Mimiko’s Loyalists Protest Candidature of Ade Adeniyi

By Akindele Adedeji

Loyalists of the Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko have protested over the imposition of Otunba Ade Adeniyi on them as the House of Assembly candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming National elections in February, 2015.

Some of the aggrieved members of the Mimiko group, who craved anonimity for security reason told PLATFORM NEWSWIRE  that they were totally disappointed by the choice of Otunba Ade Adeniyi as a candidate for the forthcoming election, accusing governor Mimiko of nepotism in view of the fact that Ade Adeniyi had enjoyed various appointments before his present adoption.

Otunba Ade Adeniyi

They claimed that Ade Adeniyi, being an in-law of the governor was made the caretaker chairman of Ondo West local government, after Mimiko assumed power in 2009, while he was also appointed as Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Youth matters, after leaving the position of council chairman.
They added that Adeniyi was also appointed as the Chairman of the State  Universal Basic Education Commission, (SUBEC), after the second term victory of governor Mimiko.

They averred that they were surprised that the same Ade Adeniyi, who had been enjoying all the goodies from the governor since 2009 is now the  person governor Mimiko deemed fit to pick as the candidate to replace Mr Afolabi Akinsiku in the Ondo state House of Assembly, at the detriment of other members of the Mimiko group who have been suffering without any appointment since 2009.

They then vowed to frustrate the election of Ade Adeniyi by working underground for the opposition in order to teach Mimiko a political lesson of his life.

Efforts to speak with Otunba Ade Adeniyi on the matter were unsuccessful as his mobile phones were switched off, but a source closed to him told our reporter that nobody in Nigeria can stop Ade Adeniyi from winning the House of Assembly election.  

Ondo Lawmaker, Akinsiku (Send Me) Under Fire

By Adebola Adeyileka

The member representing Ondo community at the Ondo state House of Assembly, Mr. Afolabi Akinsiku has ran into problems with the residents of the town for failing to make impact in their lives since he became a member of the House in 2007.

Cross-section of residents of the town that spoke with our reporters were full of anger for the arrogance of the lawmaker, popularly known as ‘Send Me,’ for his inability to influence developmental projects to Ondo town, in spite of the over N175 million he had collected as constituency allowance.

In the words of Chief Olu Adedayo, who expressed his opinion on the issue, in Losunla area of Ondo town, "Mr. Afolabi Akinsiku is a bad example of representative in view of his self-centeredness, greediness and nonchalant attitude to community development."

He described ‘Send Me’ as a "wicked" politician that the Ondo people must drag before anti graft agencies to explain how the money that was budgeted as constituency allowances for Ondo town since 2007, when he started his representation, was spent.

Mr. Afolabi Akinsiku

The people of Okedasa, Oke Agunla, Okelisa, Yaba, Lotogbe, Ademulegun Road, Oke Osun, Sokoti, Surulere, Akinjise and other streets also in the town have also threatened to drag Akinsiku before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), so as to explain how he has been spending the constituency allowances of Ondo town since he became a lawmaker.

It will be recalled that an Ondo local vernacular newspaper; KAKAKI ONDO exposed the lawmaker in its recent edition, when the Ondo people asked Akinsiku to come and point at any developmental projects he had influenced to Ondo kingdom since 2007, when he started representing them.

But, rather than explain how he had utilised the said constituency allowances, Akinsiku collaborated with his colleagues at the Ondo House of Assembly to invite the publisher/Editor of  KAKAKI ONDO, (The Yoruba Version of ONDO TRUMPET Newspaper),  Adebola Adeyileka, to come and meet its committee on information and shed more lights on the allegation levelled against the lawmaker by the residents of Ondo town.

But, the action of the House of Assembly was seen as that of being an accuser and at the same time, a judge in a particular case by the solicitor to the community newspaper, Barrister Akin Akinkuotu, who had since dispatched a letter to the speaker of the House of Assembly, to let the house know the stand of the law in regard to the matter.

The lawmaker could not be reached for his comments at the time of going to press,  as he was said to have gone underground to avoid the wrath of the residents of Ondo town.

Ooni of Ife placates OAU students into releasing presidency vehicles, hostages

After holding a convoy of presidency vehicles hostage for over two hours, students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, released them following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuade.

The students held the 6-vehicle convoy and its occupants’ hostage after a police officer on the convoy shot at the protesting students.

The convoy led by a Toyota bullet proof SUV with ‘Presidency’ inscription and registration number, FG902-B02, tried to drive through the students who were protesting an increase in fees by the university management.

“The security details shot at us. We have held them hostage. We will not let him go.” one of the protesting students had told PREMIUM TIMES on phone during the protest.

The protesting students said they later identified the officer that fired the shots that injured three students.

“He had Ajifesin Idris on his uniform and the number on his uniform is 448318,” Israel, one of protest leaders, later told PREMIUM TIMES.

The shot students, who sustained only minor injuries, were promptly rushed to the university health centre. One of the shot students was identified as Ayo, a student of the Faculty of Law.

The protesting students had insisted that they would not let their hostages go and had damaged some of the vehicles.

“We made sure we destroyed the windscreen of the cars and we were not ready to release them, but we got a call from the Ooni of Ife asking to us to remain calm and asked us to release the cars.

“After much negotiation with him, we decided to leave the cars at the spot where they were hijacked,” Israel said.

The protesting students said the leader of the convoy only told them he was a human rights activist from the Niger Delta, but did not disclose his name.

After leaving the presidency convoy and its occupants, the hundreds of students marched to the palace of the Ooni.

They met another convoy on their way, that of Iyiola Omisore, a former senator and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun.

The students formed a blockade around Mr. Omisore’s convoy and insisted they would not let him go.

The former senator, however, alighted and addressed the students, promising to intervene to ensure that the increased school fees was returned to statusquo.

“Omisore promised us that he would liaise with the vice chancellor and would ensure that within 24 hours the school fees is reversed,” one of the protesting students said.

The students then marched to the palace of the Ooni, who assured them that he had summoned the Vice Chancellor and would discuss with him on the school crisis.

The university management had increased the fees by about 500 per cent from about N17,000 for highest paying students to over N100,000 for highest paying students.

The students insist they want a return to stausquo.

The newly elected leaders of the OAU Students’ Union are expected to be sworn-in on Friday even as the students have vowed to continue their protest until the fees are reversed.

Culled from Premium Times

Direct your protest to Chibok girls abductors -Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday urged those who have been protesting the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State to henceforth direct their protests to terrorists and not the government.

He also urged them to learn from citizens of other countries who do not blame their governments for any terrorist acts in their nations.

The president also admitted publicly for the first time that his administration was currently consulting with some stakeholders with a view to exploring what he called alternative methods of resolving the present crisis.

Jonathan made the disclosure in speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, to a team of #BringBackOurGirls campaigners led by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.

The protesters who earlier planned to take their protest to the Presidential Villa where they wanted Jonathan to address them were restricted to the Federal Secretariat within the Three Arms Zone, a few metres away from the Villa gate by security agencies.

Those who joined Akinjide in the delegation that represented Jonathan at the rally included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Minister of Women Affairs, Zaynab Maina; and Minister of Environment, Lawrencia Laraba.

Others were the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Sarah Jubiril; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, among others.

Jonathan, in the speech, made spirited efforts to convince the protesters that contrary to their belief, his administration was working hard in conjunction with the international community to rescue the abducted girls and end terrorism.

He said it was wrong and unfair to say that there was a slow response to the abduction.

He said, “It is wrong and most unfair to suggest that there was a slow reaction to this kidnapping. As Commander-in-Chief, Mr. President meets with the security chiefs almost daily and he is on constant consultation with regional and global partners on this terrorists’ threat.

“That is why I want to appeal to your group and to others through this medium that it is important that genuine patriotic zeal is matched with the realistic understanding of the situation in expressing concern and sentiment on this matter and other matters of terrorism.

“As early as January 23, 2013, Mr. President at Davos, Switzerland asked the world for help in tackling terrorism. He later met with President Obama during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September 2013 where he also requested for the support of the United States of America.

“Government believes that we must all come together to fight terrorism and that protest should be directed at the terrorists who have abducted our innocent daughters and deprive them of a place at the fountain of freedom in our country.

“Our security forces are among the best trained in Africa, they are making so much sacrifices in the fight against terror. As we sleep daily, they are on the field confronting the enemy. They need our support, not attack and discouragement. They are also losing their lives.

“When terrorists see Nigerians turn on each other in blame, it gives them a huge moral boost. We must never lose sight of the fact that the terrorists are the real enemies.”

Jonathan warned the protesters and Nigerians against politicising the anti-terrorism campaign, saying nationals of other countries do not behave that way.

“We must be careful not to politicise the campaign against terrorism. When a bomb goes off in Kabul, Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists.

“When a bomb goes off in Baghdad, Iraq, the people of Iraq do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists.

“When a bomb goes off in Islamabad, Pakistan, the people of Pakistan do not blame the government, they blame the terrorists.

“When a bomb goes off in Nigeria, we must all unite to fight the terrorists. This is the task of this generation.

“Our daughters must be freed to come home to their parents and loved ones. Our daughters must be freed so that they can return to schools to receive their education.

“Our daughters must be freed so that they can return home to be with their friends and play like all children their age do.

“All Nigerians must unite against terror, whether we be male or female, old or young, North or South, irrespective of political or religious affiliation. This is our fight, we must unite. The Federal Government is united with the people of Nigeria in this fight,” he added.

The President reeled out the various steps his administration had taken to rescue the abducted girls.

These, according to him included military and diplomatic efforts.

Beyond that, he said he had started consultation for alternative methods of resolving the impasse.

He added, “Government has mobilised all resources, military and diplomatic, in the search for our girls who have suffered so much trauma in captivity by agents of terror.

“From the very first day this kidnapping occurred, the Federal Government took action, directing our security services to go after the abductors.

“The search for our daughters has now assumed regional and global proportions and our nation has received strong supports from our neighbouring countries and the international community, including the United States, China, Africa, the United Kingdom and the entire African continent.

“The security forces have also reached out to the Borno State Government and community members for support and collaboration to bring back our innocent daughters. So far, the campaign to bring our daughters back home is on and is receiving global support.

“Nigeria in collaboration with Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic have all agreed to establish a single centre for sharing intelligence on the activities of terrorists across our national boundary.

“Apart from those efforts on the public space, we have initiated consultations with so many stakeholders to explore alternative methods of resolving this crisis.”

The President urged civil society groups to use their influence to encourage Nigerians to provide useful information to the security services, using the emergency number 112, saying citizens must protect citizens if their civilisation is to endure.

He however appreciated the support and efforts of the group and others across the worldwide against the kidnap and senseless mayhem.

He described the act as very painful, adding that the world is under the grip of terrorism.

Source: The Punch

Nigerian government releases details of National Conference

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday unveiled the modalities of the National Confab, disclosing that a total of 492 delegates will partake in the dialogue which would be named National Conference.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, gave the modalities to journalists at a press conference in his office in Abuja.

Mr. Anyim said the National Conference will last for a total of three months and that nomination of delegates will commence on Thursday, January 30 and end onFebruary 20.

Giving a breakdown of the proposed composition of the National Conference, Mr. Ayim said government gave expeditious consideration to the report of the Advisory Committee and after long and mature deliberations on the report accepted the following recommendations for immediate implementation:

- The Official name of the conversation/conference shall be “The National Conference.”
- The National Conference shall hold in Abuja;
- The National Conference shall tentatively last for three months and shall discuss any subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation, therefore the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable;
- A conference management secretariat shall be established to manage, administer and run the affairs of the conference;
- Decisions at the National Conference shall be by consensus; but where it is not achievable; it shall be by 75% majority;
- The National Conference shall advise the government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the national conference into the Constitution and laws of the country; and
- The National Conference shall have a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson of unimpeachable integrity.

A breakdown of the modalities for the nomination of the delegates is as follows:

- Elder Statesmen: One per state and the FCT making a total of 37 will be nominated by the President;

- Retired Military and Security Personnel which include one delegate per geopolitical zone each from the Military, Police, State Security and National Intelligence Agency – making it a total of 18 delegates to be nominated by stakeholders;

- Traditional Rulers: two per zone and one from the FCT making a total of 13 delegates to be nominated by stakeholders;

- Retired Civil Servants: one per zone. A total of six to be nominated by stakeholders;

- Labour Representatives: the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, shall each nominate 12 delegates making it a total of 24 which would reflect Geo-political and gender balance;

- The Organised Private sector: NECA, MAN, NACCIMA, NESG shall each nominate two delegates;

- Nigeria Youth Organisations: National Youth Council of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerians Students, NANS, shall each nominate six delegates, one from each geo-political zone, while the Federal Government shall nominate six delegates, one from each geo-political zone for “other” (Outstanding Youths and Role Models)  making it a total of 18 delegates;

- Women Groups: National Council Of Women Society, NCWS, shall nominate 12 delegates – two per geo- political zone, while Market Women Association shall nominate one per geo-political zone. International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA;  Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ; and Women in Management and Business, WINBIZ, shall each nominate two Delegates;

- Political Parties: parties that have representation in the National Assembly, including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC,  All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Accord Party, Labour Party, LP, shall each nominate two delegates making it 10 delegates;

- Christian and Muslim Leaders each shall nominate six delegates while Civil Society Organisations shall nominate 24 delegates across board;

- Nigerians in Diaspora ( Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Middle East) shall nominate two delegates per location, making it eight delegates;

- People Living with Disabilities shall nominate six delegates, one per geo-political zone.

- Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria shall nominate 2 delegates each;

- Socio – Political/ Cultural and Ethnic Nationality Groups shall nominate 15 delegates each, per geo-political zone to reflect religious and ethnic diversities;

- Professional Bodies including NBA, NSE, CIB, NMA, NIM, NIA, ICAN, ANAN, NIPR, AAPN, NIESV, Nigerian Environment Society and  Nigeria Economic Society, shall each nominate one delegate, making it a total of 13 delegates.

- National Academies including the Academy of Science, Academy of Engineering, Academy of Education, Academy of Letters and the Academy of Social Sciences shall each nominate 1 delegate;

- The President shall nominate six persons not currently serving on the bench from the Judiciary;

- Former Political Office Holders including former governors, Senators Forum, House of Reps Forum and the Association of Former Speakers shall each nominate one delegate per geo-political zone making it a total of 24 delegates;

- The Federal Government of Nigeria shall nominate 20 delegates of which at least six will be women;

- The state governments shall each nominate 3 delegates while the FCT shall nominate 1 delegate based on Senatorial District at least one of whom shall be a woman. The nomination shall be done by the state governors and where the state fails to nominate, the President shall nominate the required number from the state;

- The ALGON shall nominate one Former Local Government Chairman each from the six geo- political zones;

- The President shall nominate the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary, observing geo-political spread.

Fielding questions from journalists Mr. Anyim said that there was already a proposal for the funding of the Conference in the Budget. He added that the Conference will be concluded before the next election season.

Source: Premium Times

Jonathan denies accusing ex-Service Chiefs of ‘unhealthy competition’

President Goodluck Jonathan has denied media reports that he fired former service chiefs because of “unhealthy competition”.

A statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, said the report was mischievous and that the President did not at anytime during his remarks in Yola say that the former chiefs were guilty of undue rivalry.

Mr. Jonathan was quoted by Vanguard Newspapers as saying in Yola that “I urge you all to cooperate because in recent times some mutual cooperation among the service chiefs and personnel have been lacking. This time around, we will not tolerate any unnecessary competition that would be retrogressive to this country.

“We charge you to work together and I believe that we would no longer experience any unpleasant situation we had in the past because of some obvious lapses,”

Mr. Abati, however, claims the media was being sensational when it reported that Mr. Jonathan said he sacked the service chiefs because of unhealthy rivalry.

 Read Mr. Abati’s statement below

“Reports in the media yesterday which claimed that President Jonathan said during his visit to Yola on Tuesday that he “fired” former service chiefs because of “unhealthy competition” amongst them are untrue and misleading.

“It appears that for reasons of mischief and reckless sensationalism, a section of the media deliberately chose to misrepresent the President’s innocuous and clear call for greater synergy and inter-service cooperation in the war against terrorism.

“President Jonathan did not at anytime during his remarks in Yola say that the former chiefs were guilty of undue rivalry, nor did he say, as claimed by some newspapers, that such unhealthy rivalry was responsible for recent security breaches in Adamawa and other parts of the country.

“As Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and Chief Security Officer of the Federation, President Jonathan is fully aware of the importance and sensitivity of all defence and security-related matters. If he had any reprimand or admonition for the former service chiefs, which he does not, he would not have cavalierly given it at a public function as the media falsely reported.

“The President has nothing but praise for the manner in which the outgoing service chiefs did their job in very challenging circumstances and he did not in the course of his remarks in Yola suggest or imply that any wrongdoing, lack of cooperation or unhealthy competition was reason for the recent changes in the Military High Command.

“Members of the Armed Forces and all objective observers know that such changes are routine and in the interest of the growth and well-being of the Armed Services.

“President Jonathan has no need therefore to justify the recent changes to anyone and the recourse by the media to a totally off-the-mark interpretation of his remarks in Yola to explain the changes was most unnecessary and pointless”.

Source: Premium Times.

Nigeria: To break or not to break

By Femi Fani-Kayode
Today a great protest  is taking place in the Catallan region of  Spain. According to the polls, 52 per cent of the people from that region wish to break off from Spain and to establish a new European sovereign state.
Later this year, the people of Scotland are having their own referendum to determine whether or not they will stay in the United Kingdom and, again, from the polls, it is very clear that the majority of Scots wish to have their own new sovereign state and that the Scottish Nationalist Party enjoys massive support. Nobody in either Spain or the United Kingdom has insulted those people or labelled them as ‘’ethnic jingoists’’ or ‘’primitive tribalists’’ for wanting to break off from the greater whole and establish their own country.

This is because everyone respects the right of the various ethnic groups and nationalities within their wider nation to exercise their right of self-determination which is an integral and fundamental aspect of international law. Exercising that right does not turn them into villains and does not make them any less patriotic than their compatriots who do not share their views. It just means that they have a different perspective and that they believe, as many believed before Malaysia and Singapore broke up, that the interests of their various peoples are better served when and if they go their separate ways.
They opted to be friendly neighbours rather than to be compelled to remain within the same territory against their collective will. As we in Nigeria approach the 100-year anniversary of our 1914 Lugardian amalglamation and, as the 2015 elections are fast approaching with both the northern region and the south-south zone desperate to take or to hold on to power at any cost respectively, we need to begin to ask ourselves some basic and fundamental questions about our future. For example, is our interest better served by remaining as one nation or is it time for those nationalities that wish to leave the federation in a peaceful and orderly way, as a result of a legitimate and honest referendum, be alllowed to go?
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
If the breaking up of larger countries into smaller and more viable ones is good enough for India (which broke into three), the Sudan (which broke into two), Czekhoslovakia (which broke into two), Yugoslavia (which broke into 5), the Soviet Union (which broke into 15) and numerous other countries over the years, why is it not good enough for us? Again, why should those that believe that Nigeria ought to break up be subjected to so much suspicion, ridicule, contempt and insults from those that do not share their views?
Some of the questions that need to be answered are as follows- firstly, is our union working? Secondly, is our marriage a good one and  is it a happy one as well? Are we satisfied with what has essentially become a country that has been turned into nothing more than (with apologies to Chief Bode George) ‘’Turn by Turn Nigeria?’’ where each ethnic group simply looks forward to enjoying its time to control the federation and all the nation’s resources from an all powerful centre? Are we not meant to be far more than this? Is this what the founding fathers of our nation envisaged?
More than anything else the recent igbo/yoruba debate over the issue of the status of Lagos state and the deportation of a handful of igbo destitute back to the east has proved to me that we as a people are very different from one another and that our interests may be better served if we are no longer bound together as one. I dare to voice this opinion even though many Yoruba share it but will not say so publiclly.
Is it not time for us to begin to accept the bitter truth that our marriage is uncomfortable and unhappy and that it may not have been made in heaven or ordained by God? Is it not clear that each region or each nationality ought to be able to develop at  its own pace? Is it not time for us to have a confederation of nationalities in Nigeria and to restructure the country drastically to give maximum autonomy to the various regions and nationalities or indeed is it not time to just break up and go our separate ways?
DIFFERENCES Many may disagree but one thing that I believe that we can at least agree on is that perhaps it is time for us to be courageous enough to begin to talk about these issues openly and debate them. We must not sweep our differences under the carpet and ignore them as if they do not exist but instead we must find the courage and muster the resolve to acknowledge them and understand them. As far as I am concerned, this is the challenge of our time and these are the questions that need to be answered.
Whatever happens in 2015 and whoever wins, whether it be a northerner or Goodluck Jonathan of the south-south, I see blood on the horizon and I see disaster approaching. Stark promises from notable players such as ‘’there will be bloodshed if Goodluck is not re-elected’’ do not help and are not encouraging. There are equally strident and bellicose murmurings from the other side as well and some have threatened that if there is a repeat performance of the massive rigging that the North witnessed in the presidential election of 2011 anywhere in the country in 2015, ’’Nigeria will burn’’ whilst another key player said that ‘’both the dog and the baboon shall be soaked in blood’’.
2015 AS KEG OF GUN POWDER
These words must be taken very seriously indeed and they reflect the thinking and mindset of millions of people from both sides of the political and regional divide. Worste still, whether we like to admit it or not, religion has now become a major factor in our politics with Christians being told in their churches that it is their solemn duty to support a Christian presidential candidate and Muslims being told in their mosques that it is theirs to support a Muslim. We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder and, in my view, 2015 really will be the year of make or break for Nigeria. Sadly, in my humble opinion, it is far closer to ‘’break’’ than it is to ’’make’’.
If we wish to avoid the road to Kigali, we must change our mindset and make the necessary concessions that we need to make. We must begin to think outside of the box and be far more innovative and adventurous. For example, why is it a must in the minds of some that the PDP must field a Christian as it’s presidential candidate and why are some in the APC of the view that the party must field a northern Muslim as its own?
These hard and fast fixed positions are most unhelpful and the right thing and proper thing to do is to completely discard them and attempt to find a presidential candidate that is a Nigerian before being a northerner, a southerner, a Christian or a Muslim. And thankfully there are quite a few of such people around in the new generation if only the system will be far-sighted and enlightened enough to allow them to emerge and run. Failing that we must open up the space now and consider the unpleasant assertion that the premium that a united Nigeria attracts may not be worth paying simply because we are getting nothing but failure after failure and sorrow after sorrow as our consistent return.
I do not have all the answers and neither do I claim that I do. Indeed I may well be wrong which is why I would be interested in hearing the views of others and particularly those from the younger generation who may see things very differently. Whichever way it goes and regardless of what we all think, let us not allow this debate to be driven by the uninformed or ignorance, pettiness, hate and acrimony. Let us not insult one another or act as if any tribe or nationality are a collection of angels whilst others are nothing but demons. Let us join issues and exchange ideas in a civil, restrained and decent manner without hurling insults at one another or allowing our emotions to becloud our thinking.
At the end of the day, we all want the same thing- namely, to put in place a system that is in the best interest of the Nigerian people and to empower a new leadership that will allow them to achieve their full potentials? That is the objective and that alone. Over to you.

*Fani Kayode was a Minister of Aviation

By Femi Fani-Kayode
Today a great protest  is taking place in the Catallan region of  Spain. According to the polls, 52 per cent of the people from that region wish to break off from Spain and to establish a new European sovereign state.
Later this year, the people of Scotland are having their own referendum to determine whether or not they will stay in the United Kingdom and, again, from the polls, it is very clear that the majority of Scots wish to have their own new sovereign state and that the Scottish Nationalist Party enjoys massive support. Nobody in either Spain or the United Kingdom has insulted those people or labelled them as ‘’ethnic jingoists’’ or ‘’primitive tribalists’’ for wanting to break off from the greater whole and establish their own country.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/nigeria-to-break-or-not-to-break/#sthash.GGRRRIS9.dpuf

By Femi Fani-Kayode
Today a great protest  is taking place in the Catallan region of  Spain. According to the polls, 52 per cent of the people from that region wish to break off from Spain and to establish a new European sovereign state.
Later this year, the people of Scotland are having their own referendum to determine whether or not they will stay in the United Kingdom and, again, from the polls, it is very clear that the majority of Scots wish to have their own new sovereign state and that the Scottish Nationalist Party enjoys massive support. Nobody in either Spain or the United Kingdom has insulted those people or labelled them as ‘’ethnic jingoists’’ or ‘’primitive tribalists’’ for wanting to break off from the greater whole and establish their own country.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/nigeria-to-break-or-not-to-break/#sthash.GGRRRIS9.dpuf

My daddy was hypertensive — Feyi Agagu

Mr Feyi Agagu, the first son of the late Dr Olusegun Agagu, a former governor of Ondo State, on Saturday said his father was hypertensive.
NAN reports that Agagu, who returned from United States on Thursday, reportedly slumped in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was having a meeting with Ondo indigenes on Friday evening.

Late Agagu

“He just had a medical examination, which showed that he had a little cholesterol, and was hypertensive.
“There is diabetics in our family, but it’s nothing major; it was just something he had been dealing with for the past 10 to 15 years. So, there was no inkling that something was about to happen,” Agagu said.
According to him, his mum has lost her best friend and her husband. He confirmed that his father passed away in Lagos on his way to St Nicholas Hospital.He added that his father had the usual illness that comes with age, “so there was no stand out cause for his passing”.
“He lived a simple but a fulfilled and happy life. He left amazing memories and fantastic legacies behind.
“I will miss the friendship, I will miss the advice; he was pretty much anything any wife, son or daughter could ask for in a father.”He was a mentor to many, a brother, a benefactor; I’m sure a lot of people will miss him,” he said.
Agagu said the family had just returned for their annual two and a half weeks family vacation and during that time his father showed no sign of illness.
“I guess when it’s time to go, when your maker comes to get you, when he brought you, he did not ask anybody, so he can take you when he sees fit,” he said.
He said that arrangements for the burial were yet to be made. In his response to the development, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Governor of Osun State, said he was “grieved”.
“We met in politics and he remained a very nice senior colleague and when he came back two days ago, we talked about a meeting tonight,” Oyinlola said on Saturday.
He said that he would miss everything about his late colleague, who was the perfect gentleman, who always cared for the welfare of others.
“I asked him if he would be coming to Ibadan and he answered no, he then invited me to meet on Saturday in Lagos, unfortunately that was not to be,” he said.
Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, described the late Agagu as an unassuming, brilliant and hardworking governor, who served the nation meritoriously. (NAN).