphasised that even before the State got its share of the Paris Club refund, the government was not owing any State civil servant, except staff of some tertiary institutions.

He said the approval of N890m for institutions is meant to clear their arrears.

Banu also disclosed that the balance of the refund will go towards other staff-related payments, injection of funds into to the State Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SME) scheme, Community Health Insurance Scheme, and completion of ongoing and new infrastructural projects across the State.

The Commissioner noted that these programs and projects will be of immense benefits to all residents and citizens of Kwara State.

Headies 2016 Winners

Who Got What?


The Winners list of 11th edition of the prestigious Headies Awards is finally Here .

The headies awards 2016 went down earlier tonight, and we’ve got all the winners from the award ceremony. It’s been an interesting year in music, and Nigeria generally and it’s been reflected in the award ceremony.

It’s been an interesting year in music, and Nigeria generally and it’s been reflected in the award ceremony. A good number of prominent artists were absent including Olamide, MI, Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, Don Jazzy, Ill Bliss and a host of others.

Check out all the winners below!

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
PRAY FOR ME – DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR – (WINNER)
LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
ORENTE – ADEKUNLE GOLD
SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING – BRYMO

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

DJ COUBLON ‘GOOD TIME & RABA’
PHEELS – ‘PICK UP & LAGOS BOYS’ – OLAMIDE
LEGENDURY BEATS – ‘FINAL – BABA NLA’ WIZKID
YOUNG JOHN – ‘MAMA’ – KISS DANIEL – (WINNER)
MASTAKRAFT – ‘FADA FADA’, ‘CONNECT’ – PHYNO
OSCAR HERMAN-ACKAH – ‘PRAY FOR ME’ – DAREY

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

EMERGENCY (D’BANJ) – UNLIMITED LA
MARY (SEYI SHAY) – MEJI ALABI
SOLDIER (FALZ THA BAD GUY) – CLARENCE PETERS – (WINNER)
MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
BAD – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. WIZKID – SESAN

BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

NEW ERA – KISS DANIEL – (WINNER)
WANTED – WANDE COAL
KLITORIS – BRYMO
NAKED – DAREY
SEYI OR SHAY – SEYI SHAY

BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
SUPER WOMAN – WANDE COAL
PRAY FOR ME – DAREY – (WINNER)
ADUKE – TJAN
SMILE – SHAYDEE

BEST POP SINGLE
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)

MAMA – KISS DANIEL
FINAL (BABA NLA) – WIZKID
PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE – (WINNER)
EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
FADA FADA – PHYNO FEAT. OLAMIDE
MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR

BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE
A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

‘NO KISSING’ – PATORANKING FT SARKODIE – (WINNER)
BODY HOT – PRAIZ FT. JESSE JAGZ & STONE BWOY
JAGA LOVE – JESSE JAGZ
OLOWO – CYNTHIA MORGAN
PAM PAM – KETCHUP
TIMAYA – I LIKE THE WAY

BEST RAP ALBUM
A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.

EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE
POWERFUL – ILL BLISS – (WINNER)
STORIES THAT TOUCH – FALZ
LIL’ KESH – YAGI

BEST COLLABO
A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

SOLDIER – FALZ FEAT. SIMI – (WINNER)
REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE
OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
WAIT – SOLIDSTAR FEAT. TIWA SAVAGE
NO KISSING – PATORANKING FEAT. SARKODIE
MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR

BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.

EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE – (WINNER)
ASAMALEKUN – REMINISCE
JAGABAN – YCEE
CHUKWU AGOZI GOGI – ILL BLISS
AGU JI NDI MEN – A-Q
SHOW YOU SOMETHING – BOOGEY

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)
A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

BRYMO – SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING
DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR – PRAY FOR ME
SHAYDEE – SMILE – (WINNER)
WANDE COAL – SUPER WOMAN
RIC HASSANI – GENTLEMAN

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

SIMI – LOVE DON’T CARE – (WINNER)
SEYI SHAY – RIGHT NOW
ARAMIDE FEAT. ADEKUNLE GOLD – LOVE ME
OMAWUMI FEAT. ANGELIE KIDJO – PLAY NA PLAY

NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.

YCEE
MR. EAZI – (WINNER)
HUMBLESMITH
ARAMIDE

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION
A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review.

KISS DANIEL – NEW ERA – (WINNER)
SEYI SHAY – SEYI OR SHAY
LIL’ KESH – YAGI
RUNTOWN – GHETTO UNIVERSITY

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
A non-voting category for the Rap Artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

ILL BLISS – CHUKWU AGOZI GOGI – (WINNER)
REMINSCE – ASALAMALEKU
YCEE – JAGABAN
BOOGEY – SHOW YOU SOMETHING
A-Q – AGU JI NDI MEN’
MODENINE – NO MATTER WHAT

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE
A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

OLAMIDE – WHO YOU EPP – (WINNER)
AJEBUTTER FEAT. FALZ – BAD GANG
KOKER – KO LE WERK
YCEE – JAGABAN
SMALL DOKTA – GBERA
2T BOYS – CUSTOMER DADA NI

BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG
A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING – BRYMO
YOU SUPPOSE KNOW – BEZ – WINNER
WAIT FOR ME – JOHNNY DRILLE
GENTLEMAN – RIC HASSANI

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges requirements of excellence (Songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity).

STORIES THAT TOUCH – FALZ
NEW ERA – KISS DANIEL – WINNER
WANTED – WANDE COAL
SEYI OR SHAY – SEYI SHAY

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.

WIZKID – WINNER
TIWA SAVAGE
FALZ
YEMI ALADE
OLAMIDE

SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

FINAL (BABA NLA) – WIZKID
OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT.
FADA FADA – PHYNO FEAT. OLAMIDE – WINNER

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – FLAVOUR

HALL OF FAME – Laolu Akins

Posted via Blogaway

Buhari hails the appointment of Dorgu as the 13th Bishop of Woolwich

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the appointment of a Nigerian, Mr Woyin Karowei Dorgu as the 13th Bishop of Woolwich, by the church of England as gladenning and reassuring.

This is contained in a congratulatory message sent on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to the new Bishop.

The letter reads: " Your appointment is gladdening and reassuring being the first black man to be so appointed in 20 years.

"This is an attestation to the fact that Nigerians in the diaspora are excelling in their various fields of human endeavours, thus projecting a good image for the country abroad.", Buhari said in the letter.

The President hoped and prayed that Dorgu's appointment as a Bishop will serve as a catalyst for others in the region as well as enhance Nigeria's spiritual rejuvenation.

"You have worked really hard and earned the respect of the Church of England to be so appointed. With you on this, we are sure you will continue to contribute your quota to the success of the Church.", he added.

The SSA expressed the willingness of President Muhammadu Buhari to receive Dorgu in Nigeria and rejoice with his unique feat which has made Nigeria proud of him.

Bishop Dorgu will be consecrated at Southwark Cathedral on March 17, 2017.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Dorgu was trained as a medical doctor in Lagos before being ordained in the UK. He has since served as a minister in various London parishes.

Dorgu said he hopes to embrace the diversity of Woolwich, which hosts a significant Nigerian expatriate community, and to encourage more ethnic minorities to participate in the ministry, which is predominantly white.

Out of the 15 percent of the general population engaged in the process of becoming ordained, ethnic minorities of blacks represented only 1.9 percent.

It is believed that quite a lot of Nigerian Christians [in the Woolwich area] are from an Anglican background.

Signed.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

DSS Accuses Governor Wike of Sponsoring Protests

The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that it has uncovered a sinister plot by the Rivers State Governor Nyesom WIKE to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies by provoking a violent breach of peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, today, 22nd December, 2016 and beyond especially at this yuletide season. To achieve this, the Governor had secured the services of one IKENGA Imo UGOCHINYERE, a Personal Aide to the Senate President, Bukola SARAKI (Sen), to mobilize some hoodlums to execute their plan.

The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light. It is also intended to divert public and international attention from the ongoing Police investigation into the unwholesome role played by the Governor and some of his cronies in the violence that trailed the re-run election in Rivers State which resulted in the gruesome murder of civilians including the beheading of DSP Mohammed ALKALI and some of his colleagues as well as the brutalization of INEC staff who failed to do the bidding of the Governor.

In furtherance of this plot, protesters are to besiege the National Human Rights Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, the Nigerian Army and Police Headquarters as well as British High Commission, US Embassy and the UN Secretariat, Abuja; all in an effort to raise false alarm that Rivers State was under siege of security agencies during the elections. While the obvious aim is to draw public sympathy and international attention to spurious allegations of involvement of Federal agencies in violence during the last elections in Rivers State, the actual objective is really to trigger a round of violent action against the government and create opportunity for idlers to join the deceitful protest. Part of the orchestration is to provoke the security agencies and prompt them to take action against the protesters that could result in bloodletting. It is in this line that IKENGA had gone to the outskirts of Abuja to mobilize unemployed youths to carry out his bidding. All this was to be done for a fee and resources to be provided from the treasury of the Rivers State Government. It is also worrisome that IKENGA would engage in this nefarious plot when, after his last arrest earlier this year by the Service, he had pledged to be law abiding and not to cause a breach of the peace.

Though IKENGA is now at large, the trio of Emeka IDIBIA, Ugo APUAMAGHA and Ejike NWACHUKWU have been arrested and are helping with further investigations. These men were picked up at the mobilization venue trying to perfect the logistics for this unholy enterprise. The young men were hired by IKENGA to take custody of items and materials for the planned violent protest. The recovered items include banners, placards and posters with denigrating, inciting and hate inscriptions meant to impinge the authority of the Federal Government and further subvert the entire machinery of governance in the country.

In order to make this look credible, IKENGA and his cohorts had adopted such groups as Lawyers in Defence of Democracy (LDD) and Citizens for Good Governance (CGG) as cover to supposedly make them look like serious minded civil rights groups and thus bring them into collision course with security agencies. Investigations have so far revealed that while IKENGA is the field organizer and coordinator of the planned protest, Governor WIKE is his sole financial sponsor. The DSS is disturbed that the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the State will stoop so low to hire thugs and hoodlums to attack the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and create an atmosphere of chaos and disorder at this yuletide season.

Accordingly, the Service wishes to clearly state that it, and in fact other security agencies, will not be cowed, or by any means allow any person or group of persons no matter how highly placed to subvert Nigeria’s statutory institutions meant to protect critical installations and law abiding citizens. In this regard, the Service also states in unequivocal terms that no amount of intimidation, grandstanding or outright manipulation of facts will be allowed to stop it and other agencies from conducting their duties as constitutionally mandated or concluding investigations into the Rivers State electoral violence.

Finally, the Service wishes to restate its commitment to the protection of life and property in the FCT in particular and Nigeria in general. Consequently, it advises youths to resist the temptation of being lured by desperate politicians to undermine the government or engage in acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. It calls on all Abuja residents to go about their normal businesses as the Service is committed to ensuring that the full wrath of the law is brought against persons or group of persons who may threaten the peace and stability of the country.

Tony OPUIYO
Department of State Services (DSS)
22nd December, 2016

ALERT ON ESCAPEE BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS

The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that due to the ongoing final clearance and occupation of Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Sambisa forest, quite a number of them are escaping the theatre of operation in the North East to various parts of the country and elsewhere.

Therefore, members of the public especially residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, are hereby requested to be extra vigilant, security conscious of strange movements or persons in the society.

The public are also please requested to report any suspicious person or group of persons to the security agencies for prompt action.

We wish to reiterate our commitment of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in all their suspected hideouts by the end of this year. We therefore solicit for more public support and cooperation to achieve that.

PhotoNews: James Ibori pictures in London as he walks the street a free man.PhotoCredit

PhotoCredit : Fejiro Oliver

FG Declares 3 Days as Public Holiday

GOVERNMENT DECLARES MONDAY 26TH, TUESDAY 27TH DECEMBER, 2016 AND MONDAY 2ND JANUARY, 2017 AS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The Federal Government has declared Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th December, 2016 and Monday 2nd January, 2017 as Public Holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year 2017 Celebrations respectively.

In making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), CFR, PhD, enjoined all Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to remain committed and supportive of the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR in his sustained efforts towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.

Gen. Dambazau also urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity and peaceful co-existence across the country.

The Honourable Minister wishes all Nigerians at home and abroad, a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year 2017.

Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, FCIA, FCPA, FCNA
Ag. Permanent Secretary

OPINION:The media and Osun PDP dubiety-Justice Now Foundation

On Monday December 19, three newspapers, The Vanguard, New Telegraph and Daily Trust ran a syndicated story, almost verbatim, an allegation from Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), signed by Diran Odeyemi, that Governor Aregbesola is planning to divert N11 billion Paris Club debt refund that Osun and other states got from the Federal Government a few days ago.

Not only is the story false and misleading, it is a disservice to the cause of truth and information dissemination on the part of the media. Anybody can make an allegation, but a media organisation is obliged to publish only the truth it has verified from its own investigation. The alleger talks of a ‘plan’ but he did not outline any detail and did not offer any evidence. It seems as if the standard of media integrity is just to have an email or printed copy of ‘Press Release’ from Osun PDP and slam it on the pages.

What then is the exit strategy for any media organisation that published any allegation without investigating, when the story turns out to be false, as it always is? How can we build trust and integrity in our news if we publish falsehood and reduce our medium to the opposition’s propaganda rag-sheet?

But Osun PDP has become notorious for making wild and false claims, just in the guise of playing opposition. A few examples will suffice. When Osun got a Federal Government guaranteed loan of N34 billion last year, the PDP alleged that the money had been used to pay contractors handling projects in the state. Less than 48 hours later, it again claimed that the money had been put in a fixed account. The newspapers that ran both stories had their credibility questioned by perceptive readers. How can the government that paid contractors with funds meant to offset outstanding salaries of workers turn round to put the same funds in a fixed account in a bank?, they asked.

Again, after the PDP woefully lost the 2011 general elections to the then ACN which cleared the three senatorial seats, the seven House of Representatives seats and all the State House of Assembly seats, PDP was quick to blame the loss on the allegation that the then INEC resident commissioner in the state was a card carrying member of ACN. This was their swan song for four years and in the run up to the 2014 governorship election, INEC then asked the party to bring any evidence to back up this allegation. Till today, it never did.

Since PDP lost power on November 27, 2010, its stock has been diminishing in the state. All its leading lights, including two former governors, are now in the APC’s progressive fold. It has also been badly bruised in all the elections conducted in Osun, which it lost woefully. These are the 2011 general elections, the 2014 governorship election and the 2015 general elections. The party has been deserted and depleted. What we are having now is the empty drum of the rump of the vanquished party making very loud noise as it permanently rolled out of Osun, hopefully into the Asejire River enroute the Atlantic Ocean. It is perfectly understandable therefore as it acts like a scorched snake struggling frantically but futilely as it gasps for its last breath.

The party has capitalised on the financial crisis that gripped the Federal Government and 27 states, occasioning delay in salary payment and has weaved all kinds of imaginable falsehood around it, even advocating for abridgement of federalism.

It has been inciting workers and retirees against the State Government. By continuing to milk the trauma of the workers, Osun PDP has revealed its true hand in a Freudian slip of its rejoicing and happiness on the inability of workers to get their salaries as and when due. It will continue to revel in this misfortune of the workers in order to stack its card in the opposition to the Aregbesola administration.

Nevertheless, the workers are smarter; they have been reasonable and faithful to the state government and have refused to play the PDP game of using their back to ride to power.

This is because, their personal interest aside, they have seen the difference between the two parties. They can compare PDP’s seven and a half years with Aregbesola’s six years. They have compared the 170 elementary, middle and high schools Aregbesola is building with the shoddy renovations carried out by PDP in the two terms of the party. They have seen the over 800 kilometres of roads, including local government roads and four super highways constructed by Aregbesola and cannot find anything close to it during the PDP era. Improved security, enhanced health-care delivery, support for elderly citizens, ambulance services and a huge commitment to social protection programmes. Their children have been eating free sumptuous and nutritious meals every school day since 2012; their final year pupils were given eLearning tablets (Opon-Imo) and the 46.3 per cent pass in the last WASSCE was unprecedented in the annals of the state. They have seen artisans and farmers access close to N4 billion micro-finance loans. PDP never had anything close to these in the seven and a half miserable years the party was in power in Osun.

Even then, the party continues to mount assault on federalism. The state government took a principled stand on federalism by refusing to cooperate with the Senate in its botched bid to audit the account of states that took loans guaranteed by the Federal Government. This is because the proper body constitutionally empowered to do so is the State’s House of Assembly.

The limits of the oversight power of the National Assembly had been clearly defined as limited to investigating the Federal Government and its agencies by several Supreme Court judgements. These include Innocent Adikwu vs. Federal House of Representatives (1982), Senate of National Assembly vs. Momoh (1983), Mallam Nasir Ahmed El Rufai vs. The House of Representatives, National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & others and House of Representatives vs. S.P.D.C.N. (2010).

Even then, the National Assembly had been rebuked on several occasions by the Supreme Court in A.G. Ogun State vs. A.G. Federation and others (1982), A.G. Lagos State vs. A.G. Federation (2003) and A.G. Lagos State vs. A.G. Federation (2004) for exceeding its brief and unconstitutional interference in the affairs of states.

Is it not curious then that Osun PDP has mounted this dangerous assault on federalism because it wants to gain cheap popularity?

George Santayana warned us that those who failed to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Maybe the PDP has forgotten that incitement of the Federal Government and brazen unconstitutional use of its power against the Western State brought about the demise of the First Republic. The rest of us should not.

Justice Now Foundation is based in Osogbo, Osun State

See Who Wins World’s Best Grand Dad

On Sunday the 18th of December, 2016, 6 grandchildren got together to award their grandfather World’s Best Grand Dad. Guess where? Bauchi state.

The Governor, M. A. Abubakar was donating relief materials to the less privileged as part of concluding activities to mark his 60th year birthday when his grandchildren surprised him.

Leading them was his eldest grand kid; Mohammed Al-Amin. They said their grandfather included the less privileged in his birthday celebrations, and like helping people, that was why they decided to award him.