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The Enigma Called Chief Deinde Fernandez

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4 years ago

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By Michael Effiong
Born to Mr Camut Akinwale and Mrs Juliana Francis, Chief Ambassador Antonio Diende Fernandez’s love for his culture and tradition was unmistakable. Little wonder he held the traditional title of Apesin Ola (inije Onimu) of Egbaland.
In an article for Ovation International Magazine, a sister publication of The Boss, Kunle Bakare described him thus “Renowned and well-known round the globe, tall, dark and refined man of commerce is an embodiment of good form, surrounding himself with exquisite things money alone cannot buy.
The Peninsula- The Private island of Chief Fernandez
The Peninsula: Private Island of Chief Fernandez
“With his eyes for details and uncommon panache, Ambassador Deinde Fernandez towers anywhere. Romaticised by most Nigeria’s richest men and women, his is the icing on the elaborately decorated multi-tier cake.
Bashorun Dele Momodu with Chief Fernandez and wife, Aduke
“Holy Cross, Lagos was where he began his education. He moved on to CMS Grammar School, Bariga and St Gregory’s College, Obalende (Both in Lagos) for secondary education. Brookklyn College and St John’s University were the tertiary institutions he attended”.
Fernandez was rich. His wife, Aduke claimed in court that he is worth 600 million pounds and had interests in gold and diamond mines as well as oil fields.
It was also stated that he had interests in such companies as Sandcat Petroleum Limited, Sanantonio Limited, Petro-Inett Limited, Sandcat Enterprises, Inuola Limited, View Limited, Sandcat Goldfields Limited, Voguehope Limited, Woods Limited and Petro-Inett Equatorial Guinea Limited.
He had bank accounts in Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, USA and Belgium.
In addition, he had kilometres of diamond plants in Angola and was Ambassador at-large  for Congo, Angola and Mozambique as well as United Nation’s Permanent Representative for the Central African Republic.
Fernandez was the shining light who had friends in the highest echelons of society, mixing with super heavyweights. The beloved US President, J.F. Kennedy was a friend. Also, President George Bush Snr.  President Gnassinbge Eyadema and President Samora Michel were members of his inner circle.
The stamp of luxury and splendor were trademarks of the high chief’s fancy as well as “classy and timeless possessions”.
He had this magnificent yacht called Yemoja, a two-storey wonder which had spectacular sitting and dining rooms, a lavish master bedroom. Two baths, two children’s rooms, a gym, entertainment centre among other heavenly paraphernalia.
The owner’s suite had an exquisite sitting room area, his and hers bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and a lavish bedroom. The yacht’s magnificent stairway  spans three decks  and has carved antelope heads in the balustrade.
”The Goddess of the sea” which is what Yemoja translates to in Yoruba language, was designed by F. de Voogt, built by Van Lent with interior creatively crafted by Lavor. It had dominant African themes, lion skin rug and statues of warriors are prominently displayed on special carpets or white washed paneling.
If you are already gushing at the sheer beauty of this spectacular yacht, wait till you read the details of his outstanding paradise, an island in New York United States of America.
The island had everything including a fire service station and a long bridge leading to his magnificent, eye-popping mansion-The Penninsula
Lavishly decorated rooms, with golden balustrades, dining rooms with golden chandeliers, it is splendor at its highest.
When the water level is high, the state’of the- art -cars are automatically raised above sea level, protecting all the objects on ground.
In an article titled “ Welcome to the Peninsula” by The Boss Publisher for Ovation International, he revealed that the road to The Peninsula is like the road to heaven.
According to the writer “:It will take a determined traveler to meander his way to the very vast well-raid roads to the very last of the islands. Even then, only privileged few are allowed to drive or walk (most likely) on that beautiful road with several awe-inspiring bridges.
“Stern-faced security men stop all visitors, including the domestic staff for a brief chat. Driving the owner’s car is not guarantee of a smooth sail. Such is the elaborate security network on the island.
“As soon as the traveler passes through the proverbial eye of the needle, he is confronted by some little islands, in various degrees of opulence, each belonging to different categories of super rich.
“As you continue to rigmarole your way through the labryrinthine setting, you begin to imagine what your final destination holds in store for you. When you eventually arrive, you cannot but agree that the king himself lives here: It is indeed, Gatsby Country.

 

 

THE MAIN BUILDING

The original structure was substantially altered by the owner, Ambassador Fernandez, a perfectionist who wanted to create an architectural wonder.

In other lands, The Peninsula would probably have been a museum. It is  so monumental that even the richest man in the world would be intimidated by its sheer size and presence.

A giant door about four inches thick with glowing crest, with eerie inscriptions of a confraternity, welcomes the visitor.

The King of the house is a traditional African who romanticizes the beliefs and religion of his forbears.

He was a titled member of Yoruba’s highest cult, The Ogboni, which conferred on him one of its topmost titles, Oluwo.

Inside the house, his paraphernalia adorn a lot of the portraits. Like most Africans whose attitude to religion are syncretic, he respects religions of his people, especially Islam and Christianity.

Chief Fernandez is a proud descendant of the Olumegbon Family in Lagos, whose ancestry dates back to the 17th Century. They are Muslims and this is well represented in the Fernandez home.

As you turn the fat knob of the main door and push, the heavy artefact inwards, a portrait of a praying Muslim confronts you.

It is a symbol of the Olumegbon Clan which Fernandez holds very dear to heart. If you turn left, you will see a waiting room, if you turn right, a passage leads to an office where a stuff lioness stares at you, many portraits  of African heroes like Nelson Mandela and Obafemi Awolowo greet you.

The whole building is alike a well-choreographed orchestra. Every room is a coordinated work of art. No space is wasted . Every choice decoration is special and stylish.

A great deal of time, energy, effort, imagination, creativity and money most have gone into tendering such a stupendous edifice.

There is the ubiquitous Caretaker, Jack, an elderly African from Burkina Faso who has worked with Chief for twenty years. There is Joan, the burly Brazilian, who overseers the great task of keeping the exterior clean. There are two Housekeepers: Jackie and Sara two friendly ladies. And the jetset guys who make things happen: Charles a Greek and karim, an Algerian; the fly all over the world with or without the influential Chief.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

The best novelist in the world would find it had to describe The Peninsula. Where does one begin? The bedroom? The Guest section mainly reserved for special people. The parlous with their rainbows of elegant colours?…only pictures can tell the stories.

A WANDER’S DELIGHT

A walk through The Peninsula is a big journey. As you move from one part to another, you experience an epic feeling in form of streams  of consciousness and flashes of inspiration. Take Examples of these notes:

Doors: There are doors everywhere, over 200 in the whole palace. Each bears an emblem, which is the map of Africa. Fernandez is one man who is proud of his heritage. The doors of various shapes and sizes. The wardrobes have similar doors. In them neatly arranged dresses, shoes, bags, caps , ties and belts from the world’s greatest designers-Valentino, Lnvin, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, Escade, Bruno Magli, Bally, Channel, Ungaro, John Lobb, Bucheron, Sulka, Jhane Barnes, Gucci, Sratton Crooke…

The door handles were made in California. On each of the faceplates is inscribed” Agbo Meji kii Momi Nikoto ( Two rams cannot drink from same bucket). And there are African maps on everything, including hinges.

WINES

Chief Fernandez is obviously a great connoisseur of vintage wines. He keeps a cellar where esoteric wines assault the senses. His wife told the French Court that his Wine Collection is worth over $1million.

His wine list include: Maisons Marques & Domaines-Oakland (1990), Corton Granay Grand Cru (1996), Chateau Cheval Blanc (1985) Sauternnes (1990) etc. The one that takes the cake is Cristal Champagne Loius Roederer, a millennium Champagne, 2000 bottles of which were produced for worldwide enjoyment. Chief has  four bottles of the wine resting peacefully inside some massive caskets.

ARTS
Everywhere you look, there are enough masterpieces to make a collector green with envy. There are antiques. There are contemporary carvings and paintings. Ben Enwonwu’s carvings stand out. Everything for Fernandez is an art. he once ordered dozens of Louis Vuitton suitcases with his special crest engraved on all of them.
Chief is a great lover of music and a great Sinatra fan. In most exotic hotels around the world, in-house  artistes know his taste. A rendition of MY WAY by Sinatra would automatically earn the singer some ward of minty 100 dollars at The Ritz in Paris, The Lanesbrough, Hyde Park Corner near Knightsbridge , London.
FOOD
Great attention is devoted to preparing good food in the house. Just enter Madame’s kitchen and you will see culinary wonders. No Mandarin could boast of having more cookery books than Chief (Mrs) Fernandez. There are cabinets with all manner of food items, oils, spices, juices, dishes, cups, glasses, knives, all kinds of bottles – oblong, rectangular, rotund, square – and the ovens are massive. Magazines on all subjects are neatly arranged in files.
Even her daughters love . Princess Abimbola, for example, makes cookies for sale (as a hobby). She even has own cash register. She enjoys collecting as little as 27 cents for her sweat (talk of a business girl in the house).
The chef of the house operates from the kitchen, which has all the facilities to cater for top celebrities, many of who drop by once in a while. Chief’s love for good food was demonstrated recently when he employed an Argentine chef. The manner of employment was dramatic. He had contracted the Ritz to recommend a very good chef.
The name of the young man called Christian surfaced but he was said to be in Italy. Chief located him, talked some deals and the chef couldn’t resist the offer. Chief was elated. He quickly bought a home costing about $400, 000 to house Christian. Not only that, he sent Christian to London to learn how to prepare Nigerian dishes like asaro (yam porridge), jollof rice etc. He got his tutorials from the Buka Restaurant on Kilburn High Road and from the wife of Ovation publisher. He soon flew back to New York, ready for the Chief.
LIFE OF A LEGEND
When the young Anthonio Fernandez

migrated to the United States of America on June 8, 1954, he was barely 18. Like many young men of those days, America held out so much promise as the fabled land of opportunities

Before his epic journey, he had spent time at various popular schools in Lagos like The Holy Cross, Saint Gregory’s and C.M.S Grammar School. Even at that early stage, he was well known for his incredible height. And he was a hussler, who tried to give himself a good life. He had a troublesome bicycle at Greg’s, the tyres of which were always going flat. Unknown to him then, he was destined for greatness.

America would turn his ambitious dreams into reality. Two years after the eagle landed, Fernandez made his first million. According to close sources, the money came from the most unexpected place – Jos, Nigeria. The sociable man had ordered for some Bauxite Ore, which was in dire demand in America. The mineral laid fallow in Jos. All he had to do was to arrange its shipment to America. By the time it came, Fernandez was on his way to being one of the world’s richest men

 

unexpected place – Jos, Nigeria. The sociable man had ordered for some Bauxite Ore, which was in dire demand in America. The mineral laid fallow in Jos. All he had to do was to arrange its shipment to America. By the time i came, Fernandez was on his way to being one of the world’s richest men.

Money begets money. Fernandez understood this very well. He started thinking of how to recycle his wealth and make i bigger. He would touch a few other good businesses. He would meet kings and Presidents. The African Prince would begin to carry his height proudly like a true blue blood. He would be crowned all over the world as King Midas and as an international negotiator, a quintessential peacemaker. The colour of his skin will matter less.

Years later, he would go into oil exploration and make it so big. He would be named Ambassador of other nations but his own country, for his people are not known to support success. They relish in backbiting and Self destruction He would build a TOWER FERNANDEZ in his native Lagos Island. But pancake trying women would soon constitute a nuisance in his neighbourhood. And, he dared not complain, or they would tell him “Baba onile gogoro, o wa gbele ru” (the owner of a tall building, why not carry the house on your head). He would try to start some factories in Nigeria, but government bureaucracy would knock him out. He had other bitter encounters

And, he stopped doing business with Nigeria. The story of Fernandez is an epic. He would establish a solid reputation as ‘Mr Fix It. His name would reverberate across the world as a diplomat of diplomats. At the United Nations. friends and colleagues would come to see him as an avuncular figure Nations would engage his services, in order to make the near impossible possible. And he is so efficient, smooth and dashing. His business card today reads:

CHIEF ANTONIO DEINDE FERNANDEZ

Grand Officier de l’Ordre

National du Leopard

Grand Officier de l’Ordre du Mono Commandeur de l’Ordre National du

Merite du Gabon

Officier du Ouissam Alaouite Grand Officier de l’Ordre du Merite

Centrafricain

Ambassador. Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

If that is not an achievement, nothing is. At 64, Fernandez continues to dream of a powerful mother Africa, a continent that can join the comity of other continents in their march towards prosperity.
His Chateau in France used to be owned by the famous General, Napoleon Bonarparte. It is another architectural masterpiece which sits on a large expanse of land as a big as a village.

The interior bears the indelible signature of the wealthy business mogul, everywhere you turn around this chateau, you are arrested by its sheer elegance and style.

Fernandez, the guardian of panache and prosperity travels in style. He has six topnotch private jets. His fleet includes two Gulfstream G4 and 900 Boeing.

He  worked hard and spent money to live a qualitative, stylish life!

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Mike Adenuga is Alive, Hale and Hearty, I Just Spoke with Him – Dele Momodu

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1 day ago

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November 20, 2024

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By Eric Elezuo

Africa’s biggest philanthropist and Chairman, Globacom Group, Dr. Mike Adenuga is Alive, hale and hearty!

This has been confirmed by Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu via his social media handles.

Following rumours, whose source is yet to be ascertained that the man, known for his quantum giving, passed away, Momodu wrote that he had just spoken with the billionaire businessman, who affirmed his health while thanking all for their concern.

“Ignore the fake news…DR MICHAEL ADENIYI AGBOLADE ISOLA ADENUGA is hale and hearty. He is right now at his desk working round the clock in support of the Nigerian economy…He just called me to thank everyone for their concern,” Dele Momodu wrote.

In addition, members of the top echelon of the group have separately confirmed that the one known as The Bull is alive and healthy.

Dr. Adenuga has remained in the forefront of many families happy with his direct financial and material gifts as well as consistent promo from his Glo brand.

Only last night, CNN celebrated 15 years of his sponsorship of the African Voices Changemakers, where he has foe a decade and half been supporting budding African entertainers to reach their professional zenith.

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A Tale of Two Emirs of Kano: Who Blinks First?

Published

3 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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By Eric Elezuo

The uneasy calm that reared its ugly head in the ancient city of Kano since May 23, 2024, when Governor Yusuf Kabir sacked the sitting Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, replacing him with Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II, has yet to abate as the two prominent personalities have consistently laid claim to the emirship of the emirate, and operating from different palaces in the town.

The bitter rivalry between the two royalties has caused division not only in the emirate, but the entire Kano State, and spiraling into national politics, leaving the political parties, especially the New Nigerian Peoples Party, which is the governor’s party, the Presidency, alleged to be giving backing to the immediate past governor, Umar Ganduje, who is also the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the security agencies, who receive instructions from the Presidency, taking sides.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero are the parties embroiled in the bitter rivalry in a bid to outwit each other for the exalted Emir of Kano position. This was since Sanusi was reinstated as the 16th Emir, having been dethroned and exiled on March 9, 2020 by the former administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Sources close the two notable figures, and the palace told The Boss that it is not unlikely that both men are being supported by powerful entities.

“While Sanusi has the backing of the Kano State government as visibly manifested in the reinstatement process, Ado Bayero is being backed by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” one of the sources said.

The furore has consequently attracted the wrong commentaries from stakeholders within and outside the Kano Emirate, resulting in heated arguments, threats and possibly outbreak of direct and indirect confrontations. But six months into the leadership quagmire, none of the two has shifted ground, or is willing to shift ground as more and more intrigues of power play and desire for recognition continue to be the order of the day.

The ‘two emirs’, who continue to claim legitimacy, have variously been trying to outdo each other in the quest to be relevant in the scheme of things.

The rivalry between the two emirs and their loyalists has resuscitated with weddings and counter weddings.

Just this weekend, a former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwnakwaso hosted the wedding of his daughter, Dr. Aisha Rabiu Kwankwaso, and her husband, Fahad Dahiru Mangal, at the palace of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, which attracted prominent national citizens including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Kashim Shettima, Waziri Adamawa Atiku Abubakar among others. Fahad is the son of Nigerian business magnate, Dahiru Mangal, founder of MaxAir, one of the country’s leading private airlines.

In what looked like a counter affair, the palace of Aminu Ado Bayero, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state, will on December 13, 2024 hosts a double wedding involving Jibrin Barau Jibrin and Aisha Barau Jibrin, the children of the Senate Deputy President, Barau I. Jibrin, to their spouses.

Some stakeholders told The Boss that the whole thing is a case of seeking relevance and originality.

Meanwhile, former Governor Kwankwaso has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the crises that have failed to abate in the state.

While speaking at the convocation ceremony of Skyline University in Kano on Sunday, Kwankwaso accused Tinubu and the political forces from Lagos of attempting to impose their influence on Kano’s leadership, particularly in the selection of the Emir.

“Today, we can see very clearly that there are significant efforts from the Lagos axis to colonise this part of the country. Lagos wouldn’t allow us to choose even our Emir; instead, they want to impose their own Emir on Kano,” he stated.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN…

The Kano State House of Assembly, as widely speculated, repealed the 2019 Law, which was instrumental in removing Sanusi from office, and balkanise the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions.

The Assembly, in the new emirate law stipulated the sack of all the Emirs in the jurisdictions and a restoration of the old order, where only one Emir will be overseeing all of Kano.

As a result, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, appended his signature on the bill, giving it the backing of the law, in the presence of the deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, Speaker, Isma’il Falgore, and the SSG, Abdullahi Bichi. and thereafter, proceeded to sacking the emirs with a 48 hours ultimatum to vacate their palaces.

While the Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya complied with the directive, the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, had gone to court to stop the process.

Both by native ordinance and law, every dethroned Emir is banished or expected to leave Kano for good. Recall that in 1965 when Muhammadu I, Sanusi’s grandfather resigned, having got wind of his possible dethronement, he abdicated to Bauchi, and never returned to Kano.  

It was therefore, a surprise that on Saturday, Bayero, who was dethroned, returned to the city of Kano, and moved into a palace in Nasarawa LGA of the state; a move that proved that he has not relinquished power. While Sanusi is operating in the main palace, Bayero is operating from the Nasarawa Palace, creating two full blown emirs for one throne.

The Boss learnt that a squad of soldiers that had been protecting Bayero before he was dethroned, rode with him from the airport to the palace. The same report has it that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has been behind Bayero’s moves, especially his flight and residency in the city. The NSA denied the allegation, threatening legal action againat the deputy governor, who made the claim.
Responding after the deposed monarch arrived in Kano to a hero’s welcome from a horde of his supporters, the Deputy Governor of the state, Aminu Gwarzo, blamed Ribadu, for allegedly facilitating the return of Bayero to the palace by providing him with two private jets.
Ribadu, in a letter by his legal team, Aliyu & Musa Chambers, said that Gwarzo should retract his claim, tender apology, or face legal action.

The letter reads: “The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties.

“In the clip, you were shown to be speaking in Hausa.

“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done to damage the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.

“In all the places he has served, our client has never been accused of any wrongdoing.

“Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.

“The wide coverage you gave your interview has caused serious embarrassment to our client and his family.

“Since the publication, our client has been receiving a barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation owing to the fact that it came from a person occupying the office of Deputy Governor of Kano State.

“Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims.

The return of Bayero consequently prompted the governor to order his arrest.

In a counter, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024, and desist from from issuing Sanusi appointment letter.

STAND OF SECURITY OPERATIVES

The Kano State Police Command refused to arrest Bayero, saying he would only enforce the court order restraining the state government from dissolving five newly created Emirates in the state, and restatement of Sanusi.

The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Hussain Gumel, while making a broadcast, flanked by representatives of other security agencies, vowed to maintain law and order, assuring that security agencies won’t spare anyone trying to temper the peace across the state.

He said: “Let me also remind you that the position of the law is very clear as whoever, under whatever guise is found to be planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State or feel that he or she can jeopardize the existing security settings in the State will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Therefore, as the Police Command is leading other security agencies to sustain the peace and peaceful coexistence for overriding interests, miscreants should steer clear of violence in all its ramifications and should not take advantage or hijack the current situation to launch an unprovoked attack on people, property and infrastructure of the State. Any person found with such a tendency will be ruthlessly dealt with according to the law of the land

“The combined security agencies in the State have set out all machinery in place to ensure no breakdown of law and order as the safety and security of all the inhabitants in the State remain sacrosanct,” Gumel said.

NBA TAKES A  STAND, URGES CAUTION

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for caution in the legal fireworks playing out in Kano, stressing that it is deeply “deeply concerned about these developments in many ways”.

In a statement, NBA chairman in Kano, Sagir Gezawa, said it is the constitutional duty of a state assembly to legislate and once passed, it remains the prerogative of a governor to assent to such law.

“Once assented to by the governor, it has become a Law and its implementation is to be done by state apparatus and of course enforced by a competent court of law,” Gezawa said.

“It’s further within the purview of courts to interpret such law to be in tandem with other existing laws or the constitution.

“In doing so, we urge our members to act responsibly in approaching courts with competent jurisdiction.

“A court order, once given, is sacrosanct and must be obeyed.

“However, it must be noted that while the court has its own mechanism of enforcing its order, it’s not within the powers of the Nigerian Army to deploy troops to enforce court order. This is a sad reminder of the military dictatorship and must be condemned.

“Anyone found wanting or in disobedience of a court order (which is declaratory in nature) must first be proved to have been notified of the existence of the said court order by issuance of Form 48 and subsequently Form 49 notifying such person of the consequences of his or her actions.

“This is in line with the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act and Laws of the various States for enforcing court judgments.

“Engaging security apparatus without the officers of the Deputy Sherriff’s Department of the relevant court that made the order may appear to be self-help which must also be condemned.

“As an association therefore, we call on all state actors, to be mindful of their oaths of office and for the security agencies, their scope of duties so as not to make mockery of our judicial system.”

The NBA said the actions of the state actors “may breach the security and peace” in Kano and “they shall be held accountable in this life or the next,” the statement said.

But some notable personalities including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has blamed the Bola Tinubu-led federal government for being behind the crisis in Kano.

Atiku made accusation via a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Paul Ibe on Saturday.

“The action of the Federal Government in deploying soldiers in Kano in the tussle over the throne of the ancient city is an upset to the peace and security of the state, and also in breach of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

“In performing their constitutional duties of law making, the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in consonance with the provision of Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended whereas the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf subsequently signed into law the said bill. The law therefore repealed the 2019 version which balkanized the ancient Kano Emirate into five.

“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.
It is surprising that in the early hours of today, exactly at about 5:30 am the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero backed by Federal might made their way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.

“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the Federal Government having done so with the support of the Army and other security personnel in his company. The deployment of soldiers in extra constitutional matters such as this undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.

“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years and any attempt to destablise the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted. Recall that Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March, 2020 dethroned, Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.

“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason, law and order breaks down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the Federal Government should be held responsible as the act of providing security cover to the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy,” he said.

In the same vein, the Council of Ulamas, has President Bola Tinubu against plunging Kano into chaos. The group said, the crisis, if not well managed, could escalate and degenerate into chaos.

With the state backing the reinstatement of Sanusi, the path looks smooth for Muhammadu Sanusi II to repossess the emirship of Kano, but all will depend on how the politics of superiority is played in the coming days.

While Tinubu watches without lifting a finger of settlement, the ancient city of Kano, like Rivers State, is slowly burning down.

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How FG Spent N19bn on Presidential Planes in 15 Months – Report

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1 week ago

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November 12, 2024

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At least N19.43 billion has reportedly been spent on the maintenance and operations of the Presidential Air Fleet from July 2023 to September 2024.

According to GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal government’s spending, showed that for 2024, the payouts amounted to N13.55billion, representing 66 per cent of the allocations for the fleet in the 2024 fiscal year.

Most disbursements were labeled ‘Forex Transit Funds,’ typically funds allocated for foreign exchange requirements to facilitate international transactions and engagements.

In the context of the Presidential Air Fleet, such funds are used to cover expenses related to operations outside the country, including fuel purchases, maintenance or services in foreign currencies.

“When aircraft on the fleet are abroad, payments are often made in U.S. dollars or another foreign currency to ensure uninterrupted operations,” a government official explained.

In July 2023, N1.52bn was disbursed in two tranches of N846m and N675m for ‘Presidential air fleet forex transit funds.’

The following month, N3.1bn was disbursed in three tranches of N388m, N2bn, and N713m for the same item.

In November of that year, N1.26bn was released to the Presidential Air Fleet Naira transit account.

The first overhead for 2024 came in March, where N1.27bn were disbursed twice, amounting to N2.54bn. The transit account received N6.35bn in April, N4.97bn in May and N210m in July.

August saw the highest frequency of transactions, with N5.60bn released in six separate disbursements.

Although these transactions were not clearly labeled, the monies were paid into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account, including the N35m transfer made in September.

In late April, the transit account received N5.08bn; this came around the same time the President was on a two-nation tour to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Although Tinubu arrived in the Netherlands in a state-owned Gulfstream AeroSpace 550 Jet, the aircraft could not proceed to Saudi Arabia due to unspecified technical problems. He reportedly continued his journey on a chartered private plane.

At the time, the President’s Boeing 737 business jet was undergoing maintenance. It was later replaced with an Airbus A330 purchased for $100m in August through service-wide votes.

The nearly 15-year-old plane, an ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (MSN 1053), is “spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customised interior and communications system,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga said, adding that it “will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”

The new Airbus A330 is just one of several aircraft currently on the Presidential Air Fleet, arguably one of Africa’s largest, with around 11 aircraft of various makes and models. Until August, it comprised the 19-year-old B737-700 and a 13-year-old Gulfstream Aerospace G550.

The BBJ was acquired during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at $43m but became a money guzzler as it aged.

Onanuga, defending the purchase of Airbus A330, argued that the new Airbus 330 aircraft and the costs of maintaining the air fleet were not for the president but in the interest of Nigerians.

“It’s not President Tinubu’s plane; it belongs to the people of Nigeria, it is our property…the President did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.

“The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago. There was a time when the President went to Saudi Arabia, and the plane developed some problems. The President had to leave the Netherlands with a chartered jet.

“Nigerians should try to prioritise the safety of the President. I’m not sure anybody wishes our president to go and crash in the air. We want his safety so that he can hand it over to whoever wants to take over from him,” Onanuga said.

The presidential aide said he discussed with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on the faulty plane [Boeing 737 jet] and he said the maintenance costs were excessive because of the age of the aircraft, hence the need for another plane.

The presidential fixed-wing fleet includes a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605.

Three of the seven fixed-wings are reportedly unserviceable. Meanwhile, the rotor-wing fleet includes two Agusta 139s and two Agusta 101s, all operated by the Nigerian Air Force but supervised by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Former President Buhari promised to reduce the number of aircraft in the PAF to the absolute necessary.

In April 2023, three jets were put up for sale, but there were no specifics on which.

However, efforts to sell one of the Dassault Falcon 7x and the Hawker 4000 in October 2016 stalled when a potential buyer reduced their initial offer from $24m to $11m.

Since 2017, budgetary allocations for the fleet have shown a growing trend, with one exception in 2020.

The allocation for the fleet increased from N4.37bn in 2017 to N20.52bn in 2024, showing a 370 per cent rise in running costs.

In 2018, the fleet’s budget rose significantly by 66.13 per cent to N7.26bn, driven by a substantial increase in capital project allocations while maintaining similar levels for recurrent costs. This upward trajectory continued into 2019, slightly increasing the total allocation to N7.30bn.

The exception came in 2020, when the budget dropped by nearly seven per cent to N6.79bn, primarily due to decreased overhead costs, a reflection of the global economic impacts of lockdowns and disruptions in operations.

By 2021, however, the budget surged dramatically to N12.55bn—a record increase of 84.83 per cent from the previous year.

In 2022, maintenance expenses for each aircraft ranged from $1.5m to $4.5m annually.

The 2022, 2023 and 2024 appropriation acts earmarked N12.48bn, N13.07bn and N20.52bn respectively.

On his way to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa, a foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s GulfStream aircraft during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

According to Lee Aerospace, manufacturers of the Gulfstream, jet windshields consist of thick multilayered structures of varying layers of glass and transparent acrylic built to withstand collision with a 2kg object.

However, damage to the windshield must have affected its inner layers. While specific prices for replacement can vary based on supplier, labour rates and regional costs, estimates suggest that a single windshield replacement for a G550 can range from $50,000 to $70,000 for part and labour costs.

In an interview with our correspondent, the General Secretary of the Aviation Round Table, Olumide Ohunayo, blamed the meteoric rise in the allocations for the PAF on the age of some of the aircraft in the fleet and declining value of the naira as well as the “commercial use” of aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force.

Ohunayo said, “The cost will definitely increase over the years because for one, this issue of the naira against the dollar. As the naira keeps falling to the dollar, we will see a rise in cost because most of the costs of training crew and engineers and replacing aircraft parts are all in dollars.

“Also, some of these aircraft are not new. The older the aircraft, the higher the cost of maintenance and operation.

“Lastly, during these past years, terrorism and insecurity have increased in Nigeria, which has also affected the cost of insuring the aircraft.”

For his part, the Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, argued that the administration’s spending habits were opposite to Nigerians’ expectations of frugality.

“What we are getting from this administration is opposite to our expectation. We thought we would have an administration that would be frugal in spending and very meticulous at implementing its budget.

“But what we are getting is an administration that has fallen in love with profligacy; that doesn’t see anything wrong in living big amid a poverty-stricken nation.

“It is a reenactment of the Shagari administration, whereby they bought the biggest Mercedes Benz and made themselves as comfortable as possible without considering how much the masses are suffering.

“So when you look at a Vice President saying he’s not travelling [to Samoa] again because there was a splinter on the windscreen of his private aircraft. Why should that be the case?

“First and foremost, we need to be represented at such an international meeting, where we should be well represented by the first two citizens of this country.

“He abandoned that, which means we would have lost certain representation that we deserve at that forum. Two, money will have been spent on advance parties that went ahead of the Vice President. But he abandoned the journey altogether.”

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