Edo lawmaker shot

 by James Azania

A member of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Etsako West I, Rasaq Momoh, was on Thursday night shot by yet-to-be identified gunmen in the state capital, Benin.

Momoh, who is the House Committee Chairman on Finance, was reportedly shot on Akenzua Road, around 9.30 pm while on a visit.

The lawmaker was taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he is currently being treated.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Uyi Igbe, and state Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, confirmed the shooting in different telephone interviews.

Igbe said he was informed about the incident and that the lawmaker was in a stable condition.

Balogun, however, said he was yet to get the full details of the incident.

The lawmaker, who reportedly drove himself, was said to be without his orderly and was accosted by one of the gunmen, who ordered him to lie on the ground.

Momoh was said to have refused the order and was consequently shot in the abdomen, after which his assailants fled the scene.

The Punch

Canadian High Commission Denied Nigerian Islamic Leader Adegbite Visa For Regular Medical Treatment Before His Death

Dr. Lateef Adegbite during his last interview

By SaharaReporters, New York

SaharaReporters has learned that yesterday’s death of the prominent Islamic Cleric and senior legal practitioner, Dr. Abdulateef Adegbite, may have been a consequence of unexpected interruptions to his routine medical checkups, a key one of which arose from a new Canadian policy under which he was denied a visa to travel to that country two months ago.
Although family sources say they do not want to trade blames over the cause of the late cleric’s death, some medical accounts show that his health grew critical after he was denied an important travel opportunity by the Canadian High Commission.  At the time, his health grew so bad that rumors began to fly that he had died, but they were dispelled by his wife, Hajiya Modinat Adegbite, who told Saharareporters that Alhaji Adegbite was only ill at home but was still alive.
The Canadian High Commission reportedly denied all visa applications, citing new a directive to thoroughly screen applicants regardless of their status.
That development affected Dr. Adegbite's plan for treatment in Canada, and may have contributed to the deterioration of his health for close to two months before he was eventually flown to London for the treatment he needed. Alhaji Adegbite, 79, was battling symptoms of old age and had been taking care of himself through such trips until his experience with the Canadian High Commission two months ago.
The Secretary to the Late Chief Adegbite at his Law Chambers in Lagos, partly identified as Mr. Yusuf, said all efforts were made to ensure Dr. Abdulateef’s record and status were immediately verified to enable him proceed to Canada when his health grew worse, but that the High Commission did not yield.
“His friends and associates tried all that they could to enable him clear the visa for his treatment in Canada, but all proved abortive” said Mr. Yusuf.
He further described the circumstances in which Dr. Adegbite’s children finally made the decision to fly him to London for his treatment, noting that in the one and half months that his family was actively trying to obtain the Canadian visa and his being taken to London, Dr. Adegbite was receiving medical attention at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH].
A member of his legal chambers in Lagos said before Dr. Adegbite’s July attempt to fly into Canada, he had been visiting that country twice a year, one for his sabbatical rest and the other for medical treatment. Dr. Adegbite’s last return from Canada was on 18th March, 2012 and he celebrated his 79th birthday one week later, on 26th March, 2012.
One of the cleric’s more memorable recent activities was his well-publicised advice to the United States to exercise caution in designating the violent Islamic sect in Nigeria, Boko Haram, a terrorist group.
Dr. Adegbite clarified his position later in an interview with Citizen Journalist, Segun O’Law in Lagos, saying that he wanted the United States Government to give the Nigerian government more time to deal effectively with the militants, and that the government was already making progress.  He warned that a precipitous decision might result in Nigerians being stereotyped abroad as members of the sect.  O'Law said he observed at the time that Alhaji Adegbite was struggling with his health during the interview.
A former Attorney General of Western Nigeria, Dr. Adegbite was Seriki Musulumi and Baba Adinni of Egbaland. He helped found many Islamic societies and associations, including the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in 1954, and was the first President of the Association. He was also a member of several national, international, professional and business organisations.
Until his death, was the Secretary General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He was also the Principal Partner of Lateef Adegbite and Company, a law firm with major focus on Commercial Law Practice.
Late Adegbite is survived by his wife, Hajiyat Modinat Simisola Adegbite, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was buried today at his family home  in Abeokuta, Ogun State, according to Islamic rites.
 

JTF arrests Immigration Officer who is member of Boko Haram

The positive runs by the security agencies on Boko Haram group and other terrorist groups seem to be yielding more fruits as more gains culminating in the arrest of plants of the groups in some paramilitary agencies have been arrested by the Joint Task force.
Among those arrested yesterday was an immigration officer, Ahmed Grema Mohammed whose confessions led to the arrest of others who have been carrying attacks on government officials across some States of the north.
According to the Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, those already apprehended are some security personnel who have been carrying out attacks in Borno and Yobe which he said was a major breakthrough in their efforts at flushing out insiders in the security forces collaborating with the deadly groups.
A statement by Musa said that those arrested have confessed to being active members of the Boko Haram sect who joined the sect well before the 2009 crisis and received a lot of training in and outside the country.
He said that Grema also confessed to have been trained alongside 15 other members of the sect on weapon handling, assassinations and special operations in Niger Republic. Musa said Grema who was arrested over a month ago at a checkpoint on his way to Maiduguri while impersonating as a Nigeria Army lieutenant.
He further said during the trip Grema had planned killing a former special adviser to the immediate governor of Borno state. He also disclosed that Grema had equally confessed to the killings of some senior civil servants, security agencies and politicians in Damaturu and Damboa, Borno State who spoke against the activities of the sect including the slain former chairman of Damboa LGA, Alhaji Lawal Kawu.
Grema was also among those that led attacks on Yobe Police Command, Damaturu Prison, some primary schools, among others.
 DailyPost

Nigerians are UK’s 4th biggest foreign spenders – Report

Every year, Simi Osomo (pictured above) makes six trips to London from Nigeria. The 25-year-old spends about two weeks here and every day she goes shopping. Today she’s at the boutique shop Matches Townhouse in Marylebone with a personal shopper. “When it comes to shopping and Nigerians, I can tell you it’s just what we have to do,” she tells me while admiring the patterned dresses.
For Nigerians, London is a shopping mecca. Visitors from the West African country are the UK’s fourth biggest foreign spenders, parting with an average of £500 in each luxury shop they visit — four times what UK shoppers typically spend. When I ask Osomo how much a two-week shopping trip in London costs she makes a bashful face. “Ooh, should I really be saying this? It depends, but most times about £5,000.”
Osomo is wearing a green top from Zara that’s “the colour of the Nigerian flag”, blue skinny jeans and new Christian Louboutin shoes. Later today she’s going to buy an iPhone 5 for her sister.
“You can get lots of things in Lagos but they are cheaper here and you get to take a holiday and relax a bit. It’s only six hours away.” The number of Nigerian visitors to the UK increased by more than 50 per cent to 142,000 a year between 1991 and 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics. Nigeria is projected to become Africa’s biggest economy by next year and the world’s fifth most populous country by 2050, and London is cashing in.
Debenhams’ Oxford Street branch has put up signs in Hausa, one of the official Nigerian languages, and said customers from this part of West Africa are its biggest overseas spenders. Yet Osomo says it’s not just rich Nigerians who come over. “Middle-class people can afford to come and spend £600 on shopping in a week here. What I like about the UK is that it doesn’t discriminate. As long as you’re able to prove you have an income, accommodation in London and a return ticket, the authorities are more than willing to give you a visa. It’s closer than America and the customer service here is phenomenal.”
Back home in Lagos, the technology market has been flooded with fake products from China, which means more people are coming to London for electronic goods and are even taking items back to sell. “No one wants to spend more than 100,000 naira (£390) and find out it is fake, so they prefer to come over for a holiday and buy something they know is real and has a guarantee in case something goes wrong.”
Marks & Spencer is one of Osomo’s favourite shops. “I love their fajitas. You can’t get them in Nigeria. I also buy soy sauce and Thai green curry paste, which is good because it lasts for a long time. Oh, and Crunchy Nut cereal, Skittles, Maltesers and tea. There’s nothing like a British cuppa. I get Lipton, PG and green tea.” She likes the variety of London. “I love Zara, H&M, Topshop. But if I want something more high end, there’s Sloane Street.”
More than £3 billion a year is spent on high-end goods in London, according to the London Luxury Quarter Report, and it predicts this will rise to £4.5 billion by 2020, with new shops including Burberry’s flagship fuelling the trend. Luxury concierge services are also popular. Osomo is a client of Quintessentially, which organises shopping trips and parties for her and has an office in Lagos.
Although summer is the height of the shopping season, Osomo likes to come back for the January sales too. Her mother, a lawyer, and father, a businessman, often join her. She has just finished a law degree and is about to start a job in fashion journalism, which she hopes will give her enough holidays for trips to London. But flights can get booked up quickly.
“You don’t want to get the Lagos to London flight in July. It’s packed with parents and their kids making noise.” Return flights at high season start at about £369.
But what about getting her haul of shopping back from London to Lagos? That, says Osomo, is costly. “All I pack when I come over is one pair of jeans and three tops. I bring two big suitcases but I always have to get another one and pay for excess baggage. I never learn.” British Airways has increased its excess baggage charge on flights from London to Lagos from £40 to £97 per suitcase in the past year. “They must have realised we always put an extra bag in and thought they’d try to make money out of it,” says Osomo.
Fashion-wise, she still picks up the odd item in Nigeria. Six months ago Zara opened an outlet store in Lagos, and Mango has been there for about a year. “Zara is affordable because it’s an outlet but what I find is that things are a bit last season. Nigeria’s hot all the time so there are always maxi dresses and swimwear but the colours are boring and we lack variety. Customer service is not great and some shops can get really crowded, which is challenging.” There is a burgeoning online shopping industry in Nigeria too. Currently, ASOS is the only shop that ships to Lagos free of charge and everyone Osomo’s age uses it.
“Nigeria is a fun place, I’d encourage people to go. Shopping is evolving. In five years I think a lot of stores will come to Nigeria because there is a gap in the market. Ten years ago I never thought Zara would come to Nigeria. I believe in the next five years we will catch up. But I still love London and won’t stop coming here.”
 DailyPost

Femi Fani-Kayode: I am Very Proud of My Father

Femi Fani-Kayode

Femi, whose father, late Remi Fani-Kayode was the deputy premier of the defunct Western Region talks to YEMI ADEBOWALE about the life and times of the late nationalist and the impact on his own political career

How do you feel being the son of a great nationalist? 
It is an honour and a privilege. I am very proud of my father and his monumental achievements just as I am proud of all the other great nationalists that fought for our independence and gave their all for Nigeria. 

What does being the son of Fani-power mean to you? 
It means everything to me and it defines who I am. I was born on the 16th of October and that is just a couple of weeks after we gained our independence. I am therefore a proud son of independence. I remember everything that happened from the age of six when soldiers came to our house to take my father on the night of the coup – January 15th, 1966. By providence, divine orchestration and the grace of God he was the only one out of all the great leaders that were arrested and abducted from their homes that night (other than Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the Governor of the old Northern Region) that survived it. Sadly all the others were murdered in cold blood, some in front of their families, and in some cases some of their family members were killed as well. This was a terrible slaughter. Those men and women that were killed that night were some of those that had fought for our independence and they were the brightest and the best that Nigeria ever had. May their souls rest in peace. There was a divine purpose that ensured that my father survived that night and from that time on, and at a very early age, I know that I would one day follow his footsteps and go into politics. I knew that I had to dedicate my life to trying to make a difference in our country and at try to make it a better place.

Has your father’s life in any way shaped your career and politics?
It has shaped my ideas and politics considerably. I learnt everything that I know from my father and I gained a lot from his experiences. He taught me the value of never writing anyone off and seeing the best in others. He also taught me that out of all the virtues courage and loyalty are the most noble. My father was a great believer in Nigeria. He served Nigeria in one capacity or the other from 1953 to 1995 when he finally passed on. His contributions and works inspired me enormously and the challenges that he faced in his career emboldened me. So, most of what you see and know about me were shaped by his experiences and counsel.

Why did you take after him in politics?
I took after him in politics because that is the path that God chose for me and that is what I had been prepared, groomed and trained to do from a very young age. My grandfather, Justice Adedapo Adetokunboh Kayode, had dabbled in the politics of Lagos Colony as well, though he later became a judge. So, I guess politics is something of a tradition for the Fani-Kayodes. My original intention was to join the military but my father refused to allow it. From that point, I knew that I would be a lawyer and then eventually end up in politics. I have been in it since 1989 when a few of my colleagues and I, under the distinguished leadership and guidance of the late Dr. Hammed Kusamotu and Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi (Marafan Sokoto), set up the famous September Club. I must say that politics involves a lot of sacrifice in terms of time and that it is is difficult and challenging. However, it is also a worthwhile and noble vocation. I thank God for making me what I am today and I have no regrets about choosing this path. To serve one’s country and to try to make a difference and make it a better place is the right and proper thing to do.

You spoke about the first Nigerian coup on the night of Jan.15th 1966. Who were those that were killed that night that you described as heroes?
I will not just describe them as heroes but I will also describe them as true and courageous martyrs. Sadly, they have been largely unsung, unappreciated and uncelebrated by the Nigerian people because most of those in the younger generation don’t even know the history or who they were and what they did. When we sing about the ‘’labour of our heroes past’’ in our National Anthem, it is men like these that we are referring to. Many have run them down and said the most uncharitable and untrue things about them since they were killed. Others have even hailed those that murdered them forgetting that death eventually comes to us all and that virtually every single person that took part in the bloodletting and murders that night met a horrible, bloody, violent and untimely end themselves within a few months and years. I am sorry but I always get a little emotional when I remember these names and their families because it really was a waste of life and talent (he was at this point wiping off tears from both cheeks). It was a tragedy of monumental proportions. The politicians that were amongst them were great and illustrious leaders that had made their contributions to our body politic through the late 1940’s and 1950’s. They had fought for our nation’s independence and all of a sudden they were just cut short by some young and trigger happy rebels who had lost control of themselves and who had no sense of self-restraint. Chief Akintola was murdered in the sanctity of his home right in front of his family after he returned fire and wounded two of the mutineers. Sir Ahmadu Bello was killed in the sanctity of his home and so were two of his wives (who tried to shield his body from the bullets with theirs). His exceptionally brave bodyguard (who attacked the armed soldiers with just an ornamental sword) was also killed. Sir Tafawa Balewa and Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh were both arrested in their homes, abducted and later taken to a bush and shot just outside Lagos. What a way for them to end their lives. Those of them that were killed that night (from the military) were amongst the brightest and the best that the army ever had. For me and my family, these names will never die. Even if the rest of Nigeria forgets and misrepresents them, we will not because we know the history and we know what they stood for. Worse still, my father almost died with them on the same night and by the hands of the same bloodthirsty murderers. So, I seem to have cultivated something of an emotional bond with those names. I honour them every year both on Oct 1st and on Jan.15th with my family members by saying a prayer for their souls and for their families. They died that we might live.

The coupists also arrested and abducted my father Chief R.A. Fani-Kayode (Deputy Premier of the Western Region) and I witnessed the whole thing. Though I was only six years old I remember it vividly. He was taken from our home in Ibadan to Lagos. Thankfully he was rescued and liberated the following morning after a heavy gun battle between the mutineers and loyalist federal forces at Dodan Barracks under the command of Lt. Col. Gowon and Captain Takoda. Sir Kashim Imam (the Premier of the Northern Region) was also arrested and abducted by the mutineers in Kaduna but he also managed to cheat death. The coupists had targeted and intended to arrest, abduct and kill Chief Michael Okpara (Premier of the Mid-Western Region) as well but when they got to his official residence to execute their plan, they found the Prime Minister of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, staying there with him so they did not enter the premises. Finally they went to the home of Makaman Bida (Minister of Finance for the Northern Region of Nigeria) to arrest, abduct and murder him too but they did not meet him there because he had travelled out of town.

This Day

OGBEMUDIA AT 80: THE TITAN TUGS ON

By Godwin Erhahon, Benin City
Our Legend,
Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia appears to me as a man who died twice and
resurrected twice before our very eyes and therefore, a living ancestor. When,
in July 1975, his government was overthrown by the Murtala Mohammed coup that
sacked the General Yakubu Gowon-led Military Government under which then
Brigadier Ogbemudia was Military Governor of Midwestern Region (later Bendel
State), many saw him as dead, socially and politically. Ogbemudia the hero and
super-genius was vilified by many, jeered at by some and worst of all, betrayed
by many of his friends and beneficiaries.

But Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, a man of great faith, sagacity and strategy held on to the
rope of life and never let go. He tugged on.
When the Military handed over government to elected civilians in 1979, Dr Ogbemudia was out of
reckoning in the politics of the time, having been banned from public office
and dismissed with ignominy from the Military Service. Those were the judgments
of men, not of God! Bendel, his home state which he laboured to develop to the
envy of others was won by the leading opposition Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)
with Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Ali of blessed memory as Governor.  UPN administration became so popular by its excellent performance that the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) which was then in
control of the federal government became afraid to face it in the 1983 governorship
election in Bendel State with its then existing membership.

Like the biblical Joseph who was released from prison by King Pharaoh of Egypt to become
prime minister, Ogbemudia was granted presidential pardon, enlisted into the
membership of NPN with fanfare and finally nominated as the governorship
candidate of NPN to challenge gentleman Professor Ambrose Ali. Dr Ogbemudia was
declared winner and sworn in as Governor of Bendel State on October 1, 1983.
UPN did not give up; they dragged the new Governor, its party, NPN and then
Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) to election petition tribunal. As fate
would have it, the military overthrew the civilian rule on the eve of New Year
Day, January 1, 1984 while the petition was still pending. Thus, Dr Ogbemudia became
the first Nigerian to govern a state twice in different regimes and also first
to be twice overthrown as Governor, that I know.
This to many, was the second death of Dr Ogbemudia within eight years! For every governor
overthrown on each occasion was seen as being on death throes. Only a few
survived it.

The Buhari/Idiagbon military regime which took over from NPN-controlled Federal
Government never saw anything good in NPN and as such did not appoint any NPN
leader into government. But successive military administration needed the
popularity, strategy and clout of Dr Ogbemudia and a few other celebrities to
enhance their legitimacy and consolidate their supremacy. Hence Ogbemudia
became labour minister, chairman, Nigerian Railways Corporation, etc, after his
second overthrow as Governor.
How many great men are able to so sustain their relevance in public life? Only few men
who are able to excel in service to mankind early enough in life do become so
dependable and indispensable at all times so much that whenever hope seems lost
society resort to them as spring of hope.
Yet it is surprising to see how humble this legend is!

As a journalist, I encountered Dr Ogbemudia in the ‘80s and ‘90s but not on a very
familiar note. But since 2008, political events have connected us some how. In
the past four years that I have become close to him, I can attest to parts of
the content of his character as a father and leader that have impressed me most.
His ability to read peoples’ mind through their utterances, countenances and actions is
unique. His love of and rapport with his grand children, sons/daughters in-law
is a challenge to many grand parents. Once Dr Ogbemudia trusts you, he can
admit you to his family folds, even to the inner-most part of his mansion.
He writes so well that whoever is saddled with the task of writing for him must strive hard
in logic, facts, grammar and style otherwise he will have his write-up
re-written by Dr Ogbemudia in the process of vetting.

A patriot and father- of-all that he is, Dr Ogbemudia is not blinded by partisan politics.
In the build-up to the last July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Dr
Ogbemudia could not disown PDP, his party. But realistically, he asked quite often: “how can I convince my people not to vote for a man who has constructed their roads so well, even my own road, Iheya,
which I could not do before we were overthrown? It is difficult for me to tell people
not to vote for Adams Oshomhole who has performed so great”. That is Ogbemudia, the realist!
I have heard some critics say though Dr Ogbemudia is truly a successful public administrator
he is not a good business manager. But how do we expect a leader who spends most of his time and energy solving public problem to have time enough for the selfishness demanded of business management which has to drive for profit all the time, even against noble ethics? Rather, he has to look for profit more
from his investment in public welfare and less from his private business. In return, a good society owes him a duty to care for his family even after he may have passed on.
One sure way to encourage good character and discourage bad ones in a decent society is by
rewarding good and punishing evil.

The celebration of Dr Ogbemudia’s eightieth birthday across Edo and Delta States, both states being a split of the defunct Bendel State whose foundation for both development and unity he built, is an honour well deserved.
Our celebrant has every reason to rejoice not just at his longevity but most importantly, in my opinion, for the grace of God by which he has outlived his man-made trauma, witnessed the obituaries of those who at different times wished him dead and remain more relevant in public life than those who have attempted to relegate him into oblivion.
From the life of Dr Ogbemudia, mankind has much lesson to learn. May God continue to uphold
his family!

Kidnapped 9 months old Toniloba found

Toniloba Obafemi, the 9 nine months old baby that was kidnapped on Sunday, September 23, 2012 by a church member at RCCG Parish, in Abuja (if you missed it, read it HERE) has been found in good health.

Toniloba and his kidnapper, Comfort Amos, were found in Benin after maximum investigations and tracking by family and friends with help from the police. Comfort's accomplice (both had jointly asked for well over N10million for the child) was caught in Auchi, Edo State and he led the police to Comfort who was with the child in Benin. God be praised. 

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