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Why I Accepted to Serve By Festus Keyamo, SAN, FCIArb (UK)

Published

8 years ago

April 19, 2018

Eric

Just yesterday, my appointment as the Director, Strategic Communications of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation was made public. In that capacity, I would be the Official Spokesperson of the President’s campaigns for the 2019 Presidential Election.

Let me put it on record that I was indeed consulted before the announcement. Upon the offer, I wholeheartedly and proudly accepted the challenge to do this for the good of my country and for posterity. For in President Buhari I have found an approximation of the lofty values I cherish and have fought for all my life.

I know millions of Nigerians have never seen me in the mould of partisan politics. This is because for the past two and half decades, I have been under intense public scrutiny while engaging successive governments (military and civilian) in the most critical way possible. The public has also watched me grow steadily all the way from that young, restless lawyer to the exalted position of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In the process of my restless and relentless engagements of the authorities, I have been hounded, arrested, detained, paraded like a criminal, charged and discharged from courts severally, but remain unbowed. Hence, some of us have been branded as “radicals” and seen as completely apolitical.

However, the ultimate aim of every struggle is not really to enthrone a perfect, flawless system. Only the starry-eyed, younger ones think such is possible. That is Utopia. Rather, the ultimate aim of the struggle is to enthrone a government (yes, even with the normal human flaws) that is focused, determined and fiercely opposed to the unscrupulous wheeler-dealers in the society, committed to protecting the interests of the down-trodden, the weak and vulnerable.

One of the obvious ways to do this is to ensure that what belongs to all is not cornered by a few; and if they do so, to ensure that they are made to account and brought to justice. I can boldly say that no Government in the history of Nigeria has recovered so much looted funds as that of President Muhammadu Buhari. The fact that this Government has clearly chosen this path in protecting the masses of our country (as unpleasant as it has been to some) is one of the many reasons why I am so proud and bold about my support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In doing this, I take a cue from my revered late boss, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN who mentored me. Throughout his career, he also consistently and fiercely engaged every government in Nigeria and suffered as a result. Guess what? THE ONLY GOVERNMENT HE FULLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME was that led by General Muhammdu Buhari in 1984 – 1985; and that was to the chagrin of some of his professional colleagues and fellow “radicals”. However, he saw what they did not see at that time, because when that government was overthrown by General Babangida, what followed was the worst era in our history in terms of institutionalizing corruption and political chicanery in Nigeria. In the 2007 Presidential election, my late boss again endorsed General Buhari in the following words: “When we talk of anti-corruption war, there is no way you will exclude General Buhari. I don’t want to hear what a political party is going to do, whether ANPP or PDP or NDP or which other political organization. Tell me who is leading the party, tell me who is leading the government, that’s my concern. It’s a matter of leadership. This is a serious election, very serious one”.

Some of those same forces and interests that saw the back of General Buhari in 1985 are still very much around with us. You can hear their voices getting louder of late, preaching hate and toiling hard to incite the people against the President. They want us to go back to our old ways, disguised as if they genuinely care for the masses of this country. When you look at the profile and ignoble antecedents of these characters – the emergency heroes, some of us have no option but to undertake this role we have been called upon to assume just to ensure that they do not succeed in their selfish enterprise.

For all I have said above, my convictions about this job are deep and well thought-out. Given my background, it is clear that I cannot be a sycophantic rabble-rouser, looking for some personal gains. Having reached the top echelon of my career, some of us can conveniently stay away from all these, and continue to earn a good living from our thriving law practice. However, the call of duty beckons because we are at a critical crossroads in our history where one wrong turn may take us back to the sorry state from which we are emerging. We are here to convince and appeal to the masses not to allow us take that wrong turn.

Now, it is important I elaborate a bit on this “sorry state” from which we are coming. Some people always attempt to befuddle the issues by continually reminding us of certain statistics that existed before 2015 and after 2015. However, our situation before 2015 is comparable to that of a car on a high speed, seemingly doing well on the road, but with the temperature gauge already rising. That car is in trouble. But to the uninformed, the car would be seen as doing well. However, the callous driver, fully aware of the rising temperature in the engine, continues to speed on. After some time, it is inevitable that the engine of the car would overheat and crash. In that state, the callous driver hands over the car to the new driver. The new driver, seeing the condition of the vehicle, decides to fix the radiator first which is responsible for the overheating in order to protect the engine, before setting out on the road again. Yet, the callous driver mischievously calls everyone to come and see how the new driver has parked the car to fix the engine before setting out once again. The callous driver tells everyone that the new driver is clueless; that that is why the car was parked briefly.

The above anecdote is a graphic reflection of the situation we find ourselves. With the crash in oil prices just before 2015, the previous government resorted to borrowing to pay salaries and recklessly drew down on our foreign reserves, just to give the impression that all was well. So much unearned money was also circulating in the country amongst a few, giving the false impression that we were in a buoyant economy. However, the economy was headed for a crash. All the indices show that the slip into recession started shortly before this government took over, like the car which engine was already over-heating.

The attempt by a few to deceive the people that all was well with us before this government took over, is one of the reasons some of us have decided to come out of our shells to put a hole in that false narrative. It is simply a big lie. I am persuaded that the Buhari Government took the right measures to halt a bigger disaster awaiting our economy had it been otherwise. Those who are persuaded otherwise are within their legitimate right to do so. We are all patriots, trying to find the right answers to our problems as a nation. However, if you are persuaded otherwise, kindly state in details what exactly should have been done to run the economy better, given the crash in oil prices and production that dropped to around 700,000 barrels per day. Surely, discerning Nigerians would no longer buy the fable of “Buhari destroyed our economy”.

If I voted Buhari in 2015 and I am to vote for him again in 2019, then why can’t I campaign vigorously for him? I see no reason. It is a fallacy to say you are neutral in politics, yet you step forward to cast your vote at elections. If you are persuaded enough to vote for a candidate of your choice, then you must also be persuaded enough to campaign for that candidate, because your vote would be lost if you do not convince others to also adopt your position.

That is why I have made my choice for 2019 and I will publicly stand by it. That choice is President Muhammadu Buhari. For those who are persuaded otherwise, I challenge them to also name their choices because you cannot criticise my choice of a candidate without naming your own choice. After all, the President would not be running against ghosts or against a vacuum. Therefore, this is not a time to hide behind a blanket criticism of any candidate. Each candidate should be assessed in comparative terms with other candidates.

There has also been much attempt to de-market the President using his age and health as pummeling tools, and as such raising the decibel in the clarion call for a young or younger President. Firstly, on the issues of age and health, it would be ungodly and outrageous for a mere mortal to assume the status of God Almighty to speculate on the longevity or strength of any human being. Even doctors have been proven wrong on so many occasions. It is a matter entirely in the hands of God. Our past Presidents that died in office (Abacha and Yar’Adua) were in their prime. In fact, Abacha did not even show any sign of a failing health before he slumped and died. In Zimbabwe, the main opposition candidate for years, Morgan Tsvangirai used the issue of age and health to campaign against President Mugabe, urging him to go and retire and rest. Yet, just a few weeks ago, Morgan Tsvangirai died at the age of 65 and Mugabe is still alive and kicking at the age of 94. Those are the mysterious ways of God Almighty. No human being should even use that as a campaign gimmick. That person would be courting the wrath of God Almighty.

In addition, no one can argue that age has anything to do with the required integrity to be the President of a country. I also firmly believe that our value systems in politics and the society have been so damaged pre-2015, that a firm and experienced hand is needed to reset our collective psyche before we can set sail again. The notion that public office is just available to share money which was the norm pre-2015 is gradually being changed.

Spending a few more years to sustain that kind of re-orientation will do us a world of good. President Buhari is one of the very last of the upright Mohicans in Nigeria available to help reclaim public integrity before he takes his bow in 2023, if the Nigerian people so wish. We must take advantage of his still being around to deepen the nation’s moral fabric.

The choices before us have never been so CLEAR in the history of our country. On the one hand are those who are already in the mud and seeking to drag others into the mud. These are the ones who keep saying “We are all corrupt together”, and who keep confessing and apologising like people coming out of a trance. They say they should be forgiven because they have been “honest” enough to confess and apologise. Fellow Nigerians, there is nothing like an honest thief. It is a disgusting oxymoron. A thief is a thief. This is especially so if the thief did not willingly come out to admit he was a thief until his hands were caught right inside the cookie jar.

The other choice before us is a President who has been accused of everything that is false but even his most ardent critics, and detractors locally and internationally have not accused him of having a penchant for wealth accumulation. I am persuaded to campaign for him by his austere lifestyle, his Spartan taste and frugal nature. I am not looking for a god or an angel to vote for. They are not around here on earth. I am only looking for someone with these minimum personal qualities I have enumerated above. The President’s other human flaws may be there, but I am waiting for the candidates of our opponents to show me their credentials from heaven.

People can easily point to those with questionable past in the ruling party, the APC. With my antecedents and in my true conscience, I cannot defend them and cannot make excuses for them. However, in joining the President’s party, they are subjecting themselves to the disciplined leadership of the President. Like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN said above, it is the leadership that matters. Like I always ask: should we all stop going to church because some known sinners also throng to churches every Sunday? The obvious answer is in the negative. On the other hand, the other party whose key leaders were all part of those who pilfered our commonwealth are about to present us with one amongst themselves as a Presidential candidate in 2019. Of course, reasonable Nigerians are waiting to dismiss that before it happens.

However, for some of my friends, colleagues and associates who are still persuaded by the other way of running our country, and who belong to different political platforms, all I can do is to wish them well, but also state that this is a time for us to agree to disagree. It is all for the good of our country. It will bring out the best in us in canvassing our persuasions. However, I will be putting my heart and soul to this assignment and if anyone is offended by my commitment to the cause, I offer no apology. You can also do likewise to advance your cause. Nigerians would decide at the end of the day.

My message to all those teeming supporters who did it in 2015 for our President is that you do not abandon a ship with which you set sail midway. Our race is not a 100-meter dash. It is a marathon race to rescue our country. We are almost there. When we turn the corner in 2019, you will see the tape at the finishing line. We must not run out of breaths. We believed in 2015. We must keep that belief alive. The hallmark of true supporters is to stand firm in times of storm and in times of calm. The storm is almost over. The President has battled to take control of the steering wheel of the nation and we are on course.

Do not let the naysayers bully you whether in real life or in cyberspaces. When they run out of arguments, they resort to abuses. If they abuse you, see them as patriots, but misguided ones; if they attack you, see them as patriots, but misguided ones; if they call you unprintable names, see them as passionate patriots, but misguided ones. Do not retaliate. With time, especially when majority of votes wipe out their minority opinions in 2019, they will come round to you and acknowledge your vision. So, hold your own and keep your heads up.

For us, this race is never a do-or-die affair. We shall present the facts as we see them and let Nigerians decide. We do not have to hire Cambridge Analytica to scare the electorate. They are already sufficiently scared by the humongous corruption that took place under the watch of the last government; the electorate are already sufficiently scared by those who are apologizing just to sneak their way back to power; the electorate are also sufficiently scared by the tons of cash buried in graveyards, farm houses, luxury flats in Ikoyi, in Yachts in the High Seas and those used to buy real estate strewn all over the world.

Nigerians know from where their problems came. They know it is not President Buhari. They know it came from some of those battling tooth and nail to displace him. Those who are persuaded by us should not remain aloof, please. Kindly join us in this journey.

Thank you.

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Memoir: My Incredible 10 Years Sojourn at Ovation by Eric Elezuo

Published

23 hours ago

February 1, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It seems like yesterday, but like a joke well cracked, a whole 10 years have come and gone since I ventured into the new lease of life called Ovation Media Group. The experience has been a pot pourri of incredibilty, sensation, hits, near hits and a mixed fortune of the good, bad and ugly. Of course, what does one expect?

The Ovation brand has been not only big, but larger than life. To us out there savoring their sensational releases in terms of publications, it was much more than a media organisation, but something in the neighborhood of myth tingled with legendary. In my little circle, people talked about Ovation Magazine as a garden of Eden that can only be imagined with utmost reverence, but can never be reached or accessed.

Sometimes, you hear people talk about an event, and the next thing you hear is ‘even Ovation covered it’. That alone is a proof that there was nothing ordinary about the occasion. It was only meant for ‘gods’ in human form; the be all and end alls of world politics, entertainment and enterprise. Ovation was just big, so big among Africans that describing it will completely leave gaping and lost for words.

If the brand was this huge, you can imagine what the mention of the brain behind it, Dele Momodu, conjure to the mind, of both the speaker and the listener. He was the big masquerade that can only be felt, heard and never seen except for the members of the inner caucus. At a stage, I vowed to be a member of this inner caucus. I didn’t know how it would happen, but I decided something; that when I would get married, Ovation would be there to cover it, the cost notwithstanding. I knew I would’ve been rich enough to afford their services, and so come face to face with the big masquerade, Dele Momodu himself. Well, I’m still not ‘rich enough’, but I have not only come face to face with the big masquerade, but has risen to become the Editor of the most sought-after celebrity journal in Africa, and all its appendages or titles including The Boss Newspaper and Ovation Television.

The day was Wednesday, January 20, 2016, when I first sat face to face with Chief Momodu, who over the years has steadily and graciously transformed into Aare, Dr among many impressive titles, in the company’s new office at Opebi, Ikeja. It was my interview to be absorbed as a Correspondent into the organisation. The opportunity dropped on my lap, made possible by my good friend and ex-classmate at the University of Lagos, Mr. Mike Effiong, who was the substantive and hardworking editor then.

My desire to work with Ovation transformed into hunger when I discovered that Mike, as I use to call him at UNILAG, or Editor, as I called when with I joined the organisation, was the second-in-command. I told myself, and to wife that if only I could reach out to Mike, it would be easy to know availability in the organisation. We were very at close though he was already very career minded then, supping and dining with those that matter in the industry at that level. The last I saw him before his Ovation rise was when he was at Encomium Magazine. We lost contact afterwards. It was the days of no GSM. They were moving with pagers. I had no such privilege. I can’t remember exactly how his number dropped on my lap one day many years after. I called and got to him. We reconnected, and reminisced. I was a school teacher then. I seized the opportunity to explain that I still wished to practice journalism. We have had the discussion earlier shortly after graduation. He invited me to his office – then at Excellence Hotel, Ogba. We met in the ‘luxurious’ lobby of the hotel the day I came. There was no place for me then as he told me. Though I was disappointed, I doubted if I was ready for the kind of job description I noticed that day. Mike seasoned my coming by patronizing my book. Yes, I was marketing my first book then, ‘The Dedication Tragedy’, and was fresh from Master’s degree class after getting my Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) from the University of Lagos.

We lost contact again. It was not until 2015 he returned my call, after several, and talked about a certain ‘The Boss’, which is the newest brainchild of the organisation. I was ready to move to anything, that can help me offset my highly accumulating bills. I was working with National Mirror, where I was owed months of salary. The funniest part was that I moved from Newswatch, where I was owed years of salary to National Mirror. Incidentally, both organizations were owned by one person. That’s a story for another day.

So on that fateful January 20th of 2016 after several failed appointments owing to Chief Momodu being out of the country, we finally met. The interview was sharp but detailed. It was beyond paper qualifications. It was a case of wits, reposition of knowledge and ability to navigate through the world of news gathering and dissemination, and not forgetting ability to withstand and travel at short notice. I did not only nod in the affirmative to all, but proved my hunger in words and action to take up the challenge. I was found worthy, and asked to assume duties. I requested for the rest of the month to sort myself out. There was nothing to sort out. I just needed time to calm my head, nd douse the euphoria so as not to make a mistake on the first day.

So on Monday, February 1, 2016, I appeared completely suited with tie to begin a new trend in professionalism. The suit was just appropriate for a worker, who has not been paid for ages, if you get what I mean. I was slammed with the title of Correspondent, but given a job description that equalled editor, reporter and supervisor combined. I wrote, edited, proofread, set page, go on field assignment, publish and share. It was a handful, but I was happy to have a job, and the job I wanted. So I adapted with equanimity. In fact, my publisher was a no-nonsence person. Mistakes were not permitted. Missing deadlines were taboos. Tough as it was, it toughened me. Today, I’ve graduated from being a better journalist to whatever you can think of.

Shortly after assuming office, I got the privilege to interview and engage staff, mostly interns to work directly under me. My first staff was Temitope Ogunleye, a young corper from Kogi State University. She is still with me today, having grown in leaps and bounds. Others followed including Morakinyo Ajibade from Nigerian Institute of Journalism, David Adeyemi, Isaac and Annabelle from Babcock University. Ajibade is also still with me today. His level of growth is tremendous. There were many others, and they are all helpful to my career success. There was also Joguomi, Victoria, Christiana and many others. I did my best to support their mentoring, and they are performing brilliantly in their various worlds.

This is not forgetting the men with the camera I met on ground and those that joined afterwards; Koya, Ken, Iroko, Funmi, Solomon, Abraham, Femi, Ben, Tunde, Dala Taiwo and a host of others. We did many things together including our botched Christmas party. That happens to be the biggest blow any staff has suffered. Today, it’s worth looking back at, and laughing loudly at.

It has not all been rosy though; twice I have been sacked for operational deficiency (not incompetence), and twice I have been restored for obvious reasons. And today, God is still helping us.

In 2020, I was upgraded to the post of Assistant Editor of The Boss Newspaper, and in late 2021, I was elevated to the position of Editor, The Boss Newspaper.

In November 2023, precisely on the sixth, I was privileged to be considered and appointed as the Editor of the Ovation brands or Ovation Media Group. The editor of Ovation is a title for the General Administrative and Editorial Head of the Group, answerable to only the Publisher and Board of Directors.

My appointment was sequel to the elevation in politics of my immediate boss, Mike Effiong, who was appointed as Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

It’s not yet uhuru though. I’m still learning and taking instructions from superiors in the industry and elsewhere. I must add that humility and acceptance of everyone I’ve met in the line of duty, has helped in no small measure to fasttrack my growth. Yes, I can beat my chest and say that I have delivered, and still delivering.

Yes again, I’ve not been able to traverse the globe as regards traveling or amass wealth, but my experience can dictate for any world leader. It is worth noting that waking up to work for Ovation every day (morning, afternoon, evening, night and midnight including wee hours), and this is not an exaggeration, but bare facts, has taught me life, in both the hard and acceptable ways.

To my boss of inestimable value, Chief Dele Momodu, my appreciation is limitless; my friend of many years, Mike Effiong and past and present staff of the brand, thank you for the opportunity. I don’t know where the next 10 years will meet us, but I know for sure it would be in a good place, and much bigger than we are today.

Cheers to February One!

Eric Elezuo is the editor, Ovation Media Group, and writes from Lagos

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CAN Tackles Shariah Council Over Call to Remove INEC Chair Amupitan

Published

4 days ago

January 30, 2026

Eric

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rejected the call by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan.

The Shari’ah Council, earlier this week, demanded the immediate removal and prosecution of Amupitan, as members of the Council questioned his integrity over a legal brief in which he reportedly acknowledged claims of persecution constituting genocide of Christians in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, and the Secretary General of Northern CAN, Bishop Mohammed Naga, questioned the motive behind the demand, asking who was sponsoring the call and why such interests are hiding behind the platform of a religious body.

Describing the call as a dangerous attempt to politicise religion and undermine a critical national institution, Hayab stressed that Professor Amupitan has a constitutional right to freedom of religion, adding that expressing concern over challenges faced by his religion does not amount to bias or disqualification from public service.

He also pointed out that many Muslims who had served in key government positions in the past had troubling religious antecedents, yet were not subjected to similar scrutiny, urging national actors to prioritise competence and national interest over sectarian sentiment.

Hayab, who warned that the controversy further reinforces concerns about persistent religious discrimination against Christians in Nigeria, particularly in appointments to sensitive national offices, recalled that the two immediate past INEC chairmen were Muslims from Northern Nigeria, and warned against narratives suggesting that only adherents of a particular religion are qualified to lead the electoral body.

“Anyone hiding under the guise of the Shari’ah Council to demand the removal of the INEC chairman over political or sectarian interests should come out boldly. Otherwise, the ploy has died naturally, he said.

“”Are they saying that no other religion should serve as INEC chairman except Muslims? The most important question Nigerians should ask is whether Professor Amupitan is competent or not.

That should be the focus, not his faith,” the statement added.

The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a deliberate effort to promote national unity by appointing a Christian as INEC Chairman, despite being a Muslim.

It noted that the decision reflected statesmanship and inclusivity, similar to precedents set under the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, who kept a northern Muslim as INEC Chairman against all odds.

The Christian leaders advise the Shari’ah Council to publicly identify any individual or group behind the campaign against the INEC chairman, insisting that religious platforms must not be used as “cheap cover” to pursue political interests or intimidate public officials.They, however, called on the INEC chairman not to be distracted by the controversy, urging him to remain focused on his constitutional responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections.

“He should concentrate on doing the right thing for Nigerians and not behave like others who openly manipulated elections in the past and now seek to remain relevant through religious blackmail,” the statement said.

Northern CAN also raised concerns about what it described as emerging signals of a coordinated political agenda ahead of the 2027 general election, citing recent comments by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks electoral defeat if it drops a Northern Muslim-Muslim ticket from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.

According to the association, such statements, when viewed alongside the sustained attacks on a Christian INEC chairman, raise legitimate questions about whether there is a deliberate effort to undermine Christian participation and confidence in the country’s political process.

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Sit-at-Home: Soludo Threatens Anambra Traders with Forfeiture of Shops

Published

4 days ago

January 29, 2026

Eric

Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has escalated the enforcement of his earlier directive to traders at Onitsha Main Market, warning that shops of defiant traders will be forcibly closed if they continue ignoring government orders to open for business on Mondays.

The development follows Soludo’s initial announcement on Monday, when he ordered a one-week closure of the market over traders’ persistent defiance of the state’s anti-Monday sit-at-home directive.

Addressing the situation during an on-the-spot inspection of the market this afternoon, the governor said past efforts to persuade traders had failed, and the government is now moving to a more assertive approach.

“If you deny 20% of workdays in a year, you are undermining our prosperity, job creation, and the economy. In 2022 and 2023, we fought it. In 2024 and 2025, we pleaded. But in 2026, we are shifting to gear 4, no backing down. Anyone who closes their shop, we will help them close it for one week. From next week, if they refuse to open by Monday, I will shut down the market and take over some of them,” Soludo declared.

He described traders’ repeated Monday closures as deliberate economic sabotage, stressing that the closure ordered on Monday was a protective measure for law-abiding citizens.

Security personnel, including the police, army, and other agencies, have been deployed to enforce the closure and maintain order. Soludo warned that non-compliant traders after the one-week shutdown risk a longer closure of up to one month.

The measure is part of the state government’s ongoing effort to end Monday sit-at-home practices, which have continuously disrupted economic activities across the South-East.