Official Blog of Amaka Nwachukwu

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Fani-Kayode Forced Me to Say Bellview Plane was Bombed- Ozoka

Femi-Fani-Kayode25.jpg - Femi-Fani-Kayode25.jpg

The slanging match over compromised safety standards and the mismanagement of the nation’s aviation sector has taken another turn with the allegation made by the pioneer Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Angus Ozoka that he was ordered by a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, to inform the world that the Bellview Airlines Boeing 737-200 aircraft, which crashed at Lisa, Ogun State on October 22, 2005, was bombed during the investigation of the accident early in 2007.

The Bellview Airlines' crash led to the death of 117 people who were on board the aircraft.

But in reaction, the former minister, who served under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and has since the Associated Airlines crash two weeks ago been engaged in a duel with the current Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, dismissed the allegation, calling Ozoka a “pathological liar” with an axe to grind following his removal.

Ozoka, who spoke exclusively to THISDAY in an interview, said: “At a time everybody knew they were singing a song that it was a bomb that blew down the Bellview aircraft.

“So when somebody was appointed aviation minister (Fani-Kayode) in 2006. He said to me, call a press briefing and announce that it was a bomb that blew down the airplane. We were still investigating the crash then and he said that right in his office with his permanent secretary, his aides and other staff.

“It was not a one-on-one directive, everybody was there. And I said I would not do it. I said: ‘Hon. Minister I will not do it. It was not a bomb I will not do it’. Then he said: ‘I hope you know I can remove you.’ I said: ‘You are the Honourable Minister’.”

Elaborating, Ozoka added: “When I was in AIB investigating that fatal crash on October 22, 2005 that killed 117 people, I was forced to hand over to somebody who was the Director of Air Worthiness at NCAA when the crash happened. He was advised not to allow the plane to fly and he defied the advice.

“When the crash happened, he was removed. Only for somebody that called himself a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to bring that same person and appointed him to head the investigation into that crash as Commissioner of AIB.”

Ozoka admitted he was angry at the level of hypocrisy in the country and the criticism concerning the recent Associated Airlines' crash, noting that many of those who are talking now, were aware of why he was removed and replaced by somebody who indirectly had a hand in the crash to investigate the accident. "and none of these people that are talking now saw anything wrong with that appointment; none of them said anything against that. If they said anything, let them produce what they said so i dont take their criticism seriously.

To me, that is the height of hypocrisy. The people who are enticing now knew what happened. They were in the system; none condemned that action. I don't take the seriously and that is why I said a lot of people go to the television to make noise.

“Aviation is not where you go and make noise. A plane has crashed; we are supposed to be in mourning," he said.

Ozoka also dismissed the notion that there might have been two reports on the Bellview crash, noting that his work might have been abandoned because it did not tally with what his successor wanted, but it was his report that was concluded by the present Commissioner and Chief Executive of AIB, Muktar Usman.

“I submitted a preliminary report, submitted an interim report, and submitted an updated report. We had not got to the conclusion and safety recommendations before I was removed. I spent over two years there.

“When the person that took over from me came in, it is possible that the report that I submitted wouldn’t be in tandem with what he wanted, so it was delayed until luckily, God in His own way made it that the person was removed.

“Then Captain Usman was appointed and completed the report, following the footsteps of what I had laid down," he said.

Ozoka said when he was removed, he wrote and informed all the security agencies, disclosing: “I told them that the aviation ministry wanted to manipulate the investigation."

According to him, “I copied the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service (SSS), National Security Adviser, Senate Committee on Aviation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service and Civil Service Commission and said they wanted to manipulate the investigation.

“It was only the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the time that wrote a letter to the Ministry of Aviation asking why were they doing this? Nobody else said anything.”

Ozoka explained that the establishment of AIB required National Assembly legislation for the establishment Act, which took at least one year and a public hearing before it was signed into law, stating that it was not Fani-Kayode that established AIB.

“AIB was established by an Act of parliament and to pass a law takes one to two years, so the former minister cannot say that he was the one who established AIB, although it was signed into law by the then president (Obasanjo) on November 14, while the minister was appointed on November 7, 2006, so how did he establish AIB?” he asked.

But a personal aide to Fani-Kayode, Taiwo Lawal, yesterday denied the allegation, saying Ozoka was a liar and had falsified the reports of the accidents that had occurred at the time because he was a corrupt man.

“How the former minister could have asked him to include something in a report that was submitted a year before we came into office beats my imagination.

“His report was formally submitted to Chief Fani-Kayode’s predecessor in office before he became Minister of Aviation so the suggestion that he or anyone else asked Ozoka to doctor his report and say that there was a bomb or anything else on board is ludicrous.

“How can you doctor or change something that had already been submitted and released? The reason that Ozoka was sacked was because Chief Fani-Kayode discovered that he was incompetent and all his reports about air crashes had question marks.

“The former minister suspected him of doctoring accident reports and he told him that to his face and promptly sacked him,” Lawal said.

Lawal maintained that Ozoka was lying and alleged that all the accident investigation reports he submitted were unreliable.

“It was not only the Bellview crash report that he submitted that was suspicious and unreliable but all the reports he submitted, of all the five crashes that took place between 2005 and 2006 that resulted in the death of 453 people.

“Consequently, he had to go because the former minister felt the federal government could not protect the lives of air travellers as long as such a questionable and shady character was in the aviation sector.

“The final report of the investigation on the Bellview crash which commenced after Chief Fani-Kayode left office and which was conducted by the new AIB, a new agency which the former minister set up after Ozoka's exit, vindicated his position about Ozoka's earlier report because it contradicted all his findings,” Lawal added.

Lawal noted that the final report of the Bellview crash was not submitted until 2010, a good three years after Fani-Kayode left office.

“If you have any doubts about the fact that it contradicted Ozoka's earlier report substantially, ask Engineer (Sam) Oduselu (Ozoka’s successor), who was the person that was in charge of AIB when the investigation was conducted and who submitted that report to both the present minister and the one that came before her, for a copy.

“The report was meant to be passed on to the president but it never was. Dr. (Harold) Demuren, who was in charge of NCAA (Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority) at the time and the American NTSB investigation agency were also given copies of Oduselu's report in 2010.

“Chief Fani-Kayode did the right and proper thing by sacking that man Ozoka because he was a disaster and a danger to the Nigerian air-traveller,” Lawal said.

The former minister’s aide said even former President Obasanjo felt the same way about Ozoka which is why he approved his sack and gave Fani-Kayode permission to set up a “new and more or less independent agency.”

The new AIB, he said, was autonomous of the ministry and an entirely new parastatal set up specially to investigate aircrashes and to report directly to the president in the event of a crash.

About a year after the Bellview crash, a kite was flown by some government officials in the aviation sector who had alleged that a bomb was planted on board the ill-fated aircraft.

Those in the know said the story was propagated in order to absolve the airline of liability and manipulate the insurance claim on the aircraft.

But the bomb conspiracy theory was in stark contrast to the investigative report made available by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and AIB, which attributed the crash to a technical problem with the aircraft and pilot error.

AIB’s investigation report had said: “The investigation considered several factors that could explain the accident. They include the PIC (Pilot in Command) training of the captain before taking command of the B737 aircraft, which was inadequate. The cumulative flight hours of the pilot in the days before the accident which was indicative of excessive workload that could lead to fatigue.”

Furthermore, the AIB investigative report revealed that the airplane had technical defects and should not have been dispatched for either the accident flight or earlier flights.

Police arrest fake Colonel claiming to be Jonathan’s ADC

The Ogun State Police Command said, yesterday, that it has arrested a 50-year-old fake Colonel Hassan Ayinde for claiming to be ADC to President President Goodluck Jonathan.

The suspect, who claimed to have come from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State was reportedly nabbed while using the name of the President to beg for money to purchase ram for the Eid-el Kabir in Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement made available in Abeokuta.

Adejobi said “the suspect was arrested in the palace of Alagbado of Agbado, His Royal Highness, Oba Adedayo Shyllon on Monday, October 14, at about 1400hrs.” when he claimed to be a Colonel and the Aide De Camp(ADC) to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and was soliciting for help to buy ram for sallah.

“The traditional ruler became suspicious of him when he claimed to be the ADC to the president and begging for money to purchase ram for sallah; and the traditional ruler immediately informed the police and he was arrested.

“On interrogation, Mr Hassan confessed to be a dismissed Air Force officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but impersonates Colonel to make ends meet. He said he attended the military school in 1979 and posted to Zuru Kebbi State as a lance corporal; and that he attended the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1980 and passed out in 1985.

“The fake colonel said he worked with the presidency in 1997 before he was dismissed in the year 1999 as a Wing Commander.

“The suspect, who claims to be residing at the National Defence College, is cooling his feet in our custody and will be charged to court at the end of our investigation.

“The Command therefore appeals to the general public to beware of such fraudsters who may want to dupe them of their earnings and always contact the police whenever they are in doubt.

Culled from Vanguard; October 17, 2013.

October 17, 2013

EOKUTA — The Ogun State Police Com-mand said, yesterday, that it has arrested a 50-year-old fake Colonel Hassan Ayinde for claiming to be ADC to President President Goodluck Jonathan.
The suspect, who claimed to have come from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State was reportedly nabbed while using the name of the President to beg for money to purchase ram for the Eid-el Kabir in Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement made available in Abeokuta.
Adejobi said “the suspect was arrested in the palace of Alagbado of Agbado, His Royal Highness, Oba Adedayo Shyllon on Monday, October 14, at about 1400hrs.” when he claimed to be a Colonel and the Aide
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/police-arrest-fake-colonel-claiming-jonathans-adc/#sthash.svdrmLRm.dpuf

was arrested.
“On interrogation, Mr Hassan confessed to be a dismissed Air Force officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but impersonates Colonel to make ends meet. He said he attended the military school in 1979 and posted to Zuru Kebbi State as a lance corporal; and that he attended the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1980 and passed out in 1985.
“The fake colonel said he worked with the preside
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/police-arrest-fake-colonel-claiming-jonathans-adc/#sthash.iDlBOrvp.dpuf

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Police Com-mand said, yesterday, that it has arrested a 50-year-old fake Colonel Hassan Ayinde for claiming to be ADC to President President Goodluck Jonathan.
The suspect, who claimed to have come from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State was reportedly nabbed while using the name of the President to beg for money to purchase ram for the Eid-el Kabir in Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement made available in Abeokuta.
Adejobi said “the suspect was arrested in the palace of Alagbado of Agbado, His Royal Highness, Oba Adedayo Shyllon on Monday, October 14, at about 1400hrs.” when he claimed to be a Colonel and the Aide De Camp(ADC) to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and was soliciting for help to buy ram for sallah.
“The traditional ruler became suspicious of him when he claimed to be the ADC to the president and begging for money to purchase ram for sallah; and the traditional ruler immediately informed the police and he was arrested.
“On interrogation, Mr Hassan confessed to be a dismissed Air Force officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but impersonates Colonel to make ends meet. He said he attended the military school in 1979 and posted to Zuru Kebbi State as a lance corporal; and that he attended the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1980 and passed out in 1985.
“The fake colonel said he worked with the presidency in 1997 before he was dismissed in the year 1999 as a Wing Commander.
“The suspect, who claims to be residing at the National Defence College, is cooling his feet in our custody and will be charged to court at the end of our investigation.
“The Command therefore appeals to the general public to beware of such fraudsters who may want to dupe them of their earnings and always contact the police whenever they are in doubt.

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- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/police-arrest-fake-colonel-claiming-jonathans-adc/#sthash.iDlBOrvp.dpuf

ies, ASUU, yesterday, in Awka took to the streets on a peaceful protest to prevail on the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with the union in 2009 on the proper funding of the country’s public universities.
The lecturers gathered at the popular Aroma junction in the Anambra State capital as early as 8. 00am, displaying placards with some inscriptions as ‘Kill education, kill development’; ‘Fund education, fund development’; ‘ASUU for quality education’; ‘FG: agreement is agreement’; and ‘Nigeria needs quality education’.
UNIZIK ASUU chairman, Professor Ike Odumegwu, who addressed the lecturers among others, accused politicians and some wealthy Nigerians of deliberately trying to kill education in the country so that their private universities could make education beyond the reach of the poor people.
He said: “The implementation of the agreement borders on morality. We are neither negotiating, nor renegotiating with the Federal Government, but only asking government to implement the agreement it signed with ASUU in 2009.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/asuu-strike-unizik-teachers-protest-non-implementation-agreement-fg/#sthash.3q1Du28v.dpuf

AWKA—MEMBERS of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, in Awka took to the streets on a peaceful protest to prevail on the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with the union in 2009 on the proper funding of the country’s public universities.
The lecturers gathered at the popular Aroma junction in the Anambra State capital as early as 8. 00am, displaying placards with some inscriptions as ‘Kill education, kill development’; ‘Fund education, fund development’; ‘ASUU for quality education’; ‘FG: agreement is agreement’; and ‘Nigeria needs quality education’.
UNIZIK ASUU chairman, Professor Ike Odumegwu, who addressed the lecturers among others, accused politicians and some wealthy Nigerians of deliberately trying to kill education in the country so that their private universities could make education beyond the reach of the poor people.
He said: “The implementation of the agreement borders on morality. We are neither negotiating, nor renegotiating with the Federal Government, but only asking government to implement the agreement it signed with ASUU in 2009.
“In that agreement, government agreed with ASUU on the needs assessment of the universities and agreed to release money for its implementation only for it to turn round now to say that ASUU strike is politically motivated. Government has said ‘no work, no pay’ and ASUU is saying ‘no pay, no work’. Our demand is that our universities should be made to compete with others in the world.
“A situation whereby our rich people send their sick ones to India for medical treatment because our teaching hospitals are in shambles due to lack of proper funding is no longer acceptable.
“Our government is budgeting N3.2 trillion for the building of centenary village, but it cannot release N400 billion to upgrade facilities in the nation’s public universities. If this strike fails, it will result to a number of negative consequences for Nigerian education, including the fact that an average Nigerian student in a federal university will be paying at least N200,000, while over 80 per cent of parents can no longer afford to send their children to the university.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/asuu-strike-unizik-teachers-protest-non-implementation-agreement-fg/#sthash.3q1Du28v.dpuf

Ngige started kidnapping in Anambra – Obi

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday declared in a political rally of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Onitsha that former Governor Chris Ngige introduced kidnapping in the state.

Ngige is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Obi, who called on the people of the state to dismiss as a ruse Ngige’s claim that he was coming to the governorship seat to strengthen the security of the state, said that it was even ironical that Ngige was also the first victim of kidnapping in the state.

Meanwhile, the aspiration of Chief Willie Obiano for the governorship position of Anambra State has received a big boost with the endorsement of his candidacy by several groups, just as they trooped out in their numbers to the Holy Trinity venue of the APGA rally in Onitsha.

Diverse groups, including the members of the state house of assembly, group of former aspirants of the APGA who lost to Obiano at the primary election, all student union bodies in Anambra State and association of Presidents General of the 177 communities in Anambra State, were present at the rally.

Onitsha Bridgehead Traders Association, Truck Drivers Association, Onitsha, Drug Dealers Association, Tricycle Operators Association, various trades unions, youths’ groups, market associations, among others also closed their shops to show solidarity to the APGA candidate.

Addressing citizens of the State, Obiano told them that he had mapped out 10-point agenda which he would use to develop the state, while also promising that he would ensure the continuation of other projects started by Mr. Peter Obi.
Obiano said, “It is time for us to take our destiny in our hands and ensure that we elect the right person. I thank all the various groups that have endorsed me, and I want to invite all of you to come out boldly and do this battle with us.
“People cannot come from elsewhere to begin to dictate for us who should be our leaders. We have special packages for all sectors and groups in the state and we urge you to continue to support us”.

Chief Victor Umeh who introduced Obiano said, “Igbos have agreed on what we will do, and that includes choosing our own leaders by ourselves. Igbos must stand up and speak with one voice, let us not allow people to come from wherever to choose leaders for us.

“APGA is the party for the Igbos, just as APC is the party of the Yorubas”.
Chief Chuekwuemeka Odumegwu Jnr, son of the late leader of the party who represented his father called on the people not to despair. He called on the people to support governor Obi’s enforce to enthrone Obiano who has been thoroughly scrutinized by the party.

“We believe that after his tenure, Obiano will reciprocate our support by choosing a good leader for us. My father; Ikemba Nnewi chose Peter Obi, and he has not disappointed us; now Obi wants to give us a man who will carry on with his vision and we must support him”.

The event was also graced by Senator Chris Anyanwu.

Policemen threaten strike over transfer to Northern states

Some policemen from the Imo State Police Command have vowed to go on strike over their redeployment to some crisis-ridden states in the North.

The aggrieved policemen who met in Benin, Edo State capital, said they would start the strike in November.
They were demanding the reversion of the mass transfer of officers numbering about 100 from the cadre of Inspectors, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Chief Superintendent of Police to the troubled areas in the North.

The officers alleged that their transfer, which they described as punitive, was the handiwork of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Katsina, adding that some of them had remained on a rank for many years without promotion.
However, Police authorities have warned the affected officers to stop blackmailing the Force, saying that the redeployment would not be revisited or changed.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who was reacting to the threat of a strike by some policemen in Imo State Police Command, said that the Nigeria Police Force was a national organisation where police personnel could be deployed to serve in any part of the country.

Mba, while describing the reported threat by the policemen as a rumour, stated that the same rumour was peddled when some policemen were transferred out of Lagos.

But Mba faulted the position of the protesting officers. He said that they could not choose where they would serve, noting that the policemen in the North had as much right as those in Imo State to serve in any part of the country.

“The Nigeria Police Force is a national police, not a state civil service or a state police force. The implication is that you can be asked to serve in any part of the country, and as a police officer, you don’t have the right to choose where to serve or when to serve. It is a call to service. The benefits of being a police officer comes with the burden of discharging the responsibilities attached to being an officer and you can’t choose the benefits and reject the responsibilities,” he said.

Aviation Ministry confirms purchase of N255m vehicles for Oduah

The Aviation Ministry had on Wednesday confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, bought two bulletproof vehicles worth $1.6m (N255m) for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.
Online news site, SaharaReporters, had reported on Tuesday that the vehicles were delivered to the Minister sometime in August.

According to the report, the transaction for the purchase of the two BMW cars had started in June, but the request for the delivery of and payment for them were done between August 13 and 15, 2013.

The transaction involved the NCAA, First Bank of Nigeria, and Coscharis Motors Limited, the online newspaper had claimed.

The two black BMW 760 Li HSS vehicles had chasis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 and WBAHP41010DW68044, and were reportedly delivered to the NCAA on August 13, 2013. They were received by two store Managers, F. Onoabhagbe and Y. A. Amzat, who is also the agency’s head of transport.

However, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the vehicles were purchased to protect the Minister from some external threats.

According to him, “Yes, it is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the honourable Minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life, following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector.

“When she came on board as the Minister, she inherited a lot of baggage in terms of the concession and lease agreements in the sector, which were clearly not in the interest of the government and people of Nigeria.

“And so, she took bold steps and some of these agreements were reviewed and some were terminated, and these moves disturbed some entrenched interests in the sector, and within this period, she began to receive some imminent threats to her life; therefore, the need for the vehicles.

“It should be noted that these vehicles are not personal vehicles and were not procured in the name of the honourable Minister; they are utility vehicles and are for the office of the minister, and if she leaves the office, she will not be taking the vehicles along with her.”

On his part, the spokesperson for the NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuike, said he was not aware of the development.
“I am not aware of anything like that,” he disclosed on Wednesday.
Recently, the agency has been at the receiving end of harsh criticism by angry Nigerians following its inability to upgrade its equipment, send its employees for critical training and hire enough qualified hands.

However, the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, had on Monday denied the claims that the agency was broke, saying that it was financially stable.
He said, “We are not broke, we have been carrying out all our responsibilities and have been undertaking the training of our staff as and when due.

“I can tell you that right now, some of our staff members are undergoing training abroad and we still have others that are waiting for approval; we do not joke with training here and I challenge anyone to come up with anything otherwise to that effect.”

Kim Kardashian Lost Her Virginity When She was 14( With Mom’s Approval)

Kim Kardashian revealed an unknown sex revelation to Oprah Winfrey during the highly-anticipated Kardashian interview on Oprah’s Next Chapter! While Oprah gave the Kardashians ever opportunity to not answer questions that seemed too personal, Kim had no problem talking about her experience with losing her virginity!

When Kim was 14-years old, she was in a 2-year relationship with a man who was “close to the family.” Kim made the decision that she was ready to have sex with him, so she talked with her mom Kris Jenner about it! This level of immorality speaks volumes as to why she thinks it’s ok to live her life in front of the camera. No 14 year old girl should be dating a boy for 2 years and no responsible mother puts her 14 year old on birth control. Just disgusting parenting.
Oddly, Kris respected Kim’s decision and didn’t shoot down her daughters interest in sex! In fact, Kris decided to put Kim on birth control! And they say their mom doesn’t pimp them out? I bet she hired Ray J to bone Kimmy and record to it.

Kimmy Cake explained that the decision, a bold move back then – and still now, came as a result of her desire to lose her virginity to her boyfriend of two years. Kim said:

When I did want to have sex the first time I was almost 15.”

I was like, “I think I’m going to, or I want to,” and she was like, “OK, so this is what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna put you on birth control,” and she was like, really open and honest with me.”

Sheesh. I guess if your 14 year old daughter comes and says she wants to have sex, you don’t just say : “great, honey, don’t forget to take the pill”. No?

And the old broadcaster had just nothing to say – she failed to follow up the question with little more than a ‘Wow’ before moving onto the next question.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

UCH performs 1st open heart surgery

The first open heart surgery in a teaching hospital in Nigeria has been successfully carried out at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The feat was carried out by surgeons at the UCH in conjunction with a team of surgeons from Tri-State Cardiovascular Delaware, United States of America.

A statement by the institution’s Head of Information Unit, Mr. Toye Akinrinola, disclosed that the four-hour surgery was to correct a leaking heart valve in a 19-year-old secondary school leaver.
An elated Chief Medical Director of the UCH, Professor
Temitope Alonge, noted that the UCH was moved to embark on the exercise as a way of alleviating the hardship being experienced by Nigerians with heart-related
challenges.

He stated that as the first teaching hospital in Nigeria, the UCH should take the lead in critical areas of medicine, propelling it into ensuring that complex surgeries (like open heart surgery) were carried out in the hospital.

Feat: The surgical team that performed the feat at University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

“We are the pioneer teaching hospital in Nigeria, and we should be taking the lead. We are going to do this and we intend to make it a continuous exercise.
“In fact, within the next six months, we intend carrying out not less than 30 heart-related surgeries and at affordable cost to Nigerians.”
Alonge, who lamented that Nigerians pay exorbitantly to undergo such procedures outside the country, pointing out that the cheapest rate outside Nigeria was about N2.5 million.

“This is outside the airfare and hotel bills. It will run into millions. But with us here, it will be a lot cheaper and the access is there. The first surgery is heavily subsidised as a way of encouraging Nigerians to have confidence in our healthcare system.”

Alonge stated that the Federal Government had given the UCH a mandate to improve on the training of doctors as a way of enhancing more access to adequate healthcare in Nigeria.
Leader of the doctors from the USA, Dr. Kamar Adeleke noted that the patient would be back to his normal activities in less than two months.

“He does not have anything to fear about life expectancy. He will soon resume his normal activities, and do all the things he was used to before he took ill,” Dr. Adeleke said.

Adeleke gave assurance of his continued support to providing access to adequate healthcare as obtained in
other developed countries.

After more than a decade of of inactivity, open heart
surgery resumed in the country at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, at an average cost of N500, 000.

* plans to carry out 30 surgeries in six months* awwwww.. that would be so wonderful and for the betterment of all.

Onitsha deportees slam N1bn suit against Lagos

The Federal High Court 4 sitting in Lagos, presided over by Justice Anumogobia is expected to commence hearing on January 29, 2014 in a N1 billion civil suit instituted against Lagos State Government, by the 76 victims who were deported from the state and abandoned in Onitsha, Anambra State on July 24, 2013.

The suit was filed by seven of the deportees, including Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu as the applicants, on behalf of the 76 others, while the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State are the respondents.

The suit was brought as a motion on notice pursuant to Order 11, Rule 1&2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules), 2009, Sections 34 (1) (A), 35, 40, 45 (1), 42 (1), 46 (1) and 6 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; Articles 5, 6 and 12 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

In the motion filed on their behalf, through their legal counsel, Chief Barrister Ugo Ugwunnadi, an Onitsha-based legal practitioner., the applicants are praying the court to declare that they, as Nigerian citizens are entitled to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights as provided for in Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The applicants are also seeking a declaration of the court that their arrest and detention in various camps, Oshodi rehabilitation centre, police cells and prisons, within Lagos State for no offence known to law and without trial and conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, amounted to a serious breach of their rights as provided for in the relevant sections of the constitution, adding that such an action was illegal, null, void and unlawful.

They also sought an order of the court to declare that their deportation from Lagos State of Nigeria to Anambra State of Nigeria on July 24, amounted to a gross violation of their rights and a breach of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They noted that the court should mandate the first respondent to re-absorb and accommodate the applicants within Lagos State of Nigeria since they are Nigerian citizens and are entitled to reside in any part of Nigeria, including Lagos State.

The applicants equally sought a perpetual injuction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies, subordinates, workers and officers, howsoever called, from their further deportation or refusing them free entry into Lagos and free exit therefrom, as well as an order mandating the respondents to tender a written apology to them by publishing the apology in the following newspapers: THISDAY, Vanguard and Daily Sun continuously for 30 days, from the date of the first publication, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights.

Also in their written address, the applicants noted that the issue for determination is whether the action of the respondents in arresting, detaining and their subsequent deportation from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State is justified in law, in view of the supreme provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, adding that if the issue is resolved in the negative and against the respondents, the applicants are entitled to the reliefs sought.

39-yr-old man nabbed with N82m cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has arrested a 39-year-old man, who imported 7.45kg of cocaine valued at N82 million.

Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the agency’s spokesman, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said that the suspect was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
Ofoyeju said the discovery was made on October 12 “during inward screening of passengers on-board an Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil.

“The drug, which was industrially concealed inside food flasks and kitchen utensils, tested positive to cocaine and weighed 7.45kg.
“It is estimated to cost N82 million. It is the single largest seizure recorded at the Abuja Airport since January.’’
Ofoyeju said investigations into the case had commenced, adding that the agency’s Operation End of Year Screening made the discovery possible.

He said: “The agency is prepared to counter the tricks of drug traffickers. As the year is coming to an end, we have
launched Operation End of Year Screening.

“This is targeted at preventing drug cartels from carrying out their criminal acts this season.”
The spokesman said that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

Source: Vanguard on october 16, 2013 at 1:50 am

Where are all the education funds? Omotola asks FG

As the face off between the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU and the Federal Government lingers, one of Nollywood actress, Omotola Ekeinde has added her voice to the cry for solution.

Omotola on her twitter handle want to know why there is a ‘crippling silence’ on the strike issue that has been on for months now with out solution.

One will but join her to ask what importance do the two parties place on the lives of the youths of this nation when majority of them are at home doing what? When they should be studying.

Omotola twitted:
Why is there a crippling silence when Nigerian schools have been SHUT for months and the youths are wasting away with their future uncertain?
Why are students of the Most Populous Black Nation in the World “Giant” of Africa Not in schools? where are all the education funds? #Nigeria
Education is a right not privilege. This should be the 1st Responsibility of every parent, state and country to their child #Nigeria#Education

One true question that is begging for answer is where are all the education founds ? Omotola has asked and we hope she will get answers

Source: Vanguard; October 16, 2013 at 2:31

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

National conference: Jonathan should be in Nollywood, not Aso Rock – Tinubu carpets presidency

Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has said that “the reaction of Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential cry babies” to his extensive comments on the proposed national conference was predictable.

In a statement made available to DailyPost on Monday, Sunday Dare, Tinubu’s Media Adviser, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, stated that rather than deal with the salient and substantial issues surrounding the proposed National Conference raised by the former governor, the reaction from the presidency skirted around them.

“In a typical fashion, it resorted to abusive language and name calling. Okupe, like a punch drunk pugilist, threw several empty jabs and went on a flight of fancy praising his boss and flaunting fictional achievements of the administration in the face of Nigerian,s” Dare said.

“We leave Nigerians to judge. They are the ones who feel the pains and millions will not be able to relate to all the fictional transformational achievements reeled out by the Presidency. Nigerians are saddled with a President who believes fiction is more important than fact and imagination is more genuine than reality.

“While we would not mind such a person to be a leading figure in our Nollywood film industry, I am frightened that he is the Chief Resident of Aso Villa and surrounded by a cast of like minds.

Tinubu maintained that his searching questions about the Jonathan Conference remain fundamental.

He urged Jonathan and “his cry babies” to take time to read through the statement and address the cloud of doubts surrounding the proposed conference.

“This is a flip-flopping Presidency and on this issue, it must provide answers.

The statement added that Tinubu is satisfied that he has raised the provocative questions that should be asked

“God did not make a mistake in putting us together in one country” – David Mark

Senate President, David Mark yesterday called on Nigerians to accept the proposed National Conference as an avenue to tackle the current security crisis in the country, especially the numerous security challenges facing the north.

Mark stated this in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians titled, ‘Let us make Nigeria a better place.’

The Idoma elder statesman who described the endless security challenges facing the nation as unfortunate pleaded with people of goodwill to rise up to tackle the menace.

Mark, in the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, remarked that “with the collective resolve and determination of all of us, we can solve the problem and live like one big united nation where no one is oppressed or afraid of each other.

“God did not make a mistake by putting us together in one country,” he said.

The Senate President said the current challenges facing the country had made it imperative for Nigerians to agree as a people to address their collective problems “in an open, frank and honest manner. Nobody is coming from the moon or space to solve our problems,” he said.

The platform offered by the national conference or dialogue committee, Mark added, was “a needed elixir and avenue to reconcile all misgivings.”

Mark however called on all Nigerians to take advantage of the national conference to present their positions so that “we can continue to live in peace and be united like a people with a common mission and purpose.”

“We should therefore use our strength and God given potential for good

Nigerian banks can’t fund power’s $8bn/yr needs — FBN

FBN Capital Limited has declared that Nigerian banks cannot fund the $8 billion yearly power needs alone and thus called for the support of institutional and foreign investors to fund the huge resources needed to drive various ongoing infrastructure projects, for the next 10 years.

Patrick Mgbenwelu, Director and Head, Project and Structured Finance, FBN Capital Limited said this at the 1st FBN Capital Project and Infrastructure Finance Conference which held in Lagos. According to him, specifically considering the nation’s power projects alone, about $8- $12 billion would be needed yearly for the next 10 years, to meet up with the large deficit of power demand and supply in the nation, which the banks alone would not be able to fund.

“This funding cannot come from the banks alone” he said. “There is the need for institutional investors and foreign investment to bridge the funding gap” he noted, adding that Greenfield IPPs will emerge to bridge the energy gap, while Government’s Private Public Partnership, PPP commitment will fuel various infrastructure projects such as rails, roads, bridges, and airports among others. Participants at the event were unanimous in the position that although Nigeria’s vast natural resources and growing power and infrastructure demands has rightly garnered substantial interest from lenders and developers from across the globe, there remain challenges in ensuring the country’s huge potential is realised.

Mgbenwelu said multi-billion dollar government projects will require private sector involvement, therefore creating the need for Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) as obligator financial vehicles.

Highlighting the importance of infrastructure finance, he said investors can choose to approach finance institutions and seek funds either as a corporate entity or directly through the projects, (Corporate Finance route or Project Finance).

According to him, project finance as an option for accessing funds is an avenue for managing risk, instead of bearing them directly as a corporate organisation. “Additional expansion funding can be raised with ease, subject to the project achieving steady state.

Sanusi wins sub-Sahara Africa’s CBN governor award

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, was on Saturday night in Washington DC, United States, named the Central Bank Governor of the Year for sub-Saharan Africa by the Emerging Markets Magazine.

Sanusi, who was part of the Nigerian delegation to the International Monetary Fund/World Bank annual meetings, won the award for the third time in four years.

The Managing Director, Emerging Markets Magazine, Mr. John Orchard, in a citation he read out before handing over the award to the CBN boss, acknowledged Sanusi’s efforts in driving down inflation from the double digit in 2009 to about eight per cent currently.

He said the governor had consistently pursued and successfully maintained macroeconomic stability despite the challenges confronting the Nigerian economy.

While responding, Sanusi said he could not have achieved much without the efforts and support of the Federal Government and the 6,000 workforce of the bank, noting that the award was a demonstration of their hard work and dedication to implementing his vision.

Sanusi commended the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was also present, for her support in the fight to ensure macroeconomic stability in the country.

The Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, and members of the Nigerian Mission in Washington DC later hosted the Nigerian delegates to a dinner in honour of the CBN governor.

He commended Sanusi for the feat of winning the award three times in four years.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo; and his counterparts for Economic Policy, Corporate Services and Financial System Stability, Dr. Sarah Alade, Alhaji Suleiman Barau and Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, respectively, as well as a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Muktar, among others.

Issue meters to all consumers – FG orders Discos

The Federal Government has directed new owners of power distribution firms to provide all electricity consumers with meters as soon as they take over the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

It advised that the new power firms should accord priority to the metering of their customers nationwide.

The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, who stated this, added that crazy billing by power firms would not be tolerated.

He spoke on behalf of the government at a two-day workshop organised by the NERC for the successor companies and other stakeholders in Abuja.

He said, “The new PHCN successor companies should see metering of all their customers immediately they take over ownership of the PHCN companies as their major priority to avoid bills estimation.”

Amadi said power firms often cheat their customers whenever they estimated electricity consumption bills.

He emphasised that the Federal Government would not condone such practice henceforth.

The NERC boss explained that in the new power reform agenda, both the accounts of the distribution companies and their customers should be balanced and maintained.

He noted that one of the concerns of the commission was to ensure that the rights of the discos and their customers were not tampered with.

He stressed that one of the rights was to meter electricity consumers.

According to Amadi, metering all electricity consumers would assist the customers to effectively monitor their energy usage as well as enable the Discos to determine their revenue.

He stressed that the Discos would know the exact number of customers they had when all power consumers were metered.

Amadi observed that the Multi Year Tariff Order 2 of the Nigeria Electricity Power Sector Reform Act 2005 provided money for Discos for losses incurred by them in the metering of customers.

The NERC chairman said the commission would need to reach an agreement with the Discos on how long it would take the power firms to ensure that all their customers were metered.

Amadi said previously, a period of 18 months was given to the PHCN to meter all its customers, but it was unable to meet the target.

Earlier in his address, the representative of the Discos, Mr. Roberk Yates, said metering of customers would increase the expenses of the power firms.

He urged the government to give enough time to the Discos, stressing that it might be tough to meter all electricity consumers.

The new owners of the power firms are expected to take over their respective companies on November 1, 2013.

How suicide bombers who planned to disrupt Ethiopia vs Nigeria game blew up themselves

According to a Reuters report, two Somali suicide bombers, whose intention was to kill many football fans during Sunday’s 2014 World Cup play-off between Ethiopia and Nigeria in Addis Ababa, accidentally blew themselves up before they could carry out the attack.

The explosion took place in the Bole district of the country’s capital, which is about 5km from the Addis Ababa Stadium where thousands of fans gathered to watch the game.

“They were Somali nationals and plotted to carry out a suicide attack disguised as fans on either the stadium or areas where large crowds gathered to watch the game,” Ethiopian government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said.

The blast happened one hour before kick-off and explosives, arms, hand grenades and football shirts, were found at the scene. Three suspects have been detained.

Shimeles added: “Heavy police presence must have caused their nervousness and state of agitation which led to the detonation that caused their own death.”

No sect has claimed reponsibility for the incident yet.

Monday, 14 October 2013

WEALTH, SUCCESS AND LOVE

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she replied. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

"Go tell them I am home & invite them in!"

The woman went out & invited the men in"

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, & said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in & discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come & fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife.

"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out & asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up & started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up & followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth & Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!"

MY WISH FOR YOU...
May God's love never cease from your homes.

ASUU: Petty traders, commercial drivers lament strike

Some petty traders and commercial drivers in Enugu say the indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had adversely affected their businesses.

A cross section of the people who spoke in Enugu on Monday with our correspondent included food vendors, commercial cab and bus drivers, photographers as well as business centre operators.

A cab driver, Mr Felix Agu, who operates at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) said his business dropped drastically by almost 50 per cent since the beginning of the strike.

Agu, who is a retired civil servant, said he used to make nearly N15,000 a day when the students were in session, adding that he made less than N8,000 a day since the industrial action started.

“This is where I make my daily income since I retired from the civil service two years ago and since our pension comes once in a while.

“Before the strike, I was making between N10,000 and N15,000 daily but since ASUU started the strike I make less than N8,000 a day and spend a lot on fuel while looking for passengers,'' he said.

A food vendor, Mrs Beatrice Ejindu, said her business was about to collapse as a result of the strike, saying that only very few staff that operated skeletal services at the university patronised her.

It was a similar story for Joachim Uzo, a photographer and student as well as Miss Grace Eze who operates a business centre at Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria (UNEC) as they complained of low patronage.

“I pay my school fees through this small business but since we resumed last September, I am finding it difficult to raise money to pay my school fees and that of my siblings,” he said.

Eze in her remarks, said she was planning to relocate to another place where people would make better use of her photocopier and computers.

They, however, appealed to ASUU and the federal government to urgently resolve the crisis and call off the strike in the interest of the students and the business community.

Wild gal-Rihanna frolics with wild animals in South Africa

Earning a reputation as a wild girl is more than just words, you have to act it. Rihanna showed she is still a wild queen as she played with wild animals in South Africa where she just had a sold out tour.

More photos below

As my kid bro would always say "I am fearing; so Riri, are you not fearing? lol

MEET Uche Jombo’s Younger Sister, Josephine Jombo

I see the resemblance; teeth, eyes and nose..

Tonto Dikeh Shows Off Her Customized 1 Kilogram Gold Bar Designed By Boo

She posted the pics on her instagram page where she showed it off.

More pics below.

“Why I’m still single”-Sexy actor, Kalu Ikeagwu

Kalu Ikeagwu is undoubtedly one of Nollywood’s sexiest bachelors & actors..He opened up to Daily Sun on why he is not yet married..

“Do I want to get married? Yes. But that would be when I find the right person; I mean that person I love so much and want to spend the rest of my life with; that’s when I’ll settle down.

The reason why I am not married now is that marriage is very important to me. I have come to terms with the fact that marriage is the most important institution from God. And I take that very seriously. Ultimately I would like my relationship with my wife to be like that between God and the church; that’s why it is important to me. I wouldn’t say it’s been challenging though. I have gone through a lot of experiences that made me wise. When I get married, my experiences would make me a wise, good and a loving father.

I like a woman with a great sense of humor; that’s very important to me. And of course, she has to be very attractive and intelligent. Above everything else she should have a close relationship with God because that’s very important to me as well. That’s exactly why I am yet to get married. I want to be successful in my marriage just as I am in my career.”

Please someone should tell Uncle Kalu to stop giving excuses to remain single.

Actress Mercy Aigbe talks On How Her Husband Feels Whenever She’s Being Kissed or Fondled In Movies

“I don’t think he cares, because he knows it’s a make-believe sort of thing.

There was even a film that I’m supposed to kiss somebody, and when he watched the film he told me that I did not do it well. He said it was not done professionally.

The only thing I cannot do is to act nude. I can’t act nude,’ Said, the mother-of-two speaking to Nigerian’s Tribune.

But mehn! it isn't an easy thing marrying an actor or actress oh. I just don't want to imagine...

Toyin Lawani & Boo Shop For Lil Trigga

Toyin Lawani and her 21-year old boo are still on vacation. They have left LA for Dubai. They went out shopping today for their unborn child. See more pics below.

Love surpasses all.. Age is just a number abi ki lo feel?

Jackie Appiah Grabs Her Crotch, Doing Michael Jackson Dance

Beautiful Canadian born Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah is feeling like Michael Jackson.
Jackie uploaded this picture on her Instagram page with the caption: ‘Tell me who’s bad…. feeling like MJ right now, The King of Pop?’ Am feeling like…. Tell me who you are feeling like?

The beautiful actress has received several awards and nominations, including the awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2010 African Movie Academy Awards and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007.

What do you think, did she rock the Michael Jackson look?

I can’t understand why my father married 27 wives – Femi Kuti

The 2013 edition of Felabration,a week-long concert which celebrates the life and times of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti commences from Monday, October 14 through 20 at the Afrikan Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos. In this interview, Femi Kuti, the eldest son of Fela went down memory lane, recounting the story of his late father, his music and ideologies. He also talks about what the fans of Afrobeat music will expect at this year’s Felabration among other issues.

Felabration

We learnt that Rita Marley will be headlining this year’s Felabration. Why is she not here today?

She sent a message few days ago that she was not feeling fine, and might not make it to the event. However, she will be represented at the festival by the head of her foundation, Rita Marley Foundation.

What’s the financial implication of organising this festival?

We have no major sponsors at the moment. Fortunately, most of the artistes are performing for free. We have been very lucky that the likes of King Sunny Ade, D’banj, Wizkid, Pasuma, and many others, have been performing for free. This year, they will grace the stage again. But we usually pay a token to the up and coming artistes as a way of supporting them. However, Nigerian Breweries Plc has promised to come on board next year as a major sponsor of the event. We are hoping that as from next year, Felabration will not be talking about financial difficulties.

What’s new in this year’s Felabration?

I think what will always be new is the enthusiasm of the crowd. The festival runs from Monday through Sunday. It kicked off last Monday with school debate. Wuri Modern College won the competition last year. The Felabration usually kicks off with school debate because we are trying to introduce new things other than music. There will be symposium where the likes of Femi Falana, SAN, will be in attendance. The festival will kick off properly next week Tuesday. It will run till Saturday and closes on Sunday.

Is Bob Marley’s son still going to make it to the festival?

I think he’s having problem with obtaining visa. He has agreed to come and the contract has been finalized. We are waiting for him to obtain his visa. If he succeeds, fine. We are expecting a lot of Afrobeat bands from America, Ghana and other African countries. Our local artistes such as Tuface, Kwam 1, Davido, Wizkid, Eedris and other superstars including myself will be on duty.

Apart from finance, what other challenges are you encountering?

I think the major challenges are finance and security. We would love a situation where we would pay the artistes handsomely and dictate the pace for them. But now, they dictate the pace for us. The artistes decide when and when not to perform on stage. Felabration bends to everybody’s rules. The next thing is to get the museum working. Apparently, Lagos State government has purchased the piece of land beside the museum which we use as car park. But we are still looking for major sponsors that will drive the museum. We have big dreams that we want to put in place.

With this year’s Felabration coming up, would you say you have achieved the dream of setting up the festival?

Definitely. We are all Nigerians and we know what it means to run a festival at that level for 13 years. I think we have to be applauded. It’s a feat that hasn’t been achieved in Nigeria. All the great festivals we know in Nigeria are no longer functioning. We have never heard any security challenges in the past 13 years. With the crowd of over 10,000 people attending the festival, I think we have to be commended. Now, Felabration is observed across the world, especially in major cities of the world. The event my sister, Yeni started has grown big and stronger.

One would have thought that the Fela broadway show would have boosted the festival?

I’m sure you know what it cost them to be in Nigeria then. They are a cast of about 50 people. By the time you talk about their flight tickets, accommodation, and so on, you would know what I mean. I think it was the Lagos State government that sponsored their trip to the country. Eventually, what we are going to be focusing on is discovering new talents and more bands. I will like a situation where we do not have only hip-hop artistes on stage.

Fela’s biopic

*Fela celebrated

Aside Felabration, what is the family’s stand on Fela’s biopic being produced by an American company recently?

I don’t know about it. There are many things I don’t know about. I know that they have been working on the biopic for the past five years.

Andrew Dosumu, a British Nigerian director was chosen to direct the biopic and Nigerian international actor, Chiwenta Ejiofor is being touted to act Fela in the biopic?

It is the same biopic that we are talking about. This is a biopic that has been in the making for about five years now. I’m sure you know it is not the kind of film that you can produce overnight. They have to capture the burning of the house, the soldiers…If they are going to do a movie of that magnitude, it’s going to be a great movie. It is going to take time. They have been talking about this movie for ages now.

Does the family have any plan to do that?

No. We are only going to give them the license to do it. We have a legal team that deals with all of these things. My own duty as a member of the estate is to give the approval. I have signed the contract several years ago and I know, it will take another two to three years before this dream will materialize. I know that the first contract we signed for five years ought to be renewed if they have not completed the production of the film within the time frame.

They started talking about the film when my father died but eventually the contract expired. So, they had to renew a new contract. This is because there is no money in the music business. That’s why the family has been very lenient when discussing with all these people because we all know about piracy. Everybody is downloading Fela’s music, so you have to be very understandable. We have a good legal team that handles all these stuffs for the family. Of course, we have to protect the integrity of the family

Fela and his music

Looking at it holistically, do you feel comfortable that a Nigerian who has practically lived abroad all his life is playing the role of Fela?

I’m sure if they do a movie, it will be great. Now, let us look at the broadway show. Critics say that it was too Americanised. They did not want to show Fela’s story from the Nigerian perspective. They wanted the American and the international market to understand the Fela story. See how Fela was misunderstood even when he went to the United States. It was after his death that people started evaluating his music. What he was doing? He married 27 wives in his lifetime, how dare he? This man was against feminism.? They gave him different kind of names. He was completely misunderstood because he wore pants, he smoked marijuana. He had issues. He had serious issues whether we liked it or not. At his death, people were celebrating him but in his lifetime, he was broke before he died.

What they did was to tell the Fela story for the average international market to watch and understand it. If you did watch them, you would notice that the dancers could not dance the Afrobeat music. For you, the man was speaking American English. But you would have every reason to believe that the Fela you know was not being acted but if you look at it from the neutral perspective like you didn’t know Fela, you would understand the story and even weep for him.

The day I watched it, I cried. I cried because I knew where they were coming from and I saw the audience. Probably, they have not heard about Fela, the Americans were saying, it made them want to listen to his music to know more about Africa. It opened their minds to so many issues. Now, they are studying Afrobeat in many of the schools and universities in America, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, everywhere. There are over 20 American bands playing Afrobeat at the moment.

Over the years and given what is happening in the country today, will you say your father has been vindicated or misunderstood while he lived?

I will answer in the affirmative. He was grossly misunderstood for a purpose because he saw corruption and he knew what corruption was going to do to the country; those involved in corruption wanted to get away with dictatorship and corruption which was what he was against. And because he used his own unconventional way of protesting, it didn’t go down well with the authorities.

Then the authorities controlled the media up to a point until after Daily Times, when other media houses started springing up because we have to remember that it was only government newspapers and TVs that we had then. So, the story was told from the government’s perspective until The Punch, Vanguard and other magazines were established. Fela’s story could be seen from another point of view.

We have to understand where Fela was coming from in the 60s. Where did the problem start? What was the cause of his problem? And maybe, because he was already a stubborn character, he was going to make matters worse and that was his character and that is the character that people now love. What kind of man was he, that many people ran away from him, or even compromised him. But he didn’t have to go through all those beatings? So, I think, he was purposely misunderstood but yes, he has been vindicated.

But you are a different specie?

Femi Kuti performing

I would say, I am probably more diplomatic because I have learnt from what I saw of him. First, you have to understand the political climate which we live in. Let us remember who voted for Obasanjo? Except if we want to be dishonest with ourselves, Obasanjo won the first election, clean and clear. What would Fela have done if he was alive and this same Nigerians still went to vote for this same Obasanjo? Didn’t they hear Fela sing about this man?

Then, it is still these same Nigerians that were criticising this man and they know it. Let us look at our incumbent President. He was declared wanted by the EFCC when he was governor of Bayelsa State and you voted for him. That case was pending in court when Yar’ Adua made him his Vice. Opposition parties should have objected to his selection. But they didn’t. Again, his former boss late Yar ‘ Adua whom he served under had a seven point agenda. Where is it today? Jonathan promised that if anything happened to him that he would follow his footsteps. Has him followed his footsteps today?

There are many things you have to understand as Fela’s son. Did Nigerians not hear what Fela talked about? Are they not feeling the same pain that Fela felt when he was alive? Nigerians are still voting for the same corrupt politicians.

Are you worried that government has not been able to honour your father after his death?

Not at all. The people will always honour my father and he will always be celebrated worldwide. Even Lagos state has honoured him. Even if the family doesn’t celebrate him, Fela has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria. As we speak, New York, Paris, England, Japan, Australia, New Zealanmd, China, Malaysia, among others still celebrate him.

At over 50, some people say it seems you have become more sexually active?

That is not true, I am no more sexually active. When you see a beautiful woman, when you reach my age and you have responsibility like myself, you will know what I am talking about. Before now, as a young man, you would want to go after her. There are many nights I go and sleep alone not because I don’t have girlfriends or want a girlfriend, when I think of the responsibility I have in my life, I will immediately have a rethink.

The women in my life also have responsibilities. I can tell you that the mothers of my children, we stay together, we are very serious. You could say we are husband and wife but I don’t believe in marriage. I just don’t understand why one man will say I pronounce you man and wife, in that case. I pronounce myself man and wife. I am very different from my father but in a lot of ways like him.

Like I couldn’t understand why he married 27 wives. When he married them, he divorced them. I didn’t have a problem with my father’s wives but my mother did. When the problem started in Kalakuta, for us it was fun. Many things have changed. Of course I am very much sexually active but when I consider the problems my shoki has given me, it dies quickly.

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