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Ortom’s Ceaseless Diatribes Against Atiku: A Call for Restraint

Published

3 years ago

November 9, 2022

Eric

By Terry T Waya

It has become necessary for me as a mutual friend of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, to intervene and correct some misleading insinuations peddled in recent media outbursts.

I wish to begin by stating that I have stood by Governor Samuel Ortom through all his political challenges beginning from his unfair treatment in the hands of the PDP landlords which forced his defection to the APC. I was one of the stakeholders who paved the path to his crossover to the APC where he was instantly rewarded with the gubernatorial ticket of the Party. In the course of his successful campaign to be Governor, I learnt my modest financial, moral and security support.

Sometime last year, my friend and associate of several years, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Wazirin Adamawa informed me that he needed to meet with my Governor, to sort out some issues that seemed to brew tensions between them as well as to seek his support in the PDP Presidential Primaries. I swung into action and got the Governor’s consent for us to proceed to Makurdi on a Sunday. I led a delegation of political leaders, who accompanied the Waziri to the People’s House in Makurdi where in spite of initial misgivings, the Governor hosted us very well.

Since then, Alhaji Atiku has always sought my counsel in every matter involving him and my Governor.

Shortly after the PDP primaries with Atiku emerging victorious, I was mandated to engage Governor Ortom for the purpose of peace, reconciliation and cooperation.

Several meetings were held in the pursuit of the above goals despite incessant attacks on the Former Vice president. I even engaged close members of his family, who advised that he should embrace peace to which he agreed.

To my greatest worry, the hostility became aggravated with the supporters of both parties and sometimes the principals themselves exchanging words.

I was once again brought in to help broker a meeting between the two leaders. When I approached Governor Ortom, he gave a condition which must be fulfilled before he could come to the roundtable. The condition was that Atiku must talk to him like he has been doing with the four other Governors. The Waziri agreed to the meeting after speaking with Governor Ortom, and they both agreed to meet upon the return of the Governor from one of his numerous trips abroad.

However, Governor Ortom backed out of the scheduled meeting because of comments by Atiku in Kaduna to the effect that Governor confided in him that Tiv people steal cows from his farm. I totally understand Governor Ortom’s anxiety given that this accusation is coming against the background that he had earlier called Tiv people drunkards.

Governor Ortom after yet another intervention from me demanded an apology from the former VP. Despite his age and status, Atiku bent over backwards and apologised.

I was still in the process of getting my two friends back together when matters took an ugly bend. Governor Ortom had gone to the residence of the PDP National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu and rained expletives on him in the presence of Senator Gabriel Suswam. In that shocking encounter, Ortom called Ayu unprintable names like Fulani slave, corrupt politician, etc.

At this point, my appeal to Atiku to meet with Ortom led to Atiku seeking guarantees from me that such a meeting will not result in physical harm to himself, and neither should it become a platform to profile his race. Atiku also said the meeting must take place in my house.
My attention was later drawn to a video clip in which Governor Ortom openly disparaged the former VP and vowed “never to be a slave of the Fulani”.

This statement is to say the least reckless and does grievous harm to our behind the scene efforts to achieve reconciliation .

I can say with confidence that Atiku Abubakar in spite of the hostility still has a special fondness for Governor Ortom, and is still open for dialogue.

As the man caught up in the middle of this crossfire, I can say with confidence that there is nothing personal, neither are there any fundamental issues that cannot be amicably resolved. I know for a fact that both personalities are united in the common goal of winning the 2023 elections. There is therefore, no need to continue along the path of venomous attacks. As a senior stakeholder, who hails from Benue State, I shall continue to positively engage with my Governor and would not stop from telling him to refrain from being externally influenced to burn bridges he may need for himself and his people in the near future.

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TEF Entrepreneurship: Tony Elumelu Foundation Sets March 22 to Announce 2026 Cohort

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Eric

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs will announce the 12th cohort of the flagship TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

In 2026, the Foundation will empower a total of 3,200 entrepreneurs across all its entrepreneurship programmes:
1,751 entrepreneurs through Heirs Holdings Group: Heirs Energies, Transcorp Power, Transcorp Hotels, and United Capital; 1,049 entrepreneurs in partnership with the European Commission, OACPS, BMZ and GIZ; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with Sèmè City Development Agency; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with DEG, the German Development Agency; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited and the Dutch Government; and 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with UNDP and the Rwandan Ministry of Youth and Arts.

Applications to the flagship programme were received from over 265,000 young Africans, representing all 54 African countries, underscoring Africa’s vibrant entrepreneurial sector and the funding challenge for entrepreneurs. The new cohort will join the TEF Alumni community of more than 24,000 entrepreneurs.

The selection process is conducted by Ernst & Young, ensuring an independent and rigorous assessment of applicants.

Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, access to world-class business management training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and entry into a powerful network of investors, partners, and other entrepreneurs.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered over 2.5 million young Africans with access to business management training on our proprietary digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed over US$100 million in seed capital to more than 24,000 selected entrepreneurs. Collectively, these entrepreneurs have generated $4.2 billion in revenue and created more than 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Through our support for African entrepreneurs, TEF has lifted 2.1 million Africans above the poverty line, and positively impacted more than 4 million African households, with 46% of supported entrepreneurs being African women.

Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:

“The future of Africa will be built by Africans who create businesses, generate jobs and solve the challenges of our continent. At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we believe that empowering entrepreneurs is the most sustainable path to Africa’s economic transformation.

I look forward to announcing and congratulating the 2026 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and look forward to witnessing the impact they will create across our continent.”

The general public is invited to join, virtually.

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Eid-El-Fitr: Glo Felicitates with Muslims, Urges National Unity, Compassion

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Eric

High premium Technology Company, Globacom, has felicitated with Muslims across Nigeria as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitr festival which marks the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

In a goodwill message released in Lagos, the company commended the resilience and devotion shown by the faithful during the 30 days of spiritual reflection, sacrifice, and abstinence.

Globacom emphasized the importance of love, sacrifice, and community, encouraging Nigerians to embody these values.

The company explained that the end of Ramadan should serve as a springboard for continued personal growth, urging Nigerians to “use Eid-El-Fitri as a moment to reflect on their spiritual journey, promote the spirit of being one’s brother’s keeper, regardless of faith or background, and make sacrifices towards building a more prosperous and peaceful nation for all”.

Globacom enjoined its millions of subscribers to utilize the network’s innovative and affordable data and voice offerings to enhance their festive experience. It reaffirmed its commitment to providing seamless connectivity and ensuring that family and friends can stay in touch, share moments of joy, and exchange Sallah greetings throughout the holidays and beyond.

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Reno, Fani-Kayode’s Brains Configured to Say Anything and Delete – Dele Momodu

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Renowned journalist and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Dele Momodu, has come down hard on two loyalists of President Bola Tinubu, Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode, who were ambassadors-designate, before being posted to Mexico and Germany respectively.

Momodu, in a statement titled Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode: A Tale of Two Shameless friends, and posted on his verified social media handles, including Instagram, noted that the two men have proved themselves as very ‘shameless’, with brains configured to say anything and delete immediately.

While referring to Reno and Fani-Kayode as two perpetual agents of perfidy’, Momodu informed that his statement was in other not to give the ‘two…friends’ the impression to think they could bully him into silence and submission.

“No. They can’t. They both have no credibility whatsoever. Together, they’ve expressed the worst views ever about BOLA TINUBU that they will never be able to erase, or clean up, in a million years, except the world finally comes to an end,” he said.

While maintaining that he stands by his qualification of President Tinubu as a dictator, he clarified that the duo of Rwno and Fani-Kayode has disparaged and said worst things about Tinubu in the past, with whom they are hobnobbying with at the present.

Momodu revealed that his suspension of his weekly column on ThisDay and The Boss Newspaper was out of respect for some Yoruba elders, for Tinubu, and not to be critical of him as he did to his predecessors, saying that he has nothing against the president except for his consistent dive into the world of dictatorship and tyranny.

The Ovation Magazine publisher berated the duo of Reno and Fani-Kayode for severally reaching out to him privately for publicity. He also boted that he is not a victim of poor upbringing as the two men constantly portray. He further contrasted himself from the two men, saying he does not fight like pigs, and unlike the duo, has a job.

Read the statement in full

RENO OMOKRI & FEMI FANI-KAYODE: A TALE OF TWO SHAMELESS FRIENDS…

I was going to ignore these two perpetual agents of perfidy but later decided to respond to them just in case they think they could bully me into 🔕 silence and submission.

No. They can’t. They both have no credibility whatsoever. Together, they’ve expressed the worst views ever about BOLA TINUBU that they will never be able to erase, or clean up, in a million years, except the world finally comes to an end.

The only reason I could adduce for Tinubu’s tolerance of both irritants is desperation and his inability to find better people to do the dirty jobs. The brains of these ones have been configured to say anything and delete immediately.

I have never disparaged TINUBU in my life. I have never called him a murderer. I have never called him a drug baron or addict. I’m intelligent enough, not to say what I have no proof of. Only morons talk without thinking. I thank God for good upbringing. I do not fight like pigs. And I have a job and manage my modest income. I’m not seeking government appoints. I know how many times Femi and Reno have reached out to me, privately, either begging for publicity or apologizing for attacking me publicly.

All I have accused Tinubu of is DICTATORSHIP and I stand by it with my full chest. I oppose tyranny because I once suffered under it. Chief Moshood Abiola won an election but dictatorship deprived him of his victory. Why should we replace military dictators with civilian slavemasters. That’s my only grouse against TINUBU. Because of our past association, I have been partial and generous to him by not being as critical of him as I did to his predecessors.
Because of TINUBU, I stopped writing my PENDULUM column on the Backpage of Thisday and The Boss newspapers. Also, out of respect for Yoruba elder statesmen, including retired Generals who pleaded that we give him time to stabilize. They are alive to bear me witness.

How Femi and Reno can continue to harass people on behalf of a TINUBU they’ve permanently damaged and sent to the cleaners really baffles me.

But this is Nigeria…

– AARE BASORUN AKINROGUN DELE MOMODU