Opinion

Ovie Omo-Agege and His Crass Vituperations

Published

4 months ago

November 21, 2022

Eric

By Jackson Ekwugum

Over the weekend, the good people of Delta State and, indeed, many Nigerians were assaulted with the vile propaganda that is the stock-in-trade of the All Progressives Congress. Addressing a press conference, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC governorship candidate for Delta State launched a tirade against the Governor of Delta State and PDP Vice-Presidential Candidate, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as well as Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the PDP governorship candidate. The entire statement and his comments during the APC Presidential rally in Warri were riddled with fallacies, distortions, outright lies, unsubstantiated claims, and deliberate misinformation. They were served on a platter of malice with an unmistakable diabolical intent to spread disaffection and foment disunity among the good people of Delta State.

The APC Presidential rally in Warri was nothing but a failed attempt to divert attention from their monumental failure at the centre. The APC rode into power in 2015 promising to fight insecurity, corruption, and improve the economy. Nigerians, including APC members, know that on all three counts, the APC-led Federal Government has been an unmitigated disaster. Nigeria has never been more insecure than it is today. Corruption has grown wings under the APC, and the economy has hit rock bottom. Today, the naira is exchanging for N800 to a dollar as against their promise to make one naira equal to a dollar. Our external debt now stands at a staggering $40 billion as at the second quarter of this year, no thanks to the rubber stamp Senate where Omo-Agege is Deputy President.

Instead of apologizing to Nigerians for the pain and suffering they have been subjected to under their misrule, Omo-Agege and his band of political opportunists are busy reeling out phantom figures in a futile bid to confuse and deceive them. The length and breadth of the country are littered with failing and failed federal roads, including Agbor-Abraka-Eku Road and Warri-Sapele-Benin road, which makes you wonder what the loans were used for. It is shameful that Omo-Agege as Deputy Senate President could not prevail on the federal government to rehabilitate these roads that have remained a nightmare to motorists. The same scenario applies to the sea ports, which is the sole responsibility of the Federal Government. After almost years, is it now that the APC realised that the Warri Sea Port is not functional?

Omo-Agege and his co-travellers continue to deviously push the false narrative of financial profligacy in Delta State. The truth of the matter is that we have over N320bn in receivables including the N292bn refund by FAAC as part of illegal deductions before the payment of the 13% derivation. The Federal Government promised to pay in equal instalments of N13b over a period of five years. This compelled the government to request a drawdown of N150bn under receivable discounting which lingered until recently when 30bn was drawn. It is instructive to note that it was Governor Okowa who broke the news to Deltans and informed them that N25b has been channelled to ongoing projects while N5b was deployed to defray outstanding pension liabilities. Talk about openness and transparency!

The Okowa administration has judiciously utilized every money that it has received either from FAAC or IGR. Completed and ongoing road projects in the state number 883 covering a total length of 1, 932.14 kilometres while drainage channels have a cumulative length of 1,035.95 kilometres. Because Omo-Agege’s idea of politics and development begins and ends with his native Orogun, he does not know that it was Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who commissioned the flagship 20.28km Obotobo I – Obotobo II – Sokebolou–Yokri – Road in Burutu local government area. Riverine communities like Burutu, Oporoza, Okerenkoko, and Benekrukru have been given a facelift with road infrastructure of the most vital interest and consequence by the Okowa administration.

Six bridges have been completed while an additional 15, including the Koka Flyover and Interchange on Benin Asaba Expressway, are at various stages of construction. The ultra-modern Central Secretariat Complex, an architectural masterpiece that was, again, commissioned by Vice-president Osinbajo, and the Ogheye Floating Market are two other signature projects of the administration. Meanwhile, three new universities have been established while nine new model technical colleges are nearing completion. Then there is the Stephen Keshi Stadium, the Asaba Storm Water Drainage, and the ongoing Warri Storm Water drainage projects. In human capital development, the Okowa administration has trained and produced 14,075 youth entrepreneurs while the state has maintained its leadership position in universal health coverage with over 1.2m enrollees (20% of the population) in the health insurance scheme.

I am not at all surprised that Omo-Agege is not ready to run an issue-based campaign as has been canvassed. This is a desperate power monger whose name has gone down in history as a political bandit. He needs to be reminded that Nigerians have not forgotten his dubious role in the infamous mace saga, which remains the greatest assault on our democracy and legislative freedom. It would have been too much to expect a man whose name has become synonymous with political subterfuge and brigandage to suddenly embrace the fine art of constructive engagement and ideological debates to sell himself and woo the electorate. As the saying goes, you can only give what you have, and all that Omo-Agege has to offer is his mischief, uncouthness, brazen lies, wild conjectures, vile propaganda, and bolekaja mentality. Even his half-hearted attempt to present a manifesto was nothing more than a cheap copy and paste job.

It is ironic that Omo-Agege would dare to pillory the emergence of Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the PDP governorship candidate in Delta State. It would have been laughable were it not so pathetic. It is common knowledge that Oborevwori emerged through a free, transparent, and credible primary election that was broadcast live on national television where Oborevwori defeated twelve other contestants with 591 votes out of 821 total votes cast. Compare that to Omo-Agege who, in his usual crude and despotic manner, hijacked the electoral process in the APC, connived with powerful forces to prevent others from contesting, and crowned himself the winner of a kangaroo primary election. Again, the outcome of that exercise did not come as a surprise. Omo-Agege’s antecedents first as Executive Assistant, later Commissioner and SSG in the state exposed him as a selfish, self-centred, bigoted, and heartless individual who would stop at nothing, including using underhanded methods, to get his desire at the expense of others.

That Omo-Agege would continue to parade himself as the architect of the new Electoral Act despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary speaks volumes of his character as an inveterate liar, serial deceiver, and traitor. Nigerians remember very well how this rabble rouser stood on the floor of the Senate and spoke and voted against electronic transmission of results because, according to him, there was no sufficient network in Nigeria to make that possible. For him to now seek to claim credit for what Nigerians fought for is the height of political chicanery.

Similarly, Omo-Agege wants to posture as a champion of southern presidency. Yet, it is on record that he led Senate President Ahmed Lawan’s campaign to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. The truth of the matter is that such terms as equity, fairness, and justice, have no place in Omo-Agege’s dictionary. It is on record that he has been a staunch opponent of power shift in Delta State. Since 2007, he has contested the governorship, jumping from one party to another in the manner of a shameless political prostitute. Recall that in 2019 when some leaders of the APC sought to zone the governorship ticket to Delta North, he vehemently opposed it and the only aspirant who dared to contest almost lost his life. That is vintage Omo-Agege – vicious, cruel, and barbaric.

Deltans know better than to commit their fortunes and future into the hands of a notorious political bandit. And as for Senator Emilokan, clearly this is a man that is mentally and physically unfit to occupy the office he is aspiring to. There is really no need to respond to him because he is daily making himself a nuisance and laughing stock to Nigerians. Truly, I have compassion on him, and I hope that sooner than later, those close to him will come to his aid and rescue him from continually making himself a national embarrassment.

Ekwugum is Manager, Communications, Government House, Asaba

Opinion

Fani-Kayode: The Man and His Belly

Published

3 hours ago

April 1, 2023

Eric

By Danjuma Garba

We are disturbed by the recent inciting comments by a former Aviation Minister and Director of News Media, All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Recently, the media has been awash with reports of Fani-Kayode’s inciting rhetoric targeted at causing ethnic disharmony and widespread violence across the nation. We can no longer continue to ignore his excesses as they pose a grave danger to our democracy, unity and security.

Recall that his ethnic profiling and inciting statements fuelled unprecedented violence against non-Yoruba voters in Lagos State at the just-concluded governorship poll. We find totally unacceptable, his recent threat to make the country ungovernable should Bola Ahmed Tinubu not be sworn in. This is a threat against national peace and security and should not be ignored by all relevant security agencies.

Already, his rancorous and misguided outbursts had attracted the attention of the international community. A British envoy addressed him and pointed out the dangers of his inciting statements. However, instead of retracting his statements, he went wild against the envoy with derogatory remarks and tirades unbefitting of a supposed statesman.

Femi Fani-Kayode is infamous in Nigeria for his opportunistic political misadventures. He is a rabble-rouser whose only political value is the noise he makes and the ripples of disaffection it causes.

He has never contested, won or lost an election. His is to parasitically attach himself to the winning side and look for any available financial opportunity to sustain his extravagant and drug-ridden lifestyle.

He is a craven man who rides behind the trails of valiant men to glean the spoils of war. And while waiting for the spoils, he can go to the extremes of verbal assaults, name-calling and denigration of opponents.

His method of political engagement is crude, savage, hostile and barbaric. He does not spare vices however indecorous in his quest to appear loyal to his paymasters. He is a known groveler who does the “dirty jobs” for his paymasters in return for “food”. Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s description of him as a foodie who does the bidding of anyone who gives him “food” is very apt. He is a man with zero integrity and decorum.

As a result of his unprincipled approach to life in general, and to politics in particular, he has no allegiance to any political party or ideology. He has loyalty only to his stomach. And when he is done eating, he scatters the table and spites the host. His eloquence is fuelled by the sight of food rather than being inspired by a cause, reason or logic. He is a political pariah who, like a hawk, flies about looking for only what to eat.

Femi Fani-Kayode is such a despicable figure that is awful and abhorrent in private life and unfit for public offices.

No wonder, he has been married four times, and all four women left him. No one can cope with Femi’s childish, belligerent, narcissistic and immoral behaviour. His mouth is full of bile proceeding from the dark enclaves of his bankrupt and untutored soul.

One wonders what a man who has failed in virtually everything, is doing in the corridors of power. For being unable to lead his private life, he is totally unfit to lead others. He is a confirmed public and private failure.

The incompetent junkie once blamed

witches for the plane crashes that happened under his watch as the aviation minister.

But how did Femi Fani-Kayode come about? Available records show that he was born to Chief Remilekun Adekunbo Fani-Kayode. Femi trained as a lawyer, a supposed educated man.

In age, Femi is supposed to be a man in his sixties being born on 16 October, 1960, but in character and conduct, he is a delinquent adolescent always running in and out of trouble with his unbridled tongue.

With his unstable and volatile character, one doubts if his education goes beyond his ability to read and write. Education is beyond mere literacy; it refines character, shapes perceptions, enhances tolerance and imparts civility.

The sum total of these is what is called civilization. But Fani-Kayode lacks the basic ingredients of true education. His uncouth manners speak more of a pretentious barbarian at the gate of civilization than of a truly educated and civilized person. His ethnic bigotry smacks of a pre-historic man in a band of hunters and fruit gatherers. His level of clannishness and intolerance is totally antithetical to civilization.

What an educated head ruled by a bankrupt mind and moribund soul! He refused to allow his intellectual engagements to tamper with his ethnic crudity and absurdity.

He represents the fading generation of African elites who continue to hold on to sentiments that are intolerant of others and inimical to a free, fair and inclusive society. They are the worst hindrance to inter-ethnic harmony and national unity in Africa.

Femi pathetically carries underneath his flamboyant attire, a deeply troubled, stark naked, abysmally wretched and utterly miserable soul. Such a pity!

It is against all sensibility that such an unhinged and irresponsible fellow should be elevated to the point of having political visibility in a civilized and democratic society. In saner climes, moral imbeciles like him are quarantined as societal outcasts and persona non grata.

Though his ill-fated foray into politics began quite early, whatever patronage he has enjoyed came on the heels of his family’s name and influence rather than on the strength of his personal merit or capacity. He lacks in totality, the character and conduct of an adult, let alone the attributes of a statesman.

We, therefore, call on the ruling party to amend their initial mistake of appointing Femi Fani-Kayode into their campaign council by distancing themselves from his inciting and bigoted comments.

He is such a political liability and should not be considered for any political appointment in both the nearest and distant future. Already, he is trying to cause a diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Kingdom with his recent tantrum against the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, who tried to address his excesses.

We would be forced to believe that Femi Fani-Kayode is doing the biddings of the ruling party to destroy Nigeria if drastic punitive actions are not taken against him.

Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police, and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) to arrest within 48hours, Femi Fani-Kayode for posing a grave threat to national security with his ceaseless inciting statements and ethnic profiling. This is to serve as a deterrent to other tribal bigots, and overzealous politicians.

Opinion

Open Letter to Bayo Onanuga by Richard Akinnola

Published

3 hours ago

April 1, 2023

Eric

My dear Bayo,

I hope you are now happy and satisfied, that the National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has sanctioned CHANNELS with a N5 million fine, following your petition over the Datti Ahmed’s interview on CHANNELS.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr Olu Onagoruwa ( both of blessed memories) were the best of friends for several years but that friendship was truncated when the latter decided to join the Abacha junta as the Attorney-General, churning out despicable Decrees. Their relationship ended and Gani publicly upbraided his erstwhile friend.

You and l have been friends for several years, fought many battles together against the military, particularly against their onslaught on the free press. I therefore feel terribly pained that l have to publicly upbraid you for your recent public statements, particularly your petition against CHANNELS tv, to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Et tu, Bayo? I’m still trying to wrap my heads round your sudden 360 degrees against all you fought for under the military. You are yet to be in government and you have started exhibiting intolerance against the independent media, the same thing you fought for all your years, like Dr Onagoruwa did. I’m sure your principal, who has been a lover of free press, would be embarrassed by your position.

I watched the interview under reference and l must say, you are VERY UNFAIR to Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor man who repeatedly cautioned Datti Ahmed for making some seemingly inciting comments, to the anger and discomfiture of Datti Ahmed. So, in all conscience, what then is the basis of your petition to the NBC? Can you compare that to your recent incendiary post against an ethnic group? Why are you making enemies for your principal, instead of friends, in a country so polarized? While your principal is preaching unity and healing, you are busy trying to make more enemies for him. Yesterday, it was ARISE, today, it is CHANNELS. Is that a foretaste of what to experience in the incoming government? So, we should be fixated on NTA and TVC, isn’t that what you are trying to tell proverbially? To say that I’m totally embarrassed by your silly conduct, would be stating it mildly.

For eight years, despite all vitriolic attacks on the president, Femi Adesina, as Special Adviser, Media to the president, did not petition against any medium but you wey never enter, don dey censor the media. What a shame! I can expect the disaster that awaits us if you become the presidential spokesperson. Do l subscribe to unfettered press freedom? No. I believe every freedom comes with responsibility. However, when you create a perception that the incoming government would be intolerant of the free press, we need to sound the alarm bell.

My dear Bayo, it is often said that until a man tastes power or has access to money, you can’t judge his character. That may not be totally true because one of our mutual friends, Tunji Bello, has tasted both but has been his normal self that l have known for over three decades. His decent character has not changed, in and out of government. So, could it be that your real character is just unfolding? Just because you are now at the periphery of power, you are ready to obliterate all the values and principles you held all these years. What a shame!

TAKE NOTICE that we would fight this your planned “insurrection” against the independent media the way we, including you, fought Abacha’s dictatorship against the media.

RICHARD AKINNOLA

Postscriptum: Before l wrote this open letter, l had informed some of our mutual friends, so that they won’t feel embarrassed.

Opinion

Voice of Emancipation: Who Will Pay Buhari’s Debt?

Published

6 hours ago

April 1, 2023

Eric

By Kayode Emola

In less than two months, President Mohammadu Buhari will relinquish the exalted position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will however, not take with him the huge debt he bestowed on the country, and that would be left for both the incoming and future governments or their successor when Nigeria eventually breaks up to pay. The question remains as to who will pay this huge debt as there are over 130 million Nigerians living below the poverty line today.

Just this week, the Chinese government rejected Buhari’s further request for an additional loan of ₦10.1trn ($22bn), from the China-Exim Bank which was earlier approved by the morally bankrupt Nigeria National Assembly. The said loan was intended to fund the modernisation of the Kano – Kaduna segment of the Nigerian Railway. The obvious question to ask is, how much has that Railway line generated in the past 3 years to justify that humongous loan facilities for an outgoing government.

This is not minding the fact that Buhari is leaving the Nigerian people with ₦46.25trn ($101.87bn) external debt and a financially depressed nation. With the cost of living biting hard and many strong financial institutions around the world feeling the pinch, I believe it is time to take stock. We recall that Buhari came to power on a mandate of hope, however, if there is anything to go by in the last 8-years, it is anything but hope, in fact, I believe Nigerians should be very afraid of the direction the country is going.

A lot of the self-determination activists who are not well grounded in freedom struggle believe our quest for freedom stemmed from the extrajudicial killing by the armed Fulani militia. That is not the basis of our decision to leave an unproductive country like Nigeria. Many of our people are facing far more untimely death on a daily basis because of bad governance in Nigeria and this cannot continue without a permanent solution which is a total withdrawal from the Nigeria framework. The people in power are creating more havoc on ordinary Nigerians than all the armed terrorist groups put together.

This is a compelling reason why we must be more vocal and succinct in our message delivery to the ordinary man on the street, who is not well-versed or have reliable information. With our teeming population and abundant natural resources, Nigeria should be among the 5 biggest economies in the world. The recent developmental strides in Dubai and Qatar are supposed to be child’s play compared to Nigeria’s achievement in the last 62 years of independence. Our economy is however led by reckless government officials, who have riddled with loans that cannot be repaid if we continue on this trajectory.

To my fellow Yoruba countrymen who are happy that a Yoruba man is going to be President of Nigeria, a country with a fraudulent constitution, and hoping for a miracle. I will say, think again; as I pity our stupidity for lack of wisdom. We will come to bite our fingers in the nearest future if we don’t double our efforts right now to get out of Nigeria. If we remain trapped in this contraption called Nigeria for whatever reason, either by our own making or otherwise, then our children and future generations may never forgive our docility.

We cannot continue to live in a country where we the Yoruba contribute the largest share of its revenue, yet has nothing to show for it, order than parade political jobbers as an achievement. If that is not stupidity, then I will like to know what happened to free basic education and healthcare started over 70 years in Yorubaland by Chief Awolowo. Yet, many of our children are now out of school because their parents can’t afford exorbitant school fees in private facilities. Why are we allowing many innocent lives to die because of poor health facilities and a lack of adequate social amenities?

The lists of vices go on and on, which I wouldn’t want to dwell on. I will only want to drive home one fact, the only solution is the complete exit from the Nigerian structure. If anyone is thinking we can remain in Nigeria and develop our region, it is like eating your cake and hoping to have it again at the end of the day.

The time for ‘uhuru’ (freedom) is now and we must do everything within our power to get it. I see many power tussles going on in the self-determination struggle itself, and this is not a healthy environment to thrive. We need to consolidate our efforts, not by forcing people into submission but by dialogue, without which we cannot get a consensus. Without that, we will continue to toil endlessly with nothing to show for it.

I implore all the acclaimed self-determination groups to as a matter of urgency come together and chart a way forward for the Yoruba struggle. Without that, many people will be doing excellent work in their closest but may not be enough to reach the end goal which is a free independent Yoruba nation.

I hope talented people will be given the opportunity to thrive so that the necessary tools needed to accelerate our struggle are put to good use. The Yoruba nation is within reach, but it risks being jeopardised by many charlatans who know nothing about the struggle for an independent nation. We can continue to dance around, but if we don’t hit the nail on the head, we may remain on this mountain for a long time to come. My prayer is that we get it right on time so that we can save the millions of our trapped population in poverty with no hope of salvation.