Obasanjo, El-Rufai and I -- Atiku

Atiku Abubakar was the Vice-President during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's administration between 1999 and 2007. The founding member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party shares his experience in the party and the privatisation exercise under his leadership in this online interview with LEKE BAIYEWU

As a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, why did you leave your party for the opposition Action Congress in 2006?

I had to leave because I was pushed to the limit. You know what happened during that period and we don't have to go through it all over again. A scheme was introduced, by which I and my supporters were removed from the party under the guise of re-registration. Of course, the bigger scheme was to ensure that I did not succeed my boss (Olusegun Obasanjo). You saw how the cards were stacked against me to pursue my presidential aspiration under PDP. They had me suspended from the party, even beyond the length of time permitted by the PDP constitution. The party rejected and flouted all courts orders in respect of my rights as a party member.

Events were unfolding rapidly and I had a deep conviction that with the help of the courts, we could establish a precedent to ensure that no one trampled upon the rights of citizens – not just I – and got away scot-free. I was eventually compelled to seek alternative platform to prove this point and to advance my aspiration. That was how I joined others to found the Action Congress.

Why did you later dump AC to go back to the PDP, despite your vow never to do so?

Don't forget that I was among the founding members of the PDP. I was forced to leave the party and I joined AC then because forces in the party (PDP) were ferociously determined to frustrate me at all costs. However, when the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was elected as the President, he initiated the policy of reconciliation and appealed to aggrieved members to return. The committee for this purpose was headed by former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme.

I invested energy, time and political capital in the formation of the PDP and, therefore, because of that sentimental attachment, I responded to the policy of reconciliation and returned to the fold. Should you blame a child for reconciling with his parents after he ran away over disagreement? The circumstances of my departure from PDP are well known to Nigerians. When I returned, I did so to promote the growth of what I helped to build in the first place.

Basically, the destruction of internal democracy in PDP made me to leave the party against my will. You are aware of the policy of de-registration of certain party members by the former President. My supporters and I were the target of this hostile and anti-democratic policy. I was between the rock and the hard place and, ultimately, I was technically expelled from PDP by the hand-picked party national executives. It is, therefore, unfair for anybody to describe my departure from PDP as opportunistic, considering the insurmountable and deliberate obstacles laid on my path by the former President (Obasanjo) and the party national leadership.

When you were the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation and also as former Vice- President, you were accused of selling major public corporations to political office holders, including yourself. One of such is Pentascope. How true is it that the privatisation process was shady?

These allegations are not new. The interesting thing is that those spreading these allegations couldn't come forward with any iota of proof against me. You forgot that I was accused of selling African Petroleum to myself, using a front. However, when the facts eventually emerged in respect of this particular allegation, my traducers were disarmed and were forced to retreat. Indeed, I was the most investigated public office holder under the former administration and, if this allegation was valid, it could have been conveniently used to bring me down and tarnish my name. Thank God I survived this smear campaign, just like others before it.

The Senate conducted a public hearing on privatisation under my leadership as the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation. That was the best opportunity for those accusing me of selling public assets to myself to come forward to prove the allegation. Surprisingly, they never did because they relied mainly on hearsay. A cabinet member in Obasanjo's government, who was promoting this idle rumour, was eventually left looking small because he didn't have the facts to substantiate his allegations against me.

On Pentascope, one would have expected your paper to direct the questions to El-Rufai himself. The Pentascope scandal was one of the issues investigated by the National Assembly and it accused El-Rufai of ignoring wise counsel by imposing the company on NITEL. Despite proven allegations that Pentascope was not financially capable and technically competent to handle NITEL management contract, the former Bureau of Public Enterprise Director-General ignored public outcry and forced the Dutch company on NITEL. Before the coming of Pentascope, NITEL was making an estimated N100bn profit annually. However, as soon as Pentascope took over, NITEL's profits were nose-diving incredibly. With telecom stakeholders, the National Assembly and the Nigerian public insisting that the imposition of Pentascope on NITEL was ruinous to national interest, the Federal Government eventually cancelled the management contract against El-Rufai's desire. I had no hand, absolutely, no connection or knowledge of how that company was brought into Nigeria.  Curiously, El-Rufa'i avoided the Pentascope issue in his book, "The Accidental Public Servant." Therefore, if there is anybody to explain the details of the Pentascope scandal, it is El-Rufai himself. The fact of the contract are like this: Obasanjo agreed with the NCP that the former BPE DG was wrong not to have disclosed his interest and that he had failed the test of transparency by not disclosing that his brother was on the board of Motorola. I know you are very familiar with the laws of the federation. You know, for instance, that it is a very serious offence to fail, refuse or neglect to disclose your interest whether directly or through someone else, in dealing with such an important transaction. But, the President in his wisdom decided that the contract be split into three, with each of the contenders, Motorola, Ericsson and the Chinese company – I think Huawei – taking a portion. As if to vindicate the NCP, by 2007 when we left office, the two others apart from Motorola had completed their own contracts. You can go and find out if they (Motorola) have finished.

El-Rufai, has challenged you to explain what happened with the NITEL GSM contract that Motorola lost to Ericson, despite the American company submitting the lowest bid? What is your explanation?

Personally, I dislike the idea of exchanging words with the former FCT minister over this issue. But for the sake of your question, I would like Nigerians to be smart enough to read between the lines. Why does the former FCT minister treat the Motorola issue with such persistent personal bitterness? Why is he making it a heavy matter? Anybody can play to the gallery and deceive the people. Transparency is a key issue of conducting any business, including privatisation. Conflict of interest is inconsistent with transparency. If you are a privatisation head and you have a relationship with a particular person connected with one of the companies making bids, it is a moral and legal duty to disclose that relationship or interest. Pretending that you have no relationship with the person who is rooting for a particular bidder is not altogether tidy and transparent. If he had no interest in a particular company for sentimental reasons, why is he making too much fuss about Motorola losing the bid? Did El-Rufai accuse me of promoting Ericsson because I had any connection with the company directly or indirectly? If, indeed, I had promoted Ericsson for personal interest, Obasanjo wouldn't have let me get away with it. He would have exposed me and disgraced me, and even ordered my prosecution.

Why is it that these corporations have relatively failed, despite being run by private investors?

I don't agree with you that privatisation has failed altogether, despite the challenges some of the new investors are facing.  The GSM operators in the country are doing well, despite their challenges caused by infrastructural problems in the country. Look at banks and ports, they all are doing well. Some of the new investors are finding difficulties, maybe as a result of the scope of the challenges or ill-preparation. Some of them have resorted to asset stripping rather than restoring the companies to functional state and start production to create jobs, such as the Ajaokuta Steel Plant. Large-scale privatisation is relatively new in Nigeria and some of the new investors appear to have swallowed more than they can chew. But the privatisation exercise under me was a narrative of huge success, not of failure.

How could the proposed amendment to the PDP constitution seeking to make President Goodluck Jonathan the sole presidential candidate in 2015 affect your ambition?

As a loyal PDP member, I am keenly watching this development and could do anything within democratic means and internal mechanisms of conflict resolution to tackle this challenge. As the ruling party that boasts to be the largest in Africa, the PDP should set standards for internal democracy which should be a template for other parties. In fact, they (members) should not only be proud of its size but also of its credibility in the eyes of Nigerians. Promoting the principles of democracy is the bedrock on which the PDP was founded in 1998 by like-minded Nigerians. Therefore, any attempt to stifle internal democracy, make level playing field impossible and imposing a candidate on the party before the elections would damage the perception of the party. I am happy that the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, has been speaking along these lines. President Jonathan is entitled to seek the party ticket but that doesn't mean others should be shut out completely through a party constitutional amendment. This amendment is unnecessary because it would set precedents that would undermine the democratic principles to which the party declared to be committed. Nothing gives us psychological satisfaction and ease better than winning fairly. With this amendment, however, can the PDP improve its public perception and convince fellow members that it is committed to fairness, transparency and a level playing field in the conduct of its internal affairs? If we don't reject this amendment now, it would produce problems in the future that the party may find too embarrassing to handle. This effort to amend the constitution to please the ambition of any individual is in bad faith. In fact, it defeats the whole purpose of the policy of reconciliation and re-uniting aggrieved former members.

If the PDP goes ahead with the amendment to make Jonathan the sole candidate in 2015 without primaries, would you be tempted to join the All Progressives Congress as you recently applauded the merger of opposition parties which aims to oust your party?

Provided PDP members are free to vote according to their conscience or personal convictions of what is right, the amendment may face tough opposition. The sanctity of the democratic principles on which the PDP was founded should not be sacrificed on the grounds of expediency to gratify the ego of individual leaders. Should we mutilate a whole legal document by which a party is run for the sake of anyone else's ambition or ego? President Jonathan can throw this hat into the ring, if that is what he wants. It is important, however, that the process of his nomination by the party should be open, fair, just and transparent. The contest should be conducted through open primaries. Other party members should be allowed to participate in the primaries. If they ultimately lose to Jonathan through a fair contest, they will embrace and congratulate him. What is wrong with open primaries or level-playing ground? Amending the PDP constitution for the sake of making President Jonathan the sole candidate is absolutely unnecessary. Exclusion in the nomination of candidates amounts to imposition which is inconsistent with democratic practice. I have read all manners of arguments by proponents, saying that the American system gives the option of first refusal to the incumbent and that the PDP should do the same. That is very misleading.

In the first place, it is not true that American incumbents are not challenged at party primaries; there is no such rule in the United States. The late Senator Edward Kennedy mounted a vigorous challenge against the then incumbent Jimmy Carter. Although Carter won, the contest went down to the wire. It was resolved through a vote at the nomination convention of the Democratic Party. On the second aspect of your question, I wish to make a clarification. As a loyal PDP member and as one of the founding fathers, I couldn't have said the emergence of APC is good for the death of PDP. What I said in Ibadan was that, with the emergence of APC, a two-party system seems to be unfolding in the country and that this development is consistent with my advocacy for a two-party system in Nigeria. I never said the merger of opposition parties as you alleged is good for the ouster of PDP from office.

Can you shed more light on the controversy surrounding your membership of the PDP Board of Trustees?

On my alleged removal as a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, I do not wish to engage in speculation. No one has communicated such decision to me yet. It would, however, be unfortunate if it turns out to be true. As I said, it would be a setback for the policy of reconciliation embarked upon by the Alex Ekwueme-led committee. This move is like undoing the positive outcome of what Dr. Ekwueme had achieved in that respect.

Is it true that President Jonathan signed a one-term agreement with the North?

With the zoning policy of the PDP virtually dead, talking about agreements at this point is somehow a tricky issue. I am not sure I am in the right position to talk about what you call the one-term agreement. Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State recently referred to that agreement or understanding. A gentleman's word should be his bond. I contested against Jonathan during the 2011 PDP presidential primaries and, therefore, anything I say now might be subject to misinterpretation. Because of this fact, I don't want to belabour the points about agreements or understandings. I am, however, primarily concerned about the image of my party in the eyes of Nigerians. Changing rules or the constitution of the party for the sake of expediency is not my idea of honour. If we conveniently live in denial or pretend that the party didn't reach any understanding on anything, then who would take us seriously? How can you be a beneficiary of something and later pretend that the policy that put you in office is no longer relevant? The emergence of (House of Representatives) Speaker Aminu Tambuwal against the party insistence on zoning was a consequence of abandoning principle for the sake of expediency. With the election of Tambuwal as the Speaker, following the party's declaration that zoning was dead, the PDP leadership was morally disarmed to prevent the emergence of Tambuwal as Speaker in the so-called breach of zoning policy – the same power sharing formula, which the party declared dead. Such is the consequence of hypocrisy.

The election of Tambuwal was a most embarrassing moment for the PDP. If you rejected zoning for the nomination of President Jonathan, what moral right do you have to tell lawmakers to elect their Speaker based on zoning, which you discarded?

When people are blinded by expediency, they hardly foresee the consequences of opportunism. Today, the President is from the South-South geopolitical zone; Vice­-President, North-West;  President of the Senate, North-Central;  Speaker of the House of Representatives, North-West; Chief Justice of Nigeria, North-West; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, South-East; Deputy Senate President, South-East;  and Deputy Speaker, South-East. This wasn't the intention of the abandoned zoning policy, but we have to live with this unpleasant reality because of the myopic attitude of some people. The South-West is today crying very loudly about marginalisation, thanks to the abandonment of zoning for the sake of expediency. This issue is not about Atiku but about the imperative of sustaining arrangements that would guarantee every section of Nigeria access to the nation's highest public office. We have been called names by people that benefitted from this arrangement. Zoning had successfully achieved the objectives of equitable power sharing. If anybody now says zoning is not good, that wouldn't change the reality of its benefits. The arrangement had significantly reduced the fear of domination by any section or group over others.

Would you, as a president grant amnesty to Boko Haram?

If I were the President, I would have no hesitation to throw the ball into the court of the Boko Haram leaders. As was case with the Niger Delta militancy, I would declare amnesty for the sect members with a deadline within which to surrender their arms. With the expiration of the deadline, if the sect members don't lay down their arms, then my government would be in a better position to face its critics that accuse it of not taking the initiative. The deadline for the surrender of arms would show whether the Boko Haram fighters want peace or not.

Do you see the revived Peoples Democratic Movement as strong enough to stop Jonathan from winning election?

I have nothing personally against President Jonathan. The issue here is about principle and internal democracy. This is not about PDM; it is about a struggle to entrench internal democracy. Should we destroy everything internal democracy stands for just for the sake of forcing anybody into line to support only one contestant? The PDP, like any political organisation, is a convergence of various political interests and forces that came together to form the party, as it is today. I would work together with all stakeholders within the PDP to bring about positive change from within PDP. This issue is not merely about PDM. The principle behind my struggle is beyond the PDM.

Punch

[Opinion] Family Versus Youth Competition And Dearth Of Parenting Values

The strength of a nation relies substantially on the outlook of the smallest unit that makes up a society. The smallest unit is the family. Let’s go back to primary school; the family is divided into either nuclear family or extended family. However, attempting to pigeonhole family into those two categories would be quite myopic. The nature of the family determines a plethora of pivotal things within a society but the most important of all is the kind of people that are emerging from these families.

A holistic look at this would trigger a very depressed expression and façade because the happenings in the society today simply reflect thedeficiency of moral values and norms in the family. Apportioning blame is not the focus here but truth be told, our parents have abdicated their parental roles to God knows whom. Our parents instead of upholding our cultural values have decided to compete with the younger generations in the areas of fashion, politics, jobs and other life endeavours, not minding if their actions arenegative or positive. How can such people have the moral capability to correct their children who are looking up to them as role models?

It’s unsurprising to observe the outrageous fashion trend that has overwhelmed the society. Married women can’t be differentiated from young ladies. They both want to look good. If you are not careful you would be wooing a married woman waiting for her husband! Don’t be shocked if the married woman responds kindly to the sweet-tempting words of the young chap. I have heard many arguments about why women have embraced lewd and tasteless dress sense. One is that they don’t want the vibrant and aggressive covetous young ladies; they are competing with to ‘steal their husbands’. Therefore, they have to be attractive to their husband by wearing sexually arousing clothes. No matter what, there is no justification for this because our religious and moral values do not espouse such excesses. Perhaps, more women should become catholic sisters.

Furthermore, the decline of family values can be seen on campuses, the Nigeria Youth Service Corp (NYSC), government, ministries and every other sphere of our lives. On campus randy lecturers old enough to father these young female students are found devouring them mercilessly and refusal to dance to their er*tic tunes would spell failure for the students. Meanwhile, for the male students, a certain amount is paid to “settle” these lecturers for them to get good grades. These lecturers who are supposed to be the custodian of knowledge are the ones contributing to the mass production of half-baked graduates and the nosedive of our values and norms. Aside from the lecturers, old men or ‘agbayas’ whose beautiful wives have prepared delicious meals for them and waiting anxiously for them to return home are parading campuses to mortgage their hard earned money to girls for s*x. They will not leave these ladies for the young guys. Some ladies have become a very cheap commodity that you can exchange for cash! Some of them even visit odd joints and spots to wine and dine while others are financiers of cultism groups.

In addition, the NYSC scheme is meant for those from 30 and below. However, in my stay at the camp in Taraba state, I saw men and women that are far above the age of 30 coming to struggle with swift and agile youths for N19, 000. They could not withstand the intense and rugged drilling of the military men in charge of the camp. What are they looking for? Why can’t they just leave the scheme for the youths? They want to enjoy the largesse from the federal government. This country is notorious for having admirable and superb laws but the predicament here is in the implementation of the laws where we are very always inept and chaotic as well as hypocritical. Well, the world is all about competition but I can’t fathom nor discern the competition between our parents and the young ones.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact it’s this same group or set that are in control of the Nigerian state. They are in the ministries where they keep changing their ages to prolong their stay, where only their cronies can secure employment, where you have to tip them so that your pay-slip can be forwarded to the “Oga at the top” for approval, where they refuse to provide essentials services to better the lives of Nigeria and when in crises they run helter-skelter to mosques, churches and even herbalist to resolved these problems. They would always be the first to agitate for increase pay for doing and also mobilize people to embark on strike action or protest when their position is threatened by anyone. The fact is that they are always triumphant. They always have their way. Obviously this is just a stratum of the Nigerian society. But then imagine what this gamut of untouchables would tell their children. How do they intend to instill discipline in their children if they are the ones destroying or massacring the very core values of the Nigerian society?

The Nigerian society is so filthy. We are morally bereft. Crime is the order of the day. Corruption is running faster than the cheetah while parents are in a shindig of commemorating their horrendous performance and defacing the Nigerian value system. Travelling down memory lane, I recall parents took greater responsibility for their children despite the fact that they had a very large family. Everyone was involved in parenting. You dare not misbehavior unless you want to be thrashed not even by your parent but by a stranger. Your parents would even show immense gratitude to the stranger. But today, you dare not touch the child of Mama John Doe unless you want to be humiliated or embarrassed. The social order has become more individualistic whereby nobody cares about the affairs of others. The ‘mind your business’ syndrome has really eaten deep into the fabric of our culture.

Unfortunately, the effect of this lackadaisical parenting and unwarranted competition is being felt in the type of leaders that rule this country, the bokoharam in the north, the kidnappers in the south and problems we are encountering today as a nation. They can all be traced to pathetic parenting that has led us into a situation whereby we are in at the precipice of anarchy.

The family led by the father and mother is the unit that determines the outlook of the society. So, if this very foundation is weak, then the social, the political, the economic, the religious and academic life would be polluted without any redemption.

Seriously, we all need to traverse back to the basis so that we can blend the good traditions of time past and the worthy aspects of modernity. For example, using social media and technology to promote traditional parenting values in our children would be a welcome idea. Maybe when the parents are not home, they can Skype or chat with their children and also, ensuring that children watch appropriate programmes on television. Television has been vehemently accused as the major culprit for encouraging immorality in the society. Therefore, parents should screen the kind of programmes that they watch. More essential is the fact that parents and their children must stop the competition for prominence in societal relationships and undertakings.

If the family is upright and parents are upbeat about taking care of their children and they are not just interested in the pursuit of money or competition with the youths, Nigeria would be better for it whether politically, socially, economically and otherwise. The benefits would be felt immediately without any farce.

OGUNFOWOKE, ADENIYI AYUBA

sleeksavvy@gmail.com

Maryland, Lagos

InformationNigeria

Messi sets new record, scores against 19 La Liga teams in a row

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Lionel Messi’s goal against Celta Vigo in Saturday’s 2-2 draw means that the Barcelona star has now found the net against each opponent in La Liga this season.

The Argentina international beat Celta goalkeeper Javi Varas from close range in the 73rd minute after being set up by Cristian Tello to make it 2-1 for the Blaugrana, and take his season’s league tally to 43.

Messi’s goal was not enough for the full three points, though, as Borja Oubina restored parity in the closing stages of the encounter.

The 25-year-old’s goal also saw him extend his scoring streak to an incredible 19 consecutive Primera Division matches.

Last season, Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo became the first-ever player to score against every opponent in La Liga in one campaign since the extension of the top Spanish tier to 20 teams.

[Goal]

NY Times Changes Yvonne Brill Obituary After Criticism

The New York Times responded to a chorus of critics on Saturday after it published an obituary about a famed female rocket scientist that led with her accomplishments as a wife and mother.

Yvonne Brill died on Wednesday at the age of 88. President Obama awarded her with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2011. Under the Times' headline, "Yvonne Brill, Pioneering Rocket Scientist, Dies At 88," the lede read:

She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. 'The world’s best mom,' her son Matthew said.

Some readers tweeted their dissatisfaction, making fun of the Times' inclusion of her cooking skills and wondering if an obituary for a male rocket scientist would lead with anything but his professional accomplishments. The Times' public editor Margaret Sullivan even chimed in, saying that she agreed with the criticism and linking to aCJR article about how news coverage of women scientists often leads to gratuitous gender profiles.

Later, the Times dropped the beef stroganoff reference and changed the lede of the online obituary to:

She was a brilliant rocket scientist who followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. 'The world’s best mom,' her son Matthew said.

The Times did not attach a note to the online article notifying readers of the change.

HuffingtonPost

Who Did This To Goodluck Jonathan?

I stumbled on this on facebook and thought I should share. LWKMD.....

Good luck Jonathan walks into a bank to cash a cheque. As he approaches the cashier he says, 'Good morning Ma'am. Would you please cash this cheque for me?'

Cashier: 'It would be my pleasure, Sir. But could you please show me your ID?'

Jonathan: 'Truthfully, I did not bring my ID with me as I didn't think there was any need to. [Don't you know me?] I am Jonathan, the President...'

Cashier: 'Yes sir, I know who you are. But with all the regulations and monitoring of the banks because of impostors and forgers and requirements of the CBN, I must insist on seeing some ID.' 

Jonathan: 'Just ask anyone here at the bank who I am and they will tell you. Everybody knows who I am.'

Cashier: 'I am sorry, sir, but these are the bank rules and I must follow them.'

Jonathan: 'I am urging you, please, cash this cheque.'

Cashier: 'Sir, here is an example of what we can do. One day, Tonto Dike came into the bank to cash a cheque without her ID. To prove herself, she started singing, the guard dog fainted and the computers went off. So we knew it was her and cashed the cheque.'

'Another time, Governor Fashola came without his ID to cash a cheque. We doubted him at first but when our dispatch rider rode in on a motorbike and he screamed, 'Arrest that bike rider,' we cashed his cheque!' 

'So sir, what can you do to prove that it is you and only you, as President?'

Jonathan stands there thinking and thinking, and finally says, 'Honestly, my mind is totally blank... There is nothing that comes to my mind. I can't think of a single thing. I have absolutely no idea what to do. I just don't have a clue.'

Cashier: 'Very good, Sir. It is you, alright! Now we're convinced! Do you want N500 or N1,000 notes?

 

- Happy Sunday to you all!!!

TalkOfNaija

Dele Momodu: Ave unbreakable, Cum salutant

By Dele Momodu

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Fellow Nigerians, today is not a normal day. It is so abnormal that I had to search for the appropriate Latin expression for the title of my epistle to you. For the second week running, I’m compelled to pay tribute to one of our fallen heroes. Last week was dedicated to the master storyteller, Chinua Achebe. This week, it is the turn of our big brother, mentor and friend, Chief Oluwole Bolade Akanni Awolowo, one of the friendliest souls I ever encountered.

As a matter of fact, the death of Achebe had eclipsed the passing of two other great Nigerians I had known and received tremendous inspiration from in my growing up days, Evangelist Timothy Oluwole Obadare and High Chief (Dr.) Oreoluwa Ilemobayo Akinnola MFR, The Lisa of Ondo Kingdom. I still vividly recollect how I used to be part of a mammoth crowd to witness the special prayers and the miracle-filled crusades of the great Prophet at the Christ Apostolic Church, in More, Ile-Ife, before the New Age Pentecostal Churches became the norm. We all believed in the spiritual efficacy of such Aladura version of Christianity. Despite his blindness, Apostle Obadare could see what those with complete vision could not see. He was one of those who helped to soak our lives in the blood of Jesus and fortified our future in a land littered with all manner of spirits, good and bad. His death was definitely a blow to his many followers worldwide.

As for Baba, High Chief Akinnola, an esteemed journalist par excellence, he was one of the most cosmopolitan Nigerians that ever lived. His impeccable dress sense and adept command of English language was always a beauty to behold and enjoy. He spoke the Queen’s English like a man who was brought up in the inner precincts of Buckingham Palace. As a budding writer, I used to visit him as regularly as possible at his New Bodija residence in Ibadan. He was one of those who inadvertently laid the foundation for whatever our media exploits has become today. We were greatly blessed to have such resourceful men of uncommon pedigree to boost our morale and set us on the path of honour.

If I was moved by the death of all those great men, I must confess that I was totally shattered by that of Chief Oluwole Awolowo on March 27, 2013, in the city of London, just a few hours after I left his bedside. I have never seen anything so gripping and dramatic in my nearly 53 years on earth. The love Uncle Wole (as we all called him) and I shared was deep. From the moment we first met through his niece, Olukemi, nee Oyediran, who’s married to my best friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, in 1986, it was a case of love at first sight. Uncle Wole and the then Editor of the Sunday Tribune, Mr Folu Olamiti, gave me all the necessary encouragement to write weekly in their influential newspaper. They did not mind that I also contributed occasionally to the opinion page of Nigeria’s most intellectual newspaper, The Guardian, where I encountered some of the most cerebral and iconic writers like Stanley Macebuh, Olatunji Dare, Patrick Dele Cole, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Andy Akporugo, Odia Ofeimun, Edwin Madunagu, Amma Ogan, Chinweizu, Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, and others, and learnt the ropes of editorial writing. That was Nigeria’s golden era when there was no pressure or desperation to write for money. I wrote free of charge for The Sunday Tribune while The Guardian offered a honorarium of N25 per article and I usually waited to publish four articles before travelling from Ile-Ife to Rutam House in Lagos to collect N100.

Uncle Wole became one of my biggest fans and discussed my articles anytime I had the opportunity to run into him. The first thing that struck me about this wonderful man was his total and uncommon objectivity without minding if the issue affected his own family. I remember an occasion when I wrote a story as the Editor of Classique magazine about the Awolowos which the family felt was a bit controversial and His Imperial Majesty, The Ooni of Ife, had instructed me to travel to Ikenne, to explain what I wrote and apologise to Mama, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo. On getting to Ikenne, the first person I approached before going in to see Mama was Uncle Wole who assured me he had read the story but could not see what the fuss was about. He told me that he was certain Mama would not have complained but for some people who would have gone to sell ulterior motives and conspiracy theories to her. He then advised me not to argue but just go in and tell Mama to forgive and forget. I was so touched by his candour and unflinching support and loyalty to a young friend. That was the hallmark of the Man.

Truly, when I went in Mama was seated with The Tribune Editors, Biodun Oduwole and Folu Olamiti, as witnesses. As soon as Mama saw me, she told me in her usual sonorous voice, “Dele, iwo omo onikokuko yii, ewo tun ni eyi too ko yii?” (Dele, you this reckless writer, which one is this you’ve written again?). Based on my strategic meeting with Uncle Wole, I did not say much, I just went flat and prostrated to Mama, and others in the sitting room did the same and supported my sincere apology. After I reassured Mama that I would be more careful and sensitive in the future, Mama calmed down and returned to her affectionate role to everyone around her. I continued to visit and stayed occasionally in the house with her grandson-in-law, Adedamola and Mama would ensure we were all catered for. The first thing Mama would always ask for, till this day, is “Damola ati Dele, ki le maa je, ki le maa mu?” (Damola and Dele, what shall you eat and drink?). Even on a recent trip, Mama took the pain to cook Ikokore and fish, an Ijebu delicacy because I had specially requested for it ahead of time.

Uncle Wole was a friend of young people whose growth he nurtured. He never discriminated on account of age, gender, religion or social status. He was as cool as the cucumber and he attracted everyone the way the mango attracts flies. There was our group of friends that met him at the home of Prince Adedamola’s mum in the Apata area of Ibadan one afternoon many years ago. Our group was a potpourri of strange bed-fellows who were either children of sworn enemies and political foes or children of friends and associates, and a few of us with no political pedigree. This informal association included Wole Adelakun of the Eruobodo Busari Adelakun Family of Ibadan and Ladiran Ladoke-Akintola who married Bola Ige’s niece Oluwatoyin Dele-Ige despite the rift between their families. On the other hand was the case of Prince Adedamola Aderemi, the grandson of The Ooni Oba Titus Tadeniawo Adesoji Aderemi who married Olukemi, the grand-daughter of Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo. Interestingly, Prince Adedamola’s maternal grandfather was also a Premier in the old Western Region, Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro from Abeokuta who was a stout member of the Action Group. The other outsiders were Adedokun Abolarin, and yours truly. Our friendship was so tight that if you saw one, it was as good as seeing all of us. Uncle Wole was always fascinated by that bond, and when he saw us in Ibadan, he sat down with us and told us never to let go of our close ties.

The last time I visited Uncle Wole in Ikenne before he was flown abroad this final trip for treatment, he was thrilled to see three members of our group, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, now a king The Orangun of Oke-Ila in Osun State; Prince Adedamola and I. Despite his obvious excruciating pains, he kept referring to me as “My President in waiting, your own time will come.” I was deeply touched by his endless love. He had never been tired of going out of his way to support us no matter how inconvenient it was on his person.

How can we ever forget how he once jumped on the train with us in London when Prince Adedamola wanted to contest the Governorship election in Osun State. Uncle Wole travelled with us to Kent where we met the Late Cicero of Esa-Oke, Uncle Bola Ige, to intimate him of our plans in 1999. Chief Bola Ige kept calling Uncle Wole “the Unbreakable”, an acronym Chief Obafemi Awolowo had given his son for his tenacity in the face of adversity. We spent quality time with Uncle Bola who also showed his culinary expertise to younger friends including Femi Alafe-Aluko. It was always a pleasure having Uncle Wole around during my exile years. He would call as soon as he landed and invite us over to his regular hotels at Regent’s Park and Portland Place from where we would take a walk to the West End. He and Chief Segun Osoba were fond of such walks.

For a man that active, you can imagine Uncle Wole’s acute frustration after the debilitating accident that incapacitated him since the past seven years. He had undergone all manner of surgeries and only his unbreakable spirit kept him going. I’m happy he achieved one of his wishes which was to attain the age of 70, even if it met him on the hospital bed. The prayer had become intense when he received no comfort from treatments that took him to several continents.,

Prince Adedamola and I had visited him two days after his 70th birthday on December 5, 2012, at The Wellington Hospital in St. John’s Wood where he was already in Intensive Care Unit. We were so moved when we walked in and announced our presence and we instantly saw how he was struggling to communicate with us but unsuccessfully. We prayed for him and spent time watching all the gadgets of modern medical science all around him. I wished a day would come when Nigerians would have no need to travel long distances to seek medical miracles.

Uncle Wole had not improved by the time I visited him on March 27, 2013, at the same hospital. I stood by his bed and offered silent prayers even if he was totally oblivious of my presence. Somehow, I felt a premonition it was going to be my last time of seeing a man I had grown to love like a blood brother. I left the hospital after spending over two hours with his daughter, Lola and niece Olukemi. My thoughts remained with him and I was sad at our helplessness.

The news of his demise would hit me like thunderbolt later that evening. I had just discussed with Damola who said he was on his way to visit him. I told him to hurry. It was as if I knew he would not meet Uncle Wole alive. A poignant reminder to us all that death waits for no one, not even Princes. As soon as I saw Olukemi’s missed calls, I knew there was some bad news. I called back and my worst fear was confirmed. I was so enveloped by the trauma that I automatically broke out in excessive sweat despite the chilly winter cold. I broke the sad news to Prince Adedamola who was still on his way and we agreed to meet at the Wellington Hospital. I quickly dressed up and headed for the hospital where I joined his two eldest daughters, Yejide and Lola; his niece, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo and nephew-in-law, Prince Adedamola Aderemi.

Soon enough, the undertakers arrived to pick up his remains. We peeped as they did their job with clinical precision. There was no sign of emotion on their part as they must have become accustomed to death. In a few minutes, they were done and as they took our great Egbon away, I renewed my belief in what I had always known, that this life is all but vanity.

Uncle Wole, thanks for being our great teacher to the very end. Thanks for reminding us that man came from nothing and he shall return to nothing.

You were unbreakable to the very end. Though your body may have been broken, your spirit never was and you remained resolute and determined to the last. Now in death your remarkable spirit lives on in perpetuity.

Ave Unbreakable, cum salutant. Good bye, our very dear and unforgettable Brother.

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Theophilus Ilevbare: Who will call Governor Akpabio to order?

By Theophilus Ilevbare 

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It is as reckless as it is feckless for Governor Godswill Akpabio to fritter away with zing the patrimony of Akwa Ibom state on his political associates, friends and sycophant in a showy and flamboyant manner to massage an over bloated political ego. It is the height of profligacy.

The latest gaffe of the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum has seen him enmeshed in yet another round of controversy. He confessed on camera that he manipulated the election result of the 2007 PDP senatorial primary election in the state by single-handedly replacing the winner with the name of his preferred candidate. The video has since gone viral on the internet.

This is coming on the heels of the recent wave of criticism that has greeted his financial recklessness, making more headlines than his role as chief servant of the people of Akwa Ibom state. Just when folks where torn in two minds if the spendthrift governor was doling out private or state money, at a press conference recently, he erased any doubt as he owned up that his string of father christmas donations have been from government coffers.

“Anything connected with my donation is captured within the law of the State.”  Struggling to sound convincing, “The budget is the law and there have been provisions that allow for grants for donations and for hospitality as enshrined within the budget.”

As the custodian of the state treasury, one begins to wonder what constitute donations for hospitality to Mr Akpabio. Is it hospitality to splash N230m of state funds as donation on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum, for the erection of an Anglican Church in Otuoke, the home town of President Jonathan? For him to be subsequently berated by other PDP governors who said they were not carried along before the donation was made is a pointer to where the millions were drawn. That provisions were made in the law for donations and hospitality should not be an excuse for such jamboree. The constitution certainly does not empower the governor to frivol the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom state at will.

What better use should such grants be put if roads in Akwa Ibom, like the Eket–Ibeno road leading to the venue of Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay’s traditional wedding ceremony, was in deplorable condition. The governor had to apologise to guests at the event that when next they come visiting the road would have been rehabilitated. It is noteworthy, that youths of Eket sometime ago protested that the road be reconstructed.

The rudderless governor scandalized many, when he gifted the couple with Two Toyota Prado SUVs, though the state government later issued a statement, claiming it was one. To underscore his infamy, he made a pledge to bankroll an all expenses paid trip for 20 delegates from the state who wished to attend the nuptial of the Idibia’s in far away Dubai. The reveler that he is, present at a lavish party organized in honour of the couple, again, gifted the newly wed with N3m. He has since taken financial recklessness and extravagancy with the people’s resources to an obscene level.

To Mr Akpabio’s  defence was his Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, spewing inanities like his spendthrift Boss; “Looking carefully at the surrounding events in perspective, Mrs. Annie Idibia, nee Macaulay, is a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and the gift of a Prado SUV from her governor is only a gesture of love and goodwill. Her resolve to stand by her husband on this journey right from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of the Akwa Ibom women.”

From Umana’s perspective, governor Akpabio might now have to donate a Prado Jeep to every Akwa Ibom daughter who decides to put up with the escapades of her boyfriend or fiancée to justify Annie’s gift. Publicity Secretary, Oscar Onwudiwe of the South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) rightly queried the rationale of the Commisionner when he said “Will such largesse be extended to every newly-wed couple in the state and will that pass as the mean test for judicious management of limited resources?” He further warned that ”The frugal management of state resources are indispensable values necessary for the actualisation of our development plan, so we appeal to the state governors not to trifle with these essential requirements.”

The PDP will have us believe that the chairman of it’s Governors’ Forum is being magnanimous, which they believe is a virtue. Truly, this is the kind of virtue that has existed at all levels of the party typified in the present Nigeria with all the symptoms of a failed state.

At every event Akpabio is present, he sees a window for frivolous gifting. Last year the profligate governor, gave a cash gift of N10m for a return leg win against Mali by the national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, in an African Under-17 Championship qualifier in Calabar. Just for a win.

Nollywood were not left out behind as Mr Akpabio instituted a N50 million endowment fund to honour exceptional actors and actresses in the industry.

The ungodly display of reckless wastefulness by Akwa Ibom state spender-in-chief, took a ridiculous twist at the South-South PDP reconciliation meeting in Port Harcourt where he embarrassed six state chairmen of the party with N6m for Mr Biggs (Lunch), after describing them as “hungry.”

“My brother (Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan) said you people (PDP South-South members) are hungry, to take care of your hunger, I’m donating the sum of N1m each to the South-South secretariat of PDP and I would want each of the chairmen to come and collect the sum at the end of my speech so that members could use that to buy (lunch) at Mr. Biggs!” Governor Akpabio said, descending from the absurd to the jejune. It was a bovine display of financial rascality. Expectedly, Uduaghan, Amaechi and other PDP chieftains walked out on him while he was still speaking.

Recently, he took delivery, of two exotic bullet-proof sprinter luxury vans from US-based Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC) customized to his specifications, at about N300 million. Why should he feel so insecure among his kinsmen contrasting a reputation he projects with numerous ads on TV and papers showcasing his “excellent performance” in office, claiming Akwa Ibomites love him to pieces. The prodigal PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, has since joined the elite league of private jet flying governors with his top of the range, $45 million Bombardier Global Jet.

His much publicised achievement is light weight when compared with its monthly allocation, which is more than four times what some other states get from the federal allocation. This is aside internally generated revenue. In spite of this, Salaries of civil servants in the state are often owed. Same goes for pensioners. The state has one of the country’s highest rate of unemployment, the reason its indigenes are scattered across the country settling for menial jobs. Key sectors of the economy are below par with what is obtainable in states without the oil revenue Akwa Ibom attracts.

Governor Akpabio must retrace his steps. It calls for serious concern from those connected to the state. It becomes more worrisome when the state house of assembly look the other way. The EFCC can’t come within touching distance of the governor either so long as he continues to harp President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition from the roof top. The onus is now on the people of the state to call governor Akpabio to order.

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